Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots March 12th, 2010

Friday, March 12, 2010 03:45 AM

In the last couple of years, the basketball dynamics have slightly changed for the UNBC Timberwolves.

Remember March 2008, when the Lady Timberwolves thrilled the hometown faithful by winning the BCCAA Provincials. That same 2007/08 season, the UNBC men missed the playoffs and lost the opportunity to play in front of the locals.

Last weekend, in Nanaimo, the Men Timberwolves ended up with their first “golden moment” while the UNBC women, without an injured Kady Dandenau, sputtered failing to earn a provincial medal.

I watched the games online courtesy of sportscanada.tv. The UNBC women, despite a terrific 17-1 regular season, looked out of rhythm, in dropping a 57-56 decision to Camosun in the semi-finals and a 63-57 verdict to Vancouver Island in the bronze medal match. It was evident the Lady T-wolves did not play their best basketball with the “chips down”. Even coach Loralyn Murdoch stated: “we played scared”.

On the other hand, the UNBC men were superb in dispatching Capilano 79-69 in the semi-final and the hometown Vancouver Island University Mariners 84-65 in the championship game. In the final, UNBC trailed VIU 51-37 early in the second half, but they never panicked in outscoring its opponent 47-14 the rest of the game. The Mariners lost just three games all season, all to UNBC.

The Timberwolves were not jubilant on the court after the match. “We wanted to make sure that we were classy in the way we celebrated but we definitely did our share of celebrating in the locker room afterwards” stated Head Coach Mike Raimbault. The UNBC men expected to win at Provincials and have that same thought process at Nationals (March 18-20) in Calgary. They open against wild card entry Fanshawe College Falcons of London, Ontario Thursday at 1pm.

Yes, with the addition of Raimbault and front line players like (BCCAA Athlete of the Week) Inderbir Gill and (Provincial all-star) Jose Arajo, things have certainly turned around for the UNBC men in just two short seasons.

I am sure it is a little disturbing for Trevor Sprague (and I do not blame him) when he hears the many roundtable critics discussing the misfortunes of Prince George hockey teams. Unquestionably, no one can dispute the pathetic non-playoff seasons of the WHL Cougars and BCHL Spruce Kings.

Sprague is the coach of the Cariboo Cougars and quietly, once again, they are having a great season in the BC Major Midget Hockey League. This weekend the Cariboo Cougars hold the hockey spotlight when they host the Vancouver NE Chiefs in the best of three semi-final series at Kin 1.

The major midget Cougars, despite more travel than any other team in the league, are living proof that under the right leadership, consistent winning hockey is possible for a Prince George based team.

The point system at the Olympic hockey tournament caught my attention. The winning team, in regulation, earns three points and the winning team in overtime or a shootout gets two points. The losing team receives one point if the game went beyond regulation.

I believe it is time for the NHL to review its point system. It is a much more fair system if a team that wins in 60 minutes gets three points and only two in overtime or a shootout. This will change the dynamics of the game, as teams will not be as cautious in the third period. Presently, in a close game, one gets the feeling both clubs have a gentleman’s agreement to ensure the game goes beyond 60 minutes since often it is in both team’s best interest. That scenario would change if three points were awarded for a regulation time win.

On another note, was there any need for the gold medal game to be decided four on four? Even the NHL would not dare choose that route in the playoffs. I understand that format for the round robin or for a regular season, but with Olympic gold on the line with hockey’s biggest crowd tuned in why change the concept of what has worked so well in the previous 60 minutes?

Here is a story that gives one an insight on Sidney Crosby’s character and shows why many consider him as the game’s top player. Team Canada Head Coach Mike Babcock felt that while Crosby was effective in his first few games at the Olympics he needed him to improve. So "Babs" held a private meeting with 22-year-old “Sid the kid”, explaining to him that he was making too many mistakes for a player of his calibre. Babcock wanted to explain to Crosby what he meant by showing his blunders on film. With Sidney’s permission, Babcock showed Crosby’s mistakes on video, not only to #87, but also to the entire team.

Just think of the impact of that move on the other players. They must have been thinking if the team’s top player was missing assignments, what about the rest of the group? Crosby did not mind being singled out because he agreed it might help the team win. The rest is history.

From the quote rack:

Can you believe porn star and alleged Tiger mistress Joslyn James says she wants an apology from Tiger because, well, she gave up her 'career' for him. Hey, babe, so did Phil Mickelson.

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel

A new Golf Digest piece on Tiger reveals that those calling him over the past few months have included President Obama and Bill Clinton. Conversations were private, so we can only assume
that Obama called to offer support and that Clinton called to borrow a few phone numbers.Greg Cote, in the Miami Herald

Elin is trying to keep him away from the ThighMaster as much as possible.
Jimmy Kimmel of ABC, on Tiger going back home to work out.

Jack Nicklaus believes Tiger Woods should be ready for a return to the Masters. Let's just hope it's not Masters and Johnson.

Barry Zito plunked Prince Fielder in retaliation for Prince's home run routine last year in which he braced for contact with his teammates--who fell backwards like bowling pins. Looks like Barry picked up the spare.

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

Sports fans profess to be getting tired of the Tiger Woods story and many are saying they wish he would just go away. Meanwhile, did you hear who won last week's PGA Honda Classic? Yeah, me neither.
Apparently more than 250 silver coins dating back to the time of Alexander the Great have been discovered. The coins were found in the pockets of several pairs of jeans donated to Goodwill by Brett Favre.Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

Chad Ochocinco is defending his latest video of him running through a park naked saying it's part of his application for Dangling with the Stars.

A report for the Saskatchewan Roughriders say a domed stadium will cost $380 million but they are waiting for someone to add up the numbers again just to be safe
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

So the NCAA is considering expanding its tournament to 96 teams. Which means the first "play-in" game under the new format will be the Knicks vs the Nets.
So the Atlanta Thrashers recalled Chris Chelios for Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets. And word is he was so excited he immediately booked the red eye stagecoach to Columbus. Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York

And in case you missed it:

During the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska each year, dogs burn up to 12,000 calories per day and keep cool by panting rapidly. 12 to 16 dogs are bound together to win, stopping at night to eat raw meat and to sleep; which is not at all unlike the NHL.

Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.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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