Saturday, November 1:
Here we go, swinging into November, the very best month in my very favourite sport, college football. And that includes the Canadian variety, where my heart will be with the Western Mustangs today in their playoff game in London against the Laurier Golden Hawks. South of the border, the big game goes tonight were it wouldn't at all surprise me to see the Texas Tech Red Raiders upset the number one Texas Longhorns. Win or lose, Lubbock, Texas will be rocking for arguably the biggest football game in Tech's history. Of course, that follows the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" -- the annual Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville. (No, they don't officially call it that anymore in these politically correct times. Someone might crack open a beer, y'see). The loser of the one-loss teams can pretty much kiss their national championship hopes goodbye. Florida's dominated this game recently, despite last year's defeat, possibly because Jacksonville is a helluva lot closer to Gainesville, Florida than Athens, Georgia, even though tickets are split evenly between the two schools.
Sunday, November 2:
Brent Musburger said it best: "Folks, welcome to November." And it couldn't have kicked off with a better college football game as Texas Tech beat number-one Texas 39-33. The last two times the teams met, Tech roared out to big leads only to have the Longhorns come back in the second half. And that's what happened last night, as Texas took its first lead of the night with 1:29 remaining. But that was an eternity for the quick-strike Red Raiders offence and Tech pulled it out on a 28-yard Graham Harrell-to-Michael Crabtree touchdown pass with one second remaining, just after the Longhorns dropped a sure game-clinching interception. So we'll have a new number-one team this week -- and the fun goes on!
As it does 'round these parts. Western beat Laurier and Ottawa upset unbeaten Queen's, so next week's Yates Cup championship game will be played in London with the Mustangs hosting the Gee-Gees.
A wise sage recently wrote: "The Detroit Lions finished the pre-season with a 4-and-0 record -- which means exactly the freezing point of water on the Celsius scale -- i.e., nothing. I can't imagine anyone getting excited over an undefeated exhibition mark. Especially fans of this franchise." That was from (ahem!) yours truly in our August 31st blog entry. Today in Chicago, the Lions go for 0-and-8. Can't see any reason why they can't do it.
Tuesday, November 4:
Saw a report that suggested Rich Rodriguez, the University of Michigan’s new football coach, has done the third-worst job among U.S. college football head coaches this season -- according to collegefootballnews.com. At 2-and-7, with a five-game losing streak and defeats at the hands of Purdue and Toledo (!), I can see why. CFN’s worst? Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema, no doubt for last Saturday’s 25-24 loss at Michigan State alone. Bielema mouthed off to the ref for a 15-yard penalty at a key moment in the game but to me, his biggest sin came in the dying seconds. Without a time-out, the Spartans were scrambling to get into position for a game-winning field goal with seven seconds remaining. They looked like the Keystone Kops out there when suddenly, Bielema called a Wisconsin time-out. Seems the Badgers only had 10 players on the field. Personally, I don't care if he had three players out there, he did MSU a huge favour, allowing them to set up properly for the game-winning kick. If Wisconsin had too many players on the field, then fine. But they didn’t, and calling a time-out was a huge mistake in my opinion. And even if it wasn’t, Wisconsin also lost to Michigan this season, cementing Bielema’s status.
It's voting day for our friends south of the border. No matter which way you lean, please go out and cast your ballots!
Wednesday, November 5:
Wow! Just wow! I have to admit to being a fan of Barack Obama since before the last U.S. presidential election when he spoke at the 2004 Democratic convention. And here he is, president-elect of the United States! What I'm particularly excited about is that this man has a chance to unite a fractured country, something that's not only beneficial for Americans but Canadians as well. I hope he's successful and I hope he'll be a two-term president. And with Democrats controlling both the House and the Senate, he should be able to implement his vision.
Never saw this coming, and I'm sure Martin Brodeur didn't either. The future hall-of-famer and arguably the best goalie to ever strap on pads will be out three to four months after what was thought to be a mild elbow injury turned into a biceps tear. It will be a severe test for the New Jersey Devils. Y'know, I've always been a Terry Sawchuk fan and I hated it when he lost his wins record to Patrick Roy, someone I have zero respect for. And while I've dreaded the day when Sawchuk's shutout mark (which I never thought would be broken) is surpassed, I have no problem having it topped by Brodeur. Here's hoping surgery and recovery are successful and Brodeur can rack up the five shutouts he needs to surpass the late Red Wings' great.
Hands up, all of you who were surprised to see A.J. Burnett opt out of the final two years on his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays to test the free agent waters. No hands? Not surprising.
Thursday, November 6:
I’m not sure how to write this, seeing as I just found out about it. If you’ve read these pages over the past few years, you know that I occasionally mention Steve, The World’s Greatest Next-Door Neighbour. It’s an apt title. Away on vacation? Steve will cut your grass, shovel your driveway, pick up your newspapers, you name it. He will do all of this without asking, just by noticing the absence of your car in the driveway. And he’ll do the driveways regularly across the street at the first hint of snow, as those folks are getting up in years. He’s a firefighter, a 51-year-old man of boundless energy and good cheer and a devoted family man with a delightful wife and two lovely adult daughters whom we’ve watched grow up. When “Tonka,” his white lab, passed on a few years ago, Steve bought a motorcycle instead of a puppy and then later traded it for a newer Yamaha, keeping it primed and polished for the road trips he and his wife would take, all over the continent. I can no longer refer to Steve in present tense. He was on that bike Tuesday when a crash took his life. He was the best neighbour I’ve had -- and I’ve been blessed with some great ones. And I’d venture to say he was the best neighbour any neighbourhood could have. R.I.P. Steve.
Friday, November 7:
The neighbourhood is still in a state of shock. It's impossible to imagine Geoffrey Crescent without Steve, its glue and soul. Thank heavens there are plenty of family members next door to help his wife Marion and daughters Sarah and Kaitlyn. These will be challenging and extremely difficult times for them, and as a close-knit neighbourhood, its incumbent upon us to do everything we can to try and help them through. We owe them, and Steve's memory, nothing less.
And in the midst of this, word from Hamilton that legendary broadcaster Norm Marshall has passed away. A wonderful man, humble, despite his enormous talent and legendary status. I met Norm briefly when I was just getting started in the industry and our paths would cross at numerous university football games at Western Ontario in London. A first-class gent.
Sunday, November 9:
Michigan 29, Minnesota 6. Didn't see that coming! It's been a long, difficult season for the Wolverines under new coach Rich Rodriguez, but even if they finish 3-and-9, no one can say they quit. It would have been pretty easy to roll over after losing to woeful Purdue last week. As for Michigan State, they could be bound for a New Year's Day bowl, something their in-state rivals usually make a habit of. But with Penn State's upset loss yesterday at Iowa, the Rose Bowl hopes are virtually gone, unless you believe Michigan can beat Ohio State in two weeks. MSU has a week off to prepare for their season finale at Penn State and if they win, they'll saddle the Nittany Lions with their second conference loss. Because Ohio State beat Michigan State, the Buckeyes would then head to Pasadena, likely for a rematch with USC. If Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State had all finished with one conference loss, the Spartans would be heading west. Got all that? Crazy, eh? What the Big-10 needs is to add a 12th school (don't ask), split into two divisions, and play a championship game at a neutral site, like Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It won't happen, but it should.
Nothing for fans of the home teams to cheer for in the CFL playoffs yesterday with both Winnipeg and Saskatchewan crashing out. So that sets up B. C. at Calgary and Edmonton at Montreal next week in the division finals. The Grey Cup is in Montreal a week later, something that seems to be the kiss of death for the team representing the host city. Montreal hosting either the Lions of Stampeders would make for a great Grey Cup week, but can you imagine an Eskimos-Stamps Grey Cup? Now that would be something!
Monday, November 10:
I have to admit, these past few days have been a blur. Steve Buck wasn’t part of my family but it was an honour to have known him and even more of one to have been his neighbour. I’m sure half the sentences I ever said to him over 11 years were, “Thanks, Steve!” There were plenty of people at the visitation last night and his moving service today -- a fireman’s farewell -- was delivered in a chapel that was packed -- and I mean packed! The computer desk I use for these daily updates was Steve’s -- it came from a garage sale he and the family had a number of years ago. So, there’s zero chance he will fade from my memory.
Tuesday, November 11:
The 11th day of the 11th month. Veterans Day for our friends south of the border -- Remembrance Day for us. And when we get to the 11th hour today, please pause and remember what our veterans gave -- their time on earth. It's the most valuable possession we own, something that was personally hammered home by what happened last week. Our vets gave that up that time, so we could live free; so we could vote in the federal elections that just concluded in both Canada and the United States; so we could pursue the careers we dreamed of; so we could attend the sporting events we cherish and so we could travel the continent or the world at our our time and choosing. Lest we forget!
Hoo-ha! Let the second-guessing begin. Four seconds left, San Francisco, down by five to Arizona, third down and a yard-and-a-half from pay dirt. With the clock starting at the ref's signal, there was enough time -- just -- to spike the ball and then set up a fourth down play. But the 49ers tried to catch the Cardinals' defence off guard and sent Michael Robinson (with just two previous carries in the game) up the middle. Arizona stuffed it, and the game was over, 29-24 Cardinals. Other options included Frank Gore, who had 99 yards rushing in the game, or a spike and a pass play. One of the reasons for the panic was the loss of a good 20 seconds off the game clock in the final minute when the Niners tried to get the right personnel on the field. Maybe the "genius," 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz -- outsmarted himself (again). I'd like to think so, because I hope San Francisco's new head coach Mike Singletary is successful.
Thursday, November 13:
It was riveting sports radio, the hour-long national version of Prime Time Sports yesterday. Bob McCown and Stephen Brunt peppered NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly on a host of subjects and listening to Daly tap-dance around the issues (which was all he could do, really) made me angrier still at his boss Gary Bettman. The commish can "don't-worry-be-happy" from now to St. Swithin's Day, but there's no way in the world the league will be able to avoid the pain of this global economic meltdown. And it sure sounds as if there is something fishy with the Nashville situation.
I'm not a suit-and-tie guy, and don't have to be at work. So primarily they get worn at weddings and funerals -- and there sure seem to be a whole lot more of the latter these days. We have another visitation tonight, for the late Lynne Dominico, who poured her heart and soul into the Toronto Maple Leafs Intercounty Baseball League franchise for 40 seasons. She and her husband Jack turned the expansion franchise into a championship machine. Their names grace the IBL's championship trophy. And "grace" is the best word I can think of to describe Lynne, who fought the good fight against cancer. The only thing she loved more than her team was her Jack, who will have to carry on without his soulmate.
Saturday, November 15:
OK, I am so not ready for the CFL division finals today. The league, in all its wisdom, moved its playoff games (except for the Grey Cup) from Sundays to Saturdays this year. They obviously wanted to avoid going head-to-head with the NFL telecasts (which is really only a problem in southern Ontario). By moving to Saturdays, they only go up against U.S. college football on TV (and a pretty drama-free week for the NCAA, to boot). The Canadian university semifinals shift to Sunday. Still, I prefer the traditional Saturday-college, Sunday-pro system that's in place in the states. There was once a time when the Grey Cup game was played on Saturday, back when the only thing people in this country did on a Sunday was go to church and/or nurse a hangover. But those days are over. Pro football weekends are now geared up for the Sunday climax -- the game -- and that extra day of delicious anticipation before a CFL playoff contest has been lost this year. Hopefully this will be just a one-year experiment that quickly gets shelved.
Oh, today's winners? The visitors, Edmonton and B.C. Sorry Montreal, but hosting a Grey Cup is the kiss of death for the team representing that city. Sorry Calgary, but while the Stampeders are 3-and-0 against B.C. this season, the law of averages comes into play. Here comes ex-Stamps coach Wally Buono and his Lions into McMahon to win the one that matters.
Sunday, November 16:
With my track record, I have no doubt the ticker-tape parades started in Montreal and Calgary seconds after I came on here yesterday and predicted Edmonton and B.C. would win the CFL division finals yesterday. They both lost of course, leaving us with a Grey Cup in Montreal, featuring the Alouettes. It should be a great, great week and I'm sorry I won't be there to see it. I remember taking part in similar insanity there in both 1977 and 1979 when Montreal split a pair of Grey Cup games against Edmonton at OIympic Stadium. Folks tell me I had a great time. I will not be so bold as to make a prediction on the Alouettes-Stampeders Grey Cup game -- only that I hope it's a good one.
Mandy the Wonder Pooch had to go in for major knee surgery last Thursday. The right knee this time. Some may wonder why we would spend operation money on a dog, but we're a childless couple and while a dog can't replace the experience of having kids, Mandy is "our girl." We're not saving money to put kids through college, and the love she gives us is genuine and unconditional, so for us, it's cash well spent. But there will be some long weeks ahead of slow rehab. Right now, she has to sleep downstairs in an enclosed area, so it's tough on her. She's used to being upstairs with us.
"Mama Afrika" died this past week. Singer and activist, Miriam Makeba died suddenly in Italy Monday during a concert, suffering a suspected heart attack while singing her biggest hit, "Pata, Pata." Her career was on the rise in the 1960s but she was denounced by America and Europe in 1968 when she married black activist Stokeley Carmichael, the "Honourary Prime Minister" of the Black Panther Party. But for me, the joy and sparkle evident in her most well-known song is what I'll remember. If you can't at least tap your toes to "Pata Pata," you're in need of a music gene.
Monday, November 17:
Must-go, must-win, Mustangs. That was the rather old-fashioned chant we used back in the glory days of the 1970s when the Western Ontario Mustangs went to the national championship five times in nine seasons, winning four, including back-to-back Vanier Cups in 1976 and 1977. Western has been back six times since, winning just twice, but the Mustangs’ last appearance was 13 years ago -- a lopsided loss to Calgary -- and their last national title was the year before that, beating Saskatchewan. Western will be up against number-one Laval this Saturday in Hamilton, a powerhouse college team if there ever was one. The Mustangs should have a decided home-crowd advantage, but if they pull this off, it will be a major, major upset.
Wednesday, November 19:
The Detroit Free Press is having a ball with this. The city’s woeful NFL franchise is 0-and-10. No team has ever finished 0-and-16 but the Lions appear well on their way to making history. One Free Press columnist provides regular updates on what he calls the “Road to XVI.” My team. I guess no one can truly call me a frontrunner.
My two other teams, Michigan and Western Ontario from the college ranks, close out their respective seasons Saturday. The Wolverines play their annual rivalry game at Ohio State and the question here this year is not whether the Buckeyes will win, but by how many touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Mustangs, as mentioned previously, play for the national championship on this side of the border. But they are also massive underdogs against top-ranked Laval and the feeling here as well, is not whether the Rouge et Or will win, but again, by how many touchdowns. We’ll see.
Saturday, November 22:
It frosts me that the biggest sports story in Montreal this weekend is not the Grey Cup game at Olympic Stadium with the hometown Alouettes in action against Calgary. No, the big story is the return of l'enfant terrible Patrick Roy, who will have his number 33 jersey retired by the Montreal Canadiens tonight. I've always considered the Habs to be one of the classiest franchises in sports, but to honour a person who quit on his team and teammates, on national television, is beyond my comprehension. Great goalie, yes. But that's as far as it goes. What a contrast to the man they're honouring in Toronto tonight. Wendel Clark was everything you wanted in a player and a captain and the Maple Leafs are doing a fine thing by lifting his name to the rafters.
The joke around Ohio is that The Game today has been cancelled because the Michigan Wolverines couldn't get by Toledo (a map goes a long way towards getting the chuckle). The Buckeyes are 20 and a half point favourites today, the largest spread in the history of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. I suspect the Bucks will romp, but if OSU coach Jim Tressell knows his history, he won't do anything squirrelly like go for two following a seventh touchdown. Woody Hayes did that in 1968 to reach an even 50 and when asked why, he replied, "Because the rule book said I couldn't go for three." That came back to haunt him a year later when Michigan stunned his unbeaten Buckeyes 24-12.
Sunday, November 23:
Laval 44, Western Ontario 21.
Ohio State 42, Michigan 7.
Arrrrgh!
It was the Saturday from hell. At least the Mustangs had a great season, winning their second straight OUA championship under Greg Marshall and returning the program to elite status. Yesterday marked their record 12th Vanier Cup appearance and no school has won it as often as the Mustangs half-dozen titles. But Laval is getting close. This was their fourth win in six years, their fifth in 10 and they're dominating this decade the way Western dominated the 1970s. Michigan? Bah. By getting blown out at OSU, the Wolverines finished 3-and-9. And the worrisome part is this: After the demolition, UM coach Rich Rodriguez commented that, because it's his first year at Michigan, to him it's only one loss in a row to the Buckeyes. No, coach, it's five. You don't matter in this equation. Here's what's on you, coach: The first losing season in 40 years. The first non-bowl season in 33 years. Just three wins in 12. An 0-and-3 mark in the rivalry games. Yes, it's your first year at Michigan -- you get a mulligan. Next year has to be 6-and-6 at worst and at least one win in the rivalries.
The only 20-point underdog that came through was Syracuse, upsetting Notre Dame right in South Bend. Loved it.
Monday, November 24:
Calgary 22, Montreal 14.
Tampa Bay 38, Detroit 20.
Arrrrgh-2!
Truth be told, I didn't care which team won the Grey Cup. I was cheering for Montreal -- The Bride's home town -- but I've always liked the Stampeders. But I thought it was over as soon as Calgary came back from 13-3 down to tie it in the third quarter. The Alouettes were completely stymied by the Calgary defence and their only touchdown came following a turnover. But when it comes to the CFL, I'm a fan without portfolio, having been an Ottawa Rough Riders fan from childhood (don't ask me why, because I didn't live there until I was 27 years old).
As for the Lions, when they jumped up 17-0 on Tampa Bay, I thought, yes, I actually thought, that they might hold the lead and -- gasp! -- win a game this season. No fool like an old fool. The Buccaneers scored three touchdowns so quickly it made my head spin and then chuckled their way to an easy laugher from that point on. The Lions are 0-and-11 now and still alive on the "Road to XVI." This franchise is now a national joke south of the border and there's an increasingly loud chorus that wants to take away Detroit's annual U.S. Thanksgiving Day game, a Motor City tradition since 1934. And who can blame them? No one wants to watch a guaranteed blowout every year on national TV. And that's what they'll get this week when an angry Tennessee outfit -- coming off its first loss of the season -- visits Ford Field.
Tuesday, November 25:
Memo to Sandro DeAngelis of the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders: Get over yourself!! DeAngelis kicked five field goals Sunday night to help propel his team to victory, earning most outstanding Canadian honours in the process. But he's still peeved at not being named CFL special teams player of the year at last week's awards ceremony. Hey Sandro, you did your part in a team game and helped nail down what should be the ultimate goal -- the Grey Cup. Moaning and whining over a missed individual award tells us all we need to know about the individual in question -- and it ain't pretty.
Oh, for the winter of 2006-2007. That season, we didn't take the snow shovel out of the garage until January 10th. And last year, I was in steamy southeast Asia for almost all of November. So I am already grumpy at the cold weather and the fact I've already done the driveway twice, the first being last Thursday. And heavy wet snow is predicted for the rest of the week. Next week? Colder with more snow. It's not the shovelling I mind, it's the frequency the task requires once the winter storms start barrelling through. Yes, I hate winter more every year -- especially when it arrives in autumn!
Thursday, November 27:
A Happy Thanksgiving to our friends south of the border and, as a Detroit Lions fan, I apologize in advance for what you are about to receive. Enjoy the turkey -- and later in the afternoon, enjoy the food!
A year ago this week, I was returning to North America from southeast Asia, via Bangkok. I'm glad it was a year ago. Both the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the old Don Muang International Airport have been closed down due to disturbances between pro- and anti-government supporters. Four people were hurt after explosions went off, one at each facility. After two trips there, it's hard to imagine Thai people -- the nicest people I've ever encountered in my travels -- rioting.
Speaking of violence, if you need more evidence that the war on terror is worthwhile, that evidence is fresh from the terrorism yesterday in Mumbai, India. People have different ideas on how the war on terror can be fought, either militarily or via sanctions but it's a fight we cannot ignore. Not if we want to live the lives we choose.
And back to Thailand. I didn't realize until recently that Thai Airways discontinued the direct New York-to-Bangkok route I took a year ago. It was scuttled over the summer due to the high fuel costs. There's no word on whether it might be resumed now that oil prices are at three-year lows. With the current worldwide economic crisis, I doubt it. But tourism is a major portion of the Thai economy, and it may be something to consider.
Friday, November 28:
It's one thing for Detroit Lions fans in America to suffer through yesterday's total embarrassment -- a 47-10 loss to Tennessee. They could do so in private or in the company of understanding family members, seeing as it was the U.S. Thanksgiving. It's quite another for those of us in Canada who are somehow afflicted with Honolulu Blue and Silver disease. We had to endure the barbs and zings of our workmates or classmates, seeing as it was "just another day" here. I've seen the Lions play some, stin-- OK, many stinkers over the past half-century. I cannot remember one as bad as this. In the second half, already up 35-10, the Titans worked no harder than they would doing a light run-through and still outscored Detroit 12-0. If Tennessee had wanted to, they would have run up the score into the 70s. How does a professional football team call a time-out before a play to talk things over and then take a time-count violation before they get snap the ball?! How does a defence, on a third-and-five passing down, allow a 58-yard touchdown run without laying so much as a finger on the ball carrier? How does anyone, from the top execs to the ballboys, remain employed on this 0-and-12 sinking ship? Pathetic doesn't even begin to cover it.
Sunday, November 30:
They may howl in Tuscaloosa, Austin, Lubbock, Texas and Los Angeles -- and even in Salt Lake City and Boise, Idaho, but to these veteran eyes, the two best U.S. college football teams are Florida and Oklahoma. And I fully expect they will win their conference championship games next week and advance to the BCS championship game in Miami early in the new year. And that's despite Alabama currently holding down the number one spot in the BCS poll with a perfect record. Much as I'll be cheering for Nick Saban's team in the SEC title game against Florida, I can't see the Gators losing. They seems to be able to score at will. Same with the Sooners -- 126 points in their last two games against highly-rated opponents Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. Oklahoma is almost certain to be voted into the Big-12 title game against Missouri despite the three-way tie the Sooners are in with Texas and Texas Tech -- 7-and-1 in the conference and 11-and-1 overall. It's all up to the computers now, but I'd be shocked if Oklahoma doesn't get the nod.
Texas isn't out of the national championship picture, of course. But there's no way Southern Cal makes it. A Mizzou upset over Oklahoma and the Longhorns are likely in. And it doesn't matter which team wins in the SEC final -- the Alabama-Florida winner will definitely get in. The Trojans? They're going to the Rose Bowl -- next week against UCLA. Assuming they don't stumble in that game like they did two years ago, they will return to Pasadena New Year's Day to play Penn State. Southern Cal slid into the Rose Bowl driver's seat when Oregon State lost to rival Oregon last night, but USC's own loss to the Beavers sealed their fate as far as a national championship bid is concerned. Utah? Boise State? Both unbeaten, both headed for big bowl games, both with no chance at number-one due to the conferences they play in. Playoff system, anyone?
