Are you Ready for some REDBLACKS Football

Are you Ready for some REDBLACKS Football?

 

There will be excitement in Ottawathis coming Friday night. For the first time in several years, there will be professional football in our capitol city. The OttawaREDBLACKS will take the field at 7:00pm, Eastern Standard Time, to play the Toronto Argonauts. It is actually the team’s fifth game of the season, the third in the regular season.

 

 

There is a long and storied history of football in Ottawa. The first professional team suited up in 1876. Until the collapse in 1996, the franchise won an impressive nine Grey Cups. Many great football players passed through the doors of Landsdowne Park. The team will play in the same location, but you would not recognize the area if you haven’t cast a glance there in the last ten years.

 

 

The owner of the Ottawa 67’s, Jeff Hunt, has really been the mastermind of the rebirth of the REDBLACKS. He has combined all sorts of his personal interests into one jumbo package, similar to the Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment world. He is a local boy, and he knows the markets, for all of his ventures. Hopefully, the Ottawa folk will avoid the horrible mistakes suffered under the leadership of the Gliebermans and a man named Chen.

 

 

The REDBLACKS will play a 18 game schedule, finishing against Toronto on November 7^th. That is a rivalry that goes back many decades. The other main rival of the REDBLACKS is the MontrealAlouettes. Follow the route of the Voyageurs down the Ottawa River, and you will end up near McGill Stadium, where the Alouettes will test your mettle.

 

 

Many former Rough Rider players came from Ottawa, and stayed there following their football careers. Such is not the case today. There are rules limiting the number of American imports one can dress for each game. Once the season ends, they head south to the warmer climes. They are not stupid.

 

 

Moe Racine played more games (201) for the Rough Riders than anyone else. Second on the list is Gerry Organ, followed by Bob Simpson, Ron Stewart, and Russ Jackson. For those of us who grew up on CFL football in Canada, that should stir some memories. Organ scored more points than any other Rider (1462). In 1959, Dave Thelan scored 24 points in one game, as did Ron Stewart against the Alouettes.

 

 

 

Names appearing on the list of most touchdowns for the team include Tony Gabriel, Jackson, Stewart, Simpson, and Whit Tucker. Jacksonpassed the ball for more than 24 000 yards during his career. Damon Allen recorded 4 275 yards, but added a considerable number to the total when he was with the Argos.

 

 

On the other side of the ball, Rider fans will not forget Joe Poirier and Jerry “Soupy” Campbell. They led the team in career interceptions. Many other great characters also wore the Rider uniform, including Tom “The Emperor” Jones.

 

 

Belleville’s Terry Wellesley played his high school football at Quinte Secondary School. Following that stint, he had an impressive career in Ottawa. Another Bellevillian, Gary Schreider spent his college days at Queen’s, then worked the backfield with Stewart. George Brancato stayed in the country, coaching aqnd managing for many years.

 

 

Ah, the “Glory Days”. The REDBLACKS have dropped their first two games, sputtering in the second half. They are tied with Hamiltonfor third place, also called the basement. There will be growing pains, but a playoff spot is not out of reach.

 

 

TSN brings it to you Friday night. The game is sold out; howver, there are plenty of tickets for upcoming games. Be there.

 

James Hurst

July 15, 2014   

 

 

 

World Cup of Soccer 2014

 

 

On Sunday, the World Cup of Soccer final game will take place in Brazil, at 3:00pm. The “Third Place Game”, as it is called, takes place on Saturday, at 4:00pm. At the time of writing, four countries remain in the hunt for supremacy in the soccer world: Brazil, the Netherlands, Argentina, and Germany. They have survived from a group of all of the countries in the world that tried to play in the tournament in Brazil. Canadadid not make the cut. The Americans got there, but were knocked out before the list was whittled down to the final four.

 

 

In this neck of the woods, most supporters are in the Dutch camp. I have heard the whispers, “If you’re not Dutch, you’re not much”. Heading into the Semi-final game on Wednesday, the Dutch know they will have their hands full against the Argentineans. Historically, South American teams have owned the Cup when it is played on their continent. The same applies when they play for the marbles in Europe. And, just in case you may not have been paying attention over the years, no North American country has ever worn gold medals.

 

 

For your information, soccer games are 90 minutes long, two 45 minute halves. If teams are tied after the 90 minutes, they play a 30 minute overtime period. After that period, the winner is determined in shootout; however, the soccer people refer to that situation as “penalties”, not penalty kicks, mind you, just penalties.

 

 

Without boring you with a complete rant about soccer, I will touch on a few concepts that drive North Americans crazy, particularly the hockey folk.

 

1. Fakers

I know some European descendents who cover their faces in shame when they see the antics of professional soccer players. It is as if snipers in the crowd have targeted certain players. With little or no contact, they hit the turf, and appear to be in mortal danger. If the referee pulls out a yellow card, some of the pain subsides immediately. If a red card comes out, almost instant recovery. Some of this behaviour has carried over into hockey, shamefully. Those who act in this way will find comeuppance, sooner or later.

 

2. Officiating

The field is too large, the game is too fast, to have one referee to handle all of the work. I recommend three referees for the game. A lot of the nasty behind-the-play activity has been eliminated in hockey with the two referee system. More “diving” has been called, with that extra pair of eyes on the ice. As well, they have to come up with a better system to call offside. It is far too nebulous. They need a “blueline”, of sorts.

 

   3. The Language

As long as they are playing the game on our turf, it shall be called soccer. Football is entirely different. People who play football wear helmets. The game will be played on a field, not on a pitch. If you can’t put the ball on the net, you will get a zero, not a “nil”. That is just the start. I said I would not rant.

 

 

4. Substitutions

There is whole pile of nonsense that goes on when a team wants to change players. Signs are raised, plenty of hugging, high fiving, all that stuff. I recommend that they change “on the fly”, that is, pull someone off and put someone else on whenever necessary, without a stoppage in play. It would add an ounce or two of excitement to the game.

 

 

I am going to consult my “Party BrazilPhrasebook” now for further suggestions.

 

It is, after all, “The Beautiful Game”. In desperate need of improvement.

 

Belleville Minor Football League-2014 Award Winners

Belleville Minor Football League-2014

 

Award Winners

 

Most Valuable Player-Matt Sherwin

                                      Trent HillsTitans

 

 

 

Rookie of the Year-Vanessa MacDonald

       Scott’s Haulage/Diamond Electric Falcons

 

 

Offensive Player of the Year-Tanner Feurherdt

       McConnell Funeral Home

       Centre Hastings Centurions

 

Defensive Player of the Year-Ben Trumpour

                  SWE Autoglass Chargers

 

 

Offensive Lineman of the Year-Mackenzie Baker

                        Quinte Pediatric Saints

               

 

Defensive Lineman of the Year-Aiden Brownlee

           Hotch’s Auto Parts Razorbacks

 

 

Commissioner’s Award-Connor Hodge

           Trenton Kiwanis Tiger Cubs

 

 

Coaches’ Award-Logan Vanslyke

        Bancroft Esso on the Run T Hawks                                       

Halls of Fame 2014

 

Two halls of fame are in the news this week. On Monday, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced its inductee list for 2014. Four players, one coach and one on-ice official made the grade this year: Rob Blake, Peter Forsberg, Dominik Hasek, and Mike Modano are the players. An interesting sort, as they all hail from different countries. Pat Burns was a police officer for 17 years, then hung up his shield and began coaching. He won the Cup with New Jersey in 2003. Bill McCreary was on the ice for 1982 games in the NHL, and worked international hockey as well. All well deserved.

 

 

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is now firmly situated in the town of St. Marys, Ontario, west of Toronto, east of Windsor. In his remarks in the program for the induction ceremony, Mayor Steve Grose has a word of thanks to all of the folks who have contributed to the success of the event. He writes that they “have ensured St.Marys a spot on the international map and have significantly added to the success of our town”. Cooperstown, New York, is a sleepy community most of the year. But in the summer, especially during induction week, it comes alive with the spirit of baseball fans from around the world.

 

 

Last weekend, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inducted four members, one player and three others who have significantly contributed to the game: Tim Wallach, Dave Van Horne, MurrayCook, and Jim Ridley.

 

 

At the height of his playing career, Wallch stood at 6’ 3”, and weighed 220 pounds. He was drafted tenth overall by the Expos, and began his career in Montreal, playing five games in 1980.  He played 71 games in 1981, and became a full time player the following year. In 1982, he smacked 28 home runs, and drove in 97 runs. From that point on, the brass in the Expos organization knew that they had a keeper.

 

 

“Eli”, as he was dubbed by his teammates, went on to become the best third baseman in the history of the Expos. He played there for 13 seasons, from 1980 to 1992. He was selected to play in five All Star games, and won three Gold Glove awards. He won two Silver Slugger Awards in 1985 and 1987. He spent the final four years of his career with the Dodgers and the Angels.

 

 

He continues to work in the game, and is now the Dodger bench coach, alongside Dodger Manager Don Mattingly. He is a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame, and the California State Fullerton Athletics Hall of Fame.

 

 

Wallach also leads the Expos in many statistical categories: games played (1 767), hits (1 694), doubles (360), and total bases (2 728).

 

 

Dave Van Horne was the voice of the Expos for 32 seasons. His sidekick was Duke Snider for several years, and in my humble opinion, they supplied the best baseball chatter ever. Duke was so knowledgeable, and Van Horne knew the buttons to push to keep the dialogue flowing. 1n 2001, he was awarded the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award, the Cooperstown nod for broadcasting excellence. He joins a host of other Expo family members in the Canadian Hall: Charles Bronfman, John McHale, Jim Fanning, Rusty Staub, Claude Raymond, Ron Piche, Steve Rogers, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Larry Walker, and Rheal Cormier.

 

 

Good friend Pam Murray attended the festivities. One of her observations was that there was a lot of chatter about “bringing back the Expos”. With all of the names I have thrown around here, you can understand that notion; however, money talks, and it just ain’t sayin’ Montrealis ready for Major League baseball again. Not just yet.

 

 

Maybe some day.

 

James Hurst

Out of the Blocks....

 

Sprinters know that you must get out of the starting blocks quickly in order to win races. By no means is the baseball season a sprint, with each team playing more than 160 games. But it never hurts to get off to a good start, and that is exactly what the TorontoBlue Jays have done this year.

 

They began a brief visit to Detroit for three games last night, then return home to play the St. LouisCardinals this coming weekend. There is a trip running to the ball park from Wellington for the game on Sunday. Call Bob Lavender at 613-399-1486 for tickets.

 

A special tip of the ball cap to Edwin Encarnacion. He has simply played the best baseball of his life, so far this year. He registered 16 home runs in May. In 1956, Mickey Mantle also homered 16 times in May. In May, 2001, Barry Bonds hit 17 homers. In 1998, Mark McGwire had 16 dingers in the month of May. Understandably, the totals for Bonds and McGwire are suspect, due to the whole “performance enhancing drugs” scenario. Consequently, Edwin tied the record of one of the greatest hitters in baseball.

 

Babe Ruth hit 17 home runs in September, 1927, plus one game in October. That was the year he surpassed the totals of Lou Gehrig, and went on to hit 60 home runs. Encarnacion’s production moved him ahead of teammate Jose Bautista, who had 14 home runs in June, 2012.

 

As we witnessed last weekend, Bautista can also play a little defence. A line shot was hit to him in right field. Instantly, he decided to make a play. He realized that the batter, Billy Butler of the Kansas CityRoyals, was not the fastest runner in the game. Bautista scooped up the ball, and, in one fluid motion, uncorked a perfect throw to first base. Butler was out by a step, on this truly remarkable play. It is an extremely rare occasion, and many factors have to be in place for such an occurrence.

 

Billy Butler is a big lad, standing a little over six feet. But he tips the scales at almost 250 pounds, and usually is the designated hitter for the Royals. Consequently, Bautista knew he had a shot at him, with the perfect hit. I do believe that his play was not instinctive, but well thought out in advance. He made the kind of play that will be etched in the minds of Blue Jay fans for a long time.

 

Bautista has also contributed with his bat as well. For that matter, most of the Blue Jays have done what it takes to provide the offence required to win games. Many of us do not get a chance to attend a lot of games during the season. We might also have other things on the go: jobs, StanleyCup Finals, “Honey Do lists” (I know I’ll pay for writing that!), plenty of life’s offerings. But it is most satisfying to read, in the morning papers, that the Jays have won again, and now find themselves on top of the East Division of the American League, by a whopping four games over the Yankees!

 

Mark Buehrle pitched a gem last Sunday, giving up six hits in eight innings. He is a workhorse, and his style is appreciated by his teammates. Ken Fidlin talked with Bautista about Buehrle’s style: “It’s not a surprise that when he pitches, there are plenty of defensive plays made. He keeps everybody engaged in the game because he works quick. He gets everybody to relax, and that allows us to execute our game plan.”

 

A quote from Billy Butler: “He frustrates you. He feeds off your over-aggressiveness. And he’s got a really good changeup. He’s always had that. Back door cutters, front door. Pounding you with it. Throwing two-seamers, running them back. He’s crafty.”  It appears as if Buehrle has Butler’s number!

 

OK, Blue Jays. Let’s play ball!

 

James Hurst

And the Winner is?

 

 

Barring unforseen miracles, the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers will meet in the Stanley Cup final this year. Each team has taken a commanding lead, three games won, one lost. Each is playing with great confidence.

 

The Chicago Black Hawks and the Montreal Canadiens will likely be the last two teams to fall by the wayside this year. They fought valiantly through the playoffs, but the Kings and the Rangers seem to have that little bit extra in their tanks. That is what leads to success.

 

Injuries have taken their toll in this year’s hockey playoffs. Where would the Habs be had Carey Price not been run over in the first game against the Rangers? Jonathan Toews does not appear to be too healthy, and knee on knee collisions are just not helpful. Local favourite Andrew Shaw had to sit out several games with a “lower body injury”. He has returned, but is not up to full speed. The coaching staff from the Kings picked up on a flaw in his repertoire, and Shaw lost his first seven face-offs in the fourth game.

 

I may be going out on a limb with this observation, but I would like to compare the Kings’ defenceman Drew Doughty with two other former NHL stars: Paul Coffey, and Bobby Orr. They have similar styles: great skaters, slick passers, and brilliant hockey minds. When necessary, each could mix it up in a physical way to let the opposition know that they are not just pretty faces.

 

Doughty spends a lot of time on the ice. It is not uncommon to see him quarterback the power play for an extended period of time. He kills penalties, unless he is in the box! He is usually the first one back to grab the puck behind goaltender Jonathan Quick, surveying the ice, wheeling from behind the net or passing to an open man. Therein lies another of Doughty’s skills: his passes are almost always on the tape, and he seldom forces the issue with long stretch passes that do not guarantee success.

 

Short “easy” passes get the job done. Because of the speed of the game, it is important to control the puck as much as possible. Turnovers lead to transition, and when the puck changes hands quickly, players must be prepared to go from offense to defense instantly. Doughty is always ready to make the change. He never loafs, which is a very good thing for the Kings.

 

Henrik Lundqvist is in his ninth season with the Rangers. He has played most of the games for the New Yorkers in that time. He is called “The King”, for good reason. He has played brilliantly throughout his career, and he would dearly love to put a Stanley Cup on his mantle. He suffered disappointment in the Olympics at the hands of the Canadians, and he would love to pick up a little hardware for his troubles this year.

 

I suppose I am getting a little ahead of myself, in all of this talk about the Kings and the Rangers. The semi-finals are still under way, and the faithful still cling to the prospect of a Habs or a Hawks victory. Alas, I fear, those are pipe dreams; however, stranger things have happened. We shall see.

 

A final note: in case you haven’t noticed, the Toronto Blue Jays have had a magnificent month of May, and lead the East in the American League.

 

Thank goodness for remotes!!

 

James Hurst

Sportslices.blogspot.com

 

 

Tim Horton-Memories

Tim Horton-Memories

 

Last week I posted a note on Facebook regarding the Fiftieth Anniversary of Tim Hortons. The restaurant people celebrated by giving customers a piece of cake and a coffee. There are several thousand Tim Hortons shops in Canada, and a few in the northern states. I discovered one in Florida! It is in Sunrise, in the arena where the Panthers play. A little bit of home for Canadian visitors. When the Canadian troops were in Afghanistan, there was also a restaurant in Kandahar. Nice touch.

 

As often happens in the Facebook world, I heard from a friend who remembered visiting the Tim Hortons restaurant on North Front Street in Belleville. He happened to be walking down the street when he heard a bit of a commotion, on the very first day of business at the shop. Tim Horton had stopped by to greet the patrons, and he signed an autograph for my friend Kam Tom.

 

Kam and I spoke about that encounter, and reminisced about other early Belleville experiences. Kam arrived in the city as a six-year old from Hong Kong. He had been whisked out of China, and was sent to live with his grandfather. They lived above the Paragon Café, which his grandfather owned, on Front Street in Belleville.

 

Kam attended Queen Mary School, switched over to Prince Charles School, then returned to Queen Mary to complete his primary school education. He attended B. C. I., and began his post secondary education at the University of Toronto. He later received his degree from Carleton. For many years he has worked in the field of photography, and motion pictures.

 

Kam also joined the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, only a short stone’s throw from his residence. The Memorial Arena was also closely located to his place on Front Street. He loved the arena, and became a very proficient skater. One of his buddies at that time, Doug Dickie, suggested that Kam should sign up to play hockey as well. Much to his dismay, his grandfather refused to allow him to play. The reason he gave was that he could not afford the cost. Kam also figures he did not want his young grandson to get hurt.

 

He spent hours with the rest of us at the Quinte Tennis Club. He recalls at least three marathon matches that he and I had at the Club. In one instance, we began in the morning, with little settled. The rest of the crew headed home for lunch, returned, and found us still sweating it out on the court. We both chuckled when I remarked that neither of us had a power game. The main focus was to get the ball over the net, and allow the opponent to make the mistake. That makes for very long matches.

 

 Tim Horton certainly had a legendary career in the NHL. He was recruited by the Leafs in 1949, and left Cochrane, Ontario, to play for St. Mike’s. He and Allan Stanley were defensive partners for Stanley Cup wins in 1962, ’63, ’64, and ’67. He also played for the Rangers, for the Penguins, and for the Sabres. He travelled the Queen Elizabeth Way from Toronto to Buffalo when he played for the Sabres. Tragically, he was killed on one of those trips.

 

 

He partnered with Ron Joyce in 1964 to open the first donut franchise. One of his teammates, Bob Baun, successfully managed two donut shops in the Toronto area.

 

Horton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977. Kam Tom still has his autograph.

 

You will find me working at that same Tim Hortons on June 5^th, Camp Day. Make that a double-double!

 

James Hurst

Sportslices.blogspot.com