“We want to make sure we are in there as a competing team at Nationals, not as the token host team, so our goal is to win games” (UNBC’s Dennis Stark, Slapshots Opinion 250 Column, March 20, 2009).

 

Not only did the T-Wolves compete, they exceeded expectations by finishing 4^th earning a respectable 2-2 record. Not bad for the so-called token hosts who were seeded last in the tournament, (won by Mount Royal, 79-67 over Champlain).

 

All teams strive to play their best at the end of the season when the chips are down. The UNBC men peaked at the right time. Their performance was superb.
  

The Timberwolves looked like they were having F-U-N. With all 10 players chipping in, they
reveled in the moment knowing they were doing something special in front of hundreds who appreciated their every effort. And isn’t that what sport is all about?
 

Pre-tournament predictions indicated that this championship was the best basketball ever, in Prince George; this was one tournament that certainly fulfilled all expectations.
  

A $25 dollar pass for an entire 13-game schedule was a bargain even in today's tough economic times.
  

I was fortunate in that I watched more than half of the games, including all those played by the hosts, and left realizing that in order to watch better basketball, I would need to travel to a city that offered CIS. Yes, one can only hope that the Timberwolves application to CIS (decision in May) is successful because if it isn’t, it will be years before that kind of entertainment is repeated at the Northern Sport Centre.
  

In past results, the UNBC men had been living in the shadows of the UNBC women. However, displaying the heart, the determination, the combativeness and the stellar play against the best the CCAA had to offer, they no longer have to take a back seat to anyone.
   

The men Timberwolves have “arrived”. Their roster includes Kelly Road grad Dennis Stark, a second team all-star at Nationals, and Duchess Park grad Paul Burkholder (from Vanderhoof). Both were key contributors which speaks volumes for local basketball in the area. In fact, Burkholder, encouraged by the hometown support stated, “I know how good the crowd is here but I have never seen it like that. They keep you in it. They believe and they make us believe.”

It would have been easy for the UNBC men to falter after losing a heartbreaking, knee dropping opener to top-ranked Mount St Vincent 74-72; a game the T-Wolves led by 15 at the half, and by one with a minute left. Nevertheless, the next day, the “pumped up” locals blasted provincial champ UBC-Okanagan 95-76. On the final day, they held on for a magnificent 82-78 decision over a quick, well disciplined 3^rd ranked Humber College team. UNBC concluded with another awe inspiring showing against bronze medal winning Algonquin. The Timberwolves were victims of a magnificent shooting performance by Algonquin, but trailing 94-68 after three quarters they rallied in the 4^th falling short 116-105.
  

 First year Coach Mike Raimbault is very proud of the team which was recruited by former coach Zane Robison. Obviously, Raimbault did a superb job, but he had three assistants (Todd Jordan, Mike Woollard and Dale Derguousoff) and one special advisor behind the scenes (former National coach) Ken Shields that also played a significant contributing role. In most cases, coaching staffs don’t receive enough credit when things go well, although they certainly hear the criticism when their team struggles. 

Now, these young basketball players, all of whom are eligible to return next season, can “puff out” their chests when walking around the University campus. "I'm extremely proud. The program Zane built and the program Raimbault has now taken over is a part of this city and ever since I have lived here it has been a part of my life and to be a player and to wear that Timberwolves uniform and to step on the court is a huge honor”, stated Stark.
  

In addition to the exceptional play, the Canadian Championship organization was top notch. Len McNamara, Kelly Sharp and Todd Jordan spearheaded a first class event.

Jordan, one of the best X's and O's basketball coaches in PG, will be leaving the city to fulfill a dream as Head Coach in the College ranks, landing the job at Quest University to guide its BCCAA women's team.

You've heard the expression that March can come in like a lion and leave like a lamb, or vice versa. In the case of the UNBC Men Timberwolves, the roar remains loud and crisp.

Yes, Prince George has just experienced March Madness.

Usain Bolt, you know the gold medal-winning sprinter, ran his first race of the season. He tied for first place in the 100-metre dash. The guy he tied with was an AIG executive running to the bank to cash his cheque. NBC's Jay Leno

 The Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrated his 50th goal by putting his stick on the ice and then mimed warming his hands over it. Some observers called it hot-dogging; when Alex was a toddler in the Soviet Union it was called central heating. Vancouver comic Torben Rolfsen

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that many men schedule vasectomies during March Madness, so they can have something to watch at home while they recuperate. One doctor said his schedule around the tournament games is full.   So what about those who called too late? Guess they missed the cut.

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart have announced their engagement. They plan to have a grand wedding, being able to take advantage both of his senior and her student discounts.

New York Yankees fans will now be able to buy officially licensed team grass. The farmer who supplies the team will now be able to sell to the public “Yankees Sod” and “Yankee Grass Seed.”
Presumably the grass will be deep, impressive looking, and expensive. It will also regularly fade in October. Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

Alyssa Milano will release a new book about her obsession with baseball and her many relationships with major league baseball players. In it, she says she loves dating Alex Rodriguez because he’s always free in October. Comedy writer Jerry Perishohttp://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 A golfer in Augusta, GA followed an errant tee shot and found a hand grenade. It's the first such incident since Phil Mickelson's 18th in the 2006 U.S. Open. Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 Tiger Woods says he turned down a lesson request from Jessica Simpson. The really sad part is that she was asking him to teach her how to sing.     

The top ticket price at the new Yankee Stadium will be $2,625. This shows that a family of four can still go see a ball game for less than $15,000. Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

 A boy in Russia was recently born with two penises. Our best wishes for a long and productive life go out to the family of little Travisov Henryov. Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix

 I don't know if you ever stayed in Toronto, but it's not exactly Las Vegas, to say that we were plucking our eyebrows out one at a time would be an understatement.  

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after playing three World Baseball Classic games in Toronto.