Hartley Miller's Slap Shots July 23rd, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010 03:45 AM
Now that we know one can not fool the NHL as the league quickly blocked that ridiculous Ilya Kovalchuk 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils, there are a number of other questions that continue to linger in the sports world. Is UNBC Athletics heading in the rightdirection? Are the B.C. Lions heading towards another year of mediocrity? Are the New York Yankee players the epitome of today's egomaniac athlete?
Like most people in Prince George, I send my best wishes to the new Athletics and Recreation Coordinator at UNBC who officially starts his new position in one month. Jason Kerswill looks at the position as a dream job and why not? He is 31, not experienced at the University administrative level, but is well educated with a basketball background.
Kerswill has completed work at a small prep grade six to 12 school, Edge, in Calgary that offers high performance skill training in hockey, golf, soccer, and dance. Has the Edge properly prepared him for a much larger responsibility at UNBC? No question, hiring Kerswill is part of the university’s “new” direction. However, it will be months, or perhaps years, before we can assess whether that path was positive or negative. The jury remains out.
Meanwhile, there will be more changes than expected for the CCAA champion UNBC men's basketball team as new coach Todd Jordan does not expect high scoring guard Jose Araujo, 6'9 post and Kelly Road grad Kevan Madsen and back-up guard Sebastien Kevin-Louis to return. Araujo has indicated a desire to play in the CIS for former Timberwolves coach Mike Raimbault at the U of Winnipeg. I wonder if Kerswill, a former player at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, has any playing eligibility left.
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Having a very good quarterback does not guarantee success, but it certainly is important in winning. Saskatchewan’s Darian Durant and Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo are arguably the top two in the CFL and so are their teams. That is not a co-incidence. It is far too early to assess the CFL after just three weeks but the betting line would be that this year’s Grey Cup will feature the 3-0 Riders vs the Alouettes in a rematch of last year’s last second nail biter. The game they played against each other in week one was nearly as good as their thrilling championship game last season.
The other six teams seem interchangeable with perhaps Calgary leading the “best of the rest” list. Other than Toronto, I am not sure any team has shown any significant improvement and with the Argos, one knows any winning feeling will lose its luster soon.
The B.C. Lions have already lost both their home games. Casey Printers has struggled, partly due to health and an inexperienced offensive line. The team has many new faces as starters so the transition period is well underway. When a team fails to give up a touchdown against an offensive juggernaut like Montreal, yet still loses, that is the sign that BC fans will endure another long and frustrating year.
By the way, former Lion and Winnipeg quarterback Buck Pierce is hurt again, this time a sprained knee instead of a concussion. I am not sure if the term “injury prone” is fair in this case, but it certainly seems Buck, simply (pardon the pun) cannot get a break.
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Is it just me or does everyone think that many professional athletes are egotistical, self-centered and pampered? Well, here is an example of pro athletes that are self-absorbed in their own life, with little or no regard to someone’s existence.
The New York Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard recently died at age 99. He was with the team 56 years as the voice of Yankee Stadium from 1951 to 2007. His recorded voice still echoes when Captain Derek Jeter steps to the plate. It is a similar to when the Philadelphia Flyers use Kate Smith’s recording of God Bless America at their home games.
Not a single New York Yankees player, past or present, attended Sheppard’s funeral. At the very least, the Yankees should have nominated at least one of their players to attend as a show of respect. Imagine how Sheppard’s family, including widow, Mary, feels. To add insult, Jeter says he, and other Yankees, did not know when the funeral was. Now, that is a great excuse.
It is not fair to paint all well paid athletes with the same brush; however, it seems the caring athlete in today’s society is more the exception than the rule.
I admit I am a Yankee fan but today I like them a little bit less.
From the Quote Rack:
An audio tape with a racist rant from Mel Gibson to his ex-girlfriend was leaked to the Internet; in the tape, Gibson behaves so badly he was named an honorary FIFA World Cup referee.
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg http://thordoggie.blogspot.com/
Things could be worse. I could be Mel Gibson.
Former NBA standout Charles Barkley, after he hit a golf ball into the water at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe.
Mel Gibson is a big fan of World Cup football... his favourite position... strike her.
Louis Oosthuizen is cashing in on his British Open triumph with new sponsorship deals with The Gap, Chicklets and Space Mountain.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
The given name for British Open champion Louis Oosthuigen is Lodewicus Theodorus. Apparently, he is not only one of South Africa's best golfers, but is also the nation's spelling bee champion.
Judge Judy has signed a new contract for $45 Million a year. Who thought that small claims could add up to so much?
Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
Paul the Psychic Octopus, who correctly picked every World Cup game asked of him, is retiring with a perfect record. He thus restores the dignity to the number 8 that was robbed of it by Octomom.
Yankee owner George Steinbrenner has passed away at 80. This just in---all of the Angels of the Outfield have been traded.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Did you hear a thunderstorm last week? It was probably the reunion of George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin.
So Ilya Kovalchuk wants to stay with New Jersey. I'm not going to echo every other writer and say "this was a deal with the Devil." That would have been had he signed a 17 year deal with the Maple Leafs.
Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
So the portly catcher Benjie Molina hit for the cycle the other day. And man, did you see him leg out the triple? I swear he kicked it into another gear as he rounded second. Yeah, its called "neutral."
I don't know why all this fuss is being made about AJ Burnett. This time of the year a lot of pitchers hit the wall.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York
In one of the stranger baseball injuries this season, Padres pitcher Mat Latos went on the disabled list with a rib injury suffered when he — get this — tried to stifle a sneeze walking down some steps at Coors Field. Alert scorekeepers immediately charged him with a blown hold.
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sidelinechatter/
A Chicago man is claiming that his teenage son was sexually harassed by an older female passenger during a flight on Southwest Airlines. I didn’t know Madonna flew on Southwest.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
And in case you missed it:
A man dressed as a broccoli proposed to his girlfriend immediately after winning a veggie race at a Reading Phillies game. Word is he once asked her to sneak off and get married, but she said, 'Sorry, I cantaloupe.
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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