Monday, December 1:
What the hell's the point of having elections if the losers are just going to scheme their way to power in a coalition? And of course, they were pushed by the government, which tried to pull a fast one by trying to nix political party subsidies. This whole mess is a complete embarrassment and every one of the top dogs in Ottawa of every political stripe should be ashamed of themselves. Here we are in a global depression and all these clowns can do is practice partisan politics? It's too bad this sort of behaviour isn't considered a felony. I'd love to see these chowderheads try and explain their actions in a court of law. There's not one of them who has the best interests of Canada at heart. Burned? You bet I am. Idiots!
And speaking of politics, I thought Barack Obama ran on a platform of, "vote for change." What kind of change is he talking about when he loads up his cabinet and advisory staff with tired, old Clintonites?
Wednesday, December 3:
The Bride is away on work duties for a week in the capital. So on day one of just me and the pup, Mandy the Wonder Pooch goes and opens a large gash on her back where her stitches had been before they were removed last Friday (we had the surgeon take out a couple of cysts when she had her knee surgery). It looked terrible but thankfully our town's vet clinic was still open at 8 p.m. (!) last night and Doc Wassermann patched her up. But her dreams of ditching the protective cone around her neck this week have disappeared. Thankfully, she'll be fine.
As a Detroit Lions' fan, I have little use for franchise owner William Clay Ford. I won't even buy his automobiles. At 0-and-12 and a month away from an 0-and-16 season, fellow Lions fans are flooding forums and message boards, verbally tearing a strip off ol' WCF's behind. Saw one today that left me in tears of laughter. One poster, in righteous indignation, wanted to know if anyone had WFC's e-mail address and suggested we fans flood it with comments about what we thought of his stewardship. One guy wrote back: "Try 'imadikhead@hotmail.com.'" Cracked me right up.
Thursday, December 4:
I could rave on about the mess on Parliament Hill but why bother? I stated my case rather strongly on Facebook last night, as well as here on Monday. I'll just say that, as someone named after a man who fought and died for this country, I believe in the sanctity of elections and the vote. That's all.
I'd love to be in Windsor tonight for the final game at the old barn, the Madhouse on McDougall, the Windsor Arena. London may be my home town but I was born in Windsor, spent most of my summers around there and still have family there. The Spitfires are finally saying goodbye to the old joint tonight against Guelph. I saw my first game there back around 1970 or so, when the Tier II Spits played the rival Detroit Junior Red Wings. We were in high school and drove from London to Windsor on a school night to see this one. The clubs had staged something of a brawl in game one of a home-and-home set earlier in the week across the river at Olympia Stadium, and the place was packed for the rematch. I mean, packed! More than seven thousand of us crammed into every nook and cranny we could find (the fire code number in those days was 5,400). Our "general admission" seats were in an aisle. There was no glass along the boards and chicken wire was in place behind the net and the rematch was as nasty as the game that preceded it. I've seen countless games there since, most since they "fixed it up," lengthened the ice surface and reduced the capacity to allow the Spitfires to join the OHL in the late '70s. It was old and cramped but had character. I'll miss it. Hopefully the Spits, the top team in Canada right now, don't miss a beat when they move into their new arena.
Saturday, December 6:
With bride away and the HD television set all to myself tonight, I'm going to buy into the big boxing match -- Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao. On paper, it looks like a mismatch. De La Hoya is one-time middleweight moving down into the 147-pount welterweight division while Pacquiao was once a flyweight, moving up. Big man vs. small man, the big man always wins, right? Not so fast. The Pac-Man weighed in at 142-pounds, so as not to hamper his speed advantage (De La Hoya tipped the Toledos at 145). And Pacquiao's a buzz-saw, always attacking, while stamina might be an issue for the 35-year-old De La Hoya, who gives up six years to his opponent. But he's taller and heavier and Pacquiao has never fought at this weight before. No less an expert than Burt Randolph Sugar is picking the Filipino in a decision -- but I think De La Hoya will connect with one of those lethal left hooks and win it by knockout or TKO. We'll see.
Sunday, December 7:
It's obvious that Bert Sugar's discarded fingernails know more about boxing than I ever will. Manny Pacquiao dismantled Oscar De La Hoya in eight lopsided rounds last night and that's got to be the end for the Golden Boy. They were right to stop it when they did after the pounding De La Hoya took, leaving the left side of his face lumpy and misshapen. For boxing's sake, I hope the crowds that reached for their wallets whenever De La Hoya did battle will do the same for the Pac-Man, who fought a brilliant fight last night, aggressive but controlled. And as it turns out, he was heavier than De La Hoya when they entered the ring -- by a pound-and-a-half.
Six games for Sean Avery's embarrassing and disgusting comments on his former girlfriend? I'm not sorry to see the super-pest get shut down, but in this case, that's the job of the Dallas Stars (who have taken strong action, and dropped him from the roster). To hand down a six-gamer for free (but asinine) speech and dole out only two-or-three-game suspensions to guys who go head-hunting on the ice with cheap shots from behind is just stupid. And for the NHL, typical.
Glad to see the Windsor Spitfires capture their Windsor Arena finale last week. And today, across the border, the Detroit Lions will try to make it 0-and-13 as they host Minnesota. This one is fraught with danger. In October, the Vikings only beat the Lions 12-10 in Minneapolis and needed a questionable pass interference call to set up their game-winning field goal. But I'm confident my Lions will find a way to stay the course.
Monday, December 8:
Well, the Lions lost again, but I can't find fault with their effort. The execution was another matter altogether. Minnesota did everything possible to give the game away and the Lions simply couldn't take advantage. Which brings to mind the greatest sports quote. Ever. Following another lopsided loss during his Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 0-and-14 inaugural season, coach John McKay was asked to comment on his team's execution. Whereupon McKay, without missing a beat, replied, "I'm in favour of it."
Tuesday, December 9:
Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola says he has no regrets about flipping the bird to some hecklers Sunday at Ford Field as he and his teammates were well on their way to their 13th loss in 13 games. Seems the big fella got peeved over some personal abuse directed his way. Well, boo frickin' hoo. Raiola says he'd love to hand out his address to some angry fans, but claims he won't do that because people don't play with fists anymore, they play with metal. Raiola should play with a little shaddap. He and his talentless teammates are taking abuse from folks living in town with a battered and broken economy, yet they are still die-hard football fans. Raiola gets paid a handsome amount and ripping the loyal home crowd isn't going to do him any favours. Tell ya what, Dom. You and rest of the offensive line start blocking someone for a change and we'll stop booing. Deal?
Thursday, December 11:
Time to check in with the locals, seeing as they are coming off a win. A rare win. A very rare win. Monday's overtime triumph in Cobourg avenged a loss to the same Cougars over the weekend and gave the Stouffville Spirit a record of five wins, 26 defeats and three more losses by way of a shootout. Only one of the Spirit's five triumphs came in regulation time. Three have been via the shootout along with Monday's OT victory. It's tougher sledding for Stouffville this season in the Central Division, with the likes of Markham, Toronto, St. Mike's and tonight's visitors, the division-leading Wellington Dukes from south of Belleville. But the aggravating thing about this lost but rebuilding season is the fact that the Spirit have been extremely competitive for a last-place team. Seventeen of their 29 losses have been by just one or two goals.
Friday, December 12:
Woo-hoo! Stouffville 4, Wellington 3. In regulation! And a two-game winning streak to boot. The guys doing the play-by-play on Whistle Radio said it was the Spirit's best game of the season.
My own personal disdain for the city I work in -- or at least for the bozos who control the city I work in -- probably have prevented me from being much of a fan of any of Toronto's big four pro sports teams. I've had no problem cheering for clubs representing other places I've worked and played in -- Windsor, London and Ottawa -- but not the Big Smoke. The Maple Leafs admittedly had me as a youth but took away my zeal when they fired Punch Imlach the first time and lost me forever when Harold Ballard wanted the late Roger Neilson -- whom he had just fired -- to return as a mystery coach by appearing with a paper bag over his head. I've never been an Argonauts fan, having cheered for the Ottawa Rough Riders in my youth. If I have to pick a CFL team, it's Hamilton. The Raptors I like, but the Boston Celtics have been my NBA number-one forever. Same situation with the Blue Jays -- I like 'em, but the Detroit Tigers are my favourite pro sports team. All of this is a long-winded way of saying that it must be a challenge cheering for TO's teams these days. The Leafs are just starting another rebuilding phase, the Raptors have been seriously disappointing so far this season, the Argos had their worst campaign in years, missing the playoffs and the Jays haven't made the playoffs since their championship year of 1993 and appear to have zero chance of qualifying anytime soon.
Christmas, 13 days away. And I have to admit, I'm not "in the season" yet. My pal Don insists that it ain't Christmas 'til he hears der Bingle. Maybe he's right. I haven't heard "White Christmas" yet. Until I do, it's just December.
Sunday, December 14:
A very strange month of Saturdays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They were at home last week, as is their custom, but were idle last night, play on the road next Saturday and are idle again on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year's. Very odd. And it's not much different in January, either. Five Saturdays, two games at home, one on the road, one Saturday idle and the other is the all-star break in Montreal. It's going to take awhile but finally, the Leafs are in very good hands with proven winners. If MLSE will leave Brian Burke and Ron Wilson alone to do their jobs, then they will, in time, have a Cup contender.
Sam Bradford, Heisman Trophy winner. With Oklahoma piling up 60-plus points per game, you knew he stood a very good chance to win it. And the vote was razor close, with Bradford nosing out Colt McCoy of Texas and last year's winner, Tim Tebow of Florida. Methinks Tebow gets the last laugh though, in the championship game against Bradford's Sooners. Both teams have unbelievable offences. The Gators have a great defence to go along with it.
Monday, December 15:
They're ready to bake Dick Jauron in with the next batch of chicken wings down in Buffalo. The Bills coach is feeling the heat today after gift-wrapping yesterday's game at the Meadowlands and handing it to the New York Jets as a Christmas gift. There's an old adage in football that suggests if you're successfully running the ball, you keep on doing it! The Bills were gaining about five yards a crack down the stretch against the Jets and had used the run to take a three point lead late in the game. After forcing the Jets into three-and-out, Buffalo ripped off another five yards on first down -- then with 2:06 left, they attempted a screen pass. Oops! Quarterback J.P. Losman was hit from behind and fumbled the ball right into the hands of a Jets' defender, who lumbered into the end zone for the game-winning score. In case you're wondering, yes, Jauron does have Detroit Lions' roots. He was drafted by them, played five seasons in blue and silver and was even their interim head coach three years ago.
The Lions? Yes, another loss, but they were even with mighty Indianapolis in the fourth quarter -- on the road -- before the Colts put it away. Simply a loss to a better football team -- hard to find fault with that. Something tells me Detroit will finally prevail in their home finale Sunday against New Orleans.
The Stouffville white Christmas took a beating yesterday and today with a 48-hour December thaw. Right now, it's half-white, half-green. But I fully expect it to be all-white again soon, perhaps as early as this weekend. The temperature has been plummeting throughout the afternoon and snow is in the not-too-distant forecast.
Wednesday, December 17:
White Christmas? Oh, yeah. Pretty much guaranteed here now. A good 10 centimetres fell last night but Environment Canada says that will be a mere dusting compared to what's coming our way Friday, Sunday and maybe even Christmas Eve. A possible "snow-mageddon" they say (I'm not making this up). A white Christmas is nice but not so nice for travellers. And then there's my driveway. There have been years (admittedly, just a few) where my winter shover-load has been less than what I've already cleared this season -- and this is still just autumn! But the worst part of Environment Canada's news? A long-range forecast for another wetter and cooler than normal summer. What was that about global warming?
Friday, December 19:
I guess it took a challenge for the Detroit Red Wings to play like champs. San Jose roared into the Joe last night with the best record in the NHL and limped out on the wrong end of a 6-0 final. It may have been the Red Wings' best game of the season. Maybe they'll turn it up a notch now.
Not sure who played worse -- the Maple Leafs last night in an ugly 8-5 loss at Boston or the Raptors all week with three smelly defeats in as many home games. And now the Raps hit the road until New Year's Eve. This could be a long season for both clubs.
I'm forever tinkering with how I want this site to look down the road. My latest effort is here: 
On this demo, they all light up, but the only square button that works is the one that says, "return to blog." That will bring you back here. So whaddaya think? Drop me a line on the mailbox at the top of this page if you have an opinion, yay or nay.
Sunday, December 21:
!!! HAPPY HANUKKAH !!!
I know I'm going out on a limb here, but I think the Detroit Lions will win a football game today. Maybe I'm brain-addled with all of the snow we've had here this week but there's something in my gut that says victory for the Lions. Medic!
For the first time, an English side has won soccer's world club championship. Manchester United pulled it off today in Japan, beating Liga de Quito of Ecuador 1-0 on a late Wayne Rooney goal. And they had to do it while shorthanded for almost all of the second half after Nemanja Vidic was sent off. Maybe best of all is that the Premier League leaders have been playing each other to a standstill while United has been in Japan leaving the Red Devils still within striking distance of top spot. Hopefully, they won't suffer much in the way of jet lag when they return to action Boxing Day. United needs to bolster its road performance if it plans on repeating as Premier League champs. They've won just three of nine away games, drawing another four. Those ties have to become wins down the stretch of they're to overtake Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool and stay ahead of Arsenal.
Monday, December 22:
No, the Detroit Lions didn't win yesterday. No, they didn't even show up, losing 42-7 to New Orleans in their home finale. No, I wasn't on crack when I suggested they would prevail. I'm just stupid. You would think after watching half a century of ineptness, I would know never to predict a Lions victory. Here's now competitive the Lions were yesterday: New Orleans never had to punt. On the Saints' first six possessions, they scored six touchdowns. The visitors were 11-for-11 on third downs until taking a knee on the final play of the game. And on the Lions' first play of the second half, after having the long halftime break to plan their first possession, they were penalized for having too many men on the field! You can't make this stuff up. Worst of all, before the game, the team's clueless owner, William Clay Ford, announced that both chief operating officer Tom Lewand and interim general manager Martin Mayhew -- both of whom were promoted when president Matt Millen walked the plank -- will return next year. They, along with every other decision-maker in the Lions' office, should have their posteriors booted from Motown to Hackensack. The only way the Detroit Lions avoid a record-setting 0-and-16 season is by winning next week at Green Bay. I think the last time they beat the Pack in Wisconsin was when Lambeau Field was still City Stadium. In other words, it ain't gonna happen.
Heard "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bell Rock" just in time. Maybe Christmas is coming!
Wednesday, December 24:
Funny the things you remember. It was 50 years ago today when my dad, fulfilling his annual tradition of getting "one last gift" on Christmas Eve, allowed me to tag along in the car (I was five). The weather in Windsor had started to deteriorate but he held firm and finally found a downtown parking spot. But he couldn't enter the store just then because the Chipmunks "Christmas Song" was just starting to play on the radio and I was obsessed with it. He patiently waited while I sang along as best I could, then when it was over, he darted into the store, picked up his "one last gift" and we were on our way east through the heavy snow to Riverside, where we lived. I didn't understand why my dad was visiting a record store but I was sure thrilled the next morning when I discovered Santa had left -- along other goodies -- a 45-record of the Chipmunks' holiday classic!
You knew the New York Yankees were going to do this, having missed the playoffs last season and moving into a new ballpark in 2009. But 423.5 million dollars for three players?! It sounds insane. Mark Teixeira, eight years at $180 million. C.C. Sabathia, seven years at $161 million. A.J. Burnett, five years at $82.5 million. And you know what? Fine. The Yanks will be coming into more serious money this season with the new Yankee Stadium up and running. And unlike many owners, the Steinbrenner family is pouring that money back into the ballclub. Their fans have to be thrilled. But by doing so, of course, the Yanks have just sounded the 2009 death knell for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. New York will be battling Boston and Tampa Bay for the American League and the wild-card. It's a vicious circle for the Blue Jays. They won't draw sellout crowds until a contender is in place. They can't build a contender until the revenues improve. And fans won't flock to the Rogers Centre, knowing the Jays have about a zero chance of reaching the post-season. There are 30 clubs in the majors and only two -- the Jays and O's -- are done for before spring training starts -- again. All because of the division they play in. Yes, I know the Rays shocked one and all last year, but they've had years of stockpiling top draft picks and it finally started to pay off. But in one fell swoop of contract signatures, Tampa Bay has gone from World Series finalists to a wild-card contender. Tell you one thing -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi is going to be on one helluva hot seat if New York struggles in 2009!
Another 10-15 centimetres of snow here, the third such storm in eight days. And much of it will melt (after I shovel the driveway again!) due to the rain and warmer temperatures that are on the way later today. And Saturday's supposed to be even warmer! Still, they say this will be the first time since 1971 when all of Canada will enjoy a white Christmas.
Thursday, December 25:
!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!
Friday, December 26:
No, I didn't partake in the shopping insanity that is Boxing Day. For one thing, I worked overnight until 6 a.m., so while people were shopping 'til they dropped, I was already "dropped" and sawin' logs. Funny thing. Both "chippies" in Stouffville were closed tonight. We thought being a Friday, and a huge shopping day to boot, they would have been open for hungry folks to enjoy fish 'n chips. Of course, it IS a holiday. You just don't see too many institutions closed December 26th anymore. So, it was chicken at Swiss Chalet instead.
Sunday, December 28:
Amazing how Santa spoiled me rotten again the other day. The gifts included a new BlackBerry Curve. I've been able to pick up the basics but it will be fun trying to learn the ins and outs of the device.
So far, so good for Team Canada as the national juniors go for a fifth straight world championship. They hammered the Czech Republic 8-1 the other night in the opener. Today, they have to avoid a letdown against Kazakhstan in what should be an easy win.
And today's the day! The Detroit Lions have a great shot at finishing 0-and-16! All they have to do is lose today at Green Bay, or in other words, do exactly what they've done in Wisconsin for 16 consecutive seasons. It's virtually in the bag!
Monday, December 29:
Glory be, they did it! And it even looked dicey for awhile in the fourth quarter when the Detroit Lions had actually pulled even with the Packers in Green Bay. But I shouldn't have worried. The Lions' defence provided the necessary non-plays and the Pack pulled away to win by 10 and guarantee the Lions that coveted spot in professional sports lore. Worst. Team. Ever. Seriously, sarcasm is all I have left. The Lions finished 0-and-16. The Michigan Wolverines were 3-and-9. It was a terrible football season, followed by a terrible baseball season, as my high-priced Tigers finished in last place. I remember thinking in the early summer after the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, Manchester United captured a domestic and European double and the Boston Celtics took the NBA crown that eventually things would balance out for my teams. What a topsy-turvy year.
No, Canada didn't look past Kasakhstan, pasting their opponents 15-0 yesterday at the world junior championship. Reminded me of the old world amateur championships of my youth when we would send our best amateurs overseas. We'd crush everyone 15-0 -- and so would Russia and then we'd lose to them in the final game. So far, Canada has outscored their opponents 23-1, but the tough games are all still ahead.
Tuesday, December 30:
It didn't take the Detroit Lions long to fire head coach Rod Marinelli after the 0-and-16 debacle. But that was the easy move. What the Lions also did was promote Tom Lewand to team president and Martin Mayhew to general manager. Promotions? After the most embarrassing season in the history of the National Football League? No offence to Lewand and Mayhew, but everyone associated with this travelling stagnation show should have been discharged with all speed.
And while I'm in a stew, lets hear it for the low-rent chowderheads who are entrusted with the job of making traffic run in Toronto. First of all, the stoplights on major roads like Lawrence and Eglinton are not timed for smooth vehicle flow. And the latest of the never-ending stoplights on Lawrence East includes a left-hand advance arrow. Into a parking lot. This isn't some major mall we're taking about, but a tiny lot in a strip mall. Incredibly stupid. I'm sure the powers that be won't rest until every property in the city -- commercial and residential -- has its own stoplight and advance arrow.
This is getting me out of the stew: The Stouffville Spirit have come out of the Christmas break with two straight wins, beating both St. Mike's and Wellington. In fact, their two recent victories over the Dukes have dropped them down to second place in the division behind Hamilton. Yes, seventh-place Cobourg is a distant 12 points away (with three games in hand), but the turnaround is encouraging.
Wednesday, December 31:
The Bride and I have never been ones to go crazy on New Year's Eve -- well, except when we rang in the '90s along with darned near the entire staff of the Toronto radio station I worked for, when we all took over the Bobcageon Inn up in the Kawarthas. I can still feel the pain of that one, almost two decades later. (And the fact that it was 19 years ago propelled me -- just now -- to share that information with The Bride in the form of the question, "Hey you want to feel old?" I won't print her response.) At any rate, no doubt due to our advanced ages, we'll take it easy tonight, watch the ball drop, have a glass or two of champers in the hot tub and call it a night. Tomorrow, we're having friends over for the annual turkey dinner.
If you're out and about tonight, think safety first please. Designated drivers, taxis and buses will not only get you home safely but it will also keep the roads safe for folks who obey the laws about drinking and driving.
