Cornish Wins The Lou Marsh Award

Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish has capped a stellar season by winning the 2013 Lou Marsh award.
Cornish became just the third Canadian to win the CFL's outstanding player award after rushing for a league-high 1,813 yards, breaking his own record for the most in a season by a Canadian.
The 29-year-old native of New Westminster, B.C., also led the league with 2,157 yards from scrimmage and 14 TDs en route to being named the CFL's top Canadian for a second straight season.
He's the first Canadian to win the CFL's top player award since Ottawa Rough Riders tight end Tony Gabriel in 1978 and the first CFL player to claim the Lou Marsh award since legendary Ottawa quarterback Russ Jackson in 1969.
Cornish narrowly defeated Milos Raonic, the first Canadian men's singles tennis player to achieve a top-10 world ranking, and Kaillie Humphries, who dominated the women's bobsled circuit this season.
Damian Warner, figure skater Patrick Chan and Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews were the other award finalists.
Cornish was a finalist for last year's award, won by women's soccer star Christine Sinclair.
The trophy is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete as selected by representatives of Canada's leading news organizations. It's named after a former Toronto Star sports editor.

NHL Three Stars Of Week

 Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner, Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the period ending Dec. 8.

FIRST STAR -- JEFF SKINNER, CAROLINA HURRICANES

    Skinner tallied six points last week, including a League-leading five goals, as the Hurricanes (13-12-5) recorded three victories and climbed to third place in the Metropolitan Division. Skinner recorded two goals, including the game-winner, and one assist in a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Dec. 3 and notched his first career NHL hat trick in a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators Dec. 5. The 21-year old Markham, Ontario native is in his fourth NHL season, all with Carolina. He has recorded 17 points (9-8--17) in 19 games this season.

SECOND STAR -- TAYLOR HALL, EDMONTON OILERS

    Hall notched six points (4-2--6) in three games as the Oilers (10-18-3) earned three of a possible six points. Hall recorded one assist in a 6-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes Dec. 3 before tallying his fourth career hat trick plus an assist in an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Dec. 5. Hall closed the week by scoring the game-tying goal with 10.1 seconds remaining in regulation time in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames Dec. 7. The first overall selection in the 2010 NHL Draft has recorded 25 points (11-14--25) in 24 games this season.

THIRD STAR -- ROBERTO LUONGO, VANCOUVER CANUCKS

    Luongo posted a 3-0-0 record, 1.30 goals-against average and .960 save percentage to help the Canucks (17-10-5) move into fourth place in the Pacific Division. Luongo made 30 stops in a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators Dec. 3, posted 37 saves in a 3-2 overtime win over the Phoenix Coyotes Dec. 6 and concluded the week with 28 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Dec. 8. The 34-year-old Montreal native improved to 14-8-5 on the season with a 2.28 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. He holds the Canucks' franchise record for career wins (247) and ranks 16th on the NHL's all-time list (362).

Halladay Retires As A Jay

TORONTO -- Roy Halladay has decided to officially step away from the game, but not before he signed one final contract with the Blue Jays.
Toronto's former ace is set to announce his retirement at 12:30 p.m. ET Monday afternoon, according to a report from CBSSportline. Prior to the news conference, Halladay signed a one-day contract to ensure he would finish his career with Toronto.
Halladay spent the past four years with the Phillies, but at least for those who live north of the border, he will always be remembered as a Blue Jay. The ceremonial signing is a feel-good story for a pitcher who is generally regarded as one of the best in club history.
The 36-year-old Halladay ranks second all-time in Blue Jays history with 148 victories and 1,495 strikeouts. He's also third with 2,246 2/3 innings, a 3.43 ERA and 287 starts. For a stretch of eight years in Toronto, Halladay was easily regarded as one of the most dominant and consistent pitchers in the game, and it's only a matter of time before he gets added to the club's Level of Excellence.
Halladay's body of work also serves as inspiration for players who might have lost their way in search of the Major League dream. The right-hander was selected by Toronto in the first round of the 1995 First-Year Player Draft, and he debuted just three years later, but it wasn't too long after that his career hit rock bottom.
The Colorado native couldn't seem to get anyone out in the spring of 2001, and he was optioned all the way down to Class A Dunedin in order to revamp his mechanics. It was a drastic move that seemed to be a last-ditch effort to salvage Halladay's career, and in the end, it paid off more than anyone could have imagined.
Halladay made it back to the big leagues by the middle of that 2001 season and won 19 games the following year. His best season in the American League arguably came in 2003, when he won the AL Cy Young Award with a 22-7 record, a 3.25 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 266 innings.
The Blue Jays were able to keep Halladay in the fold for an additional six seasons, but they were never able to make a serious run at the postseason. Halladay signed below-market contract extensions on two occasions, but in the winter of 2009, it was finally time for the two sides to part ways.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos was about to embark on an ambitious rebuilding program, and Halladay was one year away from free agency and had a strong desire to play for a contending team. The two sides amicably parted ways in an offseason trade, as Halladay went to the Phillies for a series of prospects.
Halladay went on to win a National League Cy Young Award during his first year in Philadelphia and proceeded to throw a no-hitter in his postseason debut. The second season with the Phillies was equally as successful, but by 2012, Halladay's body finally began to break down following such a lengthy period of success.
A series of shoulder injuries caused issues, with the final blow being surgery to repair a partial tear in his rotator cuff. Halladay did make it back for six starts near the end of the 2013 season, but he looked like a shadow of his former self and had difficulty throwing above low-80s velocity.
There was talk that Halladay would attempt to return for at least one more season, but he instead has decided to step away from the game. The fact that he has chosen to do so in a Toronto uniform will only further cement his place in a city where he has always been embraced with nothing but open arms.

(MLB)

Something To "Mitch" About

If ever there was a weekend to curl up and watch football this was it. Its too cold to go out and do anything else----although a trip to Edmonton to watch the Oilers could be in the offing.

The early games in the NFL were great to watch. The last five minutes of the Vikings-Ravens game was unbelievable, the Patriots were given a gift by the refs to beat Cleveland and the Steelers were within a toe of having one of the all time great plays. Add that to the snowy conditions in the US northeast that made for less than ideal conditions and it was must-watch TV. I wonder if NFL fans in the US Northeast have asked NFL commish Roger Goodell to move the season up a couple of weeks so they aren't prone to the weather they are getting. Of course they aren't. They are bundling up and doing what they have to to stay warm in the stadium of choice.

The Seahawks were beaten in San Francisco. Good for you San Fran. Can Jim Harbaugh bitch and whine anymore than he does? It seemingly goes on and on and it seems to happen on every play. Give it a rest! The Seahawks are still in firm control of the NFC and with Carolina showing they aren't ready for prime time on Sunday night, Seattle is still the best option out of the NFC to play in the Super Bowl. Its beginning to look more and more like they will take on Denver. Who said Peyton Manning can't play in cold weather? He just put up 51 while throwing for 400 yards to shut those people up for a while.

88 touchdowns were scored in the NFL yesterday. That's the most on any Sunday in the league's history. Who says the NFL is boring?

In the college ranks, its getting down to Bowl season. Florida State will take on Auburn for all the marbles January 6. Why must we wait almost a month for that game to be played. Its ridiculous. You play every week from September on and then you get a month off to wait for the biggest bowl game of the year. Dumb!

Auburn won a highly entertaining SEC championship game beating Missouri 58-42. I thought the SEC was all about defense!

Michigan State ended the national championship hopes of Ohio State. Being a "Mitchigan" fan, seeing those two teams in the conference title game was like a bad dream, but you had to take the lesser of two evils so I went with the Spartans.

I'm hearing rumblings of what Rider players may be left unprotected by the football team for the December 16 dispersal draft. It truly is all speculation at this point, and if a solid veteran goes, he could be brought back via trade. The couple of names I've heard do surprise me to a point until you remember how many players can be protected and then it doesn't. December 16 will be an interesting day around the league.

I am surprised Paul LaPolice is not the head coach of the REDBLACKS and that he is being wooed as an offensive co-ordinator by the Lions, Lapo needs another chance as the head man, not a co-ordinator. If he isn't the HC somewhere, my suggestion is to stay at TSN until the right offer comes along. Hell, Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher have been doing that for years.

Mike O'Shea in Winnipeg will be interesting. Not many Canadian head coaches have succeeded in the CFL, but he will try to. The work he will have to put in just to make the team respectable will be long enough.

The Leader-Post's Greg Harder had a very good column on something I've harped on for the past couple of winters. That is why do we need the SUBWAY Super Series. Does anyone even watch this on TV anymore? I'm not. The series between the Russians and all-stars of the three Canadian junior leagues are said to be a tryout for the Canadian junior team. How bout just inviting the best 30 Canadian juniors and forget about this series that has lost all of its lustre.

There was golf on TV this weekend. I couldn't watch it knowing what it was like outside.

There is a story going around that Canada's new polymer bills snap in extreme cold. Is this true? Has someone tried it? How embarrassing would that be if they do!

Congrats to the dimestore cowboy Rex Roberts for winning the gold at High Impact Wrestling Friday night. The card was one of the best I have seen for quite a while. All the performers brought their "A" game and the place was packed. No one would give Lady Luck a jacket to wear on such a cold night though. I'm guessing that was OK as far as some of the male clientele went.

The Raptors make a big trade and no one is talking about it. If the Leafs did something similar, (or any NHL team for that matter) the deal would be dissected for days. That's just the way it is.

So much for Brad Jacobs being just a one year wonder. Congrats to both him and Jennifer Jones for repping Canada in curling at Sochi. I don't think either wins gold, but both will medal.

Don't be surprised to see Jones and her very successful foursome call it a career after the Olympics. What more needs to be accomplished---especially if the Manitoba girls win gold.

Shawn Thornton and James Neal both deserve a double digit suspension. The actions of both are something hockey simply can't tolerate.

Canada's male athlete of the year comes out today and I see no reason why it shouldn't be Graham DeLaet. However, I am guessing it will go to Jon Cornish and like him or not Rider fans, that is a good choice.


How busy are "The Rider Store" outlets right now.

Canada  has no idea who its starter in Sochi will be and the Finns have to decide between Antti Niemi, Tuukka Rask and Kari Lehtonen with the injured Pekka Rinne in the sightlines as well. SIGHHHHH!!!

One last thing. A friend of mine e-mailed me a website of a local photographer who took some fantastic shots of Mosaic Stadium on Grey Cup Sunday. If you are looking for a Christmas gift or want a memento for yourself of what will be a Sunday you never forget, check out these photos.

http://buyphotos.andyhamilton.ca/Events/Grey-Cup-101-Aerial-Shots/i-HGfdv7N

The forecast is calling for near zero temperatures next weekend. Is that something to look forward to or will it be a cruel hoax. We'll find out I guess. Have a great week!

Get Your PVR's Ready

Week 14 NFL Capsules

The Jags started Week 14 of the NFL season off with a win over Houston. Here's the complete Week 14 sked with the info you need to know. Click here

This And That

I came back from Seattle for this??!!! Winter has definitely arrived my friends and the Old Man is rather bitter if you know what I mean. Its cold enough at minus 26. Sadly, we know at some point it will be colder for a daytime high. As is always said at this time of year though----at least there are no mosquitoes.

I can't believe the pettiness of some downtown Regina businesses. They don't like the fact people are waiting inside for buses when its this cold out and they are complaining. How Scrooge-like! I really don't think its hurting business as they claim. Perhaps their whining will cost them some business though cuz I know I wouldn't walk into these places when its nice out knowing that is the attitude they have. Yes, the city should maybe have some heated shelters but its not happening so suck it up for a couple of weeks. Its not like this is a 365 day thing.

Resign yourself to the fact the Saskatchewan Roughriders are going to lose a couple of good football players to the Ottawa REDBLACKS. I would not like to be in GM Brendan Taman's shoes right now as he decides who to protect and who to leave available for Ottawa in the expansion draft that goes December 16.  From what I have seen and many have asked, here is the way this whole thing will go.

The Expansion Draft is divided into two main categories from which players may be selected, Non-Imports and Imports (quarterbacks, kickers, and punters are eligible for selection within the applicable Non-Import or Import category).

Ottawa will have the ability to select not more than two quarterbacks and not more than one kicker or punter (for clarity, Ottawa may not select a kicker and a punter). A Member Club cannot have both a quarterback and a kicker or punter selected from its roster. A Member Club cannot have more than one quarterback selected from its roster.


ROUND ONE:  IMPORT DRAFT

Member Clubs may protect one quarterback, and ten additional Import players.

Ottawa will select one Import player from each Member Club.

Import quarterbacks, kickers, and punters are eligible for selection (and protection), provided that:

– Each Member Club may protect a maximum of one quarterback in the Import Draft.

– All other quarterbacks on a Member Club’s roster at the time of the draft are eligible for selection in this section.

– Ottawa will only be able to select two quarterbacks in the Expansion Draft.

– If a quarterback is selected from a Member Club in the Import Draft, such Member Club will be able to protect the names of an additional two Non-Import players in the first round of the Non-Import Draft.

– If a kicker or punter is selected from a Member Club in the Import Draft, such Member Club will be able to protect one additional Non-Import player in the first round of the Non-Import Draft.


ROUND TWO: NON-IMPORT DRAFT

Each Member Club will protect six Non-Import players.

Non-Import quarterbacks, kickers, and punters are eligible for selection (and protection), provided that:

– If a Member Club had a quarterback selected from its roster in the Import draft, it will be permitted to protect eight Non-Import players in the first round of the Non-Import Draft (instead of six); and

– Ottawa will be prevented from also selecting a kicker or punter from that Member Club.

- If a Member Club had a kicker or punter selected from its roster in the Import Draft:

– That Member Club will be permitted to protect seven Non-Import players in the Non-Import Draft (instead of six); and

– Ottawa will be prevented from also selecting a quarterback from that Member Club.

Any kicker or punter selected in the Non-Import Draft must be selected in the first round. If a Member Club had a kicker or punter selected from its roster in the Non-Import Draft, such Member Club would be eligible to protect eight Non-Import players in the second round of the Non-Import Draft, instead of six.

Ottawa will then select one non-import player from each Member Club.


ROUND THREE: NON-IMPORT DRAFT

Member Clubs will then submit a second list of an additional six Non-Import players for protection

If a Member Club lost a Non-Import kicker or punter in the first round of the Non-Import Draft, such Member Club would submit two additional Non-Import player names for protection.

Ottawa will then select one non-import player from each Member Club.

The Commissioner will resolve any dispute related to player eligibility for the Expansion Draft process.

So basically, Taman can protect six Canadians and 11 Americans including a quarterback. Who do you protect and who do you leave out there? Lets just look at the Canadians on the roster right now. You have Bagg. McHenry, Milo, Woldu, Butler, Stephenson, Hughes, Newman, McCullough, Black, Labatte, Huclack, Steinhauer, Best, Picard, Watman, Shologan, Clark, Getzlaf, Evans and Foley. Don't forget about Sam Hurl who ended the season on the injury list or receiver Alex Anthony that the team is high on. I know what six I would protect, but I'm leaving some talent out there that can be scooped up.

I'm sorry, but I think both Weston Dressler and Kory Sheets have what it takes to play in the NFL. Losing the two of them would be disastrous, but I truly believe if they are given the right opportunity, they can be playing Sundays. I'll be honest with you,, I'd love to see Dressler wearing Seahawk Blue. Don't be surprised to see Bears coach Marc Trestman give WD a call----he knows what he can do and he would give him every opportunity to make the team.

Sheets had a very interesting statement about his quarterback this week. When asked whether or not Darian Durant should have been the all-star quarterback, Sheets basically said there's something about Darian that people don't like. He doesn't get the calls and he doesn't seemingly get the respect, but he just goes out and wins game. What has Darian done to get people on his bad side? Am I missing something here? Darian has just gone out and done his job, but Sheets is right it would seem. What has he done?

I wonder what Tom Higgins will think of the CFL's stripes once he is getting a cheque from one of the teams. There is talk Higgins did not leave voluntarily, but simply his contract wasn't renewed. Is this a case of the CFL not being happy with the work of the officials. We all know the league can say what it wants, but the bottom line is CFL officiating was not great this year on many levels and needs improving. At least GC 101 was not impacted by a controversial call.

One of the weirdest sights I saw in Seattle was shortly after arriving. My friend and I left our room early Saturday morning to go wandering and get some shopping done for the women in our lives when we see a huge lineup at one street corner. As we neared the corner, it was a lineup to get a picture with Santa in a little store. That was fine if you don't mind the fact there were hardly any kids in the lineup. Why were all these people getting a pic with Santa if there's no kid. It certainly isn't a family pic. I can't see Mrs. Scruffy and I waiting in line for a half hour or more to get a picture with Santa. If the Scruffettes are with us OK, but this was another story. Weird!

Washington State and Washington both have souvenir stores in downtown Seattle. Would it hurt the University of Regina to have one somewhere downtown? Doesn't the U of S have a store in downtown Saskatoon? Perhaps the rent for a building is too much downtown, but I am guessing it would see some traffic---especially from tourists.

The athletic director at Auburn University says if his team beats Missouri in the SEC championship game this weekend and Ohio State beats Michigan State then his team should advance to the BCS championship even though they have one loss and Ohio State would be unbeaten. The AD says it would be un-American not to send Auburn to the title game. Really?? It would be un-American not to send Auburn to the title game. How self-pretentious can one get. If you have two unbeaten teams in Florida State and Ohio State then it is those two teams that should play for the title.

Nick Saban's decision to try a 57 yard field goal and avoid overtime in Alabama's loss to Auburn was just stupid. You don't blow a chance at another national title by taking a gamble like that, Go to overtime. I'm not a Saban fan so I think it looks good on him.

Week 14 NFL Lock of The Week ---Steelers over Dolphins
Week 14 NFL Upset of The Week -- Panthers over Saints

The Oilers scored eight goals against one of the top teams in the West? Can we start the season now?

What was the exact purpose of Ron Burgundy doing his thing at the "Roar of the Rings"? Did the sport need added exposure in Canada? What did the CCA think of it? From what I have heard, he didn't really mock the sport so that's OK, but I just didn't understand the whole schtick. I can't wait to see the movie though. What better pairing than Burgundy and the iconic Vic Rauter though!

My days with Blackberry can't end quick enough. Once August 1st hits, I will be getting an I-Phone or something else to replace what I have now.

Fast food workers in the U-S think the minimum wage should be 15 dollars an hour. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Keep dreaming!

If fast food workers in Canada got 15 dollars an hour, there would be a lot of radio people flipping burgers methinks!

I have no desire to go Christmas shopping much less do anything outside when its like this.

Will we as a society ever realize how much impact Nelson Mandela had on the world?  While on that topic, remember when we got WDIV Detroit on our cable package. Well, this can be classified as one major oops from their news last night.

 

Besides asking how long it will be before the graphics guy at WDIV gets the boot, the other question is how old is Carmen Harlan? She was on WDIV when Access started giving us that station in 1984 and she was no spring chicken then. 

Do you ever just wake up and go “nope” and roll over and go back to sleep?.