As a Canadian hockey fan, I hate losing on the international stage. I can come up with any excuse you want as to why we didn't perform up to expectations, or rather, Canadian hockey expectations although one word can sum it up ... parity.
The top hockey nations assemble teams, that on any given day, can win championships. The talent around the world is equal to the talent in Canada. We invented the sport so we think it's our birthright, and it probably is, but until Canadians come to realize that the rest of the world is just as good, we will continue to be disillusioned by bad performances and may fall behind, skill-wise. Our teams need to have more skill and speed and prepare for big-ice hockey. I don't think the Russians or Czechs bring players who are defensive specialists. Offence wins now, not defence.
I have no idea how coaches prepare their practices but I don't think we teach enough skill. Sure there are pylons on the ice and we can skate fast but can we do all that with the puck. Enough of the dump and chase. You can tell when a European has control of the puck. It's a lot smoother than most Canadians. Most, not all. The puck doesn't seem as heavy on their stick. We need to change the way we play hockey from all levels of the game. Management to coaches to players. If not, I feel we will begin to lag behind. Imagine that!
Apologies to Don Cherry but Canada can't win every tournament because of our heart and determination. Other countries have this trait and it's not the deciding factor that separates us as champions anymore. Grit is not solely a Canadian gene.
The only thing that truly separates us as being the strongest hockey nation is our depth. Canada can ice two, three, perhaps four teams and all of them can win medals. I don't think other nations have this luxury. We are deeper in talent but the elite players of all top hockey countries are now pretty much equal.
Excuses are for the unprepared. I don't think that the Gretzky gambling fiasco or the Bertuzzi selection has anything to do with our poor showing in these Olympic games. These guys want to play hockey to take their minds off the "dirt" of everyday life. It's not something they ponder while they're playing so let's not go there.
Canada just didn't perform as well as the other countries in this tournament ... plain and simple. That said, we don't need an inquiry into why Canadian hockey stinks, we just need to accept that the rest of the world has caught up to us in skill and heart and we need to prepare our teams with this in mind. Any country can be hockey champs on any given day.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Halcyon Days
I never blog about work because I don't want to get Dooced but this posting is positive. I just finished installing Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium edition on my computer. Tears of joy, people ... tears of joy! This software will make designing at work fun again.
Today is a good day.
Today is a good day.
Cool Gifts
The Girl gave me two cool gifts for my birthday. The first is a hand-knit scarf, with cool alien designs on it. Very warm, soft and stylish. Made with her own two hands. I love it!
The second gift is an iTrip FM transmitter for our iPod. It allows you to listen to anything on your iPod through your radio.
The gifts are superb! ILY!
Update
I forgot to mention the DVD I received from my In-laws. It's called Anatomy of a Drum Solo. Watched a bit of it last night and the stuff Peart does with the drums makes me want to throw away my sticks forever. Practice is what it's all about. For all the drummers out there, I highly recommend this DVD.
The second gift is an iTrip FM transmitter for our iPod. It allows you to listen to anything on your iPod through your radio.
The gifts are superb! ILY!
Update
I forgot to mention the DVD I received from my In-laws. It's called Anatomy of a Drum Solo. Watched a bit of it last night and the stuff Peart does with the drums makes me want to throw away my sticks forever. Practice is what it's all about. For all the drummers out there, I highly recommend this DVD.
Birthday Weekend
The birthday weekend has come and gone way too quickly. The Girl did a fantastic job, as always, in planning things for us to do. We did an awesome tour of downtown Toronto which came complete with a word puzzle to fill in with places and streets we visited. Art exhibits, old pubs, CBC building, the waterfront ... when you're having fun, you don't realize how cold it is outside.
I can't forget the great pasticcio dinner I had at my parents' place on Saturday and the delicious lunch of roast beef and scalloped potatoes at my favourite in-laws on Sunday.
The Girl did an amazing job in keeping me occupied this weekend. I had a great time. ILY!
I can't forget the great pasticcio dinner I had at my parents' place on Saturday and the delicious lunch of roast beef and scalloped potatoes at my favourite in-laws on Sunday.
The Girl did an amazing job in keeping me occupied this weekend. I had a great time. ILY!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Tocchet's Troubles ... or Gretzky's?
I refuse to comment on this gambling scandal that has hit Rick Tocchet, "Operation Slap Shot," until all the evidence comes out. There's so much speculation right now that my name may even come up!
Funny thing how since day one, I haven't even heard Tocchet's name being mentioned. The only name I've been hearing lately is Wayne Gretzky's ... and it really isn't about him.
I just hope Gretzky's not lying. Gamble, sure, but don't be lying to us Wayne -- that would be more of a disappointment to us. As a Canadian icon, it sure would suck to have your reputation ruined this way.
Funny thing how since day one, I haven't even heard Tocchet's name being mentioned. The only name I've been hearing lately is Wayne Gretzky's ... and it really isn't about him.
I just hope Gretzky's not lying. Gamble, sure, but don't be lying to us Wayne -- that would be more of a disappointment to us. As a Canadian icon, it sure would suck to have your reputation ruined this way.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Animated Peart
I'm currently reading Neil Peart's book, Traveling Music: The soundtrack to my life and times. Halfway through it, I'm thoroughly enjoying it and can't put it down -- as I did with his second book, Ghost Rider. I plan to read his first book, The Masked Rider, as soon as possible.
Traveling Music is about how listening to music always ignites some sort of response, memory or feeling in our lives. As a music lover, and drummer, I have to agree with his philosophy. As Neil describes what runs through his head while listening to certain songs, he reflects on his past, and this is the part of the book I love. That, and learning who his musical influences are and who he currently listens to.
I enjoy his writing -- not to mention his drum playing/lyric writing -- so much that I plan on writing to him and telling him so. I went to his website, to find his contact information and while surfing, found a link called Xtras. On this page, I found the coolest digital animation I've ever seen. It's a video, created by a fan, of Neil playing to Rush's awesome instrumental, YYZ. To view this amazing piece of work, click here. It's the second item on the Xtras page titled, "A Digital Man."
I plan on posting my letter to Neil Peart in this blog once it's written. I'm finding it quite nerve-wracking thinking of what to say and more importantly, how to say it. How often to you get a chance to tell "a star" how much you appreciate their work and how they've influenced you? Check back here soon to read my note.
Traveling Music is about how listening to music always ignites some sort of response, memory or feeling in our lives. As a music lover, and drummer, I have to agree with his philosophy. As Neil describes what runs through his head while listening to certain songs, he reflects on his past, and this is the part of the book I love. That, and learning who his musical influences are and who he currently listens to.
I enjoy his writing -- not to mention his drum playing/lyric writing -- so much that I plan on writing to him and telling him so. I went to his website, to find his contact information and while surfing, found a link called Xtras. On this page, I found the coolest digital animation I've ever seen. It's a video, created by a fan, of Neil playing to Rush's awesome instrumental, YYZ. To view this amazing piece of work, click here. It's the second item on the Xtras page titled, "A Digital Man."
I plan on posting my letter to Neil Peart in this blog once it's written. I'm finding it quite nerve-wracking thinking of what to say and more importantly, how to say it. How often to you get a chance to tell "a star" how much you appreciate their work and how they've influenced you? Check back here soon to read my note.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Rice Burgers ... who knew!
I was going to write a post about a delicious treat The Girl and I had this weekend but she beat me to it. The deliciousness was a "burger" but instead of buns made of bread, they were made of sushi rice. Read The Girl's post for more.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
An open letter from Michael Moore to George W. Bush
Friday, September 2nd, 2005
Dear Mr. Bush:
Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.
Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?
Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!
I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?
And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!
On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.
There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.
No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!
You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
www.MichaelMoore.com
P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.
Dear Mr. Bush:
Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.
Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?
Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!
I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?
And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!
On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.
There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.
No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!
You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
www.MichaelMoore.com
P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.
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