Football Fumble

 

NFL (henceforth known a National Fail League or No Funds Left) commissioner Goodell announces cutbacks.

 

 

 

Proof today that the NFL is not a recession proof venture as 10% of staff have been laid off. That totals over 150 staffers throughout the league that has seemed to be financially secure and the wealthiest of professional sports in North America. Over the last few years the league has posted revenues of $6.5 billion USD, with over $4.5 billion going to players… which makes us wonder how the Canadian football counterpart will fair as it is seriously dwarfed by the NFL. Sorry Toronto, I doubt the Buffalo Bills will be back at Skydome anytime soon. Maybe that’s for the best though in terms of keeping Argonauts interest higher seeing as they win more frequently than the Maple Laughs. Hell in all this the NHL hasn’t released any information about how they plan to cut costs yet. It isn’t even mentioning the Phoenix Coyotes, owned by that Wall Street hedge-fund, Fortress, who bailed on the funding for the Vancouver Olympic Village a few months ago. As well, all hockey fans are aware that the salary cap will drop next season because of all this meaning many players will be on the move come trade deadline and summer.

The league handing out pink slips isn't a sure bet for Bettman.

For Canadian teams in professional sports this current market seems to be a handicap, especially as the monopoly money of ours has dropped in value versus the greenback down in the U.S. of A. At this point it seems unlikely that the CFL or NHL will cut back on the league side of things, but who knows how long that will last as the NBA and MLB have cut back in their respective sports leagues. So Canada it’s up to the fans to support their teams with ticket and merchandise purchasing to help stimulate the sports… because what else is there to watch on Saturday night? Beachcomber repeats… God forbid!

Be a fan to help your sports heros keep their sticks on the ice, or deep in the end zone and living the lives we dream of.

Live From The Bear… It’s Hockey Night In Canuckistan!

Here it is hockey fans from coast to coast. Broadcasting over the CBC live from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario… the place where many locals feel is the centre of the universe, comes a clash of Canadian teams. Toronto vs Vancouver. It’s been said to be the game of the season to watch and, from the Black Bear Pub in Lynn Valley, the Canuckistan will have it covered.

Mats Sundin and Kyle Wellwood are back and ready to make some noise in Toronto playing for their new team against a young Maple Leafs team who have been struggling as of late.

At the pub we are proud to report strong support for both teams. Before the game starts there is friendly taunting of both teams. Some favorites being tossed around from the table nearest are “Toronto Maple Laughs” and “Onterrible” resulting in a flurry of friendly jeers back from various Toronto supporters. Once the game starts I only hope the criticisms will remain friendly. Canadians are passionate about their hockey.

The First Period

As the puck drops a hush falls upon the pub. Even the bartenders stop to watch the opening play.

-Kevin “Boom Boom” Bieksa makes big hit at the blue line three  minutes in. Canucks fans cheer number 3 on.

-Luongo makes a good save at 5:47 into the first period. Many are surprised at the number of Canuck fans in the Toronto arena.

-During the first commercial break the Leafs play a video tribute to Sundin at 6 minutes  in.

 

Mats Sundin bumps Jason Blake early in the first period.

 

-Vancouver’s Mats Sundin bumps Toronto’s Jason Blake and a scrum ensues. Players all are tangled up all over the ice and now they are escorted back to their benches or penalty box. Kesler gets an  extra minor penalty to the cheers of Leaf fans and a Toronto power-play at 11:02 in. All penalties are called as roughing.

-Jason Blake scores a power-play goal on a deflection from a Pavol Kubina one timer from the point 13:09. Canucks fans aren’t fazed. Toronto fans are ecstatic.

-17:28 into the game, former Canuck Brad May bumps Henrik Sedin to the cheer of Toronto fans in the pub and the A.C.C. … Canucks fans reply with “Oi! That bastard!!!”

-At the end of the first period Toronto has 11 shots to Vancouver’s 9. As the Horn sounds the bar springs back to life as people migrate to the bar and washroom making sure to taunt the opposing fans on the way. We’re so polite eh?

The Second Period…

2nd Period commences… the hush returns!

-2 minutes in and Vancouver’s Shane O’Brien HITS THE POST!!!! A close chance for a guy who hasn’t scored in over a season!

-Followed by another rush by Toronto and they get a post off a double deflection shot under a minute later! Luongo was lucky there.

-Less than 5 minutes into the second period and Nik Antripov smashes Kesler from behind and gets two for boarding. A long skate to the box allowing for Canucks fans to jeer. Canucks out-shoot leafs 3-1 in this time frame. 

-Luongo makes a big save 8:14… looking good with the retro mask. The crowd goes “Louuuuuuuuuuuuu…”

-Dominic Moore, Steve Moore’s brother, gets two minutes for elbowing Bieksa in retaliation at 9:33. (Steve Moore is remembered by Canucks fans as the man former Canuck, Todd Bertuzzi, sucker-punched.)

Canucks win the ensuing draw and press the net…. great save Toskala!

-Puck circles round the Toronto zone… makes its way to the point… SALO SCORES on a one timer!!! the pub erupts with pro-Canuck cheers… 9:49 into the period!!!! Toronto fans take a long drink!

-14:44 Hagman interferes Alex Burrows… a Canuck fan yells “Hagman… What a jackass!”

-16:26, Matt Stajan scores on Luongo…… “Are you serious?!!!!??” Canucks fans in disbelief as the puck goes 5-hole on Roberto Luongo.

 

Matt Stajan celebrates his second period goal.

 

-After 40 minutes the period ends… Toronto still one up… 2-1 Second Intermission. Vancouver fans begin to feel nerves.

The Third Period…

As the third period draws near the Leafs fans begin to heckle the Canucks fans… Unfortunately these cross-firing obscenities cannot be posted, but they are very humorous. Both sides are digging in for the final 20 which will be all out war.

-3rd Period… 9 minutes left… Mitchell takes a stick to the face. 4 minute major against Dominic Moore.. really isn’t Moore’s night eh?

-Ensuing power-play… Toronto plays the Canucks well. The Mitchell on the Leafs forces Bieksa back… Bieksa’s had a good game though. Don Cherry made comments about that during Coaches Corner. As the Canucks press no one will shoot… fans are screaming. Sundin swings and misses… can’t get the puck on net… fans now groaning. 6:31 left in the game. a minute left in penalty.

-BURROWS TIES IT 2-2!!!! Career high 15th goal at 16:03 in the 3rd!!! No shots on goal during the 4 minute power-play but Burrows makes a perfect deflection past Toskala… The Canucks faithful jump and spill some beer in joy!

-3:17 left… Willie Mitchell is back on the bench. Many fans can now breathe easy. He’s looking pretty roughed up.

-Canucks on the penalty kill… Ohlund was sent off for crosschecking trying to hold off the Leafs and go into overtime! 2:22 left. 58 seconds left in power-play

-Last minute of play 5 on 5.  Canucks in Toronto zone.. Sundin to Demitra… Toskala holds the line and the puck as players form a scrum.

-Rough stuff erupts as Bieksa was caught up by linesman forcing to hook and Luongo was bowled over by Blake. Bieksa is in the box with Bernier for Vancouver and Dominic Moore for Toronto… Blake got away with goalie interference. Only 25 seconds left.

Circus Time

Into OVERTIME… Leafs have the power-play for just under a minute and a half

-2o seconds left… Willie Mitchell is all over the place for Vancouver… clears the puck out of the defensive zone to Daniel Sedin, who passes back to Mitchell, who one times it into Toskala’s chest.

-3:23 left… 4 on 4… the intensity level rises. The pub is noisy now with everyone shouting at the players on T.V.

-Canucks press in the offensive zone for the last couple of minutes… Demitra slap-shot misses… Hagman breaks out for Leafs… misses net. Back to point… shot in and Luongo stops it! That’s all she wrote!

Shootout:

Jason Blake is stoned by Luongo!!!!    Pavol Demitra SCORES on Toskala… 1-0 Vancouver

Niklas Hagman is shutout by Bobby Lou!   Kyle Wellwood nervously in on Toskala and misses the net, still 1-0 Vancity

Mikhail Grabovski, number 84 for Toronto, goes in duekes Luongo and scores and the backhand.      Mats Sundin’s turn now to play hero… skates in and SCORES on his former team!!! The bar erupts into cheers and tears from both respective sides and everyone takes a drink!

Post-game:

Well the game was hard faught and full of emotion. Both the players and the fans were determined to prove their worth against the opposition creating an exciting game. In the end however the former Maple Leafs captain, Mats Sundin, sealed the deal and won it on the shootout with a back-hander to the top corner handcuffing Vessa Toskala. In the pub while there were many comments made during the heat of the game, everyone settled down afterwards and enjoyed each others company over a few beers. Truly a civilized end to the second game on the CBC’s triple-header. As far as the reporting of Hockey Day In Canada goes, it was a great day for sports and a hard earned victory for the road team who will proceed play Montreal next.

The Official Scoresheet: http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2008020880

Hockey Day In Canada

Well here it is again folks. Almost as anticipated as Christmas and Halloween, the CBC’s annual Hockey Day In Canada has arrived. It also falls on the day where the international pond hockey championships are being played in New Brunswick drawing teams from Australia and Egypt… all very exciting for those of us in the Great White North.

Through out the NHL all focus has fallen on the Can-eh-dian teams this day. Montreal vs Ottawa, Calgary vs Edmonton, and most anticipated Toronto vs Vancouver. Montreal has, as of late, been falling downward as a result of poor play from all members of the team with most attention being directed at a young goaltender, Carey Price.

Montreal G.M. Bob Gainey address the media about his team.

Even more upsetting for the team, celebrating its centenial year in the league, is the fact three of its players have been accused by the Montreal press to be involved with a man who was recently arrested for organized crime. Now the team is forced to do damage control as the police and NHL investigate if the players had commited any wrong doings. The battle of Alberta is always a thriller as the Praries have a heated rivalry between the Oilers and Flames. However, in what some consider the centre of the universe; Toronto is expected to put up a fight in one of the most anticipated games of the season. Mats Sundin is back in Toronto but this time he’s not playing for the home team. Coverage of that game will reported live and repeated in updates live from the Black Bear Pub in Lynn Valley.

 

 

Much anticipated is Sundin's return to Toronto as a Canuck.