HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!
The Cape Breton Eagles first playoff game on March 29 was a tremendous success showing promise for fans and players, but the centre ice intro of Mr. Premier himself, Tim Houston, prior to the opening faceoff wasn’t what I and others anticipated.
Surely Houston’s gracing us with his presence wasn’t what he expected due to the boos directed his way not once, but twice after a member of the Eagles organization asked for a warmer reception which was met with a more concerted chorus of boos!
The reasons behind Timmy’s rousing reception? Strike one: the largest Cape Breton snowstorm that in my 62 years I’ve ever witnessed and Tim’s unmitigated gall to infer that our mayor would use a declaration of a state of emergency as a publicity stunt towards what end I have no idea, and how such a move would benefit her or the people of Cape Breton?!
Strike two: the whole sham relating to the centre ice clock at Centre 200. From what I have heard a new clock was promised for the arena prior to the commencement of the World Women’s Curling Championship hosted in little old Cape Breton. Three levels of government had agreed to cost share the funds required and time was of the essence. The deadline for tenders had to be called, reviewed and granted sometime before Dec. 31 and all the ducks seemed to be in a row.
But the province’s $850,000 share, decided by the powers that be, was reneged upon leaving the venture dead in the water. This lack of fulfillment by the province left the others in limbo and with the world coming together in Sydney for curling supremacy, time was running short.
Suffice to say that the new clock still hasn’t materialized, but the provincial government, with Houston taking lead, recently decided to honour their bargain and release the funds.
Timster and his followers didn’t just drop the ball, puck and rock in this case, but placed a target directly on the back of his “team.” My only hope is that come the next election Cape Bretoners finally see a clearer path and decide that the icing of the clock is not the final straw, but a reminder that when this area requires a helping hand don’t look towards the current body in government so they can brush us off. Instead, make your voice heard and make it count towards the third strike which will finally bring this group to a fitting end.
Also, in terms of an organization requiring guidance, the Eagles really need to take into account how other teams conduct business. Case in point: the Eagles asked for all fans in attendance to represent the team by wearing white or buying an ungodly white t-shirt that I was told retailed for around $25. Yet the Eagles wore their black home jerseys.
Next, the team had a promo during the regular season whereby an attendance of 3,000-plus granted a $3,000 draw that one lucky season ticket holder would win, but such was not the case for the crowd of roughly over 4,200 who didn’t get the same chance during the playoffs.