Duthie in the 'hood

Melanie and I went for a nice Fall walk yesterday afternoon around one of our neighbourhoods. The weather was awesome. As we strode down one street, a family walked towards us...husband, wife, two kids and a dog...the complete package. We walk by them and the guys says hello. I'm stymied as I recognize him but can't remember his name for the split-second as they pass us by. Too late to say anything other than hello, James Duthie, TSN host, passes us by.

Funny Website

Someone actually spent time to create this website. I think it's ingenious and pretty funny.

http://www.ihaterogers.ca/

Are the Cubs next?

Now that the Red Sox have won their first World Series since 1918, are the Chicago Cubs next? They haven't won a championship since 1908. And why is it called the World Series? All the teams are based in the US. What about the rest of the world? The Jays don't count anymore...they're dying a slow death. Give them time before they skip Canada like the Expos. I think patriotism is cool but it would be nice if the Americans showed a little humility once in a while. As usual, what do I know?

The DaVinci Code

I just finished reading this book. The library had it on Fast Track, a 2-week borrowing time. I couldn't put it down and finished it in 1 week. The concepts and stories in this book are apparently all true. To be educated in this alternate religious view is wild! You don't have to believe it but knowing that it might be true is enough to freak you out! Read the book.

Proof that it's a small world

On Sunday afternoon I was at a wedding. Also invited was my 11th grade English teacher, Mr. Freedman, who happened to go to high school with the groom's father. I hadn't seen him in 20 years but he looked exactly the same. We had a quick conversation and he was pleased that an ex-student approached him and said hello. He was the only teacher who made Shakespeare fun and understandable.

Good Leafs joke...thanks Lou!

The day after the Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs (what else is new?), they were at the ACC cleaning out their lockers. Nik Antropov invited the boys over on Canada Day for a party and all the players agreed to come.

"Can you all bring beer?" he asked the team. Domi suggested that he call Quinn and tell him to pick up the beer. Quinn agreed to this and said that he would pick it up and bring it over.

Canada Day came and Quinn loaded up his car with case after case of beer for the team and headed over to Nik's place for some fun. On the road, he got stopped at a light and heard the car next to him honking like crazy...some man yelling "GO LEAFS GO, GO LEAFS GO!"

Quinn rolls down his window and looks at the man, Leafs flags still hanging all over his car.

"Hey Quinny!" the man yells. "What's with all the beer?"

Quinn replies, "I picked it up for Antropov."

The man looks at the beer in the back for a moment before yelling, "Good Trade, Good Trade"

Yankees vs Bosox Re-revisited

Well, the greatest comeback in baseball history, if not pro sports, happened last night. The Red Sox came all the way back from 3 games down to beat the mighty Yankees. Will the momentum carry them through to a World Series victory?

The Smart Car

As I was driving home from work today, I saw my first Smart car. It is freakin small! It almost looks like a remote control toy. Probably does 8000 km per tank though.


The Smart Car!

Canada Cup 1976

TSN telecast the Canada-Sweden Canada Cup game from 1976 last night. They will continue to show games from this series every Tuesday night. It was awesome to see Borje Salming playing for the Swedes in his prime (25) as well as all the Canadians like Sittler, Orr, Hull and Vachon. When the starting players were introduced, they skated towards their blue lines. There was a standing ovation for Salming because the game was played in Maple Leaf Gardens...I got goosebumps! Considering all the eventual Hall-of-Famers in that game, it was pretty boring.

You couldn't help but notice the equipment on the players. The padding was significantly smaller than it is today. It looked like they weren't wearing any protection at all. The skates looked like I made them in my basement. I would love to see Lafleur flying down the wing in today's skates or Bobby Hull taking a slapshot with today's sticks. It was fun to watch.

Crest "Fresh Citrus Breeze" Toothpaste

I've been using this toothpaste for a couple of weeks now, just to try something different. Can't get into it. It was amusing for the first couple of days but my mind tells me I need a minty tasting toothpaste to make my mouth feel fresh.

Yankees vs Bosox Revisited

Hold the phones...it looks like the Red Sox might make the biggest comeback in baseball history. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. Did I mention I hate both teams. What a series though! I want the Sox to finally beat the Yankees but I so want the Red Sox championship-less streak to continue...it's part of baseball history.

Don Cherry...Greatest Canadian?

There's a vote here in Canada to determine who is the greatest Canadian. Don Cherry has garnered enough votes to make the top 10. Don Cherry? I like Cherry but this is ridiculous! The greatest Canadian should be one who has had a major influence in the country and around the world. Cherry talks only of hockey...not good enough. There were also no women voted to the top 10. Here are the names (in no order): Tommy Douglas, John A. Macdonald, Terry Fox, Frederick Banting, Lester Pearson, Alexander Graham Bell, David Suzuki, Pierre Trudeau, Wayne Gretzky, and Don Cherry. Doesn't Cherry stand out like a sore thumb?

Yankees vs Bosox

What a series. Can the games get any longer? They're about 4 1/2 hours long. Looks like Boston will have to wait another year before they can win a championship. They haven't won the World Series since 1918! And I thought the Leafs had problems. Is there a way both teams could lose? I hate them both.

This is hockey for the next year

I can't believe that this is what the Air Canada Centre will look like on days the Toronto Maple Leafs are supposed to be playing. What a bunch of losers! It sucks that I can't watch but they're the ones losing millions...not me. I'm not sure if anyone cares at this point. Let's see in a few months.


This is the Air Canada Centre in Toronto

Presidential Debate Pet Peeve

I have a new pet peeve when it comes to politicians. It's something they do and I notice it more than ever, probably because of all the recent debates in the U.S. and here in Canada. I'm sure it's something they are told to do as it makes them look better. I call it the "fist point." The politicians' handlers are telling them that it's rude to point and it can also be accusatorial. So what they do now is make a fist and then put the thumb beside the index finger. They flatten the fist out and then point with it. Keep an eye out the next time you see Senator Kerry give a speech. He does it a lot.

Halloween Costume

Well, it's that time of year again to figure out what to be for the upcoming Halloween parties. I'll probably go as Frodo since my wife has all the accoutrement to go as Arwen (for those of you living under a rock, these are Lord of the Rings characters). All I need to buy are pointy ears. I heard about another cool thing to be...static cling! Just wear all black and pin things to your clothes, like socks, tea towels and underwear (clean of course but it's your call) and spike your hair up...unless you're follicly challenged. I'd really like to go as SpongeBob SquarePants...he's the coolest! Any ideas?

The Passion of the Christ

I watched it the other day. The man is beaten from the start of the movie right until the very end(!) proving once again that Hollywood can sell tickets with violence...even at the expense of the son of God!

There's nothing in this movie that you don't already know, except of course, that he was viciously beaten within inches of his life for a couple of days before being crucified. Hey Mel Gibson, if you're going for the obligatory violence to herd an audience, at least put in some interesting tidbits or events about the man that people may not have known. What do I know.

John Daly designs golf course in Niagara Falls, ON

John Daly is designing a golf course named Thundering Waters Golf Club just 1500 yards from the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. It's situated next to Marineland Theme Park and is only two blocks from the fashionable Fallsview Tourist district, home of the new billion-dollar Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort.

Daly designed the upscale golf facility in conjunction with Canadian golf course architect Bo Danoff. "I love this location...Niagara Falls is a world-renown address and Thundering Waters is a landmark project" said Daly.

The golf course is set to open in the Summer of 2005.

I'm not throwing to Barry!

Barry Bonds was walked 232 times this year by National League pitchers, which set a record. The leader in the American League was Eric Chavez, of the Oakland A's, with 95. I can't get my head around 231 walks!

John Cerutti dies at 44

Ex-Blue Jays pitcher and all-around nice guy has died. He was the Blue Jays colour commentator on SportsNet. They found him dead in his SkyDome hotel room. Can you believe this? So far the doctors have said he died of natural causes. At 44?!

CIBC's Run for the Cure

Today, my wife and I...along with 30,000 others...ran the CIBC "Run for the Cure," 5 kilometre run in downtown Toronto. All the proceeds go towards the fight for breast cancer. The run wasn't timed as it was all for the cause...but I still timed myself and after fighting through some slower joggers/walkers for the first kilometre or so, my running partner, Lisa, and I picked up the pace a bit to finish in 28 minutes. This was my first "race" since public school and was glad to get it under my belt. My wife and I are going to try to enter some timed races before we start training for some 10 kilometre runs. I'm very proud of my wife Melanie who finished in 33 minutes. She did an excellent job and has come a long way since we started training. Here's to finding the cure one day!

Ex-Leaf Garth Butcher on trial

I just read in the Totonto Star that former NHLer Garth Butcher is on trial for sexually assaulting a 23 year-old. No evidence of a date-rape drug was found in a urine sample taken from the woman who has accused Butcher. Apparently, it was the custom for a pub waitress, which is co-owned by Butcher, to ride with him back to his hotel when he visits Toronto to keep him company. It was her turn to go. She had some drinks and says she was feeling "tipsy." Butcher invited her to check out the suite's bedroom and then asked for a massage. He then massaged her and she passed out only to awaken with her pants and underwear removed and Butcher on top of her having sex.

Nice! Hell in a handbasket I tell you!