Canadian Thinker by Freddie P. | February 2010 Archives

February 2010 Archives

« January 2010 | | March 2010 »

Page 1 of 4 »

On His Shoulders

February 28, 2010 @ 09:47

Category: Sports

Excuse Me, But I Think We Do Own The Podium

February 27, 2010 @ 21:46

A lot has been said and written over the past couple of weeks regarding Canada's "Own the Podium" program and how it supposedly crapped out.

Not so fast.

When Jasey-Jay Anderson won the Parallel Giant Slalom this afternoon, it gave Canada 12 gold and clinched the over-all gold medal title at the 2010 games.

Germany has ten and the United States only nine.

When Canada won curling gold just before nine o'clock eastern time, it gave us three gold on the day and helped smash the previous record of ten won by a host country.

But there's more. If Team Canada can beat Team USA tomorrow afternoon, 14 gold medals will set the all-time record for a Winter Olympics.

So the obvious question is this, how do you measure success and at what point do you "own" something?

You know what they say, you don't win silver, you lose gold, so using that criteria I'd say Canada has it nailed. I think we've got a pretty good argument for owning the podium and all those detractors who were throwing it into our faces should have another look.

When you're watching an event, at the end, even if it's a Canadian, does a silver or bronze have nearly the impact that a gold does? When all is said and done and the Olympics are over, will we really remember who the silver and bronze medal winners were?

I think you know the answers to those questions.

Gold is where its at baby. They don't play your anthem for placing second or third, and so far in Vancouver, "Oh Canada" has been played way more than any other anthem.

"Cause we own the podium."

Category: Sports

The Painful Pee

February 27, 2010 @ 12:31

I got up for a pee the other night and it ended up hurting big time.

I know what you're thinking. I'm in my early 50's so it shouldn't be a big surprise that something as simple as having a piss could lead to pain or discomfort. You don't see too many guys under 50 in a urologist's office.

Apparently it comes with hitting the big 5-0, just like an old house your plumbing can become an issue and you have to deal with it.

In my case, now that I've got your attention, I'm happy to report I have none of that.

My painful pee came through my foot. Let me explain.

The other night, I awoke about 2 am following four 20oz Bud Lite's at Riley's in Peterborough during the Team Canada, Germany game.

How does the saying go? Something about a race horse? Anyway I jumped out of the bed I share with no one in the little apartment I have in Peterborough and headed for the pisser.

It's not a tiny bathroom in the apartment but it's somewhat narrow and the vanity sticks out farther than it should, especially with the lights out.

I think it happened on the second step. My right foot came forward and in full stride I hammered the vanity, forcing the second smallest toe to be bent back in a violent manner.

The pain was immediate and it was deep. It actually paralyzed me for a split second before I strung a bunch of swear words together that actually had a nice ring to them.

Son of a bitch prick asshole bastard. Say them out loud quickly and you'll appreciate the charm.

Anyway, when my body stopped vibrating I hobbled to the toilet, drained the main vein and then went back to bed with only a slight throbbing in my foot.

But the next morning, let me tell you mister, when I was my legs out of the fart sack put my feet on the floor and stood up, I nearly passed out. The blood that rushed through my foot made the injured area throb like nothing I've felt before.

I couldn't walk properly, my limp was pronounced and putting a shoe on was excruciating. This happened on Wednesday and it still hurts like hell and several people have told me that I probably broke my toe.

Go to emergency they say, but deep down I know there's nothing they can do for a broken toe and given the wait times in most emergency rooms for things like broken toes, it will probably heal before I get to see a doctor.

I've decided to live with the subsiding pain and look at the bright side.

At my age, it's a whole lot better than erectile dysfunction.

Category: Stuff

Thanks.... For Not Showing Up Last Night

February 25, 2010 @ 08:30

Category: Sports

Comments We Laugh At - Pravda

February 25, 2010 @ 08:13

Get a load of this crap from Pravda. It was written before Team Canada chewed up and spat out the Russians in Vancouver last night.

Please note - Vanoc has no say in drug testing or figure skating judging.

Vancouver: Mutton Dressed as Lamb .

Category: Sports

Stupid Samsung Sucks

February 24, 2010 @ 18:05

Up at the trailer in the shed I have a refrigerator that has to be twenty years old. It's a General Electric and year after year after year it never lets me down. I plug it in come May and I unplug it come October. No problem what so ever. All it ever does is keep my Bud Lite cold and provide extra space when my wife needs it. Flawless.

At home in Brampton I have another GE in the basement. This good old fella sits there year after year hummin' away doing the same outstanding job that his brother does in Burleigh Falls. Never an argument.

I tell you this so you can appreciate how pissed off I am that my four year old Samsung stopped working yesterday. I bought the bastard in 2006 against my better judgment.

We were looking for something modern for the kitchen and after looking at several makes and models we settled for the cool looking Samsung with the lower freezer and the LCD temperature read out on the front.

I had been told that a lot of the new fridges come with computer panels now-a-days that are unnecessary for the consumer but lucrative for the manufacturers. They're built to last beyond the warranty but designed to screw up long before they should.

The Samsung man is coming to the house on Friday, but I've already been warned - Don't expect it to be the compressor with a five year warranty that has failed; it will be one of those damn computer panels that are only guaranteed for a year.

But don't worry, when it comes to shit like this I'm like a pit-bull on a jerky treat. I'll go after consumer justice and berate the buggers until they stand behind their shameful product. How will anyone be able to stand in front of me and come up with any valid reason why an appliance should die after four short years?

Four years. Hell I think there has been stuff living in the back of my trailer fridge for longer than that.

If there's a lesson in any of this it's to go basic. We all get caught up in the newest and neatest crap that features stuff we never use. I should have bought another GE with no bells or whistles. What a mistake. What a goof ball I am.

Tell me how Dan Duran could have a forty year old trailer fridge that still works, yet there will be a Samsung repairman at my house on Friday for a 74 dollar house call for something that was built in 2006? Tell me now, please!

I can't wait to see how this unfolds. I'll keep you posted.

Category: Stuff

Comments We Like - Kelly McParland

February 24, 2010 @ 12:44

Why we need to get boys out of hockey.

Category: Sports | Stuff

Today With Craig And Matt

February 24, 2010 @ 08:45

Old radio stories and tonight's big game.

Category: Radio

Erik Nails It

February 24, 2010 @ 08:04

I got his email from a guy named Erik who takes exception with my "Start Fleury" posting from yesterday. He disagrees with my comment that Roberto Luongo hasn't won "the big game" and then he conveniently goes on to display exactly what's wrong with Team Canada.

We reach too far back to make our selections.

Here's the email and my response follows.

"Thank God you're not the head coach, Freddie.
By the way, do you fact check ANYTHING you say? You mentioned that Luongo "has failed to show that he can win the big game." Utter nonsense!
Since this is an INTERNATIONAL tournament I will bring up some of Luongo's accomplishments in INTERNATIONAL play.
After a World U-17 Hockey Challenge and back-to-back appearances at the World Junior Championships, Luongo has played in four World Championships, one World Cup and one Winter Olympics for Team Canada. He has won two gold medals at the World Championships, one silver at the World Junior Championships and a World Cup championship.
In the 2003 World Championships Luongo made 49 saves in the Gold Medal game which Canada WON 3-2 in overtime!
The next year Canada WON the Gold with Luongo in net.
That same year he replaced Broduer in the semi-final of the World Cup of Hockey and won a 4-3 OT game against the Czech Republic.
So don't give me this BS that Luongo has failed to win the big game".
Erik

Hey Erik... you're kidding aren't you? Under 17's? World Championships? One victory in a World Cup game against the Czechs and that's supposed to be glittering resume?
The guy hasn't won a big game in the NHL, in fact he's been part of the major disappointment that have been the Vancouver Canucks in "RECENT" years.
The guy is OK. But Fleury has answered the call, performed and delivered a Stanley Cup in the past year.
He went to a game seven the year before as well.. with a very young Pittsburgh team.
Don't capitalize "INTERNATIONAL" to make your point because that's bullshit. This "INTERNATIONAL" tournament on NHL size ice is nothing more than an NHL all-star event and you know it.
Fleury is clearly the best choice for Team Canada, but the same politics that have Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger on the team won't allow it.
Do I check "ANYTHING" I say?
Yea, and believe me, your examples are weak. I was aware of them, but when the pinnacle was a victory in the watered down World Championships six years ago, I chose to overlook it. I think a few things have happened since then.
Your logic is exactly what's wrong with our Olympic strategy. Too much history.
FP

Category: Sports

Today With Bruce Barker

February 23, 2010 @ 08:50

Team Canada goaltending and CTV.