Something To "Mitch" About

Where to begin, where to begin.

How about we start with the possibility of another "Trans-Canada Clash" playoff edition. If you haven't noticed, the Moose Jaw Warriors are in the passing lane and they are ready to zoom past a Swift Current Broncos that is leaking some big-time oil as we approach the finish line. 

I know this might anger fans in Swift Current, but I am hoping the Warriors can get in and set up another Pats-Warriors playoff battle. It will get the hair up on everyone's neck even though the series can't be and won't be as intense as battles in the past if the two teams should meet.  I don't think anyone has forgotten the events of the last time these two teams played when a controversial penalty led to a game-tying goal which set up a Brayden Point overtime winner that changed the series around giving Moose Jaw a win. The rinks would be full and I would be all for it.

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The Brier is over and the John Morris rink with Pat Simmons throwing skip stones is the champ. Once again, there was a lot of talk off the ice about the cursing from competitors that were overheard on TSN mikes. Curling's popularity on TV is partially because you are right in the middle of the conversation. Its like you are in the huddle. I have no problem with it and from what I know and what I've seen. I haven't seen any "f" bombs dropped. Talk of fining the curlers is ridiculous and if that were to happen, I would do what I think Jeff Stoughton did several years ago and just refuse to wear them. TSN won't be happy, but the rink won't lose any money.

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What a Brier final it ended up being. After some exciting playoff games, it looked like the final would be a snoozer, but it ended up being a dandy that came down to this...




What you don't see is the Pat Simmons reaction as he does the Alec Martinez and throws his broom skyhigh much like the Kings defenceman when L-A won the Stanley Cup last year. His shot-making this weekend was stupendous. Hell, if Pat was curling like that when he was skipping Saskatchewan the drought would be over as he just made whatever shot he had to including the winner. While Simmons deserves many accolades, the guy who should get the most is John Morris. There is no doubt Morris has a huge ego and for him to take the step of handing over the skipping reigns to Simmons at the game's biggest venue could not have been easy. It worked out for them and I can't see them changing at the Worlds. By the way, some have said this ends the drought..NOPE! When a curler comes out with the Saskatchewan flag wearing the Saskatchewan jacket, then it will have truly ended. If that were the case, Ben Hebert ended the drought years ago when he won with Kevin Martin,


We could have 5 teams from Canada in the Stanley Cup playoffs. How refreshing would that be!

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Carey Price is getting a lot of talk for NHL MVP this year and deservedly so, but my vote would go to John Tavares.

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For the 2nd time in the past two weeks, I have heard this discussion. Does the NHL want Connor McDavid in Toronto and can they somehow "rig" the draft lottery to make sure it happens. Many, many years ago, there was an unfounded story the NBA "fixed" the draft lottery when Patrick Ewing was available. The story is the envelopes which were used by the commissioner for the lottery had one with the New York Knicks logo that had been refrigerated so when it came time for David Stern to pick the envelope of the team that would go first, he would know what one had the Knicks logo inside. Its a story that has never been proven, but it was discussed on a recent NBC telecast and again on NHL Radio this past week. I'm not saying McDavid couldn't end up a Leaf, but would the NHL do something like this by having a game-changer in perhaps its most important market. Would that be good for the NHL as a whole?  I guess we will find out.  If it happens, the conspiracy theorists could have a hey-day with this one

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There is once again a lot of love for the Blue Jays with some thinking they will win the AL East. I can't see that with the pitching staff they have. No closer and a very mediocre bullpen. While Toronto strengthened themselves offensively with the addition of Josh Donaldson, they didn't find a legitimate closer and I don't think they found a set-up man either. Who is the second baseman anyhoo? I would be putting money down on Baltimore to win the East again with Boston and Toronto fighting for second. I don't think the Yankees are even close to a playoff spot this year.

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Talk of the Seahawks drafting a running back in the first round of the NFL draft as some mocks had them doing can go out the window with Marshawn Lynch coming back. I have to wonder who will carry the rock in Philly now that Lesean McCoy is gone. In fact, I am left to wonder what exactly Chip Kelly is doing in trading McCoy. He lost his most explosive weapon last year when Desean Jackson left in free agency and he could lose Jeremy Maclin in free agency as well this year. Trading McCoy means what was a pretty good offence is now a very ordinary one.

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Rory McIlroy's club toss on Friday had to put a smile on the face of all golfers no matter how good or bad you are. Yes, the frustration of a bad shot can even result in the world's best doing what many of us have done on the golf course good or bad.
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Another great job by the people of Saskatchewan as we raised 4.31million at Telemiracle. Its one of the many things that makes this province the best one in Canada.  It was sad to hear this one will be Bob McGrath's last. He's been a part of the telethon since it started and truthfully, I thought he would be until he has left us. Telemiracle 40 and those beyond will not be the same without a man who has not aged one bit.  As for Beverley Mahood, lets just say she is not aging either and I think its safe to say that's a good thing fellas.  She made that Riders logo look great on Sunday. WOW!

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I guess the NFL could care less about free agency as many guys have been already been signed to new teams. Isn't there a rule against this? Obviously not!

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What is happening to the Toronto Raptors?

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To leave you today...I ask you this. Isn't it a little un-nerving that doctors call what they do "practice"?

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Have a good week!