First, and foremost, I wish you and yours a very healthy happy new year. I hope you are enjoying the festive holiday season.

 

Yes, it is hard to believe that 2009 has come and gone and now we look forward to 2010, in particular the Vancouver Olympics, which are just six weeks away.

 

On a global scale, a polled conducted by TSN revealed that the Tiger Woods scandal (28 per cent), or shall we say, his transgressions, as the top sports story of the year. The runner-up was the “13th man” at the 97th Grey Cup that cost Saskatchewan the CFL championship against Montreal (17 per cent). Ranking third was Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup victory (14 per cent).

 

I am not sure about the Penguins ranking. On the contrary, I believe Canada’s fifth straight World Junior Championship gold medal should be third, especially considering the dramatic come from behind semi-final win.   

 

Let me refresh your memory! The Canadian World Junior Hockey team won its semi-final 6-5 over Russia in a shootout. Jordan Eberle scored the equalizer with five seconds left in the third period. Canada then went on to crush Sweden 5-1 in the championship game.

 

Canada’s gold medal placed 5th in the poll (9 per cent) just behind Jim Balsillie’s unsuccessful attempt to purchase the Coyotes (13 per cent).

 

So, what was the Prince George’s biggest sporting event (top story) in 2009? There are three legitimate candidates including the CN CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship at the Northern Sport Centre; the Enbridge World Baseball Classic at Citizen field; and Road to the Roar at CN Centre.

 

Yes, Prince George residents were fortunate in that they witnessed three different sports with three different venues in three different times of the year. The basketball tournament was a Canadian championship; the baseball was an international tournament that received worldwide attention, while the curling event was a qualifier to advance to Edmonton Olympic trials.

 

There were many similarities with all three of these successful events: the organization was superb, there was an abundance of volunteers and the caliber of play at the top end was top notch. All three lived up to their pre-event billing and were very successful. In a normal year, any of these events would qualify as favorites to win. It is a tribute to the residents of P.G. that a city this size can attract these type of major sporting events in the same 12 month period.

 

What are my criteria for picking a winner? Well, attendance and enthusiasm are primary factors. How many people cared enough to attend? Therefore, the Road to the Roar finished third. Although it sounds impressive that 20,000 fans turned out for the week, there were a number of draws with 1,000 or less spectators on hand. Even for the more important games, CN Centre was not even half-full. I am not sure if it was because the draws were televised or because there was not a P.G. rink in the field, but the interest from the average fan, particularly the younger ones, just was not there.

 

  

Now, this leaves basketball and baseball, both of which had some games with capacity or near capacity crowds. In fact, two Timberwolves basketball games attracted standing room only crowds in excess of 2,100 fans. If we say each had its day in the sun (and for the WBC I mean that literally) then default to my next criteria, which is the number of competitive games and how the host team performed.

This is where the basketball gets the nod. The UNBC Men Timberwolves were ranked eighth out of eight. Instead, they finished fourth, losing by two to #1 Mount St. Vincent, then winning the next two before dropping the bronze medal match to Algonquin in a high-scoring thriller 116-105.

As well, the tournament featured an unpredictable ingredient. For instance, top-ranked Mount St Vincent ended up fifth, and in the final Mount Royal beat Champlain College 79-67.

 

Meanwhile, in the WBC, most results were predictable and lopsided. The only real playoff revelation was the Germany 4-2 semi-final victory over Canada. In the final, the Americans showed why they were the class of the tournament with an 8-1 triumph over the Germans. The hosts PG Axemen were blown out in most of their games, something that cannot be said about the Timberwolves. However, to be fair, the Axemen were competing against national and international competition while UNBC was playing provincial champions.

 

Jeff Harris, National Convener for Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Men's Basketball, said, "I thought the tournament went fantastic. The organization was top-notch and support and community involvement were excellent.” Yes, he could have been talking about any of the big three competitions in P.G., but he was referring to my pick as Prince George’s sporting event of 2009, the CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship.

 

Carrie Underwood is engaged to Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators. Let's see though, country music is usually about passionate if misguided love that usually ends in disappointment and heartbreak. Wouldn't it have made more sense for her to have gotten engaged to a member of the Maple Leafs. 
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/) 

 

Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sidelinechatter/

 

Joe Willie Namath is being sued over claims that his dog attacked a UPS driver. It could go either way---Namath struggled against the Browns.

The Yankees luxury tax bill for the 2009 season was $25.7 million. And that's just on Kate Hudson's PR firm. 

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

  

So the Yankees have traded for Javier Vazquez, thus ensuring that the Red Sox will win the 2004 pennant. 

Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York

BMO field in Toronto has been deemed too small to play football in despite pleas from Argo officials that they rarely use the end zone anyway.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is singing carols. My new favorite Christmas carol is dedicated to Tiger Woods: “I’m Dreaming of a White Mistress”.
Comedy writer Jerry Perishohttp://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/