Hartley Miller’s Slap Shots- July 13th, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012 @ 3:45 AM
I promise there will be no scare tactics, no intimidation, no persuasion and sincerely hope all those suffering from Paraskavedekatriaphobia (Fear of Friday the 13th) make it through this day without walking under a ladder, crossing the path of a black cat or even opening an umbrella in the house. Do keep in mind, that to find a penny heads up, brings good luck (just ask CFL players who can vouch that a penny saved is a penny earned).
While on the topic of 13, Steve Nash will have to adapt to number 10 with the L.A. Lakers. Nash’s customary number 13, which he has worn his entire career, is retired by the Lakers in honor of Wilt Chamberlain.
Speaking about Nash, I have no issue with players like him and Ray Allen (Miami Heat) who are in the twi-light of their career taking less money in order to play on a better team. It is common to hear that athletes only care about the money. In the case of Nash and Allen, they could have earned millions more by signing elsewhere. Instead they chose to go to a team that has a legitimate chance at winning a championship. Fans are more interested in wins than dollars, so it’s refreshing when mega stars feel the same way.
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It is not astonishing news that Kurt Walsten left the Prince George Spruce Kings after just one season as their Assistant Coach and Assistant GM to accept a similar position with the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL. However, I find it curious that the official Dragons team news release made no mention of Walsten’s year with the Spruce Kings. In addition there was this quote from Walsten.
“ I have worked for several teams and when I saw the opportunity to work along side Brian (Head Coach Curran) I felt that it was a very positive direction. I would also like to help build the strong tradition that has been in Drumheller for many years and be part of building our team to an elite program in the AJHL, and finally to be come part of a great community”
Just wondering, wasn’t he just in a great community in Prince George?
This strong tradition that has been in Drumheller is certainly not of recent times as the Dragons are coming off four consecutive losing seasons including 40 points in 60 games in 2011-12, 50 points in 2010-11 and 40 points in 2009-10. I can only surmise that Drumheller must be paying a lot more for the same job. I mean, what other reason would one want to make that move?
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The major league all-star break is a time to reflect on the first half of the season. Here are a few observations:
Unexplainable: Tim Lincecum is a two-time Cy Young winner. He has a career major league record
of 72-51 with a 3.27 ERA. In what has to be the majors biggest mystery this year, Lincecum is 3-10
with a 6.42 ERA pitching on a sound San Francisco Giants team. Somehow, someway he
now holds the dubious distinction of having the worst earned run average in baseball.
of 72-51 with a 3.27 ERA. In what has to be the majors biggest mystery this year, Lincecum is 3-10
with a 6.42 ERA pitching on a sound San Francisco Giants team. Somehow, someway he
now holds the dubious distinction of having the worst earned run average in baseball.
Falling off the cliff?Cliff Lee of the last place Philadelphia Phillies has a 3.98 ERA which is in the middle of all major league starters, yet he is just 1-5. Ivan Nova of the New York Yankees has a similar ERA but is 10-3, and teammate Phil Hughes is 9-7 with a 4.33 ERA. I wonder if Lee now regrets not signing with the Yankees as a free agent in 2011 rather than the Phils.
Trout is the big catch: 19-year old Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals is good and has lived up to the hype (.282 average, 8 homers, 25 RBI’s) but he is not the best rookie. That honor goes to another outfielder, 20-year old Mike Trout of the LA Angels who is on another planet (.341 average, 12 homers, 40 RBI’s). The Harper-Trout comparison will be fun for years to come.
The Bucs stop here: I am not sure if it is more of a surprise that the Pittsburgh Pirates have the second best record in the National League or that their much maligned pitcher AJ Burnett is 10-2 with a 3.68 ERA. My guess is the Pirates don’t make the playoffs and Burnett fades in the second half like he has done with other teams.
Same ole same ole: The Toronto Blue Jays are floundering again as a .500 team. Their pitching rotation has been decimated by injuries but at least they still have Jose Bautista, who remains the best “power” hitter in the game with 27 homers. He is headed to his third straight season with over 40 homers. No longer can anyone suggest his 54 long balls in 2010 was a fluke.
Running out of lives: Jamie Moyer has been released this year by the Colorado Rockies, the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays said goodbye after the 49-year old Moyer had an 8.18 ERA in two starts for Triple-A Las Vegas. Moreover, Moyer is in the record books having pitched in 49 different big league Parks…….including Jurassic.
From the Quote Rack:
The Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, part of the All-Star Game festivities in Kansas City, capped off with a spectacular fireworks show to end the evening—-they showed a video of the George Brett Pine Tar Incident.
The University of Pittsburgh has signed a kicker with the unfortunate name of Chris Blewitt. Oh, well, it could have been worse–his last name could have been Vanderjagt.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
You cannot make this “stuff” up: Philadelphia Eagles RB Dion Lewis was arrested when, allegedly intoxicated, he pulled the fire alarm after locking himself out of his hotel in New York. Lewis was in town to speak at the Troy Boys & Girls Club about “things like how to make better choices.” (The talk has been rescheduled.)
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson was arrested Saturday on a resisting arrest charge. Yet another NFL player wanting a trade to the Bengals?
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
CFL referee Andre Proulx suffered a mild heart attack. Three possible causes:
3. Ricky Ray in an Argos uniform;
2. He got a raise;
1. Rod Black pronounced his name correctly.
3. Ricky Ray in an Argos uniform;
2. He got a raise;
1. Rod Black pronounced his name correctly.
A 190 kilometre per hour serve by Mardy Fish hit a Wimbledon lines person in the eye. The bad news is the eye is closed. The good news is she’s been asked to be boxing judge.
Prince Fielder is the only man to win MLB HR Derby and Hot Dog Eating Contest in same week. Hell, I think he did em both at the same time.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York
The Boston Red Sox have only one player left (David Ortiz) from their last World Series Championship. The others have moved on to investing into businesses such as Fried Chicken outlets and Beer and Wine stores.
The Minnesota Wild have signed free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to matching $98 Million contracts. This better work or Dallas will have two NHL teams in the near future.
The Vancouver SPCA is attacking the Calgary Stampede calling for the elimination of calf roping. New ads show a picture of a baby with the caption “Would you use a baby to amuse a crowd?” A spokesman for Gerber Baby food was incensed saying the Vancouver group should worry about the animals that attend Canuck playoff games.
The Canadian owner of I’ll Have Another says he sold his Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to a farm in Japan for US$10 million and will be used for breeding. This is the most paid for a stud since Burt Reynolds posed nude for Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgaryhttp://smacksport.blogspot.com
And in case you missed it:
A study says that spanking children may lead to mental problems when they reach adulthood. Apparently some people get so used to being spanked they even become Maple Leafs fans.Comedy writer Jim Barach (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.
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