Who's the head of CBC Sports these days? Do you know? I had to look it up and his name is Jeffrey Orridge. I don't know what plans Orridge has for CBC Sports, but I think there is a question that he needs to answer. That question is "Does the CBC think hockey needs to eliminate fighting?". I ask this question in the wake of the Don Cherry segment from Thursday and the CBC just quietly backing away from Cherry's rant saying it does not agree with the views he expressed.
Is the CBC truthful in this statement? Cherry said Saturday night he will not stop talking about fighting in the game as he feels there is a need for it. He is welcome to his opinion as are you and I, but those that are in his corner are starting to diminish. The CBC had a chance to answer the question I ask by telling Cherry to talk about the game and quit talking about fighting. It probably would have meant Cherry's farewell, but could the CBC survive without Cherry. That is another question in itself.
It is my belief that those at Hockey Night in Canada and CBC endorse fighting in the game and have no problem with it. While they won't say this publicly for risk of being heavily criticized, they will allow Cherry to stand on his soapbox----which you know he will preach on this year quite a bit and they seem not to care what he will say. Here's the other reason---and its one that was brought up to me by someone I know on Saturday. What song does Hockey Night in Canada use to promote its games---yes, they have the new theme song, but what else do they have. Think about it. There's another song----"Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting". Interesting!!! Am I (or should I say the person that informed me of this) the only one to see this? I doubt it. Why is Hockey Night in Canada and CBC Sports endorsing fighting by allowing this song to be played. Should they be? Yes, it is just a song, but the song advocates fighting on a hockey broadcast.
By the way, if you care, I am one that doesn't think fighting has to be taken out of the game, but the fights have to mean something and not just tough guy against tough guy to determine who is the tougher guy or the ridiculous "I just hit someone hard and clean so now I must fight the nearest player because of that clean hit" stance that the other team takes. If a player jumps someone after a clean hit or challenges a player to a fight, he should be gone. Hockey is a physical game and hard hits are going to happen---some of them will unfortunately still involve the head---and fights will happen. The fights are fewer and far between now and one day I'm sure the game will be played without two players dropping the mitts, but perhaps Mr. Orridge needs to come out and tell us exactly what the CBC thinks of fighting in hockey and perhaps tell someone to get a new tune.
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The Regina Pats arguably deserved a better fate on Saturday night, but they were beaten by the better team as the Prince George Cougars blanked Regina 2-0. Yes, Cougars goalie Drew Owsley was a little fortunate on a couple of occassions, but he made some big saves when he had to and he had a lot of help as the Cougars defence corps blocked what had to be close to 20 shots on the night. Its little things like that that you don't see on the boxscore. The effort was there from the home side, but the results weren't. The Pats aren't bad defensively, but Pat Conacher can certainly take that tape and show it to his young squad showing them how to sacrifice themselves for what is the ultimate goal and that is a win.
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Do Rider fans cringe whenever Paul McCallum succeeds? One can only wonder where the Rider kicking game would be today if Roy Shivers had not been such an idiot and offered McCallum a woeful pay cut thus paving his way to become a BC Lion. McCallum has arguably been the best kicker in the CFL since the days of Dave Ridgway. In fact, he might go down ahead of Lui Passaglia as far as I'm concerned when all is said and done as the 2nd best kicker in the history of the league. McCallum set a CFL record by hitting on his 29th straight field goal Saturday night and then after seeing the streak come to an end and seeing Larry Taylor celebrate the end of that streak by taking it back 120 yards for a TD, McCallum started another one by kicking a 54 yard field goal at the end of the game as B.C beat Calgary. The guy is money---with the exception of one kick---one that ultimately cost him his career in Regina.
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What will it be like in Winnipeg this afternoon? Hockey fan or not, you have to tune in this afternoon to watch the official return of the Jets when they play host to Montreal in a game that Winnipeg hockey fans had to think would never ever happen again. The MTS Centre will be a madhouse. The new Jets are trying to distance themselves from the old Jets and that will be shown when the old Atlanta Thrashers are on the ice with Evander Kane wearing number 9 and Brett McLean wearing 25. Those were numbers formerly retired by the Jets (Bobby Hull, Thomas Steen). At least no one is wearing Dale Hawerchuk's old number 10. It will be one I won't miss. I wish I was there.
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The Oilers will open the season against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Do I expect this team to make the playoffs this year? Nope! Do I expect them to be the worst team in the NHL again this year? Nope!! I think Edmonton is good for 11th or 12th in the West and about 25th or 26th in the league. Everything will have to go right for this team to make the playoffs and then some. Their defence could be a nightmare.
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Week 5 of the NFL season and if you're a fantasy football-a-holic like me, you are now juggling your roster as chances are you have players in their bye-week that need to be replaced. That can be easy or tough depending on how many teams are in your league and how many players each team can carry. Lets just say I'm hoping Deji Karim gets some carries for Jacksonville today. Who? Exactly
Week 5 LOCK of the week---Detroit over Chicago (Monday night)
Week 5 Upset of the week --- Panthers over Saints
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When did Bonanza on North Albert close? Have all the Bonanza's in Saskatchewan closed? Now that Bonanza is no longer a part of Regina, can we replace it with an Outback Steakhouse?
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I didn't see the UFC PPV on Saturday. It sounded like a good one. I'm sure the one time "Saskatchewan's Sexiest Blogger" who no longer blogs was rather orgasmic when Chael Sonnen won. Perhaps its a good job I didn't see that. Actually, it probably is unless he was put in his place by the large German man--I will call him Harlan-- who keeps him grounded and does inflict pain on him if he needs to much to the approval of the neanderthals that gather monthly to watch the bouts.
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What will Al Davis' legacy be? Like him or not, the guy meant an awful lot to the growth of the NFL. What will become of his legendary silver and black track suits?
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8 comments:
Moose Jaw still has bonanza
Interesting question when it comes to the CBC. On the surface, it would seem as they are in favour of it.
Brent
In the last 10 yrs, many saw Al Davis as a senile old fool. Without Al Davis, the NFL would never be as successful as it is now. He is one of the all time greats.
You've been sniffing those flowers you're not supposed to be again aren't you? Get serious!!
Good for PMac. Congrats on that!! I hope he is remembered as one of the CFL's greatest placekickers and not for one 19 yd miss.
peter dalla riva
Don Cherry is just an entertainer, sort of like John Gormley and other people in the media with a big yap. Fighting in the game does not rest with his opinion, but with the many people who pay for the tickets at games and the companies which fork out the cash to have the NHL show-case their products during the game and on commercials.
You missed a great PPV Saturday night. You should have taped it and watched it during the Rider game. You'd have been more entertained.
Kyle
Swift Current's p x p guy must not have a problem with fighting. He has some weekend fight videos on his blog. I wonder if the WHL will have words with him.
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