(Deep) NOT SO thoughts
few random thoughts for National Nude Day. Which, in a weird — and possibly meanspirited coincidence — is also National Tape Measure Day ...
ROLLIN’ ROLLIN’ ROLLIN’
Full marks to Mexican soccer team Xolos Tijuana which used halftime at a recent game to hold a Neymar Challenge. Fans were invited to come onto the field and attempt to replicate the over-thetop dramatics of the Brazilian star. Many hit the turf at midfield and rolled — while wildly gesticulating and appearing agonized the whole way — all the way to the goal-line.
WHICH UNI TO USE?
Croatia will reportedly be returning to its traditional redand-white checkerboard uniforms for the World Cup final match after wearing a black alternate uniform for its past five games. While those uniforms are distinctive and instantly recognizable, it’s a questionable choice if you believe in luck. Or fashionbased results.
In World Cup games since 1998, Croatia is 5-6-2 in checkers. But they’re 6-1-2 in blue or black.
And when France played Croatia in the 1998 event wearing the same colours both sides will be wearing on Sunday, France won 2-1.
CRASHING
According to the Sports Business Journal, NASCAR’s ratings have fallen 19 per cent this year and 29 per cent from 2016. According to the report, streaming numbers online are also far below expectations and attendance at tracks is down, too.
TV ratings are falling in most sports but this is really something.
A LITTLE EFFORT, PLEASE
Spent some time listening to Johnny Manziel’s podcasts on Barstool Sports at the suggestion of a friend. He’s not bad. In fact, the Ticats’ backup QB can be quite listenable on a variety of topics.
Note to the host, though. Not knowing anything about Canada and calling the CFL weird once might be fun. Doing it over and over is ignorant. A tiny bit of research would go a long way.
ALREADY A STAR
Hamilton’s Shai GilgeousAlexander is looking incredibly impressive in NBA Summer League games. The guy who went No. 11 in the draft a few weeks ago is averaging nearly 20 points and, according to reports from Los Angeles Clippers’ watchers, is dominating right now.
“The Los Angeles Clippers drafted a gem in Shai GilgeousAlexander,” writes Ryan Snellings. “The 19-year-old is looking like the best point guard from this year’s NBA draft.”
Granted, Snellings writes for Clipperholics.com so there might be some bias there. On the flip side, if he was stinking the joint out you can be sure they’d be all over him. Passion runs hot both ways. LANGUAGE 101
One late John Tavares note a couple weeks after his big signing with the Maple Leafs.
According to various online name-origin sites, his surname means descendent of the hermit. Though in the future it will mean descendent of the very, very rich hermit.
WHAT A MESS
There’s nothing funny about the allegations levelled against Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy after his former girlfriend posted a picture online of her bloodied face and then someone claiming to be a friend of the woman posted allegations that he was somehow behind it. Allegations ESPN reported the ex-girlfriend also told police. He’s denied all of it. Still, it’s awful.
But, my goodness, the social media poster sure covered all the NFL hot-buttons in her claims when she accused him of domestic violence (Ray Rice), child abuse (Adrian Peterson), cruelty to animals (Michael Vick) and PED use (multiple).
GOTTA BEAT THE BEST
Someday Milos Raonic may win a major tennis event. He’s certainly a good player with an enormous serve. That’s helped him build a career record of 304139 with eight tournament titles on his resume.
So where does the Canadian fall short? In matches against top-10 players, he’s just 27-57.
GETTING CLOSER
After Thursday night’s win by Calgary over Ottawa, the West teams in the CFL have a 9-4 record against East teams. This despite Montreal’s shocking win over the Roughriders a few weeks back and Hamilton’s somewhatsurprising upset of the Eskimos in Edmonton.
If that record suggests the two divisions are still lopsided in favour of those on the left coast, consider that it’s actually almost 100 per cent better than at the same point last year. One game into Week 5 in 2017, the West had a 10-2 record against the East eventually leading to the crossover coming into play in the postseason. Suggesting the gap is closing.
THE ONE MISSING STAT
Jeremiah Masoli has been really good for the Ticats this season. His 1,378 passing yards are second in the league and his string of nine 300-yard passing games is now tied for the all-time league record.
So it’s odd to see him just two touchdown passes ahead of former Ticat Zach Collaros. Especially since Masoli has played basically every down this season and Collaros was injured in the opening quarter of the season’s second game.
SERIOUSLY?
OddsShark now lists the Toronto Raptors as the favourite to land San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard in a trade. Presumably for DeMar DeRozan or Kyle Lowry. Or a package of young emerging players.
Trading one of his two best players (or the controllable guys who gave the team its depth) for a guy who’s made it clear he wants to join LeBron on the Los Angeles Lakers — and will be a free agent after this season, meaning, he’ll be going there — for a Hail Mary chance at making it to the NBA finals where his team would get disemboweled by the Golden State Warriors or any of three or four other Western teams who are clearly better than the Raptors would certainly establish Masai Ujiri as the ultimate gunslinger GM.
Or the ultimate over-reacher.
A WRINKLE IN TIME
We’re all getting older so, yes, pot calling the kettle black here. But the trip from England to the United States to join D.C. United in the MLS appears to have aged Wayne Rooney by a couple decades. He’s only 32. He looks 50.
ON AND ON AND ON AND ...
Lots of talk about Mookie Betts’ 13-pitch at bat that ended with a grand slam against the Blue Jays on Thursday. It was epic but not near the longest at-bat ever. That said, you don’t have to go all that far back to find the record.
It was back in April that San Francisco’s Brandon Belt had a 21-pitch at bat against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jaime Barria. That one took 12 minutes and 45 seconds and saw Belt foul off 10 straight pitches at one point. Before flying out to right.
IT HAS A NAME
Major League Soccer. Canada Soccer. Ontario Soccer. BC Soccer. Alberta Soccer. Manitoba Soccer. Saskatchewan Soccer Association. Federation de soccer du Quebec. Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association. Soccer Nova Scotia. PEI Soccer Association. Northwest Territories Soccer. Hamilton and District Soccer Association. Mount Hamilton Youth Soccer Club. East Hamilton Soccer Club. Hamilton United Elite Soccer Club. Soccerworld. Saltfleet Stoney Creek Soccer Club. Old-Timers Soccer league. Sistas in Soccer. Hamilton City Soccer Club. Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame. Ancaster Soccer. Hamilton Girls Soccer Club. On and on and on ...
Note to broadcasters working in North America: The rest of the world may call it football. In Canada it’s soccer. Football here is that other sport.
Thank you.