A Legend Is Silenced

Those that do what I used to do for a living should be paying tribute to one of the greats today. The great Ernie Harwell lost his battle with cancer last night and died in Michigan at the age of 92.
Ernie Harwell was to baseball what Danny Gallivan was to hockey. He was one of the greats. Anyone worth their weight in broadcasting will tell you that to be successful you have to describe the scene through the radio. You have to make it feel as if the listener is actually watching the game and not listening to it. Vin Scully is a master at doing this. Ernie Harwell was also one of those people. He made you feel as if you were sitting in a seat behind home plate watching the action live. Believe it or not, Harwell spent 42 years behind the mike. He says he probably called over 83-hundred major league games. He is a legend.
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While one legend is silenced, sadly it appears as if another one will soon be leaving us as well. I read Tony Proudfoot's latest update in the Regina Leader-Post today and it was tough reading. Those around CFL circles know who Tony Proudfoot is. For those that don't, Proudfoot was a defensive back for the Montreal Alouettes. He became a colour commentator for the Alouettes amongst other things. Tony came down with ALS a few years ago and it has gradually taken his life away from him. It has gotten to the point that he doesn't know how much longer he has as there isn't much left. Just hours before the Calgary Stampeders beat the Montreal Alouettes in the 2008 Grey Cup, I sat amongst Canada's best reporters in a banquet room at a Montreal hotel. We were all there to honor Tony. The Football Reporters of Canada had a special presentation for Tony. He had to speak via machine. When it was over, I don't know if there was a dry eye in the house, yet everyone was laughing because he had taken a couple of good shots at Montreal Gazette reporter Herb Zurkowsky. I have talked to Tony a couple of times --both before ALS started to take its toll on him. He is a man that accepted his fate, but he was a man that was going to fight for as long as he can until he can't do it any more. Sadly, it appears as if that time has come. How Tony can smile every day knowing the raw deal he has been given is something beyond me. I think I would be a very angry man if I got dealt that hand. He's not. He is someone we could all learn from. It will be a very sad day when word comes down that Tony is gone.
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That's enough sadness for today. Lets try to brighten it up just a little. I know he's on a well-deserved holiday, but how many of you check out Rod Pedersen's blog just to see how much longer it is until training camp starts. Is it really still 30 plus days?
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The Calgary Hitmen are ready to win the WHL title. They are making a mockery of the WHL final as they are clearly a better hockey team than the Tri-City Americans. Tri-City is good, but they aren't in Calgary's stratosphere. I'll be very surprised if the Hitmen have to play another game on Saddledome ice this year.
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I will give credit where credit is due. Joe Thornton has finally come to play and as that happens, the Sharks win. Unlike Ray Ferraro, I didn't think Thornton was dominant in Game 2, but he came through big time for San Jose in Game 3. He scored once to get his team back in the game in the 3rd and he then set up Patrick Marleau's overtime winner on a beautiful pass as the Sharks move to within a game of the Western Conference final. I don't know about you, but as soon as Jayson Williams shot from the blueline ricocheted around the boards to Thornton on an odd man rush that it was over---it was and in more ways than one if you're a Detroit fan.
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For a while I thought Jaro Halak might steal another one, but on this night he was outplayed by Marc-Andre Fleury. Pittsburgh's 2-0 win gives them a 2-1 series lead. If Pittsburgh goes up 3-1, I can't see them doing what Washington did and that is blow that lead.
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When you watch Game 4 from Montreal on Thursday night, watch the Bell ads in the corner. Is it just me or does the guy have a clean chin when the game starts and a full grown Mike Commodore beard at the end? Watch and you will see what I mean. If for some reason, you taped last nite's game, take a look. I don't know how they do that, but its "tres cool".
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If you watch the Big Bang Theory, you know that Leonard and Penny have split up. I howled hard at the end of Monday's show when Penny told him she thinks they can still be friends and Leonard asks "Can we be friends that have sex?". I would ask that same question Leonard. Yes, yes I would. I think many of you that watch the show would say the same thing too. For those that don't know, Penny is played by Kaley Cuoco. If you don't know who she is, do a Google search on images. You will then.
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Vancouver's skyline looks different. They deflated the roof at BC Place today as renovations on the stadium continues. A new retractable fabric roof is being built. Its the reason why the Lions will play at Empire Stadiium this year.
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The Blue Jays don't have Roy Halladay, yet they have the exact same record as Halladay's new team--the Phillies. I know that won't last. It can't can it?
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Snow in May. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.
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There is rollerderby action in Regina on May 29th. Rollerderby! First High Impact Wrestling and now this. Regina's moving up that old culture scale ladies and gents. Yes it is!
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Did Nancy Grace go ballistic on the kid getting tasered in Philly? I'm imagining she did. Does Nancy Grace nauseate you the way she does me? Nancy Grace getting tasered. There's an idea!
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Today is Cinco de Mayo! What are you waiting for? Its another morning of Cheerios and rye.