Random thoughts

So again, I haven't posted anything in awhile (maybe I should just stop saying that), frankly because there's been too much depressing shit going on.

Like I've said before, I typically couldn't care less when celebrities die, sure it's sad, but most of them haven't affected my life in any way. The past few weeks have been different. I've gone over the impact of Michael Jackson's death, but two other people stand out.

If you're a fan of NFL football, you know who Steve McNair was. Simply put, the man was a warrior on the field. Much like Michael Jackson paved the way for many black musicians, McNair did the same for not only black quarterbacks, but also an inspiration for players from small schools like Alcorn State with dreams of one day playing in the NFL, regardless of where they came from. In the year that the Titans were the AFC Champions, McNair was so battered with injuries that he couldn't even participate in practices. He toughed it out every week leading his team one yard short of winning the Super Bowl. Regardless of his personal life, it doesn't change the incredible player that he was and I hope that's what he's remembered for.



George Stroumboulopoulos: "Martin Streek (and David Bookman) are so important to this city, what they do for music ... Streek when he’s on the radio... quality wins. They believe in music. They are the snipers waiting by the window keeping everyone on their game. Because their music knowledge is impeccable, their passion is unrivaled and they’re not afraid to tell you. They understand how important a record can be to your life."

I'll admit that I rarely listened to Martin during live-to-air broadcasts on the Edge because I'm not really a big fan of the format. However, I'll never forget how Martin hosted the Thursday 30. Catching up on whatever was new, whatever was current, and the ground breakers with what personally I think was one of the best voices in radio was something I looked forward to every Thursday night. I'm sad to say that I never did take up his weekly invitation to everyone to swing on by the studio for some free Pizza Pizza and wings, but I wish I had now, if not just to meet the guy.



R.I.P Martin Streek, you will be missed.

Anyways, enough of the depressing stuff. The Home Run Derby is on right now. It'll help me momentarily forget about how much the Jays fucking blow right now. This is my pick to win the thing:



P.S. What is with this fucking garbage strike that's dominating the news lately? Do we really wanna turn into Buffalo?

Rome wasn't built in a day...

All of you calling for Brian Burke's head need to chill the fuck out. So he didn't sign the Sedins, Cammalerri, or Gaborik. A lot of other teams didn't either. I know every Toronto Maple Leafs fan is jonesing for the playoffs but in case you forgot that's not the goal for the upcoming season. We don't exactly have the cap room either even if it was. We're rebuilding right now, and I'm actually glad that we are. We haven't gone on a legitimate playoff run since 2002 and after 6 years (okay I'll give you 5 because of the lockout) of early exits from the post-season, or going on pointless runs down the stretch to try to squeak into the playoffs (resulting in a shitty draft spot), I'm glad management finally decides that we need to start over. It's the second year of the rebuilding project and the first off-season run by Brian Burke. He has a Stanley Cup on his resume, something this city hasn't seen since Lester B. Pearson was the Prime Minister (I couldn't think of anything else that happened in 1967, Expo '67 maybe?), so he's not stupid. If you need an example, look no farther than the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. From the 2001-2002 season to the 2005-2006 season, the Penguins were beyond awful. The team was in serious financial troubles too (something we'll never have to worry about in Toronto), but the very next season they qualified for the playoffs. They lost in the first round, the next year they made the finals, and the season after that they were hoisting the Stanley Cup. Over all those years, they turned their horrible regular seasons into high draft picks, adding other players along the way.

So if you want to see the team sign some big name goal scorer (who'd come here now anyway?) and watch the the team either miss or just get into the playoffs and get bounced quickly by a better team, then I guess you have a good reason to complain.

Michael Jackson

I still can't believe he's gone. I was at home watching the Dodgers game when I got a news alert in my inbox saying that Michael Jackson had suffered a heart attack. I don't know why, but I didn't care much at the time and immediately assumed that he'd pull through. Soon more news alerts began pouring in and it was all over TV that the legendary King of Pop had died. I refused to believe it until a big name (and more credible) source confirmed that he was. After probably what was about an hour of scouring the internet for a credible source while at the same time hoping that he would pull through, CNN confirmed.

It was very well known that Michael had his problems. However, when someone dies, you don't focus on the negative stuff. You remember them for all the good things. Think of all the music, the shows, the entertainer that he was. Many artists today would say they wouldn't be where they are today without Michael paving the way for them.

Usually when a celebrity dies, it's a sad thing, but I don't care that often. This was different. After the news, I started to listen to all the songs I had by him. I went on Youtube to watch Thriller. I almost got choked up hearing all the tributes to him on the radio the morning after. It surprised me how much I actually did care.

They said it after Elvis died, and the same thing applies here because Michael was really the Elvis of another genration. "The King is dead, but his music will live on forever."

Booooooo!

The Draft

Again, I haven't posted anything in awhile. However, I am doing so now because one of my favorite parts of professional sports is upon us again! (No, not the exciting action of pre-season CFL football...) It's the NBA/NHL Drafts!

Yes, it's that time again. That time of the year where the season is over and everyone is optimistic about their favorite team again. Experts analyze (and often are wrong) on which players will become future stars in their respective sports, fans tout 1st round picks as the second coming of some Hall of Famer from that team's glory years.

Here in Toronto, it's a little different though...

Looking at past drafts for the Raps/Leafs are very painful things to see. While other teams have lucked out in capturing superstar players, Toronto hasn't been quite so lucky. Sure in the last 20 years or so we've managed to draft some pretty good players (Vince Carter? Chris Bosh?), the majority of picks don't exactly don't pan out. And if they do, it's usually not here and on some other team or they just walk away from the team as soon as they can. How fast is Chris Bosh going to be on a plane out of T.O. after next season? What about Roy Halladay? This is why I love the NFL Draft especially, there's no Toronto team in the league to let me down and my favorite team has been spectacular with their picks.

But enough negativity, because like everyone says every year, "THIS IS THE YEAR!"

I guess we'll see.

Legendary

So I haven't posted anything in a bit, probably because I've had nothing interesting to say (like the other stuff is anyway). However last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup after one of the most entertaining Stanley Cup Finals in a long time. It produced this picture/video:



Think about how often we see pictures and videos of Gretzky hoisting the cup for the first time with the Oilers. Not comparing Sid the Kid to Gretzky, but I think this is the start of something very similar. We'll look back and will be able to say that we saw Crosby and company win their first of maybe a few more, not to mention how iconic this picture will become throughout the years. As much as I hate Pittsburgh sports teams (fuck the Steelers), it's hard to hate a team led by the face of Canadian hockey. Congratulations Penguins.

Observations from the Jays Game

So I was at the Jays game yesterday and had some sweet tickets behind the plate thanks to a good friend of mine and I noticed a few things...

1. Scalpers are annoying - Everytime I go down to a game (much like anyone else that goes) I'm bothered by 5-10 scalpers on the way asking me if I want baseball tickets. A simple no would suffice I know, but it's a lot more fun to just fuck with them. Some examples include:

a) Screaming "LET'S GO BLUE JAYS" (or whatever) in their face.
b) Telling them that you don't like baseball (even better when you're decked out in a jersey and hat).
c) Staring at them while walking by, then after passing them, continue to stare while walking backwards until they look away.

And yes, I actually think this is funny.

2. Screaming at the opposition's fans is fun too.

3. 80% of the Red Sox fans I saw there were HUGE (the fat kind).

4. There were a lot of them, too many in fact.

5. The more expensive the tickets, the more boring the people around you are. Not hard to start a chant or chirp the other team's players in the 500 level or the outfield. You also seem like less of an idiot in doing so.

6. 9.50 for a tall boy??? 6 bucks for PEANUTS???

7. I'm a hypocrite, I bought an Icee for 4.50.

8. Dustin Pedroia is an elf.

9. The Jays love to get blown out when I attend their games.

Anyways, Conan is on in like 15 minutes. I had to stop watching him because of stupid school so I'm pumped. Peace.