January

Jan 31 - One of my better “blogging” months. I only missed four days. While I am not sure what anyone thinks of my occasional rants and general comments, someone is looking. Hit count has cracked 14,000 and counting. Could be it is just legal counsel for my protagonists looking for a “gotcha”. Keep looking. Chances are Feb 1 will be a no hitter as it is “Super Bowl Sunday”!

Super Bowl – I might as well get it out of the road now and hopefully not jinx my boys. I am a long time Steelers fan dating back to the original Steel Curtain and Bradshaw – Green, Bleier, Swann, Stalworth, Ham, Lambert etc. This was when the big rivalry was with the dreaded Dallas Cowboys (Roger the Dodger) and the good Tom Landry teams. There have been some really bad times and a few good since then.

On paper, the Steelers should win but they will have to do it with defense and no turnover ball possession. I'm not a big Big Ben fan. There are days I think I could do just as well, but then again, I have a rather high opinion of myself. Pittsburgh has not had a full bag of tricks QB since Bradshaw. If they did they could mail it in. If Pittsburgh can avoid giving up early points and get something on the board to pressure the Cardinals into trying to open up – IT’S ALL OVER. Another fearless prediction. Pittsburgh by more than the spread.

As usual, the NFL has created web overkill on their Super Bowl site.

MVP selection – The Boss at half time. In true Yankee fashion you can bet on anything. There are lines on what songs he will perform and in what order. I figure Born in the USA will be a signature - even if it is depressing, My Lucky Day from Working on a Dream will be the new one and there will likely be two others ( Glory Days and Born to Run?) as I think he gets about 12 minutes. Tough to beat McCartney though – he was stellar. Get your bets in now.

Chile – Update on master chef. A primo batch of the Moorehead special home made chili is now simmering on the stove in preparation for the Big Bowl – chili or Super tomorrow. Hopefully not too many of Andrew’s posse will show up to scarf it all down. Leftover chili is pretty heady stuff. Of course, you have to have the obligatory wobbly pops with it which is a real struggle.

Sundin – Do you know how to spell BUST! It is too bad but poor old Matt’s has not been a panacea for the Canucks, he has been more of a boat anchor. How many times does the box score show the tying or winning goal against VC when Matts is taking a 2 minute holiday – answer – quite a few. Conversely his offensive stats are pretty offensive. The big question is how much of the dough was guaranteed and how soon will he be cut loose – VC is foundering since his appearance. It is too bad as he was a “star” performer and classy guy with the Leafs and probably should have quit while he was ahead.

Fraud - Just because you are a volunteer, it does not mean you are a good person. Unfortunately, a former official with Russell Minor Hockey (near Ottawa) has been charged with fraud. article Fortunately these instances are few and far between but they do highlight the value of associations spending money on auditors and formal audits. We have all seen what can happen (even in Oakville) when you don't - check history.

Flip Side - Let's look at a positive story. The Magic Hockey Helmet - If you have not seen this You Tube video you need to watch it. A 9 year old takes on the idiot parents with his video about the magical powers of his hockey helmet.

It has been covered in a lot of places see CBC's our game article. Our Game article - At this point the You Tube had over 80,000 hits. It is now over 100,000. From the mouth of babes . . .

Here is the You Tube link. Magic Hockey Helmet. Watch it. Not bad for a 9 year old.

Update - Quick update on my Leafs trade predictions. Scratch Kaberle from the hot list. Busted hand - out for a month. Guess that leaves 55 as the prime candidate.

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Jan 30 – I just hate it when I am right (not). The Miracle on Ice did happen and the Leafs did win. The Stanley Cup parade route has been updated until their next game. I really don’t care because once again I got the most points in the FHP and extended my already insurmountable lead.

Kudos to LG – Loyal readers will remember the challenges and thumbs down I gave everyone in sight when a certain household member decided to put her cell phone through the wash – with fatal (for the phone) consequences. As I indicated then, I ended up scamming an out of service phone and got it reactivated on the account. It was an old LG-150. For those of you who pay attention to the media, LG recently announced a voluntary recall on one of their phones re potential emission problems – you guessed it – the LG-150. Proud users were invited to swap out their battered old beast for a spanky new LG phone (three choices). I quickly notified the aforementioned household member who beat feet down to the phone store and picked up a spiffy new LG “Wine” (no h) complete with camera, Bluetooth, AC adapter/charger etc and they also generously threw in a car charger. Total cost to me $0. Sense of satisfaction at beating the system – priceless!

Grapes – look for a rant on Coaches Corner this Saturday as DC takes on the management of the GM Centre in Oshawa – Global Spectrum for canning a 17 year old volunteer cameraman for Rogers TV. Apparently he talked to Grapes about his ties – Grapes was cool with it but the big boys were not and turfed him as apparently it is against their rules for “workers” to approach the celebs. There is potentially more to this as Global Spectrum says this was not the first infraction for the young man. Story here.

Turf the Tamils – Time to add another group to my “S” List. I got away from the office tonight a bit later than intended and so was in the “Touch & Go” roulette race in terms of making the train I wanted. I hustled to the optimum subway car to match up with the central escalator at Union Station. Stood in the doorway ready to pounce as soon as the subway stopped. Raced up the escalator to make a run for the train. It was looking good as I figured I had at least 60 seconds to spare and then I HIT THE WALL.

The subway concourse was literally plugged with a horde of nobodies going nowhere. You could not move. People were trying to push in and down the steps from the Go concourse at Union to the Union subway area. People coming off the subway were trying to push out and up to get through to the exit for GO and a whack of folks were just jammed in there looking lost. It took me over 10 minutes being my usual rude and obnoxious pushy self to cross the 25 feet of floor and up ten steps to get out of the subway station. Once in Union Station proper it was open field running to the tracks but my express was long gone and I ended up on a milk run with a bunch of complainers. All because of . . .

“Tamils protest genocide” – Thanks – you have really won me over to your cause!

Tempus Fugit – Throw in a little Latin for class and just remind people that should I not post tomorrow (and even if I do), January is done! More than 1/12^th of 2009 has already been frittered away and I don’t feel I have accomplished much other than shoveling 15 feet of snow (actually watching Andrew shovel 15 feet of snow). I hope you have been more productive but it is still scary how tempus fugit (repetition for emphasis).

Bad day for the Brits – In 1649 the English beheaded Charles I for treason (he lost the war to good old Ollie Cromwell). After Ollie’s death his son Richard couldn’t hold the fort and had to flee to France when the Brits restored the monarchy and put Chucky II on the throne (son of Chucky I). In true British aristocratic style they then dug up good old Ollie’s body and hung him for treason! Don’t think that hurt as much as C I‘s discombobulation, but at least they were even on the treason executions. Can you execute a dead man?

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Jan 29 - Extremely short post tonight as it has been a long day and I don't have much to report.

Orillia does get a nod as the ice user groups are mounting an attack on the Town Council to get some action on a replacement arena plan since the Community Centre was forced to close. They want something in place for the fall? Good luck! The Council is apparently divided in their opinions and that is never a good sign in terms of getting anything done quickly.

Having gone through similar, albeit less extreme ice issues with flavours of the Oakville Council I know how challenging and frustrating that can be. At least in Orillia, all the user groups are aligned in challenging the Council and are not battling each other AND the Council. Apparently the petition is underway. Here is a letter to the editor in the local paper. read it here

I wish them luck. To put it in perspective, they have lost 50% of their available ice. For Oakville that would be like shutting down Glen Abbey Blue and Green, Kinoak and Maplegrove all at once. That's not even 50%, as it would leave five pads open. Not fun!

Thankfully it's late - The Leafs are out West facing the Avs with Raycroft and Tucker tonight. Should be fun but I don't have the energy or interest to stay up and watch the grudge match. Having said that I will probably miss another "Miracle on Ice" and a Leaf win.

BB Hall of Fame - elected its first members today in 1936. Initial members Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson and Walter Johnson.

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Jan 28 – it’s snowing. - CANCEL EVERYTHING. What’s wrong with this picture. I head out this morning, a bit of snow on the ground and the first thing I hear is that a) Peel has cancelled all school buses and b) Halton has gone one up and closed the public and separate schools. For those rocket scientists who haven’t figured it out yet, we live in Canada, Canada gets winter, in winter it snows – deal with it. It seems our coddled and protected society gets wimpier every year. I bet there were a lot of folks thrilled this morning to have to make instant day care plans

Back in the olden days, storms were a challenge not a threat. I went to the stereotypical one room school (it had two but we only used one – good old S. S. #9 Ellice township). Our teacher (one for 8 grades) lived in the thriving metropolis of Milverton (7 miles away on county roads) and took it as a personal affront if she did not make it to school. We walked approximately ½ mile to school (no we weren’t in bare feet and it wasn’t uphill both ways) and thought nothing of wading through snowdrifts etc. In fact we would go early and have those horrible snowball fights (girls included) that you get suspended for today. We hardly ever missed a day. In high school we were bussed, on a circuitous route that covered half of South Western Ontario, by an Evel Kneivel look-a-like lunatic that thought he was a born again tank driver. If we got stuck it was “get out and push” or “just let me take another run at it”. Nobody gave the weather a second thought, let alone being preoccupied by a few flakes of white stuff.

Again – progress!

Confessions – I must admit, I sort of watched some of the Leaf exhibition last night. I won’t call it a game as that would be inappropriate after the first period. If JP was trying to validate his position as a viable candidate as a future stalwart guardian of the hemp hut, he was working off the wrong script. His “team mates” didn’t help much either. Maybe they thought it was still the All Star game and they did pretty well only giving up 6 goals instead of 11. Six goals – 21 shots Hmmmm – save percentage of .71 Oh Oh!

Meanwhile Steve Mason continues to rack up the wins (even if it was against my Wings in OT).

Fighting – I am not going to weigh in yet on either side of the “fighting in hockey” debate. Everyone else seems to have the definitive answer but then a lot of people like to look at things in isolation and make instant decisions. I go back to what I have said before and promote an approach that deals with “violence in hockey”, not just “fighting”. By the way, what is “fighting” and where do you draw the line – a face wash – gloves off, blows exchanged – a TKO? The brutal hits from behind, the stick work – slashing, spearing, butt-ending, the “suicide” “clean” hits, all of which have I would suggest proportionately more physical risk and cause more injury than two yahoos taking a swing at each other.

The National Post had an interview article on the 24^th – with Dick Duff no less (Jane’s favourite player so I have to give him a plug). He has some interesting thoughts on this topic. I picked it up on www.faceoff.com . Hopefully the link still works  read here.

Check the stats – where do the most real injuries come from and what are various leagues, organizations, associations or governing bodies  doing about that. Put it in context. I don’t think fighting needs to be looked at as “part of the game”, but it is not the public whipping boy poster child that it is being held up to be.

Challenger - I did not realize yesterday that the first two space disasters (Apollo 1 and Columbia were on consecutive calendar days 19 years apart with Columbia self destructing in 1986. A lot of material on what the investigators did find out about the time leading up to the explosion and more importantly what happened after has never been released. The third one - Columbia was not far off as it occurred on Feb 1, 2003 - 17 years later. I also had not realized it was that long between the two shuttle incidents.

Sports - Oh yes, minor footnote, on this day in 1959 some guy named Vince Lombardi was hired to be the head coach of the Cheeseheads.

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Jan 27 – In the continuing saga of the Moorehead technology empire, I have progressed to running at 130 mps wireless on my notebook. I picked up a Linksys N cardbus adapter so that next summer when it warms up I will be able to surf even faster on my deck. Part of the deal was that I found it totally unacceptable for Number two son to be out pacing the Old Man. Little does he know I am running at 1 Gbps on the desktop! Take that!

The “N” protocol, one up from the common “g” is supposed to be at least 12X faster and 4X farther than “g”. For $30 at my local propeller head shop – I could not resist. Besides that, on the road, I can now steal signals from much farther away.

Goalies are truly nuts – Anyone who intentionally stands in front of slap shots with the sole intent of GETTING HIT has got to be wrapped too tight. However, they do have occasional flashes of brilliance like the young man from Pingree High School in South Hamilton Mass. Check out the article that The Star picked up from the Boston Globe (article). Apparently Trevor Leahy got the idea to disguise his pads )leg guards, trapper and blocker as “empty net” to “fool” those gullible forwards into shooting at them instead of the net. It's the old "nuthin but net" design. I have heard dumber ideas, but this young man has had a set of pads made on this principle (made in Canada) and has applied for a patent on the idea. Great initiative,

LISA POOLE PHOTO

Goalie Trevor Leahy is seen during hockey practice, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 at Pingree in Hamilton, Mass. Leahy created and patented the design for his own pads

 I wish him well.

NHL back at it. I don’t know if that is good news or bad news but at least the FHP is on again. I almost forgot to review my lineup to get everyone in. That would have been a bad way to start the stretch run.

Leaf Lottery – Time for everyone to belly up to the bar with their intrepid predictions of who will be sold down the river (actually most probably want to cruise off to a better place). I think B & W can’t wait to start shuffling the deck because they know they have to do it and do it now to have any hope of building for the foreseeable future. If they don’t go nuts on the trading block it will be years and years of same-o same-p until they are the next crew to get their walking papers.

So here goes. For the sake of stirring up the natives, I think Kaberle and Blake can play the military short timer game of X days and a wake-up before they are shipped out. In both cases, other clubs have permission to believe they can be the magic elixir to fire these guys up for them for the play-offs. Both have talent that is not seem or is wasted in Toronto. It will also free up some bucks and depending on the team I don’t think the no trades could be waved fast enough.

Next they may get lucky and pick up some picks for big number 80. Someone may still have his early press clippings that predicted he would be the next coming of Frank Phil Mahovlich Esposito This was before they found all the glass parts.

I don’t think Toskala is playing well enough to trade for any more than a bag of pucks and I suspect there is a “lower body” nagging injury that no one is talking about.

After that it’s a swap meet depending on who may be desperate for what. In true “jinx” fashion I will throw out the hex and say that the ONLY untouchable on the team is #2. If you have to look it up you should not be reading this anyway.

Let’s see what happens – send me your predictions

Apollo Tragedy – In 1967, the US suffered its first “space” race fatalities as Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee was killed in a capsule fire while doing a “plugs out” test of the Apollo I Command Module at Cape Canaveral. Two and a half years later, Apollo 11 landed on the moon and returned safely, at least partly because of some learning that these gentlemen paid for with their lives. As a bit of a “space buff, I had read and watched a fair amount about the US Space program – the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs and the “cowboy” jet jockey mindset that was attached to a lot of it in the early days. It is an amazing story, but a lot changed after January 27, 1967.

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Jan 26 - Final comment on the All Star "game" - 11 to 11 and they need a shootout to decide a winner!  The AHL is on tonight and I'm going to not watch that either. In fairness, It will likely be more of a "game" than the big boys as these guys are still looking to go to the show - maybe I will check it out.

Play downs - We went to watch the Oakville Pewee AA play last Thursday (a victory for the home side) It gets you back into trying to decipher the contortions of the Tri County playoff formats that look like they were designed on a Ouija board. For those of you brave enough to meet the challenge, the game schedules and results for AA, A, AE and Select are on the www.minorhockey.net site. Under MHN Standings, Tri County. OMHA Play downs. You then get the extended shopping list of divisions to check out with the Picasso grids. Thankfully for the neophytes they don't use the usual Bowen, Smith, Harrison etc. nomenclature. regardless, it is still a workout to do a quick check on the teams. You would think someone in Oakville might want to make it a little easier to see how teams are doing and where and when they are playing.

AAA rates a "special" location on the OMHA site (eventually). www.omha.net  .First, under the AAA Champs tab, make sure you have the current season, then pick the division you are interested in and then pick the SCTA qualifying championship weekend you are interested in and once the data is up you can get info.

Once any of the play downs get to at least the quarter final stage they will all be on the OMHA site under play downs as well.

See how easy it is to find out who is playing where, when! No wonder few people go to the games - they can't find them.

Books - Since I now have my sock drawer sorted (alphabetically by colour) and have decided to boycott any additional furniture moves I have for lack of anything more exciting to do been inventorying my books. Contrary to popular belief I can read, am an avid reader and do not just chew the covers. So far I have catalogued over 1,200 books pleasure reading, not my text or bus. books), figure I am about half done and wonder what the ^&$&&^^^* I am going to do with them when I am done. I may have to go ahead with my plans for the Wayne Moorehead Memorial Library. Looking over the current 35 page printout of "Titles by Author" it is interesting to note the common threads - war, pestilence, disease. At the risk of offending people (you know how that bothers me), I do not do female authors. Of my 1,200+ so far MAYBE a dozen are distaff side and I am convinced those are Jane's.

I have quite the collection from some authors - probably lead by the prolific W.E.B. Griffin 35 titles! There are a bunch of other major multiples -remember only half done so far - Clancy 15. Michael Connelly 15, Stephen Coonts 17, Clive Cussler 23. . . you get the picture. Talk about stereotyping - even in my authors I'm loyal.

Any suggestions!

Time to go catalogue another bucket. I hope the weight does not exceed the load limit for the second floor.

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Jan 25 – Again - Yes today is Jan 25. Yesterday was the 24th despite what I tried to have you believe in my blog entry. I have fixed that so no one will ever know and we are back on cycle.  Checking content, correcting mistakes and trying to be accurate and presentable – good practices – more on that later.

Follow-up on the All Star Game – I will not be watching it tonight. However, I am ashamed to admit that I got trapped into watching most of the “Skills” event last night. The “Skills” reinforced my view that this has got to go. The top of the pinnacle of silliness had to go to “the Breakaway” event.  First, nobody could really pull off their little tricks as planned (do we see shades of the NBA Slam Dunk contest) and then the use of Text Your Vote to pick a winner was clearly a desperate attention gamble. When wearing a straw hat and shades wins the event, I don’t think any more needs to get said on that front.

The 3 on 3 might have been interesting were it not for the stupid plan to show instant replays while the game was in progress so that anyone watching missed seeing a number of goals live and ran the risk of losing track of what was going on. The talking heads made it worse by continual references to their hopes that the players would “turn it up” like they could!

On top of that I think they had roughly 4,000 useless interviews to fill time with totally inane questions. If the NHL and NHLPA thinks events like last night are going to sell hockey in the US, they might as well start rolling up the franchises now (despite what the Comish said about all 30 being fine!).

I guess the Big Game is on now as I have heard the horn in the background – BUT I AM NOT WATCHING.

Pettiness – possibly. I don’t know why but I periodically go to the MOHA web site to try and find some info – a contact number, the link into Sports Manager, whatever. I know that is a silly thing to do, perhaps a masochistic fault on my part. Each time I do, I shudder at the esthetics (and content) – especially on the Home Page, but then, taste is a personal thing.

On my last visit, I saw there was a link indicating the 08/09 Awards Week schedule was available. As I would plan to watch some of these games, I went to check it out. Couple of suggestions:

• Check your spelling and grammar

• The schedule is almost legible on my monitor

• Don’t confuse past and present – is there a food drive? I don’t think you want to talk about how happy you are with what has been collected since it has not even happened yet.

• You may want to take off the Timbit schedule until you get a real one. You don’t want to confuse people – last year versus this year. People tend to make note of something and then not recheck it

• The same content note applies to a number of pages – you might want to actually review and remove or update stuff that is clearly out of date – e.g., clinics, calendar, news etc. It does not reflect well on the administration.

• As a general note, you may want to run the utility to check your links – it’s amazing how many are broken.

I have no problem with you reusing my pages. However, you might just want to pretend to edit them before posting. Remember, If you are this careless about something simple like a web page, what does it say about anything else you are doing.

Home Improvement – Part VI or VII or whatever. I get home Friday night to discover the brain trust has decided to shuffle the furniture. Fun way to spend a Saturday. Net, net, I have lost my sofa recliner in the “projector room”. The original plan was that the recliners would be in the projector room for my viewing pleasure. Jane had the standard couch / loveseat / chair in the “family room” to watch HER new LCD TV and Andrew and his posse were upstairs in his lair with his TV. That was the plan.

Now the facts – Andrew has taken over the family room with his buddies to watch whatever sports they can think of or play video games on the TV while lounging in the recliners. Jane has defaulted back to the projector room that is now couch / loveseat furnished and I HAVE BEEN PUNTED to my computer and side 21” LCD (occasionally if no one wants it, or is away, I get visitation rights to the projector).

What’s wrong with this picture.

History – In 1924 the first Winter Olympics opened in Chamonix, France. There were 14 events in 6 sports, a much more manageable program than the schedule today – they actually were winter sports. Hockey had been played in the “Olympics” before this but this became (retroactively the first Winter Games. Canada won the Hockey Gold – scoring 110  goals and allowing just 3 in 5 games. Times change.

Helter Skelter – In 1971 Charles Manson and three other “family” members were found guilty of the Tate – LaBianca murders. Chuckie is still in prison and regularly comes up for a parole hearing that to date has been (correctly) slam dunked. Read the book – these were / are some very scary people.

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Jan 24 – The cold is back. Minus a whole bunch with the wind chill. We ventured out to restock the larder today and in something called sunshine it did not seem that bad. However, we did get waylaid by a bunch of Girl Guides coming out of Sobeys. I am a sucker for the chocolate mint (no calorie) cookies. I think we made their day when we took $20 worth – 5 boxes. I tried to negotiate a quantity discount with a 6^th box free but they hung tough. Good for them, it is a worthy cause that I don’t mind supporting. I think one box is gone already (chomp).

All Star Game – is a joke. Get rid of it. It is not a real game, no one wants to risk an injury in a nothing “no hitter”. The goalies hate it as a shooting gallery and it means nothing. Now the tiny perfect Commish is pushing it by tying suspensions to non-appearances. Crosby is flying to Montreal, but won’t play. The trip at least in part likely to avoid having to miss a game. My Wings look to take a hit as both Lidstrom and Datsyuk are both likely to get bounced for a game for not going. Lidstrom is one of the classiest guys in the league, has played many All Star games in the past and is likely simply looking for a break after a tough first half. Datsyuk is I think nursing a bad hip. Who can blame them.

So pick on my Detroiters – it is the only way you can try to beat them – Go Wings Go!

The kicker is that this is on top of a breaking story that the players escrow withholdings are likely going to be increase to 25% of their gross to protect the NHLPA and the NHL revenue sharing agreements and salary caps. Yeah they make (and spend) big bucks but this has gotta hurt.

Truth or Rumour? The other day I commented on the challenges that Burlington players and parents are facing regarding private ice facilities and leagues versus “organized” and “official” minor hockey aka Blomha and the Eagles.

No sooner do I post that (with my comment about Oakville and the Ice 2 Ice facility) than I hear a story that MOHA is considering “farming out” Timbit hockey to Ice 2 Ice instead of operating it themselves.

Say it ain’t so!

You only get one chance to make a first impression just as you only get one chance to introduce youngsters to the game – that’s what Timbit hockey is all about.

The MOHA Timbit program was revamped seven years ago to provide a “best in class” introductory hockey program. The “new” program featured - structured practices and player development, maximum ice time for the youngsters based on a cross ice combined game and practice format, and an environment of fun and learning. The program was designed with maximum ice utilization, cross ice games (Sunday) with removable rink boards, custom built “smaller” nets, lightweight blue pucks, timbit size and weight goalie equipment, smaller more personal teams, promoted CHIP certification for instructors, and a CHIP patterned (Saturday) developmental practice plan.

The program was (at least until John and my departure) an unqualified success and the envy of programs and associations everywhere:

• It was showcased by the OMHA in Development Seminars

• It was touted by Tim Hortons program people in their travels

• We were asked to demonstrate and present at several Tim Hortons and Toronto Maple Leafs Coaches Helping Coaches Seminars at the ACC

• The OMHA and other association either came to see us in action or requested information on  the program.

• We provided a “primer” to both the OMHA and Tim Hortons as a “how to”.

• Did so well our “Red” Timbits could not even enter the Erindale tournament, teams had to be half White / half Blue!

• AND – most important, IT WORKS. Ask the kids parents and coaches who came through it in our tenure. What did they learn? How much fun did they have? Did it give kids a great start?

While “winning” is not the full measure of this program. Look at the OMHA Rep records of the teams that are comprised of the age groups that have come through our Timbit program and compare it to the older groups that did not. The numbers are amazing of teams that were OMHA finalists or champs. Include or exclude the AAA teams as you choose – they have a whole bunch of other issues.

What “private” program is going to offer the same type of personal focus and care that John and his occasional help did to give these kids the right first impression and start in the game.

• Spend hours evaluating and slotting the kids to provide proper team environments

• Spend hours with the “terrified” newbies getting them going

• Doing personal equipment checks on the kids

• Selecting and recruiting the “right” instructors to coach the kids

• Having sit downs with the “instructors” to get and keep them on track

• Checking up on practices to make sure they were what they should be

• Maintaining a personal vendetta against taped ankles

• Carrying a saw to chop off those too long sticks

• There with a smile and a comment for the kids and parents

• Setting up the annual Graduation Festival week-ends which were a perennial high spot and memory for all who participated.

It’s amazing how dedication and hard work can make a lot of things look easy until someone else tries it. If the stories are true, as I suspect they are, you have to ask yourself why would MOHA walk away from one of, if not the most recognized and successful program of its type anywhere?

I would suggest that a large part of the challenge is that this type of program requires the attention, support and active participation of passionate and dedicated minor hockey volunteer  “workers”, not self-serving figureheads. It seems there is a scarcity of the former and a glut of the latter.

How can you even contemplate giving something like this up ! !

Hopefully this post will help to short circuit any plans in this area (let alone the Hockey Canada issues).

Travellers Anyone – A monumental day in history and in support of road trips everywhere. In 1935 the first canned beer went on sale. In partnership with the American Can Company, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company put 2,000 cans of Krueger's Finest Beer and Krueger's Cream Ale on sale to faithful Krueger drinkers in Richmond, Virginia. Ninety-one percent of the drinkers approved of the canned beer, driving Krueger to give the green light to further production. Well done!

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Jan 23 - TGIF - it has been a long, busy and tiring week but you don't care - that is not the content you are looking for.

Who Wins - Follow-up. The answer really is no one wins - EVERYONE loses in this case. The latest update from the BC player / parents / coaches / administration proves the case. (The Province).(Vernon Morning Star)

• The Vernon Bantam Tier Two team has been suspended indefinitely - read season over.

• The coach and two other bench staff resigned, even though the coach was "cleared" of all complainants' charges by both the league and BC Hockey.

• Two league officials who had been suspended by BC Hockey and were involved in the process also resigned.

I can not comment on the issue of guilt or innocence here because no one will ever really know what did or did not go on, except for the parties directly involved. Regardless, look at what has transpired because of a complaint - justified or not. Something broke down!

• A team (17?) of bantam age boys has lost their opportunity to play a game I presumed they enjoyed.

• The complainant - what has happened to him - is his team behind him? Has he got jobbed? Have parents with an agenda created a situation that spiraled out of control?

• A minor hockey volunteer (coach) has been centered out in the community, his reputation and character challenged - don't know if he was a parent coach, By the way, the info is that he had coached for 12 years? Hmmmmm!

• At least two other coach volunteers have gone through this process and resigned with him - will they ever come back?

• Two administrators took the hit from BC Hockey - deserved or not - it sounds like these were important "workers" in the Vernon association. Has anyone looked around and found out how tough it is to find any volunteers - let alone good ones.

• A black eye for Vernon

• A black eye for BC Hockey

• By extension - a black eye for all minor hockey.

No one is perfect but use this as a learning opportunity for everyone. Clearly improper situations and behaviour can not be tolerated. However, situations need to be handled properly, according to established policy and protocol, with discretion, trust and competency (and within the law).

The onus is on all parties to make sure this happens and to recognize the seriousness of what can happen. As a executive member, discipline meetings (bad term, we should have called them operations sessions) were a major component of my role - some of you got to visit me and probably have your own opinion of how well or badly you felt we handled the situation. For critics, my advice is always put yourself on the other side of the table and tell me what you would do.

It bothered me how often parents would come to us complaining that their child was being "abused". My response any time that word was used was to immediately interrupt the process and ask the individual if that is truly what they really meant and if they understood the consequences of the use of the "abuse" or "harassment" terms as they relate to minor hockey and the situation we were discussing.

In Ontario, the law is clear that anyone having reasonable cause to believe that harassment or abuse may be happening has a legal obligation to report it to a responsible authority such as the Children's Aid or the Police. That's an overly simplistic statement but if you are interested look up the regulations and read them. You may be surprised about how serious these concerns are taken (and have to be taken).

The other truism is that things are very seldom if ever 100% to 0% with black and white truths. There is generally fault with both parties whether they want to admit it or not and the challenge is to find a way to work it out that while not "pleasing" is acceptable and fair to both parties and reasonable under the circumstances.

Easy to say - difficult to do, especially when dealing with minors.

Clearly things went badly wrong in BC.

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Lighten up - Today in -O company produced the first Frisbees. "The Pluto Platter". Mattel now owns the rights to the Wham-O Frissbee, having bought the rights in 1994. Oh for the days of summer - in the dunes at The Pinery, playing all kinds of stupid drunken games - usually one handed so your ____ wouldn't get knocked over. Besides it was hot and you were thirsty. It was tolerated then - I doubt it now. Another advance of our new, enlightened society.,

Wham-O also produced the Hula-hoop, the Super ball and the Water Wiggle.- Classics.

Jan 22 - The Orillia situation is turning into a real mess as everyone is blaming everyone else with the Town Council being the primary target for not having plans in place or building underway for a new Twin Pad or SMURF MURF - Multiple Use Recreation Facility. Oakville was not far from this same type of potential if the Twin Rinks deal had not come along and the life of Oakville Arena could not have been extended.

The Barrie Examiner is running letters to the editor and the Orillia Today  and Packet & Times papers will carry the fight / articles. Arrangements and schedules are being hacked to get through this season but where does poor old Orillia Minor Hockey go from here.

Arena Pic - seems the old news clip photo from 1959 Listowel Arena collapse did not post properly. Should be fixed now.

Coaches - I should not have only referenced 2009/10 in my comments the other day. By my count there have been three changes made already this season in the Rep Coach ranks.

Do Over - Not an auspicious start when you can't even get sworn in properly. BO and the Judge had to do it again "just to be sure". Anyone want to challenge. The first cracks are appearing over GITMO. The honeymoon may be nearing its end. Were Tom Cruise and Demi Moore involved in this, for as Jack said "You can't handle the truth".I wonder if anyone will ever know what has or did go on at GITMO?

Laugh-In - On a lighter note, for those of you who remember, forty years ago (actually 41, I have to remember it is 2009) in 1968 Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in debuted.A lot of then unknowns went on to bigger careers, probably Goldie Hawn as one of the most notable. Laugh-in also coined a number of phrases like - "You bet your bippy," "Sock it to me," "Verrrry interesting," "Here come da judge," and "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls.". Tricky Dick Nixon ("I am not a crook" even appeared on the show.

Think we'll go watch a game tonight and stir them up at the rink. I wonder who's coaching playing?

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Jan 21 – Have somewhat of a challenging mini project on the go with “my real job” so of course  it is one of those things I can’t talk about – so I won’t. However, it is chewing up considerable time and energy so I think this evening’s post will be brief.

Who wins? – Read the article about the situation that has developed in BC where there is major controversy over the handling of a situation where a Bantam age player raised a complaint about his coach. In effect, the GVMHA asked the player not to attend games or practices until the issue was resolved. That’s a No – No as effectively the player would be suspended because he raised a concern. This is the basis of why so many parents or players refuse to bring issues forward because they fear “reprisals”. This is what can not happen and has lead to a huge issue in BC. Read about it here . All 40 GVMHA teams were almost pulled off the ice by BC Hockey. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as unless you have lived through trying to deal fairly with these situations – both to the player and to the coach or other aggrieved party you have no idea of how difficult it is.

Remember Timbit hockey – The First Goal is having Fun!

Orillia loses Rink – Not a good day in the Orillia Minor Hockey world as the Orillia Community Centre (one of two rinks) has been closed due to structural concerns.  More info here  While this is difficult for the Orillia Association, the possible alternative is off the charts. I grew up relatively close to Listowel where in 1959 snow load caused the arena roof to collapse killing eight (including 7 minor hockey players and the Recreation director. 14 more were injured. Even as a young kid, I will never forget that day as one of the 7 boys was my cousin / best friend’s cousin. For a lot of us, this was one of those "but for the grace. . . " that could have been me.

Listowel arena collapse. Volunteers clawed at wreckage of the Listowel Memorial Arena in an effort to save boys still trapped in the Feb. 28, 1959, tragedy.

Dilemna – As kind of a useless space filler, I will tell a “work story”. Like many (hopefully most) companies, my employer is security conscious, both in terms of its employees safety and security as well as physical assets. We have encoded access badges for our building with scanners in the lobbies on every floor to gain access to the work areas. So far so good. The interesting twist is that like many buildings, the washrooms are in the central elevator core area, before you “pass” security. Up until now, access to the washrooms was public – you got in by opening a door. No more.

As of Monday, the same electronic locks for the doors into the work area have been attached to the washroom doors – no tickee – no washee. I am presuming this is a safety and security upgrade.

Our normal and recently reinforced policy is

1. Wear your ID badge in plain sight at all times.

2. Do not loan your ID badge to anyone.

3. Guests must be escorted at all times.

Sounds reasonable and simple. My question is – What do I do if I have a female guest / visitor who needs to use the facilities?

I told you it was filler – send your solutions to. . .

FHP – with just tonight’s games to go before the All Star break, it looks like I have rebuilt a comfortable lead in the Family Hockey Pool.

 With Team Ramrod the only threat it is time to start thinking about the victory spoils – that is as soon as I find out what they are. I got stiffed last year in the Stanley Cup pool and don’t plan to go down that road again.

Obamamania sweeps the world – check out the media coverage – print, broadcast, cyber, I don’t care. No mere mortal has ever had this level of expectation – adoration – hero worship – pick a word, phrase or accolade and you will find it. The former junior senator from Illinois has been transformed into Super President.

This too shall pass (and it is unfair to the guy). News flash – he has feet of clay and is a mere mortal. Election promises and powerful oratory are one thing. Delivering on some huge challenges in an ugly climate is something else. They just opened a new history book on OB as they closed the one on GB. Let’s see what gets written in it.

Bits and Bytes

• The Star runs an article on the Leafs wanting more noise from the ACC crowd – News flash – you might want to score first.

• Pat Burns reveals he has lung cancer – there is too much of this stuff going around – This is number three for Burns who has had bouts with both colon and liver cancer – good luck Pat.

• Vancouver approves its Olympic Budget – I want to see that one after the recent  +$400 million risk article and the legacy of Montreal and the Big Owe.

• Teardrop shaped goal post to direct more pucks into the net – Now that’s an interesting physics challenge – same size nets – more goals. I wonder if the leafs can have only one of these nets and move it from end to end? I like this one.

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Jan 20 – A variety of items today.

Coach Roulette – There are a lot of stories swirling around the windy city about MOHA Town Rep coach selection for 2009/10. Some of them defy comprehension (and may not even be true but time will tell). Here’s two that have been passed on to me or I have stumbled across. I may be a bit cryptic in some of the comments (because I don’t look good in horizontal stripes) but the folks involved will know.

Situation one - The Coach of the current Minor Bantam AAA team has been told - see you later. Apparently he was told at a game by a former board member (with an interesting MOHA background) who apparently is / was part of the selection committee. The coach was advised that his services would not be required in 09/10. I have heard, although not confirmed, that this decision was made despite no one else applying for the team and that the AA Coach has been asked to take the team.

The Minor Bantams are currently in fourth place in the ten ten team SCTA loop, are the defending OMHA Champions for the age group (Champions as Peewees), recieved an invite and participated in the prestigious Quebec City International Peewee tournament (the last Oakville team invited was Scott MacKenzie's superb team) and this team was also OMHA Championship Finalists the year before (as Minor Peewee).

The outgoing coach has had this team for around six years and one could argue that there should be a change (presuming other good options exist). Is asking the AA coach to step up a "good option"? I have also been told that the departing coach has tried to speak with the Prez, but has been told he is too busy to return his call.

I have had my disagreements with this coach (basically off- ice stuff), and therefore can not be accused of being a fan club member. Come to think of it, I have had disagreements with a lot of coaches / people. However, if what I have been hearing is correct, I will let you draw your own conclusions about what’s right.

Oh yes – keep in mind that the current coach is supposed to stay rah rah and enthused from now through the OMHA championships in late March. As the current champ, Oakville is hosting this event. Won’t this have a wonderful effect on the team. Hopefully it will not cut into his interviewing time with other associations.

Situation two – The current Bantam AAA coach has elected not to return (a well respected non parent coach - thanks for your contributions Mario) and is being replaced for this team for their Minor midget AAA – “draft year”. A topic may be why he is not coming back, but we will leave that for now.

I understand the new coach has been identified as RG from the Bantam AA Mississauga (very fast airplanes). Interestingly, the messenger in situation one described above has a son playing on this Mississauga team (have you figured it out yet?). I also understand that this coach is coming with a coaching package that includes at least two players. So much for open try-outs and no guaranteed spots. But that’s OK since the new coach’s apparent assessment after watching the team was that only five current players were at the AAA level. I guess this means there will be lots of room for the bench staff kids and any others that want to come along. I understand that this coach has already told his current team where he is going so there are no secrets there. The scoop I have on RG is that he is a well respected coach, has a solid program (at least at the AA level, is a part owner of the guelph Storm and did not want to coach AAA in the "G" because of parents! Oh Oh! Somebody has a surprise coming. A few random thoughts on this one:

• Did anyone from MOHA go watch the “very fast airplanes” to evaluate the coach(es) and players?

• Is there a deal for the returnees and, or imports?

• Has anyone counted how many there are?

• Was the messenger with his good friend the HC in on this selection?

• Are GTHL releases available for the kids and this bench staff?

• Do the current Ranger players and others know what spots are gone?

• Does anybody care - other than the potentially soon to be disenfranchised AAA players – and don’t forget the trickle down effect?

That’s two so far. With around 36 Rep and Ranger Select teams, I suspect we have some more interesting situations lurking out there. Only the Shadow knows, and I bet some folks are desperately hoping he or she does not talk.

Update / Clarification – For those of you I met or who saw me at the rink for the Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament, I enjoyed seeing you and working with the tournament committee. I was pleased that they allowed me to contribute. I did it for two reasons.

First, I had the privilege of knowing Frank (for too short a period) and working with him as a selfless and caring volunteer in minor hockey. Through Debbie, Paolo, Marisa, Shona, Hans and Reggie, this tournament was started and has been maintained as a phenomenal event and a fitting tribute to people like Frank who get involved and stay involved with minor hockey at the grass roots level for all of the right reasons. I am proud to be a small part of it.

Second, the spirit, atmosphere and “fun” of the FSMT – for the kids and community is what I believe minor hockey – especially house league should be all about. The competition, the skills events, the sportsmanship awards, the charitable fund raising events, the new “out of town” friends, all of these speak to strong values. At tournaments like this and many others across the country, the participants are simply thrilled to be there and look on it as a privilege, not a right. The coaches, trainers and other volunteers who go the extra mile to give these kids that experience are to be commended and supported.

So if you have not figured it out by now, or from the above, this past week-end did not mark any type of rapprochement or détente with the current cabal. My opinions are unchanged and in fact, reinforced.

Inauguration – In today’s coronation of royalty which the US, disguises as an inauguration due to the minor fact that they are a democratic republic (how’s that for sneaking in both party names) one has to look for a bit of silliness somewhere, based on how we are being bombarded with all types of pomp and ceremony crap and ostentatious celebration.

I came across the following picture in the Goat & Snail Globe and Mail.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A worker cleans around speakers atop the inaugural stage in Washington.

Do you not think they could have gone to Future Shop or Best Buy and brought in some real speakers instead of daisy chaining 4,000 minis? Anytime I go to a function it seems these is no shortage of humongous speakers cranked up enough to literally blow your head clean off.

GO Transit – It seems like either GO Transit needs money or they are just trying to harass me for my blog comments. In the two or three months leading up to year end, I don’t recall being checked at all by the ticket police. It’s only the 20th of January and already I’ve been checked three times? What’s up with that? The secret – go on the packed trains – they can’t fight their way through and, or do not want to deal with hostile commuters. The less busy trains, they can wander through and pounce on some poor unsuspecting schmuck who has not figured out the system and gives them the doe-eyed “who me” story.

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Jan 19 - missed yesterday and will not post much today as I am still on FSMT time. The tourney wrapped up yesterday with some great play-off games including a four or five (I'm not sure) overtime thriller between the Oakville Atom Vikings and the Meadowvale Hawks. While the Vikings won this game, they subsequently went down to their arch rival Oakville Eagles in the final (again overtime) it was quite the show.

Check all the results on the FSMT site. www.fsmt.ca

I have lauded this tournament several times already so I won't do it again - BUT IT IS GREAT - just ask the kids.

The good news on top of that was that we could present a cheque for $2,500. to Palliative Care through the Oakville Trafalgar Hospital Memorial Foundation from the generosity of people in the fund raising events - horn sales, program sales, 50?50 draw, puck tosses - whatever. Thank You.

The beleaguered webmaster is working on permissions and pictures for the FSMT site so check it regularly.

Minor Atom and Minor Peewee coaches - start thinking about 2010.

Any good stories - send them in.

Add to this:

• My Steelers won (and have two weeks to heal from the mayhem I did not get to see).

• The Eagles got (unexpectedly) what they deserve

• I am maintaining my lead in the FHP (Family Hockey Pool)

• and the Leafs are still terrible

• Most, but not all is right with the world

I have been working on some more topics and have some good stuff - later!

Signing off - I have work to do.

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Jan 17 - This is a no blog, blog. Simply to keep my consecutive days going. 10:40 PM - just back from a full day at the FSMT. Great hockey, although since I was helping "administer" I did not see a lot. However, with the "playoffs only tomorrow I will get to watch as well.

Kudos to the organizers and a number of local folks who came out and did a great job as volunteers to make things run so well. I will repeat that this is one of if not the best HL tournament around.

Congrats to the Oakville teams who made it to day three as well as to a number of others who gave it their best shot. There was some pretty tough competition.

Atom semis and final times

• 9:00 AM JC Red Oakville Eagles     Port Credit

• 9:45 AM JC Blue Meadowvale     Oakville Vikings

• 2:00 PM JC Blue CHAMPIONSHIP     winners of Semi-Finals  

Peewee Quarter - semis and final

• 8:30 AM JC Blue Oakville Wolfpack Brampton Spitfires
• 11:00 AM JC Blue Brampton Bombers Oakville Eagles
• 12:15 PM JC Blue Oakville Vikings Winner QF
• 4:30 PM JC Blue CHAMPIONSHIP winners of Semi-Finals

Check the web site for updates www.fsmt.ca

Now I have a Bailey's and a hot bath waiting.

Can't even bother checking on how the Leafs did.

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Jan 16 – The FSMT is off and running. Check the FSMT site for updated scores and even some pics. www.fsmt.ca . I am biased but I still think this is one of the best if not the best House League tournaments around. Besides the “loot bags” (which are unbelievable, good hockey, and the skills tournament, I believe that the fund raising that is a tradition for this tournament is truly worthy of note. Again this year, funds will be directed towards supporting palliative care at the OTMH. This is especially nice given that the young folks are supporting those at the end of their time with us. That being the case, I guess I can put up with the freakin horns that are being sod as a fund raiser1

 I have been at the rink all night (creating somewhat of a stir) so I will not be putting a lot of time into tonight’s blog. I am also on deck for a long day omorrow so I do not want to be “up late”.

St. Hilda’s Eagles wore their “pink” sweaters to promote their support in raising money to fight cancer. Apparently my comments in yesterday’s blog about the thumping they were going to take was used as dressing room inspiration for the boys. It seems to have worked as they won their first game handily (8 – 0). Now that I have won one game for them, they are on their own.

The following picture (also on the FSMT site) is a snap of the first game on ice, the Wings versus the Lumberjacks and A shot of the “pink” ones.

First game kick-off - Wings ve Lumberjacks - The Wings won!

St. Hilda's Eagles all duded up in their pink sweaters!

While it may be cold at the rink, it is not nearly as cold as some of our unfortunate colleagues in the Toronto “black out” zone. Do you know how to spell “busted pipes”. More importantly, I hope anyone with elderly relatives, friends or neighbours has and is checking up on them and helping out. With the outside temperatures, this is dangerous stuff.

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Jan 15 – Limited bumpf today as I have been playing J. R. Ewing downtown this evening with the Big Oil Robber Barons. I have to be back again tomorrow for brekkies at the Royal York so I need to get some shut eye. Remember, this is not my day job and does not pay any bills.

Shivers - At the risk of alienating my Oakville blogging compadre, I must ask him to cease and desist from mentioning airline disasters. No sooner does he comment on the Potomac crash years ago then a plane goes swimming in the Hudson. Scary stuff. Fortunately everyone miraculously survived their unscheduled river cruise. I hear Homeland Security is looking for him which is why he is holed up in Winterpeg. Something about bird training experiments - Alfred H - Psycho?

Rent-a -Blame – GO Transit and CN seemed happy to duke it out yesterday over who was at fault for the abysmal service (or lack of it). GO says CN was involved in an IT update that didn’t get done on time and that, not the weather caused all the chaos. CN says Unh Uh. Not us, I guess it was just an interesting coincidence that my train was 20 minutes late this morning due to “door problems”. Was that CN’s fault to or can we drag Bombardier into the mix. Either way they are LATE and the service sucks.

Gossip – the train does provide an interesting source of tidbits. It seems the OMHA is not the only group with “outlaw” challenges. Burlington, with their usual schizophrenia was trying to serve two masters but now actually has three.

The Burlington Eagles (rep only) are an OMHA centre and play in Oakville’s OMHA loop. The Blomha organization (house league, select and the Bull Dogs rep) are in the Alliance. Both OMHA and the Alliance play under the auspices of the Ontario Hockey federation (OHF) which in term is a sub of Hockey Canada. The third Burlington entity is now the Wave. By creating teams and leagues, the Wave has created another “hockey association” that is “outside” of the established and accepted Canadian Minor Hockey monopoly – which is frowned upon big time by Hockey Canada – etc, etc, etc,.

Rules are being broken, potential suspensions are in the air as well as a great deal of uncertainty and parent / coach chatter. Who has the right to do or mandate what, let alone what is fair for the kids. Lest you Oakvillians smirk too much over the difficulties of our arch rivals down the Queen E. ,this same problem probably already exists with Ice 2 Ice programs (i.e., winter organized leagues that “conflict” / compete with sanctioned minor hockey programs) – and you could be in the cross hairs next!

Just for fun and your personal info here is part of the Hockey Canada memo on outlaw league participation

As Tweety Bird says, "Be vewy, vewy careful"

Definition:

Hockey Canada and its member branches view all leagues that operate outside the

auspices/sanctioning of Hockey Canada programs to be classified as “outlaw” leagues. For further clarity, this specifically refers to those leagues that operate programs in direct competition with those offered by Hockey Canada and its member branches. This currently does not include summer hockey leagues/teams, adult recreational hockey leagues/teams, high school hockey, and/or hockey schools.

Sanctions

1)      Membership in Hockey Canada from those individuals that have participated (knowingly or otherwise) in "outlaw" programs will only be accepted based on the following schedule:

Outlaw League Participation Length of Period of Ineligibility for HC Programs

0-5 Exhibition Games/Games 3 months from last outlaw league participation

6-10 Exhibition Games/Games 6 months from last outlaw league participation

More than 10 Exhibition Games/Games 12 months from last outlaw league participation

If a participant makes the choice to participate in these programs, they must understand

the ramifications of that choice and whether the league/team folds, whether released/suspended/fired the individual will only be eligible to register with legitimate

2)      teams under the Hockey Canada umbrella based on the schedule above.
Hockey Canada will NOT offer National or Regional Championships or any other Hockey Canada/Branch/CHL sanctioned events to those municipalities/arenas that support "outlaw" programs.

3)      Finally, Hockey Canada and its member branches across the country will make every effort to ensure that those local minor hockey associations in areas where outlaw leagues exist are not supporting these leagues in any manner whatsoever. We will withhold tournament sanctions if need be to stress this point. To be clear Hockey Canada will not sanction any tournaments within Municipalities and facilities that support programs outside the auspices of Hockey Canada and its Branches.

This is aimed at those leagues that are operating in direct competition to established Hockey Canada, Branch and local minor hockey programs.

Maybe I’ll spend more time on this when I feel like it – or maybe some other folks should. Meanwhile – call it a day.

Support the Pink Guys – On February 13, Nelson Pavao and his Peewee St.Hilda’s Oakville Peewee Red Eagles are taking part in the St.Michaels Majors’ annual Paint the Rink Pink Night, in support of breast cancer research.

 Nelson and his squad have been very community oriented and supportive as they were big movers behind the recent “Fill the Net” Christmas drive. I told Nelson I would give him a plug on my internationally famous blog, so here it is. Besides that, he will need the support after the thumping he is going to take in this week-ends Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament.

Below are downloads for:

• A poster

• A letter on Paint the Rink

• An Order form.

It is a great cause so buy tickets whether you go or not. No proceeds go to the Wayne Moorehead retirement fund.

Pink Sweaters! – Nelson, show some respect for these young men (Send me a picture)

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Jan 14 - What a Dummy I am - don't all agree at once.. The email I had for myself at the top of this page had a typo in it that I have looked at day in and day out for however long it is since I moved it there and never noticed. There is a reason why you should never proof read your own stuff - 'cause you can't! Minorhockeyfan ends with an "n" not an "m". This is when I wish I had taken typing in high school instead of Latin (those were the only two choices I had in my huge school). The "smart" guys took Latin, the drones took bookkeeping / typing. I was supposed to be "smart". Guess I fooled them. Veni, vidi, vici! Sum esse fui. Amo, amas amat. Beat that Julio.

Anyway, for anyone who tried to send me an email at the wrong address - too bad - you should have figured it out when it bounced back and if it was important tried again. Maybe this was my subconscious way of avoiding you.

It is now fixed - I think - I'll have to try sending an email to myself - what a loser.

Stop already - I have the secret recipe for the world's best caramel / toffee popcorn. It is a family tradition that I make it over Christmas (there's that word again). It started out years ago as one double batch. Then it seemed that we needed to make a second batch - just to get us through New Year's. Then we seemed to have to give it away to "special" people. So we are now at the three double batches level. Fair enough, but it would be nice if I got to each some too. Between Andrew and his posse, Jane and her family freeloaders, the special folks giveaway, I don't even seem to get any after slaving over a hot stove with my secret cauldron.

As if that's not bad enough, I come home tonight after what can only be described as a challenging day in the salt mines and find the base popcorn made. My tools and ingredients out and a clear expectation that I would be cooking up batch FOUR tonight. Clearly as the master in my own house I put my foot down, then quietly walked over to the stove and started cookin'. Maybe I'll actually get some from this batch.

Ricardo Montalban punched out at 88. I thought he departed years ago but maybe he still had to do Chrysler Cordoba ads. No - his best work was not Fantasy Island (a horrible show) but rather as - you guessed it - as Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan. He reprised a character he had originally played in the Space Seed episode of the original Star Trek series. That and drinking Maxwell House Coffee (Good to the last drop) were his claims to fame.

Nortel closely follows Ricardo - Riches to rags and then some is the story here as a one Blue Chip flagship company finishes their floundering. Look for it soon as a Harvard Business Case near you. Bell - Nortel - Who had stock - raise your hand - Who kept it - Who watched it go down and down saying "it'll come back". Off to the bird cage you go. At least the misery may be over.

Lower the Boom! - Man oh Man, did David Branch ever lower the boom on OHL pugilists. Should they be so brash as to undo their chin straps or dump the bucket before or during a skirmish they will get punted from the game and pick up a game suspension. This has got to have the thugs shaking in their books at the severity of the punishment. Either that or scratching their melons trying to work out moves to make it look like the other guy lost his lid to get him turfed. Oh I forgot, this is on top of any other penalties assessed. Clearly that will make all the difference. Talk about a rule change that does nothing other than appease some critics.  Get those lids welded on and lets see how many broken hands we get - does anyone track those injuries.

If I was a total cynic I would suggest that this could encourage fighting. Like all the other equipment designed to protect the player (and damage the opponent) - e.g., space age Kevlar elbow pads - get one of those in the mug - Geordie could have played forever with them, shoulder pads that are a cross between chain mail and tank armour. So let's let the guys toughen up their gloves and leave them on just to make it interesting. Thumbs down for Branch on this one. It's a sop.

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Jan 13 – I did post yesterday, I am just not sure, if my ISP had a problem or if I did, as it seems “it was not there”. Sorry to disappoint all of you who were waiting with baited breath for the next exciting episode in the life of . . .  Anyway, I have reposted yesterday’s content – sort of like day old news – send it to the birdcage but at least it’s there now.

PC – Not Progressive Conservative (if anyone remembers that oxy-moron) but Politically Correct. I have decided to officially designate this site as officially Politically Incorrect (it probably was anyway) because I am tired of all this crap. We cannot be bothered teaching kids to read and write – heaven help the teacher who tries to teach grammatical construction, parsing sentences or the concept of correct English. Apparently, you cannot “fail” kids anymore. You cannot call Christmas “Christmas” and no way do you have a Christmas Concert as that would offend someone. You can’t let kids play anymore as a snowball fight will get you suspended from school and anyone who participates in any spontaneous sports activity risks getting sued if little Johnny falls down and bumps his pampered, empty, uneducated head. To cap it off, the Royal family is under attack because good old Harry used a couple P inC words a couple of years ago and Prince Chuck the heir to the throne calls an Indian friend “Sooty”. I could go on and on but you get my drift.

I guess we as adults are fatally flawed because we did not live in these enlightened times growing up as we did in the Dark Ages. The fact that our teachers (who handled eight grades in a one-room school – not a joke) could and would mete out corporeal (where can I find one of those leather strops) must have ruined us for life. The fact that we behaved because of it (and the follow-up therapy at home from parents who actually supported and encouraged the teacher) was clearly misguided behavior. I can still remember what I got it for! Did I feel abused or victimized – hardly? As the regular recipient of endearments such as “whitey” and “four eyes” I learned a lot of things, not the least of which being that as a southpaw, a left hook was an awesome weapon and that most bullies had soft body parts and no stomach for a real fight. You also learned who your friends were and sometimes more importantly who they were not. You also learned what a temper was and how to manage it – you do not want to see me lose mine. Young people settled their own differences, they did not need a knife, gun, or posse to do it and they did not go running home to Daddy every time someone called them a name so that their Daddy could beat up or shoot his Daddy or sue him instead. It is a good thing that we have all progressed to a better place.

Give me a break.

What kind of writing do you get from anyone on anything today. Shoot the guy who invented multiple choice exams to make the markers life easy. Get an employment form that asks a candidate to answer some open end, essay style questions (I think that is still legal) and take a good look at what you get from officially papered university graduates.

This post has over 800 words (no I did not count them, Word does that automatically – it also has another neat feature that assesses your writing level). No one cares but I remember when 500 word essays were all the rage.  Give me 500 words on. . . . “How I spent my summer vacation”. We can knock them off in nothing flat. Now you would think that requesting an essay is like asking for a draft of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. This rant took me about 20 minutes – including (very) limited think time but I did have a panzarotti break in the middle.

Enough!

This was a hockey blog with some other stuff thrown in – I digress. Leafs and Nashville – Zip zip middle of two. Clash of the titans.

Chalk up my vile mood to another “government” issue. Two weeks back, two governments heard from, chalk up two wins for me. I hope this one a week is not a trend.

Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament this week-end. Check their site www.fsmt.ca . Come out to support the kids, watch some great grass roots hockey and bring a few bucks to blow on support for the Palliative Care team at the Oakville Trafalgar Hospital. I’ll be there and I promise will try to behave.

Knights Templar were recognized on this day in 1128 by Pope Honorious II as an Army of God. It’s a good thing he did or they would never have made “The Da Vinci Code” Movie.

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Jan 12 – another Monday and not an auspicious start to the week. I am not going to complain about the cold – that’s fine it is winter time. However, I did not much like my Pool score this morning.

Hockey Pool  - While quick to point out my successes (continuing first place standing) it is also important to point out that it is not always smooth sailing. Sunday I established a Moorehead record for the absolute worst score! A -1.5! That is less than “0”, minus 1.5 and this was with four players in action inaction. Given we ascribe points for shots on goal, goals, assists and +/- it is pretty obvious what happened. No offensive output. No defensive support. Ending up below zero! That’s humiliating. Have taken a bit of a pounding over this one. BUT – I am still #1.

Overly sensitive – It is good to see that some people in the hockey world are actually waking up to the performance that Mr. Mason is putting on.  

Leading the NHL in Shutouts – despite missing the first month. Time to start lobbying for Rookie of the year.

Actually, check out the stats page today on NHL.com. Steve is leading in three of the four goaltending title stats.

• Save % .938

• GAA 1.75

• Shutouts 6

• Only Wins eludes him as Kiprusoff has 25 (Check the games played).

All of this without playing on a barn burner team. Way to go Steve

The Honeymoon's over? - Is it my imagination or has the Toronto public / media started to really fall off of the Bleu et Blanc band wagon. Given it is a Monday and lots happened in the world of Sport outside Leaf Land I was still surprised to see what I thought was visibly shrinking Leaf drivel. As I write this and check the Sports home page of the web version of the Toronto Star, there is NOT ONE Leaf story in the leads. A number of other NHL stories / teams are there but NO BUDs - check it out.

The first Leaf story is buried a ways in and it's a block buster "Leafs recall Kulemin". Shape of things to come? We can only hope. Maybe I can get more Wings coverage.

The Taxman Cometh – Associations and Not for Profits better mind their P & Qs. The Canada Revenue Agency has stripped Little League Canada of status as a registered athletic association, meaning Little League Baseball Canada can no longer provide receipts to donors for income tax purposes. The government rationale was "abusive transactions arising from its role as a participant in a tax shelter arrangement."  See the Torstar article.

Is this the first step in a government “crackdown” on the range and variety of “so-called” NFP and charitable institutions out there that have had “apparently” a relatively free hand in free wheeling their finances?  LL is challenging but the interesting comment was that “president Roy Bergerman acknowledged the tax shelter scheme but said it had been cleared by tax experts and previous government audits” Are the rules changing, did someone get bad advice, was the situation described not the “real deal? Enquiring minds want to know as this could lead to a lot of witch (pun intended hunts.

Be careful of the "gifting" and tax receipts for "services" and "contra". You better be able to demonstrate value. Since I am not a tax lawyer (thank goodness) and don't want to imply anything - just read the article.

With a Little League association in Town - this will hit close to home for some people.

Go Steelers Go - At least my boys survived one upset weekend. Three out of four homers get smoked - bye bye to a bunch of favourites - Hello Arizona? Good thing Philly is on the road as I don't think the league would want to televise a game in that portion of the Quaker State the way their fans treat anyone foolish enough to wear visitor colours - just ask a few Redskins fans (are they out of the coma yet?).

Chargers gave me a brief scare with the early TD but nothing like an all the way punt return to take the wind out of your sails. Defense, Specialty teams and Ketchup Field - who needs the O line and Big Ben. With the support he's got and the way he's been thumped this year - can you spell concussion? -  the good news is the Steelers are not ultra dependent on Big Ben. Just win two more boys - Sticking with the pigskin -

1969 Broadway Joe delivers. After guaranteeing that the upstart AFC (heavy underdog) Jets would beat the invincible NFC Colts in Super Bowl III (yeah – just the third one which the arrogant NFL thought they owned after the merger with the AFL) – Namath delivered. His D intercepted Colts QB Earl Morrall 3 times to help out (somehow I thought it was Johnny Unitas he beat but as Clemens says – maybe I misremembered). Among his many rewards, I believe that I remember BJ 's notoriety after SB III landed him a centrefold spread in Cosmo to show off his physique. Along with Ali, this type of “predictive win – trash talking” was probably stated by Namath and it did not sit well with a lot of people at the time.

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Jan 10 – Get ready – The countdown is on to the great SCTA Qualifiers. For the uninitiated this stands for the South Central Triple A qualifying tournament week-ends to determine which AAA teams go forward to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Championship. These “tournaments” take the place of playdowns, or play-off series to determine who represents the SCTA at the OMHAs. Oakville AAA teams play in the SCTA.

The good news – it is over in one weekend. The bad news – it is over in one weekend. I personally do not like this format as a single “bad” game can negate a wonderful season of hard work and end a team’s chances for a championship. At least in a playoff series, a team has a better chance to recover from a bad game. I think most coaches would agree with me on this one – ask yours.

The prevailing point of view is that this format is favoured and promoted by the various association ice schedulers (and OMHA poobahs) who find it much easier to deal with a single simple tournament week-end than the challenges associated with a sequence of playoff series. There is no rule that says it has to be done this way, “they” just decided to. By the way, the schedulers have a lot of clout in the SCTA. Does anyone care what the coaches, parents and players think. I wonder why the NHL has play-offs (other than TV and gate). Maybe there should be an East and West tournament weekend and the top two teams play for Lord Stanley’s Mug.

The Eastern arm of the OMHA interestingly enough does not use this format and has conventional playdowns. Coincidentally, they seem to have a better record in the OMHAs. Are they better teams? Maybe, but maybe it’s because (in my opinion) there are fewer upsets in a series format and hence the top teams all year from the East are more likely to be in the OMHAs then the ones from the SCTA who risk getting upset in the weekend qualifier? It happens quite a bit – ask around.

Here’s the schedule if you want to check it out.

Just to make it more interesting, Oakville is hosting the Minor Atom – March 13 – 15. The Halton Spring Break is March 16 to 20. Welcome to AAA and team commitment. No early jump on the break for this group. Or, if you do, good luck on making the team next year. While not in Oakville, the same time issue applies to parents of Peewee, Minor Bantam and Midget AAA players. The Atom and Minor Peewee are at the tail end and may be folks coming back burnt out (literally) from a sunny south vacation. Oh well, holidays are highly over rated anyway.

The following weekend, by virtue of last year’s Peewees championship, Oakville gets to host this year’s Minor Bantam AAA OMHA championship.

Division: Minor Bantam
Date: March 20-22
Location: Oakville

Given that Joshua’s Creek Arenas will likely be the venue of choice for both events (consecutive week-ends) there will likely be some interesting House League play-off schedules. This will make it challenging for those folks to make outside tournament plans.

Grocery Wars – After the week I have had, I am just spoiling for a fight. Moral – don’t mess with me - don’t take me grocery shopping. After a  soothing trip to the local Crappy Tire, we stop off to pick up a few things at our the friendly local Sobeys and hit the check-out lines – and I mean lines. Not being the most patient guy in the world to start with (I don't do lines), I am poised with my cart – hoping they open another till and I can zip in. In the line beside me is a guy with the same plan. Behind him is your typical Oakvillian female busy reading her magazine (borrowed from the check out) and paying no attention!

I’m to buddy’s left, a till on his right opens. He zooms in, I’m hot on his tail and the witch goes wild! Her logic “I was behind him”. My response – “yes you were, but in a different line” (so too bad for you). I was ready to go the distance on this one and was just warming up for a good one, but my better half dragged me out of the fire zone and back into the line buddy had vacated.. Clearly the witch is used to getting her own way and unfortunately did again. Meanwhile another lady had zipped in ahead of us from somewhere  (not any line) but apparently that’s OK - good foir her, she WAS paying attention. Just for the fun of it I made a couple of disparaging comments about the witch which I am sure she heard, I know it got some grins out of folks around us. Hopefully I ruined her day. I spotted her in the wine kiosk on the way out getting some wine to go with her whine.

William Seward was named Secretary of State today in 1861. No big deal except that he’s the guy that bought Alaska from Russian for around $6M. Referred to as “Seward’s Folly” or “Mr. Seward's Ice Box” it turned out to be a pretty good deal - except that it included Sarah Palin!

Idiotic Stats – As of this date in 1996, Albert Klein of Pasadena, California, held the world's record for automobile mileage: his 1963 VW Beetle had accumulated 1,592,503 miles, and was still running. Who wants to challenge that one.

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Jan 9 – TGIF – literally. For some reason this has seemed to be a really tough week. Hopefully it improves.

Tidbits – browsing the free “newspapers” can be entertaining. A smattering of today’s content:

• An Aurora man is busted for allegedly trying to smuggle in 40 kilos of raw opium in cans of tomato paste – No wonder my chili is so addictive.

• A N.L. woman thought she was experiencing back pains and or passing a kidney stone – Wrong – on New Year’s morning she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy and “swears” she had no idea she was pregnant! I know I’m not qualified to speak on this subject but DUH!

• The Canadian military is trying to buy Russian ammo to fit AK-47s. Isn’t that what the bad guys shoot At us?

• An estranged Long Island man wants his kidney back – he had donated it to his “then” wife. Calling billy Shakespeare – here’s a sequel to the pound of flesh challenge in The Merchant of Venice”.

• Finally – Mikey Jackson is back in Tinsel Town renting a modest French Chateau (in Bel Air) for a measly $100,000 a month.

And this is just high spotting some of the quality content from “Metro”.

Leaf Futility continued with the rout by the Habs last night but the good news is it helped me in the family hockey pool. Three games for Grabovski – tough luck for Leafs, that won’t help them much either. Having not mentioned for a while, I thought I would just update that I am still in first place and have opened up some breathing space. Fortunately second place Andrew was foolish enough to clear a roster spot for Sundin – Mistake!

Rawhide – In 1959 the Western series Rawhide debuted starring none other than Rowdy Yates – AKA Clint Eastwood. Rollin, Rollin, Rollin – Keep them wagons rollin – Rawhide! Dusters were big then as there were over 30 Western series on air (with the limited number of networks in 59.

As I big fan I have seen all the Sergio Leone spaghetti Westerns, the "Dirty" Harry Callahan batch and the many since as an actor and director. But here’s a tip – Don’t waste money let alone viewing time on his latest – Gran Torino – it’s awful!

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Jan 8 - I don't think this week is ever going to end. Every time I turn around it seems I run into another "opportunity". It seems everyone who was working over the holidays sat around, eating goodies, having lunches and figuring out how to make my life miserable when I came back. The old internal clock still seems to be reacclimatizing as I apparently do not want to get out of bed when the alarm goes off. Hopefully this will change and I can get back to my normal rut.

Missed yesterday - had some folks over for plotting and scheming and did not have the energy to pound out some trash after they left. You caught a break. It was a Guinness night for me with some red wine for others. Apparently they like a "dusty" chardonnay as I sat down tonight to create this tripe and grabbed a glass - verrrry dusty. Nobody complained - did they notice, did they care, were they too polite to say? The more I drink the better it tastes so maybe it was not so bad.

Today's fun - home from the wars. Canadian Tire has an interesting perk for us. It's called "The Sample Sale". Basically merchandise brought in as buyers samples, for flyer or merchandise shoots, line reviews or whatever is retained and periodically sold off to rotating groups of employees. Tonight I was part of the fish in the barrel lucky contestants. At 5:00 PM I along with 75 to 80 of my former friends are let into the "small" sample room to grab on a first come first served basis what we would like to buy - from Xmas decor to golf clubs to car covers to pick axes to - well you get the picture. The trick is to quickly spot the good stuff, grab it and create a stash of your stuff as the hunt continues and hope none of your colleagues raid your undefended goodies while you are out scrounging for more. All in good fun. One subjects oneself to this base behaviour because of the unique "cash out" process. You drag your bins/boxes of hard fought for goodies to the front to pay. One of the guys wanders over, eyeballs the pile and throws out a number (typically ridiculously low). You smile, pay, and run like heck.

You load up the car, get it home, start going through it and wonder - "What the hell did I buy this for?"

As an example a partial list of what I scammed today reads as follows:

• 3,000 pound universal winch (might work on Andrew's Jeep - I really needed it but such a deal)

• Noma 150 watt Stand by Power Plug

• 2 Electric Nail gun staplers

• Two,1/2 inch air guns (now I've got three)

• Air ratchet

• A bunch of stupid Xmas decorations (to create even more havoc next year and keep Jane happy)

• Pruner

• Broom handles

• Socket set and separate ratchets

• 2 lamp portable / adjustable worklights and stand

• Standalone single worklight

• Multiple scredrivers

• Hammers, claw, tack and ball peen

• Snips, shears and pliers and ripping tool

• Rubber hose

• Toilet seat (deluxe - I did need that)

• A bunch of painting and drywall accessories brushes / trowels

• Rubber hose

• and a bunch of little stuff I can't remember

All this for $100 (you guess the retail) and the fun of shopping for it - fighting and grabbing, scratching and gouging. Oh yeah - I forgot the Montreal Canadians Xmas sock that will be going out as a gag gift.

Leafs - You get tired of kicking someone when they're down - at least usually but not the Leafs. I have been watching the Leafs/ Habs Wrestlerama hockey game as I type and the Blue and white have been brutal.5 - 1 after two and no sign of relief. At least they won a couple of fights but the hockey leaves a lot to be desired.

The trade for May was another question mark but you could say they did not give up much - a qualified draft choice. BUT - he uses up a roster slot for what? A 37 year old journeyman is not the answer. By the look of his hand after the fight, who wants to bet he goes to the IR. Those shields are heard!

The first Burke deal - a blockbuster! Maybe he can convince the Ducks and Leafs to just change sweaters.

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Jan 6 - They came to play. All of them and for 60 minutes. Watching the first period my only thought was - can you play like this for another 40 minutes. If you do and get some breaks, the issue isn't winning, it's by how much. It could have been like the Ladies Canada vs Switzerland game. They looked that good.

Congrats to each and every member of the team, not just your everyday superstars. Sweden looked like they were in a fog, under attack by a swarm of bees. Even the run of silliness in the second period with the regularly scheduled trips to the sin bin was not enough to throw them off their game and, or let Sweden get settled down.

Somewhat lost in the glory being heaped on everyone else was recognition of the stellar effort turned in by the guardian of the hemp hut - Dustin Tokarski. After turning in somewhat suspect performances, which had all the armchair coaches second guessing his nod for last night, he turned up with his "A" game and played like a champion (oh yeah - he is). While it may have looked like a white wash, Tokarski faced over 40 shots - made it look easy. Meanwhile his confrere at the other end was having a bad day at the office. A picture says it all.

Don't cha just love it when the goulie loses his cool - Ring 'em up!

SEAN KILPATRICK/CANADIAN PRESS

Team Canada's Angelo Esposito collides with Team Sweden's goalie Jacob Markstrom during second period action in the gold medal game at the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.

A second human interest story that we underdogs love is the Gold Medal Winning Goal was scored by none other than Angelo Esposito. "Not Good Enough" to make the last three gold medal teams, he stuck with it, made this one, was a huge contributor and sets a great work ethic example for those spoiled little ^#$%^%$^6 who get handed everything they want on a silver platter or give up if they don't get instant gratification. FOUR TIMES - A special good for Angelo.

Stop the noise - I was hoping that some of the GO Train morons may have learned a few things over the holidays - you know things like common courtesy, respect for others, consideration of where you are - NOT!

Some yahoo obviously got a new crackberry type toy over Christmas and has decided that a crowded GO Train, packed, delayed by switch problems and converted to a local is a great place to learn the features - I.e. try to decide on a RING TONE. All the way from Union to Clarkson (with all the local milk run stops) this idiot was continually playing the selection of available tones apparently trying to decide which one was "them". If I was not afraid of losing my seat and facing assault charges, I would have got up and smacked her and then creating a new permanent crunching noise ring tone for the device.

A couple more days like the last two and I will be certifiable.

On the lighter side, today in 1936 marked the debut of Porky Pig in a Warner's Bros. cartoon. When Mel Blanc joined the studio the following year he became the long time voice of Porky as well as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, and Tweety. Quite a guy.

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Jan 5 - First day back

PHS - Post Holiday Stress. There should be some type of way to "ease" back into reality after a 12 day snooze. Today seemed like it would never end, especially since it started off with a call from "the Government" asking me what the bleep bleep I thought I was doing. Welcome to 2009, get the striped PJs ready

No time I'm watching a hockey game - guess which one? Canada up 1 - 0 - Quick call the game! I would suggest the poor old Swedes got jobbed with a pretty cheap call on the penalty but I guess the zebras may have thought they needed to send a message. Don't think it worked but we will take it. I think we will need it before this night is over.

Did anyone notice - Canadian Women under 18 team kicked off this event with a close call - 16 to 1 squeaker against Switzerland! And I thought they had bad teams in the junior event. Shots 80 to 7. Ya think they were trying to run up the score?

This means Canada would still have won 16 to 8 if they had played without a goalie. YAWN.

Juniors - End of 1 - Canada has had about 400 good chances but can't seem to bury the biscuit. It's still 1 zip. Clearly they need my undivided attention.

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Jan 4 – What did I tell you about the Junior game?

Do you know how to spell “LUCKY”? 5.4 seconds away from heading for the Bronze medal game (and we would have deserved it). Lapses after almost every go ahead goal to give it back. Failure to capitalize on power play opportunities. Taking some stupid (costly) penalties.

Other than the tying goal (pictured below) which was a great effort by Eberle, it seems Canada’s saving grace was that they are “a better shootout team”. This in itself is a bit of faint praise as you don’t want to get there in the first place. However in this case I guess it was good for us. Having said that I will again repeat that I do not like shootouts as a way to decide games. That is what overtimes are for. You play 60 minutes as a team game and then bastardize things somewhat with the 4 on 4. This is bad enough, but shoot-outs are wrong. Especially at this level. Ice time and facility bookings are not the issue so decide the game the way it was meant to be decided. – 5 on 5 – you score to win.

If Canada plays against Sweden like they did against Russia,  it will be Silver for sure - unless the Swedes self destruct which is not likely.

Not to take anything away from the Russians who played reasonably well (except for a bad run of penalties). They can move and shoot the puck and never quit. Guess my 1972 reference was right on the mark as it took last minute heroics to pull that one out as well.

Now the problem is that I am at work Monday but that’s OK as the Gold medal game is at 7:30 PM on TSN. Going back to work after 10 days off is bad enough without having to miss “the big one”.

FSMT Coming up – The Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament (FSMT) is rapidly sneaking up on us scheduled for Friday, January 16 through Sunday the 18^th. This House League tournament is one of the premier tournaments going with competition for Atom and Peewee championships. Just ask anyone who has participated.

All of the local Atom Red and Peewee Red teams are participating as well as teams from as far away as Ottawa and Windsor. With 16 Atom Teams in four divisions and 20 Peewee teams in five groups there will be lots of quality hockey.

For the uninitiated, this tournament was established by a key group of volunteers in memory of Frank who was a dedicated volunteer, convenor director and more with the Minor Oaks Organization. Frank passed away in November 2001 and the FSMT has grown stronger and better every year thanks to that same group of volunteers who have stayed committed to it.

For more info on the FSMT check out their site at www.fsmt.ca .

Not fair – You work hard. You support your family. You retire and then - You may have missed the story – a 79 year old Danbury Connecticut man purchased two lottery tickets in November and dropped dead later that day. His widow almost threw them out – but checked them – and Friday cashed one in for $10 million. Figures!

History

1935 – First Billboard Pop Music chart! I did not realize they had Pop music back then?

1950 – RCA Victor announces it will start producing Long Playing (LP) records. You know – those big round vinyl things that had music on them. One side played for 23 minutes instead of the 4 for a 78. They are so far gone they are actually coming back. Old ones in good condition are worth big bucks. I hate to think how much money we literally “blew away”. As “kids” we took whole stacks of them and used them for target practice. Skeet shooting records with BB guns, 22 rifles and occasionally a 410 shotgun. DUMB – but it seemed like fun at the time. Ditto – sports cards, comic books . . .

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Jan 3 – Friday was an interesting hockey day. Get a post out of the was early as we have NFL wildcards, junior hockey and a Toronto Ottawa Clash of the Titans” to deal with today.

US Dumped – So much for the great rematch with Canada. The Slavs had a different agenda. It goes to show in a winner take all game the dangers of running into a hot goalie! Janus stopped 46 shots in the game (a lot from outside) and likely won’t be real popular with the Yanks when he returns to the Erie Otters next week.

"This was the best game of my life . . . unbelievable," said Janus, a 19-year-old who has not yet been drafted by a NHL club. "Oh no. I wasn't thinking (about Erie). Maybe I can't go back. Maybe they're not going to like me (in Erie). I hadn't thought about that."

Erie did not seem too upset based on the Sports lead in the Erie Times-News:

Janus gives all-World effort
Otters' goalie makes 46 saves, powers Slovakia to upset of U.S. in Junior championships

 It may also suggest why Quinn has already said he is going with the “tested” goalie. To quote Yogi (Berra not Bear), let’s be careful it’s not “déjà vu, all over again”. According to the media Canada has Russia already beaten and is home and cooled out ready for the final. Does anyone remember 1972?

Regardless of who plays who in the gold game, they need to rejig this tournament so that the game is not Monday. I am supposed to be back at work Monday and the Gold Game will clearly be a distraction.

Local Front – I will not name names to hopefully avoid centering out the kids (people can figure it out and I will be happy to tell them) but we went to watch a Ranger game last night and I was embarrassed, disgusted, surprised disappointed as an Oakvillian to see how it played out.

Being simplistic, I always thought our goal in the MOHA was to develop players, instill a lifelong enjoyment of the game, and teach values like team play, sportsmanship and fairness. Talent would be noticed and recognized as kids moved up and on. Either the cabal has changed what MOHA stands for or does not know or care what goes on at the rink (and I understand this is a regular occurrence – don’t the parents care or are they afraid to make waves?).

For perspective, I understand that there is a difference between Rep and House League hockey, that AAA is different from AE and that Minor Midget is different from Novice. Coaches were told in the selection process and in meetings (or at least they used to be) that if a player was good enough to be on your team he / she was good enough to play and that he / she should be played relatively equally. There was also recognition that in a close / important game (playoff, tournament final etc.)  that a coach likely would shorten the bench a bit towards the end of the third period (5 minutes?). Dust off the old adage – a chain is only as strong as its weakest link – hockey – a team is only as strong as its third line – teams win championships – not individuals. If you don’t play kids in “challenging” situations, how do they learn?

Also, I am also not a big fan of the “Goal Suck” opportunity that has been opened up by the removal of the red line for two line passes and that some coaches feel is their best (or only) offensive tactic..

Anyway back to last night’s game – a certain individual seems to specialize in goal suck play, prominently stationed at the opposing blue line for most of his shift and apparently allowed to manage his own ice time as he seemed to only come off when it suited him. As the first two periods were relatively close, I did not pay that much attention to it as I was also chatting with folks but was obvious. The third period however, was a classic. Oakville got a couple of early goals to open a three goal lead and yet here is Player X floating out by the blueline trying to cherry pick. Exactly what is anyone learning from that – or maybe I should say what “positive” behaviours are he and his team mates learning! The other disturbing aspect is that he lived on the ice for the third period which had to be noticed by everyone in the rink who was watching the game. I know it was by all the “opposition” supporters around me. In the last five+ minutes of the period I think he made one ten second stop at the bench (I think it was for a drink).

There were a number of folks there last night, including some “directors” so the three monkeys (speak no. hear no, see no) should be well aware. Lift carpet, sweep under, replace carpet. (Just for the curious, I would give the coach a holiday for what I saw last night and let him know what would happen if he did it again).

If this is now what MOHA promotes and supports I am glad to be out of it. Isn’t that what “we” all criticized the GTHL for in emphasizing how horrible they were, how they were win at all costs, how they put kids on the bench just to fill roster requirements or grab money. Yesterday I couldn’t spell GTHL, now I are one.

This is what the MOHA value statement used to be – Did it get changed?

“To play our game as a team, and conduct ourselves both on and off the ice, at all times with a sense of fair play, consistent with the principles of good sportsmanship, with dedication and commitment and in the spirit of friendly competition, while being gracious in victory as well as defeat.”

 Hmmmmm!

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Jan 1, 2009 – Happy New Year’s to all (or almost all). A quick post as we’re off to Grandma’s House – I get to be the big bad wolf. I better - I had to get up this morning and make my toffee popcorn as "someone" forgot to do it yesterday!

Gremlins – I did not have a New Year’s Eve post as the Gremlins (AKA Number 2 son) got me booted off the internet again. Cogeco cut off our service for the balance of the month (one day) due to excessive bandwidth use. For those of you with budding propeller heads in your families, this is going to become more of an issue over time as service providers start enforcing their service agreements and, or push to make more money. Streaming downloads chew up bandwidth. As #2 is busy on his “pirate” sites downloading “content”, the bandwidth meter is ticking away. Our Cogeco package allows us 60 Gig traffic per month – a reasonable amount which would never be exceeded under MY normal use – Email, blog, occasional download. However, when you start pulling down movies TV shows (entire seasons) etc, the dial goes up in a hurry. Cogeco never seemed to care before as when I had two prop heads at home I never got busted. Now it sees the big brother is watching as bandwidth has become an issue. There is only so much that can go through the pipe and that is what the ISPs are selling – SOOO – they are not playing hardball. Be warned. If I go “dark” near the end of the month, you know what happened. Of course, I can always “borrow” an unsecured wireless signal from the locals but that’s a pain.

Canada / USA – I watched the Junior game last night (sober) and thought it was one of the best games I have watched for pure entertainment in a long time. I did not say it was a well played or officiated game – I said it was entertaining to watch. Down 3 – 0 early, it would have been easy for Canada to mail it in as essentially this wasn’t “THE” game but they came back big time and the USA did not get over it. Prior to the game, in his comments I though Rolston sounded like a pretty good, sensible coach but he seemed to have a meltdown on the bench – especially after the bench stick work / on ice “whack” post the Canucks second goal. From then on he seemed to have lost his composure which I think helped Team Canada as well.

Oakville Guy – No not John Tavares (although press and media seem to think he is a one man team) – How about Steve Mason. Third straight shut-out for Steve (who IS an Oakville graduate not just a once was here, then took off kind of guy). Hardly gets a local mention, but the Blue Jackets seem to like him as covered on their site.

Mason Sets Columbus Record in Win

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -Rookie Steve Mason was in the minor leagues for the first month of the season and didn't get to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets until their 13th game.

Since then, the 6-foot-4 phenom has quickly emerged as one of the NHL's hottest goalies. On Wednesday night, he became the first Columbus goalie to post shutouts in three consecutive games, stopping 27 shots and leading the Blue Jackets to a 2-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

"After my first game, I felt that I had the confidence that I could play in this league and it's grown in every game," Mason said, who beat Edmonton 5-4 in his NHL debut on Nov. 5. "The time's gone by real fast ever since I've been here. It's been an interesting two months already. I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself, but every game I play I'm getting more and more comfortable."

Mason extended his shutout streak to a franchise-record 182 minutes, 8 seconds and lowered his NHL-leading goals-against average to 1.69. His fifth shutout tied injured Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo for the most in the league.

(Courtesy of Columbus Blue Jackets web site)

I would have to say he is doing “pretty good” – way to go Steve!

More Toys – based on some of my recent computer stress and complaining Shaun and Becky got Jane and I (well basically me) a D-Link External drive enclosure for Xmas. How exciting for Mom! With all the pictures etc that are now routinely stashed on computers these days it is easy to get careless on back-ups and if they go – they’re gone! This is a neat toy - my big decision was whether to daisy chain my two new 500 Gig drives and break the Terabyte barrier, or to set-up RAID mirroring for drive redundancy. How’s that for Geekism? For you non-geeks, RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks and was something once reserved for the true nerds in hermetically sealed, climate controlled, elevated floor mainframe rooms and servers costing $$$$$$$. Now it is as easy as a point and click menu set-up choice for the home yahoo – AKA moi. RAID means even if one drive completely self destructs, all of your data is safe on drive number 2. Having been burnt once years ago on a project, I am careful (some might say anal) on backups and would suggest that all of you take a look at your own stuff – NOW! (this is also part of why I take offense at the some of the garbage insinuations emanating from 1026 Speers).

Emancipation Proclamation – In 1863 Lincoln freed the slaves – too bad it does not apply to my house. On the flip side, in 1959 Juan Batista got the rude wake-up call from Fidel – the new big dog in town and fled to the Dominican Republic. Until his recent passing of the baton to brother Raoul, Fidel was (I think) the longest serving continuous “ruler”. Monarchies don’t count (figureheads) so Lizzie does not qualify.

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