Saturday, May 1:
Derby Day. And it's one of those weird years where the Kentucky Derby is as early as it could possibly be and the Indianapolis 500 (May 30th this year) is as late as it could possibly be. Add in the key rounds of the Stanley Cup and NBA playoffs, the Memorial Cup and baseball's stretch of sorting contenders from pretenders and May is just about my favourite sporting month of the year.
Who will win the big race today under the twin spires? Beats me. The favourite has already been scratched, the next two betting faves start from terrible post positions (1 and 20) and the race will be held in the slop after heavy rains battered Louisville this morning. This is one race where I'm throwing up my hands and walking away from the window. Too bad there's not a horse entered named, "No, Not Me."
Sunday, May 2
Seems simple doesn't it? Take the shortest route from starting gate to finish line and end up in the Winners Circle. For the second time in as many years and third in four, Calvin Borel (Bo-rail, they call him) steered his mount to the inside and found little resistance as Super Saver captured the run for the roses. Borel has predicted his colt will win the Triple Crown. We'll see. I have severe doubts but right now, who can bet against the guy?
So, it's all going down to the final weekend in England's Premier League -- Wigan Athletic at Chelsea and Stoke City at Manchester United. Chelsea's up by one and the key match was today when the Blues went to Anfield and beat Liverpool 2-0 with United holding serve a few hours later, 1-0 at Sunderland. I'm sure Liverpool fans are not broken up by their loss -- the last thing they want to see is United win a 19th league title and overtake the mark 'Pool has held for a long, long time. Anything can happen of course, but both Chelsea and United should prevail at home next Sunday and the Blues, almost certainly, will celebrate.
Monday, May 3:
I'm usually above blaming the refs when my team loses a hockey game. And we won't here. But you would think Kevin Pollock and Brad Watson would know enough to let the players decide playoff hockey games and not destroy any and all flow by calling every ticky-tack penalty in the book. Especially when alleged goalie interference is enhanced by San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov, who'd be right at home in an Italian soccer match. The officiating didn't cost Detroit game two against the Sharks last night but it certainly kept the game from being what it could be, in terms of entertainment.
And here's a pet peeve -- refs who call both tripping (or hooking, or whatever) and diving on the same play. It's one or the other, not both. Man up and show some guts out there, zebras!
And while I'm in a crappy mood, I'd love to have a conversation with the stupid Toronto politicians who signed off on having two new (and completely unnecessary) stoplights installed on Markham Road, just south of Steeles. None of them are synchronized, so when cars are forced to stop at all three, the vehicle idling adds to the city's already dirty air. Idiots.
I'll leave you with this: While you're saying a daily prayer for former hockey coach Pat Burns, currently in a late-life battle with cancer, please add one for colourful basketball coach George Karl, who is also fighting the dreaded disease. And please add one for baseball funnyman Bob Eucker, who has come down with a critical heart aliment. Geez, we listened to Uke calling a Braves game on satellite radio during our recent trip. Great guy, and just as funny in person as he is when the mikes are present.
Tuesday, May 4
It's always fun to watch on TV, the Star Spangled Banner show before a Blackhawks home playoff game when the full house cheers its lungs out and your eyes water. They've even posted signs at the United Center, calling it the "Madhouse on Madison." Sorry, but that moniker belongs to the long-levelled dungeon that was across the street. Now, I haven't seen the Hawks play before a capacity crowd at the U-C but I can't imagine it can compare to the din that was created at old Chicago Stadium with its twin balconies and cramped corners. Maybe it's louder now, but I tell ya, my ears hurt during the anthem show at the old place. And if that didn't raise the hairs on the back of your neck, then brother, you had no pulse. Speaking of which, the Blackhawks had no pulse five minutes into last night's game when they trailed Vancouver 2-0 and faced the prospect of heading to B.C. down two-games-to-none. But they scored a quick one to get back into it and eventually pulled it out to even what should be a great series, 1-1.
I know some sick puppies. One guy sent me an e-mail today with a one-word message: "May the fourth be with you."
Wednesday, May 5:
Ernie Harwell. 1918-2010.
It was Sunday, September 21st, 1975. My college buddies and I had driven to our cottage near Leamington, Ontario for the weekend, and we hopped across the border to take in the last two Detroit Tigers home games of the season. As it turned out, we scored some preemo tickets for the Sunday finale against the Red Sox -- first row, upper deck, a few feet to the right of home plate, right beside the screen where foul balls could come screaming your way. Best seats I've had for a major league game and best I ever will have. In the second inning we could hear the crack when a Vern Ruhle pitch broke the hand of Boston's star rookie Jim Rice, sidelining him for the season and for arguably the greatest World Series ever played. (Tough guy, he stayed in the game until the seventh). Right below us in the WJR broadcast booth, Ernie Harwell, longtime voice of the Tigers, made the call of the fastball that ended Rice's season. September, 1975. Ernie Harwell was 57 years old. My age.
I can't imagine a world of major league baseball without Ernie Harwell. I've never had to. I cried at the age of eight when he called a late Yankee sweep that sealed the pennant for the 1961 Bronx Bombers, relegating my Tigers -- with 101 wins -- to second place. I struggled to find a decent signal in my London, Ontario neighbourhood one September night seven years later to pick up Harwell's radio call of a Don Wert single that beat the same Yanks to clinch the 1968 flag. I seethed when the Tigers and WJR fired him in 1991, was delighted when they welcomed him back in '93 (it would take another decade before I cheered the the Tigers again, though), became sad when he retired in 2002 and cried again when he announced last September he had cancer.
Aside form my parents, Ernie Harwell was my hero. The reason I fell in love with baseball. The reason I fell in love with radio. The reason I fell in love with broadcasting. And sometimes your heroes turn out to be all you could imagine and more. I had the honour of meeting Ernie on a few occasions. A kinder and more giving and humble man you could never meet. A gentleman. Or, as a sign seen at Comerica Park last September read: "How a Person Should Be." I'm sure Red Barber, Ty Tyson, Mel Allen, Harry Kalas, Harry and Skip Carey and countless other long gone voices of baseball are preparing his chair, microphone and scorecard in Heaven's broadcast booth.
Oh, and Ernie? Thanks.
Friday, May 7:
Had work not interfered, we would have driven to Detroit yesterday to pay our respects to Ernie Harwell, as the Tigers put on a public visitation for him at Comerica Park. We'll do the next best thing. They're planning a memorial for the great man Monday before the Yankees-Tigers game, so we'll take that one in. And, just because it's baseball, we'll make a pilgrimage to Wrigley Field the next night in Chicago.
It's been the strangest Stanley Cup playoffs I can ever remember. Especially with the inconsistent goaltending. Even Montreal's astonishing Jaroslav Halak has looked shaky in a couple of games to go with the gum-swallowing displays of excellence he's given. Who's going to win it? I haven't a clue.
Sunday, May 9:
We've lived in Stouffville, Ontario for more than a dozen years and for all that time, we've been regulars at the town's family restaurant, the Fickle Pickle. And in that time, we've watched the young waitresses, busboys and busgirls Nick employs grow from awkward teens into young adults. Last night, we saw another side of a few of those kids, watching them shine on the ice at the Stouffville Skating Club's 45th annual season finale. It was a remarkable show, seeing not only the youngsters we know, but the children of a community engage in a wonderful pastime. Yep, the kids are alright!
This is Mother's Day. And take it from me, don't put off saying "thanks" for all she's given you, figuring there will always be time. Oh, I thanked my mom often but never enough. Never, ever enough. And I lost her in 1995. So, while we procrastinate in our lives, please, if you're in the position to see your mom today, don't put off this item on your "must-do" list.
Congratulations to Chelsea, the English Premier League champions for 2009-2010. Manchester United finished just a point behind but frankly the Blues were the better side this season and deserving of the title. And you can't get much more emphatic on the final day, as Chelsea demolished Wigan Athletic 8-0!
Monday, May 10:
DETROIT -- They're going to honour Ernie Harwell tonight at Comerica Park before the Tigers game against New York. Jose Feliciano will sing the national anthem just as he did in the 1968 World Series, a controversial choice (by Harwell) at the time but the right one. Ernie's main broadcast partners over the years, Ray Lane and Paul Carey, will team up for the ceremonial first pitch and a flag bearing Ernie's initials will be raised along with the stars and stripes. Should be quite a night.
Tuesday, May 11:
DETROIT -- Ernie would have loved it. Not necessarily the adoration but the only thing that mattered to him, the ballgame. It was a taut, three hour-plus affair with the Tigers hanging on for a gutsy 5-4 win over the Yankees. They honoured Ernie Harwell's life before the game with a moving tribute, capped by the raising of a simple white flag bearing a black "EH". Helping to raise it were Ernie's two daughters along with Dan Dickerson and Jim Price, the Tigers current radio broadcasters; current Tiger Brandon Inge; first base coach and member of the 1984 champs Tom Brookens and Tiger legends Willie Horton and Al Kaline. It was indeed a night to remember.
Didn't see the hockey games but I hear Montreal stayed alive to force a game seven in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia forced a game six by winning in Boston. Cool beans. And I'll be they're nervous in Chicago with the Blackhawks now out in Vancouver for game six having failed to wrap up the series at home Sunday. We're Windytown-bound today and we'll see if there's any hockey angst tonight when we visit Wrigley Field. I imagine there's enough angst on the north side over the Cubs, five games below .500.
Wednesday, May 12:
CHICAGO -- No angst over the Blackhawks. Fans here were confident they'd win another road game -- and they did. With ease, to advance to the west final.
Plenty of angst over the Cubs, who lost 3-2 to Florida. Only the Cubs. They fell behind 3-0 early, scratched for a run in the sixth, then staged a rally in the eighth. With runners on the corners, a sacrifice fly brought them to within a run, but the runner on first didn't advance to second on the throw to the plate. A double then put runners on second and third, where they died when a strikeout ended the inning. Ugh. At least Cubs fans have Wrigley Field, still the best pure ballpark in the majors.
Every time I see the United Centre, I'm struck by how large the building is. The place in immense. It`s to hockey and basketball what Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is to football.
Thursday, May 13:
Quick! Which team won the Stanley Cup the last time the Pittsburgh Penguins were dethroned? Right! The Montreal Canadiens in 1993. That's not to say they'll do it again as they now have to go up against either Boston or Philadelphia, teams that are more defensive-minded then the Capitals or Pens and teams with -- at least in the playoffs -- better goaltending. But for Montreal, seeded 16th of all playoff teams, an outfit that made it in thanks to a shootout loss in game 82, to knock off both the top seed and the defending champs with game-seven road wins, well that's simply astonishing. Carolina made something of a similar run a year ago, but they faltered against the Pens, the defending conference champs, who would go on to win the Cup.
Go Boston tomorrow night and go Chicago in the west final against San Jose. If the Bruins and Blackhawks accomplish those tasks, we'll have an Original Six Cup final for the first time since 1979, when the Habs beat the Rangers.
Friday, May 14:
So let's see. The New York Yankees won the 2009 World Series. The Montreal Canadiens have just stunned Washington and Pittsburgh to reach the Stanley Cup semifinals. The Boston Celtics have upset Cleveland to make it to the NBA semifinals. Is it the return of dynasty teams? Too bad Green Bay didn't win the Super Bowl (although we were quite thrilled New Orleans did).
We'll miss Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena (née Civic Arena, or in the minds of most hockey fans, simply "The Igloo"). It was the oldest arena in the NHL and next season, the Penguins move into a new facility across the street. New York's Madison Square Garden is now the oldest rink in the league, followed by Detroit's Joe Louis Arena. And all that means is, I'm getting old. I never got to the old MSG but I remember it well from television. And I did see quite a number of Red Wings games at Detroit's Olympia Stadium. Where do the years go?
Saturday, May 15:
I'm sure the memories came flooding back, not only for Don Cherry but for anyone who is a Boston Bruins fan of a certain age. In 1979, Cherry's Bruins were just minutes away from a game seven Stanley Cup semifinal win at the Forum in Montreal when they were hit with a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty. The rest is hockey lore -- Guy Lafleur tied the game, Yvon Lambert won it in overtime and the Habs would go on to beat the Rangers in the final for their fourth straight Stanley Cup. This year, the pain may be even greater for the Bruins. First they blew a 3-0 games lead against Philadelphia. Last night, at home, they blew a 3-0 first period lead and lost the game and the series 4-3 -- and the game-winning power-play goal was scored while the Bruins were serving...yep, a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty. Who says history doesn't repeat itself?
Sunday, May 16:
For the millionth year in a row (or so it seems) we won't have a Triple Crown winner in U.S. thoroughbred racing. Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver was in the right spot yesterday at the Preakness, second behind pace-setter First Dude. But once they turned for home, it was as if half the jockeys in the race decided to box in Super Saver and jockey Calvin Borel. He couldn't get to the rail (Borel's favourite route). He had no room outside. So the Derby winner ended up swallowing dirt clods on his way to an eighth place finish. That left it open for Lookin' at Lucky, the other high betting choice for the Baltimore patrons, to sail home past the game but overmatched First Dude. All of which leaves the Belmont completely irrelevant. Again.
The Indy gang is having a reunion at month's end. No, not in Indianapolis but in New York City, home to two of our members (New Jersey, actually). We'll take in a Broadway play, have a great Italian dinner at Patsy's (Frank Sinatra's hangout) and watch the 500 on TV the next day. Yahoo! And so we'll drive and catch the Oakland A's to bookend the trip, first in Baltimore and finally at Boston.
Thursday, May 20:
We've been a bit tardy in updating the blog. But we have been busy on the site. In addition to the recent ballgames from Detroit and Chicago and the Ernie Harwell tribute, we're trying to get our college football stadium pictures up from our recent trip to Denver. Mizzou and Nebraska are now posted and we'll have Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State up before too long. One thing we will do in Boston in a couple of weeks is to visit Harvard again and maybe we can get pics from Harvard Stadium without the inflatable fieldhouse that's in place during the winter months. We'll see. And once we have everything posted and can take a breather, we're going to split our football and hockey sections into pro and amateur. Just too many selections now on each main page.
Chicago-Philly for the Stanley Cup? A little early to predict but it's sure looking that way.
Saturday, May 22:
Victoria Day weekend -- for Canadians, the lid-lifter to summer. And aside from a few sprinkles today, it's supposed to be a nice weekend. And warm. The long weekend is the latest it can possibly be on the calendar so we're taking advantage of it with a visit from our nephew and his wife. Wish I didn't have to work at 5 a.m. Monday but that's the price I pay for having Indy weekend free for our reunion.
I've always liked Blackpool, the holiday town up the coast from Liverpool, England. And I've always wanted to see their soccer team reach the promised land of the Premier League. Well, they've done it! Blackpool will bring its tangerine colour to the top flight next season (along with Newcastle and West Brom). Also nice to see Newcastle back, especially with nearby Sunderland in the Premiership, rekindling that rivalry!
Monday, May 24:
I’ve never had more fun watching live theatre in my life. Our nephew and his wife are spending the long weekend with us and last night they treated us to "Rock of Ages" at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre. What a blast! The musical gave us a trip back into the late ’80s days of hair bands, and sex, drugs and rock & roll. If you don’t enjoy this show, you’re devoid of both a music and fun gene. And you know what’s really great? That our younger relatives thought we were cool enough to enjoy it. And did we ever!
Who gambles more than Paul Tracy? Not content to squirm on the bubble in 33rd place with 10 minutes left in qualifying for next weekend’s Indianapolis 500, Tracy withdrew his time in an effort to improve it. Except that he was slower and waved it off after he brushed the wall. So, he’s on the outside looking in next Sunday. He may have been bumped anyway, but this was quite a costly decision.
Well done, Windsor Spitfires, repeat Memorial Cup champions -- and both victories have come in years when Ontario did not host the tournament. That`s dominance!
Oh, the weather outside's delightful! Wall-to-wall sunshine and warm, summer-like temperatures. Very un-Victoria Day-like!
Tuesday, May 25:
I've been a fan of Danica Patrick -- as a driver -- since her days in Indy Lights. I've always thought she had the drive and talent to be THE breakthrough female on the Indy Racing League circuit. But my buddy, who's forgotten more about motor racing than I'll ever know, has always dismissed her as little more than a model turning laps. Having said that, there are just two words we'd offer Patrick following qualifying weekend at Indy -- "Grow up!" She couldn't understand why fans booed her after she laid the blame for her poor qualifying numbers on her racing team and the car's set-up during an interview on the public address system at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Well, maybe fans are starting to grow weary of the spoiled petulance she appears to display every time things don't go her way. She's been on top teams since arriving in the IRL and has one victory to show for it -- and that, thanks to fuel strategy as opposed to any desire to battle up front in the final laps of a race. These days, the only time you see Danica Patrick and a checkered flag together is in a TV commercial. Maybe, sadly, my buddy is right.
Nice run by the Montreal Canadiens. Now go, Blackhawks!
The college stadium pics from Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State are now up. Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 26:
And off we go on another excellent adventure. We're Baltimore-bound once our work shift ends at noon. After the A's and O's do battle tomorrow night, we'll head for New Jersey and a reunion of the Indy Gang, most of whom we have not seen since we last graced the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2003. Then we'll head to Boston for the A's and Red Sox Tuesday night. And that will put a wrap on a whirlwind three months that started in Boston and included stops in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Lincoln, Denver, Lawrence, Manhattan (Kansas), Chicago and Detroit. Whew!
Thursday, May 27:
BALTIMORE -- Canada is known to have an inferiority complex but the same is true here of Charm City. Baltimore has spent so many years in the shadow of Washington, D.C., that its residents always seem to raise an eyebrow when I tell them that I purposely spend part of my vacation time here. "Why?", they invariably ask. Well, because of the down-to-earth people, the Inner Harbor, crab cakes to die for, Fell's Point, the list goes on and on. And Camden Yards, where we'll be tonight, is also high on the list. It's still the best of the "retro parks era" that it ushered in 18 years ago.
Toronto to Baltimore is always an interesting drive and every year it seems, there are major road improvements. It's been a few years since I made this trek, and now I find that U.S. Highway 15 is of Interstate quality all the way from the New York state line down to Williamsburg. And a beautiful run it is, through the high hills and mountains.
Oh. And it's hot. Real hot, as Robin Williams might say. With nary a cooling breeze off the shores of Chesapeake Bay. And y'know, I complain so much about winter, that this is just fine with me.
Monday, May 31:
MATAWAN, NJ -- This is where our friends Joe and Julie live and this is where they hosted the entire Indy gang for what turned into a three-day chuckle-fest -- as it always does when we get together. Insults fly at bullet-speed but no one ever gets the least bit upset because it's expected you'll have one right at the tongue for a quick counterpunch. It's fun, wild and magical -- and frankly, impossible to describe. Speaking of Frank (smooth segue, eh?) we dined Saturday night at Mr. Sinatra's hangout, Patsy's, and had an outstanding meal before we took in "The Addams Family" on West 46th where Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth headlined a fun show.
Yesterday, we were glued in our seats for the Indy 500 and it seemed odd to be watching the race on television with the same people I've always seen it live with. Glad to see Dario Franchitti win as he had a dominating afternoon. I think he would have held off Dan Wheldon even if the big crash didn't happen with about a lap to go. And Mike Conway may not feel lucky with the pain of a broken leg but after seeing that frightening wreck, it's somewhat miraculous a broken leg was his only injury.
