What does this diatribe have to do with sports?
Nothing – but I will try to squeeze in a couple metaphorical references to make you feel better.
I was reading a business article recently which indicated the Pizza Hut fortunes were down to a shadow of what they once were… sort of like a green CFL team we all know.
A large portion of their “dine in” establishments are gone, and even the take out only facilities are closing.
Does anyone feel the least bit sorry for these yahoo’s? Certainly not me!
Pizza Hut is pricing themselves right out of the highly saturated and competitive pizza/pasta market.
Years ago, some of the big players like Pepsico had the advantage with their infrastructure money – but now the product is far more important than the venue.
The Hut has never been known for their reasonable pricing, but they were always at least close to most of the other pizza suppliers.
NOW their prices are sky-high and outrageous… their product is average to below-average – bland and mass produced.
Fresh ingredients? Forget it… everything comes packaged – and tastes like it.
Their pasta is one step above a can of Chef Boyardee ravioli… yet they charge Italian restaurant prices.
Their chicken “wings” have a range of pretty good to stale… but their “boneless wings” are a ripoff, no bigger than Chicken McNuggets – but a buck each.
So here is a recent delivery bill from the Hut:
10pc boneless wings… 9.99
Large (they say 12″ pizza, but it is 10″) 2 topping pizza… 21.49
————————-
SubTotal: 31.48
Debit Fee: 1.50 * you could order $1,000 worth of product, which is only a few more pies – and you still get nailed the debit fee.
Delivery Charge: 3.40 ** again, no amount of contribution to the PH cause will get you out of this “surcharge”.
Prov. Tax: 0.00
GST: 1.81
————————–
Total: 38.19
Yep, 38 bucks for a 10″ pizza and 10 wings… and then the drivers STILL expect a tip – even with the 60 to 90 minute “service”.
How about the staff – who according to the same business article, are some of the lowest paid in the industry.
And the chances of getting someone on the phone who knows English… are about as good as Chris “wide right” Milo making a 40 yard field goal.
Contrast this with TJ’s Pizza – an extra large 2 topping (fresh ingredients) pizza with taxes included is $21.95… and no debit or delivery charges.
So add me to the list of former Pizza Hut customers.
It will be interesting to see how stubborn the pointy heads are with the silly pricing, when the only customers they have are crickets.
There is the diversity report for a CFL bye week!
dave@cflcentral.net
August 19th, 2011
With the Riders at 1-6, the calls are well underway for everyone to be fired – from the Taylor Field janitors to the CEO of the Riders board.
I think some are even calling for Gainer the Gopher’s head!
Then there are the reporters… writing columns of convenience – which means: taking history and tailoring it to fit a theory that makes you the ultimate armchair GM.
Case in point: Bob Hughes guest writing for Rod Pedersen “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights”. Hughes column
Now, allow me to interject a little reality back into Hughes utopian Rider Nation.
Back to 2007… it’s always back to 2007 – ever notice that from the media?
Tillman the master builder and Austin the superb coach.
Tillman was run out of town after groping his baby sitter – and rightfully so.
Austin was in and out of Regina after one year… and who knows whether he is a superb coach or not? He took a basically ready-built team on the rise and won the Grey Cup, BARELY – against a Blue Bomber team who had lost their starting QB in the Eastern final, and thanks to Bomber coach Doug Berry’s short sightedness throughout the season, faced a green-as-grass rookie QB in Ryan Dinwiddie who had virtually zero playing time all year.
Then Austin jumped ship and headed back to Mississippi for a coordinator’s job “at home” with Ol’ Miss.
Now one thing I will concede to Hughes… the whole Ken Miller thing is goofy right from square one.
Once Tillman left/was pushed out – Brendan Taman was hired to be the GM.
Ken Miller had been hired to not only be the head coach, but also VP of Football Operations… which in essence meant that although he was in a subordinate position answering to GM Taman as HC, he was actually Taman’s boss as VP.
The ONLY thing that kept this ridiculous situation from blowing up in the Rider board’s face, is the team kept winning – so the stress on the flow chart was kept to a minimum.
Once Miller retired as coach – at least he wasn’t the boss AND the employee anymore.
Hughes goes on to state what I have been saying since the Riders decided to go with the old Winnipeg “mediocrity rules” administration and an assorted collection of fired former head coaches.
BUT… then Hughes gets into the whole lament about letting LaPolice go to Winnipeg, along with Reed and Crandell to Edmonton.
That my friends, is simply creative convenient writing.
Let’s remember a few short months ago in the 2010 offseason when Bomber fans wanted LaPolice run out of River City after a 4-14 campaign.
Now Winnipeg is winning – therefore the Riders made a mistake letting him get away… puleeze.
And the Riders certainly could have hired Kavis Reed before Edmonton if they so chose… but Saskatchewan decided to go with Marshall instead.
Face facts, Reed is largely benefiting from work done by Tillman and Ritchie Hall in Edmonton… and giving Crandell credit for Ricky Ray’s play, borders on ridiculous.
Reed and Crandell are rookies – and only time will tell how they are as coaches… let’s remember, after the Eskimos fast start they are 0-2 lately – looked bad in Winnipeg and awful in Montreal.
Hughes ends by saying the league has now turned to the “young jets” in the coaching ranks. Well last time I checked, Greg Marshall is hardly an old codger.
You take any team in the league, age critical players and remove key components over a couple years – starting with John Chick, up through Andy Fantuz and several others, then toss in crucial injuries… and it will eventually catch up to the onfield product and overall record.
What the Roughriders are going through currently, could have happened to Montreal or any other squad in the league.
The only issue I see in turning things around… is that old Winnipeg contingent of Taman, Marshall and Berry in charge of the store.
As a Bomber fan, I say good luck with that Riderville!
dave@cflcentral.net
August 15th, 2011
So toss out any carry-over stats from 2010… and take a look at the CFL’s version of “truth is stranger than fiction”.
Both non-playoff teams from 2010 lead their respective divisions, and with only one loss between them… Edmonton in the West at 5-0, and Winnipeg in the East at 4-1.
Both Grey Cup teams are in 3rd place (Montreal technically tied for 2nd with Hamilton)… and Saskatchewan’s only win thus far was ironically in Montreal against their championship nemesis.
Both David Braley-owned teams have one win between them… Toronto with a 1-4 record, and BC at 0-5 – and a collective 0-9 together since opening week… so much for the collusion theories.
BC Lions – are off to what has become a usual notoriously slow start in the last few seasons – and the predictable call is out for Wally Buono the GM to fire Wally Buono the HC.
Will it happen? Owner Braley says the decision is completely Buono’s to make – and he refuses to even entertain the idea of stepping in.
One thing is for sure… some type of new approach is needed, but is mid-season the time to do it?
What head coach would want to take over, and attempt to implement his own system on the fly with the former coach looking over his shoulder?
Edmonton Eskimos – when Eric Tillman is GM, the team wins… period.
Sorry folks, but no way is it a coincidence that Tillman takes over a 7-11 team which then starts the next year at 5-0.
Nor is it a coinkydink that Tillman leaves Saskatchewan with a team that goes to the Grey Cup 3 out of 4 seasons… and now has blundered out of the gate at 1-4.
Approve or disapprove of Eric the Red’s off-field exploits, the guy knows football – and Edmonton was right to take the risk of bringing Tillman in.
Calgary Stampeders – are like a precision engine with bad gasoline… burping and farting along, with stretches of smooth running which gives fans the odd glimpse of their actual capability.
Calgary is another team which isn’t known for their fast starts, and the time may be near where they iron things out once again.
One thing is for sure, their roster shows a team that will be hard to stop when they finally do start rolling.
Home against the hot TiCats will be a good test for the Stamps in their next game.
Saskatchewan Roughriders – wow and now what… is what comes to mind when watching the latest game get away from the Riders – who are now 0-3 in Regina, normally a difficult place for opposing teams to play in.
Who does this team miss more… Fantuz, Congi, Szarka, Bagg – or Coach Ken Miller? Is it the wrong “man” – Taman instead of Tillman? All of the above?
With the personnel largely intact from the teams which appeared in back-to-back Grey Cups, one has to figure the problem is more internal than on the field.
Questions are already being asked if Greg Marshall and his staff of failed head coaches are the right ones for the job… and rightfully so, because they did inherit a good football team.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers – are off to a start that not even the most hardcore Bomber fan dared to hope for.
Nice to see the Bombers and Lions come together for a classy pre-game tribute in memory of coach Richard Harris, who died from a heart attack in his office only a couple days before the game.
Buck Pierce – this guy either doesn’t get it, or refuses to grasp the concept… patrolling linebackers + scrambling quarterbacks = free lunch.
Some call his headlong rushes into the waiting defences “gutsy” or “tough”… I will suggest the appropriate word in this case is “selfish”.
Buck needs to think of the team, understand he is prone to injury and learn to slide feet first into the tag… like most sane QB’s with an eye on career longevity already have figured out a long time ago.
This team is only going to go as far as Buck’s health takes them – and he needs to do his part to preserve the season and the success, and quit taking unnecessary risks.
Hamilton Tiger Cats – have rewarded GM O’Billovich’s patience and confidence in the current roster after a horrible start with three wins in a row, including a relatively easy win over Montreal in their last game.
Captain Average, also known as QB Kevin Glenn has settled in and is playing well again… and the doglips are gone because he is on the field without pressure from Porter, for the time being anyway.
All eyes will be on Calgary this week, to see if this team is for real – or whether they have been catching other teams who simply aren’t playing well.
Toronto Argonauts – are a better team than their paltry 1-4 record indicates.
This team has been in or leading most of the games, and are a couple of “Argo bounces” away from turning things around.
No doubt Dalton Bell should be the starting QB over Cleo Lemon, for the short term future at least – and looked good in the latest “almost” in Edmonton.
Just an aside after the halftime timer’s debacle in Edmonton which resulted in the Eskimo’s literal last second TD… is there a worse referee in the CFL than Andre Proulx currently? I’m hard-pressed to think of one.
Montreal Alouettes – just as many of the teams in the CFL, the Als are only going to look good when their QB Anthony Calvillo is on top of his game.
In their last two games, both losses – Calvillo was knocked out of the game against Saskatchewan, and still looked to be suffering some ill effects against Hamilton.
McPherson may be the eventual replacement for Calvillo, but right now he hasn’t played enough to take over with any amount of success when AC is hurt.
Going into Toronto this week will not be a “gimme game” for Montreal either… as stated, Toronto is not playing bad football and are sure to be pretty angry after the Edmonton robbery in broad daylight.
That’s it from the armchair QB’s desk for now… where the view is always good, and the opinion is naturally right.
dave@cflcentral.net
July 31st, 2011
I know I am going to annoy a few hardcore Blades fans, and perhaps some citizens of St. John’s, NL… but that’s life in the fast lane.
The topic of the day is the former Manitoba Moose, now the St. John’s IceCaps of the AHL, who are the farm team of the NHL Winnipeg Jets.
My theory is… this team belongs in Saskatoon, SK, playing at the Credit Union Center.
First, the chronic underachieving Saskatoon Blades of the WHL have a lease with CUC until 2013.
This would have preempted any consideration by True North Sports & Entertainment (owners of the Jets and IceCaps) in re-locating the Moose to Saskatoon in 2011.
BUT… Saskatoon has grown from the sleepy rural town into a rapidly expanding city – and in the process has outgrown the minor league WHL.
The WHL is perfectly suited for large towns and small cities in western Canada and the USA… and the Blades would have no difficulty finding a new and suitable home, and perhaps more interest for the team in the process.
Second, one of the most successful AHL franchises in the Manitoba Moose (former Vancouver Canucks farm team) found themselves orphaned in Winnipeg.
Once the sale and move of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg was complete, suddenly there was no room at the inn for the Moose in River City.
So the best deal that could be had on the fly for TNSE, was to replace the St. John’s Maple Leafs (farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs who were moved to Toronto and re-named the Marlies) in Newfoundland.
BUT… the Jets are bound to discover the same thing that the Baby Leafs did – travel costs and time changes for an AHL franchise in NL are going to be monumental problems, which will inevitably adversely affect the bottom line.
It’s not that the people of St. John’s won’t support the team – but rather that their city is still halfway to England… just simply reality.
Some say Saskatoon is not a “sports town”… and I disagree.
I believe Saskatoon would be a fine “pro sports city”… which I remind people – already sells out all the annual NHL exhibition games in pretty short order.
With the Riders in Regina, it makes sense the next step is pro hockey for a tailor-made AHL arena in Saskatoon.
It is totally within the realm of possibility, that in a couple years the Jets are looking to move their affiliate alot closer to Winnipeg – and at the same time, far closer to the rest of the AHL as well.
The Saskatchewan Moose is a practical solution and fit for the Jets and the population base in Saskatoon.
This would also re-kindle the history the Winnipeg Jets have with Saskatoon – having held training camp and exhibition games in Bridge City with the past franchise.
Besides… IceCaps are better served at Tim Hortons than the Mile One Center in Newfieville anyway.
Ok, there’s the cheap shot and cue the haters!
dave@cflcentral.net
July 30th, 2011
I have a GREAT idea. You’re gonna like it. Yeah really…
Now that the Roughriders have sacked Kornegay, I think they should also get rid of Frazier, Simpson, Mullinder, Makowsky, Dressler, Durant, Cates, and anyone else that has any experience, talent, or respect within the locker room. Surely THAT will turn things around.
There is officially no longer any doubt as to the ineptitude of upper management in Regina. Yes they have already suffered a few key injuries this season, but the main group of players on this team has not changed so much since last year that there is any explanation left besides poor management & coaching for their soon-to-be 0-4 start.
The Roughies need a GM who can spot talent and actually MANAGE a team…oh Tillman where art thou?
Greg Marshall needs to go into the locker room and, in the presence of all the players and coaching staff, get really mad and kick the snot out of a garbage can, letting EVERYBODY know who is boss. An essential though somewhat ironic part of respect toward a coach is very often a healthy dose of fear. I’m not saying this should happen often however; this tactic will quickly wear thin unless used sparingly. But it does need to happen soon.
So, can we please get on with implementing the remedy?
phil@cflcentral.net
July 20th, 2011
Question: How do you bring a football championship trophy back to Regina?
Answer: Ask the Saskatoon Valkyries to bring it with them on their next visit to Taylor Field.
At the rate the Roughriders are going this season, the women’s trophy is the only one that will be seen in Sask this year. The boys need to turn things around, and fast…but how? Maybe the Riders should practise some drills with the ladies. Or borrow most of the Valkyries’ coaching staff. Hire a bunch of the players! The girls obviously know how to get it done.
A boss of mine from long ago had a saying if we were not looking busy enough – “Do something, even if it’s wrong!” Wayne’s advice may have relevance here. The Riders need to DO something, because they’ve done JACK in the first 3 games. And they’ve already gotten almost all the wrong stuff out of the way, right?…RIGHT??? Well I can hope.
Eric Tillman’s former influence on Team Green is all but gone now. The recycled Bombers coaching staff has completed its first offseason entirely on its own – which is to say without any steering from Tillman – and look at the result. Ouch. I rejoiced, along with thousands of Rider faithful at the disappearance of Daley. I would like to have seen Berry go too, if I’m honest. And the jury is casting dirty looks at Taman now as well.
It seems obvious that Durant and Berry have no chemistry, and the offensive play calling has been mediocre at best, even when the Riders have been winning in the last year or so. Defensively? We have a long time defensive coordinator as a head coach, and a failed head coach back at the D-helm. Yet no defense has been present on the field for the Riders this season. Too many cooks in that kitchen? Maybe the entire recipe needs changing.
I just hope that all my grousing here turns out to be unfounded. It would be such a shame to be living in “next year country” again.
phil@cflcentral.net
July 19th, 2011
So Buck Pierce is hurt.
News? No, not really – considering it is always WHEN and not IF with Pierce.
The Bombers Corningwear QB pulled up lame against Calgary at halftime with a mysterious quad injury.
Now, I’m not sure whether surviving the pre-season and 2 1/2 games is a personal best for Buck or not… but nevertheless it was predictable if not common knowledge he was going to be hurt again and as usual.
Winnipeg lists Pierce as day-to-day at this point, but if anyone has ever had a torn quad muscle or a pulled hamstring – you know that it is likely going to be a pesky chronic thing for the entire sports season, and will not actually heal completely until the rest and rehab of the off-season.
So now what?
As was stated previously, the Eskimos and Stampeders both saw the value of having a veteran backup QB in the lineup – so the entire season isn’t riding on zero depth if the starter gets injured.
Edmonton brought in Kerry Joseph to replace the retired Jason Maas, and Calgary signed Michael Bishop when Drew Tate went down.
While the development of new young talent is essential for a team, the present has to be taken care of as well.
I will defer to the better judgment of the successful coaches in the CFL who feel the rookies are better served as 3rd and 4th stringers to begin their careers.
But Winnipeg seem to hire coaches who don’t believe QB depth is all that necessary.
There is a pretty fair roster of not-so-successful coaches who have passed through the Bombers organization in recent history – who have no issues throwing green QB’s into the live fire, watching them crash and burn along with the hopes of a decent season, then sending the newbie home.
It appears Paul LaPolice is just another on a forgettable list of coaches who subscribe to this theory.
Enter Joey Elliott – who did about what was expected, and what he has previously shown… not much.
To top it off, Elliott himself finished the Calgary game with a bruised knee.
The end result was a Bomber 21-20 loss in a game they led for the most part, and certainly should have won to start the year 3-0.
Buck Pierce wasn’t lighting the world on fire either, but an off-day for Pierce still gives the team a chance to win – especially with the Winnipeg defence playing solid football.
Meanwhile, sitting at home is veteran QB Casey Printers.
Worst case scenario for the Bombers is Printers doesn’t help anymore than either Elliott or Alex Brink… which would be unbelievable actually.
No one is asking Winnipeg to bring in Printers to take the number 1 job away from Pierce – anymore than Calgary figure Bishop is going to challenge Burris, or Edmonton plan on Joseph pushing Ray aside.
Depth is insurance against injury. Depth is an option against ineffective play.
When a team is good enough to start a season 2-1 or 3-0, there is no reason whatsoever to go into rebuilding mode and toss a year aside.
As was mentioned earlier, something such as a quad pull can be one of those that plagues Pierce for the entire year.
Even if he can play through such an injury, his effectiveness as a scrambling QB is essentially negated.
When Winnipeg is up by a wide margin or getting blown out, that is when you send in the young QB’s for some game experience.
However it appears that Bomber fans are going to go through “another one of those years”… where the enthusiasm is all but gone before Labour Day.
Hopefully Pierce can return quickly from this quad/thigh tweak, and be effective for the Bombers… because there is no plan B.
Sorry but banking an entire campaign on the health of Buck Pierce is just plain dumb… there is no other way to put it.
dave@cflcentral.net
July 15th, 2011
Week 1 of the 2011 CFL season is in the books, and there are some interesting occurrences to note.
Both non-playoff teams win on the road, and the East goes 2-0 against the West.
Hamilton – now do the Tiger Cats understand why Winnipeg let Kevin Glenn go?
He can’t handle playoff pressure, he can’t win come from behind games, and he pouts when he gets pulled – even though he was playing like crap.
Glenn is a backup QB who wins just enough to keep a starting job in the CFL… but some seem surprised when he can’t actually carry a team.
The Ti-Cats will only go as far as the uninspiring duo of Glenn and Quinton Porter take them, which is not likely to be Vancouver for the Cup.
In my opinion, they let the best QB on their roster in Adam Tafralis get away… signing with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League to back up former NFL QB Daunte Culpepper.
Winnipeg – if the pass protection and O-Line aren’t going to be any better than they showed, Buck Pierce will be in the infirmary AGAIN, sooner than later.
Sure the Bombers made a smart move unloading Steven Jyles to Toronto with his shoulder problems, which could be chronic now… but they never replaced him on the roster.
Behind the continually injured Pierce, they have nothing – rookies… and neither Alex Brink nor Joey Elliott displayed much for capability last year or through the pre-season this year.
Rather than throw the season away once the fragile Pierce goes down, why would the Bombers not reach out to Casey Printers?
Calgary realized the importance of a veteran backup by bringing in Michael Bishop immediately when Drew Tate went down – it would be wise for Winnipeg to do the same as a much needed insurance policy.
No one says the Bombers have to cut their rookies – but why turn the entire season into a development camp if you lose Pierce?
Not real encouraging or fair to your supporters who are doing their part by filling the ballpark with bodies and enthusiasm.
Edmonton – although the Esks may be awhile climbing to the top again, it is obvious that Tillman has done alot already to exorcise the incompetence of Maciocia from the team.
Ray appears to be back on his game and is getting time to take a look, and the defence appears vastly improved over last season.
The addition of the veteran Kerry Joseph as a backup QB adequately replaces the retired Jason Maas.
Although I don’t understand why Edmonton cut ties with Jared Zabransky who played well last year while stepping in for Ray… I still think there is more to this story than the public knows.
Partly because the Esks torpedoed Zabransky long before training camp started, and mysteriously no one else in the CFL even gave him a look in training camp after what he showed last season.
Saskatchewan – I said a long time ago that the Riders will regret replacing the Tillman – Austin/Miller era with the crew that led Winnipeg into a decade of mediocrity.
Brendan Taman has a decent eye for talent, EXCEPT when it comes to head coach, QB depth and kickers… in those areas he is grossly deficient.
And why rookie head coach Greg Marshall would surround himself with a bunch of coordinators and coaches who all have far more head coaching experience than him, is beyond me.
Sure it is nice to have the veteran advice, but one has to know that all of these guys are used to being in charge and want to be again.
QB’s – from Darian Durant, Steven Jyles, and Dalton Bell to Darian Durant, Ryan Dinwiddie (another WPG never-will-be castoff), and Cole Bergquist (who?).
K/P – from Luca Congi and Jamie Boreham to Eddie Johnson and a bunch of guys who couldn’t beat out the inconsistent Johnson (the WPG saga under Taman and Doug Berry).
The Riders decided to keep Chris (wide right) Milo on the practice roster just in case Johnson’s kicking gets really bad.
That’s it for now – from the Monday morning commissioner’s chair.
dave@cflcentral.net
July 4th, 2011
A final kick at the NHL can, before we turn 100% of our attention to the CFL (and hopefully the NFL) for the season.
The tale of two teams headed in opposite directions… the old Jets, and the new Jets.
First the former Atlanta Thrashers, and now the Winnipeg Jets – have been the rage in Winnipeg since their unofficial arrival a month or so ago.
The 13,000 season tickets as mentioned, were snapped up in mere minutes – and a waiting list was capped at 8,000.
Now remember, this is a 5 year commitment on the tickets, not a one year scenario… which makes it more impressive.
Even the draft from Minneapolis which was broadcast into the MTS Center in Winnipeg, drew around 5,000 fans… and that would be considered a respectable crowd for an actual game in Atlanta.
Somehow I don’t think this winter will seem so cold in Winnipeg.
And what about the former Winnipeg Jets, and currently the Phoenix Coyotes?
The City of Glendale prevented the team from relocating to Winnipeg, by stepping in and promising the NHL 25 million dollars to keep the team for another year.
Now word on June 27th that the lone prospective owner has walked away from any intention to purchase the team… even though between Glendale city council and Gary Bettman, they did everything except gift-wrap the Coyotes for Matthew Hulsizer.
But let’s all face a couple facts:
1. Hulsizer was never a serious player… he was a tire kicker that Glendale dressed up to be alot more interested than he ever was.
2. After the intense media scrutiny left the desert, Hulsizer obviously examined the Coyotes scenario and realized that even with the short term sweetheart incentives offered by Glendale regarding the arena, there was going to be no way around the red ink with the team in Arizona.
3. When the new arena was built over an hour away from the “fan-base”, good things were not destined to happen.
Picture this in Winnipeg Jets terms – the Jets return to Winnipeg, but the new arena is built in Portage la Prairie… not a recipe for success.
4. Which object doesn’t belong? Sand, sun, golf, bikini’s, cabanas, cactus, hockey. And it’s about that simple.
The Coyotes WILL be leaving Glendale… likely in 2012.
And any potential investor WILL move the team out of the desert.
The biggest enemy of Glendale now, is the frenzy in Winnipeg – which has turned a boat anchor franchise into one of the model citizens, virtually overnight.
You can bet the NHL Board of Governors are sick and tired of the Coyotes saga, and the drain on their wallets… and will be anxious to try and duplicate the rags to riches Winnipeg story with the Coyotes as soon as is possible.
There are a few other franchises besides Phoenix that are in trouble – so the quicker that situation is disposed of, the better for all concerned.
The probable players:
Pierre Karl Péladeau – owner of Quebecor… looking to return the Nordiques to Quebec City.
Quebec is in the process of building a new arena – but have le Colisee Pepsi (the Pepsi Coliseum), the 15,200 seat former home of the Nordiques which underwent a major face-lift only a couple of years ago before the World Championships… and is adequately suited for NHL hockey until the new arena is completed.
James Laurence “Jim” Balsillie – owner of RIM (Blackberry)… looking to bring NHL to Hamilton.
Balsillie has previously made attempts to purchase and relocate the Nashville Predators, and more recently the Phoenix Coyotes… and both times he was thwarted by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, with the Coyotes drama being settled in bankruptcy court.
Since then, Bettman has let it be known that Balsillie is not out of consideration if he “follows protocol”… which means, the NHL realize they are eventually going to NEED Balsillie.
Copps Coliseum is the 17,400 seat arena in Hamilton – which was built for a future NHL franchise back in 1985… and while some major renovations are planned, the facility is “hockey ready” with some minor alterations to the press box etc, for the NHL.
That’s it.
Time to push hockey aside for a couple months at least and get at some football!
Give it a game or two… and I’m sure we will all have our first complaints of the season.
dave@cflcentral.net
June 28th, 2011
THE GOOD
The 2011 Stanley Cup has been awarded to the far superior team… the Boston Bruins.
Tim Thomas is the poster boy for “effective isn’t always pretty” in his style – and well deserving of the Conn Smythe MVP award.
And the Bruins seem sort of like the Blackhawks last year… even the majority of people not cheering for them during the series, are ok with the win.
And hey, the team with the most Canadians, and North Americans won… so it all makes sense.
THE BAD
The Canucks have mega millions tied up in the 3 biggest goats of the Cup finals.
Luongo was ordinary to terrible in 4 of 7 games… which is one more than allowed to be successful.
But as soft as Roberto may have been in game 7, when you are spotted a 0 goal lead – it is hard to mount a comeback, and impossible to win.
That is on the other 2 high paid culprits… the twin Sedins, who disappeared like typical Europeans in the playoffs.
THE AFTERMATH
The bureaucrats who give the cops in Vancouver their marching orders just simply do not get it.
Your goals going into last night:
1. no repeat of 1994.
2. don’t lose control, and snuff the problems before they get going.
3. disperse the crowd in an orderly fashion.
Three big swings and misses, strike 3, you’re out.
What is the point of dressing a bunch of cops in riot gear to stand and watch?!
You have water cannons, tear gas, concussion grenades, clubs, beanbag shells, rubber bullets, real bullets… USE THEM!
If the police put a few hoods {criminals} in the hospital, jail and the morgue – that already sets you ahead of the game for next time, by sheer reputation.
When an idiot realizes that his stupidity may result in his death, it tends to dampen the enthusiasm to act like a moron.
Of course the city and cops are using the excuse of “too big a crowd to control” today.
This is the same bunch that thought it was a good idea to set up big screens and invite tens of thousands of people to congregate in an uncontrolled environment.
And their only defense on prevention was “hey, we closed the liquor stores early”!
Well newsflash, even dumbasses have enough brain cells left to comprehend the shop before 4 concept.
Now that Winnipeg have their NHL team back, I can return to cheering against Vancouver and laughing at their “bridesmaid, never the bride” status.
I don’t think it’s a real surprise to anyone in Canada that Montreal and Vancouver have the hockey hooligans.
Hopefully the city planners on the left coast use the next 17 years a little more wisely in planning for the next Canucks dud.
dave@cflcentral.net
June 16th, 2011
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