Retirement Plans – Day 1

As I approach my 38th birthday I’ve come to the realization that I’m not getting any younger (this realization has been expedited by me getting whipped on a daily basis in mini stick hockey action vs. the Association and the Merger as well).  Using my amateur math skills I can easily compute that I’m just as close to retirement than I am to the beginning of my career so perhaps it was just good karma that I came across something today while combing the many corners of the information highway that I would like to do when I retire.

When I retire I want to attend the Toronto Blue Jays Fantasy Camp.  The total cost is $ 4600 so I might as well start saving now, but in all honesty this would be a blast for me.  This year the guest coaches are Roberto Alomar, Lloyd Moseby, George Bell and Jesse Barfield to name a few.

As for now I guess I’ll just day-dream about my chance to attend in the Fall of 2031.  I can picture it now, Me in the batters box and crowding the plate while facing guest coach and former Cy Young award winner Pat Hentgen.  I bet it will look something like this

Read Full Post »

The Quotable Coach – Ron Hunter of Georgia State

 

 

 

I hope you make better decisions in your presidency than picking against Georgia State.

This is Coach Ron Hunter of the Georgia State Panthers to President Barack Obama (YES the Barack Obama, THE president of the United States) after the Panthers knocked off Baylor in today’s opening round of the NCAA tourney (I refuse to call it the second round as it is still the first game for 62 other teams.  I’m sure I’ll feel some scorn from the First Lady of Sports Administration but I have to have some principles, right?)

Coach Hunter was referring to President Obama’s NCAA Bracket in which the President picked Baylor to defeat Hunter’s Georgia State.

Coach Hunter is quickly becoming a media darling during this NCAA tourney run.  He blew out his achilles tendon while celebrating Georgia State’s entry to the big dance.  Not to be outdone by this unfortunate event Coach Hunter fell off his stool (where he has to sit to coach due to the achilles injury) after his son hit a game winning 3 to knock off the heavily favoured (a bracket busting) Baylor Bears.

In a Chris Farley way Coach Hunter has me hooked to see what he will do next.

Read Full Post »

DeJuan Blair Sets Screens Like a “GOON”

I was watching the morning highlights with my young sons (The Association and The Merger) the other morning when I came across DeJuan Blair destroying Brian Roberts on a massive screen.  Blair’s screen immediately floored me (weak pun intended) with memories of the hard-nosed brand of basketball that my friends and I played in the McMaster “C” division intramurals “circa the year 2000”.

Our intramural squad was a uniquely talented group of doormen from the campus pub where we all worked. The pub was aptly named The Downstairs John (due to its placement in the basement of Wentworth house and for the smells that emanated from it).  As doormen of the DSJ we called ourselves “GOONS” due to the gentle nature in which we would escort patrons from the premises when problems would occur.

On the basketball court we played the game with the same vigour as we approached our jobs as “GOONS”.  Thus as the sight a  DeJuan Blair like screen or a Bill Laimbeer elbow was commonplace anytime the “GOONS” were on the court.  Whether we were playing such intramural all-stars like SOCS McDonald Or Mutt 69 the “GOONS” made sure that anyone that stepped on the court knew who they were playing.

We often reminded the other squads that we were allowed to foul them 5 times each and that we carried 12 men on the roster.  If that wasn’t enough to entice them not to put the ball in the hoop we would then remind them that we controlled whether we they got into the pub that night (or any night for that matter).  I suspect the latter reason is the reason we were able to garner that FINALIST ribbon instead of the participant ribbon we most assuredly deserved.

Read Full Post »

Way To Go Paul!!!

Overzealous hockey parents are always a tad gauche in my opinion (Note to others: Don’t become one).  Irate parents who think their little Johnny’s or little Suzie’s are going on to play in the NHL or represent their country at the Olympics have been around forever.  Losing their minds at coaches, referees, other players and at other fans these parents are often seen doing many irrational things.

I can recall seeing a few fans during my playing days who are probably pretty happy that their antics weren’t captured with the latest wave in technology (good thing the old Camcorder wasn’t rolling in the Port Dover arena, right Mom?”)  I’m pretty certain the gentleman on the following clip feels wishes his craziness happened in another era. “Way To Go Paul!” is going to live on in infamy.  Solid pro move Paul!

 

 

Read Full Post »

Tough Exit For Mitchell Skiba

Little known fact my friends.  As a youngster I toiled in Niagara Junior C hockey loop.  My playing style was truculent, pugnacious and hostile at times.  These attributes served me well but they also caused me to either be a healthy scratch after warm-ups or at times I had to be ushered off the ice with the help of a linesman or referee due to a fracas with member of the other team. Luckily for me no matter which I left the ice I did so in a much safer manner than Mitchell Skiba of the Alpena Flyers.

The town of Alpena thanks you Mitchell for the acclaim, well done sir.

Read Full Post »

Peter Horachek Is Fitting In Pretty Quickly As Toronto Maple Leaf Coach

Peter Horachek has been in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs for less than a week and he is already fitting in quite nicely. Watch this footage of his strong work in the corners.

 

 

Read Full Post »

Picture Of The Day – Canadian Gold Medal Language Lesson

 

Great sign from tonight’s World Junior Gold Medal game.  GO CANADA GO!!

Read Full Post »

Promotional Screw-Up Of The Century

Last night the Colorado Rockies were giving away Troy Tulowitzki t-shirts before their game.  Unfortunately for the Rockies and some poor soul in the PR dept (which potentially in turn is the Colorado version of the First Lady) they went to the Straight From The Arse school of spelling and forgot to check the proper spelling of the Rockies’ all-star shortstop.

So instead of celebrating Troy Tulowitzki everyone celebrated Troy Tulowizki.  A free shirt is a free shirt I suppose but a major blunder non the less.  (Especially when you are giving away 15 000 of them)

 

Subsequently the Rockies have released the following statement:

 

Our sincere apologies to the fans for the misspelling of the Troy Tulowitzki King Soopers jersey that was distributed tonight.

Acknowledging that many fans came to the game for the jersey, rather than disappoint them, we decided to go ahead and hand them out.

We have made plans to reproduce the jersey and fans wishing to exchange will be able to do so at a future date (TBD) in September at Coors Field or the Rockies Dugout Stores. In addition, fans exchanging the jersey will receive a complimentary ticket to a future game in 2014 or 2015.

 

Read Full Post »

Picture Of The Day – Ivo Karlovic vs. Dudi Sela

 

Ivo Karlovic, a 6’11″ Croatian, beat Dudi Sela, a 5’9″ Israeli, (7-6, 7-6) at the Claro Open Championship in Bogotá, Colombia on Thursday. As the final point became official, Sela immediately ran away from the net to get a chair while Karlovic waited for the traditional post-match handshake.

Dudi Sela’s smart manoeuvre has been utilized many of times by your truly when posing for any picture with the First Lady.  Her height (or my lack there of) makes carrying a step stool around with me a must.  So if you see me out in public holding a step ladder or sporting lifts in my shoes, please don’t judge I’m simply preparing to have my picture taken with my wife.

 

Read Full Post »

A.J. Hawk – The New Happy Gilmore?

Could Green Bay Packers lineback A.J. Hawk be gearing up for a sequel of Happy Gilmore? Instead of being a hockey playing golf pro, perhaps Hawk will be the football verison?.  You see recently at the American Century Championship Celebrity Pro Am a fan asked Hawk to tackle him (probably another strike against the availability of alcoholic bevvies on the course).  Hawk acquiesced to the fan’s request.

 

Read Full Post »