News you need to get through the day … When Carmen’s Group outlined its plans to host a 30th anniversary celebration of the 1987 Canada Cup, it did so during a press conference on the floor of First-Ontario Centre — Copps Coliseum — on the exact spot Mar
A few random thoughts before hauling out the backyard furniture for the summer …
F-A-I-L
The winning word in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee is pronounced MAR-uh-kane and means “a ripped crepe fabric used in women’s clothing.” It’s a French word that means Moroccan crepe.
Any guesses how to spell it? You’re on the clock …
Marocain.
THAT WAS EASY
Whether or not you spelled that word correctly, it would appear champion Ananya Vinay got off easy compared to the winners of the past 10 Scripps Spelling Bees. The previous winning words … 2016 – gesellschaft and Feldenkrais (tie) 2015 – nunatak and scherenschnitte (tie) 2014 – feuilleton and stichomythia (tie) 2013 – knaidel 2012 – guetapens 2011 – cymotrichous 2010 – stromuhr 2009 – Laodecian 2008 – guerdon 2007 – serrefine
LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO
We learned from Tiger Woods’ DUI arrest this week that his full legal name is Eldrick Tont Woods.
You probably knew the Eldrick part, though nobody calls him that. But the middle name? Few had ever heard that before. In case you’re wondering, Tont is Thai — his mother is from Thailand — and loosely means “beginning.”
NOT SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE WORD ‘CAP’
The NBA’s salary cap was set at $94.1 million, this season.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, a salary cap is supposed to be the maximum amount of money a team can spend on players to ensure competitive balance. And how has it worked?
Cleveland’s team salaries this season totalled $128,492,467. Golden State’s hit $107,526,542 and was only that low because free agent Steph Curry was wildly underpaid at $12 million (yes, the word “underpaid” is relative) meaning it’ll be much higher next season. In total, 19 teams exceeded the so-called cap.
So, yes, it seems to be working well.
MASCOT ABUSE
The guy playing Mr. Met was relieved of his mascoting duties for the New York baseball team this week after flipping the bird to a fan. Sounds bad, right?
Of course it does. But a few years ago when the guy who used to play Stripes at Ticat games told me what he put up with while working in his costume, I can almost understand.
He explained that he had been punched, pulled, slugged, tripped, slapped, and numerous fans had tried to rip his head off from behind. Which is a problem since the head is attached by a chin strap so it nearly strangled him. Worst of all? “Kids are right at the level of my groin,” he said. “There’s a lot of head butts.”
BEEN A WHILE
Reports say the Edmonton Eskimos will be awarded the 2018 Grey Cup. That means that since Hamilton hosted the 1996 game, every other franchise has hosted the championship at least twice. Edmonton and B.C. have now had it four times.
ON WITH THEIR LIVES
Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of the Hamilton Bulldogs winning the Calder Cup. Among the guys who played on that team who are now retired from hockey, one’s a cop, one’s a player agent, one owns a Tim Hortons, one owns and runs a vegan restaurant, and one went back to Cornell University to finish his hotel administration degree.
In Wednesday’s paper, we’ll tell you who they are.
PAGING GERALDO RIVERA FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE
Saturday night at the Hamilton Convention Centre, local boxer Steven Wilcox will headline a pro fight card.
The 27-year-old WBA and NABA super lightweight champion will donate part of his purse to Have A Heart Cayman Islands, which provides life-saving heart surgery to children.
Nice job.
BIG MONEY
Speaking of the Cayman Islands and other warm places, I was in another Hamilton last weekend (hence the lack of a column in this space). Beautiful place. Shockingly, though, real estate in Hamilton, Bermuda, is even more expensive than it is here.
Wasn’t sure that was possible.
sradley@thespec.com 905-526-2440 | @radleyatthespec Spectator columnist Scott Radley hosts The Scott Radley Show weeknights from 7-9 on 900CHML