The Kid in the Stands - Proper Etiquette of Foul Balls

(Yeah, kid, I feel your pain every Monday morning)

Some of you may have heard of the raging controversy a few days ago. At a Texas Rangers baseball game against the Yankees, two couples were sitting next to each other in the stands. One of the couples had a three-year-old child with them, all ablaze in Texas Rangers gear.

A foul ball gets thrown into the stands by one of the players, and the guy from the childless couple ends up with it (there is some debate on whether he caught it or it fell to him after bouncing, but that's beside the point). Instead of giving the ball to the kid, Cameron, he gives it to the woman he's with, and they smile and pose for the camera. Meanwhile, the boy starts crying his head off.

Horrible behaviour? That's the general consensus out there in Internet-land, though there have been some new updates to the story since then that show them to not necessarily be the evil villains they're made out to be. Cameron's mother spoke out on the Today show, saying that they were a perfectly wonderful couple who spoke with Cameron a lot. They were getting married on Saturday (so I suppose that means yesterday?) and this was their first baseball game together. In fact, she says that they offered Cameron the ball and she said no, because he's at an age where he wants everything and they want him to learn that sometimes you don't get everything you want.

Yankees announcer Michael Kay apparently went off on them and their behaviour. "'Oh my God. They can’t give it to the kid? That’s awful,' he lamented, adding, 'They’re rubbing it in the kid’s face,' when the couple posed happily with the ball for a photo as Cameron looked on."

The story did have a bit of a happy ending, as the dugout got him another ball. The other couple, Sean Leonard and Shannon Moore, are pretty upset with the sensationalizing that went on around the whole event, especially Kay's comments.

So just what is proper etiquette for kids at sporting events like this? Do they always deserve everything that even comes near them?

The NHL is becoming a joke

It's Saturday, three days after the Canucks lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and the disappointment still lingers a bit.

But that's not why the NHL is a joke. Or at least that's not when it became obvious to us that it is becoming one. It just reinforced the issue.

The NHL, under Gary Bettman's tenure, has turned into an organization that is destroying our love of the game of hockey.

(Thanks to...well, you can find this picture EVERYWHERE)

The Stanley Cup Finals just showed a spotlight on everything that we're growing to hate about it.

It's becoming a league where thuggery is not only being allowed, but encouraged.

Yet another reason not to eat food at sporting venues

Do you go to a lot of sporting events? Do you find yourself eating there? That can be quite the expensive proposition. We go to Vancouver Canucks games at GM Place (It will take me a while to start calling it Rogers Arena), and all we buy is a large Diet Coke that lasts us the entire game. The prices are outrageous!

A rather small cup of Molson beer (basically equivalent to Budweiser as far as market saturation goes) costs over $7!! And if you want a "good" beer, like Okanagan Spring, it's over $8! Even our large diet coke costs $4.75 ($5.25 if they're doing "collector's" cups). I can't imagine trying to take a family of 4 to a game, and actually trying to feed the kids.

So do you really need another reason not to buy food at the ballpark?

I don't care. Here's another one!

Want to get sick?

Does the BCS need government intervention?

So the Obama Justice Department has stated they're going to "look into" the legality of college football's "Bowl Championship Series" (BCS).  I know there have been a lot of complaints about it, from many people, including Republican senators (hello, Orrin Hatch!).  I get the fact that legitimately successful teams have been screwed out of appearing in the "championship" game because they're not on some list of approved teams.  I don't know how that list is set up, either, so I'm certainly not going to base this post on the facts of how college football works.  I have no dog in this hunt, as I haven't followed college football more than in passing for quite a few years.

No, my complaint is this:  Obama, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?  And if it's really Justice people like Attorney General Eric Holder or even some people under him, then I have to ask that he get grip on his people and keep them focused on what they're supposed to be doing.  Since Obama said during the campaign that he didn't like the BCS system, it wouldn't surprise me if he's perfectly ok with Holder doing this, even if he didn't actually instigate the investigation.  It seems like, for Obama, the answer to every problem is "the government should get involved."

Government intervention into college football would be a horrible precedent.

Mini-minor hockey

One of the cool things about being at a Canucks game is the first intermission where they sometimes have a bunch of kids play a little bit of hockey on the huge ice (relatively speaking, of course).

These are 8 and 9 year-olds who get just a little time (about 5 minutes) to shine in front of almost 19,000 people. I often wonder if we're seeing a future Sidney Crosby or Joe Sakic out there on the ice. They play with such enthusiasm, and it's really fun to watch. Hearing the crowd (what's remaining of it who aren't getting beer or something) roar when one of them score is quite exhilerating.

Here's a pic, taken from very high up. They look smaller than the regular players! (Peanut Gallery: "No shit, Sherlock")





-- Post From My iPhone

Vancouver Canucks - The glory that is Rick Rypien

My latest Canucks post on Penaltykill.net is up, about the fiesty scrapper Rick Rypien.  He's quickly become a fan favourite here in Vancouver, mainly for his refusal to back down from anybody.

"You need many different types of hockey players on a team for it to be good. Of course, you need some guys who can put the puck in the net. You need forwards that can check the other team’s best players. You need an at least decent goalie, and you need both defensemen who can move the puck as well as those who can shut down the other team’s guys (even better if those qualities reside in the same defenseman).

But you also need some energy guys. You need guys who can play a good shift, hopefully keep the puck in the opposing team’s end, and who can get the crowd (and their teammates) energized with either a big hit, a fight, or whatever. It also helps to have a tough guy that can keep your star players safe by taking on the other team’s tough guy. The Vancouver Canucks thought they had this when they signed Darcy Hordichuk, but something’s happened to him. He doesn’t fight any more; he doesn’t really hit, and when he does try, he often misses. Tanner Glass has earned his spot on the Canucks by doing a lot of this, and I’m really glad to have him on this team. However, he’s not the guy I think of when I look at all of these qualities."

Believe me, I do mention Rypien right after that.  Go read it and tell me what you think!  Especially you Canucks fans who I know check this blog.

Vancouver Canucks - The Curse of the Trap Game

My latest post at PenaltyKill.net, about yesterday's horrible Canucks game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

"As Vancouver Canucks fans, we’re all familiar with the problem this team usually has: playing down to the level of the competition. I can’t count how many bad teams that the Canucks have just barely beaten, including the Maple Leafs earlier this season. It’s a quality that no Canucks team, no matter how talented and successful, can seem to get rid of. Add that quality to a third game in four nights (and an afternoon game, to boot), and many Canucks fans were worried about yesterday’s date with the Carolina Hurricanes. It had all the symptoms of the classic “trap” game."

It was not fun to watch.

Please read the rest and let me know what you think.

Vancouver Canucks - Canucks Score 2 Big Wins

My latest post is up on Penaltykill.net.  The Canucks just finished two games back-to-back, against the very tough New Jersey Devils and the good (but not right now) Philadelphia Flyers.  Things are beginning to go quite well for the Canucks, and hopefully they can keep this up!

Two more games in the East before they come back home for 17 out of the next 23 games.  Should be an interesting set of games.

Vancouver Canucks - Why is everybody panicking?

My latest post on PenaltyKill.net is up, talking about how Vancouver Canucks fans are starting to push the panic button on the season a little too early.  It's way too early to do that, people!

Looking forward to tonight's game against the Devils.  They're going to pull it out, I just know it.

NFL Football Picks - Week 12

I know this will be a stunner.  It shocked me.  Hell, it will probably mortify Murph in Edmonton (assuming that's even possible), but I actually was above .500 last week.  There shall be parades in my honour.  There will be wine, roses, fabulous babes in low-cut blouses throwing themselves at me (though most of them will sadly be intercepted by Brad Pitt, who will be Troy Polamalu to my Carson Palmer), and general celebrations. There will be songs written for me!  Sadly, they will be performed by Adam Lambert on the American Music Awards, and nobody will be paying any attention.

So what if I was only 9-7?  After three horrible weeks, I deserve a little celebration.  Like Brittany Spears deserves one whenever she can go a couple of weeks keeping her pants on.  Oh, and sorry to those of you coming to this blog in search of more Adam Lambert goodness.  I was lost in the moment.

As I said, I went 9-7 last week, for an overall record of 82-78.

On to this week's picks!  With the suckiness baked right in, just like my mom used to make.

Canucks Blast Tired Avs With 5-2 Win

My latest post is up on Penaltykill.net, about last night's game.  What an awesome game that was.

"It took a full period for the rust of a six-day rest to be filed off of the Vancouver Canucks Friday night, but when it was gone, what was left was gleaming. The Colorado Avalanche, playing their third game in four nights, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead while the Canucks found their legs again, but couldn’t contain the Christian Ehrhoff train that was barrelling down the tunnel toward them. Ehrhoff scored two goals and almost registered the first hat trick for a Canucks defenseman since 1991 but he rang a late third-period shot off of the post. He did add a wonderful power play assist, though, to round out his evening, propelling the Canucks to a 5-2 victory."

You can read the rest here.  Let me know what you think!

Uh Oh. Did the Canucks Jump the Flu Line?‏

My latest post on PenaltyKill.net is up.

"According to the Vancouver Sun (and quite a few other Canadian media outlets), it appears that some members of the Vancouver Canucks jumped the queue for the H1N1 flu vaccine, getting it last Sunday or Monday. After all of the controversy that the Calgary Flames went through last month regarding getting flu vaccines at a private clinic while ordinary Albertans were being turned away at clinic doors, you’d think the Canucks would know better. However, there’s one critically different circumstance between the two incidents."

So let me know what you think, both of the post as well as the actual incident.  Do you think this warrants a huge controversy?  You can do it either here or over there.  I'll see it either way.

NFL Football Picks - Week 11

It's another week, and another abysmal performance in the old football prognostication department.  Let me put it in words that even Murph in Edmonton can understand. I. AM. NOT. VERY. GOOD. AT. THIS.  There we go.  One syllable. Ok, one word had two syllables.  I hope that won't be too hard for him. But hell, that's the fun, right?  Why actually be good at something when you can suck at it and laugh about it?  And have others laugh with you (you are laughing with me, right?) I think that's much healthier.

In other football news, the Buffalo Bills fired coach Dick Jauron yesterday.  Wonder if that will fire the team up this week?  Or will they say "Dick Jauron?  He was our coach?  Never heard of him, but I was wondering what that funny-looking guy was doing on the sidelines every week, ranting and raving like a madman."

I was 6-9 last week, with an overall record of 73-71.  This is the week I go under water, I'm sure!  Can I be the 2008 Detroit Lions of prognostication and go 0-16?  Does reverse psychology ever work?  And if it does, does it work on malevolent deities?  Or am I just out of luck?

Tally ho!!  Onward and downward!  That's what I say.  Here we go.

Henrik Sedin - more than just a twin

My second post for PenaltyKill.net is up.  It sings the praises of Henrik Sedin, one of the Vancouver Canucks' special twins.

"When Daniel Sedin went down with a broken foot in Game 4 of this 2009-10 NHL season, many people wondered what would happen to his brother Henrik. After all, they’ve played hockey together all of their lives. There have been a few times where they have been split up, but not many. Also, both have been ironmen in regards to their health, with Henrik currently riding an almost 350-game ironman streak and Daniel only missing a game here and there. It’s not like they’ve had to deal with this kind of adversity very often. The twins seem to have a psychic connection on the ice, one firing blind passes to the other for highlight reel goals. Without Daniel, would Henrik be able to perform at the same level?"

Check it out, Canucks fans!  Let me know what you think.

New Hockey Blog

New to me, anyway.  As some of you may remember (*listens to the crickets echo*), I started my own Posterous Canucks blog.  However, I found that keeping up with posting to it, along with here and other things, became too arduous.  I wanted to do game re-caps as well as Canucks analysis and generally make a name for myself amongst Canuck bloggers.  Thus, it shouldn't be surprising that I crapped out after a few days.  What I needed was a group blog!

And now I've found it.  I've begun posting on Penaltykill.net as one of the Canucks bloggers (ok, there are only two, but still).  That's a link to the Canucks section, but clicking on the link at the top of that page will take you to their main page.  It should be fun because there is no expectation.  A guy from the United Kingdom named Canucklehead does the game recaps, leaving me to do other commentary.  I don't have to post every day, though I would like to post as much as I can.  But it gets me out there a little bit.  It should be a lot of fun!

My first post is "Should Kyle Wellwood be replaced when Daniel Sedin comes back?"  Please check it out and let me know what you think.  I'll link to new articles here as they go up.

NFL Football Picks - Week 10

The NFL Network starts its Thursday night games this week, and so we now have to get these picks in early for the rest of the year.  At least that means I get to find out earlier in the week that I really suck at this.  And you get to point your fingers and laugh at me earlier than you have in the past.  So it's a win-win!!

I went a ghastly 5-8 again last week, the third week in a row I've had a losing record.  Also the third week in a row that I've posted my picks on the blog.  Coincidence?  Still, it's not all bad.  At least I don't owe $6 Million dollars in back taxes, like some super-celebrity actor I know (waves at Nicholas Cage) .  I think I would rather just suck at football prognosticating.

For probably just another week or two, I'm above .500 for the year (67-62).  I'm sinking faster than Chris Brown's career.  But I shall persevere in the face of adversity!  Or, you know, lack of talent.

So here we go with week 10!  Read 'em and weep (wait, I guess I'm the one who's going to be weeping).

NFL Football Picks - Week 9

What a horrible week I had last week!  The Saints, saviors of my Week 7 picks, made my Week 8 picks even worse by fumbling when they were trying to kill the clock!  Atlanta field goal, and BOOM!  Atlanta covers the spread.  Thanks, Saints.  To make matters worse, I publicly thanked them on Facebook for scoring in the last 2.5 minutes to cover the spread.  That was embarrassing.

I'm still 62-54, though I was 5-8 last week.  I'm beginning to think this blog could be cursed.  Maybe I should bring in a witch doctor to cleanse it?  Or a priest to exorcise it?  Or a rabbi to actually quarterback the Cleveland Browns?  Can't do any worse.

Still, I had a couple of very good picks last week.  I knew there was no way San Diego could cover 18 points, even if it was against Oakland.  And the Minnesota defense had some Aaron Rodgers for breakfast.  Yum!  The other white meat.

So, shall we get this pain and torture over with?  Oh, I guess we have to wait for Sunday for that.  But you can start laughing at me now!

NFL Football Picks - Week 8

Maybe posting my picks here is bad luck.  The first week I do it, I go 7-6 (and thank God for Drew Brees and the Saints defense!).  Then again, I've been delightfully mediocre (with that one 14-2 week's exception) for most of the season, so I guess this isn't a big surprise.  I'm still above .500!  Currently, I'm 57-46. After starting the season with back-to-back 6-10 weeks, I haven't been below .500 yet.

There's a first time for everything, though!

I also notice that the Home team is the favourite in all but one game this week.  Makes you ponder, doesn't it?

One weird thing about last week:  with two exceptions, all games were decided by 10 or more points.  How often does that happen?  Probably as often as Sarah Michelle Gellar knocks on my door and propositions me.

So, without further adieu, and hopefully with much less suckitude, is Week 8!

NFL Football Picks - Week 7

One thing sports lovers of all stripes and colours like to do is enter pools.  Hockey pools are quite prevalent at this time of year, with fans bemoaning when a star player they picked high in their pool goes down with an injury.  I'm not really a pool person, since often you have to buy into them, and hockey pools just go on too long.

Football pools?  Again, you often have to buy into them.  But I love the free pools where you might just win a prize.  And it makes following all of the NFL games every week just a little more interesting, something you couldn't say about a Bills-Browns match-up otherwise.

Sportsnet (one of Canada's all-sports networks) runs a football pool called "Pigskin Pick 'Em" that I do every year, and it's lots of fun.  This pool uses the gambling spread, so you have to pick the winner based on the spread.  For those of you who don't know how it works, if Pittsburgh is "-7.5" over Oakland (just an example), then Pittsburgh has to win by at least 8 points or Oakland is considered to have won the game as far as the pool goes.  It's like Oakland starts the game with 7.5 points.  See how it works?

I know it's week 7 already, but it just hit me that maybe I could post my picks here, with maybe a little commentary, and see what my friends who are sports fans think!  So, without further adieu....

New Canucks Blog

After my earlier post about Posterous, I decided to go ahead and start a Canucks blog there.  I'm loving that it will automatically post to Twitter and Facebook too.  They just make it so easy!

Anyway, I was mildly annoyed that I couldn't add it very easily to Facebook's "Networked Blogs" app, mainly because there's no sidebar on Posterous where I can post their little widget, and I'm not sending a request to 9 friends to verify who I am.  The good thing is I don't need Networked Blogs for this, and it will post all by itself.  And, almost instantaneously too!  I've even added a Posterous tab to my Facebook profile which you can check out too.

Anyway, I call it The Canucks Shelf, and I hope that any Canucks fans reading this will go there, read and contribute comments.  And the rest of you, rest assured.  You will no longer be bored by Canucks posts again. See what I do for you?