Took a couple of weeks away, and now I'm feeling the urge to share thoughts and feelings (Working title for my new easy listening album, by the way) . I come to praise not bury (Title of my soon to be written autobiography: Just trying to avoid having to wear a toga on the front cover, as the quote is from Julius Caesar) !
-- Nice bounce back by the IceDogs. So far this year they twice have had six game losing streaks, and then they just finished a three game losing streak. A blowout of Belleville was followed by a solid 4-1 win over the CHL's #1 team, the Oshawa Generals. Old habits die hard though and a couple of late third period goals doomed the Dogs as they lost 4-2 to North Bay. Still 4/6 points is an nice haul, considering the opposition. Guelph is on Thursday and then it is back to the road again for three.
--The much ballyhooed selection camp for Canada's World Juniors camp was announced on Monday. Normally with these sorts of things there is much more discussion about the omissions than the guys who made it, and this was no exception. I am not going to dive headlong into that debate because,more often than not guys who made the list get tossed under the bus because player X made it. Lets face it, all the players listed deserve to be there. I think that we as Canadians are taking this tournament far too seriously, but it drives ticket sales, merchandise and TV numbers, and has become a big deal.
-- I'm not a guy who follows the WHL or Q (oops better make that QMJHL, lest we get mixed up with that Ghomeshi guy), so I 'm not equipped to analyze the roster. I am surprised that one of Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner and Josh Ho-Sang did not make the cut. Ho-Sang in particular has become the intriguing omission. No one seems to know how to take Ho-Sang, which is a shame because I think if you dig deeper you get a guy who is passionate, sensitive and opinionated (fist bump PK Subban). Rogers, through their 5 Billion dollar package aims to promote the players and the superstars of the game. This runs counter to the hockey culture of media being comfortable and accepting of guys who spew well worn cliches. Players who have an opinion, or are articulate are a curiosity. Ho-Sang, to me , fits the latter. He could be a game breaking superstar if he puts it all together and could be a high profile star in this league, if hockey will let him.
-- Hockey media blogger Steve Lepore got in a ton of hot water, and lost his job after it was publicized that he had been essentially preying on a number of women via social media. Again, beware the perils of social media and the fact that nothing is really going to be personal, particularly if you offend the wrong person. OHL players have learned that and now Lepore has. His behaviour was predatory and inexcusable. He has since apologized on social media which is the start on a very, very long road to redemption.
--Damn tough weekend to be a Hamilton football fan as both the Marauders and Tiger Cats lost heartbreaking nail biters. Pretty proud of my hometown, though I wonder why Hamilton cannot have nice things like other cities.
--Much as I like to promote my own career and own TV games (did I mention spectacular HD?), if you want to attend one AHL game this year, make it Friday December 5th at 7:30 at First Ontario Centre. It is military appreciation night and there will be a special ceremony for Nathan Cirillo, the soldier tragically killed in Ottawa several weeks back. It is sure to be very emotional.
--Finally, true confessions time. I am a big WWE fan, at least I used to me. While I never want to classify myself as the mature person on the face of the earth, I am not a teenager or younger, and that is who the current product is geared to. The jokes are juvinile, and cringe worthy and its just not in anyway appealing. Maybe I should have given this up a long time ago, but it kept pulling me in . Now its alienating and painful to watch. I'm out.....until at least the Royal Rumble, because that is the Road to Wrestlemania!!!
--Much as I like to promote my own career and own TV games (did I mention spectacular HD?), if you want to attend one AHL game this year, make it Friday December 5th at 7:30 at First Ontario Centre. It is military appreciation night and there will be a special ceremony for Nathan Cirillo, the soldier tragically killed in Ottawa several weeks back. It is sure to be very emotional.
--Finally, true confessions time. I am a big WWE fan, at least I used to me. While I never want to classify myself as the mature person on the face of the earth, I am not a teenager or younger, and that is who the current product is geared to. The jokes are juvinile, and cringe worthy and its just not in anyway appealing. Maybe I should have given this up a long time ago, but it kept pulling me in . Now its alienating and painful to watch. I'm out.....until at least the Royal Rumble, because that is the Road to Wrestlemania!!!
-- Busy weekend for me personally. IceDogs v Guelph on Thursday. Hamilton v Toronto on Friday, both on TV locally and both in stunning HD. I will try and get some video up of the games if I can. You can check http://steveclarksportsbroadcaster.blogspot.ca for updated schedules as to where I will be and what I will be doing.
Later
Steve Clark
TV Voice Hamilton Bulldogs/ Niagara IceDogs
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