Monday, March 1:
What an incredible, astonishing day to be a Canadian. And it was not just the thrill-a-minute gold-medal hockey game won by Canada over the U.S. on Sidney Crosby's overtime goal, it was the culmination of a wonderful home-grown Winter Olympics. It was celebrating 26 medals, more than half of them gold, the most gold (16) any nation has ever won at any Winter Olympics. It was wandering outside within an hour after the hockey game ended to see people beside themselves with joy.
In a way, I feel sorry for the U.S. Yes, they're the world superpower and all, and the best friends we could have on earth. But I can't think of a sporting moment in my lifetime that has meant as much to them as yesterday's (and Paul Henderson's goal in 1972 for my generation) meant to us. Yes, there was the Miracle On Ice, but hockey is not America's national sport. For all of the joy of a Super Bowl or World Series in one city, there's as much depression in the losing burg. Maybe Joe Louis versus Max Schmeling in both 1936 and 1938 (and the political overtones of the day) but that was before my time.
Drew Doughty, who played beyond his years on the blueline for Team Canada, had just one day in the Scorepics spotlight as picture of the week. We had to substitute a shot of the street celebration late last night. But the Doughty pic from his days with the Guelph Storm three years ago will be back up for the full second week of March.
Tuesday, March 2:
BOSTON -- Next to San Francisco, this is my favourite city in the United States. Sadly, this was a lightning trip, in and out, just for the Habs-Bruins game tonight. I saw one game at the old Boston Garden a couple of decades ago, and while the TD Garden is a modern building, it is also built adjacent to North Station (where you can get a train called the "Downeaster.") It does create a bit of a madhouse. Fans are waiting for the gate to open amid people scurrying around ("scuze me, thank you, scuze me, thank you...") in a sometimes vain effort to make their connection.
Boston fans are, in the words of Don Cherry, "beauties!" One rather inebriated young lass behind us couldn't, for the life of her, understand that -- unlike Team Canada and Team U.S.A. -- the Boston Bruins were not made up of 100% American players and the Montreal Canadiens roster wasn't 100% Canadian. She finally gave up and started giving the guy next to me the gears because he was wearing a suit (having come to the game directly from work) and not a Bruins' jersey. She left disappointed, as the Bruins folded up in the final period and lost 4-1.
Wednesday, March 3:
BUFFALO -- Canada versus the United States, this wasn't. The Washington Capitals played a dreadful game full of turnovers, mistakes and miscues. And they won 3-1, because the Buffalo Sabres were about three times worse. The national hockey team of Kenya might have walloped either of these outfits by five goals.
Even the pre-game tribute to Ryan Miller, goalie extraordinaire, was a bit flat. Oh, there was a standing ovation, but it was cut short by the P.A. announcer. And there was nothing in the way of chants (i.e., "Mil-ler, Mil-ler...!") during the minute or so that folks were on their feet. I thought the usher in our section was going to cry. She told me she thought fans would be lifting the roof off the place. Nope.
Thursday, March 4:
Arrrgh! I see the Boston Bruins are wearing their standard home jerseys -- the great-looking black and gold sweaters with the circle-B on the chest -- for their home game against Toronto tonight. Why couldn't they have done that two nights ago when I was there? Or better still, worn the gold Winter Classic outfits against Montreal. Instead, they donned the all-black third jersey featuring the ugly "Bruins" logo. If cameras could upchuck, mine would have spent half of Tuesday night doing so.
Sunday, March 7:
We're getting beautiful, sunny, warmer-than-normal weather this weekend. We turn our clocks ahead next weekend. Spring officially starts in two weeks. And the major league baseball regular season is just four weeks away. Yes friends, life is good!
I decided to switch away from the Maple Leafs goon show last night and switch to the Brier. And having said that, I'm not surprised nor critical of the Leafs' approach in the dying weeks of the season. This is now one of the youngest, most inexperienced teams in the NHL and if it is to bond and improve, the players have to develop a toughness that hasn't been seen around Toronto in awhile. And team toughness is a Brian Burke staple. Whether you agree with it or not, it's certainly a change from what has been on display there in a long time. And how did that turn out?
Monday, March 8:
The only movie we saw all year in a theatre was Star Trek, so we had no rooting interest in the Oscars last night but as a show, I was underwhelmed. I thought almost all of the comedy pieces fell flat and I pine for the day (if it ever happens again) when Billy Crystal will host the show again. Interesting that a mega-box office blockbuster like Avatar would lose out for best picture -- but those who have seen it tell me that while the effects are out-of-this-world (pun intended) the story is average at best.
One thing struck me while watching a recent hockey shootout (blasted things). Why does the home team shoot first? I would think that most teams would prefer to shoot second and shouldn't the home team get that advantage? Baseball doesn't make the home team bat first, why should the NHL do this?
Yeah, we're finally going to an NHL game in the closest locale to Stouffville. We'll stay downtown after work tomorrow and make the short walk over to the ACC and catch the Maple Leafs against the Boston Bruins.
Tuesday, March 9:
We were able to get to both Gillette Stadium in Foxboro and Harvard Stadium (just before sunset) during last week's trip to Boston. The pro stadium was naturally shut, but the gates were open at Harvard. The U-shaped stadium is more than a century old, and if you ever plan on seeing the Crimson play football there, bring a pillow seat. The seats, like the interior of the stadium, are made of concrete. At any rate, the pics from both structures are now up. (You may notice we have no shots of the field at Harvard Stadium. They install an inflatable fieldhouse inside the stadium for the winter months. A grand idea but it cut down on what we wanted to shoot. We'll try to get there again sometime in the summer months).
Tonight, the Bruins vs. the Maple Leafs. We should have pics up by the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Wednesday, March 10:
Carlton The Bear, eat your heart out! I'm not a mascot but I do seem to be a good-luck charm for the Toronto Maple Leafs -- at least at home. I've seen perhaps a couple dozen games at the Air Canada Centre over the years and the Leafs have lost maybe two or three. And so it was last night in their 4-3 overtime win against Boston. At one point, Toronto was so outplayed, they had more power-plays (3) than shots on goal (2). But once they either found or decided to use their legs, they were the better team. The first time Toronto had the edge in shots was also the first time they had the lead -- which was also the end of the game. Yes, there were youthful mistakes but I was impressed with Toronto's speed. And it was a pretty entertaining hockey game.
Thursday, March 11:
There's a popping sound we used to make as kids by putting an index finger in one cheek and popping it out of the mouth. Yeah, gross, I know but it was common in the day and it usually meant that we were genuinely unimpressed with something. "Big wow!," we would also say, whilst rolling our eyes. And so it is that we give both David Miller and the NHL the pop of both disinterest and disgust. Oh, look! Toronto mayor Miller miraculously came up with 100 million dollars. That's not prudent management, it's a political "watch-me-pull-a-rabbit-out-of-my-hat" sham designed only to discredit mayoral candidates who are not part of his inner circle. Miller paints a rosy picture, but he's still counting on 250 million annually from the province to run his city's transit system. He doesn't understand that -- no matter who funds the TTC -- it still all comes from the collective taxpayer.
The NHL says it's getting serious about head shots, now implementing either a minor (pop sound) or major penalty when someone blindsides an opponent onto silly street. (Boston's Zdeno Chara is going to love this. He's six feet a million, and everyone else's head comes up to his shoulders). But at the same time, the promotion of violence in the league continues. Check out the video board at any NHL rink and watch the "we're tough" promos. In addition to a few highlights of goals and saves, there's a smorgasbord of fights and massive hits. I saw the one in Ottawa recently and I'll bet half of the hits shown featured guys leaving their feet to deliver them. And that's the sort of thing that's being promoted in every NHL rink in the land. Hey, I like hard-hitting hockey but not head-hunting. And that's what the game has turned into.
Of course, this rule doesn't come into effect until next season. Because of that, NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell has determined there will be no suspension to Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke for his blindside hit that levelled Boston's Marc Savard and put him out of action indefinitely. See, Campbell didn't suspend Philadelphia's Mike Richards for his Pearl Harbor job on Florida's David Booth. So, I guess that's where the bar has been set for the rest of this season. Knock someone senseless and avoid suspension. Nice. And Pittsburgh at Boston next week should be interesting.
And yet... In the four games we've been to recently, we've seen a total of 19 minor penalties. Thirty-eight minutes. That's it.
Saturday, March 13:
Not a fun time at our shop. Layoffs. They've been happening throughout the media (as well as almost every other industry) so only the naive would think they wouldn't finally hit my workplace. I believe I have escaped the first round but who knows what the future brings. And we're losing some quality people and that hurts.
Hard to believe that on the second weekend of March two years ago we were just catching our collective breath after battling through what seemed like the 7,296th major snowstorm of that winter season. This past week, we've been blessed with mid-April temperatures and (until yesterday) sunshine. And next week promises to be more of the same before things get somewhat back to normal in the last 10 days of the month. As we (most of us) get set to put our clocks forward one hour this evening, we've yet to see a single snowflake this month -- unheard of for March. And I'll take it. Especially since out last two summers have been duds.
Sunday, March 14:
Has anybody noticed the Toronto Maple Leafs haven't lost since I decided to go see them play at home last week? I'm tellin' ya, I oughta be on the payroll!
I can't imagine a sorrier school sports season for the University of Michigan's men's varsity teams. The football team went 5-7 (8-16 over two years), the usually outstanding hockey team is unranked at 25-17-1 (although they have won five straight and have just swept #11 Michigan State at East Lansing in the CCHA quarterfinals). The basketball team almost stunned Ohio State in the Big-10 tournament but lost on a buzzer-beater thanks in part to rather questionable defensive strategy on the Buckeyes final possession. So they're out -- and neither the NCAA (ha!) nor the NIT will come calling with tournament bids tonight.
Monday, March 15:
I am such a schmuck. I get to the parking garage at work this morning and decide to fill up the car's empty windshield washer reservoir. And of course I spill half of the liquid down my pant leg. So, I'm sitting here in a state of mild discomfort while it dries, hopefully before noon when my shift ends. Beware the Ides of March and all that, I guess.
Well, the Leafs finally lost after three straight victories. My magic, it seems, can only go so far.
Wednesday, March 17:
Tawp a' the mawnin' to ya! There's a wee bit o' Irish blood in me so I'll make sure to have a green-tinged pilsner at one point during St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy, but don't overindulge and whatever you do, don't drive if you've been drinking!
Looking at the green that's starting to spread across my lawn, I wonder if I'll be cutting grass by the end of March. Surely not, as the last week of the month is predicted to be a bit below normal in terms of temperature. But this is the second straight week of blue skies and soaring temperatures and Environment Canada has gazed into its long-term forecast and determined that winter is, for all intents and purposes, over. Astonishing. I cannot ever remember a March without at least one snowfall.
Green wasn't the dominant colour but it's interesting that the New Jersey Devils will resurrect their old red and green jerseys this evening against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They ditched the red and green for red and black a number of years ago and starting winning Stanley Cups. But it will be cool to see them in Christmas colours this evening.
Thursday, March 18:
It's time for a little madness! I don't follow U.S. college basketball as close as I used to and this year, due to the Olympics, hardly at all. Still, my friends have to get rich at my expense every year at this time, so I did fill out a March Madness bracket in the office pool. It's strictly guesswork, but I have Kansas over West Virginia in the final (with Duke and Syracuse as my other Final Four contestants).
The snow is gone. All of it. Even the last patch around the evergreens at the front of the house. I can't remember a complete melt before the official end of winter in the dozen years we've been in Stouffville.
Friday, March 19:
I know the object of the game is to be in first place two weeks from Tuesday. But after day one of March Madness, I am leading the office pool! I know -- that and a very rare winning "rim" will get you a coffee at Tims. Not that it's really anything to brag about. In the 16 games, I only got 11 right. One of the defeats was Richmond, everybody's upset darling and another was San Diego State. But I did nail a couple of upsets in Old Dominion over Notre Dame and Washington over Marquette. We'll see what today brings.
The Maple Leafs have won five of six since I went to see them in person. Obviously, if I had done this in October, they'd have a division title wrapped up by now.
Saturday, March 20:
Spring! And as it arrives today, the temperature is expected to dip and there are threats of snowflurries in the forecast. I may be pining for winter soon.
First place didn't last long. With Oklahoma State crashing out yesterday, I've fallen from the top of the perch in our March Madness office pool. And that's no surprise.
I have a waitress friend who has just switched restaurants up in Newmarket. I was in her new place of employment yesterday for lunch when she wandered in with two of her three toddlers. I joined them in the booth and it was amazing to see my friend's transformation from waitress to mom. She and her husband are raising the kids the right way. They're well behaved and have learned to say 'please' and 'thank you' without prompting. She likes to kid that she brought all of her customers from one establishment to her current restaurant but I think that's truer than she may know. My friend, who has the poise and personality of someone far beyond her 20+ years, didn't have an easy life in her first two decades but she has a great sense of street smarts. The five of them have moved into a new home and it appears good times are in their future. And that's very uplifting.
Sunday, March 21:
Snow. Not much -- just a dusting on the deck and driveway and certainly not enough to remove before Mother Nature does. But snow nonetheless on the first night of spring. It kind of made an evening with The Bride in the hot tub rather special.
I'm like thousands of people today. (No, not in regards to the 6-49 draw and a failure to win $41 million -- I haven't checked my numbers yet). But, like so many, I picked the Kansas Jayhawks to win the NCAA basketball tournament. So, if I have sudden winnings, it's not going to come from the office March Madness pool.
Six of seven in the win column for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ahhh, it's marvelous to bask in the power I have over that franchise! (see Wed. Mar. 10, above)
High-markers: This may sound cruel, but I have no sympathy for snowboarders who perish whilst trying to outdo one another in creating the highest possible tracks on a mountain that's under avalanche warning conditions. None whatsoever. It's a Darwinian way of culling the herd. But when such snowboarders create a slide that buries innocent people below, it's more than just tragic -- it borders on criminal.
Monday, March 22:
No $41 million (the two tickets were sold in Edmonton and near London, Ontario). And there will be no NCAA winnings either, even though I'm in first place after week one, heading to the Sweet-16. But it's a mirage. I've picked a pedestrian 30 winners in the 48 games played so far. My East regional looks half-decent with just two stumbles. But I had Kansas from the Midwest going all the way -- and they're out. There are 15 games left and the most I can get correct is nine, less than the next four people in the standings. I'm not mathematically eliminated but it's almost certain I'll be tumbling down the ladder.
At the top of the English Premier League standings is Manchester United after their 2-1 home win over Liverpool, busting a three-game losing streak to those "other" Reds. But it's a close race. They lead Arsenal by two points (thanks to their two wins over the Gunners this season) and Chelsea by four (thanks to Blackburn's 1-1 draw with the Blues yesterday). Chelsea has a game in hand on both the Red Devils and Arsenal but the pressure will be on them to win at Old Trafford a week from Saturday.
Tuesday, March 23:
There's a reason I rank politicians a few notches below raccoons, rattlesnakes and a certain albino groundhog up Wiarton way. Dalton McGuinty comes to mind. On top of this year's dreaded 13% HST that will do nothing but hit Ontarians in the pocketbook, the province's premier had the gall to suggest his new annual four dollar conservation tax on our hydro bills is not a tax. Right. "People generally don't like taxes," sez the Preem, adding that "this is not a tax. It's a new 33-cents-a-month fee." Thanks for making that clear. Just a guess, but people generally don't like fees, either. Hey Dalt, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and drops duckpoop on taxpayers, then by golly, it's a duck. And this is a tax. Don't insult my intelligence by claiming it's not.
I know precious few Toronto Maple Leaf fans with whom I can have an intelligent conversation about hockey. I suppose it's because Leaf fans rarely see good hockey. It seems that their primary goal in life is to cheer for their rivals' opponents. Don't those victories seem kind of empty after awhile?
Pittsburgh 1 at Detroit 3. Sigh. If only that could have happened last June 12th.
I hope OHL commissioner David Branch can turn away from his March Madness pool and start laying down some suspensions from the sorry displays in the Sudbury-Barrie first round sideshow. Like maybe before game four tomorrow night.
Wednesday, March 24:
I knew Dave Branch would take action before the Barrie Colts and Sudbury Wolves resumed hostilities. Three players, a total of 22 games in suspensions. It's why Branch is the best hockey commissioner in the game, bar none.
My opinion of U.S. conservative Ann Coulter mirrors her opinion of Canada. In other words, I have zero use for her. Having said that, I have always believed freedom of speech was one of the foundations of this country. She was prevented from making a speech last night by a couple thousand protesters at the University of Ottawa. My old colleague Fred Patterson captured my thoughts perfectly in his "Canadian Thinker" blog. 
(when you get to his site, do a search on "Shame in Ottawa" to bring up his comments). Protests are fine. Censorship is anything but.
Thursday, March 25:
Football coaches work long hours and the job stress is incredible. So, there's a good reason why they don't want an added wrinkle like an altered overtime. But the new system that's being put into place for overtime games (and with luck, for the regular season someday soon) is a welcome change. Basically, it means that if you win the toss, march into field goal range and settle for three points, the opposition gets a shot on offense to answer. If you're able to score a touchdown, then you win. Far better than what's in place now.
The summer of '68. Warm weather, the Tigers in first place, a beach with sand on a lake and Aretha Franklin on my transistor. And the Queen of Soul turns 68 today. There's no other female singer I'd rather listen to. Not one.
Saturday, March 27:
Yes, they gave a spirited effort last night and were burned by a buzzer-beater. But for too many games in the second half of this season, the Toronto Raptors have been softer than the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. They seemingly refuse to play defence. They seemingly refuse to drive to the basket. They seemingly refuse to battle for rebounds. And with a difficult part of the schedule at hand, it says here they'll lose out on a playoff berth to Chicago (currently two games back).
Sunday, March 28:
Mountain Mama! Thank you, West Virginia for KO'ing Kentucky to reach the NCAA Final Four. I'm back in first place in our pool, mainly because not one contestant has picked the winner (I took Kansas). If Duke handles Baylor today, then I will have two Final Four schools. Right now, I'm in a very precarious first place. But I don't think I can finish lower than third, which means I'd get my entry money back. And it would be a first for me to win any coin from a March Madness pool.
The town of Stouffville is starring as a community in Minnesota or Montana (I forget) in an upcoming episode of "Warehouse 13". Filming will take place from tomorrow through Thursday at various locales in town. Between folk crews and minor hockey players here for a weekend tournament, the most treasured item in town yesterday was a table at Nick's Fickle Pickle restaurant (which has its own TV fame, in the form of an appearance years ago in "The West Wing".)
Monday, March 29:
These words were pecked out on my keyboard one week ago today:
"And there will be no NCAA winnings either, even though I'm in first place after week one, heading to the Sweet-16. But it's a mirage. I've picked a pedestrian 30 winners in the 48 games played so far. My East regional looks half-decent with just two stumbles. But I had Kansas from the Midwest going all the way -- and they're out. There are 15 games left and the most I can get correct is nine, less than the next four people in the standings. I'm not mathematically eliminated but it's almost certain I'll be tumbling down the ladder."
Ahem! As it turns out, my forecasting skills were better than advertised, for I have -- for the first time ever -- not only finished in the money but have won the office March Madness pool. Won. As in, can't be topped, even though the tournament is just down to the Final Four. Once Duke beat Baylor yesterday, the finish was sealed. And it's all down to dumb luck. None of us picked the ultimate winner and after 60 games, I have just 36 correct picks. (If West Virginia beats Duke, I'll have a maximum 37). Yet, that's good enough to win. Three years ago, I picked 40 games correctly, and finished 21st out of 23. But, I'll take it!
Toronto's loss to Miami and Chicago's win over Detroit puts the Bulls within half-a-game of the Raptors in the fight for the final playoff spot in the NBA East. It won't be long before they jump past the Stay-Pufts and nail down that spot. And now that the Red Wings have finally caught fire I'd love to see Calgary do the same and catch Colorado for the final playoff spot in the NHL West.
Wednesday, March 31:
Some far better writers than yours truly have already taken aim at 16 professors from the University of Regina but I might as well add my two cents worth. It seems these beacons of light, these moulders of minds, decided that having their glorious school participate in something called "Project Hero" sends the wrong message to the youth of today. The project offers free tuition to children of Canadian soldiers killed in action. It provides a ways and means to an education for a family that, in many cases, has just lost its main breadwinner. But no, these chowderheads evidently believe that "Project Hero" glorifies war, so the senseless 16 wrote the university president, asking that the school pull out of the program. One of the 16, incredibly, is a former Canadian soldier. Stupid doesn't begin to cover it, but y'know, in one sense, the academics are right. If the University of Regina does pull out, then that would guarantee no student benefiting from "Project Hero" will spend so much as a minute on its campus. Because who in their right mind would want to attend such a close-minded institution?
