Freddie P's Blog

January 5, 2010 @ 08:48

World Juniors and the Winter Classic.

Category: Radio

January 2, 2010 @ 16:31

Freddie,

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
I just wanted to forward a link to an opinion piece from the Windsor Star by Karen Hall. It starts off innocuous enough, but at the last stage supports violence against men. In light of your recent post I thought you may want to have a look at it.

Many regards,
Ian

Category: Stuff

January 2, 2010 @ 12:33

Check that, in some ways it's judgment day for all of professional sports.

If reports are true, and Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton actually drew guns on each other in the Wizards locker room last month, anything short of a life time ban from the NBA will not be adequate.

Their contracts should be cancelled and they should be banned from the league, not for a game not for a season, but forever.

This is a league that's already full of creeps and thugs but pulling guns in a locker-room takes a huge leap over any line the league could draw.

In October it came to light that several NBA players carried guns on the street, using self-protection as their pitiful excuse and at the time NBA Commissioner David Stern issued a statement requesting that NBA player "not" carry guns because it left the wrong impression and harmed the reputation of the league.

So what now?

The most disturbing part of this latest story is the accusation that the Wizards management actually knew about the locker-room gun slinging, but tried to keep it secret.

Isn't that wonderful?

That's where professional sports have gotten to. So consumed by money, fame and win columns, team owners and management are willing over-look federal law and keep things hush-hush to protect their over-paid, bogus-educated and socially screwed employees.

Needless to say the NBA is worse than any other league when it comes to harbouring imbeciles but this latest event affects all leagues. It's time to crack down on the attitude that professional athletes are somehow above the law or subject to different rules than the rest of us.

If the NBA does not act severely on this latest incident an attitude will prevail that all pro athletes are special, and that these reluctant role models can do pretty much anything they want.

This is serious stuff, especially for a league that appeals to America's most underprivileged and troubled youth.

For many, a broken down basketball court and net-less hoop represent a way out of poverty and a brighter future - to have the Washington locker-room showdown go unchecked will deliver a disturbing message to those kids who already find themselves around too much violence.

Yes, its judgment day for the NBA and Commissioner David Stern has the opportunity to act on behalf of every decent fan, player and citizen of North America.

Allow due process, and then throw both these bastards out of the league.

Category: Sports

January 2, 2010 @ 11:35

Broken elevator strands woman in public housing.

Meanwhile

For Harper, 2009 was a very good year.

Category: Stuff

January 2, 2010 @ 11:02

I've got to admit, I loved watching the Winter Classic from Fenway Park yesterday. It was a fabulous spectacle from beginning to end, and what an end.

An overtime victory by the home team in front of 38 thousand hockey nuts was fantastic.

I really don't know how anyone could be a critic of this game. The NHL has done a fine job in creating and promoting this event, and the fans eat it up.

Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of Gary Bettman, and I don't like the way we seem to be losing our Canadian grip on the game, but the Winter Classic gets huge attention in the United States and puts a unique spotlight on our sport.

It's warm and fuzzy and down to earth and although most of us have played the game outside, to most Americans hockey outside is rather unqiue.

Having said all that, I have an idea. Actually, it was Neighbour John's idea.

While watching the game yesterday we were talking about possible venues in Toronto and we came up empty. The Dome roof can't really be opened in the winter, and BMO Field has no tradition or history - but then John came up with this.

How about Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton?

It 's the perfect configuration, it could hold upwards of 30 thousand, and it would be a fitting gesture to the people of Hamilton who've been kicked in the nuts by the NHL far too many times over the years.

A game between the Leafs and Habs, who are the parent team of Hamilton's AHL team would be a wonderful spectacle for the people of Steeltown.

And I'd go this far. Initially I'd make tickets available "only" to residents of Hamilton, again as a gesture of all the bullshit Hamilton has put up with. If there were any left over after that, then put them on general sale.

Of course there is one large problem with all of this - Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. They wouldn't want to give up a home date at the ACC, so to appease everyone, tickets would probably have to go to season ticket holders first, and the prices would probably be jacked through the roof.

MLSE would probably turn it into something distasteful.

But generally, it's a nice thought don't ya think?

Category: Sports

January 2, 2010 @ 10:32

Oilers go ballistic over 18 thousand dollar tab.

Category: Sports | Stuff

January 1, 2010 @ 12:40

Check out the crap going on over at Taliban Mike. I really don't know where to begin with this stuff.

We have a rational Prime Minister whose done a solid job of guiding us through these unique times but he's been hampered by what I call the "weasels in the woods". The anti-cons who don't look at results or history, they look at nothing beyond the party and they can't stand losing their grip on their socialist needs and nothing, not even the welfare of their country and/or military will stop them from pouncing on and then eating their own.

The Prime Minister's recent decision to "prorogue" government again, is not only within his right and part of our democratic process, we should be glad it is when you consider the disgusting opposition in this country.

"Prorogueing" saved us from a useless election last year, and this time will help protect our military from getting poked full of holes by the likes of the spineless Jack Layton, and a host of Liberals who can't run a fuckin' party let alone a country.

The "wood weasels" will tell you that the Prime Minister has "prorogued" Parliament to avoid pointed questions about the Afghanee detainee affair. That's partly right, he's done it so turn coat, two faced political pigs can't critisize a brilliant miitary that has been forced into some tough decisions.

Because it's war. Because it sucks. Because that's the way it is.

Don't pretend for a goddman minute that you care about a single Afghani detainee, all you care about is an opportunity to slam your Prime Minister because he's Conservative.

In his naive posting, Taliban Mike actually quotes Liberals and NDP wanks.. like that's supposed hold any water. Like they're going to say anything that even comes close to the real feelings of the average level headed Canadian.

And let me make this abundantly clear.. again. If the roles were reversed in this situatiion I would support the Liberals for putting our country and our militray ahead of politics. That's what you do in the grown up world, you put country first. You don't salivate waiting for the next promised socialist program that somebody else will pay for.

Face it lefties, the world has changed. You're never going to get a government that hands you everything on a silver platter. It's not possible, it's not rational. An NDP government will not feed your family, raise your kids or cut your grass every Thursday. They may promise it, but it will never happen.

Look what this mentality has done for the once great city of Toronto. And Mike is actually proud of his city for shunning the Conservatives?

And if you want to get sucked into another perversely corrupt Liberal government, that's your choice, but remember, we all have to suffer the consequences.

To jump all over the Prime Minister for this latest, completely democratic "prorogue" of government is to ignore the reality of the situation and side with the bad guys.

The Taliban thanks you.... and oh yea, grow up!

And oh yea yea... the PM is dead on with so-called climate change as well.

Category: Politics

January 1, 2010 @ 12:39

Over the past couple of years I've written about how I've lost my appetite for New Year's Eve and all the bullshit involved.

I like to lay low on the last night of the year. Have a nice dinner at home, a couple of beers, watch a World Junior hockey game then jump into the sack with my sweet and watch the New Year come in if we stay awake that long.

Last night we didn't.

Thanks to Neighbour John another dimension has been added to our New Years Eve.

John has strong ties to his birthplace Scotland and every year at 19 hundred hours, Eastern Standard Time, he and his family gather around John's bar to ring in the Scottish New Year.

Other than John walking around in a kilt, it's warm, it's pleasant and it's convenient because it allows you to experience some festivities without having to stay up till midnight.

This year was bitter-sweet for Neighbour John's family. They got word early yesterday that their Uncle Martin had passed away in Edinburgh. He was 81 years old, and apparently a very nice man.

Here's to you Uncle Martin!

Category: Neighbour John