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Saturday, April 1:
Well, that's it. I think it's time to wrap up this hobby and ditch the world of sports as my life's passion.
You're right. April Fools!
First things first. A heartfelt thanks to Belleville's peerless play-by-play announcer Jack Miller and the Bulls office staff. After shooting the breeze whilst buying a ticket for Wednesday night's Brampton-Belleville playoff game, they provided me with a complimentary ducet -- best seat in the house, to boot. I brought the home side no luck in their overtime defeat.
Then on to Montreal, where the Bell Centre is indeed a madhouse these days. A packed house for the Habs O-T thriller over Washington. And those hot dogs!
Stouffville did prevail in game three at home Thursday, only to lose back in Oakville last night. So it's 3-1 down for the locals and crunch time.
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Monday, April 3:
Crunch time, indeed. Stouffville did not fold and has forced a sixth game in Oakville after a 5-2 win. So far the Spirit have been smoked in both trips to the Blades' home. We'll see what Tuesday brings.
Windsor's OHL playoff win tonight means a seventh game Thursday in Plymouth, Michigan. Wish we could attend that one, but life will get in the way, I'm afraid. Too many things on the schedule to justify an escape to the Motown suburbs.
So much for baseball's great grand opening. You can't fool Mother Nature. At least folks in the western time zone got to watch most of the game.
I was hoping for a George Mason-LSU championship in tonight's NCAA hoops finale. Naturally, it's Florida-UCLA. Never saw that one coming three weeks ago, but since "west" seems to be the theme of this update, I'll cast my lot with the Sons of Westwood.
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Tuesday, April 4:
So I pick UCLA, and they're in it until the national anthem. That's it! I'm not picking anyone in any game, ever again.
Or until tomorrow, whichever comes first.
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Wednesday, April 5:
So what did Tuesday bring? Another victory for this never-say-die bunch. Somehow, Stouffville held off the Blades in Oakville, 4-3, despite being outshot by about a 2-to-1 margin. Game seven. Tonight. At home. Unbelievable.
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Thursday, April 6:
If any team, anywhere, deserved to be called "Spirit," it's this plucky Stouffville bunch. Yes, they won again, 4-3 at home in game seven over Oakville, hanging on for dear life at the end. And the visiting Blades appeared to have a pretty legitimate beef over having a second period goal called back because it was ruled to have been batted in by a high stick. It certainly looked bona fide from my angle. So here we go -- the league championship upcoming against a very strong (and rested) St. Mike's team with a berth in the national tournament on the line.
I see they've "spruced up" the SkyDome, er, Rogers Centre again, and everyone is in a tizzy over the improvements. From the sounds of things, they've added a front door, some VIP perks for the affluent folk (oh, how very Toronto), and a few outlets so you can rent a video or order a cell phone from the team owner's other industries. The only sprucing up I care about is to the team's roster, and they've addressed that handsomely in the off-season. Still, if I want indoor entertainment, I'll go to the movies. Next week, I'll be driving right past the giant white turtle on my way to Chicago and St. Louis for some outdoor baseball -- the only kind worth watching.
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Sunday, April 9:
Congrats to Lefty and all, but the image that will stay with me from this edition of the Masters was the agony of Tiger Woods after he missed what -- for him -- was an almost gimme eagle putt on the final round. He hung his head for long seconds, contemplating what might have been. Painful to watch this outstanding golfer and competitor battle his emotions there.
Took in my other passion last night -- great music, which made a trip to Buffalo after work to see incomparable bluesman James Armstrong a no-brainer. It had been five years since I had seen him live, and the $10 cover would have been a steal at twice the price. As always, he and his airtight bandmates had the joint in the palm of their hands after three or four songs. Fantastic stuff!
Doc Halliday looked in need of a prescription today as Tampa Bay ripped him late, dropping the Blue Jays to 3-and-3 on the season. Just 156 games left for them to get their act together! On the other hand, the Detroit Tigers started out 5-and-0 before losing today. Optimism in Motown, for one of their summer teams?! Wow! But as a NOOFster pointed out, Detroit does have the Lions to balance things out!
Eeek! After winning their series opener on the road in the Provincial Jr. A league final at St. Michael's, the Stouffville Spirit returned home today and got waxed 7-0 by the Buzzards in game two. The bursting of the bubble for this overacheiving bunch? Maybe, but we'll see. Write off this team at your own peril. The Spirit have proved a great many people wrong in these past two months of post-season play.
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Saturday, April 15:
Memo to self: Next time you plan to see a ballgame in the U-S midwest, pack some sunscreen. It got to 91 Fahrenheit in St. Louis Thursday and the forearms are a little tender today. Thankfully, we had a hat to protect the chrome-dome.
Sounds as if some Cardinal fans are less than enamoured with the new Busch Stadium. The guy behind me said that when you’re sitting further away than you were in an old cookie-cutter stadium, there’s a problem. Personally, I was a bit underwhelmed after seeing the likes of Petco Park in San Diego a couple of years ago. But the view looking east to the Gateway Arch and over the Mississippi is superb.
Shame on London Knights’ boss Mark Hunter for threatening dismissal of his cable play-by-play team because they have the sand to call a game fairly and not openly shill for the home side. I dropped personal allegiance to the Detroit Tigers when they fired Ernie Harwell in 1991 and I’m doing it now with the Knights. Goodbye, green and gold.
The Stouffville Spirit? They won a 1-0, triple overtime thriller but that was sandwiched between a couple of losses to St. Mike’s. So it’s the Buzzards up three-games-to-two with game six set for Stouffville tomorrow.
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Sunday, April 16:
The never-say-die guys finally did, unable to overcome the excellence of the St. Michael's Buzzards. The Stouffville Spirit fell in six games in the Ontario Jr. A Provincial final, but never stopped working, winning game four 1-0 in triple overtime and losing game six, 3-2 in double O/T, despite being outshot 60-39. They came a crossbar away from forcing a seventh game. It wasn't meant to be, but it will be a long, long time before this town forgets the wild two-month run of these underdogs. Congrats lads, on a thrilling playoff run and thanks for taking us all along for the ride.
I absolutely roared with laughter when Buffalo's Andrew Peters skated away from an altercation with Toronto's Wade Belak late in the Sabres 6-0 win today and then earned a misconduct for mimicking a golf swing -- a golf course being where the Maple Leafs are headed, having missed the playoffs. Maybe they'll be a payoff against Peters someday, but for those of us sick of the Leafs' god-like status, it was uproariously funny. The only sour note came from TV analyst Glenn Healy who whined that Peters, a bit player, had no business being a comedian. In other words, it wasn't so much the deed as the person who performed it. That's rich, coming from a career back-up goalie who somehow never seemed to win the Vezina Trophy in his stellar NHL career.
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Thursday, April 20:
Once upon a time, in an earlier life as a radio sportscaster, I put the chore of annual first-round Stanley Cup predictions to verse. All of which led to plenty of comments like, "Don't give up your day job." But in time, I actually looked forward to writing these things, and in time, the listeners responded by saying, "Don't give up your day job." Now that my radio mumblings are on the news side, I don't get to do this on air anymore. Instead, I'll bore you, my blog faithful!
Here goes:
'Twas the night before playoffs, that Canadian treat,
But the bride was unhappy. "No Coronation Street?!"
"But, Pet," I reminded, "You've a garden to prune.
And you'll get "Corrie" back by the middle of June!"
In the meantime, it's hockey: Best eight weeks of the year.
When the games go down almost as smooth as the beer.
So let's get right to it, not procrastonate.
There's eight series for me to prognasticate.
In the East, what, no Leafs? No, they didn't get in.
And that meant dismissal for coach Patrick Quinn.
So, we start at the top, Sens with no Dominator.
But Tampa can't match 'em. Six games, see ya later.
All season the 'Canes beat the Habs up with ease.
So Carolina it is, but seven games, if you please.
Speed to burn have the Sabres in this new NHL,
It'll take them six games to ring Philly's bell.
No team's playing better than Jersey right now.
They'll dispose of Manhattan. In five, Rangers bow.
To the West, and the Red Wings face Alberta's north team.
They won't sweep, but need five to wreck Edmonton's dream.
The Stars and the Avs without Eddie or Roy,
But Dallas in six in a set far from blah.
I like Calgary's "D." How they gobble loose pucks!
And they'll punish the wingers of Anaheim's Ducks.
Six games for that series, and the last one as well.
San Jose gets by Nashville. Sharks have started to jell.
And so there, you have it. My annual picks.
Stanley Cup, first-round playoffs, Two-thousand-and-six.
I know. Don't give up my day job.
So, coach Pat Quinn is made to walk the plank for the lack of Maple Leaf playoff money for the Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund. And so, he loses the power struggle with general manager John Ferguson Junior. Parliament Hill has nothing on Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. when it comes to politics. I think the obvious choice for the Leafs now is Paul Maurice, who coaches their AHL entry. By all accounts, the Marlies just love playing for him. I didn't dislike Quinn, but I thought his approach was far better suited to the NHL of old. And I think a little flexibility in terms of his shootout line-up was called for, especially when you consider the Leafs (I believe) scored zero shootout goals on the road this season. MLSE keeps saying it is buying into JFJ's "plan." He'd better have a doozy in the off-season, because he did nothing of consequence at the trade deadline.
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Sunday, April 23:
It was clean -- a perfect shoulder check that Ken Hitchcock and Bob Clarke would have appreciated in the past. But the Brian Campbell dismantling of R.J. Umberger in the Philadelphia-Buffalo playoff game last night was also one of the scariest things we've seen in hockey. Umberger was down and virtually out, and kudos to the Flyers' trainer for getting to him right away, lest he swallow his tongue or go into convulsions. But what a game! A 3-2 Sabres win in double overtime that was exhausting just to watch on TV.
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Monday, April 24:
Is home ice advantage overrated? So far in the Stanley Cup playoffs, home teams are 6-and-6, including 0-and-4 yesterday and last night. And half of those six home team wins came in overtime. Fifteen years ago (egad!) when Pittsburgh won the Cup, the Penguins dropped game one at home right through the playoffs. And when was the last time Detroit opened a series by winning games one and two at the Joe? You love having the home crowd in a seventh game, but it may be something folks are putting too much emphasis on.
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Wednesday, April 26:
Ever see "The Cage?" The original Star Trek pilot? Watching the Detroit Red Wings in these playoffs is like seeing Vina as she really is after the Talosians take away her illusion of beauty. Suddenly, they look old and disfigured, losing battle after battle for loose pucks to the youthful and energetic Edmonton Oilers. Last night's all-for-naught comeback aside, with Steve Yzerman iffy and Manny Legacy battling the puck, the league's top team appears to be in serious trouble.
Those hockey troglodytes, Bob Clarke and Ken Hitchcock, have a decision to make tonight for their Philadelphia Pylons -- try and win a hockey game and get back in their series with Buffalo, or keep going for blood in the long-standing tradition of the Broad Street Bullies and run the risk of another blowout. Oh, and can someone explain to me how Denis Gauthier avoided a suspension for his vicious hit from behind on Thomas Vanek the other night? Someone? Anyone? I'm all ears.
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Friday, April 28:
Whoa Nellie, this time he means it! Keith Jackson has retired, saying he's through with play-by-play forever. Here's one listener who's sad to see him go. He is college football to me, just as the late Chris Schenkel was for an earlier generation. When Jackson started rambling about a "5' 10" pine-knot from Moe-beel, Aaal-a-bama -- and he'll hitchee" -- I was tickled pink. The man had style. Thanks for the memories and great calls, Keith.
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Saturday, April 29:
So, is there something in the rule book that makes it illegal to call a penalty after a Montreal Canadien is fouled with a high stick? First Saku Koivu the other night, and two infractions the referees managed to miss last night in game four. Wakey wakey, lads!
Memo to the unfortunately-named Mick McGough, Referee, National Hockey League: Dear, Mr. McGough: I keep looking, but fail to see your name on a ticket or arena marquee. Nobody ever paid a thin dime to watch you on the ice, so why resort to the theatrics? Just shaddap and call the game! Remember, the best referees are the ones who remain anonymous in the mind when the game is over.
Final Friday in April. Yankee Stadium, The Bronx. Doc Halladay slinging zeroes. Like 2005, it was deja vu all over again.
And a Happy xxth Birthday to the lovely bride! (Yes, I've learned some things over the years -- the previous sentence is an example! :)
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Sunday, April 30:
I think I've found the way for the playoff-challenged Detroit Red Wings to get back into their series with Edmonton. In much the same way people post "please stay off the grass" signs, the Wings could put a few up around Manny Legace's crease. They could say something like -- "Dear sirs: We've noticed in recent games a large amount of traffic in this area. In an effort to promote gentlemanly play, we respectfully request that you refrain from lingering in the crease region. It makes it difficult for our goaltender to follow the flight of the puck. Yours in sportsmanship, The Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club." -- That should do it. The Detroit forwards are setting an excellent example by allowing Oilers' goalie Dwayne Roloson to track all of the Red Wings' shots without being impeded in any way. The Wings' blueliners, being neighbourly sorts, are pretty much turning a blind eye to the ongoing Edmonton loitering in front of Mr. Legacy. No doubt the signs will set things straight.
We're off to California for the first week of June, to capture some of the incredible scenery of the coastal highway and to catch some west coast baseball with our Scorepics cameras. It will be nice not to have to worry about missing a Wings' Stanley Cup final while on the other side of the continent.
Yes, there are travel deals to be made if a Toronto-area resident is willing to fly out of Buffalo. Like $389 Canadian return to L.A., taxes included and a week's free parking if you stay one night at a hotel adjacent to the Buffalo airport.
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