SPORTING LIFE
News you need to get through the day …
A few scattered thoughts during the quietest time on the sports calendar … PURE BRILLIANCE
Hockey is done. Basketball is done. Baseball is entering the dog days. The NFL is in its off-season. There are no Olympics this year. No World Cup or Euros, either. The sports marketplace is smack dab in the middle of its middle-of-the-year doldrums. There’s little going on so there’s an appetite among fans to latch on to something. Anything.
The Conor McGregor-Floyd Mayweather fight may be a ridiculous mismatch and a terrible dud. But that doesn’t mean the two guys involved, who are going to be paid in the hundreds of millions of dollars for their efforts, aren’t marketing — and timing — geniuses. COME TO LIGHT
Hamilton’s Arkells will be performing at the NHL Awards and Expansion Draft on Wednesday evening. It’s a perfect choice, not just because they’re local and they’re outstanding. Also because they have songs to fit every award. Consider the possibilities …
Hart Trophy (MVP) My Heart’s Always Yours Calder Trophy (best rookie) Knocking At The Door Art Ross Trophy (top scorer) And Then Some Norris Trophy (top defenceman) Come Back Home Vezina Trophy (best goalie) Agent Zero Lady Byng Trophy (most gentlemanly) Pullin’ Punches Jack Adams Award (top coach) Systematic CLAP, CLAP, STOMP
The greatest sports stadium anthem ever recorded — at least, according to Sports Illustrated — turns 40 this year. We Will Rock You is now played thousands of times a year at arenas and games everywhere.
Oddly, when it was released as a single in 1977, Canada was decidedly unimpressed. That year and the next, it never cracked the top 100 singles in this country, according to RPM Magazine. Even more oddly, the theme music from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” did. HOMECOMING?
The powerhouse University of Connecticut women’s basketball team will be honouring its two graduating seniors by having homecoming games for them. One in Reno, Nevada, for Gabby Williams, and one in Toronto for Kia Nurse. Wait, Toronto? The choice of Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre wasn’t made by the Hamilton native. She had nothing to do with it. But for the record, the folks at FirstOntario Centre say they were never
asked if the building was available for a true homecoming. Too bad. AARON HILL VS. ERIN HILLS
Once upon a time, Aaron Hill was a power-hitting second baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays. Now he’s the venue for the U.S. Open gold championship.
Confusing. IS THERE TIME FOR HOCKEY?
Hamilton Bulldogs new associate head coach Dave Matsos — Matty to his friends — has a few things to fall back on if he ever decides to step away from hockey.
He has taken his securities course and worked at the Toronto Stock Exchange for a while, painted houses for a time, has his real estate licence and was apprenticing as a mason for three years before being offered his first coaching job. A HARD RAIN’S GONNA FALL
Going into Friday night’s game at Bernie Arbour Stadium, the Hamilton Cardinals have been rained out in eight of their 17 scheduled games. That must be approaching some kind of record. NAME GAME
The best baseball names taken in the MLB draft this week? Robbie Hitt (Brewers), Janson Junk (Yankees), Zach Pop (Dodgers), Cutter Dyals (Braves), Jason Delay (Pirates), Joshua Walker (Mets), Dante and Evan Mendoza (Indians and Cardinals) and — once he has a few good years — Cash Case (Reds).
The best names, period? How about Mason House (Padres), Hunter Wolfe (Pirates) and Troy Bacon (Braves)? ALL OVER THE MAP
If you’re planning on watching the NHL draft (Friday and Saturday) to see some Hamilton Bulldogs get their names called, you’d better not leave to get a sandwich or go to the bathroom any time between the first and fourth rounds. Because the team’s two top prospects could apparently go almost anywhere.
A couple online mock drafts have Matthew Strome going in the first round. None have Mackenzie Entwistle going there. For what that’s worth.
That said, the Hockey News has Entwistle going at 41 and Strome at 47. From there the predictions get wacky. Go to thehockeywriters.com and they’ve got Entwistle going 44th and Strome 75th, while draftsite.com has them flipped with Strome going 43rd and Entwistle going 74th.
Which really means nobody really has a clue.
sradley@thespec.com 905-526-2440 | @radleyatthespec Spectator columnist Scott Radley hosts The Scott Radley Show weeknights from 7-9 on 900CHML