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.

You Crazy College Kids

The journalism class at the University of Utah-Salt Lake City decided to go out with a bang. In saying goodbye, they played a little prank to end their senior year you might say. It worked!





Bravo kids! Bravo! You get an A plus!

Attention Rock Band/Hockey Fans

Its a dream come true!

Hockey fans and budding rock stars unite!

TSN's The Hockey Theme is now available in the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Wii. The popular video game will now feature the rock version of the iconic song that legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart recorded for TSN last year.

Fans can purchase The Hockey Theme for their Rock Band Music Library in their console's store of downloadable content as an individual track on Xbox 360 ($.99 or 80 Microsoft Points), PlayStation 3 system ($.99) and on Wii ($1 or 100 Wii Points).

View the Rock Band version of The Hockey Theme here.

''Arranging and performing this version of The Hockey Theme was one of the great musical experiences of my life,'' said Peart. ''Knowing what a big part of Canadian culture it is, our 'second national anthem,' I felt honoured to be asked to remake it. I hope everyone has as much fun playing it as I did!''

Already a cult classic and YouTube sensation, Peart's popular version of The Hockey Theme debuted on TSN in January 2010. Peart's version of the song is also available for digital download at the iTunes Canada store.

I Have No Problem With This

Its a story that is getting a lot of attention today. It happened in Philadelphia last night at the Phillies game. Take a look....



Yes, some idiot who decided to try and be cool by running out onto the field and disrupting the game gets tased! You know what? I'm all for that! Perhaps its the fact I'm now in my 40's, but I hate seeing yahoos run onto the field thinking they are all that and a bag of chips with their "LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME" attitude. All they are doing is ruining the game day experience for 99.5 percent of the crowd. The other .5 are guys that maybe convince the guy to run on the field whether it be with or without clothes. In fact, if the truth be known, I've always been that way.

I've seen a fan go on NHL ice and get clobbered into the boards by a linesman or just had the crap beaten out of him by the Buffalo Sabres on the bench (Remember Rob Ray just going to town on that clown). I've seen a guy at a Winnipeg Blue Bombers fan get kicked repeatedly by members of the Bombers when he got on the field. I've seen fans get laid out by NFL players at games and yes, I've even some that think they want to challenge a wrestler get their head kicked in. Bad News Allen did it to someone who may have been conceived in a thawed out petry dish many years ago. In each case, the guy got what he deserved. This is no different.

Yeah, I realize people have been killed by tasers before. However, if this goof doesn't run on the field, he doesn't get tased. Its as simple as that! Anyone that goes on the field during the game is fair game as far as I'm concerned. If something like this prevents someone else from running on the field in future games, mission accomplished.

It raises this question? If someone got out of hand at a Rider game and this happened to them, what would your reaction be? We can sit there and discuss it all we want when it happens at a place far away from home, but when it happens in your backyard, its a different story.
Personally, my opinion would be the same. Stay off the field and this won't happen. Come on the field, and the risk is yours.

Comment away!

The End Of The Reaper?

I've had many great moments in my broadcasting career, but perhaps nothing was more special than being at the Rogers Centre on that Sunday night in November of 2007 when the Riders beat the Bombers to win the Grey Cup.

As I made my way into the Rider dressing room, there were many players I wanted to talk to. Schultz, Makowsky, Davis, and Reggie Hunt. Reggie was my favourite Rider for many years. When I found him, he was obviously a very happy man knowing that the championship he had sought after so many years had finally arrived.

When Eric Tillman failed to sign the linebacker in the off-season, he ended up in Montreal, but you knew his heart was still in Regina. Nonetheless, he had the chance for a 2nd straight Grey Cup that year as a member of the Alouettes. Being at that Grey Cup, I knew what Alouette I wanted to speak to first at their team lunch. I saw him before that get-together. I walked up behind him and said "Hello Reginald" (remember the Rob Murphy story). He turned around with a scowl only to break into a grin as he realized who had said it. We ended up having a good chat about his year in Montreal. He admitted to me that even if the Alouettes would have won that Grey Cup on home soil against Calgary that it wouldn't have meant as much to him as the ring he won with the Riders. Its because he was still Saskatchewan true and true.

Reggie played for the Eskimos last year, but he won't this year. He was released by the club on Monday. I wonder now if his CFL career is done. Is there any team out there that needs his services? Sadly I don't think there is.

Here's hoping Reggie decides to stay in Regina and here's hoping that some years down the road, he is a Plaza of Honor inductee. He deserves it.

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I think I have told this story before, but I will tell it again. You see the picture of Reggie and I after the Grey Cup. That picture was taken by none other than Premier Brad Wall. I was looking for Gene Makowsky in the locker-room. When I found him, he was being interviewed by Willy Cole. I stood by waiting for Willy to finish when all of a sudden I saw this head peer around a locker-room stall. It was none other than the newly-minted Premier who had just taken office days before. Like every other Saskatchewan native, he was ecstatic over the win and like few Saskatchewan natives, he was enjoying the post-game celebration in the dressing room. He was like a kid in a candy store with mom's visa card in his hand. Could you blame him?

As I went to talk to Gene, the Premier noticed I had my camera with me and asked if he could take some shots. Who am I to turn down Brad Wall? He took shots of me with Geno, me with Reggie and me with James Johnson. If that political career ever ends for Brad, he can take up a career in photography. The shots were great.

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After getting blasted out of the water in Game 1 by Vancouver, the Hawks played the kind of hockey I knew they could play against the Canucks and evened that series up. While Philly is giving it their all, they just don't seem to have enough to match Boston. I don't think that series ends in 4, but it could be a short one.

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Raw broccoli is OK. Steamed broccoli, not so much!

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This car bomb in Times Square is quite the story. The devastation that could have caused is downright scary. As someone who watches '24" though, I couldn't help but wonder if Jack Bauer had something to do with that Pathfinder and its contents being rendered harmless.

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The talk of Steve Yzerman joining the Tampa Bay Lightning as their GM just isn't right. I don't care if its upper management or not, Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings are synonomous with one another. It won't sound right having him connected with another team.

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If you didn't see the start of "The Simpsons" Sunday night, check this out.....

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That's all I got. Hope your Tuesday is a good one!

SportsCentre Hits The Road Again

After travelling nearly 8,000 kilometres from Kaslo, BC to Watrous, SK to Paradise, NL and celebrating with thousands of fans last summer, Kraft and TSN are heading back on the road with the return of the Kraft Celebration Tour.

For the second year in a row, the Kraft Celebration Tour will see TSN's flagship sports news program SPORTSCENTRE broadcast live from 10 lucky Canadian communities over a period of 10 days this summer from August 20 to 29.

Once again, communities from across the country are invited to nominate their town as a broadcast location – and for a chance to win one of ten $25,000 community refreshes from Kraft Canada to be used for improvements to a facility in the prize-winning communities. Canada's top-rated daily French-language sportscast, SPORTS 30 on RDS, will also join the Kraft Celebration Tour, broadcasting live from any winning Francophone communities.

''Kraft is delighted to again partner with TSN in year two of the Kraft Celebration Tour,'' said Jack Hewitt, Vice-President, Marketing Services, Kraft Canada. ''The Kraft Celebration Tour is an opportunity to give back to local communities across Canada that embrace healthy and active lifestyles. We look forward to building on the success of last year's program that saw hundreds of Canadian communities share their stories and local pride.''

Popular SPORTSCENTRE anchor team Darren Dutchyshen and Jennifer Hedger, along with Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole, will lead the special broadcasts, putting a spotlight on the local communities and accomplishments of its local athletes.

Through June 13, fans can nominate their local Canadian communities online for a chance to win one of 10 summer celebrations at www.TSN.ca/kraftcelebrationtour. As part of the nomination process, fans are invited to describe how a $25,000 community refresh would make a difference in their community and highlight their community spirit and passion for sports and a healthy – and active – lifestyle.

On Canada Day, TSN and RDS will announce the 20 finalists selected by a panel of judges. Then, it's up to Canada to decide the 10 winning tour stops via an intense 10 consecutive days of head-to-head online voting beginning July 12.

Shaw Buys Global

WOW!!

From The Globe and Mail

Shaw Communications Inc. said Monday it plans to buy part of CanWest Global Communications Corp.’s broadcast division from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. for $700-million, paving the way for the Western cable giant to take full control of CanWest's TV assets.

The deal comes as CanWest has been restructuring its broadcasting and publishing business under protection from creditors.

In February, Shaw won court approval to invest in the broadcast assets of a restructured CanWest, including the Global television network and some specialty channels. However, 65 per cent of the lucrative stable of specialty stations CanWest acquired from Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. in 2007, called CW Investments Co., remained under Goldman's control.

In March, Goldman filed an appeal of the Shaw decision, with the support of private equity firm Catalyst Capital Group. This deal puts an end to that dispute with Goldman.

The Calgary-based communications company will now pay Goldman in cash and through its existing credit facility for the disputed specialty TV assets. It will also assume $815-million of net debt, valuing Monday’s agreement at about $2-billion.

The deal between the Calgary-based cable company and New York-based investment bank clears the way for Shaw to buy all of a restructured CanWest. Shaw has said it wants only CanWest's television and specialty cable TV properties.

The plan is subject to certain conditions, including CanWest creditor and court approvals. The deal also needs regulatory approvals from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and the Competition Bureau.

Shaw president Peter Bissonnette said the control of content was “the number one driving force” for the company in the deal, and “key to our vision for the future.”

“Over the next decade to be successful as a distributor over many platforms we will require strong content capacity in Canada,” he said. “We believe that the marriage of content with our cable and satellite and soon to be wireless distribution network will position Shaw to be one of the leading entertainment communication companies in Canada.”