(Deep) NOT SO thoughts
A few random thoughts for the weekend we celebrate National Cabbage Day. Somehow seems fitting on a week the Toronto Argonauts signed a guy named Poop Johnson …
ALREADY LOCKED UP
Congratulations to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for finishing first in the East this season, winning at least 12 games for the first time since 1998, earning a first-round bye and hosting the Eastern final. Too early?
Your competition is the gutted Ottawa Redblacks, the abysmal and hopeless Montreal Alouettes and Toronto, a team that can’t lure stars even when it offers way more money than others.
So, yeah, it’s only mid-February but the Ticats have already won the division.
GO WEST ... ALL MEN
Six of the top seven passers in the CFL last year now play in the west. Both defensive player of the year finalists from last season are now in the west. Both outstanding Canadian finalists are now in the west. The top five rushing-yards leaders are in the west.
The west was already the vastly stronger division, and it just got considerably stronger. Western teams have earned the crossover three straight seasons.
It’s time for the league to finally acknowledge it has to do something about this. Namely, go to one division. Top six teams get in the playoffs regardless of geography. Period, end of story.
Basically, force franchises in the east to be better or never compete for the Grey Cup.
YIKES
One more CFL note.
One of Ottawa, Montreal or Toronto is guaranteed a playoff spot this season. And guaranteed to host that game.
Chew on that for a while.
HMMM ...
If what happens in Vegas really stays in Vegas, should Golden Knights games be televised?
HELMET TIME
Dundas Real McCoys president and general manager Don Robertson threw out an interesting thought the other day. How come Zamboni drivers in public rinks (except FirstOntario Centre) have to wear helmets yet garbage collectors and other public employees working on slippery conditions outside, don’t?
Which job is more likely to result in a fall and head injury?
CUTTING BACK
Pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training, and position players are now following.
If the season was to start today, the Toronto Blue Jays would have a payroll of $67,503,571 which is the sixth-smallest in baseball and $12 million behind the perpetually small-market Oakland A’s, according to spotrac.com.
However, the Jays will be paying Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin a combined $38,595,000
not to play.
WHO DOESN’T LIKE SMOOTHIES?
The whole situation with Anthony Davis demanding a trade and then seemingly playing halfheartedly was described as a “dumpster fire” by Pelicans’ head coach Alvin Gentry this week.
Also a dumpster fire? The fact that the arena in New Orleans is called the Smoothie King Centre.
CONFUSING
Speaking of arenas, we all understand sponsorship deals and arena naming rights, but gosh, does it ever make it difficult to keep track of what building is where. Proof ? What NBA teams play in the following arenas: Amway Center, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Fiserv Forum, Talking Stick Resort Arena and Vivint Smart Home Arena? The answers are below.
GREAT NAMES
Our choices for the best 10 names of players in NCAA basketball this season.
J’Breun Sprinkle, Arkansas Pine Bluff; Hunter Seacat, Appalachian State; Thorir Thorbjarnarson, Nebraska; Fatts Russell, Rhode Island; Pauly Paulicap, Manhattan College; Djordjije Sljivancanin, UNLV; Tacko Fall, UCF; Charlie Brown Jr., Saint Joseph’s; Oddyst Walker, Stephen F. Austin; Walter Whyte, Boston University.
OH, GEE
While we’re talking about names, if you’ve been wondering, is OG the real first name of Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby, we have an answer for you. No.
His full first name is Ogugua. Which is actually a shortened version of Oguguamakwa. It’s a Nigerian word meaning comfort
me or pacify. He has a brother, Chigbo, who played in the NFL. His name is also a shortened version of a Nigerian name meaning May God end this fight for me.
PLAY HIM THEN
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse told reporters he wants Kawhi Leonard to be more engaged.
Here’s an idea. Don’t sit him out for a quarter of your team’s games. Actually playing would probably get him more engaged.
MAY AS WELL
Great quote from Ben Zambiasi that didn’t make it into the piece written about him in Friday’s paper.
He needs a knee replacement but put it off for as long as possible. Why would he do that? “I’m using it up,” he says.
GUNNING FOR A RECORD
Throughout the Hamilton Bulldogs American Hockey League years, 21 players collected more than 50 goals in their careers. Since the Bulldogs switched to the OHL four seasons ago, Matt Luff (52), Brandon Saigeon (85), and Matt Strome (113) have more than 50 for their careers.
With 13 games remaining — including Friday night’s contest in Ottawa — Arthur Kaliyev needs just six to hit 50 this season. No Bulldog has ever done that.
TWO MINUTES FOR BLOCKING
In James Naismith’s original 13 rules of basketball, a player who committed a foul had to sit out until the next basket is scored by the other team. Which sounds very much like the way hockey handles penalties.
Of course, Naismith was a Canadian, so it makes sense.
THE ANSWERS
The Orlando Magic play at Amway Center, Oklahoma City Thunder play at Chesapeake Energy Arena, Milwaukee Bucks play at Fiserv Forum, Phoenix Suns play at Talking Stick Resort Arena, and the Utah Jazz play at Vivint Smart Home Arena.