Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots November 16th Edition

By Hartley Miller

For the first time since the UNBC teams and the PG Cougars played on the same night, I chose to watch the Timberwolves. In the past, I went to the hockey, and if time permitted, I caught the end of a basketball game at CNC.

I selected basketball because of the new Northern Sports Centre facility. As well, it was just another Cougar game, and it was the last chance to see the T-wolves, at home, for a couple of months.

Although the evening did not start out in a positive manner, it appears I made the right choice as the Cougars had another lackluster showing on home ice, losing 5-1 to Kelowna. The UNBC women made Columbia Bible College look like a high school team bombing them 106-44. Unless you enjoy one team getting trampled in all aspects of the game, it wasn’t much fun, although Loralyn Murdoch’s crew was grinning from ear to ear running its record to 3-0.

On the other hand, the men’s game was much more competitive. The UNBC guys put on a gutsy effort improving their record to 2-1, with a 98-84 victory. This score was misleading. The T-Wolves trailed by 16 in the second quarter, 14 in the third quarter and after seven lead changes, CBC was ahead 84-83 with 2:50 to go. Yes, UNBC lit it up for the last 15 points of the game.

The winners were supported by their “6th man”, the enthusiastic crowd of more than 1200. “Oh it’s huge. CNC was a great gym but this is a whole new level. The fans are awesome and kept us going”, said last year’s all-star guard, and scoring champ, Jay Gladdish.

UNBC coach Zane Robison was caught up with the electricity of the hometown support.  “I tell the guys that in the timeouts. I said you just make one hustle play or one positive play and the fans will get you back into it. And now they will believe me”, said Robison.

After a sub par (by his standards) performance for 2 ½ games, Gladdish caught fire in the second half against CBC, scoring 24 of his 28 points and 3 of his 4 assists in the final 20 minutes. Gladdish agrees by saying, “Well, honestly I don’t know what was going on in the first 2 ½ games. It was frustrating. My team needed me to step up and I was getting the ball in good positions and I just wanted to make something happen and fortunately it worked.”

 UNBC visits Douglas, Capilano, Camosun and Malaspina over the next two weekends before taking a break from BCCAA play until 2008.

A new rule regarding 5th year eligibility could mean the Timberwolves may add a player or two, in January.  “Quebec and Ontario hired a lawyer to appeal the five year ruling.  Basically the wording on the ruling is not to discriminate against players that have played their four years regardless of when they played. What the ruling was is if they played last year they could play the 5th, but nobody else could play their 5th. That’s discrimination based on nothing. I was frustrated. I didn’t believe in that rule. I’m glad they had the clairvoyance to appeal it. Effective immediately, players that have played 4 years in the CCAA, there are no restrictions, so you can play your 5th as of now”, said Robison, who plans on taking advantage of the change. In other words, a player that finished his 4th year, any number of seasons ago, is now eligible to return.

Now, back to my choice of college basketball over the WHL! It may have been the first time, but it certainly won’t be the last.

From the quote rack:

“Former Danish cyclist Bo Hamburger has admitted to using the banned substance EPO from 1995 to 1997. EPO served as 'Hamburger Helper'?”Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

“Silver lining for Notre Dame (football) fans, at least the team won't embarrass themselves in a bowl this year. The Fighting Irish may have to change the motto to "Win more than one for the Gipper.”Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California.

“Andy Petitte has turned down $16 million, Alex Rodriguez turned down $81 million and Joe Torres left after being offered $10 million over 2 years. This trend has been picked up by ABC who are coming out with a new sports quiz show “Who doesn’t want to be a Yankee Millionaire?”Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

“First he was going out with Sheryl Crow. Then there were rumors that he was dating Jennifer Aniston. Now he's going out with Ashley Olsen? Imagine the babes this guy would get if he owned a car. That's just with a bike!”NBC's Jay Leno, on cyclist Lance Armstrong.

“Mike Lamke denies actually mooning anybody, but he does admit he made an ass of himself.”Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post, on a soccer coach of 14 and 15 year old girls in California quitting the team, after he allegedly walked to midfield and mooned the opposing team. 

And in case you missed it:

“0-4 heaven's sake.” Headline in the Chicago Sun-Times, after the Chicago Bulls began the NBA season with four straight losses.

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. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com

   

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