From pee wee to the pros, Canadian football is taking a leadership role when it comes to promoting concussion awareness, prevention, management and research.
At the centre of the sport's efforts is a new campaign that aims to distribute simple-to-follow "concussion flyers" and posters to hundreds of thousands of athletes and coaches across the country.
The flyers and posters spell out how to recognize the symptoms of a concussion and stress the importance of not rushing an athlete with any symptoms back into action.
"Our goal is to ensure this basic but all important information is on every coach's clipboard, posted in every team's locker room, and available to every player and parent," Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League, told a news conference today.
"We all share a real and profound concern and respect for our athletes and their well-being, whether that athlete is a youngster proud to wear football pads for the very first time or a CFL veteran competing for the Grey Cup."
Cohon was joined by representatives of Football Canada, the umbrella organization for minor football, Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), the Canadian School Sport Federation, the Canadian Football League Players Association (CFLPA), the Canadian Football League Alumni Association (CFLAA), and ThinkFirst, a national charitable foundation dedicated to the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries, founded by Dr. Charles Tator, a renowned expert in the area of brain injury, concussion and injury prevention.
The goal of the new campaign is to distribute the concussion flyers and posters - on paper and electronically - to more than 100,000 kids playing minor football, 3,200 high schools with 750,000 athletes playing football and other sports, and 52 universities with 2,000 football players and 8,500 other student-athletes.
"We know football isn't in this alone, and that concussions affect every sport, as well as people in everyday life," Cohon said.
"But our sport, with a long and proud history in Canada, is an integral part of the fabric of this nation, so we feel a special obligation to learn all we can, and lead whenever and wherever we can."
Dr. Tator praised the football community, and the CFL in particular, for supporting prevention and ongoing research.
"We don't want people, especially young people, to be couch potatoes. We want to encourage participation - safe participation," said Dr. Tator, a neurosurgeon and scientist.
He urged parents, coaches and players to understand the signs and symptoms of concussion, including confusion, dizziness and fuzzy vision, to ensure an athlete never returns to play while symptomatic, and that they follow a very careful and gradual, medically supervised step-by-step protocol before returning an athlete to play.
Tator also called on governments and the public to help fund the KNC Sports Concussion Project, a Canadian study into the possible link between repeated concussions and late deterioration of brain function, now being led by some of the country's leading experts.
"CFL alumni support this research and have been working actively with Dr. Tator and his team, finding brain donors and contributing to the research committee," said Leo Ezerins, Executive-Director of the Canadian Football League Alumni Association.
"We're working to make the game safer through the sharing of best practices. Our guys want to do what they can to give back to the game that gave us so much."
One by one, representatives of football at every level, outlined initiatives designed to promote awareness, increase diagnosis, and improve management of concussions. Those include:
• CFL team physicians and therapists use an internationally recognized medical protocol, known as SCAT2, for diagnosing concussions and withholding athletes from play until they have been properly cleared to participate.
• All CFL roster players are submitted to minimum baseline cognitive testing, known as IMPACT, during training camp.
• All player concussion assessments in the CFL are left solely in the hands of team physicians and therapist.
• All CFL coaches and players will receive educational material to aid in recognizing signs and symptoms of a concussion.
• Administrators from all levels of football report a pronounced change in "culture" from the expectation that a player "get back in there" to one that encourages players to be honest about symptoms and coaches to err on the side of extreme caution.
• Certification programs that teach coaches how to recognize the symptoms of concussions.
• Training programs for coaches that emphasize that players should never use their helmets as weapons or lead with their heads when blocking or tackling.
• A new rule in the amateur football rule book that requires officials to report suspected concussed players to the coaching or medical staff during games.
"Our athletes are students first, and a failure to recognize a concussion or handle it properly, can put success in the classroom in jeopardy," said Marg McGregor, Chief Executive Officer of CIS.
"Fortunately, the old days when an athlete 'had his bell rung" and was told to suck it up and get back on the field are behind us. But more needs to be done."
The CFLPA is squarely focused on player safety, and concussions in particular, said Bryan Crawford, the player representative with the Toronto Argonauts.
"Like many sports, football involves an element of risk," Crawford said. "But we're working with our league and football across Canada to draw a clear line between the risk we accept as athletes and reckless and irresponsible behaviour that endangers players."
Concussion awareness and management is embedded in the National Coaching Certification program at all levels of amateur football, said Rick Sowieta, Director of Sport with Football Canada.
"But we have partnered with the CFL on this campaign because we have to do all we can to ensure every coach, parent and athlete has the information they need," he said.
The Canadian School Sport Federation will work with provincial and territorial organizations to distribute the concussion cards and posters to high schools across Canada, including all 860 secondary schools in Ontario, said Doug Gellatly, the federation's president.
"Our primary concern is for the safety of participants in all sports, not just football," said Gellaty, who is also Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Athletic Associations (OFSAA).
The news conference was emceed by Matt Dunigan, CFL on TSN host, a member of the CFL Alumni Association, and a new spokesman for ThinkFirst.
"Football is a great teacher of values such as teamwork, perseverance and leadership," said Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback Dunigan, who suffered numerous concussions during his 14 years in the CFL.
"But perseverance should never be confused with bad judgment, and true leadership understands there is more to the sport and life than the next play. So be a great teammate: ThinkFirst..."
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
WHL Ride For The Kids
The Western Hockey League, the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, Scotiabank and a group of WHL Alumni led by Kelly Chase, Dave Chartier and Curtis Leschyshyn today announced plans for a province wide celebrity bike relay in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.
The event, to be referred to as the “WHL Ride for the Kids”, presented by Scotiabank, will feature former WHL and NHL players participating in a 655 kilometer bike relay across the province of Saskatchewan to raise awareness and funding for the new Children’s Hospital in Saskatchewan.
The WHL Ride for the Kids will feature stops in all five WHL Saskatchewan centres from June 5-9, 2011 with fundraising events being staged following each leg of the relay by the Prince Albert Raiders, Saskatoon Blades, Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats. The WHL Ride for the Kids will be launched with a kick-off event in Prince Albert on June 5 with the first leg of the bike relay starting the morning of June 6 at the Scotiabank branch in Prince Albert and concluding later that afternoon in Saskatoon.
The WHL Ride for the Kids has received a strong response from former Saskatchewan WHL and NHL players who are eager to participate in this unique fundraising event. Players who plan to participate in the event thus far include; Barrett Jackman, Jordan Eberle, Luke Schenn, Mike Sillinger, Jamie Heward, Colby Armstrong, Josh Harding and Rhett Warrener.
“Scotiabank is proud to partner with the WHL, an organization not only dedicated to excellence on the ice, but one that shares our commitment and desire to make a difference in our community,” said Kim Braun, District Vice President, Saskatchewan North District, Scotiabank. “At Scotiabank, we believe in contributing to the communities in which we live, work, and do business, and being part of such a great event in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan fits perfectly with this mandate.”
“There is a part of Saskatchewan in all of us,” commented WHL and NHL Alumnus Kelly Chase, “This is a great way for us to give thanks to the Western Hockey League for all they have done for us and to thank the people of Saskatchewan by raising awareness and funds for the much needed new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.”
"The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan is grateful to the WHL, Kelly Chase, and all NHL and WHL players and former players who have taken their time to be involved in this amazing fundraiser. We are thankful for their tireless efforts in support of the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan and the children and families of this province. The WHL Ride for Kids is an amazing testament to how the people of province of Saskatchewan continue to come together in supporting this wonderful project,” states Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.
“The WHL and our five Saskatchewan based WHL Clubs are very excited to support this wonderful fundraising initiative by members of our WHL Alumni in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “This is another great example of how passionate our players and our teams are to assist in raising funds for such an important cause in their home province.”
The event, to be referred to as the “WHL Ride for the Kids”, presented by Scotiabank, will feature former WHL and NHL players participating in a 655 kilometer bike relay across the province of Saskatchewan to raise awareness and funding for the new Children’s Hospital in Saskatchewan.
The WHL Ride for the Kids will feature stops in all five WHL Saskatchewan centres from June 5-9, 2011 with fundraising events being staged following each leg of the relay by the Prince Albert Raiders, Saskatoon Blades, Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats. The WHL Ride for the Kids will be launched with a kick-off event in Prince Albert on June 5 with the first leg of the bike relay starting the morning of June 6 at the Scotiabank branch in Prince Albert and concluding later that afternoon in Saskatoon.
The WHL Ride for the Kids has received a strong response from former Saskatchewan WHL and NHL players who are eager to participate in this unique fundraising event. Players who plan to participate in the event thus far include; Barrett Jackman, Jordan Eberle, Luke Schenn, Mike Sillinger, Jamie Heward, Colby Armstrong, Josh Harding and Rhett Warrener.
“Scotiabank is proud to partner with the WHL, an organization not only dedicated to excellence on the ice, but one that shares our commitment and desire to make a difference in our community,” said Kim Braun, District Vice President, Saskatchewan North District, Scotiabank. “At Scotiabank, we believe in contributing to the communities in which we live, work, and do business, and being part of such a great event in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan fits perfectly with this mandate.”
“There is a part of Saskatchewan in all of us,” commented WHL and NHL Alumnus Kelly Chase, “This is a great way for us to give thanks to the Western Hockey League for all they have done for us and to thank the people of Saskatchewan by raising awareness and funds for the much needed new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.”
"The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan is grateful to the WHL, Kelly Chase, and all NHL and WHL players and former players who have taken their time to be involved in this amazing fundraiser. We are thankful for their tireless efforts in support of the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan and the children and families of this province. The WHL Ride for Kids is an amazing testament to how the people of province of Saskatchewan continue to come together in supporting this wonderful project,” states Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.
“The WHL and our five Saskatchewan based WHL Clubs are very excited to support this wonderful fundraising initiative by members of our WHL Alumni in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “This is another great example of how passionate our players and our teams are to assist in raising funds for such an important cause in their home province.”
WHL Championship Sked
The Western Hockey League has announced the schedule for the 2011 WHL Championship Series between the Husky Eastern Conference Champion Kootenay Ice and the Kal Tire Western Conference Champion Portland Winterhawks. The winner of the WHL Championship Series will be presented the Ed Chynoweth Cup and represent the WHL at the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Mississauga, Ontario. Please see 2011 WHL Championship logo attached.
2011 WHL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
SERIES O (Game # - Visitor @ Home; Date)
All Start Times Are Local
#1 – Kootenay @ Portland; Friday, May 6 (7:30pm PT)
#2 – Kootenay @ Portland; Saturday, May 7 (7:00pm PT)
#3 – Portland @ Kootenay; Tuesday, May 10 (7:00pm MT)
#4 – Portland @ Kootenay; Wednesday, May 11 (7:00pm MT)
#5 – Kootenay @ Portland; Friday, May 13 (7:30pm PT)**
#6 – Portland @ Kootenay; Sunday, May 15 (6:00pm MT)**
#7 – Kootenay @ Portland; Monday, May 16 (7:00pm PT)**
** - if necessary
2011 WHL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
SERIES O (Game # - Visitor @ Home; Date)
All Start Times Are Local
#1 – Kootenay @ Portland; Friday, May 6 (7:30pm PT)
#2 – Kootenay @ Portland; Saturday, May 7 (7:00pm PT)
#3 – Portland @ Kootenay; Tuesday, May 10 (7:00pm MT)
#4 – Portland @ Kootenay; Wednesday, May 11 (7:00pm MT)
#5 – Kootenay @ Portland; Friday, May 13 (7:30pm PT)**
#6 – Portland @ Kootenay; Sunday, May 15 (6:00pm MT)**
#7 – Kootenay @ Portland; Monday, May 16 (7:00pm PT)**
** - if necessary
Random Thoughts
A lot of things rattling about the old cranium today so in no particular order, here we go.
--Karma is a bitch isn't it Michael Ignatieff. You wanted an election so badly and how did Canada respond? We told you to get out of our lives and we gave the Conservatives a majority government. Nice move Mikey!!
--How much longer until Justin Trudeau is given the task of rebuilding the Liberals?
--For all the heat that the Conservative MP's from Saskatchewan took over the last year, I thought a message would be sent in one or two ridings. I guess not.
--I thought Brent Williamson's team at Global did an outstanding job in bringing us election results last night. CTV did a great job as well. I was watching Amanda Ferguson do a report from the Conservative headquarters when I saw a Scruffy look-alike over her shoulder sitting at a table. Moments later, a friend of mine texted me to say he saw me shoving something down my face at the Conservative headquarters. It was not me. Who was it? Is there a Scruffy look-alike running around town. Poor bastard!
--My youngest daughter's first ball game (if you want to call it that) went last night and as a young child will do, she wanted ice cream when it was over. We headed over to Coldstone/Tim Horton's to get something. Its the first time I've been there. It might be the last for a while. When it takes you over a half hour just to get to the till, there's something wrong--especially when the line wasn't that big to start. It doesn't take that long at the Milky Way when the lines are longer and frankly, I like what they give me just a little bit more.
--Canada beat Switzerland in overtime at the World Hockey Championships today. When can we start putting Switzerland up there as a hockey power with Sweden, Finland and other European countries.
--Names you can just pencil in for Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics. Jordan Eberle, Jeff Skinner, Alex Pietrangelo, John Tavares and Carey Price.
--The NHL wants to crack down on the green guys (I think one of them is really Canucks fan Jamie Nye) in Vancouver. The NHL has already said it doesn't want the octopus on the ice in Detroit. Why is the NHL concentrating on these things while sticking its head in the sand on the headshots issue?
--TSN interviewed Dan Shulman this morning on being a voice that told America on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball that Bin Laden was dead. The WWE showed a clip of John Cena announcing Bin Laden's death after Sunday's PPV. That's an honour you'll always remember.
--We will likely never know who fired the fatal shot that killed Bin Laden(and that is a probably a good thing for all involved) so I will just go with Jack Bauer. Agree?
--The Sports Emmys were handed out last night. Pete Paczko and his Access 7 Locker Talk were once again unjustly denied. Thats probably because Pete needs a better co-host and yes, I'm talking about you Carlo Palazzo. Who else would I be talking about? Oh wait!
--One good thing about the NHL not being on ESPN. If it was, we would likely lose James Duthie. In my mind, he has passed Ron McLean as Canada's best sports guy. Because I have never ever seen James up close and personal, I will still give classiest sports guy around to Ron McLean.
--Has anyone ever watched the UFL? Is Rams defensive lineman Akiem Hicks off to that league after being drafted last night. It might bode the young man well to stay right where he is.
--I will reserve judgment on the one day walkout by Saskatchewan teachers later this week, but I invite all blog readers to tell me what you think.
--MAXIM magazine has released its top 100 hotties of 2011. What ape had the distinction of picking names out of a hat. I thought SI swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker would win this thing going away. I was shocked to see Decker at 36. Others ahead of the lovely Ms. Decker include Avril Lavigne (AVRIL LAVIGNE????, Kate Middleton, Taylor Swift and a couple of ladies that I've never heard from (Cobie Smulders, Jennifer Lawrence). Jennifer Aniston didn't even make the list. PFFFFT!!! There are some in Regina that I would put on that list ahead of some that made it.
--I didn't know spicy Motts Clamato could lose its taste if it sits in the fridge too long. I think I swallowed a glass of vinegar this morning. YECCHHHH!!!
--When will the Playstation Network be up and running again?
--Do you ever wonder what the guy who invented milk was doing with that cow in the first place. Think about it!!
--Karma is a bitch isn't it Michael Ignatieff. You wanted an election so badly and how did Canada respond? We told you to get out of our lives and we gave the Conservatives a majority government. Nice move Mikey!!
--How much longer until Justin Trudeau is given the task of rebuilding the Liberals?
--For all the heat that the Conservative MP's from Saskatchewan took over the last year, I thought a message would be sent in one or two ridings. I guess not.
--I thought Brent Williamson's team at Global did an outstanding job in bringing us election results last night. CTV did a great job as well. I was watching Amanda Ferguson do a report from the Conservative headquarters when I saw a Scruffy look-alike over her shoulder sitting at a table. Moments later, a friend of mine texted me to say he saw me shoving something down my face at the Conservative headquarters. It was not me. Who was it? Is there a Scruffy look-alike running around town. Poor bastard!
--My youngest daughter's first ball game (if you want to call it that) went last night and as a young child will do, she wanted ice cream when it was over. We headed over to Coldstone/Tim Horton's to get something. Its the first time I've been there. It might be the last for a while. When it takes you over a half hour just to get to the till, there's something wrong--especially when the line wasn't that big to start. It doesn't take that long at the Milky Way when the lines are longer and frankly, I like what they give me just a little bit more.
--Canada beat Switzerland in overtime at the World Hockey Championships today. When can we start putting Switzerland up there as a hockey power with Sweden, Finland and other European countries.
--Names you can just pencil in for Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics. Jordan Eberle, Jeff Skinner, Alex Pietrangelo, John Tavares and Carey Price.
--The NHL wants to crack down on the green guys (I think one of them is really Canucks fan Jamie Nye) in Vancouver. The NHL has already said it doesn't want the octopus on the ice in Detroit. Why is the NHL concentrating on these things while sticking its head in the sand on the headshots issue?
--TSN interviewed Dan Shulman this morning on being a voice that told America on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball that Bin Laden was dead. The WWE showed a clip of John Cena announcing Bin Laden's death after Sunday's PPV. That's an honour you'll always remember.
--We will likely never know who fired the fatal shot that killed Bin Laden(and that is a probably a good thing for all involved) so I will just go with Jack Bauer. Agree?
--The Sports Emmys were handed out last night. Pete Paczko and his Access 7 Locker Talk were once again unjustly denied. Thats probably because Pete needs a better co-host and yes, I'm talking about you Carlo Palazzo. Who else would I be talking about? Oh wait!
--One good thing about the NHL not being on ESPN. If it was, we would likely lose James Duthie. In my mind, he has passed Ron McLean as Canada's best sports guy. Because I have never ever seen James up close and personal, I will still give classiest sports guy around to Ron McLean.
--Has anyone ever watched the UFL? Is Rams defensive lineman Akiem Hicks off to that league after being drafted last night. It might bode the young man well to stay right where he is.
--I will reserve judgment on the one day walkout by Saskatchewan teachers later this week, but I invite all blog readers to tell me what you think.
--MAXIM magazine has released its top 100 hotties of 2011. What ape had the distinction of picking names out of a hat. I thought SI swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker would win this thing going away. I was shocked to see Decker at 36. Others ahead of the lovely Ms. Decker include Avril Lavigne (AVRIL LAVIGNE????, Kate Middleton, Taylor Swift and a couple of ladies that I've never heard from (Cobie Smulders, Jennifer Lawrence). Jennifer Aniston didn't even make the list. PFFFFT!!! There are some in Regina that I would put on that list ahead of some that made it.
--I didn't know spicy Motts Clamato could lose its taste if it sits in the fridge too long. I think I swallowed a glass of vinegar this morning. YECCHHHH!!!
--When will the Playstation Network be up and running again?
--Do you ever wonder what the guy who invented milk was doing with that cow in the first place. Think about it!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
A Where Were You Night
The night started with me playing in the finals of an APBA fantasy football league that I've been involved with for several years and ends with one of those nights where you will never forget where you were when you heard the news.
One minute I'm playing my game and stopping to look at the TV to see the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrating their overtime victory over the Washington Capitals, and the next minute I'm looking and seeing word that Osama Bin Laden has been killed. I gotta be honest with you, I wasn't that disappointed to hear that he was dead. When I think of what he orchestrated and how he changed the world on September 11, 2001, I cringe. I never ever hope to see the carnage and the sights that I saw from that terrible Tuesday and the days that followed.
A decade later, I can only imagine what friends and family of those who were on those planes were feeling as they heard the news. Americans from coast to coast came out and celebrated----and you know what, who can blame them. I can't.
American pride is riding into the red today and it will for quite a while. One can only think of how emotional it will be in Philadelphia tonight when the Bruins and Flyers meet before Game 2 and God Bless America gets pumped through the rink.
You have to wonder what Caps coach Bruce Boudreau is thinking. His team is down 2-0 to Tampa, but he was supposed to be one of those planes that crashed. I don't think he cares that his team is down 2-0 as much as some others do.
What had to be going through the minds of both President Obama and Prime Minister Harper when word filtered down to them. Imagine the pressure on their speechwriters to come up with something so historical so quickly. There's a lot of people that I think about on a night like tonight. The question now is "Has the War on Terrorism come to an end". Sadly, it hasn't as there are other lunatics out there, but on this night, the world can celebrate.
-----
From my good buddy Tom Pura in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Hitler's death was confirmed on May 1, 1945 and Bin Laden's is confirmed on May 1, 2011. Coincidence??
----
This will be all the talk as Canadians head to the ballot box today. Did the opposition parties get what they wanted in dissolving Parliament. I guess we'll find out tonight when the votes are counted, but I have to think at the end of the night we will be right where we were 45 days ago and that the Conservatives will have a minority government. The only difference will be the Liberals and Bloc will be asking what happened and Jack Layton will be grinning from ear-to-ear. No matter what your political affiliation, I do urge you to get out and vote. You have the ability to do so and in some places, you don't get this chance so make the most of it----especially after what has happened.
------
The Lightning and Sharks are up 2-0. I still think Detroit can beat San Jose, but I don't know if Washington can come back to oust Tampa.
------
With all apologies to Sidney Crosby, the Penguins aren't playing anymore so you have become sort of irrevelant. Saying you have experienced a setback really means nothing when your team is no longer playing. Get yourself to 100 percent this summer and be ready for camp. If camp comes along and you're not ready, then that will be news. Until then, MEHHHH....
------
You gotta feel for Pats GM Chad Lang. He had to go through the pain and suffering of the Garrett Robinson accident in Moose Jaw when he was there and now he has another situation on his hands where a player of his is seriously injured. There's a lot of difference between what Lang went through and what he will go through now, but he handled himself tremendously with Garrett and he will here as well.
------
Its been 20 years since the Flames and Oilers met in the playoffs. Sadly, I don't think that drought is going to end anytime soon.
-----
OMG, John Cena is the new heavyweight champ. How shocking! And it happens the night before the WWE will celebrate "The Rock's" birthday in Miami. Surprise, surprise!
----
The WMBL season is less than a month away. I can't wait to spend some nights at Currie Field watching the Regina Red Sox play. Its the best baseball in the city and it is a great way to spend an evening. A lot of Reginans started to find that out at the end of last year. I hope those people come back.
------
I've said it once, I'll say it a million times. There is nothing like the afternoon nap!!
-----
Have a good one!
One minute I'm playing my game and stopping to look at the TV to see the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrating their overtime victory over the Washington Capitals, and the next minute I'm looking and seeing word that Osama Bin Laden has been killed. I gotta be honest with you, I wasn't that disappointed to hear that he was dead. When I think of what he orchestrated and how he changed the world on September 11, 2001, I cringe. I never ever hope to see the carnage and the sights that I saw from that terrible Tuesday and the days that followed.
A decade later, I can only imagine what friends and family of those who were on those planes were feeling as they heard the news. Americans from coast to coast came out and celebrated----and you know what, who can blame them. I can't.
American pride is riding into the red today and it will for quite a while. One can only think of how emotional it will be in Philadelphia tonight when the Bruins and Flyers meet before Game 2 and God Bless America gets pumped through the rink.
You have to wonder what Caps coach Bruce Boudreau is thinking. His team is down 2-0 to Tampa, but he was supposed to be one of those planes that crashed. I don't think he cares that his team is down 2-0 as much as some others do.
What had to be going through the minds of both President Obama and Prime Minister Harper when word filtered down to them. Imagine the pressure on their speechwriters to come up with something so historical so quickly. There's a lot of people that I think about on a night like tonight. The question now is "Has the War on Terrorism come to an end". Sadly, it hasn't as there are other lunatics out there, but on this night, the world can celebrate.
-----
From my good buddy Tom Pura in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Hitler's death was confirmed on May 1, 1945 and Bin Laden's is confirmed on May 1, 2011. Coincidence??
----
This will be all the talk as Canadians head to the ballot box today. Did the opposition parties get what they wanted in dissolving Parliament. I guess we'll find out tonight when the votes are counted, but I have to think at the end of the night we will be right where we were 45 days ago and that the Conservatives will have a minority government. The only difference will be the Liberals and Bloc will be asking what happened and Jack Layton will be grinning from ear-to-ear. No matter what your political affiliation, I do urge you to get out and vote. You have the ability to do so and in some places, you don't get this chance so make the most of it----especially after what has happened.
------
The Lightning and Sharks are up 2-0. I still think Detroit can beat San Jose, but I don't know if Washington can come back to oust Tampa.
------
With all apologies to Sidney Crosby, the Penguins aren't playing anymore so you have become sort of irrevelant. Saying you have experienced a setback really means nothing when your team is no longer playing. Get yourself to 100 percent this summer and be ready for camp. If camp comes along and you're not ready, then that will be news. Until then, MEHHHH....
------
You gotta feel for Pats GM Chad Lang. He had to go through the pain and suffering of the Garrett Robinson accident in Moose Jaw when he was there and now he has another situation on his hands where a player of his is seriously injured. There's a lot of difference between what Lang went through and what he will go through now, but he handled himself tremendously with Garrett and he will here as well.
------
Its been 20 years since the Flames and Oilers met in the playoffs. Sadly, I don't think that drought is going to end anytime soon.
-----
OMG, John Cena is the new heavyweight champ. How shocking! And it happens the night before the WWE will celebrate "The Rock's" birthday in Miami. Surprise, surprise!
----
The WMBL season is less than a month away. I can't wait to spend some nights at Currie Field watching the Regina Red Sox play. Its the best baseball in the city and it is a great way to spend an evening. A lot of Reginans started to find that out at the end of last year. I hope those people come back.
------
I've said it once, I'll say it a million times. There is nothing like the afternoon nap!!
-----
Have a good one!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Do You Have One?
I do, but I don't think I'd get this much for it.
Wayne Gretzky may be long retired from the NHL, but the Great One is still managing to set records.
Gretzky's NHL rookie card fetched US$94,163 at an online sports memorabilia auction Sunday. According to a release sent by the auction organizers, SCP Auctions, that's the highest price ever paid for a hockey card.
While Gretzky's rookie card is easy enough to find on eBay or other popular auction websites, it is rare to find one free of small flaws or imperfections. The card sold Sunday was graded 10, or mint condition, by Professional Sports Authenticator.
The most ever paid for a trading card from any sport was $2.8 million for a rare card of Pittsburgh Pirates star Honus Wagner made in 1909.
Gretzky along with former Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall once owned that card, paying $451,000 for it in 1991.
You Just Can't Beat GSP
Georges St. Pierre is seemingly invincible. You can bloody the man, you can partially blind the man, but you can't beat the man. The Canadian mixed martial artist sent the majority of the 55-thousand that packed Rogers Centre, for the first of what I'm sure will be many UFC cards in Toronto, home happy as he beat challenger Jake Shields in an unanimous decision---one that left the Montrealer a little choked with his own performance. GSP just methodically did his thing and kept Shields at bay not allowing him to generate any offence while generating enough of his own to take the bout.
The guy that most probably left Rogers Centre talking about though was not St. Pierre. but fellow Canadian Mark Hominick. Check this guys head....
That's a face only Mom could love. As the good old fashioned bunch of neanderthals that I gather with monthly to watch UFC's screamed at the TV, cut that thing. I can only imagine what would have happened had Jose Aldo popped that. There would have been people at ringside looking for an umbrella as it would have been raining blood. That's just plain ugly. Hominick probably would have won the fight too if he had another couple of minutes as Aldo was gassed and just barely hung on.
Hall of Famer Randy Couture saw his UFC career come to an end at the hands ( or should I say foot) of Lyoto Machida.
That kick (which may have been the best one in Rogers Centre since the last play of the 89 Grey Cup) left Couture without a tooth and left him knocked out as the Brazilian (who drinks his own urine by the way--EWWWWWW!!!) had his hand raised in victory.
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The weather was brutal yesterday albeit it wasn't as bad here as it was in places like Yorkton and Estevan. However, the wind here yesterday showed that there is a lot of garbage on our streets. Garbage that shouldn't be there. Its just people being lazy throwing things out their car window. I think many of us are guilty of doing that, but big items like drink cups from fast food places and other things should be thrown out when visiting the nearest gas station or getting home.
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When an NHL game is on CBC or NBC, who do you watch. I'll be honest with you, I'll watch NBC. Mike Emrick is right up there when it comes to p x p guys for me. Emrick and Ed Olczyk beat Bob Cole and Glenn Healy as far as I'm concerned. I'd watch HNIC if it was Hughson and Simpson doing the game, but that's about it.
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When will the Flyers find a goalie? Would they like Khabibulin? I wonder if Calgary would ever consider packing up Kiprusoff in a trade? Would the Islanders trade Nabokov there? Who was the last good goalie the Flyers had anyhoo? It had to be someone before Pelle Lindbergh.
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How long after Monday's electon will it take for the Liberals to dump Michael Ignatieff. You know this guy is doing a bad job when he has made Jack Layton relevant on the Canadian political scene---especially in Quebec!
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The first month of the Jays season ends with the team at 13-14. I'll take that. I'll also take the Cubs with a 12-14 record.
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Remember Daru Dhillon that used to work for Sportsnet. The network got tired of her ditzy shtick after a few months and she disappeared. She works for Cineplex as she was talking about upcoming movies before a show I went to this week.
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Do you think the guys that are cameramen for Girls Gone Wild get paid well. Do you think they care? Then again, they probably have their health insurance paid up because I'm guessing there are some (boyfriends, brothers, fathers) that would like to take a piece or two out of them. I bet those guys have some stories to tell.
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The guy that most probably left Rogers Centre talking about though was not St. Pierre. but fellow Canadian Mark Hominick. Check this guys head....
That's a face only Mom could love. As the good old fashioned bunch of neanderthals that I gather with monthly to watch UFC's screamed at the TV, cut that thing. I can only imagine what would have happened had Jose Aldo popped that. There would have been people at ringside looking for an umbrella as it would have been raining blood. That's just plain ugly. Hominick probably would have won the fight too if he had another couple of minutes as Aldo was gassed and just barely hung on.
Hall of Famer Randy Couture saw his UFC career come to an end at the hands ( or should I say foot) of Lyoto Machida.
That kick (which may have been the best one in Rogers Centre since the last play of the 89 Grey Cup) left Couture without a tooth and left him knocked out as the Brazilian (who drinks his own urine by the way--EWWWWWW!!!) had his hand raised in victory.
-----
The weather was brutal yesterday albeit it wasn't as bad here as it was in places like Yorkton and Estevan. However, the wind here yesterday showed that there is a lot of garbage on our streets. Garbage that shouldn't be there. Its just people being lazy throwing things out their car window. I think many of us are guilty of doing that, but big items like drink cups from fast food places and other things should be thrown out when visiting the nearest gas station or getting home.
-------
When an NHL game is on CBC or NBC, who do you watch. I'll be honest with you, I'll watch NBC. Mike Emrick is right up there when it comes to p x p guys for me. Emrick and Ed Olczyk beat Bob Cole and Glenn Healy as far as I'm concerned. I'd watch HNIC if it was Hughson and Simpson doing the game, but that's about it.
------
When will the Flyers find a goalie? Would they like Khabibulin? I wonder if Calgary would ever consider packing up Kiprusoff in a trade? Would the Islanders trade Nabokov there? Who was the last good goalie the Flyers had anyhoo? It had to be someone before Pelle Lindbergh.
------
How long after Monday's electon will it take for the Liberals to dump Michael Ignatieff. You know this guy is doing a bad job when he has made Jack Layton relevant on the Canadian political scene---especially in Quebec!
-------
The first month of the Jays season ends with the team at 13-14. I'll take that. I'll also take the Cubs with a 12-14 record.
----
Remember Daru Dhillon that used to work for Sportsnet. The network got tired of her ditzy shtick after a few months and she disappeared. She works for Cineplex as she was talking about upcoming movies before a show I went to this week.
------
Do you think the guys that are cameramen for Girls Gone Wild get paid well. Do you think they care? Then again, they probably have their health insurance paid up because I'm guessing there are some (boyfriends, brothers, fathers) that would like to take a piece or two out of them. I bet those guys have some stories to tell.
------
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