So much for that Yankee sweep. Cliff Lee gave the Philadelphia Phillies everything they wanted and then some in the opener of the World Series. Lee was absolutely magnificent as he pitched eight innings of shutout ball while Chase Utley homered twice in a convincing 6-1 win. The Phillies making the score worse than what it was by hammering out some runs late in the game off the Yankees bullpen.
I didn't think Lee would have the success against the Yankees that he did. He didn't pitch well against New York when still a member of the Cleveland Indians, but he certainly pitched well enough to earn the win in Game 1.
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Did you hear about the woman in Philly who was charged with offering sex for World Series tickets. Susan Finkelstein says she may have made some suggestive statements, but she was not going to sell her body for World Series tickets. The thing I love about this is a Philly radio station has come through for her and have given her two tickets for Game 3. Tickets for her and HER HUSBAND!!!!!! I wonder what he thinks about all this. Ahh what the hell, she got him tickets didn't she? (ITS A JOKE!!!)
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I don't know if Gregg Zaun's major league career will continue next year, but if not, I hope he lands on Sportsnet doing Jays games with Jamie Campbell. I have really enjoyed his commentary on Sportsnet during the playoffs. What I like the most about what he is doing is he isn't pulling any punches. I'm sure he has angered a few players with his "honest" comments, but he isn't sugarcoating anything. Pat Tabler has done a good job with Campbell and with Rod Black when games are on TSN, but Zaun is refreshing. Here's hoping there is a spot in the booth for him when his diamond days are done.
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Congratulations to Chris Szarka. The Rider fullback is now Councillor Szarka having successfully won the race to serve as alderman in Regina's Ward 10. Many people are now asking whether or not Szarka is in his final couple of months as a Roughrider as how will he able to juggle both politics and football. Knowing Chris, I'm sure he is ready to do a couple of things A) prove that he didn't win this race because he is a Rider by working his tail off over the next three years and B) take a good look if he can pursue both careers and if he can to do it at his best level without letting the other one slip. I think Chris is on the downside of what has been a good career, and I think even he would tell you that, but he still has one if not two good years in front of him if he decides to keep playing and I'm sure if that's the case, he will be able to combine both and be as good a politician as he is a football player. Hey, Pat Fiacco isn't going to be around forever so maybe in three years, it will be Mayor Szarka. Imagine that!! Congrats to Mayor Fiacco as well. His landslide victory doesn't come as a surprise. He has done a great job for Regina during his time in office and has made the city a much better place. He still has some challenges in front of him, but I'm confident he will be successful in many of those. Now lets just get my street cleaned this winter!!!
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Rod Pedersen made a very accurate statement on his blog yesterday regarding Pats GM Brent Parker. Every one and their dog are quick to criticize Parker, but no one wants to stand up and praise him for basically stealing three players for nothing early this season---three players who look as if they can make a contribution to this team this year and for the next couple of seasons. The three are Killian Hutt, Hampus Gustaffson and Cody Carlson. Add those three to d-man Brandon Davidson who has had an impressive start, Myles Bell who has looked great early on and goalie Dawson Guhle who has showed he is capable of being a WHL goalie and you will see that Parker has assembled some talent for the future. Add these kids to players like Jordan Weal, Garrett Mitchell and Graham Hood and there are tools there for good teams in future years.
Everyone is quick to jump on Brent when this team fails, but no one wants to pat him on the back when he pulls off a couple of shrewd moves. I know Brent has rubbed some people the wrong way during his tenure here, but he wants a winner more than you will ever know. I don't know if he will be able to keep Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert in a Pats uniform all season as both will get high value in a trade, but if he is forced to deal one or both, he will get what he thinks is the best deal possible. Whatever you do Brent, don't trade one or both of those two to Brandon. I would be nauseous if I saw Eberle wearing Brandon colours even if it meant him winning a Memorial Cup.
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The Colorado Avalanche are the first team in the NHL to hit 10 wins. How? Have Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy returned? Many, many people had the Avalanche struggling to make the playoffs this year.
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Toronto has a winning team. The Raptors won their opener beating Lebron, Shaq and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They're 1-0!!!!! Somewhere Brian Burke frowns!
10 comments:
The Pats have had a lot of good players roll through here, but one way or another they have always screwed up. The common denominator is Brent Parker. How many more years of this are Regina hockey fans going to suffer through. Pedersen asks why fans don't go to games, its simple. We've had enough of the Parker era and don't want to line his pockets anymore. Did you notice how crowds at Rider games went up once Danny and Roy were gone. Why does the media in this town give Brent a free ride? Is it because he's media-friendly? Pedersen is so pro-Parker that its sickening.
Congrats to Zark. I live in Ward 10 and he was the only candidate to come to my door. If the other two did, I wasn't home. Change was needed in that ward and if it had been a two man race, I think Cassano would have won. Juggling football and politics will be difficult, but I think he can do it for a year. He'll be a great ambassador for the city when he is playing in the Grey Cup.
I agree with you on Greg Zaun. He calls it like he sees it. He's the Marshall Hamilton of baseball.
If the Pats could find another legitimate scorer, they might be alright, but I really don't see them contending as they will suck when Eberle and Teubert leave for a month just like last year.
The Leafs and Raptors have the same amount of wins. I'm thinking the Raptors will have more W's at the end of the year. HA HA!!
Garry
33 serving 10. Nice! I'm sure being a Rider had a part in his victory, but if people in that area of the city are going to fall for a "glamour" candidate and not look at what he can do for the area then they shouldn't be disappointed if he fails them. However, I think he will be great as a councillor and maybe more as the future progresses. Congrats Chris.
Bill
Mitch if you check the standings the Pats are in last place! sorry Brent won't be getting any praise from me...brutal
Oh so because Pedersen heaps praise on Parker we are all supposed to. Pedersen wouldn't dare criticize the Pats or the Riders because that is his gravy train. The one poster above has it right and that is hockey fans in this city are tired of Parker and the "mediocrity" he has brought to the Pats. New blood will bring people back. It happened with the Riders and it will happen with the Pats.
DJ
As an Avs fan, I am basking in this start. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm enjoying it tremendously.
Brad
Chris Szarka as a city councillor? Whatever! What does he know about politics and how is he supposed to serve his constituents when he is studying a playbook or playing a game. This was celebrity recognition and all the Rider fans in that area swallowed it up. If he was Chris Szarka Home Depot worker, he wouldn't have got 500 votes. You know its true. This is bad news for Regina.
HS
The Avs are the "2nd" team to hit 10 wins. Pittsburgh hit 10 earlier in the night.
Change the slogan from I Love Regina to Canada's toughest city. A boxer leading the way with a football player right behind him. Who wants to mess with us. HUH??!! Who?? C'mon MacLeans, print another anti-Regina story.
Ron
Until Parker is gone, I say screw the Regina Pats.
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