Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts

April 28, 2008

Bawling for Blessings


Crying sumo is a blessing for healthy growth of the child.
I don't understand the competition of this. Is there a wail-off to determine the loudest crier of all babies presented? What prize does the loudest crier receive?

"I love winners when they cry, losers when they try." (Tom T. Hall)
Available at chapters.indigo.ca


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March 04, 2008

Helicopter Parent Pushes Flight Envelope

Mind If We Play Through?
Robert Kadera didn't want his son to miss a vital tennis lesson. Junior Varsity tryouts were just 2 days away. To show well at tryouts, Isaac needed to refresh his court skills, but father and son were running late on Saturday.

Rather than make the 45-minute drive to the club and risk missing the match and lesson, Kadera, a licensed pilot with 40 years experience, flew his son there in his twin-prop. The flight took less than 15 minutes.
He landed on the seventh fairway at Marriott Lincolnshire Golf Course, which is across the road from the tennis club.   (Read the article...)

Son Isaac never made it to his match, and without his friend's cell number, was unable to tell him why. At school Monday, friends treated the tale of a plane landing on a golf course and subsequent police action as an outlandish excuse, he said.
"I left my friend hanging," Isaac said. "He still doesn't believe me when I told him why."


The investigation is continuing. Both Kaderas could face trespass charges. The Federal Aviation Administration is also involved. The F.A.A. could assess regulation violations and revoke Kadera Sr.'s aviator license.

No word on how the JV Tennis tryouts went.

Ironic Flight Trivia: The International Aviation Voice Radio word for the letter G is golf.

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February 13, 2008

Science Explains a City's Sport Discord

Through our children's sports teams we have oft had the displeasure of playing against a particular city's teams. Whether it was in boys' hockey, girls' hockey, volleyball, soccer or football; in exhibition, regular season, tournament or playoff action; from Peewee through Bantam to Midget; I have consistently witnessed cheap hits, a higher incidence of fighting and overall poor sportsmanship by players and even some bench staff of teams from this particular city.

After an especially dangerous season, some boys' hockey coaches refused any more exhibition games against teams from this city. Last month, Jessica's hockey team played against a team from this city. There were ejections, suspensions and a ton of penalty minutes. On the drive home, we discussed several possible theories for the agitated intensity displayed despite the high talent of the players.

Thanks to results of a study released by European researchers, we finally have our answer:
Air Traffic Noise Increases Blood Pressure.

It's not the water. It's not a volunteer recruitment program that only accepts coaches willing to standardize dirty play. It's the planes!

It's not just a source of irritation, it's bad for residents' health, said epidemiologist Lars Jarup, leader of the study at Imperial College London.

Brampton is just 4 km from Pearson International Airport, Canada's busiest airport.

The Greater Toronto Airport Authority's noise contour map clearly includes Brampton within its noise operating area (click map to view map of noise estimate).

Explaining it doesn't justify it.

In the name of fair play, send 440,000 pairs of earplugs to City Hall for immediate distribution...before Jess's team draws them in the first round of the playoffs!

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January 07, 2008

Sweeping Up Detritus, Cleaning in the Corners

I was vacuuming under the blog topic production table and found these among the debris.

Jackson 5 Reunion Tour?
In November 2007, Jermaine Jackson announced that the quintet would hit the road with a Reunion Tour in 2008. Jermaine Dupri, Janet's beau, announced that the brothers would appear on stage for the first time since 1990 at his private New Year's Eve party at Studio 72 in Atlanta.

The Jackson 5, featuring brothers Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine, and lead singer Michael found fame in the 1970s with hits I Want You Back and ABC. Later, youngest brother Randy joined his brothers onstage and the band was renamed The Jacksons.
I don't think the warm up reunion happened in Atlanta; I doubt there will be any Jackson Tour soon.

(Photo: The Jackson 5 & Randy with The Summers 5 et. al, ca. 1972)


Biddell Wins Project Runway Canada
I started watching Project Runway Canada's encore broadcasts in the wee morning hours. One Canadian designer would take away $100,000 to start his/her own line and receive a feature in Elle Canada.

I saw just 4 of the 11 episodes, and caught the announcement of the winner during the prime time finale. Because I didn't watch the entire 2-hour finale that featured the designers' collections at L'Oréal Fashion Week (I flipped it back just in time to see the judges' comments), I was shocked that judge Rita Silvan was moved to tears by the embodiment of hope that Lucien's collection exuded.

PRC was hosted by Iman. Brian Bailey acted as mentor to the contestants and the other judges were Shawn Hewson and Rita Silvan.
I know who Iman is (from I Am African and she's married to David Bowie). The other pros on the panel? No idea.
Crying over an evening gown? I don't get it. Up until now, my fashion runway exposure primarily came from Zoolander.

Project Runway Season 4 premieres tonight with host Heidi Klum. Emmy nominee Tim Gunn is back as mentor.

Gladiators Ready
The Writers' Guild of America's prolonged strike is good news for Hulk Hogan. Hogan returns to prime time television as host of American Gladiators. NBC announced AG as a possible mid-season replacement in October. With shows forced into hiatus from the lack of scripted material, NBC slotted the Weekend Warrior vs. Athlete remake in early.

Hogan was pursued to host not just because of his WWE success, but also the success of his VH-1 reality series Hogan Knows Best (2005), still the highest-rated debut of any VH-1 series.
Questions: Will the Challengers dodge tennis balls as they run through the obstacle course, or has this challenge been updated à la The Running Man?

Is it true that people are pre-ordering the action figure dolls?

American Gladiators debuted last night. A new episode airs tonight.

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December 13, 2007

Punctuation * In the Hall of Fame ?

George Mitchell released his report today on the use of steroids and human growth hormones in Major League Baseball. To nobody's surprise, Mitchell condemned MLB for ignoring the problem: 'The use of steroids in Major League Baseball was widespread. There was a collective failure to recognize the problem as it emerged and to deal with it early on.'

Among the baseball stars implicated in Mitchell's report are Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi. Both have previously been accused of steroid use in The BALCO Affair.

Mitchell's report points to steroid use by future hall-of-famer Roger Clemens. Clemens denied using steroids when his name surfaced in other investigations, but Mitchell dedicates 8 pages to Clemens.

Clemens always struck me as a guy with integrity. A 7-time Cy Young winner, he's been called 'the world's best living pitcher' and named to the All-Century Team. He was a shoo-in to baseball's Hall of Fame on the first try. His Foundation supports athletics for youth in Houston.

According to Mitchell's report, every MLB team has had at least one player involved with performance enhancing drugs during the decades he investigated. The list of players includes as many superstars as average players.
Forget about marking Bonds' home run record with an asterisk...hall of fame nominations of any player who was active from, say 1987-2004, might have to be marked with a question mark.

Except Cal Ripken Jr.

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Interesting: Jose Canseco was denied entrance to the press conference where Mitchell's report was unveiled. In his autobiography, Juiced, Canseco admits using steroids. He has reportedly inked a deal for a follow-up book, Vindicated.

December 05, 2007

China Overrun With Irony

Merchandisers for the Beijing Olympics 2008 are frustrated by the availability of unauthorized apparel and souvenirs being produced by merchandise pirates.

Authorities had investigated about 80 commercial and personal Web sites selling fake Olympic merchandise, or lacking licenses to sell the legitimate product. "The supply channels on these illegal Web sites are chaotic," Xie Funing, a spokesman with the Olympic E-commerce Operation Centre, was quoted to say.

The Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, called the illicit trade "a global epidemic reaching a scale now too great for individual governments, industry sectors or companies to solve."

China is the largest supplier of counterfeited merchandise worldwide. It is estimated to cost legitimate manufacturers $50 billion in sales.


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November 05, 2007

Remembering The Fabulous Moolah

Lillian Ellison, known to wrestling fans around the world as "The Fabulous Moolah," passed away at her home in Columbia, South Carolina, on Nov.2, 2007. She was 84.

The Fabulous Moolah began wrestling in the late 1940's. She took the women's championship belt in 1956 after defeating Judy Grable in a 13-woman Battle Royale.

Moolah held the title, except for a two-week period, until 1984, when she lost to Wendi Richter, in a match that was aired on MTV.

In 1984, The Fabulous Moolah was managed by Captain Lou Albano, who was involved in a feud with Cyndi Lauper. Their dispute was settled in the ring by their wrestlers, Moolah and Richter, in The Brawl to End it All. That bout marked the beginning of Rock'n'Wrestling in Vince McMahon's W.W.E. (which was known as W.W.F., at the time).

I hope Moolah didn't hit St. Peter with a folding chair on her way through the pearly gates.

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October 25, 2007

Dolphins Play For A Cure

The Etobicoke Dolphins Midget BB hockey team hosted the Brampton Canadettes at Centennial Park Arena on Saturday, October 20, 2007.

The Dolphins donned pink jerseys for the home game as part of the EDGHL's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. Gate fees and donations were collected and forwarded to The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

dolphins in pink
Photo by John Krieger

The Dolphins were 4-1 victors in the gritty match, that included ejections for 2 Brampton players.

The Etobicoke Dolphins play in the North Central Division of the Lower Lakes Hockey League. Their record in the regular season improves to 2-0-1.

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September 17, 2007

Duncan's Prank Rolls Foul

Ten year old Boston Red Sox fan, Griffin Whitman , discovered new meaning of Curse of the Bambino at a game between his beloved Red Sox and the visiting Yankees.

Whitman asked rookie Shelley Duncan for an autograph before the opening game of the weekend series. Duncan obliged and passed the book back to the boy.     (Read the full story...)

The rivalry between these two clubs is the legendary. Red Sox fans routinely chant "Yankees Suck!" when the club plays in town. Likewise, NY fans return the insult when the Sox come to Bronx.

I'm not supporting the ball player, but a proud Red Sox fan would never ask a Yankee for his signature! That's like Larry Bird asking Magic Johnson to be his best man; or Muhammad Ali taking a dive with Joe Frazier in the ring; or Lloyd Carr (Michigan) sending his kid to Ohio State!

"Griffin’s mother, Karen, blasted the Yankees slugger’s bad manners". Wonder if she said anything to the fans at Fenway when the chanting began?

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September 15, 2007

Kansas Welcomes Rain Delay

Former major-leaguer Mike Hargrove has been named manager of the semi-pro Bee Jays of Liberal, Kansas. Hargrove played for the Bee Jays in the 70's, when the Texas Rangers drafted him.

As a player, Hargrove was named Rookie of the Year, hit a career .290 and earned the nickname The Human Rain Delay. At the plate, before each pitch, Hargrove adjusted his helmet, adjusted each batting glove, and then fine-tuned the fit of the gloves near the base of each thumb. His at-bat ritual wasn't complete until he adjusted first one sleeve, then the other; wiped his hands onto his pants, planted his left foot, then finally placed his right foot into the box. Almost a minute of Hargrove's routine before each pitch.Every pitch.

I hated to see him foul one off with 2 strikes on. I prayed the pitcher wouldn't check the runner and throw to first, or move off the rubber. His routine was so disruptive to the rhythm of the game, I wondered if the National League pitchers collectively negotiated Hargrove's trade from San Diego back to the American League (Cleveland) after just 52 games in 1979.

This year, during an 8-game win-streak, Hargrove left his post as manager with the Mariners. "I never lost my passion for the game – I lost my passion for the job," he says. Hargrove will skipper the 2008 Bee Jays without compensation. "It’s a chance to give back," he proudly declares.

Lesson one for these college players: Delaying the Game for Fun. "No, Turtle. You're stepping into the box too quickly. Try hitting the bat against your cleats one more time, first."

The Bee Jays play in the Jayhawk League. Notable Jayhawk League Alumni include Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Lance Berkman, Ozzie Smith, Doug Drabek, and Chuck Knoblauch.

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April 24, 2007

Endless Imus

After major advertisers pulled out of his popular morning show, Imus in the Morning, MSNBC dropped its simulcast of Don Imus' WFAN show on April 11, 2007. The following day, CBS radio, owner of Sports Radio 66AM, cancelled his show altogether.

Over the next 4 days, the U.S. news was consumed with talk of The Don Imus Firing. Imus had already begun his N.J./N.Y. apology tour, but it was too late.

In the past year, we've heard about Mel Gibson's rant, Michael Richards' tirade, Isaiah Washington's repeated use of the f-word and now Imus.

Still, it seems we haven't learned. Take the case of the NYPD Sergeant who is alleged to have insulted his officers by referring to the three women as "hos", during roll call. The alleged incident is said to have occurred April 15th.

And Pennsylvania's WSBG-FM Morning Man, Gary Smith, who turned Imus' tasteless insult to the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team into the daily Phrase that Pays. The station awarded prizes to 3 listeners on April 12th who called in to claim prizes using the winning phrase.

Today, CBS Radio suspended (without pay) another morning show. WFNY-FM's Dog House on-air personalities J.V. & Elvis, twice aired what was described as "a racially charged prank call". Where was the producer on this one? Hard to believe not even one person on the crew ever said, What could possibly go wrong with this?

At least Mel and Michael went away. Isaiah would, if he ever stopped raising it. But Imus, Imus! It seems I can't escape Imus references.

My fear is that the Imus references will fade and the very next day, Sirius Satellite Radio will announce a show featuring [ta-da] DON IMUS!



March 20, 2007

Apple Pie Order

Nobody can tell a story the way my Uncle Angelo can. Recently, he related the following story. I hope I have done it justice.

In 1953, a strapping high school graduate named Angelo Pellegata, left his hometown of Detroit, Michigan to attend Adams State College in Colorado.

Angelo had offers to play football from some Big 10 schools, including Michigan and Michigan State. But it was Adams State College that courted him best. It was clear they wanted him. He wore # 48 for the Grizzlies.

Angelo was the Freshman Class Representative at Adams. This is a position of some prestige. In the fall of his freshman year, Margaret Mundy invited him to be her guest at the Sadie Hawkins Dance. Angelo thought it would be a white tie affair and was impeccably dressed in his finest suit. Off to the dance they went.

Upon their arrival, Angelo was surprised to see that dungarees was the dress code. He was the only student dressed formally. This did not dissuade him from entertaining his date and the other students. Uncle Angelo has a good time wherever he goes.

Partway through the evening, the emcee called 4 young men to the front of the hall. Angelo was among Gino, Donny and Tom, three upperclassmen. They were seated behind a table, facing the crowd. The emcee announced that a pie-eating contest was about to commence. The students gathered around to watch and cheer on the participants.

You have to understand that Angelo is a competitor. Today, at 70, he says: "I'm a better football player than Carl or Kenneth or Dean." These are his children. Adults now, they are tremendous athletes. Each of the Pellegata boys has played football at elite levels: from City Championships through State Finals and a few NCAA National Championship games.

Back to the story:
As the only freshman at the pie-eating table, Angelo felt he owed it to his class to eat more pies than the others in this contest. He knew he could do it.

Several pies were laid out before him. A blindfold was carefully placed over his eyes. "Go," the emcee roared to start the competition. Angelo dug in. Using his hands, he shovelled through the first pie. Then another. Then another. Even now, he describes the pies as "very tasty". He managed to eat some of the pies, wore some, and dropped some more. It wasn't important. What mattered was getting through more pies than Gino and Tom and Donny.

Angelo could hear the students cheering. "C'mon, Gino," someone yelled. "You've almost got him, Tom," hollered another student. Angelo, determined to win, dug into his fourth pie. The emcee called out, "Stop!".

The crowd was roaring its approval. Sure of his victory, Angelo slid the blindfold off his head...

..and discovered that he was alone at the table. The only one wolfing down the pies!

The whole thing was a set up. Gino, Donny and Tom had conspired against him. Margaret Mundy had been in on it the entire time. He could have lost his cool over the prank, but he didn't. Angelo could take it. And he could give it, too.

Uncle Ange always gets even. I have a strong suspicion Donny, Gino and Tom got their just desserts. Well, maybe not Tom.

Photo top right: Angelo Pellegata, 1953, from
The Conquistador (ASC Yearbook)

Photo at left: Angelo Pellegata, March 2007.

Photo credit: Michelle Henderson

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February 24, 2007

Suburban Smash

We were driving into the parking lot at Mimico Arena. Jessica's team was playing the first game of the North Metro Playoff series against Uxbridge.

Our usual spot was taken, but a large Suburban was pulling out of the spot beside that space. We waited for him to leave, so we could park there.

"Cut the wheel. Cut the wheel," I coached from inside our vehicle.
"He's going to hit that van," Jess said.
As she finished the sentence, BAM, the Suburban rammed into a Pontiac Montana parked across the lane.

The driver of the truck pulled forward and prepared to pull out of the parking lot. He stopped when I waved him down.

"You just hit that van," I told him. The van had rocked considerably upon being struck. He had to know!
"Oh," he said. He put the shifter into reverse and added, "I guess I'd better check it out then."

The driver of the Suburban made a big display of checking the van out for damage. He stood back, like he was having trouble seeing the door. He shrugged. He walked from the front to the rear of the vehicle, all the while peering closely at the side panels. It was a terrible performance.

We went into the arena and asked people in the lobby if they owned the Montana. I asked the fans watching a game from the boards. I went up to the stands and asked. I interrupted the mini-stick game under the booth and asked the fans in the Home stands. Jackpot.

The owner of the van came out to the parking lot, to find the Suburban was gone. It was easy to see the dent, stretching about 4 feet along the sliding door and passenger door of the van. The owner of the van looked to see if some contact information had been left under the wiper blade. None. Back in the lobby, I gave Jim my contact information and the plate # of the truck.

Mr. Suburban-driver had been watching two teams of 9 and 10 year-old girls play a non-competitive house-league game at the arena. I hope he wasn't one of the coaches. Imagine this dressing room talk: 'OK, girls, we're here to have fun. So make sure when you're out there...if you do something wrong, like hit another player, well, just do your best to get away with it.'

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February 21, 2007

In the News


USC hockey goalie hits bottom.

Full moon has no effect on outcome of game.




Rise of the Machine: New 12-Step Program

oops- that sound means that I have mail.

February 10, 2007

Maximum Security

A brawl came at the end of a tight contest during the round-robin portion of the tournament. Technically, it wasn't a fight, since the players all had their helmets on (Rule 613 specifically addresses Fisticuffs). In my book, throwing punches makes it a fight. By either definition, I don't like it.

At the Civic Center, home of the Otters, security was called to the ice by game officials as the horn sounded to close the third period. The referees pulled players apart then met at center ice to confer over the new penalties that were about to be assessed. That was ironic since they had neglected to call many penalties during the previous 45 minutes of play. All the while, two security staff stood on the ice, each with his arms folded across his chest and looked around sternly.

The skating was hard, the shots many. As the game progressed, play intensified between our players and their GTA opponents. The score was even at 1 apiece. Emotions were high. With few infractions being called, the players stretched the limits further. They wanted to know how far they could go before the refs made the call.

Girls minor hockey allows contact, but does not allow body-checking. A check from behind went unpenalized late in the third period. That was the breaking point. The final minutes played out with a series of face-offs, hacks at the goalie, pushing and shoving and lots of yelling from one bench. Game officials don't have to tolerate it and finally assessed that coach a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Eventually, the teams were escorted to their dressing rooms. Security and the refs kept the teams apart. The fans were warned that "nuisance in the lobby will be dealt with seriously." The fans were in-check. There was that one fan who kept shouting a$$ho1e to either the refs or her coaches, we couldn't tell. She wasn't in the stands or the lobby, anyway.

The USA Hockey Referee Manual points out that the role of an on-ice official includes to provide a safe and sportsmanlike environment in which players can properly display their hockey skills. It adds, that referees must control games to the extent that is necessary to provide a positive and safe experience for all participants.

There's a time to let them play; and a time to use the whistle. The refs have to call the penalties before someone gets hurt.

Security stuck around until the players had changed into street clothes then cleared the tunnel so the team could make its way to the bus without further incident.

Read about Erie Tournament

December 21, 2006

That Song Sounds a Little Flat

Last night, Jessica's hockey team completed their usual training at CIA. Normally, Jess and Rebecca are the last ones out of the dressing room. Sometimes it's Jess and Liz. This time it was Jessica and Mindy. No matter, Jess is always last out.

Coach Mark always waits until the last player is finished before he leaves. Last night, his daughter Maddy, wasn't even at the practice, and Mark still waited. Each week, Mark teases Jess about being the final player to leave. It's a bit they do.

In the parking lot, Jess was throwing her gear into the trunk. Mark was parked beside us. He backed out of his spot. At the same time, Jessica decided to pull her MP3 player and phone out of her pocket. She dropped the music player onto the laneway.

And Mark drove over it with his Jimmy. Now those music files are really compressed.

November 27, 2006

Hey Fans, in the Stands. If You're With Us, Clap Your Hands!

Every season, Andrew's and Jessica's sports teams play in several tournaments. For the first season ever, Andrew's hockey team may have just one tournament. Jessica's team still has 3 tournaments left in this season.

At each tournament, we've had family who live nearby: Kitchener, Ann Arbor, Cambridge, Oshawa, Clarington, Kingston, Dearborn. Even with volleyball we've played in Whitby...twice! Seriously, I can't remember any of our kids' teams playing in a tournament where we haven't had local fan support.

Until now. Guelph. People we know through other people live in Guelph, but there's no direct connection.

Six year streak comes to an end. It's been a great run.

November 25, 2006

In the Pink

Roni's indoor soccer team sports new colors and uniforms.

Sponsor: Trenton Home Hardware and Building Centre


October 25, 2006

Bill Buckner Day

1986 World Series, Game 6, 10th Inning
Boston vs. Mets

Buckner had played well in the 1986 post-season, but came apart in Game 6, going 0-for-5 with runners on in this game.
Buckner's legacy includes:
John Hodges poem Forgiving Buckner, Slide's debut album Forgiving Buckner. His error is referenced on The Simpsons episode Brother's Little Helper, in Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital and an Ally McBeal episode.

Buckner retired in 1990 after 21 years in major league baseball. He is remembered annually by our family.
Happy Anniversary, Roni and Wayne (Oct. 25, 1986).


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October 20, 2006

Pat Carty Memorial


The Centennial Chargers improved to 6-0 overall after they buried the Quinte Saints 29-6 in the annual Pat Carty Memorial.
Photo: Intelligencer photo by Jeremy Ashley
My nephew, Kayne, plays for Centennial. Between his work schedule, our own schedule and his two-a-days in August, I haven't seen Kayne since June!

That's him in the background...#88 - green uniform.


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