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Hartley Miller's Slap Shots - February 3rd Edition

By Hartley Miller

by Hartley Miller

At the start of the season, the UNBC Timberwolves Men’s Basketball team was thinking of not just a provincial title, but a national championship. It seems ages ago that the T-Wolves were ranked first in Canada, especially after their strong pre-season in Alberta. Times have changed, however. In fact, the T-Wolves have compiled just a 6-7 record, good for the 6th and final playoff spot, with only five games left. Isn't it ironic that this team will be happy just to make the BCCAA playoffs?

So, what happened? It is easy to blame injuries, but this has been a contributing factor. The latest causality was starting point guard Jari Deutsch, who ruptured his Achilles tendon last weekend at Douglas College. At the time of the accident, the 21-year-old Deutsch was leading the league in assists. He also consistently scored in double figures and was a strong defensive presence. UNBC coach Zane Robison says, “It was just a weird thing. He just moved wrong. The ambulance took him to the hospital which was just three minutes away. We were fortunate enough that we were in Vancouver and able to get him into surgery on Saturday afternoon. He flew back (to PG) the next day, but is out for the season”. Deutsch’s injury leaves the team with just nine players, and not all of them are healthy.

The UNBC home games tonight (Friday), and Saturday against 5-8 Malaspina should determine their
playoff fate. If the Timberwolves sweep the series, they will earn a post season berth, but a double-header loss against the Nanaimo based team will just about knock them out of contention. A split would result in home games against 11-1 Fraser Valley on Feb 10th and 11th, and a road game vs 2-11 Kwantlen on Feb 18th to determine whether they will qualify.

With the high expectations prior to the season, Robison admits “it's been very discouraging but everything has been out of our control”. Yes, a far cry indeed from where they thought they might be at this time to where they actually are. I'm sure a number of other teams, basketball or not, can relate to their plight. 

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Although they are plus 80 in total points for and against, the baby faced UNBC women's basketball team is also just holding down the final playoff spot with a 6-7 record (men T-wolves are minus-24). The Dave Holmes coached team should be considered heavy favorites in the home double-header against 2-11 Malaspina. Then again, the UNBC Men’s team will be the first to tell you not to take anything for granted.
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For many, the Super Bowl is an excuse to party, but it's too bad that the NFL caters to the hype and hoopla of the event and not the game itself. There is no need for a two week break following the Conference finals. However, Seattle fans have waited so long to finally get in, what's an extra week? I'll be watching on the big screen at the Westwood Sports Pub and confidently picking Pittsburgh to win and cover. That's just the kind of prediction I know Seahawk fans were hoping to hear.
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From the quote rack:

"This year's Super Bowl is Detroit. Baghdad, you may read, was booked.''
Art Thiel of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer


"Pittsburgh has Bill Cowher, whose most notable physical characteristic is his chin. Seattle has Mike Holmgren, who will see Cowher one chin and raise him one. Edge: Seattle."
Jim Alexander of the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise, on the coaching match up in the Super Bowl 

"Plummer!"
Jalen Rose of the Toronto Raptors, after fans in Denver yelled out "Kobe" to remind the Raptors of Bryant's 81-point explosion, which happened the same day that the Jake Plummer led Denver Broncos were badly beaten by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game. 

"Two historic games, 44 years and 3,000 miles apart with one common thread -- stupid me."
LA Lakers season ticket-holder Marc Stern, who not only gave up his seats for Kobe Bryant's 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors; but also for Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point effort for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, because he had to study for an exam.

"That's one hectare to live on and a three-hectare buffer so he can't hear Celine singing in the shower”.
Toronto comedian Frenchie McFarlane, on the Jupiter Courier report that Tiger Woods will move into the same neighborhood as golfer Greg Norman and singer Celine Dion after buying a four-hectare, $38 million estate in Jupiter Island, Florida.


"A guy's wife finds a note in his coat. It reads `Sexy Elaine.' The guy tells her: `Relax, that's a horse. I just got a tip on it.' A half-hour later, the wife returns and whacks him in the head. The guy asks what's wrong. The wife says: `Your horse just called here.'"
Comedian Jerry Lewis


And, how was your week? 

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97FM. He also writes for the PG Free Press.

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