Archive for the “sports” Category


I haven’t played golf since my buddy Roger swung through Vancouver last summer. Before that round, I hadn’t played since Jen and I took a babymoon to Cuba for New Year’s.

In 18 months, that would be 4 rounds of golf. I used to play that much every single week - when I was single.

Now, with the bebe, it’s tough to get up in the morning and hit the links before work. There’s feeding, diapering, changing and napping to look after.

This weekend, it will change. I’m going to see Roger, and Frank, and Erin, and Amber. All pals who have worked at Z95-3 through the years - now they’re all in Calgary rocking the airwaves there. That will be fun, it’s the golf that’s going to be killer.

5 rounds in 3 days. One on Friday, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Sunday is what I’m looking forward to the most, a couple 18s in the Rockies. First at Kananaskis (below) and then at Silver Tip.

Kananaskis Golf Course

5 rounds of golf in 3 days. I haven’t even mentioned the poker, steaks and wine that will be had. It’s going to be a blast. But a bittersweet one. I won’t be home until well past Z’s bedtime on Sunday meaning I won’t see him on Father’s Day.

We’ll postpone the Father/Son festivities to Tuesday, when we’ll head down to Commercial Drive to watch Les Bleus and the Azzurri go at it in Euro 2008.

Cheering for France in the heart of Little Italy? I hope Z can protect his old man.

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20 years to the day after he was drafted, Trevor Linden announced his retirement. Everybody was talking hockey with him today, I decided to talk cycling.

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Just got this brief presser from the Canucks in my inbox. “A Special Announcement” can only mean “Good-bye.”

Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden will make a special announcement at General Motors Place on Wednesday, June 11, 2008.

That’s all it said, the rest was just info for the media guys to get themselves sorted. It will happen at 11.

Here are 16 reasons why Trevor Linden is the Greatest Canuck.

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Yes, the twitternets are coming to a crashing halt today as Lord Steve steps to the mic at WWDC. A new iPhone is an hour away, and possibly a few extra treats.

But forgive me if I’m not wearing my Apple gear, something bigger is happening today.

France v Romania in the opening match of the “Group of Death” at Euro 2008.

2008-03-25

France, Italy, Netherlands and Romania are all grouped together, but only 2 can move on. Sunday it will be France v Netherlands and then next Tuesday, it will be France v Italy in a rematch of the World Cup 2006 Final.

Jeffery Simpson has organized the tournament by PDST starting times. Z and I will be on The Drive watching the game next week, praying we don’t have a repeat of the last time France and Italy met.

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It’s official. The theme is no more. It’s dead. I honestly believed it wouldn’t come to this, but the official press release has just moved.

After more than 13 months of negotiations, CBC is saddened to announce that a deal has not been reached with the rights holders for an extension of “The Hockey Theme” - CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA theme song.

“We share with all Canadians the disappointment of this news, as we feel as strongly about the theme as they do,” said Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports. “We are proud of the association with the former theme song and are saddened that we were unable to reach a deal, especially when we presented an offer which we believe was not substantively different from what the rights holders had proposed to us. We love the song and know this is a huge disappointment for us and for millions of Canadians. As of today, CBC Sports is moving forward with our plan to have the Canadian public compose the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song.

CBC, in conjunction with leading music producers Nettwerk Music Group, will conduct a nationwide search, inviting Canadians to write and record an original song for CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. Then, in a debate that is certain to dominate conversations throughout the country, fans and a jury of experts will choose the best new composition.

CBC will offer $100,000 for the winning song, which will then become the new “official theme song” of CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA and will be heard in every broadcast. A portion of the new theme song’s royalties will be donated to minor hockey in Canada. Details surrounding the contest will be announced next week.

“This contest will generate passionate interest among Canadians,” said Moore. “The winning theme promises to be an anthem for a whole new generation to kick off our coverage every Saturday night and beyond.”

This is not the first time CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA has introduced a new theme song. Since the show’s debut in 1952, numerous pieces of music have been used to welcome viewers to hockey on Saturday nights. The program’s most recent theme, “The Hockey Theme,” made its debut on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA during the 1968 season.

“It will be amazing to hear how Canada’s musical artists will interpret the show and to follow the contest through which the new song will be selected,” Moore continued. “We’ll have more details on the new contest next week.” [Press Release]

RIP HNIC.

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dolores claman - RICK MADONIK/THE TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTOThere’s a lot of noise coming from the keyboards of the Canadian blogosphere today.

Everyone’s up in arms about the report the theme from Hockey Night in Canada has been played for the last time.

They’re even blogging like it’s a fait accompli.

It’s a sad day today. Aren’t the CBC supposed to protect Canadian culture? Pure & utter destruction of culture, I’d say. [Slaw]

It’s as Canadian as beaver pelts and Bruni Gerussi [sic] and more people can keep up with its tune than our National Anthem. However, the CBC announced recently that it will not be renewing the Hockey Night in Canada theme. [Miss 604]

CBC ditches Hockey Night in Canada theme! THIS WILL NOT STAND. Sign the petition! [Nunc Scio]

Imagine the mentality of the idiot who thought it was a swell idea to dump the Hockey Night In Canada theme. If it wasn’t an arm’s length agency, I would swear this was a Tory ploy to take the heat off of them. [Mr Sinister]

It seems Canada is down one National Anthem now. This is not good news and my only hope is that public outcry will continue to rise and sanity/patriotism will prevail. [James Kingsley]

Goodbye, Hockey Night in Canada theme [The Gazette]

Really, though, to borrow an American bastardization of our accent, it’s much ado aboot nothing.

It’s posturing. Negotiation. Floating a trial balloon.

Politicians do it all the time. You know when there are policy leaks weeks before announcements are made? They’re trying to gauge public reaction.

You know how the unions threaten all sorts of doom and gloom when they’re about to go on strike? It’s all part of the game.

Dolores Claman is the source of the original story. She wrote the original theme, and has been paid $500 per episode of HNIC under the last agreement, which has since expired.

Check out the juicy piece of meat she threw at the major Canadian news outlets to publish today.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s iconic Hockey Night in Canada theme song, known for decades as Canada’s “second national anthem,” will no longer be used in hockey broadcasts, according to the song’s composer. [source]

See, it’s that last bit of news that everyone forgot to pay attention to - “according to the song’s composer.”

The CBC hasn’t pulled anything yet.

“We’ve been reaching out to [Claman] and her representative, and haven’t heard back.We’re prepared to do a deal, we’re prepared to talk, but we’re not prepared to do a deal at all costs.” [source]

Dolores Claman is just playing the p-r game. The Mother Corp is playing hardball with the licensing negotiations and she’s just playing the ace stuffed up her sleeve - public opinion.

We ALL love the Hockey Night in Canada theme. Actually, we ALL love Hockey Night in Canada.

ron and donRemember a couple of years ago when Ron Maclean and Don Cherry’s contract negotiations hit a snag? Yeah, all of a sudden it was all over the press and public chatter. How could we have HNIC without Maclean and Cherry??? The public spoke, the CBC listened.

The same thing is happening again.

That said, if this all backfires and they really don’t use the theme again, my vote is to toss $500 a week into Stompin’ Tom’s retirement fund and use The Hockey Song.

Win-Win.

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This is what I was doing one year ago. I’d like to do it again. A lot.

The best part of you plotting Stanley Cup domination is that we won’t have to hear from our muddling owner, Francesco Aquilini. If you do your job, the man who sounds like a Grade 3 student struggling to read aloud in class will stay on the sidelines.

The next time I want to hear from Frank is when he’s hoarse at a post Stanley Cup press conference.

Thank you.

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Ahhh … American politics. You gotta love it. It’s all about the issues. You know issues like the atrocious economy. Issues like the war. Issues like the housing crisis. Issues like … wrestling?

Nice. Okay, it’s cute and funny, but is it really presidential to do schtick like this? Wait, maybe it is.. George W Bush was on Deal or No Deal last night.

If you want someone to blame for this whole mess where candidates attempt to look human instead of talking point repeating robots, look no further than Bill Clinton.

The night he played sax in front of Arsenio Hall’s dog pound was the night issue oriented politicking in America died.

But don’t take my word for it… check out this piece in the New York Times.

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DONATED: $1 130
GOAL: $10 000
REMAINING: $8 870

Tomorrow morning, 56 000+ people will run the Vancouver Sun Run.

In June, 2009, I will be 1 of 150 running the Easter Island Marathon.

I just got back from the LiveSmart Expo where a few hundred people gathered to learn more about Diabetes and sit down with experts to talk about their situation. I had a GREAT chat with Rebecca Taylor, our contact for Team Diabetes.

When she said 150 people were running on Easter Island, I assumed she was talking about Team Diabetes. No. She was talking about the WHOLE MARATHON.

Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is a small, remote place. If they had more entries available, the island’s resources wouldn’t be able to keep up, so registration is limited to … 150.

I just might win this thing ;)

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The Canucks missed the playoffs. Yeah its old news.

As are the stories saying the sports bars aren’t selling as much beer, the sporting goods places aren’t selling as many jerseys, and the scalpers aren’t ripping off as many people.

But one other thing isn’t happening in this city, but it’s happening in Calgary. Where they have playoff hockey.

And that’s a chance for children to discover heroes. Check out this kid who LOVES Kiprusoff.

That emotion and devotion is what playoff hockey is all about. That’s what is missing in Vancouver right about now.

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