Football is maybe the most popular sport in North America.
Historically, Canadians receive their pigskin fix by way of the CFL. The CFL has been around since Keith Richards thought marijuana was a hard drug. It’s a league that has prospered in certain markets like Regina and Edmonton.
What astute southern Ontario businessmen should understand, if they haven’t already, is the CFL isn’t cutting it for southern Ontarians. Largely thanks to economics, the Golden Horseshoe has far more in common with New York and Michigan than other parts of Canada. The region is one of the more highly populated areas on the continent and we want the best football there is to offer.
Answer: move on up here, NFL.
It might not happen overnight, but eventually the NFL should move the Buffalo Bills franchise to Toronto. The Greater Toronto Area is very worthy of an NFL team.
Sure, it wouldn’t be a seamless transition. A new stadium would have to be built, I would suggest in Mississauga — a large suburb next to Toronto where there’s room to have a large stadium (indoor if necessary), ample parking for tailgating purposes and convenient highway access.
Don’t think Ontario football fans are worthy of the NFL? Consider this, sports fans: how many of your football-watching friends follow the NFL? How many of them (particularly those younger than 45) have a favourite team? Be it the Bills, Packers, Lions, Patriots or Cowboys, southern Ontario fans latch onto a team and watch fervently.
I don’t want to slight longtime New York or Niagara region Bills fans. They truly are passionate and considering the team is located in one of the poorer cities in America, Bills fans are committed troopers for braving the cold of Ralph Wilson Stadium.
But let’s be realistic for a second. Everything about Toronto screams big-market, big-ticket city. There are already three teams in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Bills draw from upstate New York, but Toronto (or Mississauga) is not a long commute for Americans living near the border.
Most importantly, the relocated NFL franchise opens itself to a more extensive audience. There are roughly five million in the GTA; including the Bills’ pre-existing fans from southeastern Ontario and upstate New York, the demand for tickets will skyrocket. The lucrative TV contract that would follow would also greatly boost the team’s revenue.
There is so much talk of Los Angeles getting an NFL franchise because of its massive population and the fat TV contract; it follows that the Toronto area would offer similar benefits to the relocated Bills.
Even for the players: are you going to tell me that living in downtown T.O. or Oakville’s lakefront is less appealing than fledgling, industrial Buffalo? I think not.
The bottom line is that southern Ontarians love the NFL. They would support a franchise and the team will increase its fan base to the point where it will be able to raise ticket prices from the modest Buffalo levels.
To me, it’s not a matter of “if” Toronto will get an NFL franchise — it’s “when.”
As seen in the Feb. 7 version of The (Western) Gazette
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
MLSE makes real Leafs fans suck the hind teat
I don’t mind if Detroit is referred to as Hockeytown, with the caveat that Toronto is recognized as the hockey capital of the world.
Sadly, it’s this insatiable hockey buzz in southern Ontario that ends up dealing Leafs fans the short end of the Easton.
I don’t like getting pushed around — I don’t think anyone enjoys it. It’s all the more frustrating when your favourite team is the one doing the bullying.
Scores of Canadians loving the Toronto Maple Leafs is a truism. It’s as certain as the sun rising every day. The team will sell tickets — the team will sell all their tickets — win or lose, rain or shine, sleet or snow. That’s how Toronto works.
Thanks to all the corporate reservations in the lower bowl of the Air Canada Centre, so many passionate Leafs fans are left out of the arena; either being priced out or purely a case of not enough supply and way too much demand.
But you know what? That’s business, I can live with that. I actually take pride in the fact the Leafs have such a die-hard fan base that the house is always packed. If you don’t have corporate connections or season tickets, it’s much more of a treat when you can wrangle a pair of seats.
The discussion gets especially frustrating for me when we talk about TV broadcasts. As so many fans can’t make it to the games, the need to catch the Buds on TV is crucial. Yet more and more, the team is phasing its games over to Leafs TV, a separate cable network you have to shell out extra for.
A lot of the craziest fans I know are either students or just entering the job market, and they might not be able to afford the extra costs. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) knows it can chisel us at every juncture, but why does it have to? Is there no decency left in the world?
MLSE has turned over 27 games exclusively to Leafs TV this season. It’s gone up steadily over the past couple of seasons, and all signs are pointing to Leafs TV becoming akin to the New York Yankees’ YES Network, which exclusively broadcasts all Yankees games to their fans.
Let’s wrap our minds around this: it’s not enough the Toronto faithful can’t get tickets for love nor money; it’s not enough we suffer the ups and downs with a fringe playoff team that features Nik Antropov on the top line; it’s not enough the arch-rival Senators have been handing us our asses as of late.
Now we have to pay if we want to ride this emotional rollercoaster for the entire season. Aren’t we lucky?
“Toronto wouldn’t be Toronto if they didn’t think the sky was falling.”
I think Leafs winger Darcy Tucker put it best when he was describing the paranoid, media-crazed Toronto fans. But I have a new perspective for Leafs brass:
Let us watch our team on regular network television, and we’ll be on cloud nine (as long as Ottawa doesn’t hammer us in the regular season).
As seen in the Oct. 4 edition of The (Western) Gazette
Sadly, it’s this insatiable hockey buzz in southern Ontario that ends up dealing Leafs fans the short end of the Easton.
I don’t like getting pushed around — I don’t think anyone enjoys it. It’s all the more frustrating when your favourite team is the one doing the bullying.
Scores of Canadians loving the Toronto Maple Leafs is a truism. It’s as certain as the sun rising every day. The team will sell tickets — the team will sell all their tickets — win or lose, rain or shine, sleet or snow. That’s how Toronto works.
Thanks to all the corporate reservations in the lower bowl of the Air Canada Centre, so many passionate Leafs fans are left out of the arena; either being priced out or purely a case of not enough supply and way too much demand.
But you know what? That’s business, I can live with that. I actually take pride in the fact the Leafs have such a die-hard fan base that the house is always packed. If you don’t have corporate connections or season tickets, it’s much more of a treat when you can wrangle a pair of seats.
The discussion gets especially frustrating for me when we talk about TV broadcasts. As so many fans can’t make it to the games, the need to catch the Buds on TV is crucial. Yet more and more, the team is phasing its games over to Leafs TV, a separate cable network you have to shell out extra for.
A lot of the craziest fans I know are either students or just entering the job market, and they might not be able to afford the extra costs. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) knows it can chisel us at every juncture, but why does it have to? Is there no decency left in the world?
MLSE has turned over 27 games exclusively to Leafs TV this season. It’s gone up steadily over the past couple of seasons, and all signs are pointing to Leafs TV becoming akin to the New York Yankees’ YES Network, which exclusively broadcasts all Yankees games to their fans.
Let’s wrap our minds around this: it’s not enough the Toronto faithful can’t get tickets for love nor money; it’s not enough we suffer the ups and downs with a fringe playoff team that features Nik Antropov on the top line; it’s not enough the arch-rival Senators have been handing us our asses as of late.
Now we have to pay if we want to ride this emotional rollercoaster for the entire season. Aren’t we lucky?
“Toronto wouldn’t be Toronto if they didn’t think the sky was falling.”
I think Leafs winger Darcy Tucker put it best when he was describing the paranoid, media-crazed Toronto fans. But I have a new perspective for Leafs brass:
Let us watch our team on regular network television, and we’ll be on cloud nine (as long as Ottawa doesn’t hammer us in the regular season).
As seen in the Oct. 4 edition of The (Western) Gazette
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Bane of the Bookies' Existence
Let me tell you something: I don’t know a whole lot.
I’m an expert of … not very much at all. Aside from expounding on the gridiron, an occasional Jeopardy category, a live Dave Matthews Band performance or atlas geography, I’ve learned to wisely zip my lid.
But if there’s one thing in the sports world I’ve observed that needs to be said, it’s the parity of early-season football.
It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the NFL or the NCAA (I won’t be discussing the CFL in this column; sorry, pained TiCats fans), football is more competitive than I can ever remember it being.
With the notable exception of the New England Patriots — the one NFL team looking like they could destroy humanity, let alone the league’s competition — it seems anybody could beat anybody this season.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is so old that life insurance salesmen everywhere are salivating, yet the grizzled vet has led the Pack to a 3-0 record. The Cleveland Browns — the Cleveland Browns — scored more than Dirk Diggler last week en route to a barn-burning win against the cross-state Bengals. The New Orleans Saints, who most experts perceived as an NFC powerhouse in the pre-season, are looking as inept as Miss Teen South Carolina. Peyton Manning and the Colts squeaked one out against the division-rival Tennessee Titans last week.
Moral of the story: what in the Sam hell is going on with the NFL’s supposed contenders?
It goes beyond the pros. College football has been littered with head-scratchers so far this season. Perennial powerhouses Michigan and Notre Dame stumbled out of the gate; the Pac-10 conference looks like Popeye while the mighty SEC looks like Pop Warner.
Many people find sports betting and offering “expert” analysis zesty enterprises, but the unpredictable football season thus far has made that quite difficult. For a more laissez-faire fan, football has been a dream so far; simply a case of kicking back and watching some wild match-ups. But there surely has to be a method to the madness, right?
In the NFL, it’s too early to be getting bent out of shape. A lot of crazy stuff can happen in a 17-week season, and with maybe a couple surprise teams, the world tends to right itself as the season progresses.
College ball shows some more intriguing trends. There is more parity in the level of starting talent around America than there’s ever been. Games that used to be cakewalks are now becoming last-second showstoppers.
Sure, the major BCS teams (USC, Texas, Ohio State, et al.) have superior depth, and likely always will, but smaller programs are “getting lucky” more and more often. Most programs have a quarterback, running back and/or receiver that can put points on the board, and from there anything can happen.
Teams who aren’t from major conferences are routinely in the discussion of “busting” the Bowl Championship Series, and it seems like the country’s elite cannot rest on their laurels, even for a single week. The days of USC beating Eastern Washington 70-3 aren’t extinct, but they are certainly an endangered species.
Essentially, in all high levels of competitive American pigskin, the playing field seems increasingly level. Bookies are gargling Draino, television broadcasters and journalists are looking like tools (me included, from time to time) and I am loving every minute of it.
Back to silence for me … wait, do I hear “Warehouse” in the next room?
As seen in Thurs., Sept. 27 edition of The (Western) Gazette.
I’m an expert of … not very much at all. Aside from expounding on the gridiron, an occasional Jeopardy category, a live Dave Matthews Band performance or atlas geography, I’ve learned to wisely zip my lid.
But if there’s one thing in the sports world I’ve observed that needs to be said, it’s the parity of early-season football.
It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the NFL or the NCAA (I won’t be discussing the CFL in this column; sorry, pained TiCats fans), football is more competitive than I can ever remember it being.
With the notable exception of the New England Patriots — the one NFL team looking like they could destroy humanity, let alone the league’s competition — it seems anybody could beat anybody this season.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is so old that life insurance salesmen everywhere are salivating, yet the grizzled vet has led the Pack to a 3-0 record. The Cleveland Browns — the Cleveland Browns — scored more than Dirk Diggler last week en route to a barn-burning win against the cross-state Bengals. The New Orleans Saints, who most experts perceived as an NFC powerhouse in the pre-season, are looking as inept as Miss Teen South Carolina. Peyton Manning and the Colts squeaked one out against the division-rival Tennessee Titans last week.
Moral of the story: what in the Sam hell is going on with the NFL’s supposed contenders?
It goes beyond the pros. College football has been littered with head-scratchers so far this season. Perennial powerhouses Michigan and Notre Dame stumbled out of the gate; the Pac-10 conference looks like Popeye while the mighty SEC looks like Pop Warner.
Many people find sports betting and offering “expert” analysis zesty enterprises, but the unpredictable football season thus far has made that quite difficult. For a more laissez-faire fan, football has been a dream so far; simply a case of kicking back and watching some wild match-ups. But there surely has to be a method to the madness, right?
In the NFL, it’s too early to be getting bent out of shape. A lot of crazy stuff can happen in a 17-week season, and with maybe a couple surprise teams, the world tends to right itself as the season progresses.
College ball shows some more intriguing trends. There is more parity in the level of starting talent around America than there’s ever been. Games that used to be cakewalks are now becoming last-second showstoppers.
Sure, the major BCS teams (USC, Texas, Ohio State, et al.) have superior depth, and likely always will, but smaller programs are “getting lucky” more and more often. Most programs have a quarterback, running back and/or receiver that can put points on the board, and from there anything can happen.
Teams who aren’t from major conferences are routinely in the discussion of “busting” the Bowl Championship Series, and it seems like the country’s elite cannot rest on their laurels, even for a single week. The days of USC beating Eastern Washington 70-3 aren’t extinct, but they are certainly an endangered species.
Essentially, in all high levels of competitive American pigskin, the playing field seems increasingly level. Bookies are gargling Draino, television broadcasters and journalists are looking like tools (me included, from time to time) and I am loving every minute of it.
Back to silence for me … wait, do I hear “Warehouse” in the next room?
As seen in Thurs., Sept. 27 edition of The (Western) Gazette.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The Who's Who in NCAA Football: 2007-08
September is fast approaching, which means Labour Day festivities, back to school, and for the small group of loyal Canadian fans out there, the start of a new NCAA football season. The NFL gets all the hype in Canada, but college football has a die-hard following in the U.S. for good reason - it's an excellent brand of competitive play.
So while us poor Canucks have to rely either on American cable/satellite or catching the occasional game through an American ABC or CBS-affiliate, I'm willing to sort out who the real contenders are this season. I'm also prepared to offer predictions without the annoying quips of Lee Corso or Kirk Herbstreit — Corso should have been euthanized decades ago. Without further ado, here's what to expect on the NCAA gridiron this season:The A-List
Southern Cal Trojans (Pac-10): In the past five seasons, head coach Pete Carroll has completely turned this program around, restoring them to the prominence they had in previous decades. Carroll couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag in the Meadowlands, but his style is more suited to mentoring California's talented youth.
KEY PLAYERS: QB John David Booty, OT Sam Baker, DE Lawrence Jackson, LB Brian Cushing
KEY GAME: Dec. 1 vs. UCLA. After a surprising loss to the Bruins last year, Carroll and Co. want to exact revenge like Brad Pitt's character in Snatch.
WHY THEY'LL COMPETE: Fifth-year pivot Booty is finally poised to take the reins at USC and lead them to the promised land; he's a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate. He shredded up a good Michigan defence in the Rose Bowl last season, and he'll have the support of a very stout o-line and linebacker corps. Keep an eye on WR Patrick Turner, a prospect who was hidden behind NFL draft picks Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith for too long. Simply, this team is fucking stacked.
BOTTOM LINE: USC has overwhelming depth on both sides of the ball, the best recruiting in the country and arguably the best NCAA coach at the helm. Anything short of a national title will be a disappointment for this talented, experienced squad.
KEY PLAYERS: QB Matt Flynn, WR Early Doucet, DT Glenn Dorsey, SS Craig Steltz
KEY GAME: Nov. 3 at Alabama — If Miles and Saban were in grade school, they'd be fighting behind the portables at lunch recess. No love lost here, folks.
WHY THEY'LL COMPETE: LSU might have the best defence in America. The Tigers have an incredibly deep d-line and what safety Steltz lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in leadership and clutch play. True, the Tigers lost amazing safety LaRon Landry to the NFL, but a very athletic defence should rally around vets like Dorsey and Steltz. Pivot Flynn has been ready to start for an elite program for at least two seasons now, and he'll be able to showcase his talent this year, even with a tough schedule in the toughest conference in college ball.
BOTTOM LINE: Any team playing in the SEC has a good chance of stumbling somewhere along the way; top-notch programs like LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and Georgia always tend to beat up on each other in conference play. However, Flynn, Doucet and a talented running back group provides enough fuel on offence to keep the stingy defence confident. Look for LSU to be playing later into January.
KEY PLAYERS: QB Henne, RB Hart, WR Mario Manningham, OT Long, P Zoltan Mesko
KEY GAME: Nov. 17 vs. Ohio State
WHY THEY'LL COMPETE: I predict Michigan will have the most explosive offence in college football. The Wolves definitely lost a ton on defence to last year's NFL Draft, but talents like ends Eugene Germany and Brandon Graham should be able to get to the quarterback. Local product Long is one of the best players in the NCAA and, barring injury, will be a top-ten NFL draft pick. He's just as good as former Wisconsin road-grader Joe Thomas. Some might find Mesko an odd choice as a "key player", but he has a big leg, and will have to improve his directional punting because this defence cannot afford to defend short fields all season. Michigan will have to outscore opponents every week, but that offence is so good that I think only Penn State offers the Wolverines a bona fide challenge for the Big Ten hardware.
BOTTOM LINE: If these boys can finally break their oh-fer streak and beat the Buckeyes, they'll be going to an important BCS bowl game. If not, head coach Lloyd Carr's job could be in jeopardy.
The Big East Big Dogs (Louisville Cardinals, West Virginia Mountaineers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights): I lumped these teams together mainly because I wanted to comment on how impressed I've been with the Big East. Everybody thought they were going to be the retarded stepchild in the BCS, but these three squads in particular have stepped up huge. Consequently, all three teams are legit contenders for a BCS bowl, if not the National Championship. Louisville's pro-style offence, WVU's crazy athleticism and Rutgers' speedy defence makes them a nightmare for any competitor this season.
KEY PLAYERS: QB Brian Brohm (Louis.), LB Malik Jackson (Louis.), QB Pat White (WVU), RB Steve Slaton (WVU), RB Ray Rice (Rut.), WR Kenny Britt (Rut.), FB Owen Schmitt (WVU), DT George Foster (Rut.), LB Willie Williams (Louis.)
KEY GAME(S): Oct. 27, WVU at Rutgers; Nov. 8, Louisville at WVU; Nov. 29, Rutgers at Louisville
WHY THEY'LL COMPETE: Big East teams play a lighter schedule than some of the big boys in the SEC and Big Ten. Although the top-flight programs in the Big East are phenomenal, the depth in the conference isn't as imposing as the other major BCS playaz (I'm way too white and nerdy to ever use that reference again, I'm sorry). Brohm is the country's best pocket passer, White is the fastest pivot in the country, and long-suffering Rutgers is finally a believer under peppy head coach Greg Schiano. Pipeline recuiting, especially from Florida, is rapidly boosting the talent and speed of these programs.
BOTTOM LINE: These teams will undoubtedly beat up on each other, but any of the three could be playing meaningful ball in January, and you will hear Brohm and Slaton's name mentioned in the Heisman race. Hats (or, more appropriately, buckets) off to the Big East for being the little engine that could.The Big East Big Dogs (Louisville Cardinals, West Virginia Mountaineers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights): I lumped these teams together mainly because I wanted to comment on how impressed I've been with the Big East. Everybody thought they were going to be the retarded stepchild in the BCS, but these three squads in particular have stepped up huge. Consequently, all three teams are legit contenders for a BCS bowl, if not the National Championship. Louisville's pro-style offence, WVU's crazy athleticism and Rutgers' speedy defence makes them a nightmare for any competitor this season.
KEY PLAYERS: QB Brian Brohm (Louis.), LB Malik Jackson (Louis.), QB Pat White (WVU), RB Steve Slaton (WVU), RB Ray Rice (Rut.), WR Kenny Britt (Rut.), FB Owen Schmitt (WVU), DT George Foster (Rut.), LB Willie Williams (Louis.)
KEY GAME(S): Oct. 27, WVU at Rutgers; Nov. 8, Louisville at WVU; Nov. 29, Rutgers at Louisville
WHY THEY'LL COMPETE: Big East teams play a lighter schedule than some of the big boys in the SEC and Big Ten. Although the top-flight programs in the Big East are phenomenal, the depth in the conference isn't as imposing as the other major BCS playaz (I'm way too white and nerdy to ever use that reference again, I'm sorry). Brohm is the country's best pocket passer, White is the fastest pivot in the country, and long-suffering Rutgers is finally a believer under peppy head coach Greg Schiano. Pipeline recuiting, especially from Florida, is rapidly boosting the talent and speed of these programs.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Ind.): The Irish lose golden boy pivot Brady Quinn, who has moved on to the tall order of recusciating the moribund Cleveland Browns franchise in the NFL. But any quarterbacks under the wing of clever head coach Charlie Weis have a high ceiling, and this year is no different for the Golden Domers. A hot position battle between redshirt freshman Demetrius Jones, junior Evan Sharpley and VHT frosh Jimmy Clausen means someone must emerge as the go-to starter. One of the QBs left jilted will likely transfer. Look for Clausen — the highest-ranked high school quarterback in years — to win the job and start his own Irish legacy.
KEY PLAYERS: C John Sullivan, S Tom Zbikowski, TE John Carlson, LB Anthony Vernaglia
KEY GAME: Oct. 20 vs. USC
WHY THEY AREN'T QUITE THERE:
Clemson Tigers (ACC): Someone really should get icepacks for coach Tommy Bowden's bum, as his seat has been getting warmer by the year. This season, his hold on the head job at pigskin-hungry Clemson is tenuous at best. The Tigers have been recently outclassed by the in-state rival Gamecocks, and expectations are as high as ever near Howard's Rock. One thing this squad isn't short on is athletic ability, particularly at tailback and defensive end.
KEY PLAYERS: RB James Davis, RB C.J. Spiller, OT Barry Richardson, DE Philip Merling, DE Ricky Sapp
KEY GAME: Sept. 3 vs. Florida State
WHY THEY AREN'T QUITE THERE: Inconsistent quarterback play. The Tigers have as potent a running back duo as any in the country in Davis and Spiller - Davis is a workhorse and Spiller provides game-changing speed. It's easy to gameplan for Clemson, however, because they're so one-dimensional. This doesn't mean that opposing pivots aren't defecating in their pants when they come to Clemson - the team boasts an ominous duo of pass rushers in Merling and sophomore lightning bolt Sapp. But if quarterback Cullen Harper or frosh Willy Korn can't move the ball through the air, then the Clemson faithful might as well watch NASCAR while they roll cigarettes and sip sweet tea.
KEY PLAYERS: QB Olson, DE Bruce Davis, S Chris Horton, WR Joe Cowan
KEY GAME: Dec. 1 at USC. This tilt should be the X-factor for how successful UCLA will be this season.
WHY THEY AREN'T QUITE THERE: Head coach Karl Dorrell's track record is spotty. UCLA did get lucky last year, beating the Trojans with backup QB Patrick Cowan at the helm, but I don't see them getting lucky again. They could be unbeaten leading up to the USC game, most would favour the Bruins in their first 11 games. But I get the sad feeling that it's all going to come crashing down when they venture to L.A. Memorial Stadium. Regardless, they could play in a January bowl game.
KEY PLAYERS: MLB Connor, CB Justin King, DE Josh Gaines, WRs Derrick Williams and Deon Butler
KEY GAME: Sept. 22 at Michigan. The Big House will be rumblin' for this doozy.
WHY THEY AREN'T QUITE THERE: A diminished running game combined with a Zen-like focus from the Wolverines will make it tough for Penn State to finish tops in the Big Ten. They get Ohio State at home, which is a bonus, but I predict Michigan will find a way to beat the Lions' swarming D. If Penn State manages to topple the Wolverines in enemy territory, they certainly should finish tops in the conference. But as I mentioned earlier, Michigan is sick and tired of getting their hopes dashed every year courtesy the Buckeyes and Bowl Week. Look for a second place finish for Penn State, and as my Uncle Marty always says: "Second place is the first loser."
Florida State Seminoles (ACC): Head coach Bobby Bowden should be in either the Smithsonian or a neuroscience lab, because he's ancient and comes off like he has the I.Q. of a barn swallow. Regardless, the old boy can still recruit and still coach. FSU hopes to ride the momentum of a big bowl win over UCLA at the end of last season to a much-improved '07 campaign.
KEY PLAYERS: S Myron Rolle, QB Drew Weatherford, RB Antone Smith, LB Geno Hayes
KEY GAME: Nov. 24 at Florida
WHY THEY'LL COMPETE: Athleticism is always the mantra with the 'Noles, they have a group of defenders that can swarm sideline-to-sideline. Smith can be one of the most dynamic backs in the nation and Weatherford beat VHT Xavier Lee for the starting QB job definitively this spring. This is his team, and a fast, more-experienced group of starters should be able to cruise through a fairly weak Atlantic Coast Conference. The only real conference worry for FSU is Virginia Tech, an aggressive squad who will be playing with a chip on their shoulder after last year's campus tragedy. Look for many more big plays from the Seminoles this year. Brownie points are awarded for their uniforms/pride stickers looking highly badass.
BOTTOM LINE: While Florida State still seems a cut below USC or LSU, they will be a vastly improved team. A combination of electric playmakers on both sides of the ball and a diluted ACC means that anything can happen for Bowden's boys on the Panhandle (Tallahassee, FL).
Sleepers:
Nebraska: Transfer QB Sam Keller has all the tools, including experience.
Arkansas: Tailback Darren McFadden is the best player in college football. If they get any quarterback play, the Hogs will have something.
Georgia: Sophomore pivot Matthew Stafford took his lumps last season, let's see how far he can carry the Dawgs.
Wisconsin: The Badgers have the best defence they've had in many, many years.
Texas Christian: TCU is everyone's pick to be this year's Boise State. DEs Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz are something special.
Virginia: One of the most improved teams in the country. Led by DE Chris Long (Howie's son) and their usual stellar crop of tight ends.
California: WR DeSean Jackson is faster than an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish with Dany Heatley at the wheel. There's your Canadian content.
Sleepers:
Nebraska: Transfer QB Sam Keller has all the tools, including experience.
Arkansas: Tailback Darren McFadden is the best player in college football. If they get any quarterback play, the Hogs will have something.
Georgia: Sophomore pivot Matthew Stafford took his lumps last season, let's see how far he can carry the Dawgs.
Wisconsin: The Badgers have the best defence they've had in many, many years.
Texas Christian: TCU is everyone's pick to be this year's Boise State. DEs Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz are something special.
Virginia: One of the most improved teams in the country. Led by DE Chris Long (Howie's son) and their usual stellar crop of tight ends.
California: WR DeSean Jackson is faster than an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish with Dany Heatley at the wheel. There's your Canadian content.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Finally Ready to Tackle the CFL
Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm a big football fan. Long in love with the more traditional aspects of the game, my criticisms of the Canadian Football League have been both well-documented and clearly-articulated (if not eloquently articulated - my comments seldom stray from a spirited "fuck the CFL!")
Ironically, it took me attending a Calgary Stampeders game in Alberta this summer to fully grasp why I hate the CFL, and for all my bones of contention to congeal into one cohesive unit of why I find the league crappy. At the same time, going to a CFL game out west made me realize that this league has a valuable role to play in North American pro football - a role that could be improved with an alteration. Without further ado, let me paint you a picture:
The wind is whipping and the sun is setting on a beautiful southern Alberta day. Calgary's McMahon Stadium is fairly packed; Stampeder fans are making noise - more from an abundance of beer (as this was the weekend before the Calgary Stampede...older Calgarians like to get an early start on the partying) and plenty of suggestively-dressed women than from any solid on-field performance.
Snaggle-toothed Calgary pivot Henry Burris is in the middle of an unquestionably sub-par performance. Poor timing and poor route running from "stud" targets like Ken-Yon Rambo, Joffrey Reynolds and Ryan Thelwell (born in London, ON!) means that Burris is finding less rhythm than a white accountant. This is especially disappointing because the Stamps are playing the Hamilton Tigercats, long the doormat of the CFL's Eastern Division.
Suddenly, something happens and the crowd is pitched into a frenzy. There is cacophonous cheering, howling and laughter. Within a matter of moments the crowd has ratcheted up the decibel level ten-fold.
Did Burris throw a deep score to Marc Boerigter? No. Did a Stamps' d-lineman sack Hamilton's hopeless quarterback Jason Maas? No. Did scores of cute, tipsy Calgarian girls decide to simultaneously flash the crowd? Sadly, no.
A rabbit had run out on the field.
A little bunny, with audacity that Bugs would be proud of, decided to steal the show and start scampering across the 30-yard line. McMahon Stadium's finest ran out on the field, trying to catch the furry little guy. The rabbit showed acceleration that Mike Pringle would envy, and he scuttled halfway across the field, eventually running through the endzone.
The 29,000+ fans couldn't get enough of this. The crowd reaction the rabbit got simply dwarfed any appreciation the home team would receive that evening (in an eventual 37-9 shellacking of Hamilton). A few minutes later, the rabbit made his encore performance, re-entering the field of play to an even louder fan reception.
Through all of this, I sat there taking things in and one idea kept echoing in my mind: bushleague. It was bushleague that a rabbit ran on the field in the first place. It was bushleague that hammered Calgary fans seemed disenchanted with their squad hammering the lowly Ti-cats, yet lost their shit over a small animal scampering across the turf. It was bushleague that Peter Rabbit showed more dexterity than any Hamilton position player the entire game.
Thus, I've drawn the conclusion that the CFL needs a serious facelift.
There's no doubt that in some parts of Canada, the CFL plays an important role. In places like Regina, Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton (during the summer) there are no other options for high-level pro sports. Consequently, the CFL is popular in these pockets (I'd argue very popular in Saskatchewan. C'mon, it's Saskatchewan for Christ's sake).
By no means would I suggest that Canada shouldn't have a high level of football. After all, CFL players are still getting paid to play football; I consider that an accomplishment in and of itself. But there's one major thing that I think would make the CFL better: if it became the development league for the NFL.
No doubt, Canadian patriots everywhere are ready to have my neck at this suggestion. But think about it: the NFL's current "farm system", NFL Europa, is floundering over the Atlantic, where futbol is infinitely more special to Europeans than football. Rather than waste marketing potential and plenty of athletic talent over in Europe, why not bring these players and these rules over to Canada? Sure, CFL purists (all 31 of them in the Prairies) would shudder at the rule changes and likely a smaller ratio of Canadian players, but the on-field product would be worlds better.
I've never really understood why we in Canada need the wider field, the obese ball and one fewer down to have a distinct identity. The simple fact of the matter is that most Canadians nowadays follow the NFL more closely than the CFL. NFL players are the best football players in the world; those who can't quite make the NFL are in NFL Europa. Bring these players back to North America - after all, football is a uniquely North American game. Leave Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich to the Europeans, and give us a heart-palpitating fourth quarter comeback.
A league comprised of the best players in the CFL and NFL Europa, playing with NFL rules, would give us the highest quality of the sport in Canada. We would have the biggest, strongest, fastest guys who weren't in the NFL and we would finally have rule uniformity in the U.S. and Canada.
If Johnny Canuck has to call me a heretic, so be it. All I know is that hockey is uniquely our (Canada's) game, and football is (or at least should be) a uniquely American game. We should play the sport in Canada how the NFL and the NCAA does. Simply, they play it better.
Perhaps then the on-field performance wouldn't have its thunder stolen by a stray animal.
I'm almost positive that my idea would never happen. Unfortunately, it's nothing more than a pipe dream. But, football fans: just don't tell me that we couldn't have it better here.
Ironically, it took me attending a Calgary Stampeders game in Alberta this summer to fully grasp why I hate the CFL, and for all my bones of contention to congeal into one cohesive unit of why I find the league crappy. At the same time, going to a CFL game out west made me realize that this league has a valuable role to play in North American pro football - a role that could be improved with an alteration. Without further ado, let me paint you a picture:
The wind is whipping and the sun is setting on a beautiful southern Alberta day. Calgary's McMahon Stadium is fairly packed; Stampeder fans are making noise - more from an abundance of beer (as this was the weekend before the Calgary Stampede...older Calgarians like to get an early start on the partying) and plenty of suggestively-dressed women than from any solid on-field performance.
Snaggle-toothed Calgary pivot Henry Burris is in the middle of an unquestionably sub-par performance. Poor timing and poor route running from "stud" targets like Ken-Yon Rambo, Joffrey Reynolds and Ryan Thelwell (born in London, ON!) means that Burris is finding less rhythm than a white accountant. This is especially disappointing because the Stamps are playing the Hamilton Tigercats, long the doormat of the CFL's Eastern Division.
Suddenly, something happens and the crowd is pitched into a frenzy. There is cacophonous cheering, howling and laughter. Within a matter of moments the crowd has ratcheted up the decibel level ten-fold.
Did Burris throw a deep score to Marc Boerigter? No. Did a Stamps' d-lineman sack Hamilton's hopeless quarterback Jason Maas? No. Did scores of cute, tipsy Calgarian girls decide to simultaneously flash the crowd? Sadly, no.
A rabbit had run out on the field.
A little bunny, with audacity that Bugs would be proud of, decided to steal the show and start scampering across the 30-yard line. McMahon Stadium's finest ran out on the field, trying to catch the furry little guy. The rabbit showed acceleration that Mike Pringle would envy, and he scuttled halfway across the field, eventually running through the endzone.
The 29,000+ fans couldn't get enough of this. The crowd reaction the rabbit got simply dwarfed any appreciation the home team would receive that evening (in an eventual 37-9 shellacking of Hamilton). A few minutes later, the rabbit made his encore performance, re-entering the field of play to an even louder fan reception.
Through all of this, I sat there taking things in and one idea kept echoing in my mind: bushleague. It was bushleague that a rabbit ran on the field in the first place. It was bushleague that hammered Calgary fans seemed disenchanted with their squad hammering the lowly Ti-cats, yet lost their shit over a small animal scampering across the turf. It was bushleague that Peter Rabbit showed more dexterity than any Hamilton position player the entire game.
Thus, I've drawn the conclusion that the CFL needs a serious facelift.
There's no doubt that in some parts of Canada, the CFL plays an important role. In places like Regina, Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton (during the summer) there are no other options for high-level pro sports. Consequently, the CFL is popular in these pockets (I'd argue very popular in Saskatchewan. C'mon, it's Saskatchewan for Christ's sake).
By no means would I suggest that Canada shouldn't have a high level of football. After all, CFL players are still getting paid to play football; I consider that an accomplishment in and of itself. But there's one major thing that I think would make the CFL better: if it became the development league for the NFL.
No doubt, Canadian patriots everywhere are ready to have my neck at this suggestion. But think about it: the NFL's current "farm system", NFL Europa, is floundering over the Atlantic, where futbol is infinitely more special to Europeans than football. Rather than waste marketing potential and plenty of athletic talent over in Europe, why not bring these players and these rules over to Canada? Sure, CFL purists (all 31 of them in the Prairies) would shudder at the rule changes and likely a smaller ratio of Canadian players, but the on-field product would be worlds better.
I've never really understood why we in Canada need the wider field, the obese ball and one fewer down to have a distinct identity. The simple fact of the matter is that most Canadians nowadays follow the NFL more closely than the CFL. NFL players are the best football players in the world; those who can't quite make the NFL are in NFL Europa. Bring these players back to North America - after all, football is a uniquely North American game. Leave Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich to the Europeans, and give us a heart-palpitating fourth quarter comeback.
A league comprised of the best players in the CFL and NFL Europa, playing with NFL rules, would give us the highest quality of the sport in Canada. We would have the biggest, strongest, fastest guys who weren't in the NFL and we would finally have rule uniformity in the U.S. and Canada.
If Johnny Canuck has to call me a heretic, so be it. All I know is that hockey is uniquely our (Canada's) game, and football is (or at least should be) a uniquely American game. We should play the sport in Canada how the NFL and the NCAA does. Simply, they play it better.
Perhaps then the on-field performance wouldn't have its thunder stolen by a stray animal.
I'm almost positive that my idea would never happen. Unfortunately, it's nothing more than a pipe dream. But, football fans: just don't tell me that we couldn't have it better here.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
The Loathed
Athletes that can Lick my Left One:
1. Roger Clemens, Every MLB team with a big wallet (including virtually every team in the AL East): If this man has a soul, you can slap my ass and call me Wilomena.
2. Diego Maradona, Argentina: Everyone knows the Hand of God goal in 1986 versus England was absolute larceny. He also single-handedly reduced the amount of cocaine being smuggled into North America by snorting most of it before it got there.
3. Adam "Pacman" Jones, Titans: This man has the potential to be one of (and maybe eventually THE) best cover corner in the NFL. But he doesn't know how to do anything but be a criminal. That means he belongs in prison with the sodomites.
4. Barry Bonds, Giants: He hates his fans, he hates MLB brass, he hates white people — basically he hates virtually everyone except his father Bobby Bonds, Hank Aaron and maybe his accountant. He's isolated himself so that even most fans in his home city can't stand him. Oh, and he's a cheater.
5. Mike Ribiero, Canadiens/Stars: After his flopping and acting that had European footballers rolling their eyes, I lost any shred of respect I had for this jerk-off. Joe Thornton should have ended this guy's life in the Boston-Montreal playoff series a few years back.
6. Tiger Woods, USA: Tiger will end his career as the best golfer every to step foot on a green. He will break all of Jack Nicklaus' records, that's pretty much guaranteed. What I don't like about him is his infant-like temper tantrums — throwing clubs, breaking clubs, gouging greens and looking like he's going to cry every time he hits a poor shot (which, admittedly, isn't very often). I'm also jealous of Woods' hot wife. Hence, fuck this guy.
7. Sean Avery, Rangers: Avery is likely the biggest pest in the NHL. People hate playing against him, and although he'd be an asset on your team if you were a coach or GM, he's also very candid and volatile. Plus, he gets to date Elisha Cuthbert. Nice guys really do finish last.
8. Johnny Damon, Red Sox/Yankees: Any BoSox fan will tell you that, after his ship-jumping antics in 2005, Damon deserves a spot in the deepest pit of hell. Much unlike Matt Damon, who is pretty cool.
9. Joey Porter, Steelers/Dolphins: Firstly, Pittsburgh and Miami are two of my most hated NFL teams. Secondly, Joey Porter has virtually no command of the English language. Thirdly, any man who is such an idiot should learn to keep his mouth shut. Porter got shot in the ass last season; I wish the gunman aimed a few feet higher.
10. Jerome Bettis, Steelers: This loudmouth was a dominant power runner in the NFL, before he got fat and sloppy. Anyone who posts Hall of Fame credentials (like Bettis did) should know better than to celebrate like a goof after running for a two-yard first down. Get some class, Jerome.
11. Terrell Owens, 49ers/Eagles/Cowboys: This is a tough selection. As a Cowboys fan, I have to cheer for T.O. now by default, but there's no question that this guy is a team cancer. He's a horrible role model and he's overrated, when you examine how many drops he had last season. For a guy with SO MUCH ability, he doesn't get much out of it.
12. John Rocker, Braves: This redneck gives any Southerner a bad name. He's stupid, he's racist, and near the end of his career he got his tits ripped worse than a Malibu housewife.
13. Gary Sheffield, Tigers: A prime candidate in need of KYFMS (Keep Your Fucking Mouth Shut) Syndrome. It's a good thing this guy can pull a baseball.
14. Vince Carter, Raptors/Nets: VC started a disturbing trend of players who just stop trying when they want to force a trade somewhere. The fact he started this phenomenon while on my hometown team was a tad frustrating.
15. Dany Heatley, Senators: This guy is a great Canadian hockey player, that I can't deny. But as a Leafs fan, Heatley plays for the arch-rival Sens. Plus, I would never get in a car with him (classless on my part, I know, but I couldn't help it).
16. Mike Comrie, Senators: This man's father is the owner of The Brick furniture stores. His family is worth oodles of money, yet he decided to hold out from his hometown team in Edmonton for more money. What a greedy prick. He also now plays for Ottawa.
17. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox: A.J. is a conceited loudmouth. I estimate that 88% of Major League pitchers would like to throw a beanball at his head. Though my fastball tops out at approximately 37 MPH, add me to that list.
18. Steve Schutt, Canadiens: He played for the Habs, Toronto's historical rival. I've also met this man, and take my word for it: he is a fucking asshole.
19. Tim Thomas, Clippers: This man has the physical tools to be an NBA stud, but has never been more than mediocre. He's even worse than T.O. for having all the physical gifts in the universe, but doing virtually nothing with it. Plus, he's a pretty ugly dude.
20. Phil Mickelson, USA: I'll let Matt Larkin cover this one: go to www.spiritofjakeplummer.blogspot.com to learn why this guy is a jerk.
1. Roger Clemens, Every MLB team with a big wallet (including virtually every team in the AL East): If this man has a soul, you can slap my ass and call me Wilomena.
2. Diego Maradona, Argentina: Everyone knows the Hand of God goal in 1986 versus England was absolute larceny. He also single-handedly reduced the amount of cocaine being smuggled into North America by snorting most of it before it got there.
3. Adam "Pacman" Jones, Titans: This man has the potential to be one of (and maybe eventually THE) best cover corner in the NFL. But he doesn't know how to do anything but be a criminal. That means he belongs in prison with the sodomites.
4. Barry Bonds, Giants: He hates his fans, he hates MLB brass, he hates white people — basically he hates virtually everyone except his father Bobby Bonds, Hank Aaron and maybe his accountant. He's isolated himself so that even most fans in his home city can't stand him. Oh, and he's a cheater.
5. Mike Ribiero, Canadiens/Stars: After his flopping and acting that had European footballers rolling their eyes, I lost any shred of respect I had for this jerk-off. Joe Thornton should have ended this guy's life in the Boston-Montreal playoff series a few years back.
6. Tiger Woods, USA: Tiger will end his career as the best golfer every to step foot on a green. He will break all of Jack Nicklaus' records, that's pretty much guaranteed. What I don't like about him is his infant-like temper tantrums — throwing clubs, breaking clubs, gouging greens and looking like he's going to cry every time he hits a poor shot (which, admittedly, isn't very often). I'm also jealous of Woods' hot wife. Hence, fuck this guy.
7. Sean Avery, Rangers: Avery is likely the biggest pest in the NHL. People hate playing against him, and although he'd be an asset on your team if you were a coach or GM, he's also very candid and volatile. Plus, he gets to date Elisha Cuthbert. Nice guys really do finish last.
8. Johnny Damon, Red Sox/Yankees: Any BoSox fan will tell you that, after his ship-jumping antics in 2005, Damon deserves a spot in the deepest pit of hell. Much unlike Matt Damon, who is pretty cool.
9. Joey Porter, Steelers/Dolphins: Firstly, Pittsburgh and Miami are two of my most hated NFL teams. Secondly, Joey Porter has virtually no command of the English language. Thirdly, any man who is such an idiot should learn to keep his mouth shut. Porter got shot in the ass last season; I wish the gunman aimed a few feet higher.
10. Jerome Bettis, Steelers: This loudmouth was a dominant power runner in the NFL, before he got fat and sloppy. Anyone who posts Hall of Fame credentials (like Bettis did) should know better than to celebrate like a goof after running for a two-yard first down. Get some class, Jerome.
11. Terrell Owens, 49ers/Eagles/Cowboys: This is a tough selection. As a Cowboys fan, I have to cheer for T.O. now by default, but there's no question that this guy is a team cancer. He's a horrible role model and he's overrated, when you examine how many drops he had last season. For a guy with SO MUCH ability, he doesn't get much out of it.
12. John Rocker, Braves: This redneck gives any Southerner a bad name. He's stupid, he's racist, and near the end of his career he got his tits ripped worse than a Malibu housewife.
13. Gary Sheffield, Tigers: A prime candidate in need of KYFMS (Keep Your Fucking Mouth Shut) Syndrome. It's a good thing this guy can pull a baseball.
14. Vince Carter, Raptors/Nets: VC started a disturbing trend of players who just stop trying when they want to force a trade somewhere. The fact he started this phenomenon while on my hometown team was a tad frustrating.
15. Dany Heatley, Senators: This guy is a great Canadian hockey player, that I can't deny. But as a Leafs fan, Heatley plays for the arch-rival Sens. Plus, I would never get in a car with him (classless on my part, I know, but I couldn't help it).
16. Mike Comrie, Senators: This man's father is the owner of The Brick furniture stores. His family is worth oodles of money, yet he decided to hold out from his hometown team in Edmonton for more money. What a greedy prick. He also now plays for Ottawa.
17. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox: A.J. is a conceited loudmouth. I estimate that 88% of Major League pitchers would like to throw a beanball at his head. Though my fastball tops out at approximately 37 MPH, add me to that list.
18. Steve Schutt, Canadiens: He played for the Habs, Toronto's historical rival. I've also met this man, and take my word for it: he is a fucking asshole.
19. Tim Thomas, Clippers: This man has the physical tools to be an NBA stud, but has never been more than mediocre. He's even worse than T.O. for having all the physical gifts in the universe, but doing virtually nothing with it. Plus, he's a pretty ugly dude.
20. Phil Mickelson, USA: I'll let Matt Larkin cover this one: go to www.spiritofjakeplummer.blogspot.com to learn why this guy is a jerk.
The Loved
Athletes that are The Shit:
1. Todd Helton, Rockies: One of the most consummate hitters of the last decade. His power has declined in the past three seasons, but his average and OBP are still epic. Also backed up Peyton Manning at quarterback in college at Tennessee. C'mon, that's cool.
2. Gary Roberts, Maple Leafs*: The grittiest player, with the most heart, on a consistent string of competitive Toronto teams in and around the turn of the millennium.
3. Mats Sundin, Maple Leafs*: Will go down, along with Darryl Sittler, as the most productive Maple Leaf of all time.
4. Nick Faldo, England: A product of English parents who love golf, I've always had a soft spot for this chap, who put forth a heartwarming performance in the 1996 Masters — not to mention he's now a classic in the booth.
5. Drew Bledsoe, Patriots/Cowboys: Although a statue, I've always loved this cannon-armed passer, from his prolific career as a Washington State Cougar to his 1996 Super Bowl appearance to the myriad scores he's chucked to Terry Glenn (on my two favourite NFL teams, no less).
6. Jason Varitek, Red Sox: A prototype of what a baseball catcher should be...a capable hitter, a leader, a comforting presence with the pitching staff and a true student of the game.
7. Larry Bird, Celtics: Larry Legend. Enough people have covered why this guy kicked ass.
8. Tim Duncan, Spurs: For those that criticize his lack of flair, go watch WWE. On the basketball court, all Duncan does is win. That's why they play the game in the first place.
9. David Robinson, Spurs: This veteran of the U.S. Naval Academy showed Mr. Duncan the ropes (and chipped in for an NBA title) before riding off gracefully in the sunset.
10. Peyton Manning, Colts: Might retire the best quarterback of all time. If he wins another ring, should retire the best quarterback of all time.
11. Emmitt Smith, Cowboys: Was the engine of the Cowboys' offense during their 1990s legacy. As a little guy, I used to sit on the couch with my uncle and watch Emmitt rack up the yards and TDs.
12. Steve Yzerman, Red Wings: One of the classiest acts every to step on the ice. If you don't respect this man, you can't call yourself a hockey fan.
13. Joe Sakic, Avalanche: A slightly poorer man's version of Stevie Y. Has all the same qualities.
14. Michael Owen, England: Less in love with himself than David Beckham, and has been a vital cog in the national sides for England for more than a decade. Injuries have held him back somewhat, but when he's 100% he's still lethal and is now an elder statesman on the pitch.
15. Mike Weir, Canada: Very refreshing to see a Canadian win the prized major at Augusta. But Mike, be honest with yourself and everyone else: you tell everyone you're from Bright's Grove, Ont. because Sarnia is a dump.
16. Bobby Orr, Bruins: The best defenceman in hockey history, and one of the best players of all time. The Parry Sound, Ont. native still leaves a footprint on the game.
17. Ted Williams, Red Sox: In my opinion, the best pure hitter in baseball history, and he did so while having some of his best years taken away during the Second World War.
18. David Wright, Mets: This young superstar is one of the more down to earth players in the game. In the off-season, Wright still lives with his parents and goes to watch his younger brother's Little League games. And yes, this man is an MLB All-Star.
19. Jarome Iginla, Flames: Arguably the best captain in the NHL today. When he plays with some fire, virtually no one can stop him. Iggy plays like every Canadian (and indeed, every hockey player) should.
20. Tony Gwynn, Padres: Probably the best contact hitter in my lifetime, this absolute gentleman now coaches at San Diego State.
*While most Leafs fans would question why I have Sundin and Roberts but left Wendel and Dougie off the list — I'm a Leafs fan that didn't tune into hockey until much later, around 1998-99. While I've heard all the magical things about the 1993 season, enough other long-tenured Toronto fans could re-hash Gilmour and Clark. At least with the Leafs on this list, I chose to discuss the guys I remember watching plenty of.
1. Todd Helton, Rockies: One of the most consummate hitters of the last decade. His power has declined in the past three seasons, but his average and OBP are still epic. Also backed up Peyton Manning at quarterback in college at Tennessee. C'mon, that's cool.
2. Gary Roberts, Maple Leafs*: The grittiest player, with the most heart, on a consistent string of competitive Toronto teams in and around the turn of the millennium.
3. Mats Sundin, Maple Leafs*: Will go down, along with Darryl Sittler, as the most productive Maple Leaf of all time.
4. Nick Faldo, England: A product of English parents who love golf, I've always had a soft spot for this chap, who put forth a heartwarming performance in the 1996 Masters — not to mention he's now a classic in the booth.
5. Drew Bledsoe, Patriots/Cowboys: Although a statue, I've always loved this cannon-armed passer, from his prolific career as a Washington State Cougar to his 1996 Super Bowl appearance to the myriad scores he's chucked to Terry Glenn (on my two favourite NFL teams, no less).
6. Jason Varitek, Red Sox: A prototype of what a baseball catcher should be...a capable hitter, a leader, a comforting presence with the pitching staff and a true student of the game.
7. Larry Bird, Celtics: Larry Legend. Enough people have covered why this guy kicked ass.
8. Tim Duncan, Spurs: For those that criticize his lack of flair, go watch WWE. On the basketball court, all Duncan does is win. That's why they play the game in the first place.
9. David Robinson, Spurs: This veteran of the U.S. Naval Academy showed Mr. Duncan the ropes (and chipped in for an NBA title) before riding off gracefully in the sunset.
10. Peyton Manning, Colts: Might retire the best quarterback of all time. If he wins another ring, should retire the best quarterback of all time.
11. Emmitt Smith, Cowboys: Was the engine of the Cowboys' offense during their 1990s legacy. As a little guy, I used to sit on the couch with my uncle and watch Emmitt rack up the yards and TDs.
12. Steve Yzerman, Red Wings: One of the classiest acts every to step on the ice. If you don't respect this man, you can't call yourself a hockey fan.
13. Joe Sakic, Avalanche: A slightly poorer man's version of Stevie Y. Has all the same qualities.
14. Michael Owen, England: Less in love with himself than David Beckham, and has been a vital cog in the national sides for England for more than a decade. Injuries have held him back somewhat, but when he's 100% he's still lethal and is now an elder statesman on the pitch.
15. Mike Weir, Canada: Very refreshing to see a Canadian win the prized major at Augusta. But Mike, be honest with yourself and everyone else: you tell everyone you're from Bright's Grove, Ont. because Sarnia is a dump.
16. Bobby Orr, Bruins: The best defenceman in hockey history, and one of the best players of all time. The Parry Sound, Ont. native still leaves a footprint on the game.
17. Ted Williams, Red Sox: In my opinion, the best pure hitter in baseball history, and he did so while having some of his best years taken away during the Second World War.
18. David Wright, Mets: This young superstar is one of the more down to earth players in the game. In the off-season, Wright still lives with his parents and goes to watch his younger brother's Little League games. And yes, this man is an MLB All-Star.
19. Jarome Iginla, Flames: Arguably the best captain in the NHL today. When he plays with some fire, virtually no one can stop him. Iggy plays like every Canadian (and indeed, every hockey player) should.
20. Tony Gwynn, Padres: Probably the best contact hitter in my lifetime, this absolute gentleman now coaches at San Diego State.
*While most Leafs fans would question why I have Sundin and Roberts but left Wendel and Dougie off the list — I'm a Leafs fan that didn't tune into hockey until much later, around 1998-99. While I've heard all the magical things about the 1993 season, enough other long-tenured Toronto fans could re-hash Gilmour and Clark. At least with the Leafs on this list, I chose to discuss the guys I remember watching plenty of.
Friday, May 18, 2007
They want to put Bob Cole on the dole?
With my current employment situation, I have a newfound wealth of time over the summer months. Hence, I will attempt to hone my miserable blogging skills. I'll get back to my Torontonian rant in good time, but for now I wanted to address something that's been pissing me off — the slagging of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcaster Bob Cole.
Bob Cole is older than the hills. He is only the second play-by-play man that the CBC has had for Toronto Maple Leafs games; Cole took over for the legendary Foster Hewitt in the early 70s. As a result of his many years, some of his skills have eroded lately. Cole will confuse viewers by goofing on players' names, a problem that is becoming more common as the years go by.
While Cole will make his share (perhaps a growing share) of gaffes, virtually every play-by-play broadcaster has their own idiosynchrasies. For instance, Pierre McGuire's meathead-jock mistakes are enough to get on anyone's nerves and while Jim Hughson is very sharp, his default "Johnny Hollywood" voice lacks the flair worthy of a Canadian broadcast of a passionately Canadian game.
Although coloured with bias as a Maple Leafs fan, I think Cole (especially when paired with colour man Harry Neale) brings an excitement and an urgency to the game that is vital for enhancing the TV experience. Cole knows when to let the frenzied crowd do the talking for him, he knows how and when to put inflection in his voice and his delivery flows very nicely with the progress of the telecast (ie: he has a trademark voice trail-off when CBC goes to commercial).
Some viewers (mainly Maple Leafs-haters) criticize how Cole has a Toronto bias. While this is clearly true, Cole is far from the only TV broadcaster that showcases favouritism — look at the Sabres' Rick Jeanneret or the Chicago White Sox's Ken Harrelson for two examples. Plus, you cover the same team virtually every Saturday night for 35 years and see how objectively you deliver your commentary.
Some feel that CBC should put Cole out to pasture and bring in Hughson to take the main central Canada limelight. To that, I say that Cole adds a flair and an element to a CBC broadcast that enhances the experience of being a hockey fan. I will put up with Cole's imperfections in exchange for the tangible way he gets me excited before I go out drinking on a Saturday night. I think the CBC is a rubbish network (that's definitely an argument for another day) but Hockey Night in Canada is one of the CBC's saving graces.
A large part of that can be attributed to Bob Cole.
Bob Cole is older than the hills. He is only the second play-by-play man that the CBC has had for Toronto Maple Leafs games; Cole took over for the legendary Foster Hewitt in the early 70s. As a result of his many years, some of his skills have eroded lately. Cole will confuse viewers by goofing on players' names, a problem that is becoming more common as the years go by.
While Cole will make his share (perhaps a growing share) of gaffes, virtually every play-by-play broadcaster has their own idiosynchrasies. For instance, Pierre McGuire's meathead-jock mistakes are enough to get on anyone's nerves and while Jim Hughson is very sharp, his default "Johnny Hollywood" voice lacks the flair worthy of a Canadian broadcast of a passionately Canadian game.
Although coloured with bias as a Maple Leafs fan, I think Cole (especially when paired with colour man Harry Neale) brings an excitement and an urgency to the game that is vital for enhancing the TV experience. Cole knows when to let the frenzied crowd do the talking for him, he knows how and when to put inflection in his voice and his delivery flows very nicely with the progress of the telecast (ie: he has a trademark voice trail-off when CBC goes to commercial).
Some viewers (mainly Maple Leafs-haters) criticize how Cole has a Toronto bias. While this is clearly true, Cole is far from the only TV broadcaster that showcases favouritism — look at the Sabres' Rick Jeanneret or the Chicago White Sox's Ken Harrelson for two examples. Plus, you cover the same team virtually every Saturday night for 35 years and see how objectively you deliver your commentary.
Some feel that CBC should put Cole out to pasture and bring in Hughson to take the main central Canada limelight. To that, I say that Cole adds a flair and an element to a CBC broadcast that enhances the experience of being a hockey fan. I will put up with Cole's imperfections in exchange for the tangible way he gets me excited before I go out drinking on a Saturday night. I think the CBC is a rubbish network (that's definitely an argument for another day) but Hockey Night in Canada is one of the CBC's saving graces.
A large part of that can be attributed to Bob Cole.
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