Welcome to a brand new week on the blog! I'll admit it's been rather slow-going on the blog of late. In fact, at times it's slowed right down to a halt. Fact is I've had little to say as of late, so I've kept my mouth shut.
But the Monday Morning Goalie is always fun so here are some jottings from a blogger/broadcaster/writer over the past week.
A young blogger asked me where I come up with ideas to write about. Well I used to carry a notepad and pen around and when I had an idea I'd write it down. Now, I just type it in the Blackberry. So here's a glimpse at what's been bouncing around my mind over the past seven days:
- First the scores:
Telus Cup Championship Final:
ND Hounds 4 Calgary 0
*The Hounds' three national championships are second only to the Regina Pat Canadians' four.
Anavet Cup Game 7
Humboldt 5 Portage 4 OT
*The Broncos overcame a 4-1 deficit in Game 7 to win it, and punch their ticket to the Royal Bank Cup in Victoria. Thanks to CJOB Winnipeg's Brian Munz for sending us audio of Broncos coach Dean Brockman this morning..
National Hockey League Playoffs (2)
Conference Quarter-finals
Washington 5 N.Y. Rangers 3
(Series tied 3-3)
Carolina 4 New Jersey 0
(Series tied 3-3)
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The Riders should have an announcement on a new defensive line coach within two weeks' time. I don't know the guy's name, but he's an American. I spoke to coach Miller about it yesterday.
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The Regina Pats have a news conference called for 2:00 this afternoon to preview this week's WHL Bantam Draft. Maybe someone will have the guts to ask Brent about Mitchell Blair's Curtis Hunt rumour?
Maybe Mitchell should come down himself as an accredited, professional blogger?
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Kudos to the Moose Jaw Warriors board of directors. There was a strong rumour they were going to dump GM Chad Lang and coach Dave Hunchak in early-April.
Obviously, it was a bad rumour and the board understands those two individuals have the team pointed in the right direction.
What's the latest on the new rink over there anyways? Any shovels hit the ground yet?
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I didn't really have a big problem with the comments of Blue Bomber coach Mike Kelly calling us the crotch of Canada last week although as a reporter, it got my spider senses tingling that it would be a big story.
To be honest, sports are so devoid of colourful personalities anymore that it's nice when someone has the grapes to step up and say something controversial. It's tough to do that these days because there's so many people ready to stone you when you have an unpopular opinion.
TSN's Dave Hodge gave Kelly a thumbs-down on The Reporters this weekend, which really is all that needs to be said about it.
Besides, I was reading Cosmo on the weekend and there was a headline "I Love Your Crotch!" in the magazine. I almost cut it out. Maybe there's a marketing campaign in there somewhere....
And can you imagine the abuse Mike Kelly's invited from the eastside stands for Labour Day Classic XLIII? I CAN'T WAIT!
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On that topic, my eastside friends tell me that in 20 years of enduring intolerable verbal abuse, Wally Buono has NEVER turned around and acknowledged them. NOT ONE TIME.
Because you know the second he does, the hecklers win.
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On that note, I think it's disgraceful that John Tortorella was suspended for Game 6 of the Rangers-Capitals series. I don't subscribe to the theory that fans can heave infinite amounts of abuse on coaches and players without fear of being accountable for it.
I'm not surprised somebody finally bit back, and I support Torts.
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Something struck me while watching Calgary-Chicago Saturday night with the basketball dads when one of them, Gil, spoke of being in the old Chicago Stadium and how electric it was.
It made me think that over the next few seasons we should really appreciate Taylor Field/Mosaic Stadium for what it is. Because in a few years when we're in the new place, we're really going to miss the Grand Ol' Lady and what she represents.
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I think the government could pay for this stadium from revenue off my speeding tickets alone.
DANG!! Where's the leniency?
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Congrats to the Regina Hornets Grade 7 girls basketball'ers for kicking hindy again in the Strathmore, AB tournament. Four games, another gold medal, and they outscored their opponents 331-88.
These girls are a machine.
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I was dressed in full Rider parapharnelia at the basketball tourney in Strathmore. Here's an exchange between me and one of the Calgary parents, wearing a Stamps jacket.
Her: "Riders suck!"
Me: "Who got the Cup?"
Her: "We do."
Me: "Oh yah I forgot. Well played."
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It's hard to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs and not come to some conclusions and observations about the television coverage.
I can do without the interviews on-ice before the game that NBC does. I mean, Darren Pang and Jeff Carter held up the national anthem for their interview between the benches prior to the Philly-Pittsburgh game Saturday afternoon.
Guys, we just had 30 minutes of analysis -- we don't need two more minutes with a player in front of a live audience of 18,000 people in the arena (and none of them know what's being said.)
Yah, I know they're trying to be hip and cool and appeal to the American TV audience but guess what? Show more of the Cane-iacs and ice girls if you want to appeal to people.
Like Don Cherry says, "the U.S. has had the NHL since 1928. If they don't get it by now, they're never going to get it."
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Tell me again why Peter Laviollette is out of a job? This guy's sharper than the edge of town on TSN.
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Most guys I talk to really like P.J. Stock on CBC. I however, do not. I don't dislike him either, I just don't have an opinion either way. But the women totally love him.
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Why do the Flames have an Alberta flag on their shoulder and the Oilers don't?
Maybe they do but I polled some Oiler fans I know and they couldn't say for sure whether they do or not.
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What was Mike Milbury doing in the Bruins' management box the other night? Is he working for the B's?
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A lotta closet Bruins fans have come out of the woodwork these days haven't they??
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Ray Ferraro is money. He's hands-down the best hockey analyst on TV right now.
He talks at a level everybody understands, and has lots of great info to pass along. Pierre McGuire's a bit too technical and full of hockey-speak for me. Although, all the hockey guys love him. I guess he's a real good guy.
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There's a razor fine line between experienced, and old. The Calgary Flames I'm afraid, are old. Watch the interviews! Iginla, Conroy, Sarich, Kipper, Bertuzzi, they're all old and wrinkled like me.
The Blackhawks look like the Pats! Fresh-faced, barely shaving but they're skating circles around the Flames.
They're like the early 80's Oilers. The question is, can Hawks management keep them together?
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The girls are watching Wedding Crashers as we drive home from Alberta.
It's reminded me I've really got to get serious about losing weight. A few years ago everybody compared me to Vince Vaughn but lately it's been Will Ferrell (I get Frank the Tank a lot).
I guess it's better than Chris Farley.
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Can anyone please locate that Bob Cole impersonater that used to call into the Wolf 104.9? That guy was money too.
I asked Ballsie to get him back on the air but he doesn't know the guy's name and he hasn't called in for years.
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You're going to laugh at this one -- former WHL referee Alan Smith invited me to the Saskatchewan Referees Association golf tournament in Saskatoon this summer.
Why do I get the feeling that if I went, I'd be tied to a stake in the middle of the driving range and used for target practice?
Actually, some of my best relationships are with FORMER 'Dub refs like Mike Hasenfatz, Brad Meier, Rob Matsuoka, etc.
One time Hazzy told me in a Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot in Saskatoon, "the guys are getting tired of you roasting them so bad on the radio". So I laid off.
These days, I barely know any of the refs in the league. It's easier to roast them that way. I'm sure they're just as good a guys as the ones who've come before them.
I wouldn't know.
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Something to think about:
The Station restaurant/pub in Strathmore, AB has one cent wings during Flames games. That's right, 500 wings for 5 bucks. Or 50 wings for $0.50.
What do you say Press Box? Hopefully they don't do it during Rider games, since I can't be there.
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I don't feel so bad about the litter in the ditches in Regina after seeing all Medicine Hat's garbage this weekend. Actually, we're far cleaner. Kudos to the City of Regina workers for doing a real nice job.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have the best record in the American League at 14-6 and tonight they open a series in Kansas City against the 9-9 Royals.
They've won six straight series to open the season ... let's hope they don't blow it against the lowly Royals!
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Message to Old Dutch Foods: PLEASE bring back Buffalo Hot Wing chips!
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I think about Calgary Flames assistant coach Rich Preston a lot (Regina Pats coach 1995-1997).
Particularly when I'm in a mall food court. One time in a mall food court in St. Louis, I left a tray behind. Rico said to ALWAYS take your tray to the garbage. ALWAYS. It's not hard to do.
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Why doesn't Bassano, AB have a "Home of Mike Toth" sign outside the town?
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For those trying to get ahold of me, please email instead of calling. I HATE talking on the phone, which may come as a surprise.
Email me and you'll get an almost immediate response. Call me, and it could take a few days.
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You won't find any World Hockey Championships coverage here nor will there be any updates on the Pats Playoff Draft. In each case, nobody cares.
I've also realized there's nothing to be proud about for winning the Pats Draft twice in the past 14 years. Brent Parker and I are the only ones who've been here all that time! If any of these other guys who've won it had been around this long, they'd have won it multiple times too.
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Finally, a Celebrity Apprentice update.
As advertised, Rivers delivered. The show's been lagging lately with not-the-greatest of personalities in the final six. They are; Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa, Clint Black, Jesse James, Annie Duke and Brandi Roderick.
But there were fireworks last night when Melissa Rivers got fired and both she and her Mom went ballistic. Joan called poker star Annie Duke a P.O.S. and called Playboy playmate Brandi Roderick a "dumb blonde". I always wondered how people can lose complete control of themselves, particularly on television.
Just who is Melissa Rivers anyways? A TV host/Producer? On WHAT?
The way things are going, Jesse James (best known as Sandra Bullock's husband) while be chucking the knuckles with Clint Black on next week's show. They really don't get along well.
They're doing the best to keep the show from being boring so I'll give them credit for that.
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Don't miss Sportsline tonight at 6:05pm MT on 620 CKRM. We're still working on the guests..
RP
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats and the Tri-City American have swapped a pair of first round picks. The Pats have acquired forward Jason Gardiner (pictured) from the Americans (8th overall in 2006) in exchange for forward Neal Prokop (5th overall in 2005).
