Oct 31
– and a Happy Hallowed Evening to
all. It looks like Detroit has
survived devil’s Night – no doubt at
least partially due to an increased
police presence. Gone are the days
of the so called “harmless” pranks –
that really were not that harmless –
were a staple activity and almost
shrugged off by most people. I am
not going to go into some of them
here as I am not sure of the statute
of limitations on certain items and
I need to maintain plausible
deniability. Suffice it to say that
they would not get away with a wink,
wink, nod, nod in today’s world.
What is too bad
as a societal change is the
atmosphere of fear and distrust that
is out there around the treat
portion of the “trick or treat”
equation. As a kid growing up
outside “Rostock” (Ontario, not
Germany), we visited every house in
the village, nearby surrounding
farms and relatives and knew
everyone by name. Treats typically
were not the store bought mini
replicas of chocolate bars that are
the norm today. We could look
forward to homemade candy apples –
red and caramel, homemade chocolate
and maple fudge, popcorn balls and
assorted apples and other fruit.
Very seldom was anything “store
bought” as homemade treats were the
order of the day. Now if you give
out anything like that, the almost
certain expectation is that a) the
kids don’t want / appreciate it and
it is an automatic “toss in the
garbage” candidate for the
suspicious parent sitting at home
checking the booty. Too bad.
As a side story,
one of the biggest scores I made as
a kid was on Hallowe’en when I went
trick or treating to one older
couples home and in the process of
scoring my goodies (in the kitchen
as you were invited into every house
in those days), I happened to notice
they had a can of Beehive Corn Syrup
sitting on the counter. For those of
you that are of an age, you will
remember that Beehive for years ran
a promotion with stick on labels on
their cans and collars on the
“bottles” that you could send in for
a glossy signed hockey picture
(black and white of course), mounted
on light cardboard of your favourite
hockey star in the then six team
NHL. The bottle got you 1, the small
can 2 and the big boy 3 pictures.
Everyone collected them.
Anyway, on this
occasion the label was still on the
can lid and fearless greedy yahoo
that I was, I asked if I could have
it? Bonanza! Not only did they say
sure I could have that one, but they
told me they had saved a bunch of
other ones over quite a period and
did I want them as well (they had no
kids). Not believing my luck on this
one I quickly agreed and “Ethel”
rummaged through the cupboards and
handed over a hoard of labels and
collars that added up to almost 80
pictures. Remember in the six team
league there were only 120 players
at the time and with what I had
already collected this was just
about enough for the complete set.
Different world, different time,
different values but that score
(with the bragging rights and envy
of my friends) is one of those
memories you never forget.
Unfortunately,
along with my hockey coins
(Sherriff), hockey cards and comics
they are long gone and would be
worth a “fortune” if I had been
smart enough to keep them.
So the time has
come and gone and we got about 20
trick or treaters in total. A far
cry from the 150+ that was the norm
when we first moved into this "new
build" area. more signs of the times
and I got videod by at least one of
the parent guards trailing along
with the kids. I hope that was to
record the precious moments as
opposed to providing evidence
against me.
Along the same
lines - While I am not a Hollywood
groupie or wanna be Perez Hilton, I
find it ridiculous and date
appropriate that
Kim Kardashian has filed for divorce
after an astounding 72 days of
not-so-wedded bliss. Even by
Hollywood standards that is
incredible especially after the
conspicuous consumption wedding
extravaganza these two love birds
put on. 72 days!
I guess that celebs and
roundball player hook-ups just don't
work. Ask Parker.
Oct 24
– A week away from Hallowe’en and
some of us are into the treats
already. Canadian Tire had a jumbo
box of the individual chocolate
snacks on this week and a couple
just happened to fall in my cart as
I was making my obligatory week-end
visit to pick up the one item I did
need and the assorted other optional
items I did not but just bought
anyway. I sure they will come in
handy eventually and at some point
will save me a trip to the store.
It’s a “guy” thing.
Champs - The “boys”
were in another slo pitch tournament
in Cambridge over the weed-end.
Saturday not so pleasant for weather
but Sunday was nice. The good news
is they went 4 – 1 and won the
championship. The team they lost to
(from Kitchener) on Saturday, they
played again in the championship –
had a good game and won handily.
They actually did not realize they
mercied with a 10 run differential
after five and won! The bad news is
that this was a National Qualifier
tournament which means they are
eligible for the4 2012 National
event to be held in Moncton (NB –
not Ont.) next August from the 2nd
– 6th. Everyone is
already expecting to go and drag us
– their loyal fan base and ex
officio team members along on the
road trip. A two week Eastern Swing
sandwiched around the civic Holiday
week-end sounds like not a bad plan.
The Pirates
I posted a low
res clip on Facebook / YouTube about
why most “sane” folks do not want to
be a Slo Pitch Pitcher. Watch!
It may be “Slo”
going in, but it can come back like
a rocket. Even the “dead” gray dot
balls are rock hard when you take
one off the bod. Man Down!
Thankfully Shawn (with a “w” not
“u”) was OK to continue.
The World of
Sports
– continues to sometimes unfold as
it should and sometimes not. The
should – would include the Lions now
losing two straight.
The should nots –
the Leafs beat the Habs, the Caps
spank my Wings and their is a World
Series score of 16 – 7 – sounds like
a football score. I don’t know if it
is a function of the teams playing
or a general baseball malaise but I
don’t seem to be able to generate
enough interest to even watch the
games in the background, let alone
“focused”. It will be interesting to
see how the ratings come out as I
don’t think I am the only one.
Video – still
struggling with my el cheapo video
cam. For what it is, it takes decent
enough videos (especially of what I
have for subjects), but I am having
a heck of a time figuring out how to
get them converted and burned to DVD
in a format that is “readable” by
your garden variety DVD player. I
can watch any and all on my computer
with MS Media Player or the popular
VLC download but continue striking
out on the big screen. Part of the
issue is that it takes a while to
convert and then burn a file so you
don’t get quick feedback on if it
will work! Theoretically with my
Roxio, I can convert into almost any
device I want from iPhones through
Blue Ray but the basic standard DVD
format is still causing me stress.
The latest
episode now runs on my Blue Ray and
Standard. Chapters (innings are good
on the Blue Ray – No joy on the
Standard but I need a menu. Proto
attempt 3 in the works.
Oct 18- No
big text tripe today - too tired -
too busy - too whatever. However,
was looking at some pics and thought
I would post a couple.
Dunmore - "The Catch"
"Aunt Linda" tried to take this shot
but Andrew was running so fast she
couldn't keep up - nor could her
camera BUT - she sorta got a shot of
the Great Running Leap - Reach over
the fence and take away the home run
grab by Andrew.
At the same event - the budding
Superstar Grandson!
Just before the Dinger, Coach Dad
imparts words of wisdom to Slugger
Son Shaun!
Thanksgiving - he just didn't smile
in this shot but he is Grandpa's
boy!
Oct 17
– It is hard to believe that a week
has flown by since I last posted
anything – other than a few Facebook
comments. In that time:
My Tigers
have bit the dust – and
justifiably so. If you give up a
9 run inning in a crucial game
like that, you don’t deserve to
advance.
The Leafs are
still undefeated – but – they
only played one more game.
My driveway
has about six feet of leaves on
it – someone ought to do
something about that.
My
mother-in-law has sold her house
and now we have to help sort all
the details And stuff and moves
out for her.
The Detroit
Lions have lost a football game
with a bit of a post game coach
“dust up” – thank goodness – as
some were starting to think they
were Super Bowl bound.
A 100 year
old geezer actually completed a
full marathon – what’s up with
that
There was a
horrific Indy car crash in Vegas
that makes you wonder why they
let guys do that for a living
and then condemn hockey violence
(ditto boxing, UFC, football
etc.).
Someone is
trying to flog an old hockey
stick he bought for $1,000 for
over $2,000,000. AND
The Pirates (slo
pitch) made the championship
game Sunday, only to come up
short with a case of “sleepy
bats”.
Pirates
– what better way to spend a windy,
wet and cold October weekend than
sitting at a broken down old
softball diamond watching a bunch of
broken down old ballplayers play slo
pitch! Well we did it again Three
games Saturday in the horrible
weather (I was not at the first two
as I was on “solo” grandson sitting
duty until the third game – but more
on that later) and then three more
Sunday – the quarters, the semis and
the championship. The guys played
well to go through Saturday
undefeated and head into the Sunday
playoffs. It looked as if they were
not going to make it deep on Sunday
as they were getting beat quite
convincingly in on game – down by a
6 run differential going into the
seventh and last inning which was
fortunately an open inning (no run
limit) as they pulled an
“anti-Detroit” and racked up I think
14 runs to pull convincingly ahead
and then shut them down for the win.
I missed quite a bit of that as I
was chasing Ben around the ball
park. Unfortunately, they came up
flat in the championship which was
probably a function of three things.
1. They were a bunch of walking
wounded with assorted injuries, 2.
The bats seemed to have either
nodded off or displayed an annoying
tendency to hit juicy fly balls
right to people or 3. They hit a
very good team who may have been
slumming in this tournament.
Whatever! Chalk up another baseball
weekend.
Babysitting
– Grandpa’s solo run with Ben kind
of got sprung on me with no notice.
Jane decided to go be team mom and
scorekeeper for the guys Saturday
morning and left me with Ben. No
time to bone up or read the child
care books or get lengthy
instruction, I had to go in cold
turkey. Bases loaded, bottom of the
ninth, two out and they call me out
of the bleachers. With #2 son
turning 26 this year, I think it is
safe to say it has been “a while”
and I am reliably informed that I
was not a big kid watcher back then
either (I beg to differ).
Anyhow, I show up
for duty as the big guy is finishing
breakfast (eating more than I do)
and get a here he is – see you
later. So we play with the trucks,
read the books, spread toys all over
the house and I get exposed to an
unending parade of Tree House TV
programs that would wring tears out
of the Rock of Gibraltar or send a
saint postal. We go through what
turns out was probably an
unnecessary diaper change at the
time – in the middle of which – with
perfect timing – Jane phones from
the park to see how I’m doing – a
distraction that has a bearing on
later comments. At least Ben didn’t
fire hose me and it was back to fun
and games plus TV until it was time
to make lunch Spaghetti! Not a
brilliant plan as he like to feed
himself – all of himself.
Pre-warned, I dutifully took off
pants and shirt to minimize
collateral damage and was so pleased
with myself that I neglected to
apply the “bib” until I realized
halfway through and said forget it.
Completed lunch with no further
incident, scrubbed varied and
assorted items and bodies down and
indulged in a bit of play time
before nap. Headed up to put him
“down” having been instructed about
this new fangled device called a
“sleep sac” which is just a yuppie
term for sticking the kid in a bag
before you toss him in bed. Anyway,
the room was dark, I tossed him in
the bag and put him to bed.
He yipped away
happily for a while and “sac” ed out
and was still sleeping when Becky
got home, Jane picked me up and we
were off to the mud bath baseball
games.
I thought I had
done exceptionally well – minor
miscue on the bib included and could
not help feeling very pleased with
myself.
Then, at the park
Shaun gets a call from Becky
pointing out that idiot grandpa had
a) put the diaper on backwards (how
was I to know – apparently the tabs
go from back to front – I thought
they worked perfectly well the other
way) and b) I had put the sleep sac
on backwards as well to compound the
felony! How was I to know this
either – apparently there is a
picture on the front of the bag that
should have been a clue but who
looks for pictures in a dark room
when they are trying to lasso a
Wildman who is trying to pull their
moustache off!
So much for my
evaluation. We will have to see if I
get invited back or if poor Ben has
been traumatized.
Concussions
– First let me say, as I think I
have repeatedly, that I am in full
support of minimizing the risk of
concussion (and other injuries) in
sport and in finding ways to bring
those issues forward with and for
enhanced awareness and training.
Unfortunately it always seem that
efforts to “improve” situations
often lead to other issues and, or
unanticipated challenges.
The current
mandatory testing initiative of the
local association regarding baseline
cognitive scores MAY be a case in
point. Where I am going with this is
the nature of the return to play
requirements that are posted for any
player removed from play due to
suspicion of potential concussive
injury are potentially somewhat
“daunting” to the “average” parent.
Not that they are incorrect or
inappropriate but put yourself in
the position of an atom White or
Blue parent whose son or daughter
has been removed from a game by the
“trainer” after an on-ice incident
that leads to a scorecard “failure”.
From a parent
perspective
– Are the requirements (and
potential cost in $, time and
effort) stipulated in satisfying
return to play rules such that a
number of (probably house league)
parents will simply say – can’t be
bothered – don’t need to – this is
ridiculous – my son / daughter is
fine so how bome I need to jump
through all these hoops – let’s take
up skiing / swimming, basketball –
(fill in alternate activity here).
From a trainer’s
perspective
– God (or alternative deity) help
you guys or gals. Without making a
long story longer, it is tough
enough to get individuals to step
up, take the PRS and HTCP training
to be a “trainer” for house league
teams now, let alone adding the
“pressure” of diagnosing potential
concussion symptoms which force kids
and parent down the road of Return
to Play regs. Right or wrong, many
“trainers” are by default really
“assistant coaches” who have been
good enough to take the trainers
course so that their team can roster
and play in exhibition games or
tournaments. If truth be told, it is
the trainer who has the toughest job
on the bench and this makes it even
tougher.
As a D2 Coach and
Level III Trainer, I know somewhat
of what I speak! An emotional
outburst or crying on the bench can
be either just that or a failure on
a SCAT2 scorecard with all the
ramifications. Tough call to make
for someone who may only see these
kids once a week for a 50 minute
game and not know their
personalities or dispositions.
To Do
– I think I may start pulling
together and posting some concussion
resources here. Sort of another
topic like the $$$ of Hockey. There
is lots of great material out there
if folks have the interest in
learning more. We will see.
Meanwhile good luck to all you
players, parents and trainers out
there. I hope this never applies to
you but if it does – Be Safe – Not
Sorry.
Oct 10
– A glorious four day weekend of
weather that forced you outside to
enjoy it. This past weekend had to
be a record for this type of
Thanksgiving weekend as too often it
has been some combination of cold
and wet – not warm and sunny all the
time. No complaints here – keep it
up as long as you want. I was out on
Sunday taking down all the gazebo
coverings – walls, screens and roof
and was almost tempted to leave it
up. But, then I thought about
hitting a stretch of bad weather and
trying to do a take down in the
aforementioned cold and wet and
stuck with the plan.
Thanksgiving
– the official thanksgiving dinner
was up just outside of Guelph at
Jane’s sister’s place. Slow year,
only one turkey dinner and I only
managed to grab one SMALL slice of
pecan pie before they were all
"gobbled" up by a bunch of turkeys -
no pumpkin or Dutch apple for me.
Bummer!
Benjamin was
there so grandpa got to stay outside
with him and enjoy the fresh air and
sunshine as Mr. Curious got to roam
all over the place, up and down
hills and into the field as they have a large
property. Apparently Ben has either
some farmer blood or is all boy, as
across the road a corn harvester was
running and Ben was intrigued by and
fixated on the tractors involved
with both the harvester and hauling
the forage wagons back and forth to
the barn. Tractors and trucks now
seem to be his primary interests.
Turnabout is Fair
Play –
since I was evil enough to post
Shaun’s tournament “K” here and on
YouTube a while back, I figured it
was only fair to post the other end
of the spectrum as well. I have been
struggling with video editing
software to work with my mini cam as
I am having difficulty getting a
conversion fit to play on DVDs, even
those allowing multiple formats and
DivX. Computer video and online are
no problem but TV is creating
stress. Here is the “Dunmore Dinger”
clip from YouTube. Andrew and Shaun
were batting 1 – 2 in the order and
in this at bat, Andrew had beat out
a miscue single to set the stage.
Mom and “Aunt Linda” can be herd in
the background. My lead-in comment
about whether the opposition had
figured out Andrew is “fast” proved
prophetic.
Da Boys are in
another tournament this weekend,
they still have their one co-ed team
championship series and apparently
“fall ball” is starting so I hope
the weather stays “reasonable” or I
may become a fair weather fan.
Full Moon
– there is clearly something mystic
lurking over pro sports. The Leafs
are 2 – 0 and I have been reliably
informed the teachers’ pension fund
has already purchased the barriers
for the parade. The Detroit Lions
are 5 – 0 to start the year,
something they have not done for 60
years and gave little promise of
last season – they actually look
like a football team. The Bils
aren’t far behind at 4 – 1. The NBA
is at risk of losing a full season
with “billions” at stake and after
beating the Yanks my tigers have
learned to load the bases, not score
runs and load the bases with NONE
out in extra innings and then cap it
off with a walk-off Grand Slam to
set a less than positive play-off
record. Given the tigers are now
down 0 – 2 I believe today’s
pilgrimage to Comerica Park has been
called off by the boys. I know I’m
out.
This is also the
time of year when all four major pro
sports are in “real” action – MLB
playoffs to world Series, NFL – mid
season form, the NHL is playing and
the NBA is gearing up.
Looks like we could be limited to
the Big Three this year.
GO Police
– I “had to” go downtown TO on
Saturday so I took my usual GO Train
approach. After not being checked at
all over probably the last two
months of day to day work travel, I
got checked BOTH ways Saturday. Not
sure if this was a ploy to raise
funds by tagging the weekend rabble
or just “scheduling”. Probably not
the former as I saw “guilty” parties
let off the hook with “warnings” on
both rides. The “I did not know I
had to punch it” story seemed to be
working. Jail them all!
Oct 7
– I am supposed to be a Tigers fan.
But maybe not – I could get
disenfranchised due to a major brain
fart. Last night I was lounging in
front of the TV watching the Leafs
game – fully expecting them to get
pummeled so I would have something
to laugh at and had my TouchPad
streaming election results to my
elbow so I could keep track of
whether Red or Blue would be raising
my taxes over the next few years.
Spit decision, Blue won hockey – Red
won Election. What’s the tie
breaker.
AND what this
means for all you Leaf Lunatics out
there - they are in first place
overall and undefeated!
The election? -
Pretty much as I called it. Just not
enough farmers around to elect the
PCs and too many city slickers who
vote Liberal for some unknown
reason. Likely the same ones who
want to ban street hockey.
Anyway, after I
sent my obligatory jab note to an
ardent Habs fan (and received his
rude reply - totally uncalled for I
might add), I completely forgot
about my Tigers and went directly to
the PVR to finish watching an
episode of Castle and the latest
Hawaii 5 O. Then off to bed for some
Swarm of Swords and a snooze.
NOT a thought
about baseball! Woke to the news
this am that the boys won and went
“Oh S__t”! If the denizens of
Brigg’s Stadium, or Kaline, Colavito,
and Cash ever here about this I will
likely be batted around and tossed.
Now the quandary. When I pay
attention they got smoked 10 – 1.
When I ignore them, they win 3 – 2
and punt the Yanks. What to do!
Step Right
Up! – Not. Apparently there is a
go slow
program going on with screeners
at the Pearson Airport. My only
question is – How can you tell? I
hate that place and it’s cattle car
mentality. Give me the Island any
day.
Pic in today's
online Star showing all these people
waiting in line so they can have a
great time playing hurry up and
wait!
What happened
to the good old days when you
“raced” to make a plane and
screeched through chec-in and
security. 9/11!
Long weekend
– Another Friday off to drag this
out for four days. I can play this
to the end of October and then it is
back to reality and that horror of
horrors – a FIVE day week. Not
looking forward to that.
Detroit
– A late update on the baseball
front. Appears that Andrew & Company
are planning a return road trip to
Detroit Tuesday to hit the Tuesday
night ALCS game and then drive home
for work Wednesday. Wanted to know
if I wanted to tag along? Have to
think about that one!
Apps –
Going to have to look into the app
business. It seems like everyone and
their cousin is writing apps for
some type of smart device – phone,
tablet or whatever. Some catch on
and now plan to branch out into more
money making gigs like merchandise –
cookbooks a la Angry Birds.
Oct 6– keep this
weather coming. Went out for a bite
/ walk at lunch and love that
October shirt sleeve sunshine
weather. You tend to take some extra
enjoyment from it as you know it
will not last and it will end up too
cold – too long.
Steve Jobs
– Gone at 56. Goes to show that
money can’t buy everything no matter
how much you have. Health and
freedom from cancer are not on the
"for sale" menu. Given he had been
challenged by cancer for almost 10
years he accomplished some
phenomenal things. Much as in the
time tunnel I have always been a “PC
Guy” and not a “Mac Man” I still
give him major kudos for what he
accomplished in his lifetime on both
the creative and business savvy
standpoints. He had his misses but
the "Mac" and "i?" franchises are
phenomenal. As someone with
hopefully a little marketing sense,
the iPad is likely to become the
"generic" in the tablet market -
like "Kleenex", "Band-Aid", "Xerox",
"Aspirin". No small feat.
For anyone who
thinks that there is not such a
thing as an “Apple culture”, take a
few minutes to review some of the
pictures online of their new CEO Tim
Cook – especially when he is
appearing with Jobs. Uncanny. You
can also find pics with them showing
similar hand gestures and stances in
their stand-up presenter style.
Cook is on the
left (facing). I am not sure who
Bubba on the rifgt is but he is not
as oriented to the "program?!
Baseball – Do or
Die night
– Part deux. Tonight my apparently
toothless (10 – 1) Tigers have to
enter the den of the bambino and try
to scratch out a win on the road to
a) eliminate those D___ Yankees and
b) maintain any interest I have in
MLB post season play. One can only
hope. I am afraid though that they
missed their chance with A. J. on
the ropes in the first inning last
night and they let him slither away
on a great catch.
Election
– Someone will win! Does it matter
who? Depending on whose polls, or
which newspaper you read, it could
be anyone – except those Green Guys.
Core Toronto goes Red, surroundings
go Blue. Orange grabs some in Labour
markets and green gets some
“experience”. Tally ‘em up and who
knows.
TV - Choices - Baseball -
Hockey - Election coverage - PVR
Goodies. It is nice to have choices
and for me it is "weekend" again!
Oct 5
– An interesting day. To start
things off, the techies called and
told me they were replacing my
notebook (in view of the many
problems I had reported) so while I
was okay with getting upgraded to
the newer, spiffier model, it meant
today was a write-off from the
perspective of getting anything
useful accomplished. It is amazing
how dependent we have become on our
little techie toys and even in our
corporate environment where users
are just standard image files to the
propeller heads, there is no such
thing as a painless swap. Moving
data is easy. It is the app setup
and “custom” stuff that creates the
hairballs. I am still working on
that – my ODBC connections,
mainframe terminal emulation and
most frustrating of all rebuilding
the auto fill-in for contacts in my
Outlook file. Did not need the
aggravation! Then –
Danger, Danger,
Danger
– Unfortunately, a number of my
workee colleagues discovered that I
have a blog! I don’t know if their
shock and awe was based their
disbelief that an old curmudgeon
like myself was capable of mastering
the technologies and subtleties of
social media or rather was a fear of
being lampooned (deservedly) in my
cyberspace in front of their peers.
Now that I think of that – it’s a
wonderful idea. Only problem is that
our organization has published a set
of guidelines on the use of social
media that I will have to be careful
not to cross – So beware – you know
who you are!
Hazel – The same workee
colleagues challenged me to comment
on Hurricane Hazel. So here it is.
Again recognizing the niceties of
slander and libel I will temper my
comments accordingly. I think Hazel
has made huge contributions to
Mississauga over the years and is to
be commended for her perseverance,
tenacity and longevity. One can
never say with any degree of
certainty whether another mayor or
mayors would or could have done
better, as in her domination of the
local political scene there was
never a chance to see anyone else at
work. Having said that, I think the
recent enquiry and its published
findings have done irreparable
damage to her credibility and
reputation and I don’t think there
will now be many folks who won’t
opine that her time is past. (how’s
that you worker bees?)
Slo-Pitch –
Again! Big games tonight. Men's
championship finals and our guys are
in it.
Sitting at the
park on the north side of my
favourite town - Brampton!
Came out to
hopefully chronicle the march to the
championship with a blow by blow
blog for posterity. Guess what - it
did not go quite according to Hoyle!
In fact, it went majorly sideways.
Read the sorry tale of what happens
when your team has a really bad day
at the park and those other guys
don't!
Game 1 of a
best of 3.
Boys have the
hammer in game 1. Gave up one run in
the top of one. Stayed that way
through the end of two. Bad news top
of three a bit of a meltdown - gave
up 5. Started a comeback bottom of 3
and got 3 back - 6-3 after three for
the bad guys.
Top of four
gave the three back. These guys came
to play and our defense is
struggling. Need to get the bats
going for the "big" inning and
tighten up the D. Bottom of four
three is a popular number - got the
three back. End of four - 9 - 6
after 4.
Top of fjve the
runs keep coming. Bad guys picked up
the ever popular three - now is the
time for that bjg inning and then
some more! Oh Oh! Goose egg for the
good guys. Getting desperate in game
1. Score 12 - 6 after 5-
It onlg gets
worse. Two in and a nice double play
to try for the shut down and then
the two run dinger - long ball over
the wall. Five in total before we
got the fhird out. Got the dreaded
3 back. Not enough to close the gap
but saved a mercy. We play 7 but
need a monster. 17 - 9 after 6. Need
a 1 - 2 - 3- got a 1 - 2, gave up 1
and got 3. Bad guys end up with 18.
Good guys need 10 in the bottom of 7
to win. Nope. Got 1 in - need nind
more. Punched third out on a force
at three. One in - 18 - 10 final.
Still alive but now need to win next
two.
Do or die time.
Need to win two in a row. Sticks
first in game two. Let's go!
Game 2 -
Must have!
Top of one, the
good guys pick up 2. Got to go out
and hold them. These guys can hit so
we need to send a D message. Line
shot - broke Niel's glove (or so he
says). Caught a break - ball hit the
runner - he's out! Good guys carry
the first 2 - 0 after 1. Bad guys
returned the favour and shut us down
top of 2 - need the D! D went south
and coughed up big time. Killer
inning. No max per inning in the
championship and they are taking it
to us. Nobody seems to want to make
a play. This would be the give it
away - game over inning even though
it is only the second. How to give
up 14 runs in 1 inning. Score 14 - 2
after 2. Top of 3 did not help. None
for the good guys. Come on D men -
set them down. Not bad compared to
last inning. They only got 2 but we
need to be on the sticks. 16 - 2
after 3. Top of four, got 1 but need
more. Getting risky on the mercy
front. Definitely need to goose egg
them this time. Came close but they
got 1. 17 - 3 after four. Top of
five - need to score three to stay
alive and keep playing. One out -
fly ball. Grounder to two - two out.
Desperate times. Fly ball - three
down and out!
Game over!
Season over! Tough way to end it but
they had a good year!
Oct 3 – And a Monday to boot! Dreary
cold weather – Fun ! Wow!
I’m bitter – As the lone
Detroit fan in the house (Tigers and
Wings – not those resurgent Lions or
Pistons) I was not pleased to get a
call at the office today letting me
know that son #2 was heading off to
Comerica Park to watch Game 3 of the
American League East series between
the Yanks and my Tigers with the two
aces on the hill. To rub salt in the
wounds, he also apparently stole my
Tigers jersey to wear at the game. I
said I hope “they freeze their a---s
off!” I said they since he is
heading down with his buddy (the
ticket source) who played ball with
and is a friend of one of the
Tigers. Can’t understand how I got
left out of this one – BUT – Go
Tigers Go! Anyway.
MD – folks are catching on to
some of the challenges of the “new”
MD world as outlined in “other”
places. Some required, some not. The
rostering challenge is a classic and
will cause grief. My thoughts on the
bench staff issue is – don’t take
the rule book too seriously – we
never did with punitive
administrative bunk. If you need
help on a bench on any given day and
you know the “guy” – my advice is go
“hey “insert name here” can you give
us a hand today?". Who is the yahoo
who is going to blow the whistle on
that one.
A point of clarification on “APs”
which seems to be another topic of
conversation. The AP process is not
new any in the vast majority of
House League / MD cases should not
be used. House League teams have
always had the ability to formally
AP players – we just did not
allow
encourage it for a variety of fair
play reasons. The rule on APs (at
any level - Midget AAA and down) is
that they must be from a team that
is of a recognized lower
classification or age level than the
parent team. The OMHA did not
recognize in-age grouop tiering in
house league, so for example, Peewee
Red could not AP from Peewee White,
they had to go to Minor Peewee Red
or White. With the positioning now
being afforded to MD, there should
be clarification as to whether there
is now recognized tiering levels
between MD and HL as that would then
allow APing to MD from a "HL" team
at the same age level or from a year
down. At this point, I do not know
the answer to that and there are no
amended regs that I am aware of that
address it.
Where we did suggest and support APs
was for goaltenders – especially for
teams that planned tournaments and
knew their regular tender was not
going to be available.
Another area where MD will create
challenges is in tournament entries
– to MD or not MD. I suspect a
number of HL tournaments are going
to "Ix Nay" to anyone wearing an MD
badge attempting to enter even
though they are still technically
allowed to play in HL events. Sort
of an escalation of the former
“Select” challenge or "Red" team
boycotts the locals have regularly
faced. The MD "tag" will likely be
an even stronger denial opportunity.
Other than an MD tournament offered
in an MD centre (are there any?)
will any Oakville MDs be allowed to
play in anyone else's tournaments?
This will be really tough for the
novices - atoms who have a tough
time finding good tournaments as it
is.
OMHA POV -
The OMHA has issued a position
piece
on their position on body checking
in recreational hockey (AKA House
League - NOT
Rep/Travel/Competitive). it is on
their site for anyone who wants to
find it or I
posted it here
as a convenience. The phrase
"between a rock and a hard place"
comes to mind. Give it a read.
Now I go mope
about #2 son at the Tigers game
while I sit a home. Consolation - he
will get home very late / early at
0:00 dark hundred something and have
to go to work tomorrow. NO SYMPATHY!
Oct 2- Another month
rolls around as we pass the 3/4 pole
and head for home. Orange this month
for pumpkins and Hallowe'en. At
least for me. it is easy for time to
fly by between opportunities at
work, some of the "fun" with the
"boys" / teams, the grandson and
just general stuff.
Finding time and energy to sit down
for content and typing here is often
lower on the list and if it does not
get done it does not get done and in
one sense it is no big loss. On the
other hand, I have managed to keep
this "blog" more or less alive for
over three years now and can look
back at the early days and have the
occasional chuckle, the occasional
laugh and the occasional "did I
really say that" - right or wrong.
That more than anything else is what
likely keeps me at it as I can jot
down a few things that may or may
not serve as something to look back
on.
Wednesday evening I too took in two
exciting ballgames - no they were
not the MLB season enders that
determined the wild card playoff
contenders, they were Shaun and
Andrew's Men's yeam play-offs to
determine who goes to the finals. It
was a best two out of three up on
the north side of Brampton
(Countryside & Bramalea Rd) with
threats of rain in the air.
Fortunately the guys played well
(better in game 1) and managed to
win two straight and avoid a third
game all or nothing situation - now
they are off to the finals and
thinking about putting a team into a
national qualifier tournament in a
couple of weeks to see if they can
earn a shot in the Nationals next
summer in Moncton N.B. "Road Trip!"
Anyway, lots of fun to watch.
Coming home we hit the nightly
construction blocks on both the 410
and 403 which are a real pain and
make for a much longer trip home.
Hence - no Wednesday post.
Thursday turned into an interesting
day at the office with a minor
crisis to solve which meant getting
out late, getting home lat, and
mentally ready for some "quiet time"
i.e., catch -up on some PVR content.
Friday was my typical day off except
that Grandma and Grandpa got invited
to look after Ben all day as he was
a bit under the weather and needed
the special care only grandparents
can give. A fun day although my
crotchety old bones - knees
especially, do not take well to ups
and downs oin hardwood floors. Got
home "bagged" from all the exercise
and not sure what I did that night
other than a couple hundred pages of
"A Swarm of Swords". I also set my
TouchPad up with a "Kindle" app so I
can download books on my Amazon
account directly to my TP and use it
as a reader. Seems to work well on a
free book I downloaded as a test (a
classic Kipling's Jungle Books) so
we will see if I get into that.
Coaches Helping Coaches -
Yesterday at the ACC. I have to say
that Friday night I made the
conscious decision NOT to attend. I
believe the quality of content at
these events has declined over the
years. It has become more of a Maple
Leafs show and tell and I have all
of the lanyards and whistles I will
ever need. While it was a tough call
for me to miss in view of my history
with this event and the number I
have attended, I simply decided I
had too much other stuff to do to be
able to take a whole Saturday to
check out the one item on the agenda
that may have had any interest or
value to me. I hope lots of people
went, I hope it went well, but it
just was not for me this year.
Instead, I ended up working on some
Sport Oakville Grant paperwork,
worked on getting some Frank
Sabatino Memorial Tournament updates
ready for the web, provided some
assistance to Andrew with his Man
Cave (remember it is Sunday NFL time
now) and a bunch of other domestic
stuff.
So far Sunday has been "make chili"
for the horde and now sit down here
for an update and convert to
October. Given the shellacking my
Tigers took last night, not sure I
am up for that - especially with
these idiotic late stars for those
of us who get up early. However, it
was nice to see the "Doc" pick-up a
solid win after a shaky first inning
start - I think he mowed down 21 in
a row after that.
As long as someone beats the Yanks,
I can deal with it.
Drought continues - while not
worth a lot of comment, either by me
or the Toronto media now that they
can fill endless pages with
meaningless Leaf drivel, two more
Toronto pro sports teams added to
the "we don't do play-offs" list
this weekend Not to be outdone by
their profile brethren - Leafs, Blue
Jays, Raptors, the Argos and TFC
both guaranteed no play-offs for you
with losses this weekend. One a last
couple minutes to a tie and the
other a good old fashioned whoppin'.
If I had the energy I would
calculate what percentage of the
time a Toronto team has even made
the play-offs in the past five
years. I don't think the percent
would be much higher than the square
root of zip.
