Deep Thoughts
Who makes the all-time fictional hockey lineup?
A few random thoughts for the weekend we celebrate National Toothache Day. Otherwise known as National Bobby Clarke Day ...
Now he’s got both
Once upon a time, Tim Terry was a late-season acquisition for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who replaced the injured Gonzalo Floyd on the defensive line. Joe Montford was the rush end on one side, Terry was the guy on the other. As part of this group, he won a Grey Cup in 1999.
“It’s just a great feeling to go, like, to the Super Bowl of Canada,” he said.
On Sunday, he won the real Super Bowl, now as director of pro personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs.
He’s right
Pete Rose has applied to Major League Baseball for reinstatement saying if the league wasn’t going to discipline members of the Houston Astros for cheating, he shouldn’t be penalized either.
Not a fan of what he did, but the man has a point.
Or a month’s groceries
You might’ve wished you were at the Super Bowl last weekend. However, if you were, you might not have had the cash to eat again for a month. And we’re not even talking about the cost of the tickets to get in.
Tall boy beers were $19, a frozen daiquiri was $22, a hotdog was $14, a roast beef sandwich was $28, and if you wanted popcorn and a pop, it was $30. All in American money.
The solution
After that whole Janet JacksonJustin Timberlake fiasco now 16 years ago, the NFL finally found a way to ensure there wouldn’t be another pesky wardrobe malfunction during this year’s halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
Get rid of the wardrobes altogether.
Is it really a mistake?
Plenty of people are taking shots at the Boston Red Sox for trading Mookie Betts who is one of the best players in baseball and in his prime. Sports Illustrated even called it “a dereliction of duty.”
Perhaps. But Betts is about to be a
free agent and reportedly asked for a 12-year, $420-million contract. That’s $35 million a year until he’s 39 when he’ll be nowhere near the player he is today.
He’s an amazing player and it’s a big loss today for the Red Sox. But that sounds less like dereliction and more like common sense.
Times change
For the record, a contract of that size would be worth $290 million more than the owners of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays each paid for their expansion franchises just 22 years ago.
The real Mookie
Mookie is a nickname. His real name is Markus Lynn Betts.
Loving the stripes
They say referees never have a home game. Not true.
On Saturday at the New York Islanders’ game, more than 200 fans dressed in stripes held signs saying ‘Zebras are people too’ and ‘Wow, that’s a good call’ and wildly cheered every offside, icing or other whistle by the officials.
Loving it
Could we please have 25 Calgary-Edmonton games next season. The Battle of Alberta is that good right now. Hating it
Remember back in late November when the Buffalo Sabres were one of the top teams in the entire league?
(Forehead slap)
Your Question
What former Montreal Canadiens backup goalie was derisively known as Red Light, which may be the cruelest nickname in sports history?
Best made-up team
Who would be the starting lineup on a hockey team made up entirely of fictional players? Glad you asked. Here’s our choices. Debate among yourselves.
G — Denis Lemieux (Slap Shot)
D — Reilly (Letterkenny)
D — Happy Gilmore (Happy Gilmore) LW — Ned Bradon (Slap Shot)
C — Derek Sutton (Youngblood) RW — Doug Dorsey (The Cutting Edge)
On the bench: Reg Dunlop (Slap Shot), Gunnar Stahl (D2: The Mighty Ducks), Dean Youngblood (Youngblood), Ogie Ogilthorpe (Slap Shot), Jack the monkey (Most Valuable Primate), Adam Banks (The Mighty Ducks)
With one caveat
The above lineup was done for the purpose of variety. Because the three forwards in any real scenario involving fictional players would, of course, be the Hanson Brothers.
Can’t be true
Phil Mickelson is currently ranked 72nd on the world golf rankings.
That just sounds wrong.
Can I play?
Speaking of golf, Michael Gligic is going to be having more fun this week that you are. Guaranteed.
Playing at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Burlington native — and rookie PGA Tour pro — has been paired up with Ray Romano. Also in his group is Larry the Cable Guy.
Might be a tad difficult to concentrate on golf, to be honest.
Kicking off the X
The XFL kicks off this weekend. If nothing else, it’s loaded up its teams with big-name stars.
Willie Mays is playing in this league along with Will Smith, Ben Johnson, Chris Brown and Corey Crawford. Amazing.
Let’s hope
Hope the XFL broadcast crews are allowed to have fun with some of the other names. Boggles the mind to think of what this league could do with Willie Beavers, Jazz Ferguson, Scooby Wright, Tracy Sprinkle, Storm Norton, Boogie Roberts and Pharoah McKever.
Hey Resolutionites
It’s now February. Given up going to the gym yet?
Your Answer
Andre Racicot was the goalie known as Red Light during his time with the Habs.