The Chadder Box

Fresh eyes, fresh mind

2008-04-02T12:00:00.002-07:00

Friends:

I wanted to drop a quick note to say that I am taking a break from posting on this blog. I'm not stepping away from the online community, rather looking at new avenues to participate in it.

Thank you to everyone who has helped support The Chadder Box!

Chad

Keenan having fun?

2008-01-07T23:43:00.000-08:00

If I didn't see it, I wouldn't believe it. This article says it all. Keenan has mellowed!

Calgary Flames red hot

2007-12-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

Nice to see my Calgary Flames are on a tear with their sixth straight win. They started the season slow, but seem to be picking it up now. Here's hoping it doesn't slow anytime soon!

Kiprusoff locked up with Flames

2007-10-30T00:10:00.000-07:00

Great news for all Flames fans out there! - CP

FLAMES SIGN KIPRUSOFF TO A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION

Calgary, AB - Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the signing of Miikka Kiprusoff to a multi-year contract extension. As per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"The Calgary Flames ownership group has made a huge commitment to Miikka and we expect him to be a major contributor to the success of our organization for years to come," said Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter. "With today's announcement, we have some key players under long term contracts and we look forward to that group leading us to the next level."

Playing in his 4th season with Calgary, Miikka is the franchise leader in shutouts (21) and is approaching his 200th regular season game which ranks him 5th highest in franchise history.

"I would like to thank the Calgary Flames owners for making this long term commitment to me and my family so we can remain in this city and be part of this organization," said Kiprusoff. "I look forward to the responsibility and challenge that comes with this contract. Calgary is a loyal hockey community that expects and deserves the very best from its home team."

If they're all like this...

2007-10-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

What a great start to the NHL season. While my Calgary Flames went down to defeat in overtime tonight, it sure was a heck of a game against the Vancouver Canucks. If the season is all like this, it should be fun to watch!

Here's hoping the odds even out and they win the next one!

Bonds does it, hopefully not for long

2007-08-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

The moment almost every baseball fan has dreaded for the past few seasons has come to pass. Barry Bonds has tied the illustrious all-time homerun record held by Hammering Hank Arron.

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you will know I am by no means a fan of Barry Bonds. I said it when he hit his 715th homerun to pass Babe Ruth, and now I am going to say it again. The man is more than likely a cheater who will always have a dark cloud over his record and his career.

Bonds has been accused of having an attitude problem, and rightfully so given some of the comments he's made over the years. The media loathe him, and with good reason, he does in kind as well.

I can live with that - it doesn't effect the way he swings a bat or the records he sets.

What I can't accept are his blatant attempts to get around the rules. Although Bonds has been widely accused of taking steroids, he refuses to talk about it. His long-time trainer won't talk about it either.

Talk or not, the change is pretty stark. Look at the picture accompanying this post showing Barry Bonds when he broke in to the league, and Bonds today. It speaks for itself.

Bonds is not the only one who has been accused of taking steroids, but he is currently the most visible in that role. He's the poster boy for steroid use, the same way Hank Aaron was for hard work, dedication and sportsmanship.

In my books, and in the books of many other baseball fans, his record won't be worth the paper it's printed on. But it will stand nonetheless.

I can only hope one of the homerun machines like Ken Griffey Jr or Alex Rodriguez catches Bonds one day.

Someone with a little bit of integrity deserves to have that record, and Bonds isn't that player by a long shot.

So close for Sergio, but he'll get his one day

2007-07-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

He's got it in the bag. That's was my feeling for Sergio Garcia going in to the final round of the British Open Championship. He had a three shot lead, his putting woes had not surfaced, but most of all, I felt his time had come.

I was wrong.

I didn't take in to account the phenomenal final round performance by Open winner Padraig Harrington. Harrington went in to the day six shots off the lead, with nobody giving him a chance to be the eventual winner. What a difference a 5-under par 67 can make.

Harrington actually went on to the 18th hole at Carnoustie with a one stroke lead, only to hit two balls in to the infamous Barry Burn. That left Sergio back in the driver's seat.

Garcia, who led for almost the entire week, needed a par on the finishing hole to win his first major championship. After a few tricky shots, Garcia had a ten foot putt to win it all. As has been the pattern in his young career, his putter let him down.

In the playoff Harrington made amends for his double-bogey on the 72-hole, erasing any mention of his name with Jean Van de Velde who could not recover from his disaster eight years earlier.

Golf rarely gives anyone second chances. As a golfer myself, I can certainly attest to that fact. Harrington got his, and he made good on it. As much as my heart was cheering for Sergio, I still felt pride for Harrington's feat.

Sergio will learn from this experience. I feel he's the kind of player who will win a major tournament one day, and then he won't stop there. I figure once he gets the first win under his belt, he'll get a few more. It's just a matter of getting that first one out of the way. At 27-years of age, he's got a lot more chances ahead to do it.

The British Open - Back at Carnoustie

2007-07-20T00:24:00.001-07:00

Sergio Garcia leads the British Open after the first round at Carnoustie in Scotland.

The old course houses a lot of memories, none less memorable than the complete and utter collapse of French golfer Jean Van de Velde eight years ago (wow - has it really been that long!?). If you're unfamiliar with Van de Velde's story, check out my previous posting.

While the course is still playing difficult, it's not what it was during the 1999 tournament. That's good news for the world's best players.

Who will rise to, and remain on top, come Sunday? I would love to see Garcia do it, he's certainly paid his dues, but I have a feeling, and I'm going out on a limb here, that Retief Goosen will capture the historic Claret Jug. He can keep the ball in the fairway and he has the consistency to make it happen.

In any case, it will be fun to watch.

Big shake up in Flames town

2007-07-02T22:55:00.000-07:00

Wow, you take a few weeks out of the blogosphere and your favorite hockey team completely shakes things up. And I mean COMPLETELY.

Here's my take on the recent deals of my Calgary Flames.

MIKE KEENAN

I will be the first to admit, I was not a big fan of former coach Jim Playfair behind the Flames bench. When the team was near the top of the league on home ice, and then near the bottom on the road, it's not hard to see that the coaching was not what it needed to be. In saying that, I had no idea that the man replacing Playfair would be none other than Iron Mike Keenan.

Years ago, I was a backer of Mike Keenan. I thought he did a phenomenal job in Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York. As time went by, he seemed to lose a bit of his balance for toughness and touch. His time in St. Louis, Boston, Vancouver and Florida were not anything to write home about, and were in fact, down right awful.

Which Mike Keenan we'll see in Calgary is unknown. I will not judge him just yet, I'll wait to see results. In saying that, the Flames lacked discipline last year and Keenan will bring that in spades. I only hope that's enough to make this a smooth transition.
I'm just glad Keenan's only the coach and not the General Manager. His strength has always been coaching, that's where he should be.

NEW SIGNINGS, ACQUISITIONS

I've been very impressed at how active Calgary's been in the free agent market. While some teams, like my home town Canucks, have been sitting on the sidelines, the Flames have stepped up with big commitments and big dollars. Here's my take on the major names.

D Cory Sarich (5-year, $18 million) - This is a great pick-up from Tampa Bay. Sarich has been a solid all around player, exactly what the Flames need on the blue line. He has lots of playoff experience and is set to make an immediate difference.

LW Owen Nolan (Coyotes, 1-year) - I've always been a big fan of Owen Nolan, ever since he was selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 Entry Draft. Although he's aged over the years, he's still a goal scorer who can hold his own on the ice. Great pick-up.

D Adrian Aucoin (Via trade from Blackhawks) - This is the one deal I'm a little unsure about. There is no doubt about Aucoin's talent, it's his health that's the question mark. Aucoin has had a string of injuries the past couple years and that certainly hurts, especially given his big salary. If he ends up playing 70+ games, great pick-up. If he's injured early, it could be tough slugging.

SIGNIFICANT RE SIGNINGS

It looks like both Jerome Iginla and Robyn Regehr will be locked up, and for long term. These are perhaps the biggest deals of them all. Iginla and Regehr are the backbones of this team and I'm ecstatic the Flames have stepped up to keep them.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

In the end, I'm excited about what this new Flames team has to offer. If anything, it's nice to see them step up to try and get back to the next level. Status-quo was not an option.

Who would have thought - Ducks rock

2007-06-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

As much as people have liked to make fun of their name over the years, you can laugh no more because the Anaheim Ducks are Stanley Cup Champions.

NHL Playoffs - The Stanley Cup

2007-05-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

After going 10 for 12 in Round 1 and 2, I missed the mark in the Conference Finals going 0 for 2. Here's my chance for redemption, the Stanley Cup.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Ottawa Senators

Thoughts: The Ducks and the Senators have rolled all the way through the playoffs. This pick is going to be more of a gut feeling than of statistical breakdowns. The Cup's coming back to Canada.
Pick: Senators in 6-games.

NHL Playoffs - Conference Finals

2007-05-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

I went 3 for 4 with my Round 2 predictions for the NHL Playoffs. After going 7 for 8 in Round 1, my overall record has risen to 10 for 12. Not too bad at all.

Here are my predictions for the Conference Finals...

The Western Conference:

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs (2) Anaheim Ducks
Thoughts: Some people wonder if age will be an issue in this epic battle. After all, the Red Wings roster has the oldest average age in the NHL. Yes, age will be an issue - but not in the way that you think. The Red Wings to take advantage of the Duck's youth and inexperience.
Pick: Red Wings in 6-games.

The Eastern Conference:

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs (4) Ottawa Senators
Thoughts: The Sabres have had the most wins in the NHL the last two years. That has to count for something.
Pick: Sabres in 7-games.

Killer squirrel?

2007-04-29T23:24:00.000-07:00

I played my first round of the golf season this weekend at Vancouver's Fraserview Golf Club. It was an up and down day, but I was fairly pleased with my play.

I recently purchased a new R5 Taylor Made driver and it really agreed with my swing. There's a little rust still to wipe off in my game, but it was a great start to the year.

As for the killer squirrel...

As I prepared to tee off on the 8th hole a squirrel came down from a tree and ran towards me. Within moments, it was only a few feet away from me on the other side of my golf bag. I looked at him, he looked at me. After a few seconds had passed I jokingly asked him "what's up?". At that moment he went up on his hind legs and gave me the look you see in this posting. He even held it long enough for me to grab my camera and take this shot. Either he was challenging me to a fight or he was trying to intimidate me. Either way, it makes for a good photo.

Thanks to my friend Woosang for joining me on the course. Lots of fun, we'll do it again.

NHL Playoffs - Round Two Predictions

2007-04-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

I went 7 for 8 with my Round 1 predictions in the NHL playoffs. So, let's see if my luck will continue in Round 2.

The Western Conference:

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs (5) San Jose Sharks
Thoughts: Year after year people pick the Sharks to go to the Cup and they disappoint. This will be no exception.
Pick: Red Wings in 6-games.

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs (3) Vancouver Canucks
Thoughts: The Ducks looked very good against the Wild. They are fast, strong, and have some scoring punch. The Canucks have Luongo - that will only go so far without some goals to accompany his play.
Pick: Ducks in 6-games.

The Eastern Conference:

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs (6) NY Rangers
Thoughts: The Rangers looked good against the Thrashers. The Sabres are no Thrashers.
Pick: Sabres in 5-games.

(2) New Jersey Devils vs (4) Ottawa Senators
Thoughts: This is the series to watch. Both teams are going strong, but the Devils usually find a way to come out on top and the Senators always find a way to fall short. It will be close...
Pick: Devils in 7-games.

Linden is money

2007-04-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Vancouver Canucks on their hard fought 4-1 win in Game 7 tonight against the Dallas Stars. The Canucks were full value for their win, and Trevor Linden, Mr. Clutch himself, stepped up with the game winner.

On to round 2 - my picks will follow soon. Go Canucks Go!

It's over - "there's always next year"

2007-04-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

My Calgary Flames went down in defeat tonight in double overtime to the Detroit Red Wings. It was an up and down year and to exit this early in the playoffs, with so much potential, is sad to say the least. I guess we're down to that old saying, "there's always next year".

Now it's "Go Canucks Go". As part of my bet with Proud BCer, here's my tribute to the Canucks. Let's hope they take it to the Stars tomorrow night!

Jekyll and Hyde

2007-04-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

My Calgary Flames continued their Jekyll and Hyde routine today by losing 5-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.

The Flames, who looked so good on home ice the last two games, looked awful on the road today. They started off the first period well, but it was all down hill from there. The only good news, the game tomorrow is at home.

It's a new series!

2007-04-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

My Calgary Flames made their playoff series a best of 3 tonight with a 3-2 win over the Detriot Red Wings. I only hope the Flames team that appeared at home these last two games can actually reappear on the road the same way in Motown...

That's more like it!

2007-04-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

After two lackluster performances by my Calgary Flames in Game 1 and 2 of their series with the Detroit Red Wings, they finally looked like they should tonight winning 3-2 at home. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come...fingers crossed!

As for you Canucks fans out there, nice win against Dallas tonight. Looks like you're in good shape to take that series in five or six games.

NHL Playoffs - Round One Predictions

2007-04-11T00:20:00.000-07:00

We've entered that exciting annual time in every Canadian's life, playoff hockey! Here are my predictions for the first round...

The Western Conference:

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs (8) Calgary Flames
Thoughts: The Flames always play well against the Wings and should prove more than a match for the Western Conference #1. My Flames will grind those Wings down in a hard fought series.
Pick: Flames in 6-games.

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs (7) Minnesota Wild
Thoughts: Minnesota does well in 4-on-4 overtime and in shootouts. Neither apply in the playoffs.
Pick: Ducks in 5-games.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs (6) Dallas Stars
Thoughts: Marty Turco's playoff ghosts come back, Luongo is up to the challenge.
Pick: Canucks in 6-games.

(4) Nashville Predators vs (5) San Jose Sharks
Thoughts: Evenly matched teams, but Nashville might have peaked too early.
Pick: Sharks in 7-games.

The Eastern Conference:

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs (8) NY Islanders
Thoughts: The Islanders have been up and down all year. This series will be more down than up.
Pick: Sabres in 5-games.

(2) New Jersey Devils vs (7)Tampa Bay Lightning
Thoughts: Brodeur has another good run in him, Tampa can't keep the puck out of their own net. Bad combination.
Pick: Devils in 5-games.

(3) Atlanta Thrashers vs (6) NY Rangers
Thoughts: Two teams that would probably not be in the playoffs had they been in the Western Conference. The Rangers might just win a playoff series.
Pick: Rangers in 6-games.

(4) Ottawa Senators vs (5) Pittsburgh Penguins
Thoughts: After a long playoff absence, Pittsburgh and Crosby are "just happy to be here".
Pick: Senators in 5-games.

On to the playoffs!

2007-04-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

With a loss by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, my Calgary Flames clinched the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. (Although they didn't fair too well against the Avalanche in their game Sunday night, many of Calgary's stars were resting up for the Stanley Cup run.)

I had the luxury of watching my Calgary Flames down the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 last weekend at GM Place. Taking in the game with a number of friends was certainly a treat, and it was made all the more so by the Flames win. Had they lost I'm sure the razzing I would have received would have been horrible!

I'll have more to say on the playoffs soon, so stay tuned!

Is it golf season yet?

2007-03-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

All of this wet weather in Vancouver is getting more than a little depressing. My golf clubs are shiny, not used since last year, just waiting for a sunny day. Here's our upcoming forecast...

Perhaps I should just take up swimming.

Flames need to pick up their socks

2007-03-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, before you other NHL fans jump all over the title of this email, let me first get a few things out in the open.

I have never been what would constitute a "fair weather fan". I have stuck with my Calgary Flames through out the glory days of the 1980s, the inability to get out of the first round of the playoffs in the 1990s, and then a decade with out making the playoffs. I was rewarded in 2004 with the Flames miracle playoff run that fell one game short of the Stanley Cup. Still, it has not been an easy haul.

Last season people kept asking me if I thought the Flames were a Cup contender, to which my reply was "I just want them to make the playoffs". Given the decade of no playoff appearances, that was still the goal. If they went further, that was the icing on the cake.

This year, I saw the improvements the team had made and thought there was going to be something more. At this point though, given their recent slide in the standings, I'm back to "hoping for that playoff spot".

I have made reference to it before, but I am still at a loss as to why Calgary can't win on the road. It certainly reflects poorly on the leadership in the organization.

In saying all of that, the big achilles heal for this team has been overtime and shootouts. Calgary has just 3 wins and 10 losses in OT, including a dismal 0-8 record on the road. The Vancouver Canucks by comparison have 16 wins and 6 loses over the same stretch. If both teams were .500 in OT, Calgary would actually be ahead of the Canucks.

The only thing I can hope for at this point is that the playoffs, should we make it, will be a different tale. There is no 4-on-4 and no shootout. It's hard nosed 5-on-5 hockey - just the way it was meant to be.

Down to the wire!

2007-03-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

The NHL's Northwest Division looks like it will come down to the wire with a little over a month left in the season.

Vancouver, Calgary and Minnesota all have a crack at winning the division, but who will prevail? The Calgary Flames of course.

Okay, granted I'm biased being a Flames fan, but here's my logic, as flawed as it might be.

Calgary has the worst road record in the Western Conference, even lower than the last place Los Angeles Kings. With a home record of 27-6-1, Calgary is just "too good" not to do better on the road. I mean, it doesn't really make any sense!

There are the same number of players on the ice, the nets are identical, the puck is no different, and the rinks are all virtually the same size. What would account for the Flames having a dismal 8-15-8 road record? Having eight shootout loses on the road doesn't help much, but seriously, how can the difference be so stark?

So, there in lies my flawed logic. They're too good not to win on the road. I'm a Flames fan, I have to believe it.

Either way, it's going to be a heck of a ride to the end of the year!

Trade deadline maddness!

2007-02-27T23:48:00.000-08:00

Today was the NHL trade deadline, and as usual, there was drama that gives sports watchers some great water cooler fodder. Here's my take on some of today's big deals...

Todd Bertuzzi: (FLA to DET): This one was a bit of a shocker to me today. While I didn't find it surprising that Bertuzzi was on the move, I was floored to see him end up in Detroit. Bertuzzi is a cancer in the dressing room, so while he would have fit in well with the NY Rangers, I have to question if the same holds true for Detroit. I just don't see it. Good luck to the Wings. You're going to need it with this head case on your hands.

Ryan Smyth (EDM to NYI): Even though I'm a Calgary Flames fan, it's still sad to see Smyth headed out of Oil town. The Oilers have lost Pronger, Peca and Smyth over the last year, a great core for any team in the NHL. It just goes to show how quickly you can go from on top of the world to the bottom of the barrel.

Bill Guerin (STL to SJ): Bill Guerin is a big-time clutch player that will only make the San Jose Sharks that much stronger. He adds grit, playoff experience and even more scoring touch. An asset to be coveted this time of year to be sure, and perhaps the best pick-up of all at the deadline.

And lastly, for Canucks fans, here are my comments on their recent acquisitions.

Bryan Smolinski (CHI to VAN): A proven veteran that's a solid pick-up. He should certainly be of help at both ends of the rink.

Brent Sopel (LA to VAN): Is this the same Brent Sopel that fans would boo when he got the puck during his last stint in Vancouver? Enough said.

And just to comment on the Canucks strong play of late, yes, they have looked good. There is no doubt there. In saying that, they lost their second in a row tonight which at least makes me feel a bit better.

My Calgary Flames are only two points back so I could see this being a real fight down to the wire. If only the Flames could win on the road. Heck, I'd take 500. While they are 26-6-1 at home, the Flames are 7-15-8 on the road. Among the worst road records in the NHL. Sigh.

Making a strong team stronger

2007-02-14T00:50:00.000-08:00

The Calgary Flames recent trade to pick up defenceman Brad Stuart, and power forward Wayne Primeau improves an already strong team. These Flames are going to be hard to beat!

Congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts!

2007-02-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts on their Super Bowl XLI win over the Chicago Bears!

The result:
Colts 29-17

My prediction:

Colts 30-21

Pretty close, and I picked the right end of the seven point spread!

Looking back over the playoffs, I got a total of six out of seven correct. Not to shabby!

Rebuttal for my Calgary Flames

2007-02-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

To those Vancouver Canucks fans who like to poke fun at my Calgary Flames, here's a picture you might never have seen...

Calgary Flames Stanley Cups won - 1
Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cups won - 0

Go Flames Go!

2007-02-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

My Flames knocked off the Canucks tonight 4-3. Feels good!

The Super Bowl

2007-02-01T22:38:00.000-08:00

It all comes down to this - the Super Bowl. The culmination of the NFL season in a historic game of sporting excellence. Well, it's usually interesting for at least a quarter or two.

Memorable Super Bowls have an odd way of either being close or blowouts.

On the blowout side, I remember watching the San Francisco 49ers beating the Denver Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV. I remember the Cowboys beating the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Then there were the good games. The NY Giants winning thanks to a last second field goal miss by Buffalo in XXV. St. Louis beating Tennessee by stopping a touchdown on the one yard line with no time left on the clock. The great Joe Montana driving down the field at the end of the fourth quarter to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII.

This year it's the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts. That pits the Bears vaunted defence against the Colts high powered offense.

Who comes out on top? Payton Manning is just too good not to step up to the plate to win his first Super Bowl. That said, Rex Grossman is just too bad not to blow it. Both indicators point Colts.

My Prediction: Indianapolis (Score: Colts 30 - Bears 21)

My Heart Wants: Indianapolis Colts

Two for two!

2007-01-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

I was two for two in my picks for today's NFL Conference Championship games. I have to believe even my scenarios worked out.

New Orleans at Chicago
My Pick: Chicago
Winner: Chicago

My earlier comments: "I think the battle ground of Soldier Field will be too much for the Saints - despite Bears QB Rex Grossman's likely attempts to throw the game away."

The game: The cold and snow at Soldier Field threw off the Saints much vaunted offense. They committed three fumbles and never looked comfortable. As for Rex Grossman, he went an anemic 11 for 26 for only 144 yards in the game. He missed a lot of opportunities, including three deep drives that resulted in only field goals in the first half. The defense won this game for them, not Grossman!

New England at Indianapolis

My Pick: Indianapolis

Winner: Indianapolis

My earlier comments: "Colts QB Payton Manning is too good not to finally step up to the plate in a playoff game."

The game: After a slow start Payton Manning caught fire in the second half throwing for a total of 349 yards and a touchdown.

In saying all of this, my preseason pick to win the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots, bowed out on Sunday with their loss to the Colts. They gave it a good run. I tip my cap to them. Not too many people thought they'd even make it this far!

Stay tuned for my Super Bowl pick!

Top of the standings at the All-Star Break

2007-01-21T13:58:00.000-08:00

With their 4-0 win in the battle of Alberta last night, my Calgary Flames are tied for the top of the NHL's Northwest Division heading in to the All-Star Break.

They're 7-3-o in their last ten games, and keep in mind, they've been without superstar forward Jerome Iginla for most of January.

Go Flames Go!

The Conference Championships

2007-01-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

After a fairly successful predictive week in last week's NFL Playoffs, I'm going to try again this week. The same as last week, I'm making both my pick and stating who my heart wants to win.

New Orleans at Chicago
My Pick: Chicago (24-20)
My Heart Wants: New Orleans

I've always had a soft spot for the New Orleans Saints. Given that, and all that city has gone through over the past few years, it would be great to see them pull it off. Unfortunately, I think the battle ground of Soldier Field will be too much for the Saints - despite Bears QB Rex Grossman's likely attempts to throw the game away.

New England at Indianapolis
My Pick: Indianapolis
My Heart Wants: Indianapolis

Colts QB Payton Manning is too good not to finally step up to the plate in a playoff game. He'll win this one for them, along with a continued solid performance from the Colts defense. I like Tom Brady, I like the Patriots, but I hope for Manning that he can finally live up to his promise and take the Colts all the way.

3.5 out of 4 in this week's NFL playoffs (well 3 for sure!)

2007-01-14T22:19:00.000-08:00

I was 3.5 out of 4 with my picks in this weekend's NFL playoffs. Lets look at the rundown.

Indianapolis at Baltimore
My Pick: Indianapolis
Winner: Indianapolis

Philadelphia at New Orleans
My Pick: New Orleans
Winner: New Orleans

Seattle at Chicago
My Pick: Chicago
Winner: Chicago

New England at San Diego
My Pick: San Diego
Winner: New England

So that would make it seem I'm only 3 out of 4. Where does 3.5 come from you might ask?

At the start of the year, I picked the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl. Although I didn't pick them to win this week, they're still in the running to win it all. That's got to be worth 0.5, right? Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit here, but it's my blog so I'll take that extra 0.5!

As a side note, I wanted to commend the work done this year by my Seattle Seahawks. It's been a tough season, riddled with injuries, but they fought all the way. They could have, and some will argue should have, won the game today in Chicago. It's impressive enough they were able to compete given all they've been through. They'll be back next year, and they'll be healthy. Watch out!

My weekend NFL Playoff predictions

2007-01-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

Four games going this weekend in the NFL Playoffs, here are my predictions (and who my heart wants to win!)

Indianapolis at Baltimore

My Pick: Indianapolis (Score: 24-13)
My Heart Wants: Indianapolis

Philadelphia at New Orleans

My Pick: New Orleans (Score: 33-24)
My Heart Wants: New Orleans

Seattle at Chicago

My Pick: Chicago (Score: 17-6)
My Heart Wants: Seattle

New England at San Diego

My Pick: San Diego (Score: 27-17)
My Heart Wants: New England

The season is half over - let's talk hockey...

2007-01-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

As many readers of my blog know, I have been fairly focused on the NFL as playoff scenarios come in to place and the lead up to the Super Bowl begins. But I know many of you, like me, also have a passion for hockey, so here's my musing on the two teams you're thinking most about right now...the Vancouver Canucks and my Calgary Flames.

The Vancouver Canucks are playing well right now, there's certainly no doubt about that. Heck, they've won six-straight games. They've beaten my beloved Calgary Flames three times in the last month and have pulled in to a one point lead in the division.

Will it hold? Only as long as superstar goalie Roberto Luongo keeps on rolling. In their six game winning streak, he's only given up more than two goals on one occasion. To show you Luongo's importance to his team, the Canucks have failed to win a game so far this season without Luongo between the pipes.

As for my Calgary Flames, they are only one point behind the 1st place Canucks and have two games in hand. Add that to the horrible start the Flames had where they lost 9 of their first 12, and it shows that they've really come a long way in the last 30-games.

Where will we end up at season end? My Flames will be challenging for 1st place in the tight Northwest Division where all five teams are currently within five points of each other. Will the Canucks be there too? I have to think they're going to start falling off once Luongo cools off. The lack of depth on their blue line and their lack of skilled scorers will show through.

I look forward to the upcoming onslaught of comments from Canucks fans...

How 'bout them Cowboys?

2007-01-07T00:07:00.000-08:00

Seattle Seahawks 21 - Dallas Cowboys 20

A 19-yard field goal was all that stood in the way of the Dallas Cowboys taking a 2-point lead with only 1:19 left in Saturday's Wild Card playoff game against my Seattle Seahawks. After the automatic chipshot, the Seahawks would get the ball back needing to drive for a game winning field goal with no timeouts left to stop the clock. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, overrated quarterback Tony Romo couldn't hold on to the ball off the snap and kicker Martin Gramatica never even made an attempt. The Seahawks took over on downs and ran out the clock to win the game.

It was a fast paced back and forth contest with action at both ends that included four-lead changes from start to finish. Most of the action took place on 4th-down, with both teams making gutsy calls to try and get some extra points on the board. But Tony, all you needed to do was hold on to the ball. That's the kind of play that will haunt a man.

Romo stated off the year as the back-up to veteren quarterback Drew Bledsoe. After Bledsoe was used as a scapegoat by fans in Dallas for a disappointing start to the season, Romo got the starters job. Although he played well early, he's struggled in later games. And tonight...well...the image speaks for itself.

As you can probably tell, I'm not a Cowboys fan, never have been. In fact, I'd rather see almost any other team win but the boys in blue. But to have my Seattle Seahawks as being the ones to knock them off makes it all the sweeter.

Go Hawks!

I was right - the Jets "massively improved"

2007-01-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

Far be it from me to pat myself on the back...but I'm actually about to do so.

At the start of the NFL year, I made the following prediction about the NY Jets.

I like the look of the NY Jets this year - at least to massively improve on their 4-12 season in 2005. I strongly feel the key for the Jets is the health of their Quarterback Chad Pennington. Pennington has been much maligned by fans in recent years given his injury troubles and his apparent "lack of arm strength". I look at him another way. He's a proven winner that rarely makes mistakes. If she stays healthy, we're looking at an 8-8 Jets team, maybe even better.

The Jets finished the year at 10-6, capturing a post-season berth. Reading all the articles about the "surprise Jets" made me feel like all the experts missed something all year.

My key to the Jets season was the health of QB Chad Pennington. Today, he was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.

As for the remainder of my predictions, I haven't been too far off.

I predicted the Kansas City Chiefs would suffer from injuries, and the Dallas Cowboys were not as good as many predicted. With records of 8-8 and 9-7 respectively, I have to say I think I wasn't far off the mark - despite both teams limping in to the playoffs.

I liked the Jacksonville Jaguars and predicted them to be a team on the rise. I think they showed strong signs, but injuries held them back from their full potential.

I predicted the Washington Redskins would have quarterback problems and suffer, and they did. Neither Mark Brunell nor Jason Campbell looked good this year.

I predicted the Seattle Seahawks would have a solid year, and despite injuries, they won their division.

We'll see if my early season Super Bowl winner prediction of the New England Patriots comes to pass. They look good, I just don't know if they can beat some of the other top teams at this point.

Thanks for putting up with my gloating.

P.S. - I also won my football pool this year.

Happy New Year!

2006-12-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

Here's to a happy, healthy and successful New Year!

My friend Woosang has his sentiments right on the mark...

Nothing beats the NFL

2006-12-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of being able to attend the Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers game last week (pictured on the right with my friend Ed), and I have to admit I love the atmosphere at an NFL game.

Now I realize that living in Canada there will be many of you out there saying "what about the CFL"? I have nothing against the CFL, believe me. But comparing the two leaves a lot to be desired.

The Noise:

This was my second trip to a Seahawks game, having attended their playoff game against the Redskins last year. On Thursday it poured rain, the wind gusts reached hurricane force, the game started late due to the weather conditions, and yet the place was packed full of hardy fans ready to cheer on their team. The noise of the 67,650 paid in attendance was deafening.

In comparison, in November I attended the BC Lions Western Final where they knocked off the Saskatchewan Roughriders. I remember people commenting how loud it was - and yes, for the CFL it was loud. But compare that to what's in the NFL, and you swear you could hear a pin drop.

The Stadium:

The Seahawks stadium itself, Qwest Field, is certainly a sight to behold in and of itself. Built a few years back to replace the decrepit Kingdome, the sightlines, the amenities, and the food at Qwest Field are spectacular.

While BC Place is a good home for the BC Lions, I firmly believe the indoor building takes away from the atmosphere. As well, food options are few and far between - and those that are there could use some work on quality and speed of service.

The Product on the Field:

While the CFL is geared to be a more exciting game, the NFL is able to pull off an all around better product. In Seattle there is always quality entertainment - including a solid half time show. The CFL doesn't have that - and when it does only at the Grey Cup. As well, the players in the NFL are the best in the world competing on the world stage. While CFL players are very solid to be sure, it is certainly tricky for them to make the jump to the NFL - although there are those who have done so very successfully (Warren Moon, Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia).

While I admire the work done by BC Lions Head Bob Ackles, he can only work with what he's got (although he'd make a great commissioner of the league one day).

The CFL certainly draws the football fans in this town. Now it just has to work on growing it's base and attracting non-traditional fans to the game as well. Working on the above items will go a long way to make that happen, but how practical they are remain to be seen.

The NFL Today

2006-12-10T23:29:00.000-08:00

I noticed many of my recent posts related to my beloved Calgary Flames, so I thought I had best take a moment to chat a bit about the NFL.

To put it briefly, I seemingly couldn't pick a game right under any circumstances. Don't get me wrong, I'm still in first place in my annual football pool, but I'm certainly giving away a lot of ground at this point. It looks like it will be two weeks in a row that I'll finish alone in last place. Not a good sign to be sure!

Here are some teams that have made my recent football weeks one to remember for the wrong reasons...

Atlanta - I can't get their games right if my life depended on it. The weeks I think they'll do poorly, they win big. The weeks I think they'll break out, they get buried. Go figure!

Miami - They started off rough when I picked them weekly and now that I don't they keep winning. I'm sure if I pick them again, the trend will reverse. Dolphins fans, don't let me pick them!

Carolina - A team that looks like a contender one week, and then is dead on arrival the next. I'm just glad I don't have season tickets for their Jekyll and Hyde show!

And as the season winds down, I have to say my early Super Bowl pick of New England is still holding up. They're leading their division, but looked horrid this week.

If I had to do it all over again today I'd certainly pick San Diego. LaDainian Tomlinson is the real deal and then some! Still, for an early season pick, I think New England still looks like they have an outside chance.

Only a few weeks left until the playoffs, let the drama begin!

Another home win...

2006-12-10T23:20:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's still early in the season, but the Flames have won a franchise record tying 9th win in a row on Saturday against the lowly Vancouver Canucks. Just thought I'd let everyone know.

For the Canucks fans out there, I think the script is pretty much following my October predictions. Let's see what happens from here on out.

Ouch!

2006-11-23T21:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, 6-0 loss to Nashville tonight for the Vancouver Canucks. Now while the Flames might be my favorite team, I won't try to disparage the home team or crowd. This one even hurt me!

Way to go BC Lions!

2006-11-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

BC is leading Canada in so many categories these days, let's add football to the list!

Congratulations to the BC Lions for their Grey Cup victory!

It keeps growing - make it six games in a row.

2006-11-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

My Calgary Flames beat the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night for their sixth straight win. Man it's impressive to beat a team like Detroit given how they've been playing lately. It's not like we just beat a team like the bottom feeders from St. Louis...

Make it Five in a Row...

2006-11-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

My Calgary Flames have now won five in a row...while those Canucks have dropped six of seven. Enough said.

Roar you Lions Roar!

2006-11-12T22:32:00.000-08:00

Taking up an offer from my friend Woosang I came out to today's BC Lions game and man was it worth wild. The Lions won the Western Final beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-18 to clinch an appearance at next week's Grey Cup.

For any CFL fan it goes without saying that anywhere the Roughriders go, half the province of Saskatchewan follows. This game was no different as the sea of green and white made it's presence known early. But with a score of 29-4 at the half, you would have sworn none of them had a voice. In fact, I'd bet you could hear a pin drop in their section seats. Although I admire the passion they have for the game, on this day I didn't feel too much pity.

On to the Cup to face the Montreal Alouettes! My prediction? Lions, 34-21.

Four in a row!

2006-11-12T00:54:00.000-08:00

My Calgary Flames certainly got off to a slow start this season with a 3-7-2 record - but oh what a four game win streak will do to make you feel better.

With a come from behind 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks Saturday, the Flames have now pulled up to the .500 mark.

Let's hope this is a sign of things to come...

A cursed franchise

2006-10-18T00:04:00.000-07:00

I watched most of the second half of the Monday Night NFL game the other night and I have to admit the Arizona Cardinals are a cursed franchise. The club has moved from Chicago to St. Louis to Phoenix and for the last sixty years have just plain old sucked.

They modeled that again on Monday, blowing a 23-3 lead on Chicago, having possession of the ball with only 5 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. A fumble for a touchdown, another fumble for a touchdown, and a punt return for a touchdown put them down 24-23 with time running out in the 4th quarter. The Cardinals drove down field and gave themselves a 40-yard field goal to win it, and they missed. Worse yet - I knew they'd miss. Doesn't that tell the story in and of itself.

Playing the Cardinals is the only way a team like the Bears could win a game by not scoring a touchdown on offense. In fact, Grossman, the Bears quarterback, threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles before the game was over. Wow. Simply "wow".

And so the Cardinals did what they do best, lose, and snap defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Canucks in 2006-2007 - Don't crack the champaign yet!

2006-10-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

Living in Vancouver, I figured I had better do a posting on the Canucks fortunes for the upcoming 2006-2007 year. Unfortunately for Canucks fans, I don't think they'll like this too much.

On the up side, I believe the Canucks made some solid moves in the off season. Bringing in a proven goalie like Roberto Luongo was a great move by the organization. Although default starter most of last season Alex Auld had his fans in town, I personally believe he did not have what it took to take this team where they hoped to go. At the same time, I also liked the dumping of constant distraction Todd Bertuzzi in the trade that brought Luongo here to Vancouver. Bertuzzi had one stellar year, but his production, attitude, and hustle never returned thereafter.

On the down side, the Canucks are at best a one line team - and that line is not that impressive. Although the Sedin twins have come on strong over the last few seasons, I don't see them as a number one line. A solid second line yes, but not a first. Markus Nasland still has All-Star potential, and I think he's honestly the only star on the team past Luongo. Unfortunately, one scorer does not a championship make. Compare these players to the other top players from teams in the West. Calgary has Iginla, Tanguay, Amonte, Phaneuf. Anaheim has Selanne and Pronger. The Red Wings have Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Zetterberg. The list goes on and on.

The Canucks also have a young and inexperienced defense on the blue line. This will cost them games and points, no question.

All in all, I believe the Canucks will have a decent year. Enough to win the cup? No. Enough to make the playoffs? Probably not - unless Luongo carries them there. If they do make it in, expect a 7th or 8th finish.

Sorry Canucks fans, more work needs to be done.

Welcome back NHL!

2006-10-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

I'm among the millions of Canadians that are thrilled that the NHL is back in action this week. Perhaps it's our upbringing, perhaps it's the years of street hockey, or perhaps it's the thrill of competition. Whatever it is, I'm sure glad it's back!

The NFL is heating up!

2006-09-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Week 2 in the NFL is set to begin tomorrow, and I have to say I've been excited by what I've seen so far. I've been an NFL football fan for as far as I can remember, and there's just something about the return to the field each year that makes me feel like a kid again. Not that I'm THAT old now - but you get the point.

I remembered at the start of every NFL season heading up to the local park with my good friend Jeremy to play a game called "punt/pass". The idea was to throw the ball as far as you could towards your opponent who would in turn throw it back. Then, you'd punt (kick) it back to your opponent who would in turn punt it back to you. Wherever the ball landed was where you had to play from. The idea was to drive your opponent back across the opposing goal line. Did I mention my friend had a good 5-inches on me in height, and a solid 40 pounds in weight? As you can imagine, I didn't win as much as I'd like, but it was a lot of fun anyway!

As for this newly formed NFL season, I have a few predictions I wanted to throw out. As always, I'm interested in your thoughts too!

Overrated teams...

The Kansas City Chiefs will be a big disappointment. The team was getting older on their powerful offense, and the recent loss of QB Trent Green will hurt more, but their biggest problems remain on defense. You can't win if you can't keep your opponents out of the end zone.
Okay, it's no secret I don't like the Dallas Cowboys. Not too many people do! I feel this team might be the most "overrated" in the league. I feel QB Drew Bledsoe is past his prime, they've inherited a headache signing diva WR Terrel Owens, and this is only to name a few plot holes in the Cowboys quest for another Superbowl. They won't be a bad team, but they certainly aren't going to put up the numbers some people are predicting.

Underrated teams...

I like the Jacksonville Jaguars a lot this year. Their offense, even without retiring all-star WR Jimmy Smith, looks to have improved. Combine that will stellar defense and you have a team on the rise.

I like the look of the NY Jets this year - at least to massively improve on their 4-12 season in 2005. I strongly feel the key for the Jets is the health of their Quarterback Chad Pennington. Pennington has been much maligned by fans in recent years given his injury troubles and his apparent "lack of arm strength". I look at him another way. He's a proven winner that rarely makes mistakes. If she stays healthy, we're looking at an 8-8 Jets team, maybe even better.

Teams that had potential, but didn't go far enough...

The Washington Redskins have a dynamite defense, a good running attack, and came within two games of the Superbowl last season. Their problem, they are hanging their hopes on a 36-year old quarterback whose best days are well behind him. It's a shame. Had they sprung for a decent QB, they could have made even more noise.

Teams I have a soft spot for...

The Seattle Seahawks. It's geography as much as anything else for me. That and growing up where the Seahawks were always on TV! I don't know if they'll make it back to the Superbowl this year, but they still should have a solid season. That's as much as I can say - I don't want to doom them with a prediction two weeks in to the year!

My early pick as the Superbowl winner...

The New England Patriots. Tom Brady will do it again - mostly on his back.

A hole in one you have to see to believe

2006-08-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

I've had a hole in one in my life, but it really doesn't compare it to this one...

Thanks to Woosang (and his almost hole in one) for drawing this to my attention.

Someone, please stop the Yankees

2006-08-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing you need to know about me and baseball it’s simply that I cannot stand the New York Yankees.

Firstly, they spend money like it’s going out of style. Baseball has a luxury tax that was instituted to penalize teams whose player payrolls exceeded a defined threshold (that was much too high to begin with, but that’s another story). For the 2006 season, the Yankees, with a payroll of about $200 million, will pay a tax calculated at 40% of their total player salaries that exceed $136.5 million. It won't even make the Yankees blink an eye.

Secondly, despite the fact they’ve lost more than they’ve won over the past decade, they still hold a constant aura of “we’re better than you”. I have no problem with confidence, in fact, I believe it helps. The Yankees go beyond that – well beyond it.

Lastly, I want to make it perfectly clear that I respect what the Yankees have done in the past. The tradition of the Yankee pinstripes from players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, is what legends are made of. I very well could have cheered for those Yankees of days past, when players wanted to play for the team, not for dollar signs.

I always have a soft spot for the Boston Red Sox as they usually give the Yankees a run for their money, but they’ve had the worst record in baseball since the All-Star break. I hope some team will arise to slay this giant before it’s all said and done. If not, it will be a long, long, off-season.

NFL Season is Fast Approaching!

2006-08-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

Those who know me well know I'm a big NFL football fan. In fact, I've run a friendly pool with friends for over a decade.

As football season fast approaches, my excitement has been hightened by the pre-season matches that have been appearing on television more and more frequently. This is surprising given that NFL pre-season matches consist of the "stars" playing half the first quarter, then the backups come in, then those on the bubble to make the team hit the field, and by the fourth quarter you'd swear they've got people out there that they picked up out from a local recreational team.

I'll have much more to say about the gridiron as the season approaches in September. Stay tuned football fans!

Tiger is Awsome - Better by the Dozen

2006-08-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

Regardless of my last post, I do have to admit Tiger Woods is just awesome. His five shot victory today at the PGA Championship at Medinah Golf Club just outside of Chicago just proved it again. It's his 12th major championship, and he's getting better by the dozen.

He came in to the final round tied for the lead, and a number of players were just a shot or two behind. Looking at the results, you never would have known.

He's fun to watch, deserving all his accolades and more. When Tiger's on his game, he's a man among boys. What that makes an amateur golfer like me I don't know. Perhaps I don't really want to know!

An age old discussion, new names...

2006-08-08T22:58:00.000-07:00

No matter what the sport, no matter what the record, sports fans have the inane ability to try and compare athletes across the ages. Was Wayne Gretzky a better hockey player than Gordie Howe? Was Joe Montana a better quarterback than Terry Bradshaw? Was Pete Rose a purer hitter than Ty Cobb?

Today, the age old question has been arising again in the golf world. Is Tiger Woods better than Jack Nicklaus? Personally, I don’t think either this, or the previous questions, are truly a fair comparrison. Each player’s career spanned a different era.

Looking at Nickalus and Woods – decades separate their respective periods of dominence. Golf clubs, golf courses, training, even golf balls have all evolved. A direct comparrison simply cannot be made.

What can be done some argue, is to look at how the player compared to their peers. In other words, who was more dominent in their era?

With Tiger’s recent win at the Buick Open, he’s won his 50th PGA tournament. These days, PGA tour professionals are lucky enough to win half that many titles in their lifetime. Tiger is only 30 years of age.

When it comes to the big tournamnets, the “Major Championships”, Woods has won 11 thus far. In his career, Nicklaus won 18.

Will Woods eclipse that mark? If I were a betting man I’d say “yes”. Let’s not forget though, Nickalus finished 2nd in Majors a whopping 19 times.

The point I’m trying to make is that a TRUE comparrison can never truly be made. Both players will have impressive statistics at the end of the day. Both will show unparalled skill and remarkable poise to get there and both will be remembered as the domninent players of their day.

So instead of trying to compare them across the ages, let’s just look at what they have done yesterday, and are doing today. Their talent, and the history of the sport, demands no less.

A Tribute to Dads’ Everywhere

2006-07-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods captured has second straight British Open Championship in commanding fashion. In the final round, he made the impossible look possible on a course where many other professionals from around the world were looking like armatures. But that wasn’t the story of the day…

Tiger Woods lost his father a few months ago. A man who had brought him in to this world, introduced him to his passion of golf, and taught him a love for life. Tiger, like many young children, was close to his father. As the years wore on, some would believe their bond would weaken – but it strengthened. Through it all, there was “Dad”.

His father took great pride in the skills of his son. Traveling with him whenever possible to offer moral support on the bad days and being a larger than life spirit to embrace in victory. “Dad” was always there. In fact, the father became a trademark of the son. When Tiger won a tournament, more often than not his father would be there at the 18th green watching on. When Tiger won, he’d go over to his Dad and give him a big old bear hug. On Sunday, his father wasn’t there.

As Tiger stood on the 18th green of Royal Liverpool, I told my wife Beverly that he’d break down remembering his father once he sunk his winning putt. For all the media hype and marketing bluster, Tiger Woods was only human. True to form, he broke down in tears while hugging his caddy after his victory.

After accepting the Claret Jug, Woods spoke eloquently about his father. He missed “Dad” and wished he could have been there to watch him win once more.

This is a picture of me and my father. My Dad has taught me a lot about life. He taught me the spirit of giving by tirelessly coaching my sports teams, he taught me patience by teaching me to golf (and I’m not that bad at it now…), and he’s taught me about love and dedication through his devotion to our family. He’s truly helped me through the happy times and the tough times. In some small way, I’d like to believe I helped him through much of the same.

So Tiger, thanks for the reminder of how lucky I am. Your win was truly a tribute to all Dads. This is, in part, a tribute to mine.

The British Open

2006-07-21T00:06:00.000-07:00

Thursday saw round one of the British Open kick off at Royal Liverpool in Great Britain. The "Open Championship", as it is known in Europe, is full of history and folklore.

The British Open that stands out in my mind isn't one of conquest, or even brilliant shot making for that matter. The tournament that I remember vividly is the 1999 British Open when a Frenchman by the name of Jean Van de Velde stood in the final round on the 18th tee with a three stroke advantage.

Needing to make only a 6 on the par-4 18th hole at Carnoustie Golf Links, Van de Velde fell apart completely. Knocking one shot off the bleachers, dumping another into the water, placing yet one more into a bunker before finally making a triple-bogey 7. At one point after plunking it in the water, Van de Velde actually thought about hitting out of Barry Burn stream. To show you how "in the bag" this was for Van de Velde, Tournament organizers were already engraving his name on the Claret Jug (the Stanley Cup of European Golf) when he approached the 18th tee.

I remember watching, with my jaw dropped, as it went from bad to worse for poor Van de Velde. Soon thereafter, he lost the Championship in a playoff. It just goes to show, in golf anything can happen.

So given my World Cup prediction prowess (ha!), I thought I'd take a stab at the winner of the British Open. I'm picking Ernie Els, if only because he usually plays well in the Open, and he's due!

SPLASH!

2006-07-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

I'm reminded of this almost every time I watch a soccer game. The diving on the pitch really needs to stop for the credibility of the game to truly remain strong.

Are penalty kicks the way to end it?

2006-07-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

As a typical North American "once every four years" soccer fan, I found myself drawn in to the action of the recent World Cup in Germany. It certainly was an exciting tournament, marked by fierce play and stellar athleticism. So after a month of action, 147 goals, and unparalleled moments of drama, why does it have to come down to ten spot kicks?

Think about it. You play through the Round Robin, the Round of 16, the Quarters, the Semis, play 120 minutes in the Final and you stop to decide the winner by something completely unrepresentative of the rest of the tournament. Heck, why make the players take penalty kicks at all? Why not decide it over a nice game of checkers or Parcheesi instead?

There are those that say with out penalty kicks the game would go on forever, with neither team scoring. I disagree. If you leave players out on the field long enough, one of them will either make a mistake, or a dramatic play, that will lead to a winner being chosen.

Having such a well played tournament decided by penalty kicks is a travesty, and I have to believe the majority of fans would agree.

Oh yes, and congratulations to all the Italians out there. You were the best team in the tournament and were full value for your victory.

World Cup Final Prediction

2006-07-07T01:13:00.000-07:00

I went 1 for 2 in the World Cup semi-finals, so now I have credibility. Okay, maybe that's a stretch, but I'm making my pick for the finals anyway.

As much as I am not a fan of the Italian squad, I have to admit they have looked more than solid in their recent games. Their defense first play has worked like a charm, and timely goals have led to well earned victories.

France is a team of elders, filled with experience and a number of 30-somethings. They have shown that they can use their heads to win games, although their bodies might not be able to provide a flashy run-and-gun offense of years ago.

My prediction:

Italy will be too much to handle for the French - they'll win it 2-0.

Trying again to predict the World Cup

2006-07-03T22:51:00.000-07:00

As all my readers know, I had an abysmal record predicting the World Cup quarter-finals. 0 for 4 to be exact. It's time I either avenge or embarrass myself once more. My hope is for the former.

Germany vs. Italy: The home nation Germans have looked like a team of destiny though out the tournament. They've had dramatic goals, a bit of luck, and a lot of support from the fans in the stands. Italy has played their typical brand of soccer, living by the creed of defense first - and it's working. Italy is looking better and better. This time though, I believe Germany will edge them out. Speed will defeat stellar defense.

Prediction: Germany (Score: 2-1)

Portugal vs. France: Portugal is coming off a win over England, edging them out in penalty kicks. France are themselves coming off of a high, beating a favoured Brazilian team as they had done eight years ago. This will be a back and forth game, but in the end, experience will edge out a Portuguese team that always falls short.

Prediction: France (Score: 1-0)

0-4 - A blind monkey could do better...

2006-07-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was 0-4 in my picks for the World Cup quarter-finals. And admittedly, a blind monkey randomly picking would have invariably done better. And yes, I have watched a lot of the games so far and should have known better. Wait...what's my point??

I will endeavor to do better in the my predictions for the semi-finals. I couldn't do any worse!

The Quarter-finals...

2006-06-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

After some exciting action in the Round of 16, the FIFA World Cup of Soccer is reaching the Quarter-finals this weekend. Here are my predictions...

Germany vs. Argentina: The Germans looked very strong in their last match against Sweden, while Argentina was lucky to escape from Mexico. The Germans have the home field, the home crowd, and a lot of momentum. In typical World Cup style, Argentina will edge them out with a late goal.

Pick: Argentina (Score: 2-1)

Italy vs. Ukraine: Italy is a perpetual soccer power house, while the Ukraine are the new kids on the block. I am no fan of Italian soccer with it's "defense first" style, but an early goal in their favour means they can lock the door quickly. Unfortunately for the Italians, I feel the Ukraine will get the early goal, one from which the Italians won't be able to recover.

Pick: Ukraine (Score: 1-0)

England vs. Portugal: I have said time and time again that the English are overrated. I still strongly feel that way. In saying that, the heated game the Portuguese had against the Dutch has left their team emotional and with some suspended scorers. The English will bow out, but not this match.

Pick: England (Score: 1-0)

Brazil vs. France: A much anticipated rematch of the World Cup finals in 1998. The French took the title that year, and they are coming off a dramatic win against Spain. The Brazilians are, as always, the class of the field. They have deep talent, unparalleled ball control, and are the five time world champions. Unfortunately for French fans, this is not the round for Brazil to be eliminated.

Pick: Brazil (Score: 3-1)

And then there were 16

2006-06-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

The round robin of the World Cup of soccer is now over, and the excitement of the round of 16 is just beginning.

The surprises:

The failure of the Czech Republic to qualify for the knockout portion of the tournament given the upstart performance by Ghana. The Czechs looked old at times, perhaps this World Cup was simply a few years too late for them to make the run they had expected.
The early exit by the Korea Republic is also a bit of a shocker given their performance at World Cup 2002. I can imagine that it must be driving my friend Woosang nuts, as well as the newly soccer crazed nation in South Asia.
The qualification of the Australian team to the next round of the World Cup is also a big surprise. Many expected this team to be an "also ran", myself included, but the Aussies proved them wrong. This gives a nation like Canada some hope!

The cream of the crop:

After a slow start, the Brazilian team is rounding in to fine form. They're now scoring and making some crisp plays. A weak draw might allow the Brazilian team to make it all the way to the semi-finals without too much trouble.
The home nation German team is looking very formidable. They've potted a lot of goals and are looking solid overall.
Spain and Argentina are also looking solid, tied with Germany for the most goals scored in the tournament thus far.

Most overrated team:

England. Although they have a tremendous fan following, the English team not only has trouble scoring, but also looks shaky on the defensive end. I have to believe when the English play a solid team they will be on their way out the door.

My pick to win it all, Argentina, has already won their game to advance to the quarterfinals. Who else will be joining them will be learned as the week goes on.

Let the action begin!

It's Hurricane season for a reason

2006-06-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Intensity. That's the one word to sum up tonight's Stanley Cup Game 7 in Carolina. Nobody can argue that both teams didn't leave it all on the ice, the Carolina Hurricanes just had the most left in the tank.

The game was full dollar for it's billing, living up to expectations with back and forth action. Alas for Canadian fans like myself, the outcome was not what we had hoped. As a fan of the other Alberta NHL team that fell a goal short last season, I can understand the heartbreak.

Although I feel for the Oilers, I have to smile at seeing long time star Rod Brind'Amour hoist the Stanley Cup. Good for him and congratulations to the Hurricanes.

Lefty doesn't learn...

2006-06-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

With a one shot lead heading down the 18th hole in the final round of the US Open, Phil Michelson choked. Not only did he choke, he forced it upon himself.

On the narrow 18th hole, Phil could have pulled out a 4-wood or a 2-iron, and played it safe in the tight US Open fairways, but he pulled out the driver. As you guessed he didn't put it in the fairway or else this post would not have been written. Instead he put it off a tent and left it in deep trouble in the left hand rough. From there, the mistakes compounded. He hit a tree, played another shot in the bunker, hit it through the green, and missed a prayer of a chip to force a playoff.

Phil has a history of going for it all, and making a bad decision from time to time, but to do so on the 72nd hole of the US Open is insane. Poor Lefty, he just doesn't learn.

Hat tip to Walter for telling us all to watch for the eventual winner, Geoff Ogilvy.

Lefty needs one more round

2006-06-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

Phil Mickelson is only one round away from claiming his thrid straight PGA Tour major at this weekend's U.S. Open. Sunday's final round should prove interesting!

Click here to view the updated scoreboard...

My FIFA World Cup 2006 prediction

2006-06-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

Now that all groups have played at least one game, I feel comfortable making a stab at a prediction for the ongoing World Cup.

First, the contenders...

Germany: I would be remiss if I didn't mention the home Germans first and foremost. Home teams have a history of doing well in the World Cup, and this shouldn't be any exception. The Germans have looked solid through two games, although not spectacular.

Argentina: A team stacked with talent with a history of falling just short in recent years. This could be the year that all changes.

Brazil: A perennial favorite, this Brazilian team has skill, speed, youth and experience. The only thing that can defeat Brazil are themselves and the elements. Only once has a non-European team won the World Cup in Europe.

England: Always highly rated, but often a disappointment. Unfortunately, given the pressure this team is under, I don't see that changing this time around.

France: Always highly rated, many are downplaying the French chances this time around because they have an admittedly older team. Experience is a good thing, but a younger faster team should be enough to pick them off.

Italy: Another solid squad, but one accused of often playing too defensive. That might bode well against some of the teams out there, but a skilled squad like Brazil might be too much to handle if they get an early goal.

Korea: A stellar performance four years ago on home soil will not be repeated this time around. I believe the Koreans will advance to the quarterfinals, but unfortunately no farther.

Netherlands: An injury plagued squad represents the best soccer nation never to win the World Cup. Despite the injury bug they have won their first two games, but the Dutch wounds might be too much to overcome.

Spain: Never a winner of the World Cup, but out of the gates like wild fire for their first game in 2006. Inexperience in the "big game" might be their downfall.

My prediction...

ARGENTINA

I believe it's the Argentines time to shine to eclipse their Brazilian counterparts - at least this time around. Although it's hard to win in Europe, this team is too talented to miss out.

A complete turn around, but is it enough?

2006-06-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I all but wrote off the Edmonton Oilers in their Stanley Cup final against the Carolina Hurricanes. I am not alone in my skepticism, especially after the Oilers lost playoff star goalie Dwayne Roloson. But with a little luck, and a lot of heart, Edmonton has rebounded back to force a deciding seventh game with a 4-0 thrashing over the Hurricanes this evening.

The only team to comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win the Cup were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who came back from 3-0 down to beat the Detroit Red Wings. Unfortunately for the Oilers, I don't see it happening this time.

The Oilers have the momentum, but the game will be played in Carolina where the Hurricanes were 31-8-2 this season. Although I will be cheering for them, I have a sinking feeling the luck will run out inOil Town. We'll know one way or the other Monday night.

And now it's getting ugly

2006-06-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

5-0 Hurricanes. Enough said. The Oilers have to shape up or ship out.

Slipping on the oil slick

2006-06-06T00:10:00.000-07:00

Although I was unable to watch game 1 of tonight's Oilers / Hurricanes game, I have to say the highlights make me happy I missed it.

The Oilers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, followed up by the first successful penalty shot in Stanley Cup finals history with Chris Pronger potting one to go up 2-0. After another quick goal to make the score 3-0, the Oilers fell apart. It went to 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, and then 4-3 with the Hurricanes scoring shorthanded of all things.

Although the Oilers battled back to a 4-4 tie, their star goalie, Dwayne Roloson, went out with a knee injury. This was extremely unfortunate for the Oilers, but even more so for back-up goalie Ty Conklin. Jumping in to his first game since April 17th, with the hockey world watching late in the 3rd period of the Stanley Cup final, poor Ty muffed a pass allowing Rod Brind'Amour to score the winning goal for the Canes. I feel horrible for Conklin, especially as he'll have to head back between the pipes in game #2 given Roloson's wonky knee.

Rookie Hurricane goalie Cam Ward was stellar on the other hand, making 18 saves in the 3rd period, including a miraculous save with seconds remaining.

So the Oilers slipped on their own slick, and in a game of momentum like playoff hockey, I don't know if they can recover.

Prediction: Hurricanes in five games.

For a month every four years, everyone's an expert

2006-05-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

Like most of planet Earth, I'm becoming quite eager for the opening of the FIFA World Cup of Soccer to begin on June 9th. In a little over a week, the world's greatest sporting spectacle will kickoff highlighting sport, passion and patriotism. You'd think from my comments that I'm a hard core soccer fan, but surprisingly, I'm truly not.

Like millions of Canadians, and I can only assume people across the globe, once, every four years, I become a soccer "expert". I get swept up in the World Cup tournament, admittedly, watching a number of players I had never heard of before the opening round robin games.

I'm certain I'll find myself racing in front of a television to watch teams such as Angola and Tunisia face off against one another. Do I know any players on either team? No. Do I have any heritage or history with either country? No. I just can't miss a minute of the action for some strange reason.

So as we embark on this month long tournament, I have some words of wisdom for those who DO follow soccer year round. Please, tolerate our comments about how exciting it will be to see Beckham face off against Ronaldo, or how we hope that "the volley from the corner finds it's way past the keeper". You only need to put up with us for a month - then you'll have four years all to yourself.

The drive to the Cup

2006-05-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

It was great to see the Oilers knock off those pesky Mighty Ducks to advance to the Stanley Cup. I'm cheering for those Oilers because the facts speak for themselves. No Canadian team has won the Cup since the Montreal Canadians more than a decade ago. That's far too long of a drout for a hockey crazy country like this one. So in the emortal words of of fans across the nation, "LET'S GO OILERS!".

715*

2006-05-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

As a long time baseball fan, I recoil in horror that Barry Bonds has tied the great Babe Ruth for career homeruns at 714. Bonds is now only 41 dingers behind all-time leader Hank "The Hammer" Aaron.

Baseball is a timeless game that has withstood the change that has been thrust on to other sports. There is no overtime shootout, there is no shot clock, it's just 9-innings and 54 outs. As such, long standing records have stood the test of time. Barry Bonds has seemingly found a way around it.

The allegations of steroid use for Bonds has been prevalent for years now. The slugger has never truly commented on them, but rather kept on playing. I am one who firmly believes in innocence until guilt is proven. In saying that, the evidence is now a mile high, and Bonds has no answers.

Through the alleged actions of people like Bonds, there has been a stain set upon not only the records he sets, but also the game itself.

As Bonds sets forth each night to hit his 715th homerun to become #2 on the all-time list, I hope there will forever be an asterisk next to his achievement if he did indeed use performance enhancing drugs. To do otherwise would be to admit it's okay to cheat and still be in the record books.

There's still magic left in Oil Town

2006-05-17T23:42:00.000-07:00

There is still magic left in Oil Town. Yes, those pesky Edmonton Oilers have advanced to the final four in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by edging out the San Jose Sharks 2-0.

After the Sharks looked solid by winning games one and two, the Oilers stepped up their play and San Jose couldn't catch up. The Oilers won the last four games in the series.

This is not the skilled team of Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Coffey, and Fuhr. This is a team that is surviving on hard work and leaving everything they have on the ice. They simply wanted it more than San Jose, and it showed.

Now the Oilers move on to take on those Anaheim "Mighty" Ducks. Anaheim has looked good so far in the playoffs, but with Oiler goalie and trade deadline pickup Dwayne Roloson on fire, and those aforementioned grinders working every single shift, they will be in for a battle.

Besides, it would be wonderful to see the Oilers get some revenge and knock out those Ducks who ousted my Flames in the first round. It doesn't sound like something a "Flames Fan" would say, but hey, these are the playoffs and the Oilers are the last Canadian team around.

And now it's officially over...

2006-05-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

The Ottawa Senators were officially eliminated from the NHL playoffs tonight, losing 3-2 in Game 5 to the Buffalo Sabres in overtime. In typical Senator playoff style, Buffalo added insult to injury by scoring the winning goal shorthanded.

You always hope for more, but in your heart of hearts, I believe we all knew it would end up this way.

What's wrong with Ottawa? The hockey team that is...

2006-05-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

What is it about the Ottawa Senators that just falls apart during the playoffs?

Ottawa dominated the regular season in the Eastern Conference, almost looking unbeatable at times, and now their down 3-0 in a best of seven game series with the Buffalo Sabres. Looking back at the last few years, Ottawa has shown promise, but left their fans only with disappoint.

2004 -- lost to Toronto, 4-3, Eastern Conf. quarterfinals
2003 -- lost to New Jersey, 4-3, Eastern Conf. finals
2002 -- lost to Toronto, 4-3, Eastern Conf. semifinals

And now the streak looks like it's going to continue.

Why is it that Ottawa sets themselves up for early playoff exits? Could it be that "superstar" Daniel Alfredsson goes missing once the regular season is over? Could it be that their team is too small in size to handle the bruising of the playoffs? Could it be weak goaltending? Or is it something I just can't put my finger on.

Personally, I don't know. Maybe it's all the above.

Oh Canada!

2006-05-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

Way to go Steve Nash on your second straight NBA MVP award!

"There's always next year"

2006-05-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

If there is one phrase I've never particularly cared for it's "there's always next year". Unfortunately, that's what I've been relegated to saying with my beloved Calgary Flames being knocked out tonight by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

I have to give the Ducks full dollar for what they've done. They played hard and got the goaltending needed to pull it off.

The Flames, looking to next year, will have to try and acquire some more scoring depth. They've got a great team, but admittedly had great difficulty finding more than one person to fill the opposition net. That needs to be addressed in the off season.

Go Edmonton. Go Ottawa. Either way, I hope a Canadian team can hoist the cup in a few weeks time.

For now though, "there's always next year".

It's no fun unless it's game 7...

2006-05-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

My prediction of the Calgary Flames winning their playoff series in six games is now out the window with the "Mighty" Ducks 2-1 win tonight.

After so many years of the Flames not making the playoffs, a little game seven drama should prove quite exciting. Don't get me wrong. I was still swearing at my TV when the Flames went down by a goal with 5-minutes left in the game, but hey, I'm an optimist.

Wednesday night, let's hope the Flames can pull it off. A classic "Battle of Alberta" is just what the doctor ordered.

That's more like it!

2006-04-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

My Flames won Game 5 tonight against the Mighty Ducks 3-2. The match wasn't as close as the score indicated with the Flames jumping out to a 3-0 lead, and then the Ducks getting two late in the third period.

My prediction of the Flames winning the series in 6 games still looks accurate - we'll know for sure on Monday night!

Taking the good with the bad

2006-04-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

My Calgary Flames started Game 4 putting the boots to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, but couldn't put a puck in the net. That cost them - big time. As the second period got underway, the Ducks potted two quick goals and the Flames were in the hole. The Flames often times have difficulty coming back from a one goal deficit, let alone two.

All-star winger Jerome Iginla scored two goals in the thrid to knot the game at two, but a late penalty in the thrid period sealed the deal for a quick Ducks goal in the first minute and a half of OT.

So a valuant effort to fight back to draw it even, but my Flames can't get down two goals and expect to win. It's a best of three now, all we need is two.

Domination

2006-04-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

Tonight my Calgary Flames completely dominated the "Mighty" Ducks of Anaheim 5-2, taking a 2-1 lead in the best of 7 series.

The first two games Calgary looked, admittedly, a bit sluggish compared to the speed of the Ducks. Calgary goalie, Mikka Kiprusoff, looked like something for which he's certainly not known, being human. There were some rookie mistakes, bad line changes, and even some bad luck. What a difference a few days make.

In Game 3, Calgary flew out of the gate and threw down the gauntlet. They beat the Ducks to loose pucks, made some powerful hits, and basically out hustled a team that looked dead tired.
With the win, the Flames regain home ice advantage in the series, something that will benefit a team that was 30-7-4 at home this season.

This marked only the second win for the Flames in the Duck's home arena, and what a way to do it too. Complete domination.

Les Canadiens - C'est Magnifique!

2006-04-24T23:29:00.000-07:00

As a B.C. boy, born and raised, I cannot explain why I have developed a soft spot for the Montreal Canadiens.

When the old Quebec Nordiques were around, I cheered for them with vigour. They were always the underdog against the all too powerful Canadiens.

After the Nordiques left for Colorado, my eyes turned to that other Quebec team and my respect for them grew by leaps and bounds. No longer was Montreal the dominant team they had been known for in years past, they were a team that had to hustle and struggle for every point they got - and I respect that.

Once again, the Canadiens have beat the odds by going up 2-0 in the best of 7 series against the heavily favoured Carolina Hurricanes. I hope the have saved some magic left to pull it off.

The Ducks are going to be roasted

2006-04-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

The playoffs begin on Friday, and my Calgary Flames are taking on the streaking Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

I'm sorry, but it's hard for me to take a team seriously that's named after an Emilio Estevez coached fictional team of kids. This is of course the NHL so despite the crest on their jerseys this is a real team, and a possible threat.

Calgary has had some trouble with the Ducks recently, winning only 1 of their last 13 games at the Pond in Anaheim. Still, with Hart Trophy contender Miikka Kiprusoff coming off two straight shutouts, and Iginla's clutch playoff presence, I don't see how they could go wrong.

My prediction: Flames in 6.

Flames fans unite - we won the division!

2006-04-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

For the first time since the 1994-95 season, my Calgary Flames won their division tonight by beating the Colorado Avalanche 2-0. Calgary goalie, Miikka Kiprusoff, who I believe should be the NHL MVP, made 23 saves to record his league high 10th shutout of the season.

Bring on the playoffs!

Lefty comes through

2006-04-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

I've always had a soft spot in my golfer's heart for Phil Michelson. I couldn't help but smile today when he got his second green jacket by winning The Masters. For all the hackers out there in the golf world, at least his moment in the sun gives us something to live vicariously through!

Helpless Flames fans can dream in 2006

2006-04-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

In case anyone is wondering, the Calgary Flames clinched a playoff spot last night. Woo-hoo, playoff favour! Now lets see if they can win their division...

Nothing beats the Masters

2006-04-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

It's only one sleep away. Yes, I speak of the epic that is The Masters, my favorite PGA tournament of the year.

The Masters is more than a mere "tournament", it's history with every shot. I remember when a young guy named "Tiger Woods" cleaned up on the field to run away to victory, and I remember when Greg "The Shark" Norman clutched defeat from the jaws of victory when a 46-year old Jack Nicholas beat all odds to claim the coveted Green Jacket.

As we move in to the week ahead, I think it will be more than interesting to see what unfolds, and what history is written. Whether it's a story of triumph, or a story of sorrow, I look forward to seeing what unfolds.

In the end, The Masters and golf is much like life. It has its ups and downs, highlights and lowlights, but in the end, you still look forward to your next shot.

Ah, those Flames...

2006-03-30T01:14:00.000-08:00

Born and raised in British Columbia, I have always been amazed that I've been a hard core Calgary Flames fan since I could pick up a hockey stick. After the amazing feeling I had when they won the cup in 1989, it was a dark decade in the 1990s as the Flames lost in the first round of the playoffs every year thereafter. Then, it got worse. They weren't even making the playoffs.

Through it all, I stuck with my team. I think it says a lot about a person when they stand up for what they believe in, through good times and bad. I wasn't going to leave my Flames. After a LONG decade and a half, they finally made the playoffs again and even got out of the first round. Little did I know they'd make it all the way to the Stanley Cup only to fall a goal short of winning it all.

This year, the Flames are not only in a playoff spot, they're in a battle to win their division. Tonight, the Calgary Flames beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 to move back into a tie for first place in the NHL's Northwest Division. It brings a smile to my face.

Whether they win the division or not, this has been a fun ride - especially for a hopeless Calgary Flames fan like me.

Welcome to the Chadder-Box

2006-03-13T22:02:00.000-08:00

The more and more I look in to the blogosphere, the more and more I think this is a wonderful advent in participatory democracy. Count me in. Welcome to the Chadder-Box!