Why Not Canada?

In a joint venture between TSN and The Globe and Mail, sister operating divisions at CTVglobemedia, a six part multi-platform investigative series will examine the viability of a new NHL hockey franchise in Canada.

Led by veteran journalist Dave Naylor, the series, called Why Not Canada?, appears in print, on TV and online. It promises to look at new wide-ranging and in-depth socio-economic data that program producers say clearly illustrates the viability of an NHL franchise expanding or relocating in the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and Quebec City markets.

The multi-platform investigation includes a six-part TV series on TSN's Sportscentre beginning Monday, July 5. Daily features appear in The Globe and Mail and online at http://www.globeandmail.com.
TSN.ca will also post a new page dedicated to the series, with written features, extra video and in-depth statistical breakdowns for the Winnipeg, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area and Quebec City markets.

Naylor has spent months examining the case for an NHL franchise in four Canadian markets looking at as many angles as possible. Naylor turns to a host of leading economists, market research specialists, potential owners, competition lawyers and fans for input. Other important factors taken into consideration for each market include existing arenas, corporate presence, regional interest in hockey and demographics. Based on Naylor's research, a formula was developed based on quantitative facts that assign a grade based on the realistic viability of an NHL franchise in each of the four Canadian markets in question.

"Six of the league's 30 teams are located here, yet estimates are that more than 30 per cent of NHL revenue comes from Canada," Naylor said in a release. "Many Canadians ask themselves: if U.S. franchises are struggling, why not Canada? We will look at that question and try to separate the emotion from the facts to definitively answer if another franchise could survive in Canada."

As part of the series, Naylor sits down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman for his opinion and reactions to the research regarding each of the potential Canadian NHL markets considered.
The TSN Why Not Canada? broadcast schedule is as follows:

Monday, July 5 - Part 1: Introduction
Tuesday, July 6 - Part 2: Winnipeg
Wednesday, July 7 - Part 3: Hamilton
Thursday, July 8 - Part 4: Greater Toronto Area
Friday, July 9 - Part 5: Quebec City
Saturday, July 10 - Part 6: Conclusions

DeLaet Beats Tiger

Say what you will about Tiger Woods' golf game since his return to the Tour, but he is still one of the top players if not the top player in the world. That being said, it has to be a feather in the cap of Weyburn's Graham DeLaet knowing that at this week's stop on Tour--the AT & T National--DeLaet shot a 72 hole total of 282 which is two over par BUT is still two strokes better than Tiger who shot a 284. DeLaet takes home a bigger cheque than Tiger this weekend. Not bad! Maybe one day we'll see the two of them duelling together walking down 18 with first place at stake.

Brock-Solid

Brock Lesnar showed why he is the toughest, baddest man on the planet again last nite at UFC 116. The former WWE champ took an absolute beating from Shane Carwin in Round 1 of their heavyweight championship tilt only to rebound and win via submission...SUBMISSION! Yes, not only can this behemoth punch your lights out, but now he can also make you submit. Who is going to beat this man? It won't be Cain Velasquez who is rumoured to be his next opponent. Perhaps its time for Scott Schultz to start training and get into the octagon with Lesnar? I will have to ask him that later this week when I see him. Seriously, I don't know who can beat this dude and how they do it. Chuck Norris may not even be able to beat him.
For those that watch UFC and those who watch WWE or watched when he was it. Where was his hot cougar wife Sable?

All in all, it was a pretty good card last night. Chris Leben, on just two weeks rest, beat Yoshihiro Akiyama in what was a good tilt, Stephan Bonnar knocked out a Winnipeg guy whose name I won't even try to spell. He goes by the nickname "The Polish Experiment", which for a second I thought he had stole from Pete Paczko until I remembered Pete is "the Polish heat". Hey, maybe Pete would want to take on Lesnar? NAHHHH!
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The Lions and the Eskimos will round out Week 1 of the CFL season today. I'm intrigued in this one because so many people are taking Edmonton to win the West. I think BC wins this one today. I'm sorry, but I'm not sold on the Eskimos and I think Ricky Ray is on the downside of his career. He needs to have a huge renaissance if Edmonton is going anywhere this season.
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Germany 4 Argentina 0. WOW! The Germans looked very good yesterday and I don't know if they can be beat. That being said, their matchup against Spain is very tantalizing this week. Spain beat Paraguay 1-0 in a game that featured a bizarre 2nd half in which Spain stopped a penalty kick from the South Americans, then got one themselves about a minute later. They scored only to have it called back because the Spaniards were too eager and went into the crease before the ball was kicked. You knew having that happen would hurt as Spain then missed the re-kick before finally scoring on a scramble late.
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What do the Oilers do with Sheldon Souray now? The fact no-one wants this guy says a lot about the individual doesn't it.
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The top two teams in the WMBL meet in Regina today. The Swift Current Indians battle the Regina Red Sox in a 205 start. I may go check that one out.
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When did Chris Bosh start taking character lessons from Vince Carter? This guy is turning out to be one giant you know what. The Raptors don't care where he ends up, and I don't think fans do either. Oh wait. there are hardly any Raptor fans in Saskatchewan.
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Its the start of July and the Cubs don't have a chance at contending for the Wild Card. SIGHHHHHHH!!!!
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A suggestion for the Riders from blog reader Chris. When the team goes out on the field, take a case of Pilsner with them and hand one out to each guy in there. If one guy doesn't get a beer, GET OFF THE FIELD!!!!!!
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That's How You Start A Season

The CFL gets its share of highlights on ESPN. Chris Berman has said in the past he loves the CFL and he will talk about the league during 'Primetime' and show highlights come playoff time. With the NFL Network now showing CFL games, Rich Eisen and company had to talk about what happened at Mosaic Thursday night. Take a look.....

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d818f37cc/CFL-craziness

I'm guessing many in North America know of what went on at Mosaic last night. Even those that don't give the CFL a lot of respect south of the border had to tip their hat to that one.
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Global's Tom Vernon had a great story on "The 13th man" as he took in a tongue-in-cheek look at the too many men penalty that the Riders took last night. I went to Global Regina's sight to find it, but I couldn't. Go to www.globalregina.com and find it if you can. It is an outstanding tale. Tom might be challenging Dan McIntosh for best visuals when it comes to a reporter.
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The mood was one of levity today when discussing that penalty. Can you imagine what the fallout would have been had the Riders lost that game? One person told me today that loss would have devastated them and they would have been lucky to finish 500. I don't know about that, but it would have opened up a festering wound.
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That decision to release Marcus Thigpen doesn't look that great now does it....unless of course you are a Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan.
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I think Paul LaPolice has a better offensive game plan than what Mike Kelly had.
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Milt Stegall just continues to annoy me.
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So lemme get this straight, the Jays go into Cleveland and lose 4 straight to an Indians team that is putrid and then they walk into Yankee Stadium and beat the Yankees. That makes no sense.
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Brazil is out of the World Cup! I can hear wooden shoes clacking everywhere. Holland is a soccer power, but I didn't think they would beat Brazil. How good could Argentina vs Germany be today.
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I completely forgot to post this yesterday. Its one of the best bloopers ever and its a CFL one....

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I wouldn't want to be in Yorkton right now. What has happened there is absolutely devastating for many.

WOW Doesn't Come Close to Describing This One

Photo courtesy CFL.ca

I have seen many great football games, but I don't know if I've ever seen a better one than what I witnessed on the Mosaic Stadium turf Thursday night. Words just can't describe what theatre the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders gave us on this night--a night that ended with the Riders winning 54-51 in double overtime. Where do you start?

--Anthony Calvillo showed he is still on the top of his game. His first half was pure artistry as he shredded the Rider defence--Donovan Alexander in particular.

--Darian Durant may not play a better game in his CFL career. Durant was 30 of 44 for 478 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. The play of these two guys on opening night was magnificent.

--How can the Riders be guilty of another 13th man penalty when the game is basically over? How cruel is that! Weston Dressler and Darian Durant laughed on the sidelines sarcastically. Lance Frazier says he almost threw his helmet and Marcus Adams says he wanted to fall on his knees and ask God why? In the words of Glen Suitor, "that's infathomable".

--CFL commish Marc Cohon must have watched this game with a huge smile on his face, but he also must have looked at the officiating and said to himself "Is this really how bad our guys are?" The effort of the striped shirts was still a pre-season one.

--In a 60 yard dash who is faster, Weston Dressler or Rob Bagg?

--Did Wes Cates shut his critics up?

--Will we see a better game in the CFL this year? Will we see a better catch than SJ Green's two point conversion in overtime?

--Was this game better than the 89 Grey Cup?

--Did Joe Hadesbeck get his vehicle towed away?

--Did anyone go get Scott Niedermayer and Ryan Getzlaf's autograph? Who's kidding who, more people probably would want Chris Getzlaf's autograph than Ryan's on this night.

--How much weight did Gainer lose in that costume and how bad does it stink this morning?

--How many Americans watched the game on the NFL Network and what do they think of our game now after seeing that?

--Did Carm have to haul in Rod?

--Did anyone really watch the Calgary-Toronto game. I didn't.

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Can someone please tell me if Darryl Sutter is trying to single-handedly destroy the Calgary Flames. Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen? Why? Who cares, I'm an Oilers fan!
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Damn you Toronto. I would have loved to see Colby Armstrong in an Oilers uniform instead of a Leafs one.
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I thought the loss of Sergei Gonchar might mean a trade to Pittsburgh involving Sheldon Souray in which the Oil could get a good player back. It could still happen, but I doubt it seeing the Pens signed Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek.
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I'm surprised that both Evgeni Nabokov and Marty Turco are still unsigned.
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Sergei Gonchar will make Kovalev, Spezza and Alfredsson better hockey players.
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My hometown of Indian Head is going up against Outlook in year 2 of the Kraft Celebration Tour. Vote for Indian Head!! Sportscenter needs to go to Indian Head!!! Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole need to visit Indian Head!! Nothing against Outlook, but this is the old hometown I'm talking about. The vote goes July 19.
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Do we really have to go back to work for one more day? Ok, a half day because everyone will spend this morning talking about last night. Unreal!

Just To Get You Ready

Happy Canada Day!

OK Rider Nation, how are you going to celebrate our fine country's birthday. Are you wearing something with the Maple Leaf on it or something with the /=S=/ on it. Do I really have to ask that question?
ITS GAMEDAY!
The Alouettes and the Riders are ready to kick it off in a game that many of us have been waiting for since that November evening in Calgary last year. I don't know about you, but I think we are in for a ring-a-ding dong dandy tonight and I also think that the first game of the season will have the same two teams that play in the last game of the season. I think we are in for a high scoring tilt tonight and it wouldn't surprise me to see both teams hit the 30 point mark. Kickoff is 5 PM and it will be on TSN. Not only will it be on TSN, but it will also be on the NFL Network. I don't know about you, but I think that is a major coup for the CFL. Having CFL games on that network should only enhance our product and show many down south how good a game ours is. If you don't know, the games won't be shown on the NFL network in Canada because of TSN's rights and if you are in the U-S, you will see the TSN broadcast.
One other game tonight has Toronto in Calgary. How bad does Calgary win this one by?
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Did you see this from TSN's CFL preview last night.

http://watch.tsn.ca/featured/clip320439#clip320439

That's still tough to watch, but I love what Darian Durant says at the end.

Its also a very big day in the NHL as its free agency day. A lot of rumours are out there already. Those rumours will be put to bed with guys like Kovalchuk, Nabokov, Turco and others likely by the time kickoff hits this afternoon.
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The dismantling of the Stanley Cup champs continues. Kris Versteeg is now a Maple Leaf. That's actually a very good trade for Toronto. I think they are slowly establishing themselves to be a playoff team. Do you think Chicago even has a chance at repeating with the way they are being torn apart from the bottom up. They still have their core guys, but the grit and grind guys you need to be successful are disappearing. I don't think its over yet either.
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Very few people care about NHL free agency in the US, but they are watching Lebron James to see where he goes. NBA free agency is also underway and the soon to be ex-Cleveland Cavalier is the big fish. He's the best player in the game today(sorry Kobe fans)and whoever gets him will be an instant championship contender. Once he goes, it won't be long for Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to find new homes either.
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Went to the movie 'Grown-Ups" with Adam Sandler last night. I left let down when it was over. I was hoping this would be something like Happy Gilmore or The Waterboy, but it was Adam Sandler being Mr. Family Guy (and I'm not talking Peter Griffin). There is a Saskatchewan shout-out in the show though and there's a cameo by the great Dan Patrick so it wasn't all bad. Who plays Rob Schneider's daughter in the show. YIKES!!
Speaking of the movies, there has to be a more proficient way of getting people through the snack counter. A 20 minute wait? Ridiculous!
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It takes 15 officers to perform a routine stop check in Regina? OK!
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I guess with the CFL season getting ready to start, I should give you my predictions.
In the West, I really can't see how the Riders don't win the West. They have the best team on paper. I know you don't play games on paper, but they do have the best team. That being said, with the exception of Jock Climie, the TSN guys aren't taking the Riders. Chris Schultz is taking BC while Randorf and Dunigan are going with Edmonton. Have the Stampeders been written off? When I look at things this year, I don't see the standings changing much from last. That is Riders, Stamps, Edmonton and B-C in the West with the East going Montreal, Hamilton, Winnipeg and Toronto. The only difference is there will be no crossover this year. The Riders will defeat the Alouettes at Commonwealth and the organization can put last year's nightmare behind them.
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The Blue Jays have lost three in a row to Cleveland. The fall has started!
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Another win for the Red Sox. They beat Moose Jaw 8-6 in what sounded like a thriller.
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This blog had its best month since I started it in February of 09. I had over 21-thousand visits in June. Thank you!
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Whether you are on the couch, in the park or at Mosaic today, have an outstanding one!