Freddie P's Blog

Category: Sports | Video

Vancouver harbour last Sunday afternoon. At about 1:20, Sidney scores for Canada!

And here's Toronto

Category: Sports

In a posting from yesterday I mentioned the Torch Catastrophe orchestrated by CTV Globemedia.

They arranged for several of their personalities to jump the line and carry the Olympic torch ahead of deserving athletes and citizens who entered a contest in good faith.

I think it was downright shameful and if I'd been given the same advantage I wouldn't have taken it.

Unfortunately, among those CTVers who carried the torch was TSN's James Duthie who I have the utmost respect for. I still do, even though he made the tragic error of carrying that bloody torch.

To me, James Duthie represents the new breed of broadcaster who provides a great balance of knowledge, ability and humour. Yea, humour, it's important. The days of the tired old talking head is over and that was proved somewhat during Sunday's closing ceremonies.

Rather than have Brian Williams host the closing ceremonies, CTV opted for Duthie and it was a refreshing change.

Listen, I like Brian Williams. I've met him, he's a gracious gentleman and I have immense respect for his broadcasting history and what he's accomplished. He makes me look like a third year Humber student.

However by 2010 standards it's time for CTV to switch to somebody like Duthie.

Several times during the Vancouver games I found myself comparing Williams and Duthie and really, there was no comparison. Duthie brings way more to table than Williams.

The days of the authoritative fatherly type walking us through the games are gone. Television is supposed to be fun and entertaining and Duthie's wit, irreverence and easy style trump Williams old fashioned over annunciation every step of the way.

Apparently, part of the reason Williams jumped from CBC to CTV is because the latter won the rights to the 2010 and 2012 games. He wanted to host them.

Oh oh.

If the big brains at CTV are on top of their game they will make the switch sooner than later. Let Duthie host the prime time stuff and give a lesser shift to Williams.

It would seem obvious, but then again, these are the same people that insist on ramming the infuriating Ben Mulroney down our throats.

Category: Sports | Television

Make no mistake about it, what Brian Burke has done to the Toronto Maple Leafs is exactly what Leaf fans have been demanding for years.

Gut the team and start over.

Of course I could remind everyone of that old saying, "watch what you ask for it may come true" but I really don't think it applies in this situation. What Burke has done, and is doing to the Toronto Maple Leafs is the only way improve long term.

Yes, the Phil Kessel trade sticks in the craw of most Leaf fans, but hey kiddies, that's old news, water under the bridge and history we cannot change. All we can do is hope that Burke gets creative in the free-agent market over the next couple of years, or turns some of those third and fourth round draft picks into gold.

But here's another spin on the whole scenario. Why not get creative now, with what they've got?

The Leafs have 20 games remaining on the season and if they don't finish last in the over-all standings they'll be very close. They've got nothing to lose at this point, only things to gain.

How about this, for the remainder of the season why not put Tomas Kaberle at centre ice. Take his skating ability, puck handling ability and play making sense and experiment with it.

Burke maintains that the best way to build a hockey team is from the defense out, and admittedly, he's done a pretty good job of building his defensive core, to the point where Kaberle has become expendable and almost became active in yesterday's trade market.

Instead of playing out the season with Kaberle on defense, with the assumption of trading the guy in the summer, why not do some investigative shuffling. Make him Phil Kessel's centre man for rest of the season and see what happens.

There is absolutely nothing to lose. If it works, great, its one less thing to worry about and the pressure comes off to trade the current longest serving Leaf.

If it doesn't work, then trade the guy.

Category: Sports

I really don't know how to handle this without sounding like a hypocrite, but I guess when you get right down to it, there are a ton of us in this category.

I'm one of those guys who doesn't believe in the Olympics. I think they're a colossal waste of time and money and I've made that point on many occasions. I've said I don't want the Olympics to come to Toronto and besides being a burden on taxpayers, the Olympic movement is rife with corruption and very few at the top can be trusted.

Having said all that, what a great two weeks in Vancouver.

I guess its like anything else, regardless of your position, once the commitment is made the best thing to do is make the most of it and man oh man did Vancouver make the most of it.

All the events were held, all the medals were handed out and most people, other than snobby malcontents, walked away happy, impressed and full of fabulous memories.

That ultimately is part of the satisfaction for me. The British and Russians press were Vancouver's biggest detractors, but in the end they looked absolutely foolish while putting pressure directly on themselves to out-do Canada in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

Great moments? There were a ton of them with the capper being Sidney Crosby's overtime goal. It was excruciatingly painful to watch the closing minutes of regulation time, but in retrospect, it couldn't have had a better finish, an overtime goal scored by Canada's latest hockey icon giving this country a record for gold medals at a Winter Olympics.

It was the final event for a wonderful event and it all went our way. With those 14 gold medals we did own the podium make no mistake about it.

I could go on and on about other poignant moments but I won't. They've been talked about and analyzed by everybody and his brother.

All that matters at this point is that the games were a success and hopefully the price tag won't be too staggering and force all of us to keep paying for decades to come. But it's too late to worry about that now.

And not to close on a downer but I have to mention this. If there was one clear-cut blemish to these Olympics it was the decision by CTV Globemedia to bully their way to the front of the line and have their announcers carry the torch.

And it has nothing to do with journalistic integrity, it has everything to do with earning the right. Kerrin Lee Gartner and Donovan Bailey didn't carry the torch, but Ben Mulroney and Michael Landsberg did. Are you kidding me?

Shameful. Shameful for CTV to think it up and even more shameful for those involved to actually do it. I can only deduce that they were forced to do it.

If any of those broadcasters had entered the Torch Lottery like everyone else and won, cool, there's no problem with that. But to do it the way they did was downright wrong.

They should have declined, I would have.

Category: Sports

One of the most surprising aspects of the Olympics to me was how the Prime Minister came out of it relatively unscathed.

He really seemed to enjoy himself while spending a good portion of the two weeks in Vancouver supporting our athletes.

He was everywhere, at hockey games, the speed skating track, the curling rink and the ski slopes. He always had a smile on his face, was dressed in red and white and seemed genuinely involved.

I kept waiting for the shit to the hit fan. I kept waiting for all the Harper Haters to come out of the woodwork looking for reasons why this was a bad thing, but it really didn't happen.

I expected he'd get roasted for being in Vancouver while Parliament was prorogued, and be accused of watching sports rather than running a government.

But what do know, it seems patriotism ran so deep for a couple of weeks that Liberals laid off and gave the guy a break.

Of course now that the party is over, the Toronto Star is back on the attack.

Category: Politics | Sports

Category: Sports

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

Category: Sports

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

Why we need to get boys out of hockey.

Category: Sports | Stuff

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

I'm I missing something, or has my love of the Toronto Maple Leafs severely affected my thought process when it comes to hockey?

Why isn't Marc-Andre Fleury starting tonight's game against Germany?

He's young, he's solid and he's already a proven winner. Holy cow, he just won a Stanley Cup in a game seven against the Detroit Red Wings. What more do we want?

To my mind, Fleury should have been named the starting goaltender from day one, and screw not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings.

Martin Brodeur is still a fine goaltender, but he's over the hill, and Roberto Luongo, although one of the best in the business as well, has failed to show that he can win the big game.

Fleury has been there and done that and he still hasn't reached his prime.

From reports I'm reading today, there's a mini goaltending controversy on Team Canada right now. Brodeur is pissed that he was yanked, and apparently, he's not hiding his feelings.

This could have been avoided from the very start. Brodeur could have been given a great big thank you for past service, Luongo could have been named back-up and the Stanley Cup champion could have been given the nod.

I'm convinced we'd be farther ahead right now.

Category: Sports

I read Chris Zelkovich's column in the Star yesterday and it gave me a chuckle, that's what happens sometimes when newspaper guys write about the electronic media.

Zelkovich has jumped on the anti-cheerleading bandwagon. He doesn't think CTV should be leading the charge for Canadian accomplishment in Vancouver, preferring the old CBC way of playing it more up the middle.

What Zelkovich overlooks is that CTV is in this thing to make money, or at least keep the red as modest as possible. And it seems to be working because ratings are through the roof.

Zelkovich complains about "relentless plugs for upcoming medal ceremonies, reports on the wild-and-crazy pro-Canada crowds and a slew of commercials boosting this nation's hopes."

He wonders at times if he's watching the Olympics or a Tourism Canada infomercial.

I don't see the big problem.

CTV is doing what any private broadcaster has to do. They're playing to their audience to get ratings and I'll repeat, ratings have never been better.

Zelkovich thinks Brian Williams spent too much time on Saturday night telling us about Jon Montgomery's upcoming gold medal presentation and he thinks Jamie Campbell spends too much time talking about Canadian athletes on the ski slopes.

Sorry Chris, but I like it. When I sit down in front of my TV, and I can speak for my wife as well on this point, I want a clear indication of what my Canadian brothers and sisters are up to. I would have been pissed if I had missed Montgomery's medal presentation.

Thanks to Williams, I didn't

During the Olympics, Canadians tend to care about Canadians and I don't know about you, but that seem to be the most asked question from people I'm around when an event is unfolding.

"Is there a Canadian in this?" Or, "how'd the Canadian do?" How dare CTV actually give the people what they want.

But here was the most bizarre comment in Zelkovich's column. "A foreigner watching Saturday night's broadcast on the main CTV network might have wondered, whatever happened to all those self-effacing Canadians who avoid overt displays of patriotism?"

Who gives a flyin' turd what foreigner s think of a Canadian broadcast meant to serve Canadians? It's got to be one of the most ridiculous observations about radio or TV that Zelkovich has ever made, and believe me, there have been a ton of them over the years.

If anyone at CTV designed the broadcast to serve "foreigners" they would have had their ass kicked out the door long before the games started.

Are there flaws in CTV's presentation? Of course, you can't design anything of this magnitude without having some problems, but for the most part, the network has done a solid job and I'll repeat it one more time, if it's so bad in the eyes of Zelkovich, why are people tuning-in in record numbers?

Actually Zelkovich had to eat it a bit today with his latest column.

At the end, newspaper guy says, "call me a dinosaur, but I prefer the old-fashioned quiet Canadian patriotism."

Yea, and given CTV's ratings, you also subscribe to the old fashioned Canadian way of criticising success.

One thing I will give Zelkovich however, is this - following Jon Montgomery's medal presentation on Saturday night, during an interview Michael Landsberg for some ridiculous reason asked Montgomery to sing a few bars of O' Canada.

Montgomery had sung the anthem loud and proud on the podium so Landsberg's request ruined the moment. It was awkward, uncomfortable and stupid.

Category: Sports

For no other reason that I have this overwhelming premonition, I predict that Team Canada will not score a goal against Ryan Miller tonight. Team Canada will be shutout by Team USA.

It seems the same old problem persists that has dogged Canada in the past several professional international tournaments.... we ain't got no finish.

Hope I'm wrong.

Category: Sports

I caught a couple of periods of the yesterday's women's Olympic hockey game between China and Switzerland and a frightening analogy came to me.

Is there any other sport in the Olympics besides hockey where a ten year old boy could beat an adult woman? I couldn't think of one.

Skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, speed skating... you name it, and it would take an exceptional and exceedingly unique situation for a ten year old boy to beat an adult woman.

But yesterday's hockey game between the Chinese and Swiss left no doubt in my mind. Virtually any team of Triple A ten year old boys could have beaten either women's team on the ice in Vancouver yesterday, and they aren't necessarily the two worst teams in the tournament.

It was a plodding, excruciating and offensive display of the game with several players continuosly falling down for no other reason than they can't skate very well with hockey equipment on.

This madness has to stop. Hopefully after the Olympics are complete the IOC will do the right thing and remove women's hockey from the program. It was a noble experiment, and it will be devastating for Canada and the United States, but really, enough is enough.

It would have been different if some of the other countries, especially Russia, had taken the sport more seriously in the last 18 years since it was adopted as an Olympic sport, but they haven't and it's turned into a two team tournament that borders on useless if not silly.

After three games, Canada has scored 41 goals and has allowed only three. The United States has scored 31 and allowed only one.

Ridiculous.

I take nothing away from the accomplishments of Teams Canada and the USA because you can only play who's put on the ice against you, but this is going nowhere and it's time to face reality.

Believe me, when the inevitable Canada / USA gold medal game happens next Saturday, I'll be in front of my 52 incher and cheering on the good gals like every other Canadian in the country. But that doesn't make the existence of the game valid.

My heart says continue, but my brain says end it. Women's hockey is clearly a failed experiment at the Winter Olympics.

Category: Sports

That performance by Tiger Woods is getting the full gamut of reaction. From those who still think he's a slithering snake, to those who feel there was a good measure of redemption achieved following his overly prepared and awkward speech.

My opinion is this. Beyond not really giving a shit what Tiger does or what happens to him in the months and years ahead, I still think timing was the biggest error.

Tiger should have pulled a David Letterman and addressed the situation as soon as it broke, that way all the speculation, accusations and lost revenue probably would have been avoided.

Yesterday just added to his problems. He filled the room with friends and family, he didn't take questions and he didn't address when he plan on returning to the tour.

All he did really was admit to what we already knew, make himself out to be some kind of a victim of the media and perpetuate the bullshit by running back to an excuse dressed up as sex addiction clinic.

Tiger Woods isn't addicted to sex. This whole scandal comes back to one thing. He got caught. That's it.

Some people are actually applauded Tiger for coming clean and taking responsibility yesterday. What the hell else was he going to do? Blame somebody else for banging bimbos and porn stars on a weekly basis?

Tiger went to Stanford University. That doesn't make him intelligent because under the American system, athletes don't have to be intelligent in order to get degrees, all they have to do is perform on the field, and that's why we shouldn't be surprised by Tiger's intelligence through all of this.

No doubt he's been getting some bad advice. Waiting too long was wrong, hiding too long was wrong and delivering a goofy speech that was too long was wrong.

Every step of the way, this mega-millionaire has been given bargain basement advice but he's been too stupid to realize it. Every day that he remained quiet, was another day for the media, and especially the "new" media to pound this guy into submission.

What a colossal miscalculation, highlighted by coming right off the heels of the Letterman scandal that disappeared almost as quickly as it came simply because Dave jumped on it right away.

That's what you do in the new world of websites and blogging and camera phones but nobody told Tiger and he was too dumb to realize it.

Category: Sports

It was interesting to hear Steve Yzerman claim that Russia should be favoured to win gold at the Olympic hockey tournament.

I'd like to say it's nothing more that mind games, but it's not. What he says may serve to take some pressure off Team Canada, but there's no getting around it, the fire power that the Russians have is a major concern. Couple their offence with Canada's traditional struggle to score goals at these tournaments, and there's trouble on the horizon.

Goaltending is another major issue. We can only hope that Martin Brodeur's recent struggles come from lack of concentration as he looks towards the next couple of weeks. If not, we're in big trouble unless Mike Babcock shows some king sized balls and goes to Roberto Luongo sooner than later.

And on the subject of goaltending, Team USA poses a huge threat if Ryan Miller gets into a groove. The rest of the American squad is good enough to pull this off if Miller throws up a brick wall. However, if there's anything that can counter-balance the potential danger of Team USA, it's Ron Wilson. He's not a very good coach. He's proving it with the Maple Leafs, and hopefully he'll screw things up in Vancouver.

Yzerman also stated that it would be a shame if the NHL does not allow its players to participate in 2014 in Russia. I disagree.

As intriguing as it is to have the world's best players in the Olympics, I don't it's fair to other athletes from Canada and other hockey nations like Sweden, Finland and Russia.

In Canada, the Olympics have become a hockey tournament with some other events placed around them and it's really not fair. Talk to anyone about the games in Canada, and it seems all they want to talk about is hockey. I'm sure it's the same in the other countries I mentioned.

And a while back I mentioned that I think Olympic organizers should take a long hard look at women's hockey. It's simply not competitive enough and to some degree its become silly.

Last night's 18-0 victory for Canada over Slovakia highlights it.

There would be nothing wrong with eliminating women's hockey until more than two nations became competitive. It would be the noble thing to do, but of course you know it won't happen. The backlash would be worse than the ski jumping controversy.

In the meantime, we'll all sit around and watch Canada and the USA humiliate everybody else until they inevitably meet in the gold medal game.

Category: Sports

"How's Habs watch doing these days? I guess it's tough to write a blog like that when the team you hate the most beats Vancouver, Pittsburgh and Washington with 3 of their main players out -15 points ahead of the Leafs and counting.....Oh my little Freddie poo poo."
Freeway Frank

Yes Frank, it is very difficult. I have witnesses who can attest to my disdain and disgust every time I learn of the Habs latest conquest.

It's quite frustrating when a team that has the creepiest fans in all of sport plays well above its head and does the unexpected.

Yes, I eat crow on this this one. The Leafs will not make the playoffs and they will finish behind the Habs, who probably will make the playoffs.

It's been difficult to write this with one hand while holding my nose.

Final note Frankie... enjoy it while you can...

Category: Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded a shit load of players today, and if you care about the Leafs I'm sure you know who they are.

But to my mind, Brian Burke missed the boat by not making the most obvious move. He didn't fire coach Ron Wilson.

It doesn't matter who the Leafs bring to town because it's obvious they won't be coached to the level they need to be.

What ails the Maple Leafs had little to do with Matt Stajan or Ian White, but it had everything to do with a lousy system and bad habits that a coach is responsible for.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with the trades because at this point, it can't hurt, but icing on the cake would have been the announcement that Wilson is gone as well.

It's a frustrating situation for Leaf fans, and Burke would never admit it, but Wilson remains with the Leafs exclusively because of his ties to Team USA. It would look bad for Burke, who hired Wilson for both the Leafs and the American National team, to fire the guy just days before the Olympics start.

How weird is that, the Toronto Maple Leafs suffer because of Team USA.

It's beyond stupid. Wilson should be outa here.

Category: Sports

Sunrise, FLA - What can I say; last night was probably the lowest point ever for me as a Leaf fan.

I paid twenty bucks for two tickets for the Leaf game in Florida last night, and it was twenty bucks too much.

Like hundreds of other loser Leaf fans I sort of planned my vacation around a Leaf road game and was somewhat looking forward to it.

We drove up to Sunrise in the afternoon, I endured a couple of hours at the Sawgrass Mall, we had a great dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then we headed across the parking lot to the BankAmerica Center to look for tickets.

I got two twenty dollar seats for ten bucks each, and then we went back to the car and did what you're apparently supposed to do when following your team on the road.

We put on Leaf jerseys.

What a miserable game. The Leafs sucked the big one and sitting there, it made me contemplate that this may be the worst Leaf team I've ever experienced

I know, I know. I lived through the 70's and 80's when the Leafs were horrendous, and it's been pretty slim since they last made a run in 2002, but this current team is sickening and most of the blame has to rest on the shoulders of the coach.

And that's the crazy thing; I still believe this team could be a lot better than it is. They've showed signs of promise a few times during the season, but it seems their coach, a guy whose way too cocky and condescending for someone who has no results to point to, doesn't know what he's doing.

It's fine to watch games on television but sometimes you actually have to be there to appreciate some things and that's what happened to me last night.

Isn't it the coach's job to tell his players to shoot more on the power-play? Isn't the coach's job to do something about the worst penalty kill in the league? Isn't it the coach's job to tell his players to finish their checks? Isn't it the coach's job to instill team discipline that prevents defensive break downs that minor atoms shouldn't make?

Let's go back to the game against Tampa Bay on Thursday night. Shouldn't the coach shoulder some of the blame for the ridiculous melt-down that Alexie Ponikarovsky had?

Where's the team discipline?

Shouldn't the coach be held responsible for a "too many men on the ice" penalty during overtime?

No discipline.

Isolated, these things happen. But with the Leafs they happen way too often and meanwhile the team is showing absolutely no progress. If anything, they're going in the other direction, and to my mind, a lot of it has to do with coaching.

And while we're at it, what about the General Manager? It might be OK if he quietly went about his business, but he too is awfully cocky for a guy who was going to bring chance to the organization and then turned around and traded away two first round draft choices for an average player.

He's got no right to act like he does, like he's smarter than everyone else. Shit, me and six of my best friends would have known not to trade first round draft choices.

Brian Burke has no been reduced to a nervous wreck whose terrifed that Boston may end up with the first pick over-all.

Same with the coach, he talks a big game before and afterwards, but during the game his team looks like a freakin' mess, a disorganized, undisciplined collection of under-achievers.

Again, I realize this team is far from good, but they should be doing better than they are.

The only saving grace in all of this is that Ron Wilson will coach Team USA at the Olympics. We can only hope he maintains the same standard.

It's fascinating. I looked around the arena last night and it was heavily dotted with Leaf jerseys. People like me who worked a game into their vacation. Dedicated Leaf fans who stick with their team through thick and thin, but what do they get in return?

Nothing.

And I know what's happening right now. There are Hab fans reading this and laughing at my prediction that the Leafs would finish ahead Montreal this year. Go ahead and laugh, you deserve it.

But don't get too ahead of yourself. That team of yours ain't so hot either, and there's a collapse coming just like last year.

As for your joy in the mess that is the Toronto Maple Leafs, thank Ron Wilson.

Category: Sports

It's no secret that I'm not much of an NBA fan. It doesn't help that I'm not big on the actual game itself, but when you include the boatload of idiots who play in the NBA it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Having said that, I've gotta say I'm immensely impressed with NBA commissioner David Stern and the Washington Wizards.

Stern showed remarkable leadership in suspending Gilbert Arenas indefinitely without pay and the Wizards showed class by supporting it.

In an era when athletes are coddled and protected and allowed to think they answer to a different set of rules than the rest of us, it was great to see the commissioner smack Arenas upside the head with a suspension that has teeth, and even better to see the Wizards react the way they have.

The team has removed nearly all traces of the player from their home arena, including Arenas merchandise with his jersey No. 0 and a huge banner with his photo that used to hang outside.

So far, everything has been done correctly.

But that will probably change. As I said in a posting a couple of weeks ago, I think Arenas should have his contract cancelled and be thrown out of the NBA for life, but that's wishful thinking

In today's world, that would be considered extreme and Stern and the NBA would be criticized for not giving a man a second chance, and from there I'm sure it would become a human rights issue and then it would morph into a racial issue.

By pleading guilty to a felony gun charge yesterday, without a doubt the backroom dealings are already taking place. Arenas pled guilty, which means he'll receive a sentence well below the maximum five years. Once that's determined then the NBA will show compassion and allow him back into the game with several conditions.

Personally, I won't like it. By taking a gun into an NBA locker room, Arenas has blemished professional sport well beyond what it deserves and in this case I don't think there should be room for a second chance.

But hey, as its been point out to me on several occasions in the comment section of this blog, I'm just a bitter old hard ass.

Category: Sports

From the Toronto Star: After Tuesday night's loss, the Leafs fell to within four points of the last-place Hurricanes in the East, while remaining a threadbare two points out of second-last overall in the league.

They have outshot opponents 12 times in the last 14 games - including a whopping 40-18 margin against Carolina on Tuesday night - but have won only three times during that span.

Category: Sports

NBA suspends Arenas indefinately.

Hopefully it's step one of this creep being thrown out of the NBA forever.

Category: Sports

Looking forward to last night's hockey game, I decided to seek some atmosphere so I wandered over to Champs Sports Bar in the trendy (for Peterborough) Charlotte Mews area.

I was joined by a couple of Wolf buddies, morning man TJ Connors and production wizard Ryan Lalonde.

We got a decent table not far from the large projection screen, but far enough to be separated by a table that featured a couple of Milfs. (They received this designation from TJ and Ryan)

Anyway, in order to watch the game I had to have this one particular woman in my sight lines and it was interesting to see her sobriety decline as the night went along. At first she appeared to be proper and polite, but as she continued to pound the ales she became louder and more animated with her body movements.

I think it was somewhere around the middle of the second period that she started to wave her arms and let out the odd "wahoo" while doing just about everything but watch the game.

At one point, without the assistance of music, she started to "sit dance". You know, when someone remains seated but dances in their chair from the waist up. I hate it, and I really hated her doing it, but eventually I cut her some slack because it turns out she had a broken foot.

She wore a cast.

At one point during one of her seat dancing sessions she leaned forward and I caught a glimpse of her thong. It wasn't one of those moments that takes your breath away, rather it was one of those moments that takes your virility away.

The thong was one of those really stringy things that rode up very high on her hips, and it was obvious the part that cupped her "va hoo hoo" was also rather slim.

The thong appeared to be old, and yellow in colour with black faces on it. The opposite of smiley faces. I don't know if there's a term for smiley faces with the smile turned upside down, but that's what she sported and I wasn't surprised because I'd have a scowl on my face too if I had to engage that ars.

As the game wore on, she became measurably more aggravating and during overtime, she stood up on her broken foot a couple of times and blocked the screen.

Now I ask you, do you think Freddie P. was happy at this point? Far fuckin' from it, and it didn't help that as she stood up her jeans were extremely low cut and the thong continued to ride high in a crooked and awkward fashion.

I was almost happy when Team USA scored in overtime to end this madness. Team Canada didn't deserve to win and I didn't deserve to be exposed to the sideshow in front of me.

But it got worse. Right after Team USA scored the winner a slender woman from the back of the room ran up to "thong lady" and lifted her shirt, sweater and bra and exposed her perky boobs with rather large areolas. This prompted thong woman to do the same, exposing her "better than I thought they'd be boobs" to the entire bar. And it wasn't a brief glimpse. She stood there and gyrated her hips in classic peeler fashion.

I shook my head in disbelief. A Tuesday night in a local down to earth sports bar, Team Canada had just lost the World Juniors and this was taking place in front of me.

But there's more.

After covering up, the two women in question, not six feet in front of me, started to have a conversation and while slight and perky stood there, thong woman reached out and started to rub her friend's reproductive area.

No kidding. As they talked, hop-along Sue was caressing the inside of the other women's thighs and then deliberately sliding her hand up and rubbing her love patch... and she spent quite a bit of time there.

Needless to say, a good portion of the fellas that were in the area enjoyed what they saw and started hootin' and hollerin' but I was quite different and it was at this point I realized that I must be getting old.

I like lesbo stuff just as much as the next guy, and there was a time that such a show, even with two-bit players would have revved my engine to some degree.

Not this time, I lost my patience, and screamed for them to sit down so I could watch Sportscentre.

You've gotta love Peterborough.

Category: Short Stories | Sports

It happened again. Last night while watching the game at Champs another person mis-took me for Brampton Battalion coach Stan Butler. Here's a little video I put together a couple of years ago to address the subject.

Category: Sports

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

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

Oilers go ballistic over 18 thousand dollar tab.

Category: Sports | Stuff

I found Saturday's World Junior hockey game a tad on the embarrassing side. There is no glory in Team Canada pounding an opponent 16-0.

I don't blame our players or coaches for this. If you're going to play a game, you have to play a game, and if the opportunity to score a goal in a tournament that uses goal differential presents itself, you've got to put the biscuit in the basket.

I blame the organizers. I can't help but feel the World Junior Hockey Championship is like the cart before the horse.

They want to hold a tournament but there's no use holding it with less than eight teams, so they go out and recruit teams not because they're competitive or worthy, but simply because it allows them to complete the field and create more games to which they can charge admission.

Latvia does not belong in the tournament, and including them does nothing but make Team Canada look ruthless and expose the depth of hockey world wide.

This tournament is designed for two countries now, Canada and the United States. They've pretty well given up on holding it in Europe because nobody comes, so now Canada hosts it more than it should, and next years tournament will be played in Buffalo which really means Southern Ontario.

The best way to sell tickets is to have Canada play the United States in the final and I think even the Czechs and Russians have caught on because they don't seem to put the same effort into preparing teams as they used to.

It's hard to detect through all our patriotism and pride, but the tournament is slowly becoming a farce.

Which brings me to another point - are you ready for it - Women's hockey should be eliminated from the Olympics. It serves no purpose what so ever.

Don't get me wrong, when Canada inevitably plays the United States in the gold medal game I get as revved up as the next guy, but holding this tournament for two teams is absolutely pointless.

They invite Sweden and Russia and Finland and China to make it look like there's a reason for it all, but there isn't. It's a colossal waste of time that in the end makes the only two competitive combatants look rather silly.

This sport needs several more years of development to make it Olympic worthy.

Needless to say, in many corners I will considered a big turd for saying this, and I'm sure the feminist fringe would yell and scream at such a move, but come on, there's got to be a better use of effort, ice time and talent than a two team hockey tournament.

Of course ending it would never happen. Look at what happened with the world's three or four female ski jumpers a few weeks ago.

They went straight to the Supreme Court of Canada to force their way into the Vancouver Olympics, not because it made sense, but because they're women and they wanted to be there.

Forget that there aren't enough qualified women to make it a competition, or that this sport generally is still in its infancy or that there are IOC standards clearly in place, the women ski jumpers used human rights as their spring board and created quite a stir.

In the end they were logically denied, but it was enough of a shit storm that the very suggestion of eliminating women's hockey would make organizers run for the Rockies.

Category: Sports

The sins of Tiger Woods

Category: Sports

This is going to be huge. The Roy Halladay trade could prove to the largest most impactful trade in the history of Toronto professional sports.

That may sound a little dramatic, but I truly believe that this trade could mean the end of the Blue Jays in Toronto. It sends the wrong message at the wrong time and the results will be disastrous.

Even with Halladay in the lineup the Jays had trouble drawing fans. What's it going to be like now that Jay fans have been told the franchise really isn't interested in winning for the next few years and they aren't interested in competing for top notch talent while playing in baseball's toughest division?

Toronto doesn't have baseball fans, it never has. Toronto used to have Blue Jay fans but that was back in the glory days of the late 80's and early 90's, when the Skydome was full of people who loved the Blue Jays who just happened to play baseball.

It was a feel good thing back then. The Jays were relatively new and they were competing and beating some of the biggest names in pro sports like the Yankees and Red Sox and Braves and Phillies. Torontonians considered this pretty heady stuff. We were making a statement right across North America and we enjoyed the spotlight.

Then as you know, the light became dim and the teams became timid and people fell out of love with the Blue Jays and therefore stopped watching baseball because they really didn't care for it to begin with.

This coming summer will be ugly. Crowds of ten and eleven thousand that were the exception last year will become the norm this year. There will be absolutely no reason for a Blue Jay fan to pay for tickets, parking and exorbitantly priced food next year.

There will be no upside, there will be no payoff. There will be nothing more than a faceless team playing in an outdated stadium in a city that offers many more attractive things to do and the break point won't be that far down the road.

No fans will mean a small payroll and a small payroll will mean no wins and that will take us back to no fans and with no fans there won't be much use continuing in Toronto.

Yes my friends this trade is huge because the trading one body will ultimately mean the demise of an entire franchise.

The Blue Jays are done. Thanks for the memories.

Category: Sports

Leafs 6 Columbus 3
Buffalo 6 Habs 4

Leafs have won four of their last five, and have lost only five of their last 19 games in regulation time.

Habs have lost four in a row.

Any Hab fan will tell you the Leafs are a horrifically bad team, but just for the record, the Leafs now trail Montreal by just three points with a game in hand.

Now, let's go back to a declaration I made last spring.

From CanadianThinker.com - April 23, 2009

"I guarantee for at least the next five years the Toronto Maple Leafs will finish ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the standings. Do you hear me? Do you comprehend Hab fans, the next five years."

Category: Sports

Category: Fun Stuff | Sports

You should never jump to conclusions or accuse without proof, but you've got to believe there's a lot more to the Tiger Woods story.

Leaving his house at 2:25 in the morning and taking out a fire hydrant and a tree in the process raises some big time flags.

There have been stories recently that Tiger has been droppin' his putter into a different bag and his knock-out wife Elin ain't too impressed, so it should be interesting to see how this unfolds over the next few days.

The "other" woman is rumoured to be a New Yorker named Rachel Uchitel, who like Elin is a baby come on, let's be doing it kind of gal.

You've got to wonder what Tiger is thinking given his squeekly clean image. There are a lot of people who'd like to have an affair with Tiger, including Humble Howard, but it's another thing for Tiger to bite.

He's got a lot to lose. Unless he's socked so much money away he has decided to start thinking with his pecker......................

Category: Sports

I was the halls of Corus Toronto last week and during a chat with John Derringer he brought it to my attention that former Globe and Mail sports columnist William Houston had launched his own website.

He calls it Truth and Rumours, just like the popular column he wrote for the Globe for many a year.

I've been visiting it daily and I really enjoy it. Especially the way Houston isn't afraid to take shots at his former employer and guys he worked with.

But one thing I really enjoyed this week was a simple line attached to a column in which Houston slammed former colleague David Shoalts.

"Hockey Night in Canada should drop its on-going discussion about the NHL Players' Association. Nobody cares. It's inside baseball, it's incomprehensible and it's boring."

Bingo.

For the past several weeks while watching Hockey Night in Canada both Neighbour John and I have made the same observation.

Who gives a flyin' fuck. Ron Mclean and the rest of the fellas on the second intermission panel seem fascinated by the NHLPA and its troubles, but the average guy could give a shit.

Not even union guys who can't relate to a union that really isn't a union.

I can't believe that the powers that be at HNIC haven't clued in told them to knock it off because as Houston intimates, it's a huge tune out factor.

Or a good time to go and have a pee.

Category: Sports

Cox: A son's secret, Brian Burke's love

Category: Sports

Leafs 5 Detroit 1
Lightning 3 Habs 1

Leafs trail Montreal by five points with two games in hand.

The Leafs could over-take Montreal faster than I thought.

Category: Sports

Holy cow, if in the minds of Montreal fans the Leafs suck, what does that say about the Habs?

There's a big difference between the Habs and Leafs right now, and that's direction.

The Leafs are headed in the right direction, while the Habs are blowin' their load early in the season with a one dimensional team that will definitely run out of gas, guts and goals by mid-season.

Mark my words people, the Toronto Maple Leafs will end up with more points than the Canadiens by the end of the year and the tide will start to turn within the next couple of weeks.

I know what a lot of you are thinking, I must out of my mind, but remember I'm the guy who predicted to the demise of the Habs last season, and this year's team isn't as good as last year's.

Look at Habs results so far this season. They've really only got two victories. One over Buffalo thanks to a fluky overtime goal by Brian Gionta and they beat the Rangers in overtime, other than that, its two desperate victories over the Leafs, one against Atlanta and two against the Islanders.

Of course a Hab fan will counter with this. "What have the Leafs done?" Well actually they've had a much tougher schedule than the Habs, and they've gotten progressively better over the past couple of weeks.

All I can say is, "we'll see." Habs fans are rejoicing tonight, even though they had that nauseating "na na na" song shoved down their throats, but it won't last long. Gomez, Gionta and Cammellari will be reduced to nothing when the dog days arrive, while the Leafs will have found their stride by then.

And let me repeat. I'm not predicting the Leafs will make the playoffs, or even play .500 this season. I predicted before the season started that the Leafs would finish with more points than the Habs and tonight's game, even though it was another "Toskaloss", only reinforces that belief.

And remember something else. This isn't about inflating the Leafs, it's all about giving Hab fans a reality check. It is they who claim the Leafs are awful, and that their pip squeak team is a contender, but that just isn't true.

Then again Hab fans are the most disgusting in all of pro sports.

Over the long stretch it will be proven. The Leafs will be the better team.

Category: Sports

I'm writing this before the Leafs game against Colorado tonight. I've got some laundry to do and shirts to iron before heading back to Peterborough tomorrow morning.

I also have a spaghetti sauce to make for tomorrow night. My good friends Dan and Jackie Duran have invited me for dinner for the third time in two weeks so I thought it appropriate for me to bring the grub this time.

Dan and Jackie have bought a beautiful house in the hills of Cavan just east of Peterborough so it gives me a place to go from time to time when I don't feel like being alone.

They make me feel like family.

Anyway, back to the Leafs. I notice several people have started to pollute my inbox with questions.

Questions like - hey Fred I notice you're pretty quiet on the Leafs, are you embarrassed.
And - Hmmm.. intersting that Fred is silent on the whole Leafs issue. What are your thoughts now on the Leafs success this season compared with the Habs?

There are several more but I'm sure you get the idea. The Leafs have been sucking the hind tit so Hab fans are coming out the wood work to rub my nose in it. But that's typical of Hab fans.

To be honest, I really don't have a lot to say about it so far. The only thing I predicted for this season is that the Leafs would finish ahead of the Habs and I'm still pretty comfortable with that.

The Leafs are 0 and 5 while the Habs are 2 and 3. They lead the Leafs by three points with the season hardly out of the snatch. There is still lots of time.

Put it this way, both these clunkers will probably miss the playoffs. Remember on several occasions while predicting the Leafs would finish ahead of the Habs this year I said I wasn't sure if the Leafs would make the playoffs.

I still haven't moved off that.

The Leafs suck. I just hope the Habs suck more.

Category: Sports

It was a great couple of hours in the studios of Corus Peterborough. The great Bobby Orr was in town to promote his association with Chevrolet and their Fair Play program and he stopped by the studios of the Wolf and Kruz.

We thought we'd have him for an hour, but we had him for two.

Bobby Orr is what every pro athlete active or retired should represent, class, compassion and humility.

Needless to say, all human beings should offer these qualities, but let's not kid ourselves, famous people are often held to a higher standard and much too often they fail the grade.

Having said that, as someone who covered a lot of pro sports over the years, it's amazing how Canadian professional hockey players are in a league of their own when it comes to being down to earth, decent nice guys.

Bobby Orr was simply fantastic today. He was great with our morning shows, he was great with the staff and he was wonderful with the people who showed up to catch a glimpse and an autograph.

He talked about the Fair Play program that he initiated and he also took the time to talk all aspects of his hockey and his career. He even showed me the scars on his knees.

Number four, Robert Gordon Orr.

Category: Sports

I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, so I'll let you slide over to Toronto Mike's site for all the tear jerking details.

Mats Sundin retired today. Big Deal.

If you've been reading this website for any length of time you know I've never been a big Mats Sundin fan. I had many an argument with many a Sundin-sucker over the years but I felt totally vindicated when he left Toronto the way he did.

Even though he had a no trade contract, he slapped Toronto fans in the face by not accepting a trade which would allow the Leafs to get something in return. Then he finishes out the season and skips town.

He screwed all the people he claims to love.

Not only that, he was a king-sized miserable failure whenever there money on the line. He was a playoff poof who never took us anywhere.

Gary Roberts was the man.

Bye Mats. Bite my clank.

Category: Sports

From CanadianThinker.com - April 23, 2009

"I guarantee for at least the next five years the Toronto Maple Leafs will finish ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the standings. Do you hear me? Do you comprehend Hab fans, the next five years."

No I haven't forgotten and I'm not backing down.

Hab fans are all revved up over the off-season acquisitions of Bob Gainey, but Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta are a couple of under-achievers whose best days are behind them.

They're a little on the small side too, which means as the season drags on they'll slowly disappear much like Alex Kovalev did on many an occasion for the Habs.

However, I must say. Gomez and Gionta have a lot more heart that Kovalev, who fittingly became an Ottawa Senator during the off-season. Talk about the perfect fit.

I will give the Habs credit for one move during the off-season. Mike Cammalleri, although a little on the small side like Gomez and Gionta is a fine hockey player.

Problem is, he aint' too bright. Apparently he could have signed with the Leafs but chose to Montreal instead. I hope he doesn't mind getting pushed around.

Can you imagine? He had the opportunity to join the Leafs and be surrounded by some size, but instead chooses the Habs who are headed in the opposite direction of the Leafs.

I guess he wants to be a big fish in a leaky pond.

And just so it's clear I ain't backin' down, let me say it again.

"I guarantee for at least the next five years the Toronto Maple Leafs will finish ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the standings. Do you hear me? Do you comprehend Hab fans, the next five years."

And the crazy thing is, I'm not sure the Leafs will make the playoffs this year.

Baby come on!

Category: Sports

This is a paragraph from Damien Cox's column in the Toronto Star today, and it just about says it all.

"Right now, had the NHL seen the future and cut a deal with Balsillie, the sport would be abuzz over the arrival of a new Hamilton franchise, with all those young players gathered by the Coyotes organization finally having a meaningful place to showcase their talent.

It's so true. Just think if the NHL had done the right thing and allowed a billionaire to buy a trouble franchise and move it to a rich and hungry for hockey market.

A Balisillie take-over of the Coyotes makes so much sense on so many levels the current situation has only done damage to everyone concerned.

The Coyotes, because they're a like a ship without rudder. The league because they look petty and silly and incompetent for rejecting such strong ownership. And to Canadian hockey fans who have been nothing short of insulted by the whole process.

The team belongs in Hamilton, has the building, money and ownership to be Hamilton, but the league says no simply because it is Hamilton.

Damien Cox makes a great point. What if. What if the league had taken the logical route by recognizing the failure in Phoenix and giving the team to the rich Canadian guy who wants to put it in a city that would absolutely adore it.

Gary Bettman could have looked brilliant rather than as Cox puts it - "a man whose lost his mind over this disaster and become nearly delirious, like a man crawling through the desert unable to distinguish reality from mirage. He doesn't seem to know what it's fighting for any more, just that it's fighting against Balsillie."

Amen

Category: Sports

Integrity? NHL governors live in glass house.

Category: Sports

I think it's wonderful that Jim Balsillie has now set his sights on Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, because you can bet your ass they are the driving force behind keeping Balsillie out of the NHL.

Balsillie has requested a deposition from MLSE President Richard Peddie through the court proceedings in Phoenix. Under oath, he wants Peddie to answer some questions about territorial rights and motives.

Of course Peddie remains deathly quiet and the NHL rejects the request by claiming the Leafs and Peddie have had very little to do with any of this.

Bullshit.

As much of a skunk that Gary Bettman has become, you know the Leafs are the background cheering him on to prevent a team from coming to Hamilton.

And make no mistake about it. This has very little to do with money, and just about everything to do with image from a Leaf standpoint.

A team in Hamilton will not affect the Leafs in any way monetarily. The ACC will still be full and the Leafs will still be the focus Hockey Night in Canada and they'll still sell just as many souvenirs. They will continue to be the area's heritage team and a lavish cash cow.

What the Leafs are most concerned with is this - they don't want a team in Hamilton
because they don't want the team in Hamilton to become better than they are. I'm convinced this is the over-riding factor. Forty two years of incompetence will do that to you.

The last thing the Leafs want is a team 30 miles down the road with a better players and better record than they have. The last thing they need is a team 30 miles down the road making the playoffs while they don't.

In a nutshell, the Leafs don't want a team in Hamilton because Leaf management has no balls.

They don't look at Jim Balsillie as a challenge; they look at him as a threat. They realize Basillie has a history of hiring good people and creating a successful business, and that scares the livin' shit out of them.

The last thing they want is for Jim Balsillie to come into the market and do within a couple of years, what they've failed to do in forty-plus years. It's all about ego.

The Leafs have nothing to worry about from a financial stand-point, five million people in the GTA guarantee enough fans for both teams and to think a team in Hamilton would cause a reduction in Leaf ticket prices is a farfetched fantasy.

The Leafs don't want a team in Hamilton for one reason and one reason only. They don't want a Hamilton team to win more than they do.

Category: Sports

According to documents recently revealed surrounding the shit storm in Phoenix, the NHL claims that Argo owners Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon are among the groups who are interested in buying the Coyotes and keeping them in Arizona.

If that's true, I won't go to another Argo game as long as these guys own em'.

Of all the unpatriotic moves a couple of multi-millionaires could make this is it, and its got to cut right to the bone in Hamilton.

After all these years, just when Hamilton can taste an NHL team, it could be a couple of Argo guys who prevent it from happening. How cruel.

Although, to be honest, I've got to believe there's more to this story that meets the eye.

Sokolowski and Cynamon aren't stupid. They've made some brilliant business moves over the past decade that have vaulted them into money heaven, so I can't believe they actually want to buy the Coyotes, who are really a dog, and keep them in a city that doesn't care about them.

I've got the feeling that this might be Gary Bettman working behind scenes, continuing his personal battle with Jim Balsillie.

Maybe Bettman has already come to the conclusion that another team in Southern Ontario is a formality and something he won't be able to prevent, so rather than fight it, he's decided to arrange it, meaning if it's going to happen he at least wants a say in who will own the club.

It seems like the only logical explanation. The Argo guys appear to be way too smart to start throwing money at an NHL team in the desert, so they must have assurances that if they play the NHL's game and pretend they have every intention of keep the team in Phoenix, then eventually Bettman will give them the green light to move north.

Ultimately that may be bad for the Hamilton because word is the Argo guys favour a new arena at Downsview, but it will be great news for long suffering hockey fans who can't afford to get anywhere near the ACC for a Leaf game.

It's just another strange twist in a compelling story that should come to a head on Tuesday when a bankruptcy court in Phoenix decides which way this is going to go.

Personally, I hope Balsillie gets it. I love his style in dealing with the little twerp Bettman who given his own way, would never entertain the idea of another team coming to the GTA. Right now he seems to be cornered like a rat and his only way out is to save face is for him to choose the owner who will inevitably bring another team to Southern Ontario.

It all sucks and it all stinks and that's why I want Balsillie to win this battle and knock Bettman on his tight little ass.

Category: Sports

I realize that referring to a billionaire who wants a hockey team as a great Canadian would be a stretch to some, but that's what Jim Balsillie is

He's a great Canadian with great big huge balls.

His aggressive attempt to win another NHL team for Southern Ontario is nothing short of remarkable. His willingness to spit in the eye of the little twerp who's running the league is a thing of beauty.

Make no mistake about it, over the long haul Jim Balsillie is in it for Jim Balsillie because if he's successful he'll realize a life long dream of being part of the NHL, but he's also doing it for all Canadians. He's taking the rest of us along for the ride and so far it's been a gas.

Let's face it, Gary Bettman can say all he wants but he wants no part of another NHL team in Canada and that's the bottom line to all of this.

You know it, I know it but most of all Jim Balsillie knows it so it's become a personal challenge that could eventually benefit us all. Balsillie has the wear withal to jump into the ring with Bettman and he's willing to do it regardless of the cost.

Balsillie knows the only way another hockey team will ever come to Canada is as he put it earlier this week "through the side door", so he's willing to do whatever it takes to conquer Bettman's ridiculous process of placing NHL teams in markets that not only can't support them, but markets that don't even want them.

Balsillie is a Canadian guy who's pissed at the process and after being rejected not once but twice by a league that seems hell bent on self destruction he's figured out a way to force the issue.

And it's that force that I love.

Some people argue that he's going about it the wrong way, but really, there is no other way. Bettman doesn't want Canada under any circumstances so Basillie has found a way to pick the lock and move towards exposing the obvious.

Another NHL team in Canada makes way more sense than going to ANY other market in the United States right now. Basillie knows this team will be a huge success and he knows if succeeds in bringing the Coyotes to Southern Ontario he'll make Bettman look like a bloody idiot.

And that's the flipside to this whole thing.

Bettman can yack about league rules and protocol and a bunch of other shit, but right now I think his biggest concern is ego. He wants to be the guy who made the NHL a big deal in the United States. But it aint' gonna happen, it's obvious, but Bettman won't admit it and the league is slowly sinking because of it.

If or when the Hamilton Whatevers become reality, they'll be such a smash hit the questions will have to fly.

Why did Bettman want to go into places like Kansas City and Portland when there was a huge market to tap in Canada? Why are their teams struggling in Phoenix and Columbus and Miami when there are people in Canada thirsting for NHL hockey?

Jim Basillie may be a radical when it comes to his methods, but in the end he could force the answers to all these questions and expose Bettman for what he is and in the process give Canada its seventh team.

That's why Jim Balsillie is a great Canadian.

Category: Sports

I have always been vehemently opposed to taxpayer money being used to finance professional sport but this situation is different.

Word is that Jim Basillie, who put up a quarter billion dollars of his own money to buy the Phoenix Coyotes, would like the federal and provincial governments to provide the 130 million dollars needed to upgrade Copps Coliseum.

Believe me, if this was Toronto or Montreal or Vancouver I'd be dead against it. I wouldn't like it if it were Edmonton, Calgary or Winnipeg either.

Why should taxpayers pay for what amounts to the factory for a multi-million dollar business - especially a place for grown men to play a kids game at exorbitant amounts of money.

But again, this situation is different. This is Hamilton and if any city in Canada deserves a break, it's Steeltown, a struggling city with fabulous people that's in the midst of an industrial revolution. As the steel industry dies in Hamilton, this feisty little city is scrambling to re-invent itself and re-furbishing Copps to NHL standards is something that would help immensely.

Yes, Jim Balsillie is a billionaire and he could probably afford to re-furbish Copps himself, but he's already done his part by swooping in and grabbing a team in a league that otherwise wouldn't dream of coming to Hamilton.

A re-furbished Copps Coliseum, with at least 41 NHL dates a year would do wonders for downtown Hamilton.

Up until now, Copps has been somewhat of a lame duck because although it was built with the NHL in mind, it got screwed over time and time again and there's never been a consistent bona fide attraction operating out of the building.

An NHL team would be different. It would give the city a new attitude and I'm sure restaurants, bars and condos would be soon to follow.

In a lot of cases, most cases in fact, tax money being thrown at pro sports is a bad deal for the taxpayer, but in Hamilton it would be a clear cut investment. But most of all, it would be a reward for the great people of Hamilton, hard working and proud people who've played second fiddle to Toronto and the surrounding area far too long.

They've been slapped around by the NHL far too many times as well, so if Balsillie manages to pull this off and actually win control of the Coyotes it's the least we could do for the Hammer.

They deserve it.

Category: Politics | Sports

Talk about timing. On a day when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made it perfectly clear, once again, that he doesn't want another NHL franchise in Canada, Neighbour John calls me from Raliegh, North Carolina.

John is on a business trip and he was only an hour away from the site of tonights game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins, so he swung by to see if he could get a ticket.

Of course he could. It's freakin' Raleigh, North Carolina for cryin' out loud. Another Bettman hockey hotbed where the fans could give two shits about the NHL.

Three hours before the game, Neighbour John walked up to the box office where there was no lineup, and he purchased a seat for 60 dollars. It's a decent seat , about half way up the stands, but that's not the point, the point is this - on a game night there was actually a ticket available for game three of a quarter-final series.

Can you imagine if this game was being played in Hamilton, or Kitchener-Waterloo or Vaughn? Do you think there would have been a ticket available three weeks ago let alone three hours ago? Do you think it would cost 60 lousy bucks?

The irony of it all.

On yet another day that Gary Bettman slaps all Canadians in the face with his indignant attitude towards our country, here's another example of how pathetic the imbalance is between Canada and some of the ridiculous markets in the U.S. that Bettman endorses.

Game three of a Stanley Cup quarter-final series in Raleigh, North Carolina will not be sold out tonight.

John says there were lots of tickets available, so even if you hear it was sold out, it will be bullshit - another attempt to make the NHL look healthier than it is.

If this game was being played in the GTA tonight it would be a completey different story. The game would be sold-out and packed with nothing but die-hard fans who love the game, appreciate the game and want the game.

Bettman is an enemy of Canada.

The prick.

Balsillie faces NHL backlash.

Category: Neighbour John | Sports

* It's highly recommended to play this audio while reading the following item.

The most surprising thing about this past season for the Montreal Canadiens is that their so-call knowledgeable fans were fooled by it.

I don't want to keep beating a dead horse, but I told you way back last spring after the Habs were eliminated from the playoffs that this team was a dog. As you know I predicted they wouldn't make the playoffs this year, and although I was ultimately wrong, I wasn't too far off and in the end they played a measly four more games than the Maple Leafs this year.

I mention the Leafs because it's important. It's important because as I said from about February on, the Leafs are a better team than the Montreal Canadiens. Maybe not on paper, but definitely on the ice and next year the paper thing will probably change as well.

The Canadiens have very little cap space and ten unrestricted free-agents. That's a big problem and it will be played out this way.

I guarantee for at least the next five years the Toronto Maple Leafs will finish ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the standings. Do you hear me? Do you comprehend Hab fans, the next five years.

But believe me, that's not saying a lot because the Habs are going to suck the big one.

Bob Gainey went into this 100th anniversary season with a strategy. Use a pile of free-agents who would be hungry as hell to earn new contracts. Often unrestricted free-agents have career years because they're playing for a pot of gold, unfortunately for the Habs, it didn't work out.

Here's why.

Because at the top of that list was Alex Kovalev. I hate to keep saying I told you so, but I did. I said on many occasions if Alex Kovalev is the face of your team, if he's your so-called go-to guy, then you're in huge trouble.

The rest is now history. I'm convinced that during the four game series against Boston Kovalev's main focus was starting his summer as quickly as he could.

As a Leaf fan I'd love the Habs to re-sign this guy, but they probably won't.

We keep hearing that Montreal's off-season focus will be Vincent Lecavalier which is odd when you think about it. With no cap space, to sign Lecavalier the Habs will have to say goodbye to several others, so what's the use of having Lecabalier when you have nothing else?

It's not a pretty situation in Montreal and the fans aren't happy about it, but their discontent will only be heightened next year and at least the next four after that while they're looking up at the Maple Leafs.

But Montreal fans shouldn't be too critical, because as shitty as their team will become, they're just as bad.

Fickle, fair weather and uneducated.

That was played out last night with the way they reacted to their 21 year old goaltender.

Category: Sports

Category: Sports

This is better than I imagined.

Like any Hab hater I was hoping / expecting a four game sweep, but in the back of my mind I thought that maybe the Habs would show up and do something once they returned to the friendly confines of "na na na ville"

But wow, this team is shittier than I thought they were and injuries absolutely cannot be used as an excuse. Injuries are part of the game, and if you listen to most blowhard Hab fans they're so great they could send the 1955 team out there and still win.

Which makes me think about the advertising on the end boards at the dumbBell Centre.

There's a big Viagra on one of the panels. I suggest before the next game they tie Alex Kovalev down and pump him full of the shit. I mean really, where's the passion?

In the third period you saw the real Kovalev. A half assed effort and he gave the puck away on more than one occassion. At this point all Kovalev wants is for the season to be over so he can get the hell out of town.

A swell guy.

And back to the Viagra for a second. They should give Saku Koivu a good dose as well. But based solely on age.

The way he ambles around the ice now I get the feeling his game ain't the only thing that's gone soft.

Bruins take 3-0 series lead on Habs

Category: Sports

Five stabbings overnight in Montreal area.

Category: Sports

As I sit here in Peterborough and write this, the game between the Boston Bruins and Les Miserable isn't even over yet.

But that doesn't matter because it's a foregone conclusion after two periods. The Habs are no match for the Bruins on this night and probably won't be for the duration of the series.

It's too bad a playoff position was wasted on the Habs. Maybe the NHL should adopt a rule that says a team that sucks down the stretch can be replaced by another team for the post-season.

I mean really, even the Leafs would have given the Bruins a better fight.

If there's one thing that's positive from a Hab standpoint it's the play of Alex Kovalev. Or should I say the shot of Alex Kovalev. He's been his usual invisible self, but a couple of times he's popped out of his hole to put the biscuit in the basket and Les Skidmark need all the goals they can get.

Too bad Saku Koivu doesn't still play for the Habs........ Oh he does? I guess he went to the Mats Sundin school of playoff hockey.

Anyway, the whole bloody exercise is silly as shit. I wasted the better part of two hours watching a one sided hockey game tonight so finally I did what any true hockey fan would do; I changed the channel so I could watch a real hockey game featuring Canada's team, the Calgary Flames.

Hopefully the Habs will be dead by Wednesday, and if that happens it will be the first time in their history that they've gone a complete decade without winning a Stanley Cup.

Finally.

And there's many more to come.

Bruins lead Habs 5-1

Category: Sports

There's no doubt about it, I want the Bruins to beat the Habs in the first round of the playoffs mainly because I don't like Les Habiskanks, but there's there's another reason.

As I've pointed out on a few occasions I share part of my summer with Boston Bruins defensive coach Craig Ramsay. Believe it or not, Ramsay also has a tin palace and it's parked in the same park as mine. He frequently visits the Tiki Bar.

There are different levels of trailer parks you know, and I'm proud to say when it comes to trailer trash, Ramsay and I are in the upper end.

Anyway, here's the other reason why I want the Bruins to beat the Habs. I want the Bruins to beat the Habs because ultimately I want them to win the Stanley Cup.

You know what happens when a team wins the Stanley Cup - all members of the team including the coaching staff gets the the Stanley Cup for one day and they can take it where ever they they want.

Believe me, if the Bruins win the Cup there will be immense pressure on Ramsay by me and the other trailerites to bring it to our park.

Imagine that, the Stanley Cup in our trailer park. We'll be able to pose with it, drink from it, maybe even play a bocce ball game for it.

I would touch it, stroke it and kiss it...... and then I'd go back over the Stanley Cup.

Category: Sports | Stuff

The amazing thing about last night's opening game of the Montreal / Boston series is how bad the Bruins played, and they still won.

Don Cherry hit the nail on the head after the game when he said "this was the game the Canadiens had to win. The Bruins will only get better."

Right on Don!

Three more Hab losses and we can say a long and delicious good-bye to this pretend team and their vile fans.

And then we can enjoy an off-season that will see the Habs crumble beneath huge salary cap issues. Shucks.

Go Bruins Go.

Bruins draw first blood with 4-2 win.

Category: Sports

Category: Sports

With all due respect to the combatants, is there anything more pointless than holding the Women's World Hockey Championship year after year?

And I'm not just saying this now because Canada lost to the United States in the final yesterday, I've made this point on several other occasions when Canada beat the States.

Therein lays the problem. It's always Canada against the United States and no matter how much they try to push this sport ahead, women's hockey at the international level just ain't cutting it.

This past week, very much unknown to the masses, women from seven other nations gathered in Finland so they could get slapped around by Canada and the United States.

It really is an exercise in futility. This was the 12th year of the Championships and absolutely nothing has changed. While Canada and the States take the sport and the event seriously, you get the impression everybody else throws a team together just to say they were there.

In the championship just completed Canada scored 31 goals and had only six scored against, and four of those goals against came against the United States in the final.

The States scored 28 goals and had only three scored against.

Before these tournaments even start everybody knows who's going to be in the final which severely affects interest and perpetuates the ridiculous image of women's hockey.

I understand that to advance the sport there has to be competition, but why invite the likes of Japan and China to an event that will only serve to humiliate and embarrass them?

Even countries like Finland and Sweden, who have strong men's programs, don't come anywhere close to competing with the North American countries. They too get their doors blown off.

So really, what's the point?

Until these other nations advance their sport to the level where a game is a game they should suspend these "official" tournaments and work on development.

And I hate to say it, but this should apply to the Olympics as well.

Meanwhile, Canada and the States should do their own version of a "Harlem Globetrotters Tour" and titillate the few hundred fans that care enough to show up.

Category: Sports

I really enjoyed watching the Masters with my father in law Sunday afternoon, but I have to say, I didn't enjoy listening to the Masters and it had nothing to do with the Jim Nantz.

I love Nantz, he's part of what makes the Masters the Masters. What I can't stand anymore is the imbecile fans who scream "in the hole" from ridiculous places on the golf course.

Sorry but its right out of hand and literally puts a knot in my stomach every time I hear it.

It's no big deal if a guy's making a putt from a reasonable distance, but these whack jobs who yell "in the hole" when somebody takes their second shot on a par five rank right down there with Hab fans who sing the "na na na" song.

It really is ridiculous and has got me to the point where I'd rather watch the coverage without sound.

I mean really, what are these people thinking? It's something that started a few years ago but rather than going away like it should have, it's actually gained steamed and become something that makes the sport look silly.

When Tiger made that shot out of the woods on the 17th that hit a tree, I swear I heard somebody scream "in the hole" when the club struck the ball.

In the hole?

More like in "your" hole..... with a rusty coat hanger.

Category: Sports

Category: Sports

Boston 5 Montreal 4 OT

"I WONDER HOW LONG BEFORE FRED WRITES ANOTHER WHINEY BLOG ABOUT HOW THE HABS BARELY GOT IN."
FREEWAY

Not long Frank. Why would I hesistate to respond to the likes of you and other mindless Hab fans.

I find it hilarious that your gutless team didn't qualify for the playoffs until the 81st game of the season, and they did it by losing in overtime.

Say what you want Frank, but you were just one of many tedious Hab fans in the early part of the season who was predicting eastern domination and a birth in the Stanley Cup finals.

It was "I" who predicted even before the season started that the Habs wouldn't make the playoffs. So I was wrong. So I blew it. But all things considered my prediction wasn't too shabby.

At least I have a much better assessment of hockey teams than you and other dilusional Hab fans have.

I almost like it this way because now that the playoffs are about to begin, we'll see the true colours of what is probably one of the most distastful Montreal teams I can remember.

I can't wait for Alexei Kovalev disappear starting in game one and then watch as the rest of this over-rated junk heap collapses around him.

"Les Canadiens Sont La.
Least we made the playoffs.
See ya next year tee dot."
Freeway

Whatever ever Frankie boy, but to be honest I don't think you're going to like next year too much. Twelve over-rated free agents and 350 thousand dollars of cap space.

Coming soon - Habs Countdown - We'll count down every game till they're done. It'll make the playoffs worth watching - for four games anyway.

Boston 5 Montreal 4 OT

Shitty fuckin' Habs back into playoffs.

Category: Sports

OK, I admit it. I'm starting to get a little tired of this Habs Watch thing. I really can't wait for the regular season to end this weekend so we can move on.

Having said that, I imagine there are a lot of Hab fans a little concerned this morning.

The Habs, displaying their horrendous lack of depth lost another one last night. They were beaten 3-1 by the Rangers in New York. Of course Hab fans have latched onto the injury excuse, but when your fortunes are tied to a 39 year old journeyman defenseman that you just traded for, it sort of tell you where you're at.

Lucky for the Habs, the Florida Panthers are doing all they can to let the Habs stumble and fall into the playoffs.

The Panthers, with a great opportunity to make a move on Montreal last night, lost 2-1 in Philadelphia, so the numbers game moved in the Habs favour.

They remain three points ahead of the Panthers with both clubs having two games remaining. In order for the Les Miserables to fall out of the playoffs they have to lose both their games while the Panthers have to win both.

Possible, but not even this whack job thinks it's probable.

Don't' get me wrong, I have full confidence that the Habs will lose their remaining two games to Boston and Pittsburgh; I'm just not sure the Panthers can beat both Atlanta and Washington.

So, as distasteful as it is, and as disappointing as it is for me, we might have to get our heads around the idea of having this junk pile make the playoffs.

But before all you Hab Humpers start e-mailing me, criticizing my prediction that the Habs wouldn't make the playoffs, use your big block heads. There are only two games left in the 82 game schedule and my prediction could still come true.

Not too shabby.

Meanwhile, how about those Leafers? They beat the Jersey Devils 4-1, enhancing the obvious. They're a better team than the Habs right now.

Next year will be even better!

Category: Sports

I'm sure Hab fans will want to use injuries as an excuse, but there's no getting around it, the Habs shit the bed in Ottawa last night blowing a third period lead and losing 3-2.

This sets up a delicious "what if" scenario.

The ninth place Florida Panthers trail Les Habitaints by three points this morning with both clubs having three games remaining.

However, look at the schedules.

The Habs play in New York against the Rangers tonight and they play in Boston Thursday night before wrapping up the regular season against Pittsburgh at home Saturday night. That's a tough schedule.

Meanwhile, the Panthers play in Philadelphia tonight, in Atlanta Thursday night, and then they're home to Washington on Saturday night.

Here's the "what if"

What if the Habs lose all three of their remaining games and the Panthers win two of their final three?

I'll tell ya "what if". The Habs would miss the playoffs.

But don't worry Hab fans, it wouldn't be completely horrible because you can always use the injuries to Mathew Schneider and Andrei Markov as an excuse. (That's what happens when you run into the mighty Maple Leafs)

Meanwhile, as a Leaf fan I have the ability to show some class and allow that if the Habs win just one of their remaining games and the Panthers lose one, Les Agravate with clinch a playoff spot.

Hab fans will rejoice and spew their sweet nothings but talk about a comedown from early season predictions of winning their division, their conference, the Stanley Cup and the war on terror.

Don't forget, should the Habs slither into the post-season watch for "Habs Countdown" on this website next week.

We'll count down every Habs loss until they're eliminated from the playoffs.

Sens rally to shock Habs.

Category: Sports

I decided to live blog the hockey game tonight and I'm glad I did because right off the bat I have to say how pissed off I am.

The game starts with the Hockey Night in Canada crew going "ga ga" over the Habs because they've won a couple of games recently. It was sickening.

This weasel team with their weasel players led by Alex Kovalev are a Sacku shit and it was proved in the opening few minutes when Kovalev high sticked Ian White to the face and got away with it.

How the hell can there be two referees on the ice and they miss it.

Then it got worse. Mat Stajan gets called for a penalty that was no where near a penalty. His skates got caught up in the feet of one of the weasel brigade and one of the dumb ass referees calls it tripping.

And wouldn't you know it, that peckerhead Kovalev ends up scoring. Man I hate the Habs.

It just got a bit worse. While Craig Simpson and Jim Hughson were blowing loads over the Habs so called new look of confidence and puck control some pussy with the last name Wearadress made it 2-0 Habiskanks.

Hughson and Simpson are something else. They're salivating over a team that dropped like a rock during the second half of the season because they're made up of gutless softies who hate the tough going.

If the Habs slither into the playoffs they'll get crushed.

This Craig Simpson is something else. What game is he watching? George Larockhead had just thrown a punch while body checking the Leafs Mikhail Grabovski and Simpson calls it a good hit. What a freaking joke.

And speaking of jokes, how about Larockhead, a walking, talking pylon. As long as he's good enough to play for the Habs, believe me they ain't good enough to win anything.

First period over and I feel like throwing a rock through the goddman TV. Simpson and Hughson are pissing me off, but not nearly to the extent Les Habicrap is pissing me off. Talk about having the referees tucked into your back pocket while you're trying to salvage a season you've all but thrown away.

I hope Don Cherry puts me back into a good mood.

No such luck. Cherry opens with an archived prediction he made on March 21st that the creepy Habs would make the playoffs. Big deal.

Then Cherry really scrapes the bucket by showing a picture of Queen Elizabeth and Michelle Obama. Cherry blurts "we all love the Queen."

No we don't. At least I dont. I can't the monarchy and I especially can't stand this woman who probably played a role in the murder of her daughter in law. Not only that, the old boot is so goddman selfish she won't give her son a shot at the throne.

I'll tell ya right now, if that was my mother, long ago she would have let me take over. Because she loves me.

And while we're on the subject, what's with all this bullshit about not touching or putting your arm around the old bag. Who the hell does she think she is, the Queen of freakin' England?

Things are looking up a bit. I just opened a case of Bud Lite and was pleasantly surprised with their "Vintage NHL T-shirt" promotion. I got a Leaf T-shirt. No kidding.

I was so afraid I'd get a Hab shirt, but then again it turns out that would have been alright because my wife just told me we're out of toilet paper.

Another solid moment. (the game, not my stool) That weirdo guy on the Habs named Wearadress just missed on a penalty shot. Martin Gerber completely outguessed the prick and Gerber is having a horrible night.

Not so good at the moment. Saku suckboy just fed a pass to Alex Tonguejob and he deflected the puck past Gerber.

Let's not forget, the Leafs are using a schoolboy in tonights game as they prepare for next year when they get to use nine million in cap space and a raft of draft choices.

And don't forget, the Habs, who have been reduced to a one line team, will have 12 free-agents and virtually no cap space.

I wonder how far the Habs think they're gonna get in the playoffs with only one line? Of course that's if they make the playoffs. It's still not certain because this jelly fish brigade could fall apart again at any moment.

It would have been nice if the Leafs had used a goaltender tonight. Chris Higgins, who probably couldn't make the Brampton Battalion just beat Gerber with an easy shot from the slot.

The Leafs played in Philadelphia last night, against a real team, and it's starting to show.

What is with this love in between Hughson and Simpson and the Habs? It's bordering on disgusting at this point. I get the feeling that both have their pants around their ankles in the gondola, strumming thier banjos as they think up new ways to compliment the over-rated Les Habiwanks.

Let's see how stiff they get in a couple of weeks when the Habs are wiped out in four games by one of the legitimate teams in the east. Of course that's providing the Habs make the playoffs.

I just had a thought while watching the Hot Stove which features the extremely repulsive Al Strachan, who's the type of guy who makes you feel like you need a shower after you've listened to him for a while. I thought how good he'd look in a Habs sweater. Yea, you wouldn't want Strachan to date your grandmother, but he'd make the perfect Les Habiturd. He'd fit right in with the rest of that crew.

I notice I just got an e-mail from Freeway Frank. He says Habs Watch is officially over.
Big words from a guy who was extremely quiet just couple of weeks ago when the Leafs had his pathetic mafia connected team down 4-0.

Oh Oh Frank. Johnny Mitchell just broke the ice for the Leafs, could your boys be collapsing on national TV? It wouldn't be the first time.

They just showed a graphic pointing out that the Leafs lead the NHL with 350 rookie man games this season. And to think the Leafs have lost only six more games than the Habs in regulation time this season. How do you explain that Hab Humpers?

Geez. I wonder who's got the better future?

Holy cow. It just keeps happening. Just when you think you've taken inventory on all the rodents that make up the Montreal Canadiens, another one pops out of the hole.

Something named Maxim Lapierre just scored on a Les Habaskunk power play thanks to another terrible call by the referees. Jason Blake was going for the puck but was called for tripping or some other make believe call.

I assume a lot of Hab fans are pretty happy at this point, but it will always come back to this. Your entire team looks and acts like it was fathered by Al Strachan. How can you live with yourselves?

Wooo fuckin' hoo. Josh Gorges just scored another power-play goal for the Habs. I guess Freeway is bouncing off the walls in Calgary. It will mean a lot to him if the Habs hold on to win this game. After all, it will even the season series with the Leafs.

Actually, part of me likes this phony resurgence by the Habs, especially against the Leafs who have loaded their team up with kids down the stretch. It will give the Les Habiscats a false sense of security before walking into the real world in a couple of weeks.

Of course that's providing they don't fall apart between now and then.

Way to go Boyd Devereau, nice shorthanded goal after the goddman referees came up with another mindless call.

Mikhail Grabovski delivered a clean check on some dumbass Hab who almost started to cry after he banged his Habby head on the glass. It must be nice to have the referees on your side when you're desperate to make the playoffs. Especially against a team that's loaded down with rookies and is actually playing a schoolboy tonight.

It wasn't surprising to hear Hab fans sing that putrid "na na na" song at the ACC as time wound down. But that's what Hab fans do. When things are going well they're loud and mouthy, but when things are going badly, they run and dive into the closest hole.

Thank goodness MLSE has lots of money so they can bring in a fire hose, hook it up to a big vat of Lysol and hose down all the seats occupied by Hab fans tonight, especially the seat occupied by that big fat bastard we saw at the end wearing the Habs jersey.

He was pounding his chest like he actually had something to do with what happened on the ice. Typical.

Make sure you visit this website once the playoffs start. If the Habs don't fall apart over the next week or so, which could still easily happen, you'll be able to follow "Habs Countdown"

We'll count down every Habs loss until they're eliminated. It will preceed the dismantling of this shit stain in the offseason.

Call it bad management.

Have I told ya how much I hate the Habs?

FP out! (did I just say that?)

Category: Sports

The Florida Panthers defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-2 last night, officially eliminating the Senators from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The victory also kept the Panthers within one point of the eighth place Montreal Canadiens who just a year ago finished on top of the Eastern Conference, before firing a coach, sending their supposed best player home for week and dealing with other players ties to organized crime.

Zednik, McCabe score in Panthers' 5-2 win.

Category: Sports

Well well well. After having their way with a couple of teams ranked 13th and 14th in the Eastern Conference earlier this week the Montreal Canadiens came crashing back to earth when they ran into a tenth place team in the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo won it 4-3 in a shootout.

Nowadays, a tenth place team is tough goin' for the slumpin' Habs, heck, an eleventh place team is tough for the Habs. All you have to do is look back to last Saturday night when they were smacked pretty good by the Leafers.

This whole Hab thing is a joy to watch. They still might be clinging to eighth place in the east but they're not fooling anyone.

Victories over Atlanta and Tampa Bay may have given the likes of Freeway Frank a stiff one, but any body who knows any thing about the game of hockey knows the Habs are a broken down and gutless waste of time.

And that's being kind.

I've got to be honest with ya, and I know this is going to stun a few of you, but I'm at the point now where I wouldn't mind it if the Habs made the playoffs.

Don't get me wrong, having them miss the playoffs would be sweet loveliness, but having them crushed in the first round wouldn't be bad either.

Habs fans would go ape shit over making the playoffs and start making all kinds of mindless and unrealistic predictions but then they'd have to play a team ranked first or second in the east and it would be a massacre.

Usually you don't associate the word massacre with something nice, but in this case it would be like getting a hummer in the VIP Lounge at Chez Paree.

I can only imagine of course.

Here's the way she stacks up after Saturday's action.

The Florida Panthers beat Dallas 6-3. They remain ninth in the east, but now they're just one point behind Le Habiturds and it sets up a big Tuesday night.

Le Habiskank play the high flyin' Chicago Black Hawks while the Panthers host Montreal's twin brothers, the Ottawa Senators.

With any luck, come Wednesday morning, Le Habistink will finally be on the outside looking "up."

And let's not forget, next Saturday night Le Poo Poo comes into the ACC for what I'm sure will be another humiliating spanking.

Why not? The Leafs are a better team right now.

Les Sabres l'emportent aux tirs de barrage.

Category: Sports

There really hasn't been much to report on Habs watch this week because the Habs were dealt and unbelievably easy schedule down the stretch.

Although I must say, it was fascinating how they almost blew last nights game.

Meanwhile, I thought this would be a good time to re-visit some Hab fan history. Hab fans like to poke fun at Leaf fans for street celebrations after opening round playoff victories, they think it's sucky compared to what they do.

Habs fans burn, vandalize cop cars.

Some French tourists visited Quebec and attended their first hockey game ever.
They loved it so much that they purchased a CH sweater and brought it back to France.
Before they left they had the name of the most popular player printed on the back, or at least the name of the player that they heard the most during the game.

Category: Sports

I realized I've OD'd on the Habs lately, but the story about their rumoured sale has my mind racing with all kinds of wonderful thoughts.

Not only should be the Habs be sold, they should be moved. Yes moved.

Now is the time for Jim Balsillie to do his thing and buy a team and move it to the GTA, or Kitchener or Hamilton or where the hell ever.

The Habs should be moved because they deserve better fans. They deserve fans that will stick with them through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad.

Not a bunch of fickle fair-weather soccer fan wanabees who come in droves when times are good but turn their backs and run when things turn sour.

What kind of a relationship is that? Can you imagine if a family operated this way, can you imagine if soldiers acted this way? It's disgusting, and that's why the imminent sale of the Habs should be used as an opportunity to get them out of Quebec once and for all.

In Ontario, once they were cleansed of their Habitosis, they would be appreciated and supported by true hockey fans. Not a bunch of turncoats who buy tickets for the sole purpose of singing a cheesy song at the end of "some" games.

No doubt this would be a bold move. No doubt that the fight to keep the team in Montreal would reach into Parliament and a court of law, but once cooler heads prevailed and rational minds won out, it would be obvious the Habs should move.

Because they deserve faithful fans and Southern Ontario is full of them.

Habs owner looks to selling assets.

Category: Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs 5 Montreal Canadiens 2

Ok, this has gone too far.

For the past couple of weeks leading up to this, it's been fun to write Habs Watch and poke fun at the Montreal Canadiens and their nauseating fans.

But now it's getting out of hand.

I actually feel bit sorry for Hab fans. It must be difficult to be so loud and aggravating and bombastic and then have it all come crumbling down around you. It must feel awkward to say so much and then have your team deliver so little.

Talk about a free fall. Any rational hockey fan knows that last year was a major fluke and the Habs weren't nearly as good as their record indicated, but Hab fans couldn't see it.

They got caught up in the hollow fantasy that Alex Kovalev could actually lead this team and that the Kostitsyn brothers actually give a shit, and that Carey Price could actually stop something smaller than a beach ball.

Putting modesty aside for a second, I wrote on this blog many times over the past several months that the Habs would not make the playoffs, and although they still could, it really doesn't matter at this point because the over-all point has been made.

The Habs aren't very good. In fact they're bad, and I think it's clear beyond any shadow of doubt now that they aren't as good as the Toronto Maple Leafs and next year the gap will become even wider as the Leafs wheel and deal and spend millions in cap space.

Bob Gainey meanwhile, if he still has a job, will have no other choice than to blow-up the Habs and start all over. That's what happens when you have a large collection of strokers and only 350 thousand dollars in cap space.

Yes, the Habs will be different this year but the pressing question is, will their fans be any different?

We can only hope so. Will they come back to reality and show at least a little hockey knowledge?

Will they accept their place in the league as an also ran and adjust to life without a Stanley Cup that will stretch beyond 20 years?

We can only hope so, because as vile as the Habs are as a team, their fans make it even worse.

That's the peculiar twist in all of this.

Hab fans love to laugh and point and ridicule Leaf fans for loving their team, yet the average Leaf fan has way more class than the average Hab fan and that was played out at the Bell Centre last night.

What a perfect opportunity for Leaf fans to twist the knife a little last night by singing that imbecilic and cheesy "na na na" song. There were thousands of Leaf fans at the game, so they could have done it and been heard loud and clear, especially after so many Hab fans had given up on their team with several minutes to play and left the building.

But no, Leaf fans didn't do it. They just stood there and applauded yet another fine performance from their feisty and quickly improving hockey team and then left the building.

The Leafs and Habs have played five times this season and Toronto has now won three times.

As for the standings, the Habs cling to a playoff spot by one point this morning only because the Florida Panthers were beaten by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Habs are all alone in eighth place.

We have to find a way to win.

Category: Sports

Today could be the day, and it couldn't have lined up any better.

If the Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat Montreal, Les Crapahola will drop out of a playoff spot.

Do the hockey gods love us Leaf fans are what?

It's sweet enough that the Habs could drop to ninth tonight, but to have the Leafers play a part is enough to give any man a warm one.

It's going to make for an exciting night. Leaf fans have been pretty bold on this website lately, including myself who has declared that right now the Leafs are a better team than Les Arsaholis.

I'm sure the likes of Freeway Frank and other aggravating Hab fans who hold on to that Stanley Cup crap, that's pushing 20 years ago, will be on the edge of their seats tonight for a game that will feature the loosy goosy Leafs against the dazed and confused Canadiens.

Funny ain't it? The Habs were supposed to be so wonderful so marvelous so fabulous so beautiful this year, but they've won only seven more games than the sad sack Leafs, and most of those came before the new year.

Point wise, the Leafs are only ten back. Can you say "catchable?"

Make sure you visit this site tomorrow for the all the details, analysis and trash talk.

(on that note, here's a shout out to Freeway - phone me after the game tonight and I'll record then post the conversation on this website!)

Go Leafs Go... and the Panthers too.

Habs have to play their best to win.

Category: Sports

Ottawa 5 Montreal 4 - nuff said.

Category: Sports

This just won't do.

If the Habs are going to sink, we need other teams to ascend but the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres just won't co-operate.

The Habs lost another one last night, this time 4-3 to the New York Rangers in a shoot-out.

Don't get me wrong, it's still pretty good because the Habs plunged to seventh place in the east thanks to this loss to the Rangers and a 6-2 win by the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Atlanta Thrashers.

But those damn Panthers were beaten 3-0 by Washington and Buffalo was knocked off 4-2 by Ottawa.

So here's the latest. The Habs sink to seventh, just two points ahead of the eighth place Carolina Hurricanes and just three points up on the Panthers. They're five ahead of the tenth place Sabres.

What a king-sized drag it will be if the Habs continue to crap out but still make the playoffs because other teams are even crapier.

Too bad for Hab humpers that the Leafs and Canadiens couldn't trade teams right now, then maybe the Montrealers could put this thing away.

'Cause don't forget, the Leafs are a better team right now.

Habs salvage a point.

Category: Sports

The Habs hold on a playoff spot got a little weaker last night which is a wonderful thing, but they still had some horseshoes crammed up their dirt holes.

While the Habs went through the motions in a 3-1 loss to the Jersey Devils, none of their playoff chasin' rivals could manage to win.

While the Habs handed Martin Brodeur his 551st career regular season victory without much of an argument, Pittsburgh, Carolina, the Rangers, Florida and Buffalo all lost in overtime.

Shitty they lost, but at least they all grabbed a point.

So here's the deal. The Habs remain tied with Pittsburgh for fifth place in the east, both have 80 poiints. But the Cans have 79, while the Rangers and Florida have 78.

Buffalo is tenth in the east, but just four insignificant points behind Le Miserable.

It's going to be a fun time down the stretch and the Habs will have no excuses because eight of their last thirteen games are at home and eleven of the 13 games are against teams lower than them in the standings.

But that doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot because several teams below the Habs in the standings, are actually better teams than Montreal right now, and that includes the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Something crazy is going on in Hogtown. The Leafs have traded away three of their best players this season, their defense corp is depleted with injuries and their goaltending is patchwork at best.

But they continue to win more games than they lose lately and Ron Wilson has them playing great as a "team."

That's right Hab humpers, whether you like it or not, the Leafs are actually a better "team" than the Habs right now and I hope to hell they rub it in during their final two meetings of the year.

Prediction - next year the Leafs will finish with more points than the Canadiens. (remember, the Leafs have tons of trade bait and lots of cap space. The Habs meanwhile are crippled with no cap room which means they can't trade-up for better players.)

Laugh all you want, but you might remember that after the Habs were ousted from the playoffs last year I predicted they wouldn't make the post-season this year.

Right now I'm lookin' pretty good.

Brodeur ties Roy's record in victory over Habs.

Category: Sports

I'm surprised. If there's anything on this earth that we can poke fun at, it's sports.

Sports rivalries are neat and it's fun to slam something without having to worry about being politically correct or hurting someone's feelings.

A little trash talk can be fun. But apparently I've missed the mark with something.

If you've been reading this blog over the past few weeks you've noticed I've included a new feature called Habs Watch.

It answers to all those Hab fans who like to trash the Toronto Maple Leafs. All those Hab fans that were convinced their club was a Stanley Cup contender this year.

As the Habs started to drop in the standings and a playoff spot became precarious, I developed Habs Watch to poke a little fun at the team and fans I so truly despise.

But I've received several complaints over the past few days about Habs Watch with people suggesting I should give it a rest. Put it away. Write about something else.

Even from people who hate the Habs.

Personally I enjoyed it because I only post Habs Watch when the Canadiens lose, so it was fun to watch their games or look for their scores every night wondering whether I would post or not.

I thought it was harmless but in reality, I may actually be harming my readership.

I thought Hab fans would flock here because of that old love/hate thing, but it turns out for every Hab fan that was coming here because they were pissed off at me, I may have been losing Hab haters who really can't be bothered with it all.

Very peculiar.

But hey, I listen to the people so are going to ask all of your straight up, should I continue Habs Watch, or should I dump it before it really began?

It would have been fun to follow it through the next couple of weeks until the Habs fate is known, but I'll leave it up to you the readers.

Hit the discuss button and let me know.

Should I continue Habs Watch?

Ya buggers.

Category: Sports

Oh Oh. The greatest team in the history of sports since the beginning of time (just ask any Hab fan) hit another bump in the road last night.

The were beaten 3-2 in overtime at home by the absolute worst team in the NHL, the New York Islanders.

Not a very good way to prepare for the inevitable Stanley Cup celebration in June. (just ask any Hab fan)

The Habs remain fifth in the East this morning, but only a delicious three points ahead of the ninth place Florida Panthers, and only five points ahead of the tenth place Buffalo Sabres.

With upcoming games against Jersey, the Rangers and Ottawa, with any luck, by this time next week Le Bloog, Blank, Wreck could be sitting on the outside looking in.

We can only hope.

Islanders stun Habs in overtime.

Category: Sports

The Habs got a little desperate this afternoon. They fired coach Guy Carbonneau.

I've got to tell you people, I think this sucks but it also concerns me.

I actually think Carbonneau deserves credit for what he did with this hockey team. When Alex Kovalev is your captain, your sophomore goalie is full of holes and you lose your top pointer getter in Robert Lang you can't expect miracles.

I've said from the outset, I think this team was an over-rated so give Carbonneau credit for keeping them in lofty position for most of the season. This team didn't really crumble, what it did was come back to earth and find its level.

I really think Carbonneau got a raw deal.

On the other hand, I'm concerned that General Manager Bob Gainey will take over on an interim basis because more often than not, teams tend to respond positively to a coaching change.

For the short team anyway, and the problem is, for a Hab hater that's what the rest of the season is, short team. It will be ugly if the Canadiens get on a roll and grab a playoff spot.

From my perspective, it would have been a lot more fun to watch they drop out of the playoffs and then watch the likes of Freeway Frank throw themselves off the top floor of the Place Ville Marie.

I guess is got to be a bit too much for Gainey on Sunday afternoon when the Canadiens actually dropped to eighth place in the east for a few hours.

Then they go out and beat Dallas 3-1. But it wasn't enough to save Carbonneau.

Category: Sports

Anyone in the vicinity of the Phillips Arena in Atlanta last night must have wondered what that horrible stench was.

It must have oozed from the arena and out on the streets of Atlanta forcing Georgians to cover their noses and run for the peach groves.

Atlanta fans are used to their own team stinkin' the place out, 'cause they're one of the weakest teams in the NHL, but what can you say about the opposition last night.

The Mighty Montrealers are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in the eyes of their dorky fans, so yes indeedee they must have stunk like a month old cadaver last night in losing to the lowly Thrashers 2-0.

Are you kidding me?

Habs fans actually think they have a shot at the Cup, but to win the Cup you have to win the odd game on the road and right now God's team doesn't seem to be able to do that.

They've lost twelve of their last fifteen away from the dumbBell Centre.

While Hab fans focus on Leaf fans and fling all sorts of nastys at them, they're missing the real drama to this NHL season. Their team is going down faster than a hog washin' floozy.

Let's review the juicy details. Both Buffalo and Carolina conveniently won last night so here's how the Eastern Conference looks.

5. Montreal - 75 points
6. Florida - 74 points
7. Rangers - 74 points
8. Pittsburgh - 74 points
9. Buffalo - 73 points
10. Carolina - 73 points

If I'm not mistaken, the Habs are only two points out of tenth place.

But not to worry Hab fans. You're team is so awesome it doesn't matter if they finish ninth or tenth, they'll still win the Stanley Cup because they're the most wonderful team in the world.

Thrashers blank Canadiens

Category: Sports

Looks like Freddie will be posting about the Habs again.

Horonymous

*Editors note - Final Score - Buffalo 5 Montreal 1 - ouch! The Habs have lost eleven of their last 13 road games.

Sabres slice up Canadiens 5-1

Category: Sports

Cherry's act beginning to show its age.

Category: Sports

Pick the date of the Montreal Canadiens final game of the season / playoffs and win a CanadianThinker.com T-shirt.

Even though I can't win a T-shirt, I'll start it off - Saturday, April 11th.

Category: Sports

It's only fun when they lose.

Category: Sports

Here's another reason professional sports sucks and it hits close to home. The Toronto Maple Leafs will raise ticket prices next season to the tune of 3.5 percent.

It doesn't sound like much, but any increase at this time shows that MLSE believes Leaf fans are not only loyal, but extremely stupid as well.

Can you imagine having the audacity to raise ticket prices when it's already been determined that you're not going to make the playoffs for the fourth season in a row?

Not only that, but given the current economic climate you'd think MLSE would show a little more class and hold off. The Leafs make huge profits and they pay their players millions of dollars, things the average sports fan can't relate to.

But that doesn't matter because it's all about gouging and greed.

The official statement from MLSE claims rising costs and inflation has forced them into this. They don't want to do it, but they just have to.

They also claim that over the past four years ticket prices have risen just one percent, but the obvious reply to that, is this. Why would ticket prices rise over the past four years, you've done nothing to justify it. You've delivered nothing but a shitty product.

And there's more.

Next season the NHL salary cap is expected to fall which plays right into the hands of the Maple Leafs. Once again, their revenues will go up while their costs go down, but they fail to mention this as they lay out their plans to increase the price of a ticket.

Listen, at the end of the day it's all up to fans, from the average guy sitting in the purples, to the rich bastards sitting in the platinums. Nothing is going to change until the you stop buying tickets and stop giving in to an organization that takes you for granted and gives you nothing in return.

I still can't believe it. We're in the midst of a super serious economic crisis, where virtually everyone is pulling back and doing without.

But not the Maple Leafs.

They're special?

Category: Sports

I have to laugh at Rosie Dimanno's column in this morning's Toronto Star. Somehow it just doesn't fit.

Rosie likes to the leave the impression she's tough broad who can stand back from any situation and call it for what it is. She's a man's woman so to speak.

Well that sure as hell went out the window in todays's column. Her fawning of Mats Sundin borders on sickening and adds to what nauseates me about professional sports.

For the past week, the city has been gripped with the anticipation of Sundin's return to the ACC and how the crowd would react. It's all that mattered to some people.

Well now we know. It was generally positive as Sundin received an extended standing ovation about six minutes into the game after a short "thank you Mats" video was shown on the scoreboard.

Rosie describes it this way. "Bless that crowd for not holding it against him. For, rather, giving Sundin one of the sweetest tributes in the history of the franchise - a two-minute standing O that did, indeed, bring tears to the big Swede's eyes."

She goes on about a whole bunch of other stuff, including Sundin not measuring up to comparisons of Darryl, Dougie and Wendel and ironically blaming "self absorbed media cranks."

It drips with athlete worship, something, as I've stated on this blog many times, I'm not comfortable with because when you get right down to it, they don't deserve it when compared to so many other contributors to our society.

Granted, it's difficult to give a standing ovation to a brain surgeon who has just saved a child's life because he doesn't get to stand in front of a crowd of 20 thousand people and wave his scalpel.

However, last night something very telling happened at the game that really made it hit home for me.

Thanks to my good friend Darren, I got to attend last night's game following a fine steak diinner at Barbarian's. It started with martini's, and ended with cappuccinos. In between was a fine bottle of wine and a magnificent Caesar salad.

Anyway, the Sundin worship took place about six minutes into the first period and the place went nuts for the guy. A hockey player. A hockey player who last spring, screwed the very fans who were cheering him last night.

Then, a few minutes into the second period another announcement was made.

They call it "Luke's Troops." At every Leaf game from now until the end of the season, Leaf defenseman Luke Schenn hosts a member of the Canadian Armed Forces in choice seats.

Last night they introduced a soldier who had served a tour of duty in Afghanistan and they put his picture up on the big screen just like they did Sundin.

But he didn't receive a standing ovation. He received an ovation, but way more people didn't stand than did stand. I stood for the guy, and so did Darren, but most of the people around us didn't.

No, they reserve their standing ovations for hockey players. Not young men who go overseas and risk their lives for our day to day safety.

That my friends, just like Rosie's column, is misdirected love.

And so is this. When the three stars were announced Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph had decided to make Sundin the first star.

Sorry, prior to scoring that goal in the shootout he was hardly noticeable.

Category: Sports

Montreal Sopranos.

Category: Sports

The Montreal Canadiens are shitting the bed so often these days you'd think writing these updates would become tedious.

Nope!

It happened again last night, the Habs lost another road game, this time 5-4 in Pittsburgh.

Sergei Gonchar's first goal of the season, in the eighth minute of the third period, proved to be the winner as the Habs lost their 12th game in the last 15.

Twelve of their last 15, not even the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs can make that claim, and they apparently don't have half the talent the Habs do. (something I might argue)

The Habs have settled to a place where they belong, a rag tag bunch of mediocre strokers battling for a playoff spot that's quickly slipping away.

Get a load of this one.

I'm sooo pissed off.......
I had two Montreal Canadiens tickets sitting in plain view on my car dashboard.
Some bastard broke my window and left two more.
What an asshole!

Actually, this is a Leaf joke making the rounds, but hey, I like it better this way.

Let's review shall we. The Habs conclude a six game road trip with a record of one and five. They managed only three of a possible 12 points. They've lost nine of their last ten road games and seven of their last ten over-all.

The playoff situation is enough to make a big mouth Hab fan soil his jeans from fear.

The Habs remain sixth in the east, just one point up on Buffalo and Florida, but Carolina won last night, so the ninth place Hurricanes trail by only four. The tenth place Penguins are only five points back.

It was sad.. it was sad.. it was sad when the great ship went down..

Tomorrow the Habs host Ottawa as part of Hockey Day in Canada.

Gulp! Go Sens Go

Penguins add to Canadiens woes.

Category: Sports

It could have been worse; the Habs could have gotten two points.

Instead they continued their horrendous road streak with a 4-3 shootout loss in Washington - this after blowing a 3-2 lead late in the third period.

Tell me I wasn't thrilled when the Caps Dave Steckel scored at 17:21 forcing overtime.

Let's add it all up.

The Canadiens have now lost eight of their last nine road games, four of five on the current road trip, seven of their last ten and eleven of their last fourteen over-all.

Ugly stuff.

The standings. No doubt last night's single point comes in handy.

The Habs have sole possession of sixth place in the east with 67points. One point behind the Rangers, and one point ahead of Buffalo and Florida.

The ninth place Carolina Hurricanes are six points back, and the tenth place Pittsburgh Penguins are seven points back.

Montreal plays in Pittsburgh tonight.

Go Sidney Go!

Shootout heartbreak for Habs.

Category: Sports

I hate to tell you I told you so, but I told you so.

If you search "Kovalev" on this website, you'll notice that on more than one occasion I have made the point that as long as Alex Kovalev is the face of the Montreal Canadiens, they aren't going anywhere.

Let me update that a bit. The Habs are going to somewhere this week, they're going to Washington and Pittsburgh - but Kovalev won't be with them.

Yesterday Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey told Kovalev to stay home and take some time away from the club.

Gainey explained it to the media this way. "The team has no need of (Kovalev's) services the way he's currently playing. He's tired and he isn't playing with any emotion."

Well surprise, surprise.

Kovalev is a king-sized stroker who has to have everything going his way and if he doesn't he pouts and puts himself before the team. Just what you don't need when you're sinking like rock in the NHL standings and the playoffs are no longer a sure bet.

You can read about the situation here, but there's no need. It's a simple case of a player reverting back to the reputation that made him an NHL reject before Gainey took him on as a special project prior to 06 / 07.

As long as things were going OK, Kovalev made Gainey look like a genius, but as soon as things got tough, Kovalev went south and it culminated in yesterday's decision by Gainey to tell the guy to stay home.

He's of more use to the team by not playing, and word is, he could be finished in Montreal.

I told you so.

Category: Sports

Damien Cox wrote an interesting piece in today's Toronto Star about the return of Mats Sundin on Saturday.

Cox chastises Leaf fans for their treatment of other former players who've returned to Toronto and he thinks there's no place for it when the Vancouver Canucks are at the ACC on Saturday night. The former captain should not be booed.

Why not? What's the big deal?

Even though I'm guilty of it from time to time, hero worship of sports stars is something that bothers me. They just aren't worth it.

Cox argues that Sundin meant far too much to the Leafs and on Saturday night, they shouldn't boo the guy, on the contrary, they should give him a standing ovation.

Why?

Let's wrestle this back to reality and call it for what it is. It's only a hockey game and Mats Sundin is only a hockey player.

If the fans that've paid hundreds of dollars for the privilege of watching the game prefer to forget about he did for the Leafs, and remember what he failed to do at the trading deadline last spring, then fine, boo the big fella.

It's no big deal. It's a man playing a kid's game and the very fact that we flock in huge numbers and pay gigantic bucks to watch it happen says everything.

It's silly, it's goofy, and it's shameful.

Booing just adds to the mix.

Category: Sports

The Montreal Canadiens got back to their losing ways last night with a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

Even though it's the new home of the Mats Sundin, you've got to love the Canucks and the way they dominate the Habs. Vancouver has now gone 11 straight games without losing to Montreal . 10-0-1.

That's right; the streak stretches way back to when the NHL still had ties.

Let's add it all up. The Canadiens have now lost seven of their last eight road games, four of their last five, three of four on the current road trip and seven of their last ten over-all.

As for their plunge out of the playoffs, it's getting so juicy I can't stand it.

The Habs remain fifth in the Eastern Conference, but they're tied with the Rangers, just two points up on Buffalo and Florida. Look at it this way; the Habs are just one loss away from eighth place in the east.

The playoff situation shapes up like this, Carolina sits in ninth place just five back of the Habs, and Pittsburgh is seven back, however, the Penguins did the expected yesterday and fired coach Michel Therrien which means they'll probably surge much like the Ottawa Senators have after firing their coach.

Montreal plays in Pittsburgh on Thursday, but first they'll suffer the embarrassment of losing in Washington on Wednesday.

Habs still winless in Vancouver

Category: Sports

Just to be clear because I've had a few inquiries, Hab's Watch does not include victories.

As outlined in the first edition, it documents the descent of the Montreal Canadiens. Nothing else!

Category: Sports

Ouch, the free-fall continues as the Habs get bombed 7-2 in Edmonton in Montreal's 3000th road game in history.

The rouge, bleu, blanc (and whatever other colours they have on those clown suits) has now lost four games in a row, seven consecutive road games, and eight of their last ten over-all.

Now let's have a look at the standings and how they pertain to this slumping 100 year old mess.

The Habs fall to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Rangers who beat Washington 5-4 in a shootout.

Montreal is just four points out of the eighth and final playoff position, and just five points ahead of Carolina and Pittsburgh who share ninth place.

The Habs play in Colorado tomorrow night, and then in Vancouver Sunday - can you say nine road losses in a row?

Ugly.

Maybe if Bob Gainey gets desperate he'll take Nik Antropov for Chris Higgins at the trade deadline.

I'd like that.

Oilers grease skidding Habs

Category: Sports

This has got to be the case of a slippery lawyer going after a big pot of gold with nothing to lose.

A former girlfriend of Roberto Alomar, a woman named Ilya Dall, is suing the former Blue Jays second baseman because he allegedly insisted that they have unprotected sex for four years even though she suspected he had AIDS.

Pardon?

You suspected he had aids but you continued to have sex with the guy and now that's it's been revealed that he actually might have the disease you want to sue him for 15 million?

Nowhere in the lawsuit does it say Alomar "forced" her to have sex. It says he demanded sex, but that certainly doesn't mean she had to stick around for four years and give in to the guy.

Here's some of the news story.

Dall said the two began dating in spring 2002 and had unprotected sex for the next four years.

She called the conduct of Alomar "outrageous with wanton reckless disregard of the health, safety and her well-being, claiming Alomar tested positive for full blown AIDS in 2006.

Excuse me?

If anyone's conduct was outrageous, it was Dall's who continued to give into the guy even though she was highly suspicious of his condition.

You'd think that maybe, just maybe that when Alomar was foaming at the mouth she might have said, "not tonight Robbie."

Or when the skin beyond his pecker turned purple she might have said, "I have a headache Robbie."

Hey, I don't mean to make light of this because aids isn't funny and I hate to think this woman could end up with a ghastly disease, but if anyone is guilty of anything, she's guilty of "stupid."

If Alomar had sex with other women without telling them of his condition, then fine, nail his ass the wall, but I think they have a word for the lawsuit in question.

Frivolous!

Category: Sports

From now until the end of the season, CanadianThinker.com will document the descent of the Montreal Canadiens.

After last night's 6-2 pounding in Calgary, the Habs have now lost three games in a row, six consecutive road games, and eight of their ten games over-all.

The Habs are just six point ahead of the Florida Panthers who sit ninth in the east right now, but the Panthers have two delicious games in hand.

Montreal plays in Edmonton tomorrow night.

By the way, the cool little graphic is a toilet flushing - and spare the Leaf shots, we knew they were going to suck.

Struggling Canadiens stuck in reverse.

Category: Sports

Last night's hockey game gave me new focus on the NHL season.

Before last night, I had lost interest in the Leafs and therefore hadn't kept a close eye on what was going on.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my Leafers, but it's distasteful to find yourself in the situation where you actually want them to lose.

It's tough to swallow, but given their situation, its better to plunge to the bottom of the standings rather than finish mid-pack every year and not really gain any ground through the draft.

Yes, I want them to lose but when you're in that mind frame its difficult to watch.

However, I will say this. My "wanting them to lose" policy goes out the window whenever the Leafs play Montreal or Ottawa. On these occasions I want my Leafers to kick ass. Much like they did last night.

It was glorious.

And this brings me to my new focus for the remainder of the NHL season. I know the Leafs aren't going to make the playoffs, and I'm cool with that, as a matter of fact I want them to free-fall from now till the end and I'm sure that will happen after Brian Burke blows it up completely at the trade deadline.

But of equal importance to me now, is the obvious and delicious crumbling of the Montreal Canadiens. From now till the end of the season, what will keep my interest is the continued fall of the Habs, hopefully out of the playoffs.

It could happen. Montreal is just five points ahead of the Florida Panthers who hold down the final playoff spot in the east, they're just six points ahead of the Carolina Panthers and just seven points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Given the Habs play of late, their wonky goaltending the and the loss of Robert Lang, the Habs could easily drop out of a playoff spot over the next few weeks.

They've lost seven of their last nine games and show all the signs of a soft team that depends far too much on the likes of Alex Kovalev and the Kostitsyn brothers, well accomplished strokers who will definitely fade down the stretch as they put more value on their summer vacation than they do the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It will be a thing of beauty.

Big mouth Hab fans who rejoiced through the first half of the season will be brought back to reality as this crew of part-timers takes their foot off the gas and lets a few other teams pass them by.

Happy centennial!

And next year could be even better. The Habs have some major salary cap issues which means they could be torn apart this summer and quickly find themselves in the position the Leafs are in right now. Rebuilding.

And this leads me to a tandem of predictions.

It's already been documented on this website that I predicted the Canadiens wouldn't make the playoffs this year, and although that prediction looked flimsy up until Christmas, now its well within reason.

Here's my second prediction and I've already shared it with my good friend Freeway Frank who I thoroughly enjoyed working with during two years at the MIX.

Frank is now a very successful morning man at a station in Calgary, but he's also a Hab fan who often e-mails me about how much he loves his team that hasn't won the Stanley Cup in 16 years.

I'll say it again Frank.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will win their next Stanley Cup before the Montreal Canadiens win theirs.

Category: Sports

Superbowl and Michael Phelps.

Category: Sports

Later today I'll be talking to Neil Morrison on The Fox in Vancouver, and part of the conversation will deal with the dismal failure that Mats Sundin has been with the Canucks so far.

His idea, not mine.

Meanwhile, tomorrow night, the Toronto Maple Leafs will honour arguably the greatest captain in their history - an argument that does not include Sundin.

If you're a Leaf fan, I don't have to tell you what this guy meant to the franchise in the early 90's even before he became captain.

Category: Sports

Last night I was over at Neighbour John's watching the NHL Skills Competition and there was still some Bud Lite left in my bottle when it ended.

So we sat there long enough for the beginning of George Stroumboulopoulos' Montreal Canadiens Special, 100 Years, 100 Stars.

Leave it to George, it was fabulous.

I'll be honest, I don't have a lot of time for stuff about the Habs because I've had it stuffed down my throat too much over the past four decades.

I'm well aware of how many stars they've developed and how many Stanley Cups they've won.

Usually when a Hab fan starts to spout off about the Canadiens, I like to leave the room.

But last night was different. Strombo did a great job of mixing history with pop culture and presenting a unique one hour special.

It wasn't your typical sports history show with tons of archived crap they've we've seen a million times before. Instead it was a mixture of interviews with Canadiens past and present and interviews with such stars such as Dan Aykroyd, Sam Roberts and Jason Priestly.

Strombo brought hockey, music, culture and language together in a superb piece of television.

He made the point a few times during the show that even if you were a die hard Hab hater, you still have to respect their history.

He's right.

Hopefully the CBC will be showing it again.

Category: Sports

What a drag. Now Pat Burns has lung cancer.

I like Pat Burns, I really like Pat Burns. Here's how much I like Pat Burns - I liked Pat Burns when he was coach of the Montreal Canadiens.

I don't like Guy Carbonneau. He's too Habbish.

Pat Burns was a different kind of guy, and when he came to Toronto he gave Leaf fans the ride of their lives.

*note to hab fans who are reading this. I realize your team has won 26 stanley cups, and the thought of leaf fans basking in the glory of a wild ride that didn't result in a Stanley cup makes you laugh and guffaw and roll your eyes at our low standards, but this posting isn't for you, so piss off.

The Pat Burns runs in 1993 and 1994 were something that most Leaf fans will never forget.

Cliff Fletcher pulled the trigger on that big trade with Calgary, and all of a sudden Pat Burns was blessed with the big balls of Dougie Gilmour and the rest was history.

*another note to hab fans. Yes, I realize that history to leaf fans pales in comparison to your history, but I don't really care, because I really don't care about your team that hasn't won a Stanley cup in 16 years.

The Leafs of 93 and 94, under the direction of Burns were wonderful teams that played well above their heads and gave Toronto a sense of pride that we hadn't experienced in decades.

*yet another note to habs fans. Yea, we felt pride in Toronto, which I'm sure comes as no surprise to tens of thousands of hab fans who moved from Montreal to Toronto during the 90's for political reasons.

But there was more to Pat Burns than hockey. He was a cool guy. He carried a confidence and attitude behind the bench that the Leafs hadn't experienced since the days of Punch Imlach and the fans gobbled it up.

Pat Burns was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004 and then developed liver cancer in 2005. Now he has lung cancer.

Cancer is a prick.

Category: Sports

When the Ottawa Senators acquired Jarkko Ruutu this past summer I thought it was the perfect fit.

A repulsive player joins arguably the most repulsive team in the NHL.

To begin with the Senators were stockpiled with gutless underachievers, so it was fitting they added a dirty rat to the lineup.

Earlier this year he was suspended two games for delivering a vicious and dirty elbow to the head of Montreal's Maxim Lapierre.

Last night, he scraped the bottom of the barrel. He bit the hand of Buffalo's Andrew Peters.

Ruttu denies it, but that's what rats do, but it's plain to see on the video below and it'll be interesting to see what the league does about it.

Granted, Ruutu, despite being a professional creep and the perfect Ottawa Senator, doesn't have a long history of suspensions.

But he's got a reputation.

A disgusting one - and that's a lot worse.

Category: Sports

Another thing I look forward to in 2009 is watching the Toronto Maple Leafs.

(save all the insults and hear me out)

There's no getting around it, this is a fun team to watch and they're actually changing my attitude.

As the season began I vowed to pretty much ignore the Maple Leafs this season.

Prospects were poor. They had a rag tag lineup with a new coach and an interim general manager. The Leafs were out of the playoffs before the season started.

But something crazy happened along the way. This team is far from great, in fact they can't even be classed as good, but what they are is entertaining.

I'm watching them more and more.

What I love about this Leaf team is that they never give up. Even in some of the games where they've gotten their doors blown off, they still skate hard till the bitter end.

It's a weird situation. Any Leaf fans knows that the best thing that could happen to his franchise would be to lose every game, it's really the only way to turn things around over the long term.

But while you're watching this group of pluggers you can't help but let die-hard fan in you emerge and hope they win. It's like a guilty pleasure.

You know its wrong, but it feels oh so good.

And now we find ourselves in a familiar position that's done nothing for Leaf fans in the past.

It's two months before the trade deadline and the Leafs actually have a shot at making the playoffs. But really, what good will that do?

If they make the playoffs they won't last long, and if they "just" miss the playoffs they'll be drafting in the middle of the pack again.

Yes, as hard as it is to accept, the best thing possible for the Toronto Maple Leafs is to stop winning at the pace they are and go totally into the tank, and then at the trade deadline unload as many vets as possible.

It's the only way.

Category: Sports

About two minutes into last night's Coaches Corner, Cherry nails it.

Sundin is a rent a player.

Category: Sports

Mats Sundin Will Not Retire A Maple Leaf

Category: Sports

Like it or not, Mats could not be part of new Leafs.

Category: Sports

I can admit I was wrong.

Earlier this week in a previous posting I predicted that Mats Sundin would sign with the New York Rangers.

Well he didn't.

Today he signed with the Vancouver Canucks.

I'm convinced he wanted to sign with the Rangers, but their inability to clear cap space left Sundin with only one alternative, a reported two year, twenty million dollar contract with the Canucks.

At this writing, details of the Sundin's Vancouver contract haven't been released, but I have to tell ya, if it's true, (two and twenty) upper management of the Canucks should be immediately admitted to the best psychiatric hospital in British Columbia.

Why anyone would pay this guy that much money is beyond me. If they think this puts them any closer to a Stanley Cup they're sadly mistaken.

I won't go on and on about Sundin because I get the impression many of you are tired of my opinion on the subject.

I will however, say this. Everything I wrote earlier this week still applies, only the team has changed.

And I am ever happy the book has finally been closed on him coming back to the Leafs.

Category: Sports

If you read this blog often, you're aware of my declining interest in professional sports.

It's got a little bit to do with everything. I'm tired of the salaries, the attitude and the expense of professional sports, and recent baseball signings make it even less palatable.

I read today that the Philadelphia Phillies signed outfielder Raul Ibanez, (whoever he is) to a three year contract worth 31.5 million dollars.

Given the current economic climate, especially in the United States, I find it almost heartless that pro sports teams offer these contracts let alone hold big news conferences to announce them.

Yes I know, it's the free market system and every man should take what he can get but something still doesn't sit well when someone who catches a stupid baseball is handed 31 million dollars while thousands are losing jobs that barely keep a roof over their heads.

At the very least you'd think that maybe baseball, and other major league sports for that matter would take a more low key approach to announcing their mind boggling if not perverse salary offers.

Last week it was former Blue Jays pitcher AJ Burnett who signed with the Yankees.

He got 83 million dollars over five years, and he's not even that good. He's above average at best, yet his windfall becomes front page news while auto workers wonder if their world will collapse in the next few weeks.

Where's the compassion? Where's the heart?

Of course it all comes back to the fan. These salaries wouldn't be possible if fans didn't continue to support pro sports.

Salaries started to explode in the late 80's and professional teams and athletes have had a pretty good run since then, but you can't help but wonder if this gravy train is about to end as well.

The entertainment dollar is often the first affected when tough times hit, so it would only be fitting, and logical and just if fans stopped paying the freight that allows otherwise simple men to make tens of millions of dollars to play with balls and sticks and pucks.

Imagine if there was just a fifty percent correction. Instead of making 80 million over the next five years, AJ Burnett only made forty million while tickets prices were cut in half along with parking, beer and souvenirs.

It would still be outrageous to my mind but it would be a step in the right direction.

A lot of the economic woes that we're going through right now are blamed on greed, and that greed has made many things crash and burn.

Maybe pro sports in next.

I sort of hope so.

Category: Sports

Mats Sundin is apparently close to making a decision about what team he wants to play for this half season.

That's what it is, a half season, which makes me laugh when I think about Sundin's supposed noble stance last spring when he claimed he didn't want to be a "rent a player."

If he was going to win a Stanley Cup he wanted to be a part of the team for the long haul claiming he wasn't trying to screw the Leafs by not lifting his no-trade clause.

He was taking the high road by not becoming a "Johnny come lately" and lifting a Stanley Cup without being an established member of the "team."

Bullshit as far as I'm concerned.

For some reason Sundin had a pickle up his ass over something. Something beyond the fact the Leafs had given him close to 50 million dollars over the past dozen years, made him captain and pretty much handed him the keys to the franchise.

I'd like to know what Sundin's time-line is. A trade in early March is no good, but jumping aboard a top flight club in January is A-OK.

Sundin has taken a rest, taken a look at the landscape, and has apparently decided he'd like to win a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers.

It doesn't matter that he hasn't been part of the plan for the first three months of the season. He's ready to play and he likes the bright lights of New York - that's all that matters.

To be honest, I'm thrilled with his decision. As long as he doesn't end up back with the Leafs I'm happy.

I've said all along it's time to move on from the Sundin era, and that's played out nicely by watching the young Leafs this year who've played with more enthusiasm and arguably more skill than they did during most of the Sundin years.

Even during the so-called successful years when Sundin was part of the Leafs, he didn't play a major role. He didn't.

He always had a way of disappearing down the stretch and during key games in the playoffs. He didn't deliver the goods.

It should be a fun time down the stretch and into the playoffs. I keep having this creepy feeling that the Eastern Conference Final will come down to a matchup between the Habs and Rangers. I wouldn't know who to support.

I can't stand the Habs, but the last thing I'd want to see is Sundin win a Stanley Cup. Without Sundin I'm a Ranger guy all the way. With him, all of a sudden the Habs don't look as distasteful.

Thank goodness the Boston Bruins are so strong this year. It doesn't look like either Rangers or Habs are a match for them. Some might argue that with Sundin, it puts the Rangers over the top, but I beg to differ.

When push comes to shove, when the Rangers really need Sundin he won't be there.

You watch.

Category: Sports

This was sent to me my CanadianThinker.com reader Joe McLean.

Canada was stunned Monday when it was announced that The Stanley Cup will be awarded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, possibly as early as December 6th.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is cutting short a European trip to try to resolve the unprecedented hockey crisis that could force a second playoff series, or see the Cup be awarded to Team Coalition.

Laugh, but this makes about as much sense as the bullshit we went through this week.

Category: Politics | Sports

I've got to admit, I spent most of yesterday bummed out.

On Monday afternoon I watched as my country was being hi-jacked by three despicable men who have nothing but self-interest and undeserved power in mind. And if that wasn't bad enough, I had to read far too many comments on CanadianThinker.com from people who find nothing wrong with the country being sold out to separatists.

How fitting that the one thing that could jolt me out of my state of pissedoffedness was the game of hockey.

I can't express how proud I am of the Gary Bettman and the NHL today. Admittedly, like so many others, I've had my problems with Bettman over the years, but his quick and firm reaction to the Sean Avery situation yesterday was nothing short of beautiful.

Avery is an asshole of the first degree and most of the ridiculous things he has said and done over the past few years have gone without appropriate reaction.

Until yesterday.

Avery's comment about Elisha Cuthbert and her ties to Dion Phaneuf were uncalled for and disgusting. It was a total miscalculation by a dummy who was led to believe he could get away with just about anything. He was so far out of line, so brutally vulgar; it's obvious he must have become confused, thinking he was a member of the NFL or NBA.

That's what I love about Bettman's immediate response. He suspended Avery indefinitely almost on the spot. While the NBA deals with its thugs, and the NFL deals with its criminals the NHL came down hard on a guy for simply using his mouth.

What a contrast - on the day that the New York Giants suspended Plaxico Burris for taking a gun into a nightclub and shooting himself, the NHL suspends Sean Avery for something he said in a dressing room.

This does not excuse what Avery did, but it certainly is refreshing, especially when you consider this - Jabar Gaffney of the New England Patriots says about 90 percent of players in the league carry guns to protect themselves, while an NBA official who wishes to remain anonymous says in the NBA its closer to 100 percent.

In the NHL I'd be willing to bet it's zero percent.

Category: Sports

I rest my case. Do you think for one second that Darryl, Dougie or Wendel would do this?

Sundin Trashes Toronto: Toronto Mike Exclusive!.

Category: Sports

With the arrival of Brian Burke on Saturday you can pretty well set the countdown clock for a Maple Leaf ethnic cleansing.

It's not that Brian Burke doesn't like European hockey players, he just likes North Americans a lot more, especially Canadians, so don't be surprised if he moves that way almost immediately.

Burke isn't stupid, he likes skilled hockey players regardless of where they're from, but if the skill level similar, he'll opt for the Canadian guy every time, like he did in Anaheim.

When the Ducks won the Cup, they had more Canadians on their squad than any other team in the league. Nineteen.

Burke doesn't mind a front line European or two, but when it comes to second, third and fourth round players, he wants a certain type, and judging from his past inclinations that means gritty Canucks.

It also probably means the end of Nik Antropov, Alexei Poikarovsky and several other current Leafs because none of them qualify as front line players. OK, maybe on the Leafs they do, but that serves only to identify the team's main problem, lack of talent.

Needless to say, this could open up a long and bitter debate over right and wrong and whether it's smart hockey management or bigotry.

Problem is, I don't think Brian Burke will give a shit, and I believe it's outside the jurisdiction of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Which is OK, because I think even they'd like to see a Stanley Cup In Toronto.

Category: Sports

Carlo Colaiacovo and Alex Steen will be added to an excruciatingly long list of Toronto Maple Leaf draft choices that never panned out, and the crazy thing is, like another excruciatingly long list of Maple Leaf draft picks, they could very well have great careers playing somewhere else.

But having said that, ironically, I would have much preferred the Leafs trade Coaiacovo and Steen for draft choices rather than Lee Stempniak.

Every so often, even the Leafs get lucky in the draft.

Don't ask me to analyze this trade because I have no goddamn idea what to think.

Colaiacova is always injured and Alex Steen plays like the might as well be injured. In order for the Blues to take these two guys off the Leafs hands, there must be major issues with Lee Stempniak.

Why do Owen Nolan and Mark Bell come to mind?

**I remember back to the spring of 2001. The Humble and Fred Show had just made the move to MOJO Radio and Carlo Colaicovo had just been drafted by the Leafs.

Could that have been the highlight of Carlo's Maple Leaf career?**

Category: Sports

I've seen a lot of dirty plays in my day, but I think this one has to rank as the worst.

The slimy creep delivering the cross check to an opponent's mouth is Frederick Roy, son of former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy.

There's not a lot to say about this incident. Just watch it and shake your head.

Patrick Roy must be a piece of work. He's raised a couple of fine fellas. It was Roy's other son Jonathan who was charged with assault after attacking an opposing goaltender last March.

Jonathan, apparently at the urging of his old man, skated the length of the ice and beat the living piss out of another kid who wanted no part of a fight. After pulverizing his victim, Jonathan skated away while giving the crowd the finger.

Friday night it was Frederick Roy who turned into a cowardly maniac, delivering a sucker cross check to the mouth of an opposing player.

What a crew. Jonathan and Frederick play on the Quebec Remparts of the QMHL and daddio is their coach. The family definitely has some issues. Remember back to 2000 when Patrick was arrested for investigation of domestic assault while in Colorado. He and his wife split in 2006.

I hope Jonathan is found guilty of assault and sent to jail. (won't happen), I hope Frederick is thrown out of the "Q" for the remainder of this season and maybe next. (won't happen), and I hope their old man is forced to quit and sell his interest in the Remparts. (won't happen)

And to think the Habs honoured this weirdo on Saturday night.

Category: Sports

Wendel Clark: It was about heart.

Category: Sports

I'll say it again, wow, this Leaf stuff is getting interesting, if not a little nasty.

But I have to say something in my own defense, I don't hate Mats Sundin. Hate is a strong word, and definitely not appropriate when it comes to giving an opinion on a hockey player.

From what I understand, Mats Sundin is a marvelous person and held in high regard by those who've played with him, but that doesn't change my opinion that he was over-rated as a Leaf captain or my preference that he not return to Toronto.

Little whispers suggest that when Brian Burke becomes the Leafs general manager next week, his first priority will be to get Sundin's name on a contract, and to be honest, if anything could make me become a former Leaf fan, this might be it.

Crazy isn't it. Sundin has this great reputation and apparently has about a dozen teams to choose from if he decides to return and I'm still not big on the guy. I fully endorse Brian Burke as the Leafs next general manager, he wants Sundin back, and still I don't get it.

Mats Sundin was not part of the Leafs playoff runs in the early 90's, and he disappeared during the playoff runs of 99 and 2002. He also disappeared down the stretch in 06 and 07 when the Leafs were desperately trying to make the playoffs.

Last season when it was a lost cause, he wasn't so bad down the stretch.

Mats is a marvelous hockey player, blessed with a wealth of talent but in my eyes he lacked the intangible that doesn't allow him to be compared with the great Leaf captains of all time.

Darryl, Dougie and Wendel didn't have any quit in them. Mats does, or did. He never ever delivered the memorable moments, plays or sacrifices that Darryl, Dougie or Wendel did.

The Leafs always gave the impression that as great as Sundin was, they would be just fine without him, and not only was that proved through a few playoff runs, it's being proved right now. If Sundin returns to the Leafs, it will be a huge step backwards. It will prevent them from entering a new era, and mark my words; they won't play as well as they are right now.

And before all the Irvines of the world start writing back about the Leafs losing record right now, that means nothing. This team has turned a corner and this young team although losing more than they win, is fast, enthusiastic and committed.

Sundin's presence could wreck all of it.

That's not hate that's reality.

Category: Sports

Wow, quite the response to the Wendel Clark posting from Thursday. It really doesn't me something about Leaf haters, they're actually more delusional and extreme than Leaf lovers.

It's amazing how people across this country can spit venom at Leaf fans while continuously going back to the same old argument, that being 1967.

Although it's disappointing, embarrassing while bordering on shameful, it really isn't unique in professional sports.

The St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings joined the NHL the season following the Leafs last Stanley Cup and neither has won a championship.

Buffalo and Vancouver joined the league in 1970 and they've never won a Cup. The Chicago Black Hawks, who beat the Leafs last night, haven't won a Cup since 1961.

I'm not going to compile a huge list here because it would be boring. But take the time to look at all the pro leagues and see how long its been since a lot of teams have won a championship. Teams like the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Lions and New York Knicks.

It's amusing how I can write a posting about Wendel Clark, who could have played for any team in the NHL and been their leader, and then see the reaction from Leaf haters who can't control their vitriol.

I often wonder what it is. Is it people out west who are jealous of Toronto, is it people in central Canada who change allegiances like they change their underwear. Is it Ottawa Senator fans who have been subjected to probably the most vile team in the history of NHL. A constant collection of spineless strokers.

Ironically, the probably least hateful fans are those in Quebec who've been treated to an extremely unusual success rate over the decades. They love their team, but they don't seem to hate the Leafs as much as those sickening Hab fans that've never lived in Montreal or Quebec, but due to their flimsy commitment to most things in life have latched onto them only because it makes them feel good.

Not for past 15 years mind you, but their superficial loyalty does not go unnoticed.

As a long time Leaf fan I make no excuses because I don't think I need any.

The Leafs won the Cup in 1967 when I was ten years old. Since then they had a pretty good run in the late 70's, were horrible in the 80's, became one of the best teams in the NHL through the 90's and early 2000's, and then struggled over the past three years.

OK, it could have been better, but it also could have been a lot worse. When leagues expand and eventually enjoy some degree of parity, it's much tougher to win championships.

Just ask Hab fans who are now in the midst of the longest Stanley Cup drought in their history. A drought which I'm convinced will last for several years to come because they won't win the Cup this year, and next year they're going to lose several players because of salary cap implications.

When I read the crap from Leaf haters, it's always angled the same way. Leaf fans are stupid for loving their team. Like Leaf fans should all of sudden wake up one morning and decide they don't like the home team, or ignore the history of most sports franchises and pretend we should be different.

That my friends would be the wrong thing to do, because it displays weakness and lack of commitment and Leaf fans aren't like that.

Leaf fans are great fans because they stick with the blue and white through thick and thin, regardless of the situation. That's why when the Leafs visit any city in Canada, there is just as many or more Leaf fans in the stands than fans of the home team.

Anybody with guts wouldn't have it any other way.

And to wrap this up, let's make this clear. There is a lot more to a hockey player than points, and that's why Mats Sundin ranks well below Wendel Clark when it comes to judging the best Leafs of all time.

Sundin would be lucky to make the top ten because whenever the Leafs really needed him, he failed to deliver the goods.

Look it up.

Category: Sports

I got this note from my buddy Darren today.

Here's the legendary Wendel Clark, mild mannered Saskatchewan boy off the ice, but one of the toughest Leafs ever when he laced up the skates.

I'm going to the game !!!!

Watch this video and then tell me why Mats Sundin belongs to be mentioned in the same breath as Wendel Clark. Or Doug Gilmour. Or Darryl Sittler.

Category: Sports

It's crucial for the future of the Maple Leafs to have Mats Sundin go away.

Sundin unloads lavish Forest Hill digs

Category: Sports

Leafs 6 Canadiens 3

The Montreal Canadiens are going to be a fun team to watch this season. They're the typical flashy team with no balls or guts. The type that die early in the playoffs. Much like the Ottawa Senators.

Now when I say "fun to watch", I mean from a Leaf fan perspective because Hab fans are convinced this collection of weasels actually have a shot at something this year, and they really enjoy the predicament of the re-building Leafs.

Last night revealed quite about about "Le Suckatants". When a team can skate with them, they don't like it. Nothing but high sticks and dirty tricks.

Enjoy your team Montreal.

Penalty Summary

3rd Period
01:01 MTL Andrei Markov : Boarding - 2 min
05:24 MTL Alex Tanguay : Hi-sticking - 2 min
17:01 MTL Sergei Kostitsyn served by Georges Laraque : Charging - 2 min
17:01 MTL Sergei Kostitsyn : Misconduct (10 min) - 0 min

Category: Sports

It was early in the third period last night, before the Maple Leafs remarkable comeback against the New York Rangers. A thought ran through my mind and then I made it verbal to Neighbour John.

"The Leafs better not bring Mats Sundin back to this team."

Even though the Leafs were losing 2-0 at the time, they were still playing a pretty good game, the type of game that's become standard so far this season, hard work and perseverance.

The Leafs have exceeded expectations to this point, and who knows, within a couple of weeks they could be mired in a horrible slump. But that doesn't matter, because either way they can't lose.

If the Leafs continue to play well, we've been entertained, but if they go into the dumper that's OK too, because it means they'll get a decent draft choice.

But regardless of what unfolds in the next few weeks, one thing is certain, the last thing they need is Mats Sundin.

If the over-rated former captain returned, he would probably have an adverse affect on the team. Like he did on a few playoff series where he was injured and then returned only to have the team play worse.

Good or bad it's a new era for the Leafs. They've dumped some baggage and taken on a new "culture" and whether they make the playoffs this year or finish dead last, it's something they have to do. Go forward and not look back.

They're a new team with a new direction with new leadership. The last thing they need to do is get stupid and think that re-signing Sundin will take them to a new level or make them into something they aren't.

Sundin screwed the team last spring by not accepting a trade, and he's currently screwing around with several teams by not making a decision about a return.

It bothers me that the Leafs haven't named a new captain yet. They're naming monthly captains and right now the title belongs to Nik Antropov. I have the feeling they won't commit to a full time captain because it's in the back of somebody's mind at MLSE that Sundin might return.

Let's hope not. It would be a giant step backwards.

Category: Sports

Are the Canadiens a religion?

Category: Sports

The big sports story yesterday was that nonsense about the NHL board of governors considering another NHL team for Toronto.

It's much ado about nothing.

There's no way MLSE would allow this to happen. At any price.

It all comes down to ego, and there's no way the fellas at MLSE would risk having another team in town that would almost instantly be as good or better than the Maple Leafs.

The story suggests that the "new" team would actually become a tenant of the Air Canada Centre, and that's what would make it attractive to MLSE. They'd make millions off concessions and rent.

But to my mind, that wouldn't be enough. There's no way they'd take the chance of being the second best team in town. It would only underline how incompetent they are.

Yesterday's story suggested this wouldn't necessarily be an expansion team, in fact it would probably be an existing team from a troubled market.

Well have a quick look at the qualifiers, and just about all of them are currently better than the Leafs.

Richard Peddie and Larry Tannenbaum love money, but not that much.

Category: Sports

Frost used intimidation, former players tell sex trial

Category: Sports

Starting in March, Freddie P. will be increasing his gratuities throughout Southern and Central Ontario.

If there's anything worse than talking in the third person, it would have to be receiving a loonie as change with the Montreal Canadiens logo on it.

There's been a long-standing policy in my house that no Montreal Canadiens paraphernalia is allowed to come through the front doors. I don't care how rare it is, valuable or cool, when it comes to Hab junk I'm not interested.

When my son was a little fella I had strict orders for friends and family. If you were going to buy Danny something "hockey" it couldn't be anything with the Canadiens log on it. That policy would later include the Ottawa Senators.

It was pretty well 100% successful over the years and it's still in place as I sit here and write this.

However, come March it's going to be a little more difficult to avoid the Habs logo.

In March the Canadian mint, to commemorate the Habs 100th anniversary, will issue ten million loonies with the Habs logo on it. Super.

Now unless I keep a close eye on every bit of change I get in the spring, I could end up walking around with the Habs logo in my pants. A dreadful thought.

The logo could end up in my house, and if I don't watch it, it could end up all over my house. In drawers, in jars and down inside the couch never to be removed.

The thought is so upsetting that I've decided to adopt a generous new policy come March.

"Keep the change!"

Category: Sports

Before all the messages come pouring in from Hab fans, let's establish this.

If you guys think that team has any chance of winning the Stanley Cup, or surviving beyond one round once the playoffs begin, you're sadly mistaken.

The Montreal Canadiens are nothing but a "mish-mash of regular season flash."

Yea bring it on. I know what's coming.

40 years without a Cup and the Leafs stink, and Habs are great and they have a future while Toronto's is bleak.

I keep hearing it from the same blowhards who were conspicuously quiet from the mid-90's, right up until a couple of years ago when the Leafs consistently iced a better team.

The make-up of the current Canadiens is all wrong.

Have fun Hab fans, enjoy you're goofy little team that will play hard during the regular season, but believe me, once the rigors of the playoffs begin, If they make it, they'll be steamrolled.

Like last year.

Category: Sports

The 2008-009 NHL season begins in North America tonight, and the Toronto Maple Leafs kick it off in Detroit.

If playing the best team in the NHL isn't tough enough for the Leafs, it just so happens they're the opposition on the night the Red Wings will raise the Stanley Cup banner to the rafters.

But as new Leaf coach Ron Wilson says, that's probably a good thing. It will let his young and talentless team get a taste of what glory is all about, even if it's on the outside looking in.

Tonight represent a new era for the Leafs and probably the best thing about it is that Mats Sundin has appeared to have moved on. To have Sundin on the ice tonight would make the Leafs marginally better, but it would also mean they were stuck in the same lousy situation that's gotten them nowhere over the past several years.

Sundin would represent the status-quo, the same old same old, the face of a team that loves to be middle of the pack.

Without Sundin, the Leafs give the impression of a team that's turned the corner. A team full of young wankers who can't go anywhere but down. But that's good. We want them to go down.

We want them to bottom out and be the worst they can possibly be, and without Sundin in the lineup they have a much better chance of going that way.

When the Leafs take to the ice in Detroit tonight, having no Sundin in the lineup will be my favourite part of the night. It will represent re-birth to me.

It will represent a new era of "stink" that ironically will take us in a better direction.

The only thing that could make today even better would be to get word that Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky have been traded for three mouth-guards.

Category: Sports

Yea, he sure did.

When Ron Wilson opened up to reporters yesterday, he had the balls to say what so many others have been afraid to say - Mats Sundin was not a very good leader.

Wilson used a little diplomacy by generalizing, but the message was clear, a lot of what was wrong with the Maple Leafs over the past three of four years can rest on the shoulders of the captain who should have never been captain.

If you read this blog often, you know how I feel about Mats Sundin, in fact you're probably tired of hearing it. But here it goes again.

Mats Sundin is a marvelous hockey player, but he's not a captain, he didn't mean nearly as much to the Leafs as too many give him credit for, and this franchise will take giant leap forward if he decides to retire or play elsewhere.

That's not to say they will make the playoffs, or even have a winning season. It means they'll turn a corner and head in a different direction which they desperately need to do.

The Mats Sundin era should be over, and hopefully, what Ron Wilson said yesterday will put the final nail in the coffin.

Category: Sports

Michael Phelps returns to his to his tank at Seaworld. Click!

Category: Sports

The latest to come out of the indecisive world of Mats Sundin is that he's leaning towards the New York Rangers.

It's being denied by Sundin's agent J.P. Barry, but that's predictable, agents are supposed to deny everything before it happens.

But apparently Mats is attracted to the bright lights of Broadway, and lets face it, he proved last spring he doesn't care about winning a Stanley Cup so his choice to go there is not necessarily to win. It's probably more a lifestyle thing.

I hope this story is true. Actually, I hope any story about Sundin going anywhere but the Leafs is true.

I've stated many times before on this site how I feel about Mats Sundin. He's a wonderful hockey player, but he's also over-rated and has been way too much credit for his contribution to the Leafs.

I know, call me crazy but that's the way I feel. He's not nearly the leader he's promoted to be.

Anyway, here's the deal. I just happen to have a whack of "Aeroplan" points, if there's any way I can expedite Sundin's departure out of Toronto and into New York, I'd be willing cough up a few thousand points to get his ass on a plane so he can go cut a deal once and for all.

It may sound crazy, but I know what athletes are like. Even though they make millions, they don't like to pay for anything. They don't expect to pay for anything because everything is handed to them.

So if Mats is sitting somewhere wondering who's going to pay for his plane ticket to New York, and if for some whacked out reason the Rangers won't spread their cheeks, I'll give him some Aeroplan points.

I'm willing to do this for all concerned, but mostly for Maple Leaf fans, who don't realize it, but the Leafs will be much better off without this guy.

Category: Sports

Like most people who knew him, or knew of him, I was floored yesterday when I heard about the passing of former CFL player Leif Petterson.

I never got to know Leif personally, but over the years I interviewed several times when he played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1980's, and I talked to him several times over the years while he worked for TSN.

He was also a fellow honourary director with the Pat Marsden Foundation.

A nice guy, but not only a nice guy, a striking man.

Tall, good looking, well spoken and the type of guy who made everyone feel at ease.

It's another one of those head-shakers. When people die of a heart attack at 57 years of age, we expect them to overweight, out of shape and under unbearable stress.

Petterson was obviously in marvelous shape, giving the impression of a man 37 instead of 57, and from all accounts, he did not take life seriously. In other words, to look at the guy you'd rank him extremely low in candidates for a massive coronary.

But you can never tell, and you never know what's around the corner.

On Tuesday, Leif Petterson was a thriving middle aged man with apparently a good portion of his life still ahead of him.

On Wednesday he was dead.

Savour every minute.

Category: Sports

I find the older I get, the less interested I am in the Toronto Maple Leafs. That's because the older I get, the longer I've been around to see how this organization screws with its fans.

The latest pile of bullshit if the so-called free game they announced yesterday.

A September 22nd pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres will be free, totally free. Any fan lucky enough to get a ticket through some kind of a lottery, won’t have to pay.

On the surface, that’s pretty cool because there are a lot of fans in the GTA who don’t have a hope in hell of ever going to an over-priced Leaf game to see a crappy team.

What bothered me about yesterday’s announcement is the way it was presented, like it was a gift from the Leafs to the fans for all their years of undying support.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. All the tickets were purchased by Coca-Cola as part of a promotion, so it won’t cost the Leafs a goddamn nickel. If anything, the Leafs are going to make even more dough off this thing.

This is an “extra” pre-season game, so MLSE has already tucked away all the dough for those games. This “extra” game won’t bring in any ticket revenue, but it won’t cost them anything either thanks to Coca-Cola.

However, you can bet your ass the concession stands will be open that day, and on any given night with a full house the Leafs scoop about 300 thousand dollars out of their faithful fans pockets for ten dollar roast beef sandwiches and 12 dollar beer.

So in reality, this so-called “gift to their fans” is nothing more than an attempt to look good and give back while actually making an extra three hundred grand through the back door.

If the Leafs really wanted to impress somebody, they’d offer to give all concession money to a charity, or slash the price of their expensive substandard food for this game.

Don’t hold your breath.

Even In its purest form this entire exercise is bullshit, because even if the Leafs were actually eating the cost of the tickets, presenting it as a gift to their fans is totally inaccurate.

It's more like servicing a debt.

Category: Sports

I notice that Toronto Mike, because of Mats Sundin, has mentioned me on his blog again.

I take a pounding every time I write about Mats Sundin, because I have the audacity to have the opinion that I don’t think he’s the big wonderful hockey package that everyone else does.

The one thing that keeps coming up is the comparison of Sundin against Dougie, Darryl and Wendel.

Granted, at the end of the day I realize that Dougie, Darryl and Wendel didn’t bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto either, but to compare these three great Leafs to Mats Sundin when the money was on the line is insulting.

When Dougie, Darryl and Wendel were on the ice during playoff runs, during those times when we silly Leaf fans actually thought we had a chance, they were dominant players.

They gave their blood and guts.

No, they didn’t take up to the promised land, but when there was even an inkling of glory before them, they performed like Mats Sundin never could.

Sundin never carried the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs. He never delivered in the crunch, it was always somebody else.

Mats Sundin, no doubt, is a great hockey player. But he was far from the greatest Leaf and its time to move on.

And I don’t care what anyone says, twenty million dollars over two years for this guy is complete and utter insanity.

Category: Sports

If the Jersey Devils had done it, if the Detroit Red Wings had done it, or even if the Carolina Hurricanes had done it, you might be impressed.

If a team with a history of good, solid management had signed somebody like Jeff Finger to a four-year contract worth over 14 million dollars, you’d assume they’d done their due diligence and the reason for giving such an unknown player so much money would make sense eventually.

But when the Leafs do it, the flags go up and the alarms go off.

Jeff Finger is 28 years old and he’s played less than 100 games in the NHL. Last year in the playoffs he was a healthy scratch in five of the Colorado Avalanche’s ten playoff games.

First of all, you have to wonder how the offer got so high, because it’s hard to image any other team even considering giving him so much money. Who were the Leafs bidding against?

But more pressing is this question. How could anyone, including new head coach Ron Wilson be that impressed with somebody who’s played so little, that they’d give him a 700 percent raise over last year.

Wilson and Cliff Fletcher can say all they want, they can pump this guy up to be the second coming of Bobby Orr, but as Leaf fans we’re reduced to scratching our heads again.

Again, if it were the Red Wings or Devils who made a signing like this, you might actually be impressed.

Because it’s the Leafs, you know its just the beginning of another disaster.

What I can’t understand is the Brian Burke angle. Last week I was convinced he was sitting in the weeds calling the shots for the Leafs, now I’m not so sure.

Category: Sports

As crazy as the Finger signing is, there’s something else that could happen in the NHL in the next few days that could be considered even more ridiculous.

The Vancouver Canucks have offered Mats Sundin twenty million dollars over two years.

I’ve got to say, if this happens, from my perspective it will be the biggest waste of money in NHL history.

Ten million dollars a season for a 38 year old player who’s not sure he really wants to play anymore.

Even in his prime, Mats Sundin never really accomplished much in Toronto, so an offer of twenty million dollars over two years, actually makes the Finger signing look better.

Category: Sports

It’s become quite obvious, Brian Burke wants the Leafs to clean house before he gets to Toronto within the next year or so.

Having picked Ron Wilson as coach, who has a reputation for working well with young players, Burke has obviously directed Cliff Fletcher to get rid of the baggage and that’s why they tied the can to three players yesterday.

Andrew Raycroft and Kyle Wellwood were put on waivers, while the buy out of Darcy Tucker was initiated.

You can’t change history so there’s no use obsessing over the disastrous moves that were Raycroft and Tucker.

Tucker was signed to a long term deal by John Ferguson Jr. just as it became apparent he could no longer do the things that warranted the contract, and Raycroft came here at a huge price – goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask who went to the Boston Bruins.

The only pressing move remaining for the Leafs now, is to finally cut the ties to Mats Sundin. Apparently if he doesn’t sign elsewhere, there’s a seven million dollar contract waiting for him with the Leafs, but that would be ridiculous.

It’s time to move on from Sundin, even if they don’t get anything in return.

To my mind, the Leafs should forget about Sundin, go into the season with Marlies as fillers, stay way below the salary cap, have a horrible season, another good draft and then start spending some money.

Traditionally it’s not what they do, but this is a good time to do it, and I think on the heels of three bad seasons, Leaf fans are ready for something radical as long as there seems to be a point to it all.

Burke seems to have a plan.

Category: Sports

One of the great things about my father was how generous he was with his time. He was the ultimate volunteer, giving his time to the Canadian Legion in a executive position, the Stayner Horticultural Club and the Stayner Food Bank, just to name a few.

He was also heavily involved in minor hockey during the 60’s and 70’s, acting mainly as team manager within the Wexford Hockey Association that was based out of Tam O’Shanter Arena at Sheppard and Kennedy in Scarborough.

He was involved in the top level, which at that time was called the MTHL, it would be what Triple A is now.

Back then, a coaching staff would get a team at a young age and then stick with them for a few years. Changes would be made along the way of course, but the core of the team remained constant.

One of the players may dad managed through most of the 1960’s was former Maple Leaf John Anderson, and he was always one of Dickie’s favourites.

Through the years with Dickie, John Anderson was a good player, a good captain and a good kid, and that’s why my dad was so excited one June night in 1977 when he got the call that John had been drafted by the Leafs.

He and Junie got in the car and drove over to the Anderson’s house and shared in the celebration. Dickie was happy for John and proud as punch that one of “his” kids had made it the NHL, let alone being drafted by the Leafs.

Dickie followed John’s career through the NHL, and for the years following that, would often ask me “what John was up to.”

Well, “what John was up to” was becoming a very successful minor league coach, and it culminated with another Calder Cup victory with the Chicago Wolves this spring. One of their victims was the Marlies.

Anderson won two Calder Cups with the Wolves, and he captured a couple of Turner Cups in the International League.

His teams are always near the top of the standings, and a pressing question has been over the past few years, “why hasn’t John Anderson been given an NHL opportunity?”

He certainly has proved that he deserves it, and there are lots of guys who’ve been given a shot with fewer credentials, but there were never any clear answers…. until yesterday, when the Atlanta Thrashers put an end to all the questions by naming John Anderson as their head coach.

“Andy” is back in the NHL and man oh man, let me tell ya, Dickie would have loved it.

Category: Family | Sports

I’m glad I’m not among those who decide who makes it into the Hockey Hall of Fame, because if I was, I’d be part of a group of jerk offs.

This is so typical of today’s politically correct society – even goddamn sportswriters have bought into this bullshit.

Tell me how Igor Larionov could be elected to the Hall, while Dougie Gilmour could be over-looked.

I can’t see it, and I’ll start with the most basic argument. If you were starting a hockey team from scratch, and you had a choice of Doug Gilmour in his prime or Igor Larionov in his prime, who would you choose?

No brainer.

Larionov played the same position as Gilmour, and he joined the league in 1989, the same year that Gilmour was instrumental in helping the Calgary Flames win the Stanley Cup.

Granted, Larionov was 29 years old, and had put together a rather impressive career in the Russian league before finally earning his freedom on joining the Vancouver Canucks, but so bloody what. Compared to Doug Gilmour, who is just three years younger, he just doesn’t measure up.

In 88-89 Gilmour won a Cup and recorded 89 points. Larionov was in Russia.
In 89-90 Gilmour had 91 points – Larionov had 44 with Vancouver.
In 90-91 Gilmour had 81 points - Larionov had 34.
In 91-92 Gilmour had 87 points – Larionov had 65.
In 92-93 Gilmour had 127 points and almost won the Stanley Cup while carrying the Toronto Maple Leafs on his back while Larionov had 29 points with Lugano of the Swiss league.
In 93-94 Gilmour had 111 points with the Leafs – Larionov had 56 with San Jose.
In 94-95, the strike year, Gilmour had 33 points in 44 games while Larionov had 24 points in 33 games.

It wasn’t until 95-96 that Larionov actually had more points than Gilmour, but it was just one more, 72 to 73.

After that, Larionov played on a Detroit team that won consecutive Stanley Cups, but Gilmour had 82 points in 96-97 while Larionov, playing on a power-house only had 54 points.

In 1997-98 when Detroit won another Cup, Larionov had 47 points, while Gilmour had 53 with New Jersey.

I’m actually getting tired of listing these stats and to tell you the truth, there’s no use continuing because to finish out their careers, there wasn’t much to choose point wise between Gilmour and Larionov.

The only difference was that Larionov won another Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2002, but I ask you, who in their right mind could allow Larionov into the Hall before Gilmour?

Some might argue that Gilmour played six more season in the NHL so that’s why his over-all stats are that much better. But head to head in the NHL there was no comparison.

I'm sure there are some of you out there claiming you don't measure a player by points alone, but who would you rather have protecting a lead, checking the opposing teams best player or standing up for a team mate?

Gilmour scored, he checked, he was a team leader and he was tough as nails. And don’t give me the bullshit that he’ll eventually get his turn, he just has to wait, because that system blows after you read all the stats I’ve just provided.

And forget about Larionov’s accomplishments in the Russian league and World Championships and the Olympics because the Russians had no competition back then.

There’s nothing to the game of hockey that Igor Larionov provided compared to Doug Gilmour. If anything, he contributed significantly less.

And you know what? I'm not necessarily saying that Doug Gilmour belongs in the Hall, but if Larionov does, then Gilmour should have a red carpet placed in front of him.

Those who vote should forget about patting themselves on the back and being progressive for inducting the Russian guy, and be ashamed of themselves for making a farce of the entire of process.

End of story.

Category: Sports

ABT doesn’t spell anything, but it stands for something. Anybody but Tiger.

That’s the new tune here on FreddieP.ca ever since Tiger insulted some fellow athletes by suggesting nobody watches hockey any more during a news conference to promote one of the tournaments that he plays in that features old guys and fat guys.

And lets not forget, the PGA has also allowed women to play in a few of their events.

Take nothing against women golfers, but as I look back, I can’t ever recall Cassie Campbell playing in the NHL.

It’s easy to fluff it off and say Tiger was only kidding, or he was misquoted or he didn’t mean what he said, but that’s bullshit.

Tiger broke an unwritten law. You don’t insult other professionals regardless of the situation. To me, it showed a lack of class, total disregard for another sport and the growing feeling that Tiger actually thinks he’s special because he can hit a little ball with a piece of iron or graphite or what ever the hell he uses.

So that’s it my friends. Not that I was ever a huge fan of Tigers, I’m done with the guy, and I hope he doesn’t win the US Open this weekend.

I might not even watch any of it, which is fine because it pisses me off when he gets mad at somebody for clicking a camera during his swing, or if somebody does something horrible like utter a few words while the master is trying to concentrate.

Just once I’d like to see him suit up, put the blades on and then come over the blue line with his head down with somebody like Scott Stevens waiting for him.

It would be a joy to watch.

Not that anybody watches hockey any more.

Category: Sports

No matter what angle you look at it, CBC botched the “hockey theme” controversy by letting it slip away.

The "theme" will still be around because CTV stepped up and bought it on behalf of TSN which has a wide range of hockey to offer next season.

However, if you’re a Leaf fan, and have always associated the "hockey theme" with your beloved blue and white, the association is over. If you’re the type of hockey fan who tends to watch Leaf games, and few others, then the hockey theme is pretty well out of your life.

The Leafs are seen almost exclusively on the CBC Saturday nights, and for the next six years, on Rogers Sportsnet. Only a handful of Leaf games will show up on TSN next season, and they’ll be mid-week games.

In other words, even though the “hockey theme” has been saved, it won’t mean much to Leaf fans; because you’re hardly gonna hear it.

Hey, I admire CTV for coming in and securing a deal with the rights holders, but once you get beyond the business end of it, it’s still going to take some getting used to.

The “theme” is a Saturday night thing and that’s how Canadians came to love it.

On Saturday nights, the average viewing audience for Hockey Night in Canada is upwards of a million Canadians. Compare that to mid-week games featuring the Leafs and it’s cut in half. Compare that to mid-week games “not” involving the Leafs and you can cut it in half again.

The hockey theme lives on, but not many people are going to hear it.

Especially Leaf fans.

Category: Sports

We all the now the Toronto Maple Leafs are a bad organization, mismanaged from top to bottom, so on first swipe it’s not surprising that they’d hire a head coach before they hired a general manger.

That’s what bad organizations do.

Good organizations wait till they’ve got general manager in place, and then he goes out and hires a coach.

Granted, Cliff Fletcher is the general manager right now, but we all know he’s not the guy who’s going to lead this club out of the wilderness, it’s going to be another guy, and the hiring of Wilson tells us exactly who that other guy will be, Brian Burke.

The Leafs may be one of the worst organizations in the NHL, but in this case I believe we can cut them some slack. As ridiculous as it looks on the surface to hire Ron Wilson as coach before they’ve hired a general manager, Wilson’s hiring tells us that the Burke will be in town sooner than later.

Burke and Wilson have a long history; they were room-mates as players in college and have maintained a life long friendship. Apparently, Wilson was Burke’s choice to coach the Leafs, so it’s just a matter of time before Burke is sprung from his contract in Anaheim.

Maybe the Leafs aren’t so stupid after all.

Category: Sports

Figures released by the National Hockey League shouldn't surprise Canadians. Although Canadian teams only make up only 20 percent of the league, the six Canadian teams are generating 31 percent of league revenue through ticket sales.

Regardless, Canada continues to be nothing more than an afterthought for league Commissioner Gary Bettman and this American controlled league.

While franchises belong in cities like Winnipeg and Quebec City, Bettman and the boys continue to push for expansion into hockey hotbeds like Kansas City and Las Vegas.

Bettman talks a big game. Whenever pressed, he goes on and on about the importance of the Canadian franchises, but his almost immediate rejection of Jim Balsillie told Canadians all they needed to know about this position on more Canadian franchises.

Bettman holds onto the dream of the NHL actually becoming a big player in the U.S. but it's not going to happen.

Meanwhile Canadian hockey fans flap in the wind.

Shameful.

Category: Sports

If you’ve been a frequent reader of this blog over the past couple of years, and or if you used to listen to me on the radio, you know I’ve never been a big fan of Mats Sundin’s.

I’ve never bought into his act, which to many is I’m sure is unbelievable, especially when you consider that yesterday in Pittsburgh, Sundin was given the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

I must be missing something.

I’ve never really thought that Sundin was that much of a leader, I’ve never bought into the theory that he’s never been given anyone of skill to play with, and basically, I don’t think he cares as much as people give him credit for.

Even though Sundin was within his right not to waive his no trade clause at the deadline, it’s become quite apparent it was done more to be vindictive than it was to be loyal.

Sundin was well aware of what the Leafs could have received in return for him at the deadline but he refused to move. He realized it could have been a turning point for the franchise, but he ignored it.

Mats Sundin put Mats Sundin first. Ahead of the franchise and especially ahead of the fans who have so blindly worshipped him over the years. All he was asked to do was go to a contender for a few weeks and maybe win a Stanley Cup, but he refused to do it.

Now we hear he wants to continue his playing career and he’ll probably end up with one of the teams he could have played for just a few short weeks ago.

In other words, for the sake of getting a longer summer holiday, he deprived the Leafs and their fans of acquiring a few good young prospects.

Sundin appears ready to rub the Leafs nose in it.

Where the vindictiveness comes from I don’t know. The franchise was has become a bungling joke, but they always looked after Mats Sundin. They always paid him well, and we can’t forget there were a few good years in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, years when the Leafs did well in the playoffs.

Oh but wait, I forgot. During those playoff years Sundin disappeared when the Leafs really needed him, so I guess as he looks back, the great leader doesn’t count those years.

Apparently Cliff Fletcher will meet with Sundin next week and attempt to convince him why staying in Toronto is a good idea. Sundin says he’s got to be sold.

Which brings a fine fantasy to my mind. Sell the bastard to Bitemyclankastan of the Russian League.

Category: Sports

Today’s story about the 15 year old Toronto lacrosse player, who died as the result of an injury in a game, is horrifying for all parents.

Obviously, it can’t match the living nightmare that Jamieson Kuhlmann’s parents are going through, but it’s something that constantly plays on the subconscious minds of parents every time they watch their kids walk out the door.

To lose a child under any circumstances has to be the most horrific thing that could happen to a person. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s to disease or an accident.

As the father of two healthy young adults I try not to think about it, but when I see stories like the one about Jamieson Kuhlmann I shudder. I can’t imagine losing one of my kids, and for those who do, I wonder how they go on.

My father died recently, and the pain it cause is bad enough. My dad was 82 years old and lived a long and productive and mostly healthy life.

But if losing him can hurt so much, how do you measure that against losing a child. As the old saying goes, your kids are supposed to bury you, not the other way around.

When I talk to new parents I love to ask this question. Especially of those who swore at one time that they’d probably never have kids.

I ask them, could ever imagine loving something as much as you love your kids, and the answer is always the same. A resounding “no!”

Prior to Monday, I’m sure the parents of Jamieson Kuhlmann had a lot on their minds.

It could have been anything, their jobs, their finances, personal relationships, and before Monday these things may have played a big part in their lives.

Today I’m sure nothing means anything and everything else is a blur.

The Kuhlmann’s have suffered the absolute worst thing that can happen to anyone and I’m sure for the time being, their lives have lost all meaning.

Category: Sports | Stuff

I guess its only fitting that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings are meeting in the Stanley Cup finals.

They were the two best teams in the NHL during the regular season.

Some might argue that the Montreal Canadiens were the best in the east, but that’s to ignore the horrendous fluke that happened down the stretch. The Canadiens proved their true worth during the playoffs and saved us from a lot of Hab fan nonsense over the past few weeks.

Next year will be a lot easier to stomach, because I still maintain Montreal will not make the playoffs.

Anyway, its time for non partisans to pick a side and to tell you the truth, it’s a no brainer for me. I want Pittsburgh to win, and it’s for no other reason than Sidney Crosby and Nicklas Lidstrom.

Sidney is Canadian and Lidstrom is not.

Call me crazy, but I still like the idea that no team with a European captain has ever won the Stanley Cup.

A couple of Americans have captained Stanley Cup winners, but never has a European and although its bound to happen eventually, as a guy who could care less about either the Pittsburgh Penguins or Detroit Red Wings, it gives me a focus for the Stanley Cup final.

On any given night, the Penguins and Red Wings have the same number of Canadians on their squad. About seven or eight. It all depends who dresses for a particular game.

So it comes back to the captaincy thing and I’d love to see the young Canadian guy lift the Cup above his head before the old European guy.

Is that wrong?

Category: Sports

Here's more content from an outside contributor.

My buddy Darren is a big fan of the Onion Daily Dispatch and every so often he sends me an article that he finds especially amusing. And if he finds it amusing, it means it probably is.

This one is a gem.

It's another shot at the NHL and the sad lack of attention it gets in the United States.

Category: Sports

Wayne Gretzky was very diplomatic, but he quickly downplayed rumours that he'd be interested in becoming President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Gretzky is arguably the greatest players in the history of hockey, but that image has been somewhat tarnished as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. It's been a struggle.

Taking on the paramount job of running the Leafs would definitely have an upside, but given the horrific modern day history of this club, Gretzky is not about to take any chances.

Being the latest Leaf management failure could go a long way in clouding his wonderful playing legacy.

Thanks but no thanks.

Category: Sports

I was in the halls of Corus Entertainment Toronto today when word broke of the firing of Paul Maurice sometime around 11 am.

People were scurrying up and down the halls.

Young Steve Dankoff, who hosts Leafs Lunch Weekends was there, News Director Stephanie Smyth was there, and Program Director Gord Harris was there.

When a story like this breaks, and you're the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs, decisions have to be made about how you're going to handle the story and it was fun to watch the team go into action.

On air at the time was the marvelous Mike Stafford and no surprisingly, Mike morphed from newsman to sports analyst in a matter of seconds.

Within minutes Mike had Bill Watters on the phone, and the he spent the rest of the hour taking calls from passionate Leaf fans.

I so desperately wanted to bust through the studio doors and sit with Mike and take calls, but it wasn't may place.

It used to be, but not no more.

What do I think of the Maurice firing?

I'm not surprised. As screwed up as the organization is, there were too many nights over the past couple of years that the Leafs appeared "not ready to play."

I realize that motivation for players who make millions of dollars a year shouldn't be an issue, but that's not reality.

If a professional coach has any angle to his job that shouldn't be necessary, it's motivation, but pro athletes are nothing more than big dumb kids and quite often they do need to have a fire lighted under their ass, and Maurice simply didn't deliver on that front.

Will anything change? Probably not.

This organization has a woeful history of plowing through players and coaches and not having much of anything change.

You know the story. Until the top changes, the bottom will be a familiar place.

Category: Radio | Sports

No doubt it’s nice to have the World Hockey Championships being played in Canada for the first time in its history, but you have wonder about the size of the field and whether it’s necessary.

What is the point of having countries like Latvia, France, Italy and Denmark in the tournament?

They travel thousands of miles to have their doors kicked and it really is pointless.

It’s like the IIHF feels the tournament isn’t legitimate unless there’s a certain number of team in it. Even if it means several games between clubs that don’t stand a chance or teams that nobody cares about.

When you look the schedule, it’s heavily weighted with games that mean nothing compared to games that will actually hold some interest.

Team Canada’s 7-0 exercise against Latvia yesterday was a waste of time and bordered on cruelty, while several other games were lopsided and featured some teams actually backing off to save their opponents embarrassment.

A 16 team field for an International hockey tournament is far too ambitious and takes away from the flavour.

Eight would be enough and grab the interest of fans long before the current format does.

Category: Sports

Category: Sports

Over the past few days I've been battered and bruised by many because of my stance on the Montreal Canadiens.

I predicted they couldn't beat Philadelphia, mainly because I couldn't see how this "soft" team could win at the Wachovia Centre.

Well, don't look now but the Habs trail the series 3-1 and in order to win they'd have to still find a way to win in Philly while sweeping the other two games at home.

It ain't gonna happen.

And you know what else ain't gonna happen. The Habs ain't gonna make the playoffs next year.

Category: Sports

I realize money isn’t everything and money definitely doesn’t guarantee happiness, but as the father of a 25 year old woman, I can’t help but wonder it would be like to have her walk in the door and tell me she was marrying a 37 year old rich guy.

That was it was like for the parents of 25 year old Swede Josephine Johansson who was yesterday officially introduced as 37 year old Mats Sundin’s fiancée.

I’ve got to admit, if my daughter brought at 37 year old guy into the house and I didn’t know his financial situation, I’d probably be pissed.

I’d wonder what this old bastard wanted with my little girl and I’d be concerned for her future. What about having kids and her retirement. The old prick will probably be useless down the road.

However, once it was presented to me that he was worth tens of millions of dollars I wonder how I’d react.

To be honest, I’m sure it would lessen the blow and allow me to get my head around my little darlin’ marrying someone who comes across as a cradle snatcher.

All of a sudden I wouldn’t worry so much about her future knowing that even with a pre-nup she’d be set for life before life had really even begun. I’d realize the burden of child rearing would be made that much easier and who the hell cares about retirement because retirement would start the day she tied the knot.

And I’ve got to admit, it wouldn’t hurt that along with the money came the profile of my daughter marrying a freakin’ Toronto Maple Leaf for cryin’ out loud.

I might even overlook the fact it’s Mats Sundin, although I’m sure at family dinners I’d be all over him for not accepting a trade at the deadline and for keeping company with the likes of Tie Domi.

And get his opinion on why, still to this day, a team has never won a Stanley Cup with a European captain.

Category: Family | Sports

"Hey Freddie Boy, found this, wanted to pass it on."

Guy Lafleur

Not so fast Guy, put down your cigarette and listen to me. This dumb poll was taken after Calgary was eliminated from the playoffs, so really Montreal was the only active team at the time.

Let's see what happens next year when the Habs don't make the playoffs.

Two down and two to go!

Category: Sports

Actually, it should be three down one to go.

I’m sure Hab fans will lament that their team should have won last nights game, but much like game one, all that matters is the final score.

Yes, the Habs put on major pressure in the third period, widely out shooting the Flyers, but hockey ain’t horseshoes and so the Canadiens find themselves firmly behind the eight ball, although hockey ain’t billiards either.

Montreal must win tomorrow night, but let’s hope they don’t.

Category: Sports

I don’t know about you, but I could smell a rat through the entire Roger Clemens steroid controversy, so I’m not surprised there are now accusations of him diddling country singer Mindy McCready for over a decade, starting when she was a shocking 15 years old.

Clemens was married at the time and had two kids.

Needless to say, Clemons, through his lawyer, has denied anything inappropriate, but according to the New York Daily News the story carries weight, and rather than supporting Clemons story, McCready’s lawyer issued a “no comment.”

It’s funny, but during his time with the Blue Jays, when I was handling the sports beat at the Edge, I head many a story about the “creep” that was Roger Clemens, but never thought much about it because I found most baseball players to be jerk offs.

None of this comes as a surprise to me and usually, where there’s smoke there’s fire.

Category: Sports

Actually, it should be two down and two to go.

Saturday night’s victory over the Montreal Canadiens was extremely refreshing on one hand for Hab haters, but frustrating on the other because the Flyers could have easily won the first game as well.

I realize on not the most proficient analyst when it comes to hockey, but I really can’t see how the Habs will win a game in Philly.

The Flyers are too physical and too willing to go where the Habs won’t and I think this will be magnified in Philadelphia.

Look for the “K Boys” to disappear at the Wachovia Centre and the Flyers to win decisively. Hopefully we can finally put this Montreal fantasy to rest.

By the way, don’t forget, I’ve predicted the Habs won make the playoffs next year.

*K Boys – Koivu, Kovalev, Kostitsyns.

Category: Sports

I read with interest the idea by the TTC to start selling naming rights to large corporations for subway stations.

Instead of getting off at Queen, you'd get off at Home Depot, or McDonalds are whatever.

Personally, I'd have no problem with it because it's become painfully obvious that the current regime at City Hall has no idea how to run a city, so why not generate some revenue for public transit through advertising.

They'd just have to make sure the money didn't up going to general revenue for things like free lunches and trips to China.

I've often though the Canadian Football League should do something similar. Why not have individual players sponsored by corporations based on their worth and positions.

For example, the Argos new quarterback Kerry Joseph wants three hundred thousand dollars a year, why not sell him jersey to a corporation. The corporation pays the three hundred thousand and in exchange they get their name on the jersey of the highest profile player.

It would go down from there. A receiver who makes a hundred grand would be sold to someone else willing to spend within that budget, right down to the lower paid linemen who might be sponsored by individual retail stores.

This way the CFL could use gate revenue for other things, or even top off the salaries to attract better players.

It might put an end to this year to year financial dilemma the CFL finds itself in.

Category: Sports

Category: Sports

Category: Sports

It didn't take long for the reaction to start coming into FreddieP.ca last night after the Habs beat the Boston Bruins in a game that wasn't really indicative of the score.

Hab fans wanted to rub my nose in it.

As I mentioned yesterday, I was really looking forward to this game and I fully expected the Bruins to play better, but they didn't and the result was another one of those disgusting songfests at the Bell Center, where Hab fans sing that ancient "Na na na na" bullshit song.

And all the while waving cut little while towels. The same crew that booed the American anthem in game five.

Yes, I would have loved to see the Habs fall but it will make it so much more enjoyable when they fall in the next round.

I expect Washington to beat Philadelphia in game seven of that series, which means the Habs will play the New York Rangers. My money and my heart will side with the Rangers.

Honestly, if anybody thinks a team with the profile of the Canadiens, (Koivu, Kovalev, Kostitsyn squared) can win the Stanley Cup, you're sadly mistaken.

The end will come, just a little later than I thought.

Category: Sports

The irony is almost too delicious.

A favourite past time of Montreal hockey fans is to mock Leaf fans for street celebrations after winning playoff series.

Oh yea, during that long stretch when the Canadiens were missing the playoffs, Hab fans made a big point of laughing in our faces because Leaf fans filled the streets and honked horns after winning a something as insignificant as a Conference semi-final.

What a joke.

Last night the Canadiens completed a seven game struggle with the eighth seed Boston Bruins and what happens? There are riots in the streets.

A first round victory over a team they were expected to easily beat, and Montreal fans take to the street and among other things, torched five police cars while looting several stores.

Tens of thousands of Montrealers have had to move to Toronto over the past few years for economic, political and cultural reasons - thank goodness we got the civilized ones.

No wonder Montreal is becoming nothing more than a backwoods hick town.

Category: Sports

Sweet boy Toronto Mike had a piece on his website Sunday about the Jays acquiring Barry Bonds to replace Frank Thomas.

No way Jose!

Barry Bonds has a bad attitude at the best of times, can you imagine if he was forced to come to the only Canadian team for the league minimum because nobody else wanted to touch the guy.

I can’t help but thing he’d be a cancer in a locker room that’s already going sour with yet another mediocre season on the horizon.

The Jays have played 20 games and they’ve won ten. Typical of what they’ve done for most of the past decade and a half. Simply not good enough.

Already the Jays have settled in their familiar third place standing and they’re three and a half games behind the Red Sox. That might not sound like much of a deficit, but given the Jays win one lose one character, it’s extremely optimistic to think anything is going to change.

Barry Bonds would not help the situation. If anything, he’d become an instant distraction.

And not a positive one.

Category: Sports

It’s been a long time since I’ve looked forward to a hockey game as much as I do this one.

It’s game seven between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre tonight, and we could be on the verge of a huge upset.

Check that. On paper it’s a huge upset, but the fact the eighth seed Bruins are giving the first seed Habs all they can handle doesn’t come as a surprise to me.

The Canadiens, thanks to a wild combination of good fortune and playing in a weak conference finished on top of the standings with no where near the best talent.

Now its coming back to bite them in the ass.

Hab fans were quite confident going into the playoffs, they looked way beyond the Bruins who just managed to slip into the playoffs, but all of a sudden its life and death, and if Boston continues their “stifling” system, the Habs could fall in the first round.

Wouldn’t that be sweet? Oh yes, and it will be even sweeter next year when the Canadiens find their proper level and probably miss the playoffs all together.

Teams that depend on players like Alexie Kovalev don’t win Stanley Cups. End of story.

I really can’t wait for the game tonight, I’m anticipating an Bruins victory, but even if it doesn’t happen, no sweat.

Judging by their performance so far, the Habs will definitely fall in the next round.

à bientôt

Category: Sports

I wish it was different. I wish I didn’t feel this way.

I’d like nothing better than to be able to adopt a team from Ottawa as “my” or “Canada’s” team in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But I can’t. They’re too creepy.

Prior to the creation of the Ottawa Senators, and for a few years after they entered the league, I had no problem with the city of Ottawa or its people.

It was those damn playoff series in the early part of this century that turned me off like some many others.

Not only was the team creepy, made up of several spineless losers who excelled at the art of choking, but their fans quickly became creepy as well.

Out of nowhere came this hate and disdain for Toronto that was inexplicable in the early going. So anti-Toronto, so anti-Maple Leaf it was shocking. Back in 2000 when it started, there wasn’t enough history to the rivalry to create such vitriol.

Ottawa fans were smug. They thought their team was so much better than Toronto’s they could say or do anything they wanted.

And they did, and it was ugly, and it grew.

As the Leafs systematically knocked off the choking Senators on four occasions, rather than direct their disgust at their own sorry team, they came to hate the Leafs and their fans even more.

Thus, Toronto fans could take no more and they grew to hate not only the gutless Senators, but their weirdo fans as well.

It really would be nice for Leaf fans to be able to support the Senators in the playoffs, it would be so convenient, and if not for the profile of their team, and the behaviour of Ottawa fans, it might have happened.

Instead, we have a situation like last night.

As the clock ticked down in Ottawa, Leaf fans had huge smiles on their faces. For a lot of Toronto fans, the playoffs were made last night. It was our own little spiteful Stanley Cup.

All those weasly Ottawa fans had to watch Team Choke get swept away by the Pittsburgh Penguins. They crumbled again.

And it was good.

Category: Sports

During the Ottawa – Pittsburgh game last night, I was reminded of one of my least favourite things about sports.

The Worship Bow.

Just before Antoine Vermette's goal was disallowed late in the second period, the camera panned a euphoric crowd and you could see two Senator fans doing the bow.

I’m sure you’ve seen it. An athlete makes a remarkable play and then fans will start to do a full bow from the hips with their arms straight up.

It’s sickening and I for one would never lower myself to such a level.

What a pathetic statement that anyone would give themselves in such a way to a measly hockey player, or baseball player or any athlete for that matter.

Because a person can swat a puck with a stick or bash a ball with a bat they deserve to be worshipped?

Maybe you think I’m over reacting or reading too much into a simple act, but think about it. What kind of a goober goes out in public and bows down to another man simply because he completed a play of some sort.

How feeble, how insecure, how embarrassing to be seen doing such a thing, and what would motivate anyone to do it. I mean really, what is it saying?

It says you’re a submissive wimp who’s got your priorities way out of whack when it comes to what’s really important in life.

If you want to “worship bow” someone, go down to Sick Kids Hospital and look for a brain surgeon.

Category: Sports

The NFL released its 2008 schedule yesterday and it didn’t go over well in Buffalo.

The Bills game in Toronto on December 7th will feature the Miami Dolphins as the opposition and Buffalo fans are pissed.

The Dolphins may be the worst team in the NFL, but they are the Bills number one arch rival and Buffalo fans love to squish the fish. Not only that, but a December 7th game meant the Bills would get a huge weather advantage.

Not now.

For what ever reason, the Bills in conjunction with the NFL decided to put this game in the Skydome which means Buffalo fans have been robbed of arguably their favourite date on the schedule.

Meanwhile, the reaction is completely different in Toronto. Football fans that were looking forward to this game are disappointed that they’ll be forced to pay king sized prices to watch a horrible football team.

There’s no hatred for the Miami Dolphins in Toronto, so it comes down to bang for your buck, and a lot of people who’ve committed to this game feel like the NFL more or less dumped it in Toronto.

What do I think?

By the time the game rolls around there will be a huge buzz and given that Bill Parcells is now running the show in Miami, it just might be better than anticipated.

I’d go.

Category: Sports

Considering only two teams in NHL history have battled back from 3-0 deficits to win a Stanley Cup playoff series, I think its safe to say the Ottawa Senators are done, again.

It’s a wonderful thing and we have the Pittsburgh Penguins to thank.

I think last year was it for the Senators. Despite their spineless creepiness, they managed to get to the Stanley Cup finals before pulling one of their great choke jobs.

This year they’re obviously the same old Senators, deep in talent, shallow in guts and integrity.

This team needs a major overhaul and after another year that will end in disappointment, there’s no use beating a dead, useless dog. This squad aint’ goin’ nowhere.

I realize what I just wrote is a double negative, but when it comes to the Senators I love to deal in negatives and I’m sure you know what I mean anyway.

I’ll even go this far.

What is worse, having a useless team like the Leafs who you know aren’t going anywhere from the beginning, or having a team like the Senators, so very rich in talent that raises your hopes every playoff year only to crap out because they’re an awkward collection of over-rated, softies who don’t really give a shit when it comes right down to it?

I might actually lean towards the Leafs.

Go Sens Go…. and take your asshole fans with you.

Category: Sports

Freeway Frank is a fine young fella who used to work at the Mix. Now he's the morning man at Energy Radio in Calgary. Problem is, he's a Hab fan.

Having said that, Freeway is one of those acceptable Hab fans. He was born in Montreal. He's not one of those turn coat weirdos who was born in Toronto but loves the Habs for some twisted, drug induced reason.

Freeway is flyin' high these days. The Habs are back and he's loving it.

Yesterday he read FreddieP.ca and sent me this.

"Freddy, I'm starting to think you're hitting some hard drugs or you've hit your head pretty hard recently! You can't stand Habs fans? lol
Geez try being a Hab fan in the shadow of a mediocre/shit team for 41 years..especially in the new age of Sports Television where they (the Habs) get as much coverage as PBA bowling on TSN, Sportsnet etc, etc. The Leafs have been a disgrace for 41 years..absolute garbage organization who treat their fans even worse...Leafs fans are asleep at the wheel supporting a terrible product with false expectations each year. I lived in Toronto for 6.5 years...dumbasses honking their horns till 2a after one win in the first round..maybe second..then going down in disgrace. At least some of the fans in Woodbridge have it half right...I mean even those delusional ITAI's got to celebrate a world cup before seeing their beloved cornholio Leafs win a Stanley, which by the way will never happen in our lifetime. Habs to 25~book it! At least we finished 1st..those Sportsnet guys really know their stuff, predicting them as high as 13th in the conference. Maybe it's time for them to quit the game..cause cheering for the Leafs have sent them and all of you to the nut house. Love ya!"

Category: Radio | Sports

I was talking with my good buddy Darren the other day, and he hit the nail on the head.

He doesn’t mind the Montreal Canadiens as a team, it’s their fans he can’t stand, and that’s why, like most Leaf fans, he’d like to see them quickly ejected from the playoffs.

As Derwood says, as a team the Canadiens are OK, very much unlike the Ottawa Senators that as a team, are sickening.

If it wasn’t for all those nauseating Hab fans who were suspiciously quiet over the past decade while they looked up at the Leafs, it might be possible to actually get behind the Habs as Canada’s team.

But unfortunately, due to overt trash talking by Montreal fans, and their ability to slither out of the woodwork after the Habs fluked their way to a first place finish in the east, Calgary must be adopted as Canada’s team.

The Flames are cool. A good team with a great Canadian captain, and fans far enough away that we don’t even know if they possess the same aggravating traits that Montreal fans have.

I just heard Bill Watters on the John Oakley Show and he predicts the Habs could very well win the Stanley Cup. It made me rush to the bathroom with a bout of male morning sickness. I honestly don’t think I could take another Montreal Stanley Cup just one year after they were eliminated from playoff contention by the Leafs.

I don’t think we have to worry about the Senators this year. Their culture of losing is as strong as ever and they have some key people out of their lineup, but even if they weren’t a sorry pack of losers and they had a healthy lineup, I’d still adopt my policy of the past few years.

ABO – Anybody but Ottawa. Although now we can add this.

ABOOM – Anybody but Ottawa or Montreal.

Go Flames Go.

Category: Sports

I was pleased to read the news this morning that Mats Sundin wouldn’t play the final two games of the Leafs season.

I was pleased because it means the end of the Mats Sundin era in Toronto could be over that much sooner. To be honest, I hope Mats Sundin has played his final game for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sundin represented a weird situation in Toronto. A marvelous hockey player, who might arguably go down as the greatest Maple Leaf in history (definitely not my opinion) Mats Sundin really didn’t do much for the franchise over his 14 seasons.

With him, they won nothing. Without him, they almost did.

I don’t want to go over it again and again, but without Mats Sundin in their lineup during the playoff runs of 1999 and 2002, the Leafs actually played better without him and sagged when he came back.

I don’t know why. Maybe it was a compliment that the other players slacked off when he was in the lineup, but the bottom line is, they did better without him.

Last year when they need their captain down the stretch, he scored one goal in the last twenty games. This year when they needed their captain, he went missing with a groin injury.

Yes I know, you can’t blame a guy for an injury, but I still maintain, Dougie, Darryl and Wendel would have played.

Maybe the groin injury is too painful, but I just find it amusing that once again, Sundin is gone when the pressure was on.

And there’s more.

For all his accolades as a great captain, it’s interesting that Sundin allowed Tie Domi to control the dressing room for so many years.

It’s amazing for such a great Maple Leaf; he stood in the way of the franchise using his asset to make a trade for youth at the deadline.

Word is Cliff Fletcher will try to make Sundin commit to another season with the Leafs next year, because it’s “important” to have his leadership next year.

Spare us. The last thing this franchise needs is another year of Mats Sundin.

We don’t need him out there reminding us what could have been if he’d showed even a small measure of a desire to win. To accept a trade and play hockey rather than worrying about how quickly he can get back to Sweden.

We lost with him. We can lose without him.

It’s time to move on.

Category: Sports

"Hey Fred - do you still feel that "Top to bottom the Leafs are better
then the Habs"?

Jason

Absolutely, that's the tragedy of the situation.

The Habs have won just a hand full more games than the Leafs this year, simply a case of good luck versus bad, and breaks going for one team and not the other. The Habs are flying high in a weak conference.

Once the playoffs start it's wide open in the east, one vs eight included..

If the Leafs had made it, they would have been competitive, every bit as good as the Habs.

I know, easy for me to say now, but that's what I believe.

What I find more amusing is how all the Hab fans have come out of the wood work after ten years of being inferior to the Leafs. Too funny.

And don't bring up the Stanley Cups.

The Habs haven't won won in 15 years.. its ancient history now.. and they won't win one this year either, and next year they'll probably settle back and find their real talent level.

Category: Sports

If only the Leafs hadn’t blown that two goal lead late in the third period of a game in Carolina back in January. If only they hadn’t done the same thing in Tampa Bay a couple of nights later.

If only they hadn’t crapped out during that western road swing in late January. If only they’d won a couple of those games.

If only. If only.

Problem is, when it comes to the Leafs it gets tiring because this is the third year in a row they’ve played dumb hockey during the regular season only to turn it on much too late and fall just short of making the playoffs.

It's tiresome, but it's the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A badly managed, and badly coached hockey team that doesn’t seem to be able to improve one year to the next, and thanks to this seasons pointless late season surge, they’ll find themselves in the same old situation.

In the middle of the pack, not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to secure a top notch draft pick.

I really don’t have a snappy ending to this posting or a resolution for what ails the Leafs.

We can anxiously await the arrival of a new general manager and hope that he works the magic necessary to turn this mess around. But as Leaf fan you can count on only one thing.

Aggravation.

Category: Sports

When I first heard they were going to make the "Don Cherry Movie", I thought, what's the use.

We already know all we need to know about the guy. He's been in our living rooms every Saturday night for the past 24 years and he didn't hide much.

We learned what the guy was all about, and more. Or so we thought.

But it runs out this CBC project could be worth while. The script was written by Don's son Tim it deals with Cherry's life prior to Hockey Night in Canada.

The early years, his life in the minors and how it affected his family.

Tim got to offer some insights that other script writers wouldn't, and he got to take some privileges that Don probably wouldn't have OK'ed from somebody else.

Apparently there are some scenes that are downright embarrassing.

Category: Show Biz | Sports

I’m thrilled to see that Freddie Savage is going to get another kick at the sit-com can.

He failed with something called “Crumbs” in 2006, but this time it’s sounds a little more promising.

Savage will play the lead male role in the pilot for “Single White Millionaire” about a rich guy in this 30’s who wants to settle down.

It’s been a tough go for Savage since “The Wonder Years” went off the air in 1993.

It was a superb show that ranks right up there with Seinfeld on my list of all time favourite television shows. It might even surpass it.

The Wonder Years was fantastic, but admittedly got a little awkward as Kevin Arnold grew older and lost his little boy looks.

I still watch the show on re-runs because it nails my childhood to a tee. The show began in 1988 and lasted until 1993, and it was set exactly twenty years prior.

When Kevin was 16 in 1972, so was I.

The Wonder Years was remarkably relatable and I have to admit, I get a heavy heart when ever I’m flippin’ through the channels and I hear this.

Category: Sports

If anybody wonders why hockey has such a crappy reputation in the States, all you have to do is look at this video.

Whenever I’m in the States I’m amazed at how hockey is ignored by the sports media down there, including the big boys, ESPN.

Hell, some nights I listen to ESPN radio on the Fan and you don’t hear the word hockey mentioned until the Fan does its own 20/20 updates.

There are exceptions however.

Whenever there’s a juicy fight, hockey gets noticed. Americans will ignore the fineness and skill and speed of this game, but give them a good fight and hockey makes the news.

That’s what happened yesterday after Patrick Roy’s imbecile son followed the instructions of the weird old man and embarrassed the game world wide.

For this reason, hockey will never be taken seriously in the States.

Category: Sports

It was refreshing to hear my buddy Bill Watters say what had to be said on the John Oakley Show this morning.

Mats Sundin should be kept out of the Leafs lineup as long as this team is on a roll. And Watters is a huge Sundin fan.

But let’s face facts folks, this is a better hockey team without Sundin in the lineup, but that’s not to say it’s the captains fault.

For some reason with Sundin out of the lineup the younger Leafs lift their game and play like the players we always hoped they’d develop into.

If Sundin comes back there’s great danger that Stagan and Steen will get less ice time and fall back into the roles that’s kept their growth stunted over the past few years.

In the 1999 playoffs the Leafs played great without Sundin in the lineup and then fell apart when he came back.

In 2002 against Carolina, same thing, the Leafs were well on their way to knocking off the Hurricanes until Sundin came back.

Let’s learn from past history. Let’s hope that groin tear hasn’t healed yet.

Category: Sports

This time of year reminds of the good old days when my morning routine included writing a sports comment on the Edge and Mojo.

Every March I would become mildly aggravated by the NCAA Basketball tournament because I found the sudden interest to be disingenuous and no different than playing a government lottery.

Pool sheets would come out at most workplaces and everybody would be making their picks for a sport that virtually nobody paid attention to during the regular season.

There would be this storm of sudden devotion to something that wouldn't have gained a lick of attention if wagering wasn't involved. And that was played out by most of the people I knew who were involved in NC-double A pools because after making their picks they didn't bother to watch any of the games.

It's a lot like the NFL. A lot of people don't realize that back in the 1970's the NFL was actually struggling. The CFL was just as strong, as a matter of a fact, there was several incidences of CFL teams outbidding NFL teams for players.

But then along came the NFL office pool and everything changed dramatically, it became the strongest league in professional sport, again with a large following that never even bothers to watch their games. They just follow their pool sheets.

Hey, each to their own and whatever turns your crank, but I'm not a big fan of gambling in its most basic form, so having sporting events become bigger than they should be, only because of wagering, isn't something that's going to suck me in.

I won't be watching.

Category: Sports

This may be terribly unfair but it’s a feeling I have.

Put in the same position as Mats Sundin on Saturday, I’m sure Dougie Gilmour would have played against the Buffalo Sabres.

Let’s review. The Leafs had ten games to play and they trailed the Philadelphia Flyers by five points for the final playoff spot.

Sundin skated on Saturday morning and it was determined that although his groin wasn’t that bad, it would be better to hold off for at least a game to make sure he was fully recovered when he returned.

I don’t get it.

Now the Leafs are six behind with nine to play and there are three teams between them and the Flyers.

The Leafs couldn’t afford to screw around on Saturday night. Sundin should have been in the lineup even if it meant shooting him up with some kind of a wonder drug.

Sundin should have insisted on playing because losing Saturday meant the playoff run was all but over. And now it is.

So if Sundin returns tomorrow against the Islanders, what was really gained by holding him back for an extra game? It was an urgent situation but the Leafs, and obviously Sundin, didn’t treat it that way.

And now the playoffs are gone.

Dougie would have played Saturday night. So would Wendel and Darryl.

Category: Sports

I almost hate to write this piece off the back of two Maple Leaf victories because it makes me look like a homer, but I’ve felt this way for the past few weeks, so I have to say it.

First of all let me say this. I don’t think the Maple Leafs are going to make the playoffs, and I think its almost funny how the tide of public opinion has so quickly turned around for the boys and now everybody’s behind them.

In the Toronto Sun this morning there’s an article featuring a business professor who’s calculated the Leafs chances, and not surprisingly, they’re not very good.

All you have to do is some basic math.

Having said all that let me say this. If the Maple Leafs stumble forward and make it into the post-season, and the Montreal Canadiens luck out and finish first in the Eastern Conference it’s going to be ugly for Hab fans.

Not only do I think the Leafs would knock the Habs out in the first round, I don’t think the series would go beyond five games.

From top to bottom the Maple Leafs are actually a better team than the Montreal Canadiens but that only adds to the aggravation of Leaf fans. And that’s not to say the Leafs are that good, far from it. It’s to say the Canadiens have played above their heads this year and have had virtually everything go their way in a very week Conference.

I’m not sold on the Canadiens because I think they’re a soft team that won’t fare very well once the rigors of the playoffs begin and I can see them being knocked out by virtually any of the teams that will slip into the final two or three playoffs spots.

You just wait and see.

Category: Sports

Listen, as an unemployed man who am I to question the abilities of others, but I have to say the Cassie Campbell experiment should come to an end.

Cassie’s a sweet heart and she done a lot of woman’s hockey not only in Canada, but around the world.

She’s from Brampton too, which makes this posting that much harder to do, but Cassie just doesn’t have the right stuff when it comes to broadcasting.

I find her appearances on Hockey Night in Canada painful to watch. I feel embarrassed for her, because she’s been thrown into a situation that she really isn’t ready for.

Maybe she’ll get there one day, because it really isn’t rocket science, but until she can at least add some inflection to her voice and display a little more personality, she isn’t doing herself any favours by appearing on the countries most popular television show.

Her work as the colour person in the broadcast booth was flat, but her pre-game rink side interviews aren’t any better.

It ain’t workin’ folks.

Category: Sports | Television

I hope the Canadian Football League doesn’t spend a lot of time wondering why it has a credibility problem with fans, especially young ones.

Can you imagine Eli Manning being traded by the New York Giants?

That’s basically what the Saskatchewan Roughriders have done by trading quarterback Kerry Joseph to the Argonauts.

Not only did Joseph lead the Roughriders to the Grey Cup, but he was named the leagues outstanding player – and for that he gets traded.

The CFL’s number one problem over the years has been it’s lack of team continuity, players move around too much which makes it hard for teams to build up a following that spreads across the league.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m an Argonaut fan and I’m thrilled Joseph is coming to Toronto, but from a league standpoint, its bad news and an extreme insult to the fans of Saskatchewan.

Apparently the Roughriders were forced to trade Joseph because of his financial demands, but as far as I’m concerned that’s no excuse and it doesn’t help the leagues image.

Saskatchewan has some of the best attendance figures in the CFL, so what does it say about the league if Riders can’t afford to pay their marquee player three hundred thousand dollars a year?

It says the league will never be taken seriously.

Category: Sports

Over the past four decades the Toronto Maple Leafs have a done a lot of things that have been insulting to their fans.

To dissect and name would take too long, but thanks to their incompetence it can be summed up rather easily with four numbers. 1967.

But of all the screwy things they’ve done, this has to rank right up there with the worst.

Leaf management has ordered all reference to Bill Watters be taken out of the ACC because they think he’s too critical of them on his radio show.

None of the posters or banners or billboards that referenced the Watters show inside the building had anything critical written on them, it was just promotional material, but the powers that be, and you know who that is, decided they should be removed.

It’s the usual buck-passing, MLSE claims it was a decision makes by “marketing people”, but that’s a load of hooey. I’m sure it was made by a few incompetents at the top who can’t stand to be criticized.

In a way, this is a mild form of communism. Stifle the critic by snuffing the messenger, and I find it hard to believe that of all the problems they have, this seems to have taken priority.

I’m sure very few people who sat in the ACC and looked at Bill Watters Show promos made the connection to his criticism of the hockey team, but now that management has brought attention to it, everybody will know.

It’s very Peddie, er petty.

Category: Radio | Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs will never cease to amaze me.

On January 22nd with great fanfare they announced that John Ferguson Jr. had been fired and replaced by veteran NHL general manager Cliff Fletcher.

The strategy was for the Leafs to make some dramatic changes leading up to the NHL’s trade deadline on February 26th, and position them to be an active participant in the amateur draft in late June.

It seemed like a reasonable strategy. Get rid of the general manager who should have never have been hired in the first place, and replace him with a general manager, who despite being over-the-hill and yesterday’s news, at least had the experience to do what had to be done.

Along the way the Leafs would shed some bulky salary and hopefully plummet in the standings to the point where they’d be a participant in the draft lottery on June 2Oth. It would get them away from their hopeless history of finishing mid-pack, never being good enough to win while never being bad enough to improve through the draft.

But it all blew up over the past couple of weeks because of several no-trade clauses that were granted by the general manager who should never have been hired, which tied the hands of the over-the-hill general manager who was well aware going in that those contracts existed.

All of a sudden it became apparent that there was really no use in making a managerial change mid-season because it didn’t matter who was running the show, because there was no show to run.

All it seemed to do is inspire a previously uninspired team to get off their asses and start playing hockey out of fear of being traded, (those without no trades) but that’s become a problem as well because they've started winning too many games.

So here we are on February 26th, the trade deadline has come and gone and the Maple Leafs not only failed to shed any significant salary or gather any notable draft picks, since changing general managers they’ve won eight games while losing only seven.

Enough to take their focus off the draft and put it squarely back on a delusional chase for a playoff spot.

In other words, since firing the general manager who should never have been hired, absolutely nothing has changed except a few more wins when they weren't wanted, which in the end proves how unbelievably incompetent this franchise is.

They don’t even know how to lose properly.

Category: Sports

I almost hate to say this because I have a problem with anything that would make the Ottawa Senators better but I think the Leafs should trade Vesa Toskala.

Apparently the Senators are very interested in the slightly over-rated Leaf goaltender and they’d be willing to cough up something good in return to ride Toskala into the playoffs.

Needless to say the Senators aren’t sold on Martin Gerber and their attempts to hand the number one job to Ray Emery has been met with indifferent play, so they’re desperate to shore up their goaltending situation and the trade deadline arrives at three o’clock this afternoon.

Toskala is a good goaltender, he’s not great, but he’s better than what the Senators have right now so it would make sense to make a move for him, and it would make sense for the Leafs to comply.

The Leafs rebuilding situation will not be a brief project, on the contrary, it will take a few years, so having a goaltender like Toskala isn’t going to do them much good anyway.

If they can force the Senators into coughing up a couple of solid prospects, then Cliff Fletcher shouldn’t hesitate to trade Toskala and then consider Justin Pogge part of the immediate future.

Category: Sports

I guess when you get right down to it, you have to shave-away all the bullshit and admire Mats Sundin’s integrity.

He honestly doesn’t want to become a rent-a-player. He doesn’t feel joining a team in February to win a Stanley Cup in June isn’t the way to go. You’re either in it for the long haul or you can’t lay claim to the glory and you can’t argue with that.

You’d think the guy would be anxious to get out of Leaf land and join a legitimate hockey organization under any circumstances, but that’s not his make up and it looks like he’s going to have the last laugh.

Word is Sundin has also refused to sign a contract extension, which means come July, the Leafs could end up with nothing. Sundin will probably retire.

Some might think he’s being a tad selfish and even though I’ve never be a huge Sundin fan over the years, I completely back the guy in this case.

The Leafs are getting everything they deserve and underlines what a screwed up mess they are.

And when you get right down to it, Sundin is the least of their problems. Darcy Tucker, Brian McCabe, Thomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina remain under no-trade contracts with a few years left on them.

At least with Sundin, the Leafs will be able to clear some cap space if he retires – the other guys are over-paid, un-tradable and not very good hockey players.

Yes, John Ferguson is responsible for a lot of what ails the Leafs, but let us not forget, somebody up top made the decision to hire a rookie general manager and its not like there weren't a few problems before Ferguson arrived.

So the ball is back in the court of the fans.

Stop supporting them.

Category: Sports

As I watched Tiger Woods win another golf tournament over the weekend I got to thinking about Barrack Obama.

Obama owes a lot of his success to Tiger. I know it sounds crazy, but follow me on this one.

Obama has become the first black American to actually be taken seriously in a Presidential run. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were nothing more than token candidates, but Obama has not only been taken seriously, he’s also taken a sizable lead in his battle with Hillary Clinton.

Americans have accepted the idea of a black man leading their country and I really think that Tiger helped ease them into it.

When Tiger turned pro in 1996, golf was still and predominantly white sport, dominated by white players and run by extremely white establishment.

This wasn’t basketball, football or baseball. This was something much different with a much different attitude.

Then along came Tiger who took ownership of the PGA tour. Nobody would admit it, but in the beginning it made a lot people of uncomfortable because it represented a dramatic change in the profile of the sport.

But not only has it survived under Tiger’s reign, it’s also thrived. The sport of golf has never been bigger or more popular and Tiger Woods is the reason. A black kid from California has made a lot of money for a lot people and needless to say he’s been widely accepted by everyone involved with the sport.

And I really believe Barrack Obama has been a benefactor of this.

Tiger proved to a twisted and generally intolerant American society that the sky won’t fall and the world won’t end if a black man takes control of a white institution.

I realize its only golf, and it’s hard to compare it to the highest office in the world but I truly believe they’re connected.

Category: Politics | Sports

Category: Sports

I don't even know where to begin with the Roger Clemens story.

Yesterday's congressional hearing was a farce with questioning done by a bunch of bozos who came across as extremely partisan.

Republicans wanted to beat up on Brian McNamee, while Democrats went after Roger Clemens.

But none of that mattered to me, I saw and heard enough to do nothing but reinforce my position that Roger Clemens is a lying rat.

Brian McNamee might be a weasel and he may have a suspect history, but the purpose of yesterdays hearing was to determine of Roger Clemens ever took steroids and human growth hormone and based on what we heard I think its safe to say he did.

I actually felt story for McNamee yesterday. I came away with the impression of a man who lied through his teeth in the early going to protect the reputation of the major league baseball players he worked for, but once it became apparent that it could come back and bite him in the ass, he had to tell the truth.

Meanwhile, Clemens never really answered a question while having the benefit of having high priced lawyers blow in his ear all day.

And despite all the bullshit, these questions were never answered.

1. If McNamee is so slimy, why would Clemens continue a long term relationship with the guy unless he was providing something Roger needed?

2. Why would McNamee tell the truth about Chuck Knobloc and Andy Pettitte, but lie about Roger Clemens?

3. Why would Andy Pettitte admit that he did steroids, but lie about Clemens doing them?

The best answer Roger had for the Pettitte question is that "Andy must have misremembered."

"mis-re-membered!" Can you believe it? Not only does the guy make up stories, he also makes up words.

I don't know why I let this stuff get to me but this reminds me so much of the O.J. Simpson circus that it pisses me off, although I will allow that Roger didn't decapitate his wife, he only threw her under the bus.

Roger Clemens is just another delusional athlete who thinks he can buy his way out of anything, and what pisses me off even further are people who actually believe the guy.

Yesterday I appeared on CHCH Live at 5:30 at got my first taste of a guy named Howard Bloom who runs something called Sportsbusiness.com and we knocked heads right out of the gate.

Have a listen won't you? Mark Hebscher is the first voice you hear.

Category: Sports | Television

Now that Andy Pettitte has implicated Roger Clemens I don’t give a shit what happens in front of Congress today, I’ll go to my grave convinced the Rocket is guilty of taking steroids and human growth hormone.

O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of killing his wife but that hasn’t changed my mind on that asshole.

Same with Clemens, in fact I think he’s got a lot in common with O.J.

Simpson is so in love with himself, so used to be coddled and pampered all his life that he feels he’s capable of anything, even capable of willing a change in history.

I think by now, O.J. actually doesn’t think he murdered Nicole, and I wouldn’t be surprised that at this point Roger actually doesn’t think he pumped junk into his body.

The clincher for me was last week’s disclosure by Brian McNamee that he gave Clemens wife Debbie HGH back in 2003 when she was preparing for a Sports Illustrated swimsuit spread.

It all made sense to me at that point.

At first I couldn’t understand why Brian McNamee would implicate Clemens for no reason. It seemed odd to me that everybody else that McNamee has named has admitted to using steroids, but Roger wouldn’t. I couldn’t figure out why McNamee would name the guy if he didn’t do it.

There was really no benefit for McNamee to name Roger, and there’s definitely no benefit to McNamee to involve Rogers wife of all of people.

Unless of course, it’s true.

Whether Roger Clemens and his wife were involved made no difference to Brian McNamee in the beginning. Whether one player was involved or one hundred were involved, it didn’t change the situation for Brian McNamee.

All that mattered to Brian McNamee was the truth, he had to tell truth and the truth apparently involved Roger Clemens AND his wife.

Meanwhile Roger has used his stature, fame and wealth to hire big name lawyers who have in turn attempted to bully any doubters.

Much like O.J. did.

Category: Sports

Indian Shores, FLA - I'm sitting here this morning reading the on-line summary of the Leafs game against Florida last night and I’m glad I didn’t see it.

However to be honest, I didn’t feel that way last night as I screamed at the local cable company in Clearwater for blocking the signal.

The Panthers game against the Leafs was on the TV Guide schedule.

FSN at 7:30, Cable 39.

But when game time arrived it wasn’t available, instead they showed a documentary of some sort. It just didn’t make sense and even past game time the TV Guide kept saying it should be on.

Then it hit me. Territorial rights. The two Florida teams don’t show their games into the other teams market. much like the regional agreements in Ontario when they black out Sportsnet East when Ottawa is playing.

So rather than watch the Leafs and Panthers we had to watch Tampa Bay at St. Louis, or a national feed on Versus which was Carolina at Nashville.

Neither game was that interesting but needless to say they were a lot better than that clunker the Leafs served up at the ACC last night. 8-0 Wow.

What a pile of junk this team is, and as bad as the players are, I’m still mystified at how Paul Maurice continues to escape the wrath. Yes, the Leafs have a lot of injuries, but they beat Ottawa on Saturday night with pretty much the same lineup. Last night they come out and look like the disorganized, undisciplined badly coached team they are.

And what adds to the misery is watching the Montreal Canadiens, with just marginally more talent, battle for top spot in the east.

This sounds far fetched, and it would never happen, but given what a huge mess this season has turned into, the Leafs should offer everyone who attended last nights game a refund.

I’m not kidding. It’s the least they could do for fans who continue to be battered, bullied and abused.

At the very least they should take all the gate receipts from last night and offer them to Mats Sundin to waive his no-trade clause and get to hell out of town.

He ain’t helping the cause here any more.

Category: Sports

One of the great things about going to Florida tomorrow is escaping Canadian channel substitution of the Super Bowl.

We’ve already lined up a place on Clearwater Beach that is having a Super Bowl party and that means not only will we be able to watch the game, but we’ll be able to watch all the fantastic commercials that come with it.

In Canada it will be the usual maddening situation where the cable and satellite companies, with the blessing of the CRTC, will substitute the American feed with the CTV feed.

It means all those expensive and entertaining commercials that are produced in the States solely for Super Bowl won’t come into Canadian homes.

Instead you’ll get a handful of basic commercials run over and over again embellished I’m sure by several CTV promos that feature Ben Mulroney over and over again.

I’ve touched on this subject before and it’s usually around Super Bowl that it really hits home how unfair and corrupt this practice is.

As a subscriber to Star Choice when I choose an American channel I expect to receive an American channel. But not in Canada. As “protectionist” measure when a Canadian channel is showing an American show, channel substation kicks in.

Who are they protecting? Canadian networks. They're eliminating a fragmented audience which increases the value of the Canadian networks commercial inventory.

Bottom line, you aren’t getting what you paid for but there are no financial considerations made because of it.

It blows and it’s precisely why you won’t be able to watch all the cool spots on Sunday.

But I will.

Category: Sports | Television

Toronto will be front and centre during Super Bowl festivities tomorrow.

During his state of the game address NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will unveil official plans for the Buffalo Bills to play eight games in Toronto over the next five years.

One regular season game a year and three exhibition games sprinkled over the five years.

The average ticket price will be $250 dollars, which comes to me as a pleasant surprise. Knowing Toronto’s thirst for things American, and Toronto’s extreme passion for the NFL, I expected the average price to be way beyond that.

I don’t know what the extremes will be, but it won’t matter anyway because getting a ticket will be next to impossible.

Before the go on sale to the general public, tickets will first be offered to Bills season ticket holders, then Argos season ticket holders and then Tiger-Cat season ticket holders.

Add to that the tickets that will be held back for corporate reasons and there will be too many left over by the time the casual fan shows an interest.

If anything the people who are going to cash-in big time for the regular season will be scalpers.

Skydome (I hate the name Rogers Centre) only seats 60 thousand for NFL football and season ticket holders alone between Buffalo, Toronto and Hamilton will cover that.

Nobody is saying such, but this is just the beginning of the Bills eventual shift to Toronto full time. Once Toronto gets a taste of it, and it becomes clear to the NFL that Toronto sports fans are willing to pay anything for almost anything, plans will be made to either modify the Dome, or start building a new stadium.

Which would be great, as long as taxpayers are left out of it.

Category: Sports

For anyone who’s listened to me over the years or read some of my stuff on this website over the past several years, it will come as no surprise that I’m not a huge Mats Sundin fan.

He’s a wonderful person with a wealth of talent but I just don’t think he deserves to be grouped with the NHL’s elite. He’s close, but I don’t think Sundin has ever displayed the necessary passion to be elevated to super star status.

Mats Sundin has been a fine Maple Leaf, but as I look back over the years, he never reached the status of a Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Darryl Sitter or Gary Roberts because he never seemed to play the game as hard as these guys.

And that’s why I’m not surprised at Sundin’s insistence that he doesn’t want to leave Toronto at the trade-deadline. I don’t think he cares about hockey enough.

Let me explain.

Sundin may be throwing up a smoke screen by saying he doesn’t want to leave and that would be understandable. As I pointed out in an earlier posting, maybe deep down inside he can’t wait to get out of here and play with a real hockey team with a real shot at winning the Stanley Cup but he doesn't want to come out and say it because it wouldn't look good.

However more and more I'm inclined to think that he really doesn’t care that much, he’d prefer to stay in familiar surroundings, not be bothered with a late season upheaval and decide his next move this summer.

Winning a Stanley Cup might be a huge deal for most other players, but maybe it's not for Sundin, and that’s precisely why I’ve never been completely sold on the guy.

Category: Sports

I realize Cliff Fletcher and the rest of the hierarchy at MLSE can’t come right out say they plan to lose, but I wasn’t too encouraged by what I heard during the Fletcher news conference yesterday.

Although Clifford spoke of having to change the face of this team and rebuild through the draft, you still got the impression that they haven’t really given up on this year and making the playoffs is still something they want to do.

You’d like to think that talking a “positive game” about the current situation is just a front for what they really want to do – blow it up and start all over again.

But I really don’t think that’s the plan because there are those within MLSE who just won’t stand for it. They hate to take the financial hit with the loss of playoff gates.

And that was proved again yesterday when Larry Tanenbaum said this.

“Our objective is always to be a contending team. To be able to bring a Stanley Cup back here, it’s hard to do that when you don’t have playoffs.”

In other words, as far as Tanenbaum is concerned nothing has really changed as far as strategy goes, and leaves the impression Fletcher wasn’t hired so much to rebuild, as he was to steer this mess into the playoffs again.

Crazy thing is, if this team makes the playoffs this year, it will be a giant step backwards.

Category: Sports

Having said all the above, let me say this.

If the trade deadline approaches, and despite Cliff Fletcher’s presence the Maple Leafs appear to be out of playoff contention, look for Mats Sundin to be traded.

I like to support my friends in the media but I find it almost laughable when reporters ask Mats Sundin if he wants to be traded or stay in Toronto.

He always says he wants to remain a Leaf. But what else is he going to say at this point?

Six weeks before the deadline as if he’s going to publicly say that he wants out of town. What kind of message would that send to the fans, his team mates and other potential suitors?

I’m not a psychic but I’ve gotta believe Sundin will gladly accept a trade if the Leafs are in the shitter six weeks from now.

He’ll wait till the last minute for two reasons. It will leave the right impression for fans and team mates, and it will allow Mats to hand Leaf fans one final thoughtful gift.

Right at the deadline Cliff Fletcher will get ultimate value for Sundin.

Category: Sports

I feel good for John Ferguson Jr. today. He’s been released from the stress, confusion and incompetence of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He was fired just before noon today and although his track record as General Manager of the Maple Leafs is far from impressive, no man should have to endure what he did while with the Leafs.

The last couple of months have told us all we need to know about the Leafs. We expect them to build a winning hockey team, yet they can’t even handle the simple firing of an employee.

As expected, the baton has been passed to the ancient Cliff Fletcher, who in my mind has become the latest nostalgic hiring by the Leafs. Thank goodness he’s only been hired on an interim basis because he’s definitely not the long term answer.

He’s old news, a guy from a different era, and the last few years of his managerial career were suspect at best.

While they’re down and almost out the Leafs need to do something a lot more dramatic than hiring a 72 year old semi-retired consultant whose 16 years removed from the last time he made an NHL trade of any significance.

Interesting to note that on his blog yesterday the Fan’s Howard Berger claims Fletcher’s return was at the protest of board chairman Larry Tanenbuam who was instrumental in Fletcher’s firing ten years ago.

So even though the Leafs seem to be going forward, there’s still a stink attached to this.

Fletcher will work with attorney Gord Kirke to find a long term replacement but hopefully that search won’t go any further than Brian Burke in Anaheim.

Apparently Burke can be had and he’s exactly what this heaping pile of steaming shit needs - so it probably won't happen.

Category: Sports

I write this posting in defense of John Ferguson Jr.

Yes, I think he should be fired because he’s obviously not up to the job. But the way it’s playing out is disgusting and I’m sure sets him up for a juicy lawsuit against MLSE.

It’s been confirmed that the Maple Leafs have received permission to talk with the ancient Cliff Fletcher about coming onto the scene in an interim basis to fix what’s wrong with the hockey team.

But this is being done while Ferguson is still the GM. Talk about cruel treatment.

How must this guy feel?

Usually a guy is fired before his replacement is named, or the pursuit of you successor is kept quiet until a deal is made. But not in Toronto. Like everything else they do, MLSE is doing this ass-backwards.

It’s too easy to blame the media for letting the cat out of the bag in this hockey crazed town but that's no excuse in this case. You’d think by now the Leafs would know how to play the game and dismiss an executive with care and compassion while not hanging him out to dry.

Ferguson has been subjected to treatment that nobody should have to suffer under and hopefully he talks to a lawyer, because his public humiliation has got to have an affect on future employment and the Leafs should have to pay for that.

*the attached photo is a Toronto Mike original. Go here for more.

Category: Sports

It should be fun on CHCH Live at 5:30 this afternoon. We’re going to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs and their horrendous situation.

Bill Carroll is filling in for Donna Skelly today, so it will be a guy fest with Mark Hebscher, me and Carroll.

Here’s a little preview.

I have to agree with the strategy of hiring of Cliff Fletcher on an interim basis.

Ideally, you’d like to bring in a young and dynamic General Manager, but these are the Leafs and they don’t do anything properly and there isn't anyone available mid-season.

Anyway, here’s the scuttlebutt.

The Leafs will fire JFJ and then bring in the 72 year old Fletcher to do whatever has to be done to fix things. Then n the summer, when the season ends the Leafs would choose from a pool of long term managers.

The best thing that could happen to the Leafs would be to continue of their current path and fall to the bottom of the standings and right now Ferguson’s doing a fine job with that but there’s something else to consider and it’s beyond JFJ.

The trade deadline.

The Leafs shouldn’t hesitate to move Mats Sundin if he agrees to lift his no trade clause, and they should trade Darcy Tucker and Tomas Kaberle while they’re at it.

Trading the grossly overpaid Jason Blake and Pavel Kubina will be impossible.

Sundin, Tucker and Kaberle would command a lot in return but you need the right guy to make the right trades to make sure they get enough in return.

Obviously you don’t want a lame duck like Ferguson to make the trades, so you have to let somebody else do it, and Fletcher seems to be the best available at this point.

However, this has got to be interim.

The Leafs don’t need Cliff Fletcher or Scotty Bowman for the long term, they need a new era General Manager and their search should stop at Brian Burke.

Look at this track record. The Leafs should do whatever it takes to get him out of Anaheim.

He’d probably love the challenge.

Category: Sports | Television

A couple of months ago, me and my buddy Darren planned a trip to California that was supposed to take place last week.

The original plan called for us to fly into Los Angeles on Saturday January 5th and then golf for a few days before going to see the Leafs in Anaheim on the ninth. We would head back to the Los Angeles area for a game the next night and then head up the coast for another round of golf before catching the Leafs in San Jose on Saturday.

Thank goodness we didn’t.

It would have been a great trip, but something has always nagged at me whether I see the Leafs in Buffalo, Montreal or Florida.

Last year Darren and I flew into Tampa for some golf and caught the Leafs against the Lightning before driving across the state to see the Leafs play the Panthers.

The Leafs won both those games, but even then I wondered if the Leafs were worth spending the money on. I think of all the Leaf fans that go to great expense to follow their team around North America and get relatively nothing in return.

Sure, the Leafs might win the odd game, but when it comes to the big picture their wonderful fans get shat upon. There is no long term plan that rewards a Leaf fan for their loyalty.

They are taken for granted.

That’s why I’m glad we didn’t end up going to California last week. I have no idea what the tickets would have cost, whether they would have been face value or below cost, but it doesn’t matter because no matter what we spent, it wouldn’t have been worth supporting this pathetic franchise on principle.

There’s nothing wrong with going to California and by coincidence catching a game. It's fun to see a different rink and some different teams, but to actually plan a trip around the Toronto Maple Leafs isn’t worth it any more and they don’t deserve the support

Air fare, hotel, car rental. These things are consistently purchased at great expense by Leaf fans as they follow their team all over the continent but they’re never acknowledge for it. They’re never thanked for it.

Sure, from time to time a player or management member may pay lip service to a large Leaf contingent in Montreal or Buffalo, but it’s insincere because they never get the pay back that so many other fans in the NHL get.

A decent hockey team.

Category: Sports

Not to rehash history and bring up old news, but if there’s one good thing about not getting the co-hosting job on The Bill Watters Show; it’s that I don’t have to include the Maple Leafs in my daily life that much.

I can control it, and that’s good, because like a lot of people I’ve talked to lately, I've had it with the Leafs and actually try to avoid the subject these days.

I’m amazed at how many of my friends say they don’t even bother to watch Leaf games anymore, and the last thing they want to do is sit and listen to radio hosts, regardless of who they are, go on and on about a shitty team that appears to have no interest in improving themselves. They'd rather hear about other teams.

Take last night for instance; I didn’t bother to watch the Leaf game. I was up well past ten o’clock, but the thought of watching them get creamed by the Ducks wasn’t a big priority for me.

I get up this morning not surprised to find out they got cleansed and even less surprised to hear the usual crap coming out of them.

“It’s discouraging” said coach Paul Maurice. “We’ve got to find a way to get some of these guys going.”

“Our power play hasn't been good all year, for some reason.” Said captain Mats Sundin.

"We were looking to turn things around, but it seemed like we were all trying to do too much," said centre Matt Stajan. "It was like everybody wasn't on the same page."

Yea yea yea. It’s the same old crap with the same old results.

Go away Leafs.

Category: Sports

It seems the story of the week is whether the Toronto Maple Leafs should deal Mat Sundin at the trade deadline on February 26th.

For it to happen, Sundin has to lift the no-trade clause in his contract, and according to Richard Peddie, the whole thing would have to be approved by the board of directors.

In today’s Toronto Sun there’s a story about Sundin’s desire to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto and his passion to stick by his mates with the Leafs, and in the Star they poll several hockey experts about who they’d ask in return for Sundin if they traded him.

But getting back to the original question, it’s a no brainer. Yes, the Leafs should trade Sundin at the deadline, and yes he should waive his no-trade clause.

The only nagging part this scenario is John Ferguson Jr. and whatever wing-nut in Leaf management would over-see the trade. You can’t trust these guys to get what they should.

Given that Sundin is remarkably healthy and he’s on pace to have one of his best seasons ever, he would command quite a bit in return for a team that’s on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup.

Be it Detroit, Anaheim or even a team like Pittsburgh, the Leafs could dangle Sundin and make a trade that could turn them in a completely different direction.

But that’s providing whoever pulls the trigger knows what he’s doing and we can’t take that for granted. Remember it was only a year ago that Ferguson traded Brandon Bell and a second round draft choice to Phoenix for Yanic Perreault.

This was just one of several examples of the man’s bizarre assessment of players.

As for Sundin himself, he shouldn’t hesitate to lift his no-trade and get to hell out of town. For his own good, and a thank you to the fans of Toronto who’ve given him just as much as he’s given them.

Sundin is a fine hockey player and he’s been a good for Toronto, but he’s never really been great for Toronto.

People complain that he’s never really had anyone to play with and he’s never been able to reach his full potential in Toronto. I beg to differ. From 1998 through 2002, Sundin played on a fine hockey team that went to the conference final twice.

Crazy thing is, in both those playoff runs Sundin was injured for portions and the team actually played better without him.

Category: Sports

It was compelling stuff from Roger Clemens yesterday. If this guy is lying, he’s an excellent liar.

Clemens held a news conference to confirm that he’s launching a defamation lawsuit against former trainer Brian McNamee.

Roger maintains he’s innocent, he’s never taken steroids or human growth hormone and his name got sucked into the Mitchell Report because McNamee was threatened by a cornucopia of heavyweights.

It still doesn’t explain much, like why he would use Clemens name under pressure if Roger was innocent, and a taped seventeen minute phone conversation didn’t reveal much either.

Clemens lawyers played the tape at the news conference hoping the conversation which happened last Friday would implicate McNamee as a liar. Although McNamee didn’t say Roger took steroids during the phone call, he didn’t say the opposite either so I don’t know what it was supposed to prove.

It was a bizarre afternoon that proved only one thing. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense and when you’ve got enough money behind you, you can pretty well get anything you want.

Clemens is ready to spend millions to save his name and without the other side having any concrete proof or a smoking gun, only the word of another man, Roger's team of shrewd lawyers could end up with all he wants – his name cleared with an apology.

Even if he’s guilty.

Category: Sports

I watched Roger Clemens on 60 Minutes last night and as expected he denied everything.

What else was he going to do? He’s gone too far with the “innocent guy” story to turn back now. He’s got to follow it through, even if it makes him look like a fool and last night he looked a little foolish to me.

There’s no need to re-hash the entire interview or review key questions by Mike Wallace because it doesn’t really matter. It’s Clemens word against that of former trainer Brian McNamee and until somebody comes up with video or pictures of some advanced form of retrospective blood testing, it will remain that way.

Of course this won’t help Clemens reputation and it doesn’t make him look any better when he hedges on whether he’d take a lie detector test.

And a pressing question remains, why would McNamee tell the truth about Andy Pettitte who admitted to taking the junk, but lie about Clemens? When this was posed to Roger he fluffed it off as a completely different matter.

Roger Clemens looked extremely uncomfortable to me last night and nothing he said changed my opinion. I think he took steroids and human growth hormone but he’s desperately trying to hold on to a wonderful legacy and I understand that part of it, but it could lead to big trouble down the road.

In the coming weeks he’s expected to testify in front of a congressional hearing and that involves taking an oath.

He’ll sit beside Brian McNamee and both will tell their stories. But one will be lying, and if it turns out to be Roger, he’s done.

Category: Sports

I realize the Maple Leafs had 56 shots on goal during Saturday night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, and probably should have won the game.

But they didn’t, and the bottom line is this, they have 16 victories after 42 games and they’re going nowhere fast.

That’s why I have to ask the same question I asked back in November after the Leafs had played 20 games had had only seven victories.

What about the coaching?

There are still those who stand behind Maurice as coach of the Leafs, including good old Wilbur Watters, but I just don’t see it.

How do you judge a coach? By progress and this team just doesn’t show any, and it goes way beyond wins and losses. They don’t seem to have a system, their defensive game isn’t getting any better, but more importantly, the kids aren’t progressing.

Even if the Leafs continued to lose but showed signs of improvement you might feel better about their situation, but the likes of Alex Steen, Mat Stajan, Ian White and even the two big Russians are not developing.

The players I’ve just mentioned are considered Maple Leaf assets and the key to their future because there’s absolutely nothing down on the farm. But these guys are stuck in neutral and definitely not getting any better. If anything, by not getting better they’re getting worse.

How much longer does Paul Maurice get a pass when it comes to the progress of this team?

Yea, they basically stink, we all know that, but within the mish mash of nothing there has to be some markers along the way. There has to be some indication that the situation is improving even if it doesn’t play out in the win column and there’s nothing encouraging about the Leafs.

On most nights they look like a listless, uninterested, disorganized, defensive nightmare and Maurice doesn’t seem to be able to correct it. And I don’t want to bring John Ferguson Jr. into this because the team is what the team is and at this point it’s just not coached very well.

Ferguson will be measured down the stretch by what he does before the trade deadline, if he lasts that long, and then by what he does with what he acquires, but for the time being the spotlight should be on the coach.

Maybe there’s a master plan that we’re all not aware of. As I mentioned several days ago the best thing that could happen would be for the Leafs to fall to the bottom of the standings as quickly as possible, trade a bunch of veterans at the deadline and start all over again.

If that’s Paul Maurice’s mandate then he’s doing a hell of a job.

Meanwhile, Damien Cox has a great piece in today’s Star about the contrast between the Leafs and the Flyers. It’s worth a read.

Category: Sports

What is Canadian culture? Is there a Canadian culture?

This is a question that’s been asked much too frequently over the past decade or so as our population becomes more diversified and the face of the country becomes ever so blended, especially in the GTA.

It’s the been the argument of many who’ve come to this country and pushed against what our fathers and grandfathers fought for and generations have built.

There is no distinct Canadian food or distinct Canadian religion. There is no distinct Canadian dress or ceremonial object.

There is only a feel, a feel of what it is to be Canadian and you can only feel it if you want to. It’s hard to put your finger on it and downright frustrating when you’re called upon to explain it or prove it.

That is until you sit down and watch a gold medal game involving Canada’s National Junior Team. Then it all becomes crystal clear. That’s Canadian culture.

Young men with ancestry from all over the world playing the game we love with a common cause, to win gold for the country that’s represented on the front of their sweaters, a sweater that most Canadian kids so desperately want to wear just once in their lifetime.

And when they stand shoulder to shoulder with their arms around each other with gold medals draped around their necks singing the National anthem explaining Canadian culture becomes a lot easier.

But if you still can’t put it in words that’s OK because all you have to do is point to the pictures.

There “is” a Canadian culture and it’s a wonderful culture built on pride, peace and acceptance and it includes anyone of any background who wants to buy into it.

Category: Sports

The passing for former Toronto Star sportswriter Milt Dunnell shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone because he was 102.

But it does leave a fella who grew up in Scarborough with a heavy heart.

Our house was a “Toronto Daily Star” house when I was growing up, and I couldn’t wait for the Star to arrive in the afternoon so I could dive into the sports section and one of Dunnell’s columns.

Back in the 70’s there was no all-sports radio or TV stations, so your information supply through the electronic media was somewhat limited compared to what it is today so that made the newspapers that much more enjoyable.

Most leaf games “weren’t” on television and in the early 70’s it was rare to get video highlights of road games on sportscasts.

You had to take peoples word for it and Milt Dunnell had a great way with a word. He did right up until he wrote his last column in his 90s.

When I woke up this morning and heard that Milt died last night I felt sad, but then quickly put things in perspective.

Toronto had Milt Dunnell much longer than we do the average pundit and for that we should be thankful and happy.

Category: Sports

Yesterday I wrote about the Winter Classic in Buffalo and the scalper’s paradise it had become.

Well there were a couple of other things I forget to mention.

Neighbour John’s sons not only got into the game with great seats purchased by their generous dad, but that got to spend the afternoon with former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.

Kelly had seats right behind the boys and from all accounts he was fantastic with them.

He made it clear that he wasn’t too interested about being bothered by adults looking for pictures and autographs, but when it came to kids he was game for anything.

And I received this e-mail from my good friend and ultra important record executive Ivar Hamilton.

Freddie,
"I wish I knew you were there. I was there with Sam Roberts performance as my ticket in. I parked right beside Mulligans so I definitely would have had a beer with you!"

Category: Sports

Right off the bat, I’ll tell ya, I’m not a big fan of Rosie DiManno.

Granted, the woman can write but much too often I don’t like “what” she writes.

She’s got an attitude and opinion that I rarely agree with and about a year ago I wrote a piece about a DiManno attack on Q-107’s John Derringer.

It was ridiculous and consistent with some other shit she had written over the years.

However, I’ve got to be honest, this morning DiManno writes a piece about the Toronto Maple Leafs and is dead on perfect.

I wish I had written it myself.

Category: Sports | Stuff

I went all the way to Buffalo with neighbour John and his three sons yesterday, but I didn’t get inside Ralph Wilson Stadium.

I watched the entire “Winter Classic” from inside “Mulligan’s Tavern” which is just kitty corner to the stadium and right across the street from the best pizza I’ve ever eaten.

Here’s what happened.

Neighbour during an early New Year’s Eve toast, John mentioned to me that he was taking the boys to Buffalo the next day for the hockey game and planned to buy tickets from scalpers out front.

Here was the strategy. Given that 71 thousand tickets had been sold, and the weather forecast wasn’t the greatest, the chances of getting reasonably priced tickets were pretty good.

I thought about it for a while and they told him I’d come along. I like notable sporting events but thanks to my long and “storied” career as a sportscaster not too often did I ever have to pay for anything. That has changed and I’m slowly getting my head around it, but only to a point.

When we arrived in Orchard Park about 11:30 we started talking to scalpers and the early prices were high. The cheapest face value seat we saw was 53 dollars and the scalpers wanted two hundred.

We laughed it off and went on to the next scalper who was obviously working for the same network as the first guy. He wanted two hundred for the 53 dollar ticket, but he was willing to be more reasonable for a two hundred dollar club seat. He only wanted $350.00 for those but he was holding firm.

Neighbour John and I quickly determined that we’d have to wait these guys out. We’d wait till after the bloody puck was dropped if we had to, but there was no way we were going to pay those kinds of prices.

We walked around for awhile, and then at about 12:30, John got lucky. He wanted to make sure the boys go into the stadium before the game to see the spectacle of it all and he ran into a guy who wasn’t scalping he was a regular guy who had a few corporate seats left over and he just wanted to get rid of them.

He had three to be exact, just enough for the boys so John paid him $450 for three, $220 seats, expensive, but based on face value, a pretty good deal.

John and I walked the boys to their gate and made sure they were through and we went back to the street with a new strategy. We would buy singles. It’s harder to for scalpers to get rid of singles but we decided we’d buy them at a reasonable price and then hook up inside.

It was game time now and the puck had just been dropped when John hit pay-dirt. It was another guy with corporate seats and he had one club level seat left. John gave him $90 for the $220 seat and I urged him to immediately go into the stadium because the game had started and I knew he’d feel better being inside with his boys.

It didn’t matter anyway, because I felt pretty confident I too was going to get a good deal within the next few minutes. Wrong.

First of all, I couldn’t find a “corporate” guy and unfortunately there were way too many people like me who thought they could beat the scalpers by waiting them out.

Turns out there were a lot more people like me than there were tickets available so all it did was drive the prices up even more. The scalpers stood there with people from Buffalo, Toronto and Pittsburgh desperate to get inside waving money around.

Those $53 tickets became $250 and the club seats held their value, and then the clincher came for me.

A scalper showed me a ten dollar ticket. A ticket that was only good for getting into the stadium. The view was next to non-existent and they were printed only for those who wanted to feel the atmosphere without really seeing the game.

Perfect I thought, I’ll buy one of these and then weasel my way to where John is. I asked the guy “how much” and was floored when he said one hundred bucks. But as I took a few seconds to ponder getting sucked in this bad a young woman reached over my shoulder with a hundred bucks and it was gone.

That was it. I was done. The scalpers only had the expensive stuff left and they were getting their way with every transaction.

I walked across the street to “Mulligans Tavern”, but not before buying a piece of pizza off a vender in one of those big trailers. New York Pizza it was called, and it was absolutely delicious. Especially the crust which was fresh, soft and tasty.

And oh yea, on the way home we stopped off at the Anchor Bar.

Category: Neighbour John | Sports

It was just by chance that I happened to be on my Ottawa Starchoice feed last night and saw Jeff Marek on Hockey Night in Canada.

He was doing the rink side stuff that Elliotte Friedman often does in Toronto and Jeff looked right at home.

I don’t know if this was Marek’s debut on Hockey Night in Canada, but when I saw him I wondered what must be swirling around his head. Appearing on Hockey Night in Canada is the dream of any young sportscaster in this country, and Jeff Marek has made it.

Eyebrows were raised when Marek left am 640 and his association with Bill Watters because many felt he was leaving conventional radio for satellite radio and that’s still considered precarious at this point.

But that wasn’t the entire story. Marek was leaving 640 to work for the CBC and Hockey Night in Canada, the vehicle that he would be hosting just happened to be on Sirius satellite radio.

Marek made the move with a long term goal in mind. He was promised opportunity within the HNIC franchise and other work with CBC including the Olympics so it was something he couldn’t say no to, and last night was just the first step in what I’m sure will be a long and lucrative career.

Jeff’s a good boy and I can’t help but think back to 2001 when I first started working with him at MOJO.

Marek became the newscaster on the Humble and Fred Show and I remember knocking heads with him during the aftermath of 911.

Jeff subscribed to the idea that American foreign policy was to blame for 911 and it would probably open the door for a war in the Middle East and an excuse for George W. to go into Iraq.

Marek laughed at the weapons of mass destruction stories while I supported them whole heartedly. Marek predicted a long and useless war in Iraq that would accomplish nothing but make a whole lot of people rich, and Marek predicted that Osama Bin Laden would never be caught because the Americans really didn’t “want” to catch him.

I vehemently disagreed with the naive young man and figured time would tell the real story and eventually he’d be forced to understand the realities of the situation.

Oh well.

Category: Friends | Sports | Television

My first observation looking towards the New Year deals with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

If you love them, really love them, you will want them to lose every game they play staring tonight on Long Island, and right through the end of the season.

If you love your Leafers and you want them to return to lost glory there is only one way for it to happen and that’s for them to fall to the bottom of the standings and then work their way up again.

This is not rocket science or nothing new or profound, it’s the way successful hockey organizations become successful. We all know it but it never happens in Toronto.

I don’t have to go on about MLSE and they position they’re in. Answering to shareholders and the Teachers Pension Fund means they need playoff games, and that’s why they’re patchwork attempts at building a team have put us where we are.

The ironic part is that patchwork has actually seen them miss the playoffs the past couple of seasons, so they’ve pretty well wasted two years on the road to respectability.

Oh no, I haven’t forgotten that they didn’t have decent draft choices the past couple of years because they dealt them away in dumb as trades that they’re still paying for.

I’m talking ideally. If they had made the right choice to take the proper route three or four years ago they would have been leaps and bounds ahead of where they are now and who knows, maybe they'd have a future superstar in the lineup.

But they don’t. It’s the same old crap and the only way its going to change is for it to get worse before it gets better and that brings me back to my original point.

If you really love the Leafs you will want to lose every game they play starting tonight. When the game begins, get it in your head. Bad is good. The worse they are the better.

It’s a simple concept that could bring joy through pain and there are many examples of other teams going through the same thing to get to where they are now.

I’m going to stop now. I could go on about the importance of good ownership and management to make the right decisions to pull this off, but then I look at the Leafs drafting record over the past four decades and it’s not very good.

As it stands, Maple Leaf management is more than capable to fall to the bottom of the standings, it’s climbing back up that poses the problem.

Category: Sports

Category: Sports

The world really has gone mad. In the good old days someone like Chris Simon would stomp on somebody’s leg with his skate blade, he‘d get a suspension and that would be the end of it.

But not in 2007.

No, today it’s got to be twisted into a racial issue even though the vast majority of people didn’t even think along racial lines to begin with. In todays politically correct, over analyzed world, the very people who don’t want race brought into situations often do it themselves.

A fine example is First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine who turned the Simon suspension into stereotyping of native people.

It blows me away.

When Simon was suspended on Wednesday, the fact that he was native never came to my mind. And when NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell suggested Simon get help through the leagues “drug and alcohol program”, I failed to make a link between his problems and his native heritage.

But Chief Fontaine did.

Even though Simon apparently doesn’t have a problem with drugs or alcohol and it’s strictly an anger management problem, Simon will still be directed through the leagues Substance Abuse and Behavioural Health Program, and that’s what Campbell was referring to.

Here we have a situation where one player stomps on another player with his skate and he’s suspended, and even though he's been offered help, which he asked for, it’s been turned into a racial issue by Fontaine who claims the very suggestion that Simon might have a drug or alcohol problem creates a stereotype.

Here’s what he said.

“It was extremely hurtful to Mr. Simon, and his many fans, including those in our First Nations communities, to hear from Mr. Campbell that such behaviour is related to drug and or alcohol abuse. Mr. Simon, and all of his fans, would like to hear an apology, especially since it smacks of stereotyping."

Stereotyping? How?

If anything, it’s Fontaine who’s perpetuating any stereotype. I’m convinced the vast majority of hockey fans who saw the incident and then heard about the suspension and then became aware that Simon had been offered help, even if they thought it was alcohol related, did not assume it was brought on by his native heritage.

It probably didn’t enter anyone’s mind until Phil Fontaine brought it up.

Chris Simon has been suspended seven times by the NHL and the last two incidents included clubbing a player with his stick and stomping on another player with his skate but its Colin Campbell who’s been turned into the bad guy for using the term “drug and alco