05 April 2009
What IS This Historic Designation For City Hall?
11/04/2009 03:41
Hi Don:
I'd prefer not to show up on your web site ... just yet. In passing, I think you're doing great with your web site.
Are you considering starting a thread on the subject?
Does the subject make any sense to you? Not to me. I wrote this today showing how bamboozled I am.
Our mayor and council appear united in their resolve to move forward with seeking a provincial designation of "historic resource" for our city hall.
What the hell is this about?
- What is the *overt* benefit to the City (i.e., how do the mayor and council argue that it's a good idea?
- What is the likely / possible underhanded reason for the action?
- How can a building only 25 years old *possibly* be considered by any reasonable man an historic resource? (Small-minded question: have we even retired the mortgage yet?)
- To what extent can the city suffer loss of some "owner's rights" by yielding (some) authority to the Government of Alberta in accepting this designation?
Lots of fascinating brain teasers. But to try to "un-stir" this pot-de-merde, one might begin here.
No Name Please
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
The answer to all your questions is singular, No Name. Robbing Hood And His Merry Band Of Men want a new city hall and this council is going to give it to them. It will be just one more shakedown of taxpayer’s wallets.
Easter In Canada
11/04/2009 03:31
Don,
Geez . . . I can't believe I'm passing on a blonde joke . . . but this did make me laugh.
We blondes have a great sense of humour!!
Shirley Allen
St. Albert
Three blondes died and found themselves at Heaven's gate standing before St.Peter. He told them that before they could enter the Kingdom, they had to explain to him what Easter represented.
The first blonde, an American, said "Easter is a holiday where they have a big feast and we give thanks and eat turkey."
St. Peter said, "Noooooo!" and he banished her to Hell.
The second blonde, a Brit, said "Easter is when we celebrate Jesus' birth and exchange gifts."
St. Peter said, "Noooooo!" and he banished her to Hell.
The third blonde, a Canadian, said she knew what Easter was, and St. Peter said, "So, tell me."
She said, "Easter is a Christian celebration that coincides with the Jewish festival of Passover. Jesus was having a Passover feast with His disciples when He was betrayed by Judas, and the Romans arrested Him. The Romans hung Him on the cross and eventually He died. Then they buried Him in a tomb behind a very large boulder ... "
St. Peter said, "Verrrrrry good!"
Then the blonde continued, "Now, every year the Jews roll away the boulder and Jesus comes out. If he sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of hockey."
SINC SAYS:
Thanks Shirley! That one had me snortin’ a beer back in the glass.
Taxpayers Association Meetin Location Changes
11/04/2009 03:20
Happy Easter and
Spring to you
all.We had just under 30 folks at our meeting with Gareth Jones...and it was a touch crowded. So we have explored a new meeting place. The good news....The St. Albert Community Hall, 17 Perron Street is our new home for the rest of the year. It is just south of St. Anne Street.
BUT, we had to change our meeting day to TUESDAYS. We are now meeting on the fourth Tuesday of April, May and June here.
April 28th
May 26th
June 23rd
I'll be sending out the summary of our meeting with Gareth and information on our April meeting soon. And I hope to see you all there.
Lynda Flannery
President
St. Albert Taxpayers Association
SINC SAYS:
Wow, Lynda, it sounds as if things are really starting to move along well for the group. I wish you every success in stopping the continuing, out of control spending by this council.
Diary Of A Trip To The UK
11/04/2009 03:20
SINC SAYS:
Local resident Alison Glass send along these notes and pictures from a recent trip to the UK:
Someone had a sense of humor a long time ago! I found this in St. Mary's church yard Barnard Castle, Co Durham, England.
We also went here on one of the tours and met a bus full of young rugby players from BC:
Enviromentaly friendly pest control at Heathrow bus terminus:
Local resident Alison Glass send along these notes and pictures from a recent trip to the UK:
Someone had a sense of humor a long time ago! I found this in St. Mary's church yard Barnard Castle, Co Durham, England.
We also went here on one of the tours and met a bus full of young rugby players from BC:
Enviromentaly friendly pest control at Heathrow bus terminus:
Giant Sturgeon Caught, Released
11/04/2009 03:20
This Sturgeon was
caught on the Willamette River just below
Oregon City.
It weighed out at over 1,000 lbs and measured out at 11'1". It was 56" around the girth and took over 6 and a half hours for the four guys taking turns at the reeling it in.
Any Sturgeon OVER about five feet has to be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water. They are brood / breeding stock and probably older than most of us.
SINC SAYS:
Now there’s one fish story that is true. What a monster!
Dispute Between Neighbors - Brilliant
11/04/2009 03:20
A town councilor
in Wales, Mark Easton, had a beautiful
view of the mountains, until a new neighbor
purchased the land below his house and built a
new home.
The new home was 18 inches higher than the planning department had approved, so Mark Easton, mad about his lost view, went to the local authority to make sure they enforced the roof line height.
The new neighbor had to drop the roof height, at great expense.
Recently, Mark Easton called the planning dept, and informed them that his new neighbor had installed some vents on the side of his new property.
Mark didn't like the look of these vents and asked the planning dept to investigate.
When they went to Mark's home to see what the vents looked like, this is what they found . . .
The Local Authority said the vents can stay since there is no planning law referring to shutter design.
The new home was 18 inches higher than the planning department had approved, so Mark Easton, mad about his lost view, went to the local authority to make sure they enforced the roof line height.
The new neighbor had to drop the roof height, at great expense.
Recently, Mark Easton called the planning dept, and informed them that his new neighbor had installed some vents on the side of his new property.
Mark didn't like the look of these vents and asked the planning dept to investigate.
When they went to Mark's home to see what the vents looked like, this is what they found . . .
The Local Authority said the vents can stay since there is no planning law referring to shutter design.
Kevin Martin Falls To Scotland At Worlds – Again
11/04/2009 03:19
David Murdoch appears to have Kevin Martin's number at the 2009 World Men's Curling Champion
-ship.
Murdoch's Scotland rink knocked off the defending champion Canadians for the second straight night, this time a 7-5 victory in the 1 vs. 2 page playoff Friday.
The loss sends Martin to the semifinal Saturday at 3 p.m. ET (TSN) to face the winner of the playoff match between Norway and Switzerland at 9 a.m. ET (TSN) Saturday.
Scotland's win sends the rink straight to Sunday's final (6:30 p.m. TSN).
On Thursday, Murdoch defeated Martin 6-5 in the teams' final match of the round robin.
More from ctvolympics.ca
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I’ll tell you what, folks. You heard it here first. David Murdoch and company will NOT beat Kevin Martin three times in-a-row. Period.
Catch all of the action of the Page 3 vs. 4 playoff game between Norway and Switzerland this morning at 7:00 a.m. and the semi-final between Canada and the winner of the 3. vs. 4 game at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon on TSN and TSN-HD. The winner of the semi gets another crack at Murdoch in the championship final at 4:30 p.m. local time Sunday.
Perry, Campbell Lead Masters At -9; Tiger -2
11/04/2009 03:19
Chad Campbell had himself a hot-and-cold second round at The Masters, but it was Kenny Perry who made the most noise during the second round at Augusta National Golf Club. Perry shot a 5-under par 67 to pull into a tie for the lead with Campbell at 9-under for the tournament.
Angel Cabrera shot his second consecutive round of 4-under par and sits one stroke behind the leaders.
Playing conditions at Augusta were considerably more difficult than they were during Thursday's first round. The wind picked up and with storm clouds threatening for most of the day, good scores were at a premium.
At one point, first round leader Campbell was 4-under for his round, but he bogeyed the 11th, 12th, and 17th holes to fall back. He birdied the par-4 18th to save a 70 for the day.
Tiger Woods was unable to make up any ground on the leaders during the second round. He made three birdies and three bogeys to finish at par with a 72. He remains 2-under for the tournament.
Mike Weir shot a 4-under 68 in Thursday's opening round, but he made double bogey on the par-5 second hole on Friday and finished 3-over par on the day. Weir is one-under for the tournament, and did not make a birdie during round two.
Stephen Ames fared significantly better than Weir. He shot a 4-under 68 to overcome a disappointing 73 on Thursday, and is now at 3-under for the tournament.
The best round of the day was carded by Anthony Kim, who made 11 birdies en route to a 7-under 65. His score was a full ten shots better than his opening round performance and he improved to 4-under for the tournament.
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Who thinks Tiger Woods is too far back? He may well be, but wouldn’t a 65 today go a long way?
Adam Braidwood Lasts 1:07 In Boxing Match
11/04/2009 03:19
EDMONTON -- The Boogeyman didn’t scare anyone this time, except his football teammates, if they were watching.
Adam (Boogeyman) Braidwood learned a tough lesson in his second professional boxing event on Thursday.
The Edmonton Eskimos defensive lineman lasted just 1:07 as he lost by technical knockout to Lethbridge’s Lee Mein, an MMA fighter making his pro boxing debut.
A series of solid rights put a nervous looking Braidwood down in the first minute. A pair of body blows followed by an overhand right ended it shortly after, much to the horror of the roughly 3,000 fans on hand at Shaw Conference Centre.
“He didn‘t take the pressure very well. I didn’t think it would bother him as much as it did,” said Braidwood’s trainer Milan Lubovac.
“What he did in the gym, he didn’t do here. He was too nervous before the fight. It’s too bad.
“We’ll see what he wants to do. The worst thing that could happen, happened, so I don’t know what to do from here. It’s all up to Adam, he can’t be looking as good as he did in the gym and come here and ... ”
Lubovac didn’t have to finish that last statement. Mein did it for him.
“It happens. I’ve fought on my own shows in Lethbridge and have been knocked out in front of everybody. That’s part of the game. There are no guarantees in fighting,” said Mein, wearing the black hat in the matchup.
“I’m sure it will help his career, if he’s serious about it. He needs to fight tough guys, not just guys who are going to fall over for him. He’ll learn from that and get better, like we’ve all done from our losses.”
Mein took the fight on with just two weeks notice and the 41-year-old strictly worked on cardio and not sparring.
“I know I didn’t have enough to go hard for four rounds. I knew I could give him a round like that. I can go toe-to-toe with anybody. It felt good,” said Mein.
In other fights, Edmonton’s Ayana Pelletier improved to 5-1 as she overwhelmed Elizabeth Mckay of St. Louis, who was making her pro debut. Referee Len Koivisto stopped the fight at 1:21 of the first round as Pelletier landed a combination of punches, the last one a sharp left to the body.
“We were hoping for more,” said Lubovac, who also works with Pelletier. “She couldn’t work it very well. This girl (McKay) wasn’t ready for it. I think Ayana will be a world-class fighter.”
Calgarian Steve Claggett upped his perfect log to 4-0 in a second round TKO of Billy Arnott (4-5) of Winnipeg. That one lasted just 1:06 as fans really didn’t get much bang for their buck in the first three fights.
In an exhibition muay thai fight, Edmonton’s Levi Kump defeated Bruce Sesseman of St. Louis on a second-round TKO.
In the main event, Edmonton’s Jelena Mrdjenovich was set to take on Winnipeg’s Olivia (The Predator) Gerula for the World Boxing Council super featherweigt title later Thursday.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
As I have said before, Braidwood should hang up the gloves before he gets in the ring with a “real” boxer and ends up getting himself killed.
A Look At The Quarterbacks Around The CFL
11/04/2009 03:19
By Jack Bedell
CFL.ca
While it’s not unusual for CFL teams to carry extra pivots into training camp, many times these players are simply “camp arms” to keep starting QBs as fresh as possible for the long season. This off-season, however, several teams seem to be stockpiling legitimate talent at quarterback.
Status Quo has always dictated that smart teams keep at least two pivots on the roster capable of winning ball games in the event of injury to their number one guy. Heading into 2009, though, the majority of teams in the league are three-deep at pivot with both proven and young talent, and some teams like Calgary, Hamilton and Montreal sport embarrassments of riches five and six-deep on their rosters.
Here’s a quick look around the CFL at quarterbacks under contract:
B. C. Lions
If the 2008 pre-season proved anything, it proved the Lions’ QB depth chart is pretty much 1A and 1B with Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson. Both pivots have proven they can be effective and productive leaders. With Pierce signing a lucrative extension this off-season, he’s got the reins in his hands at present, but Jackson is definitely ready, willing, and able to take over if Pierce goes down to injury for any considerable amount of time. Third-stringer Zac Champion is going to be a player in the league, too, and is great insurance against injury disaster for B.C.
Calgary Stampeders
Henry Burris really hit his stride in 2008, and will no doubt pick up where he left off after earning a Grey Cup MVP in Montreal last November, especially considering the depth of the Stamps’ receiving corps. Unlike the security of the past few seasons, when the Stamps had serious experience behind Hank like Danny McManus and Dave Dickenson, however, the champs go into 2009 with a trio of relatively inexperienced CFL pivots—Barrick Nealy, Ben Sankey, and Will Proctor—and an Arena League exile, Dan D’Orazio, waiting in the wings. That’s a significant dip in talent from Burris that has to have Stamps fans hoping Hank stays on the field.
Edmonton Eskimos
The Stefan LeFors trade leaves a bit of a hole in terms of security behind Ricky Ray and Jason Maas on the Esks’ bench. Ray is a phenomenal talent, but he’s taken his share of hits in the past waiting to deliver long balls. Maas is a gamer who looks like he’s recovered from shoulder woes in Hamilton and Montreal, but who may not hold up to an extended period of relief should Ray go down. As good as those two QBs are, Edmonton needs to add some depth post-haste.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
For more from Jack Bedell and to see how he ranks the quarterbacks around the CFL, click here.
Don Koharski (Koho) Retires From Refereeing
11/04/2009 03:19
TAMPA, Fla. - Referee Don Koharski is completing a 32-year on-ice NHL career in tonight's game between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"I'm ready," Koharski said before the game. "I just finished my last road trip, four games in eight days. At about day six of the road trip, I said, 'Yeah, I made the right decision."'
The 53-year-old Koharski is expected to join NHL management to work with and recruit on-ice officials.
Koharski worked in the World Hockey Association before appearing in his first NHL game as a linesman on Oct. 14, 1977. His first contest as a referee was Nov, 18, 1981.
Highlights for Koharski include his first Stanley Cup final and working the 1987 Canada Cup final between Canada and the Soviet Union, in which the Soviets asked for him to be the referee.
"I just look at where the world hockey and international hockey is since that day, and realize the best officials are from the National Hockey League," Koharski said. "The world accepted that the best officials are from the National Hockey League and it opened up a lot of doors. I'm pretty proud of that."
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Good riddance. Koho will not be missed - except, perhaps, by Koho.
Organizers Plan ‘Carbon Neutral’ Olympics
11/04/2009 03:19
Organizers of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games said they are confident they can find sponsors to help with the estimated $4.5-million cost of keeping the event from adding to global warming.
The Winter Games in Vancouver are expected to create about 300,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, including those from airplanes bringing thousands of athletes and spectators to the city.
The organizing committee said it is in talks with carbon offset management companies it hopes will help sponsor the cost of buying credits, which is running between $10 and $20 a tonne.
"We're very confident we will be able to get partners on this," John Furlong, VANOC chief executive, told reporters outside an international conference in Vancouver on the environmental costs of major sports events.
The offset credits would come from investing in projects such as renewable energy.
While Vancouver is not the only host city to promise a "carbon-neutral" Olympics, Canadian organizers say they are also including emissions created outside the 17 days of competition.
"We have expanded the scope by taking in air travel and starting when VANOC started (to include venue construction)," said Linda Coady, who is in charge of sustainability efforts on the committee.
Air travel for athletes and spectators to and from the Games in February 2010 and Paralympic Games in March is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions related to the sporting event, VANOC officials said.
The 300,000-tonne estimate is based on a 2007 study by the environmental David Suzuki Foundation, and organizers say they may be able to cut that with changes in venue and transportation planning.
A revised estimate is scheduled to be released in October.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
What next, folks? I don’t know about you, but I think this ‘carbon credit’ business is just going a bit too far at times.
Former CFLer Scrivener Cleared Of Charges
11/04/2009 03:19
Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Colin Scrivener has been cleared of the charge of attempted murder following a preliminary hearing.
The accused was arrested following a police investigation into an assault last Aug. 3, when a man was thrown out of a third-floor suite in Winnipeg.
Police say three men forced their way into the suite, physically assaulted and stabbed a 29-year-old man, and threw him out the window.
The victim was badly injured and went to hospital in critical condition, but was later upgraded.
Scrivener played with the team from 1995-97.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
This is certainly good news for Colin Scrivener and his family.
Non Response Poll No Real Surprise
10/04/2009 04:13
Well folks, the poll
results are in and I’m not
surprised.
A few days back we
asked: When you contact council by e-mail,
letter or phone, who is the most responsive
elected representative, or who do you think
would be most responsive?
The mayor won the contest hands down with two councillors seen as not responsive at all, those being Len Bracko and Lorie Garritty.
For the record, on several occasions, I have sent e-mail questions to the entire council and the only two other than the mayor who have ever responded are James Burrows and Roger Lemieux.
Bracko, Garritty, Jones and Watamaniuk apparently could care less about any questions we might have, even though we ask those questions on behalf of over 100,000 readers.
The mayor won the contest hands down with two councillors seen as not responsive at all, those being Len Bracko and Lorie Garritty.
For the record, on several occasions, I have sent e-mail questions to the entire council and the only two other than the mayor who have ever responded are James Burrows and Roger Lemieux.
Bracko, Garritty, Jones and Watamaniuk apparently could care less about any questions we might have, even though we ask those questions on behalf of over 100,000 readers.
Another Look At Southern Car Show . . .
10/04/2009 04:13
Hungry Groundhog Gets 'Stuck' In Peanut Butter Jar
10/04/2009 04:13
A hungry groundhog
got its head stuck in a plastic peanut butter
jar today in
Allentown.Unable to see through the label-covered jar, the groundhog struggled to remove the object from its head. Observers trapped the animal under an overturned 55-gallon drum outside a Dunkin' Donuts at Airport Road and Lloyd Street.
Although emergency crews were called, a volunteer wearing protective gloves moved the squirming groundhog to a nearby garden and then removed the plastic jar from is head.
The groundhog disappeared into the garden immediately after it was freed at about 1 p.m.
No one was hurt.
SINC SAYS:
I love to scrape out the last of the peanut butter, but I've never been stuck doing it.
Study Says Glass Of Wine Daily Can Lead To 'Shakes'
10/04/2009 04:13
Friend or foe? The
benefits of a
daily
glass of wine are
now in
doubt
A glass of wine a day can double the risk of getting the shakes in later life, it has
been claimed.
The debilitating condition, known as essential tremor, is most often associated with alcoholism, Parkinson's disease or an overactive thyroid.
But now scientists have found that even those who drink just three units a day - equivalent to a large glass of wine or one and a half pints of beer - are putting themselves at risk.
The scientists, from Madrid and New York, looked at the drinking habits of 3,285 pensioners in Spain.
They found those who drank one or two units daily had a 30 per cent increased risk of developing the shakes compared with non-drinkers. Those drinking three or more units doubled their risk.
Prof Ian Gilmore of the Alcohol Health Alliance said the study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 'underlines how important it is to stay within recommended limits, and to adopt alcohol-free days'.
He added: 'Mental disorders account for the largest number of alcohol-related hospital admissions. Yet insufficient attention is paid to the link between alcohol misuse and neurological illness.'
These are confusing times for wine drinkers. Last month, for example, another study found that one glass of wine every night can increase the risk of breast cancer by a quarter.
And the new research findings come only a week after a report, this time from Northumbria University, suggesting that a substance found in red wine actually enhanced people's mental functions.
The NHS advises that men should drink no more than 'three or four' units a day, while women should stick to 'two or three' a day. Three units contains as much alcohol as a large glass of wine, three shots of whisky or one and a half pints of beer.
In England, almost 1.6 million men are considered 'high risk' drinkers, downing more than 50 units of alcohol a week, and so are more than a million women, who are drinking more than 35 units a week.
SINC SAYS:
Every time I get a new excuse to have a drink, some damn study turns it into a bad thing. Go figure.
A glass of wine a day can double the risk of getting the shakes in later life, it has
been claimed.
The debilitating condition, known as essential tremor, is most often associated with alcoholism, Parkinson's disease or an overactive thyroid.
But now scientists have found that even those who drink just three units a day - equivalent to a large glass of wine or one and a half pints of beer - are putting themselves at risk.
The scientists, from Madrid and New York, looked at the drinking habits of 3,285 pensioners in Spain.
They found those who drank one or two units daily had a 30 per cent increased risk of developing the shakes compared with non-drinkers. Those drinking three or more units doubled their risk.
Prof Ian Gilmore of the Alcohol Health Alliance said the study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 'underlines how important it is to stay within recommended limits, and to adopt alcohol-free days'.
He added: 'Mental disorders account for the largest number of alcohol-related hospital admissions. Yet insufficient attention is paid to the link between alcohol misuse and neurological illness.'
These are confusing times for wine drinkers. Last month, for example, another study found that one glass of wine every night can increase the risk of breast cancer by a quarter.
And the new research findings come only a week after a report, this time from Northumbria University, suggesting that a substance found in red wine actually enhanced people's mental functions.
The NHS advises that men should drink no more than 'three or four' units a day, while women should stick to 'two or three' a day. Three units contains as much alcohol as a large glass of wine, three shots of whisky or one and a half pints of beer.
In England, almost 1.6 million men are considered 'high risk' drinkers, downing more than 50 units of alcohol a week, and so are more than a million women, who are drinking more than 35 units a week.
SINC SAYS:
Every time I get a new excuse to have a drink, some damn study turns it into a bad thing. Go figure.
Murdoch, Scots End Martin’s Perfect Streak At Worlds
10/04/2009 04:12
Team Canada finishes at 10-1
Scotland's David Murdoch proved that Canada's Kevin Martin isn't invincible, after all.
Martin won't have to wait long for a chance at payback.
Murdoch earned a 6-5 extra-end victory in the marquee matchup of Draw 17 at the Ford World Men's Curling Championship on Thursday. Murdoch broke open a tightly played game by making a double takeout to score three in the eighth end.
Martin, the defending world champion, battled back with a single in the ninth and a steal of one in the 10th, but Murdoch scored a single point in the 11th end for the victory.
The win moved Scotland to 8-3 and guaranteed Murdoch second place, setting up a rematch in the 1-versus-2 Page playoff game Friday.
"It was a big game for us,'' said Murdoch. "We didn't want to rely on other teams because if things went wrong for us we were looking at the three-four game.
"We were pretty focused on trying to play a good game and these guys haven't had a tough game all week so it's good that we came out and played one of our better games.''
The question is whether Scotland can beat Canada twice more.
"We know we're going to have to play extremely well again,'' Murdoch acknowledged.
"Those guys are a really tough team.''
Martin, who had already wrapped up first place going into the playoffs on Wednesday, shrugged off the loss.
"Well at least you won't be asking me questions about being undefeated,'' chuckled Martin.
"I never like to lose a game, that's for sure. They earned it and played good.''
Martin went through the Canadian men's curling championship undefeated with 13 straight wins and had won 10 straight here before the loss. Most people wouldn't bet on him losing two more.
"I don't think I'll have much trouble bouncing back from that one,'' said Martin. "Our goal was to get first place and to get the hammer. We got that and we come out in the one-two game, with hammer, and do our best.''
Four teams finished the round robin tied at 7-4.
As a result, Norway's Thomas Ulsrud will meet John Shuster of the United States in one Friday tiebreaker while Andy Kapp of Germany takes on Ralph Stoeckli of Switzerland in the other.
The two winners will play in the 3-versus-4 Page playoff game on Saturday.
Shuster trailed France 6-3 after seven ends, but scored single points in the eighth and ninth ends and completed the stunning comeback with a steal of four in the 10th.
"Oh my God. The guys played a perfect 10th for us,'' said an emotional Shuster. "I feel we got another (win) that we didn't necessarily deserve.''
Stoeckli won his fifth straight game since turning over skipping duties to second Markus Eggler.
"It's only a tiebreaker but we're still alive,'' said Stoeckli, who continues to throw fourth stones for the team. "We still have to win a game to make the playoffs but it's nice to still be in and to have another chance.''
Under the Page Playoff system the top two teams play with the winner going directly to the gold-medal game. The loser then gets a second chance to make the final by taking on the winner of the third and fourth-place teams.
More from ctvolympics.ca
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Even though I’m so angry I could spit, I guess it’s best to lose to the Scots now rather than the Page 1 vs. 2 playoff game or the final. Even though the Scots burned two rocks in the extra end, I thought Kevin Martin showed incredible sportsmanship by leaving the rocks where they came to rest, instead of removing them – which is his choice. Even David Murdoch couldn’t believe his blind luck that Martin didn’t remove the burned stone between the house and hog line. It’s a demonstration of class and sportsmanship that would not have been reciprocated by the Scots had the shoe been on the other foot. You can count on that.
Catch all of the action of the Page 1 vs. 2 playoff game, Canada vs. Scotland - the rematch - at 5:30 p.m. local time tonight on TSN and TSN-HD.
Chad Campbell Shoots Five-Under 67 To Lead Masters
10/04/2009 04:12
Tiger Woods five shots back at -2 (70)
Chad Campbell is in the lead after shooting a 7-under round of 65 at the 73rd edition of The Masters at Augusta National.
Campbell started well, but had troubles on his last two holes. He birdied the first five, then added four more birdies on the back nine and looked to be in total control. He did not record his first bogey until the 17th, but then he had another on 18.
Tiger Woods was 2-under for the round, he tied for 20th.
Canadian Mike Weir, who won the tournament in 2003, is four shots back after finishing with a 4-under round of 68. Countryman Stephen Ames fired a 1-over round of 73.
Arnold Palmer got things started this morning with a ceremonial tee shot before turning things over to the 96 players in the field.
You can watch live coverage from Amen Corner as well as the 15th and 16th holes on TSN.ca Friday (at 10:30am et/7:30am pt) and catch live second round action on TSN and TSN HD at 3pm et/Noon pt.
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
If Tiger Woods could putt today, he’d be running away with this tournament. I can remember at least five putts (and I’m not exaggerating) that he should have sunk and didn’t.
Sask. Gov't. To Decide Soon On Future Home Of ‘Riders
10/04/2009 04:12
REGINA -- It has been site of Grey Cup championships and blockbuster rock concerts but Mosaic Stadium -- home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders -- is aging and political leaders say "something needs to be done."
"We know at some point we're going to have to, as a province, make a decision with respect to Mosaic," Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said Thursday.
"We've been saying for some time that something needs to be done with the stadium and if there are some changes to the existing one or a newer facility, obviously the province is probably going to be having a part in that."
Wall wouldn't speculate about how much money the province might contribute, but said any funding won't come from the government's general revenue fund because there are other infrastructure priorities in Saskatchewan.
Funding for a new stadium could come from the Saskatchewan Gaming Corp., he suggested.
There have long been talks about what to do with Mosaic Stadium, one of the oldest in the Canadian Football League.
The stadium opened in 1927, although most of the current structure dates to the mid-1970s when a major renovation took place. More renovations were made in preparation for the 1995 Grey Cup, according to the team's website.
The province has hired a group to review the options for the future, including upgrading Mosaic, building a new outdoor facility or building a dome. Wall said the answer could come within months.
"We do want to see some initial work done here very soon, this spring. I think we're looking at some time this year to try to make a decision," said Wall.
The premier noted that other provinces are taking steps to improve their facilities. Last week, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced a deal to build a 30,000-seat stadium by the summer of 2011.
Wall hinted Thursday that a choice needs to be made quickly because the team's 100th anniversary is coming is up in 2010 and there could be a Grey Cup bid.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
A new outhouse would be an improvement over Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field.
Moments Of Triumph And Heartbreak At Augusta
10/04/2009 04:12
The Masters is truly unlike any other golf tournament.
It is rich with lasting memories for the players and the millions of fans who watch from the galleries lining Augusta National's fairways or from a distance on television.
Many great -- and not-so-great -- moments have been forever etched in time. Here are Canwest's top five on both counts.
THE GREAT
1. Tiger Woods' first Masters victory in 1997, when he became the youngest champion, winning by a tournament-record 12 strokes. The 21-year-old also set 19 other tournament records, despite shooting 40 on the front nine of his first round.
2. Jack Nicklaus winning his sixth green jacket in 1986. Supposedly washed up at age 46, the Golden Bear overcame a four-shot deficit in the final round. He fired an astonishing 30 on the back nine, going eagle-birdie-birdie on 15, 16 and 17 to beat Tom Kite by a shot.
3. Gene Sarazen's "shot heard 'round the world" came in the final round of the 1935 Masters, when the five-foot-four New York native hit a four-wood 235 yards on the par-5 15th, where the ball found the hole for an albatross two. Sarazen made up a three-stroke deficit with one swing and went to beat Craig Woods by five shots in an 18-hole playoff.
4. South African Gary Player had not won in the U.S. in four years, but that changed in dramatic fashion in 1978. At age 42, he went into the final round trailing by seven shots, but birdied seven of the final 10 holes for a 64 to secure his third green jacket.
5. Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., defeated American Len Mattiace on the first playoff hole to become the first Canadian male to win a professional major championship. Weir recorded only the fourth bogey-free final round in the then 67-year history of the tournament before beating Mattiace with a bogey in the playoff. Weir also became only the second left-handed golfer to win a major, joining 1963 British Open champion Bob Charles.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
To read about Canwest’s top five “not so great” Masters moments, click here.
Tiger-Lefty Finish Would Be Ideal
10/04/2009 04:12
Can the world's top two players battle to the wire?
The world always wants to believe in the fairy tale.
It has this romantic notion that on Sunday afternoon in Augusta National's eternal sun-splashed kingdom of green and pink and white, the Masters is meant to come down to No. 1 versus No. 2. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, superhuman and all-too-human, walking side-by-side up 18, doffing caps to the adoring gallery while plotting how to cut each other's hearts out.
One of these days, before they're both in rocking chairs, perhaps it will play out that way, as we seem to remember it always did when it was Arnie and Jack, Jack and Gary, Jack and Lee, Jack and Tom, Jack and Greg ...
Lately, it's been No. 56, Zach Johnson, emerging victorious to the great delight of everyone from ... well, Iowa. And No. 29, Trevor Immelman, shooting a final-round 75 in an icy breeze, and widening his lead. They get the green jackets, and Tiger slinks in a side door of the Butler Cabin for the donning of the bridesmaid's dress.
We always try to peer through the clouds and imagine that this time, the perfect scenario lurks: a combination of favourable weather and big-name players in peak form that will lead to an epic edition of an event which, over the years, has produced its share of gripping theatre.
So of course, that's how it looks as Arnold Palmer prepares to hit today's ceremonial first tee shot at 7:50 a.m. EDT.
"I think it's going to be warm, and the ball is going to be travelling farther, and I think we are going to be hitting shorter irons in and playing this golf course aggressively this week," says Mickelson, whose optimism has frequently exceeded his judgment.
"I think we have it about right," said Masters and club chairman Billy Payne, at his annual pre-tournament gabfest with reporters, who tried about four different ways to get at the accepted wisdom that the changes in the golf course have drained the event of much of its drama.
"I would be quick to add that this week is an important test. Since the most recent, substantial changes to the course in 2006, we have not had good weather over the weekend. But I think we are going to see the course played as it was designed to be played when the changes were made."
That's the theory, anyway.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
A Tiger-Lefty finish would be great. With Tiger finishing first, of course.
NHL On TSN Quiz: Who's To Blame For Oilers Lost Season?
10/04/2009 04:12
Every week, the NHL on TSN panel voices its opinions on the hot topics of the day in the Wednesday Night Hockey Quiz.
TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on the big issues with the Insiders. Read the questions and answers from TSN's hockey experts and give us your thoughts in the Your Call feature.
Question No. 1: Maggie the Monkey has a lifetime record of 40-35, but ultimately will she be judged by her dismal Stanley Cup final record of 0-5? With the Monkey announcing her retirement at the end of this post-season, is Maggie a primate prophet or a loveable loser?
Keith Jones:She is a primate prophet. Five games over .500, much better than the two chumps sitting beside me. However, picking playoff champions unfortunately has not been her best category, but at picking winners - especially in the first round - she was terrific.
Ray Ferraro: Loveable loser. You know we always talk about a whether a player is any good or not based upon how they do in the playoffs, so she's done fine, but has no long-term playoff success. Loveable loser.
Bob McKenzie: Nothing loveable about her at all, just “L” for loser. I'll be curious when Joe Sakic retires whether his tribute will be as long as the one that the monkey is getting. The monkey is on a farewell tour as well - she couldn't just retire, she had to come back one more time for all the accolades.
Question No. 2: In the annual NHL on TSN pre-season poll, 10 NHL general managers picked the Edmonton Oilers to be the most improved team in the West. Who is to blame for the Oilers' disappointing season? Is it management? Is it the veteran players (Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff, Dustin Penner) or the youngsters (Sam Gagner, Kyle Brodziak, Robert Nilsson, Andrew Cogliano)?
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
There’s plenty of blame to go around. But, as I have said earlier, the Oilers are not much better than a .500 hockey team – which, simply, is not good enough. They are a middle-of-the-pack, mediocre hockey team with the talent they currently have. The sooner management and the fans wake up and realize this, the better off we’ll all be.
The Oilers need to sign a couple, or three, superstar forwards, who can put the puck in the net consistently, a world-class defenceman and a big stopper (read: great goaltender). Then, and only then, can we start talking about the playoffs and maybe even another Stanley Cup run. Period.
‘Great White Shark’ Welcomed Back To Augusta
10/04/2009 04:12
Norman greeted warmly upon return to Augusta
Greg Norman is back at Augusta National and even his rivals want to see him do well in his surprising return to the Masters.
"The Shark," whose near misses have
become part of Masters lore, qualified for a 23rd appearance in the tournament and first since 2002 with a stunning performance at the British Open last summer at Royal Birkdale, where he tied for third.
"When I used to come in here in the '80s and '90s, and you expected to do well, people were pulling for you and other people were not pulling for you, too," Norman said at a news conference on Tuesday.
"Now it seems like everyone is pulling for me.
"I was just in the locker-room, and it's different. Even the players are, 'Hey, play well, play well, play well.' I know in the '80s, they were not coming up to me and saying, 'Hey Greg, play well,' that's for sure."
The 54-year-old Australian, twice a winner of the British Open, has always been open about his love for the Masters and his desire to win it. It has been an unrequited love.
"Some of the bad stuff was self-inflicted and some of it wasn't," Norman said.
The former world No. 1 had the heartbreak of losing a playoff for the green jacket in 1987 when Larry Mize chipped in from 45 yards.
A year earlier, he was overtaken by a now famous back-nine charge from Jack Nicklaus.
But the most bitter pill of all came in 1996 after Norman fired a 63 on his way to a six-shot lead heading to the final round.
With the world expecting him to finally get that first Masters win and don the green jacket, Norman posted a 78 and lost to playing partner Nick Faldo by five shots.
Norman had his Birkdale breakout while on an extended honeymoon with his wife, Chris Evert, the former tennis great whom he credits with helping him in his competitive revival.
"We like to lament a lot of times over what we have done and what we haven't done," he said about their careers. "It's interesting because she went through 13 times getting beaten by Martina (Navratilova) ... I went 22 times without winning the Masters."
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Wouldn’t it be quite the story, folks, if somehow Greg Norman could turn back the hands of time and contend this week? It's possible. He's -2 after his first round and in good shape.
Linus Omark Signs Deal To Play With Moscow Dynamo
10/04/2009 04:12
Linus Omark has decided to play in Russia next season and has accepted a two-year contract with Moscow Dynamo.
The deal will pay him $1.2 million in year one and $1.4 million in the second year. The contract has an escape clause for Omark after year one, should he want to come to North America.
Omark's agent Jared Bousquet and the Oilers were in negotioations, and according to Bousquet, the Oilers made a very fair offer, but simply couldn't compete with the money available in Russia.
Omark caused stir when a highlight of a shootout goal he scored against Switzerland was posted on YouTube.
He was originally a fourth round draft pick (97th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 NHL Entry draft.
Omark is one of the top scorers in the Swedish Elite League this season with Luela, racking up 23 goals and 32 assists in 53 games. He is also slated to play for Sweden at the upcoming World Hockey Championship in Switzerland.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Just when you thought this year just couldn’t possibly get any worse for the Edmonton Oilers . . .
Bits 'N Pieces From Our Readers . . .
09/04/2009 05:32
Don, I love the map
where your readership is displayed. It is
amazing how far and wide your name has spread!
- Alison
GlassHi Don, As usual, your news never disappoints. The Tic Tac guy was simply amazing! Boy, I never liked those mints before but that kid sure makes a great argument for the versatility of tic tacs! My kids will now be collecting tic tac boxes - I guess that's another implicit environmentally friendly plug from Tic Tac. And as usual, your pics are incredible. But you always bring me a smile with your 'funny' section. Those celebrity look a likes are hilarious! Thanks for starting everyone's day with sunshine! - Vicki from Toronto
Don, Monday April 6 afternoon. Well, so far, I have not received any acknowledgements to my invitation to council for a walk on the wet side. Maybe they are searching for hip waders or floatation devices. - Elke Blodgett
Local Taxpayers Group Team With National Association
09/04/2009 05:29
Spring and Easter
Greetings to you
all.The Saint Albert Taxpayer's Association has worked out a reciprocal membership with the Canadian Federation of Taxpayers.
One of their staff will attend our meetings, and we will receive all their publications, access to their research etc.
In addition, they have offered all our SATpA's folks free access to their e-mail updates.
You can sign up here.
Lynda Flannery
President
St. Albert Taxpayers Association
SINC SAYS:
That’s great news Lynda, congratulations. Teaming up with that group can only add much needed weight to your organization.
CATHOLIC SHAMPOO . . .
09/04/2009 05:24
While shopping in a
food store, two nuns happened to pass by the
beer, wine, and liquor section.
One asked the other if she would like a beer.
The second nun answered that, indeed, it would be very nice to have one, but that she would feel uncomfortable about purchasing it.
The first nun replied that she would handle that without a problem.
She picked up a six-pack and took it to the cashier. The cashier had a surprised look, so the nun said, "This is for washing our hair."
Without blinking an eye, the cashier reached under the counter and put a package of pretzels in the bag with the beer. "The curlers are on me."
Another Look At Southern Car Show . . .
09/04/2009 05:15
Woman Finds $357,959 Cashiers Check
09/04/2009 05:12
And returns
itLOS ANGELES—As she walked from a post office, Talon Curtis thought she'd found one of those gimmicky sweepstakes offers on the ground that scream something like "$357,959.55" in big bold letters and "This is not a real check" in much smaller type.
But just as she was about to do her part for a cleaner planet and deliver the paper from the parking lot to a trash can, she noticed it was a real cashier's check with a real signature.
"I couldn't believe it. I almost passed out," Curtis, who works as a loan negotiator, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "I have never seen a check that big. Not in my possession, anyway."
She immediately set out to find its rightful recipient, but it was Saturday afternoon and the banks were closing. On Monday, with help from KCAL-TV reporter Dave Malkoff, she located the check's owner, who had arrived at her bank in a panic.
"I think she had walked in at the same time the bank manager called me back," Curtis said. "I could hear her walking up to him. and I could hear all this commotion in the background."
Curtis said she spoke briefly with the woman on the phone about a possible meeting, but Pacific Mercantile Bank instructed her to mail the check to them instead.
Not willing to take a chance on the mail, Curtis delivered it personally. A bank employee confirmed it had arrived.
Curtis said she never thought of keeping the check for herself, and she declined the woman's offer of a reward. Still, she's just a little disappointed.
"I just wanted to see her face," Curtis said, laughing. "I just wanted to let her know that there are honest people left in this world."
SINC SAYS:
That’s nothing. Just the other day I found a Loonie AND a Quarter outside the 7-Eleven and I kept it.
Martin Clinches Top Spot At Curling Worlds, Now 9-0
09/04/2009 04:44
Edmonton's Kevin Martin has clinched first place with four draws remaining at the world men's curling championship in Moncton, N.B.
Martin, the defending champion, won twice Wednesday to improve to 9-0 through 13 draws, and secure the top seed in the Page playoffs.
He trounced Finnish skip Kalle Kiiskinen 12-4 in six ends and defeated John Shuster of the United States 9-6 at the Moncton Coliseum.
"Just consistent play, that is all we have to get done now," Martin said. "We don't have to worry about any outcomes now.
"If anybody beats us, that is fine."
Against Kiiskinen, Martin scored four points in the first end, three in the third and four in the fourth before shaking hands in six.
"Oh, he is on fire," said Norway's Thomas Ulsrud (6-2), who sits second overall following a 10-4 thumping of Thomas Dufour of France. "He is really on fire. He is crushing everybody."
Martin has yet to play a full 10 ends in the tournament, winning five games in seven ends or fewer.
"He is like the Tiger Woods of curling on the ice," Ulsrud said. "There is Kevin and then there is nothing."
Shuster provided stiffer opposition for Martin, who overcame the American's steal for two in the first with two in the second and four in the fourth.
"We had to bear down and then the guys did," Martin said. "The next four ends after we gave up the deuce, we played pretty solid."
'It works better now'
Shuster fell to 4-4 overall, tying him with Dufour, Denmark's Ulrik Schmidt and Ralph Stoeckli of Switzerland.
Stoeckli toppled Japan's Yusuke Morozumi 7-4 for his second straight win since letting second Markus Eggler called the shots.
"It works better now," Stoeckli said. "It's more fun out there and now I can focus on my last shots.
"We have it in our own hands now to make the playoffs. Or at least a tiebreaker."
Germany's Andy Kapp prevailed 8-6 over China's Fengchun Wang, while Scotland's David Murdoch pounded Dufour 9-1.
Kapp and Murdoch sit tied for third at 5-3.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
The absolute icing on the cake now would be for Scotland to get knocked out of the playoff race. Catch all of the action of Canada's final two round-robin games at 7:00 a.m. today vs. Denmark and 5:30 p.m. tonight vs. Scotland on TSN and TSN-HD.
Tim Clark Aces Par 3 Tournament At Masters
09/04/2009 04:43
Augusta, GA (Sports Network) - Tim Clark aced the ninth hole to shoot five-under 22 and win the 50th annual Par-Three Tournament at the Masters on Wednesday.
Clark, the 2006 Masters runner-up, follows South African countryman Rory Sabbatini as winner of this event.
The bad news for Clark is that no player had followed a win at the Par-Three by winning the green jacket in the same year. Thirteen Masters champions have won the Par-Three Tournament, but none has won both the same year.
The last three winners -- Sabbatini, Mark O'Meara and Ben Crane -- of the Par- Three tournament missed the cut in season's first major.
Clark, who has never won a regular PGA Tour event, was tied for the lead headed to the final hole on the 1,060-yard Par-Three course. He hit his tee shot past the hole and spun his ball back into the hole for one of three official aces on the day.
The other holes-in-one belonged to John Merrick on No. 2 and Greg Norman on No. 6. Gary Player also knocked one in the hole on the ninth, but it was for par after his first tee shot on the hole found water left of the green.
Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal shared second with amateur Jack Newman at three-under 24.
The big threesome of the day belonged to the group of Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. The "Big-3" combined for 13 Masters titles.
Player will end his run at 52 consecutive Masters tournaments played this week. He owns the record for most consecutive Masters played.
Nicklaus made some early noise with back-to-back birdies, but he ended up being one of 48 players that did not post an official score. Nicklaus had his grandson, who was also his caddie, sink the final putt for a two-under 25.
Palmer will hit the ceremonial first tee shot around 7:50 a.m. (et) Thursday.
Tournament participants, non-competing past champions, and honorary invitees are invited to play on the Par-Three course, which was built in 1958.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
It was great to see the big three – Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus playing together again yesterday afternoon in the Par 3 contest. And - I guess we know who's not winning the Masters this year, right Tim Clark?
The 'Green Jacket’s' Past Is Long And Colorful
09/04/2009 04:43
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Imagine the Masters champion slipping on a red jacket Sunday.
Of all the colours found at Augusta National -- the pink azaleas, the yellow jasmine, the white clubhouse -- no one knows why co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts selected green for what has become the most famous blazer in sports.
But it has become a prize like no other among the major championships.
The claret jug is oldest trophy in golf, first awarded the British Open champion in 1872. The Wanamaker Trophy is the heaviest, so much that even strongman Vijay Singh struggled to raise it when he won the PGA Championship. The U.S. Open is the only major that doesn't have a name for its trophy.
But there is a mystique about the green jacket.
Masters champions don't kiss it. They don't hoist it. They don't drink out of it.
They wear it.
"When you're able to don the green jacket, it's the highest privilege in golf," Zach Johnson said.
"No matter what shirt you're wearing, it looks good," Fred Couples said.
Jones came up with the idea when he was at Hoylake for the 1930 British Open, the second leg of his Grand Slam. He was invited to dinner at Royal Liverpool, where he noticed 15 men wearing red coats with brass buttons. He was told that only captains of the club wore the red jackets, and one of them offered to give Jones his if he won the Open.
That coat now hangs in the clubhouse at Atlanta Athletic Club, his home course.
Jones and Roberts thought members should wear matching jackets during the tournament so patrons would know whom to ask for information, a tradition that began in 1937. They selected what the club refers to only as "Masters Green" for the colour, with the famous Augusta National logo on the left crest and on the buttons.
Sam Snead was the first Masters champion to be awarded the green jacket after winning in 1949, a gesture by the club to make the winner an honorary member. All past champions also were given one.
The list of those who have worn the green jacket is short and mostly distinguished.
It includes the 44 players who have won the Masters, with Trevor Immelman the latest to join the club. It includes Augusta National members -- the club won't say how many, but it's an exclusive club.
And it includes Canadian Mike Weir's grandfather.
The current Masters champion is the only person allowed to take the green jacket off club property, and Weir made sure his grandfather had a chance to try it on.
"We had some pictures made before he passed away," Weir said. "That was pretty cool."
Only one of the jackets was never returned. Gary Player swears it was an innocent mistake.
He won his first Masters in 1961, and a year later presented Arnold Palmer with the green jacket at the closing ceremony. Player, however, took his jacket home to South Africa after the '62 Masters, and there it remains.
"I assumed it was mine," Player said. "I got a call from Clifford Roberts and he said, 'Gary, I believe you've taken the Masters jacket home. You're not supposed to do that. And I said, 'Mr. Roberts, if you want it, you better come and fetch it.' He appreciated the humour and told me I must never wear it around.' It's in a plastic bag in my closet."
No one has won more green jackets than Jack Nicklaus, who won his first Masters in 1963 and his sixth Masters in 1986.
But he didn't have his own green jacket until 1998.
The club usually finds a jacket that will fit the champion for the ceremony, then makes him one of his own. But something fell through the cracks, and each year Nicklaus wound up borrowing a green jacket for the Champions Dinner.
Nicklaus shared this tale in 1997 with former chairman Jack Stephens, who demanded that Nicklaus get his own jacket.
"I said, 'Jack, it's such a great story, I don't want to ruin it,"' Nicklaus said. "I came back in '98, and Stephens had a note in my locker that said, 'You have an appointment in the pro shop to get a jacket.'
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Those are some pretty "cool" stories about the 'Green Jacket,' aren’t they? And, I learned a lot of things that I did not know.
Phillips Enters Hall Despite Short Career
09/04/2009 04:42
Played six years for Ottawa, Edmonton
Rudy Phillips played only six seasons in the CFL -- two with the Edmonton Eskimos -- but the impact he made on the offensive line was enough to get him named Tuesday as one of five new inductees into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
"I was excited; as well, I was shocked, dumbfounded really," the now 51-year-old native of Dallas told a telephone news conference on Tuesday. "Then I just sat back with my mouth open to realize what an honour it was to even be thought about, to be selected in (with) such a number of great players. It's an honour, a fantastic feeling." Phillips was elected along with Calgary Stampeders linebacker Alondra Johnson, B.C. Lions offensive lineman Jim Mills, Montreal Alouettes defensive tackle Glen Weir and Calgary's Tony Anselmo, who was elected in the builder category.
"This year we honour one builder and four linemen, two from each side of the line of scrimmage," said CFL commissioner Mark Cohon. "It is wonderful to see these players share the spotlight because, while they all had high-profile and award-winning careers, it is fair to say that those who play our great game in the trenches generally deserve more attention than they receive.
"I'm sure this class feels it represents every lineman who ever sacrificed so another could score the touchdown, or make the tackle." Phillips played six games with the Ottawa Rough Riders after signing in September 1981, plus the Grey Cup game in which underdog Ottawa led 20-0 and appeared on the verge of perhaps the greatest upset in CFL history against the powerhouse Eskimos. But the Esks, who won the previous three championships and would go on to win five in a row, rallied in the second half for a 26-23 win.
"That was one of my fondest memories; even today that Grey Cup stays with me," recalled Phillips. "That was my first year in the league and the excitement, the electricity that surrounded that game, stuck with me and is still with me today. I was thinking that's the way it should be each year I played, and boy, was I disappointed." For the next three seasons, the six-foot-three, 260-pound offensive tackle was one of the CFL's top linemen, being named its most outstanding lineman in 1982 and 1983.
He left Ottawa for a shot at the NFL in 1985, but returned in 1986 with the Eskimos, where he was named a West Division all-star and an all-Canadian for the third time in his career.
Phillips said he came to Edmonton hoping to win a Grey Cup. The Eskimos made it back to the big game in 1986, but lost 39-15 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The next year, Phillips and the Esks were back, this time beating the Toronto Argonauts 38-36, but Phillips -- who dressed for just 10 games that season -- didn't play in the Grey Cup game.
"That (losing in 1986) wasn't a positive experience," said Phillips. "But it was a good experience to play with the Eskimos.
"We won a lot of football games, we had some great teams, had a lot of great offensive linemen I played with, like Leo Blanchard, Hector Pothier. We had a great team." In his six years, Phillips played 76 games, and his impact was impressive. In addition to his Western all-star and all-Canadian status with the Eskimos in 1986, he was an Eastern all-star twice, and an all-Canadian and the league's top offensive lineman in both 1982 and 1983.
"In each of those years we tried to make ourselves better every year," he said. "That's what we went by, trying to better ourselves, so to reach a plateau such as this is amazing." The five will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during induction weekend in Winnipeg, Sept. 24-26.
Five new members elected to CFL Hall of Fame.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Rudy Phillips was one hell of an offensive lineman.
Potential Paddy Slam Lost In Tiger Hoopla
09/04/2009 04:41
Harrington chases third straight major
Someone asks Padraig Harrington if it bothers him that he is shooting for his third straight major championship this week, yet all anyone is talking about is Tiger Woods.
Nope, says the affable Dubliner. He can have "Tigeresque attention" any time he wants. All he has to do is go back to Ireland, where his two consecutive Open Championship victories -- and a win at last year's final major, the PGA Championship -- have made him a national sporting god.
Over here, sadly, he's still chopped liver to the general public. He's the fellow with the high-pitched Irish cartoon accent who won two majors while Tiger was rehabbing from knee surgery. Big deal. He's the guy, if you credit a Golf Channel poll, that only five per cent of respondents believe could win this week's Masters Tournament, while 58 per cent think Tiger's the man to beat.
He's the fellow who played nine holes of practice Monday afternoon with perhaps a dozen people follow-ing him around Augusta National.
What do you make of that, Padraig?
"I was playing at five o'clock in the evening, and it was cold," he said.
No worries. The golfers know he has a chance, admittedly slim, to complete his own split-season Grand Slam, like the "Tiger Slam" of 2000-01, when Woods held all four titles at once after winning the Masters. That's enough for Harrington.
"I've been getting the text messages and the e-mails and the encouragement," he said Tuesday. "I think the best one -- I do have to bring it up -- Lee Westwood said to me yesterday: 'What's all this about the Paddy Slam? Are you starting up wrestling?' "
In some ways, the setup is perfect for Harrington, who loves to fly under the radar and even has been known to concoct obstacles, real or imagined, for himself prior to majors.
"I can't be a rival, because in the end I'm always fighting with myself. That's it. I could turn up this week and say I want to beat Tiger Woods. Well, maybe I'll beat him by a shot and he finishes 20th and I finish 19th. That's not much good to either of us," said the 37-year-old. "It's a bad mental outlook to be focusing on one other person."
It's hard not to, when Tiger's in the field of a major he's won four times. But Harrington -- who has three top-seven finishes here, including the last two, despite a first-round scoring average north of 74 -- has learned many lessons the hard way.
"I've got some experience over 20 years of the highs and lows of sport," he said. "Winning is a habit, and some people have that habit and have no understanding of losing. I have plenty of understanding of losing. ... But when you work your way through that, it gives you tremendous experience."
And, evidently, the confidence to be a great closer. Not a bad thing to have at Augusta, when there's a Tiger on the premises.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Read my lips – the potential for any “Paddy Slam” will be lost this week.
Whistler Medal Ceremonies Back On
09/04/2009 04:40
Vancouver's Olympic Committee announced Tuesday it would award medals for Whistler-based events at a central plaza, reversing a decision that would have seen them given out at individual event venues.
Late last year, VANOC said it would present medals at venues as a cost-cutting measure. But after meetings between Olympic organizers and the Whistler municipality, officials worked out a plan to reduce staffing levels, production costs, and the size of The Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Celebration Plaza. It will now host a series of concerts and medal presentations.
"We are very pleased to have the medals ceremonies return," said Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed.
The International Olympic Committee expressed its support for this decision.
"We are delighted that VANOC and the Resort Municipality of Whistler have found a way to present the medals at Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Celebration Plaza," said IOC Coordination Commission Chairman René Fasel.
"The daily achievements of the athletes will undoubtedly only be matched by the enthusiasm of the spectators and the Whistler community, celebrating with them at the Plaza."
The cost of the celebrations are pegged at $12.8-million. The plaza will also host the closing ceremonies of the Paralympic games.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Finally, sanity prevails.
Son Of 'Slap Shot’s' Dave Hanson Scores First NHL Goal
09/04/2009 04:40
NEWARK, N.J. - The script was perfect for the first NHL goal by the son of one of the notorious Hanson brothers from the movie "Slap Shot."
Christian Hanson scored against his favourite player, Martin Brodeur, and the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie didn't seem to care it didn't come on a slap shot.
"To be honest I would have taken it any way it would have gone in. Off my head, off my butt, off my skate, and luckily it went off my stick," said Hanson, whose backhander capped a three-goal first period that led Toronto to a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
Hanson was hoping to speak with his dad, former hockey player turned actor Dave Hanson, after leaving the locker-room.
"I'm sure they were watching it at home and jumped through the roof," said the 23-year-old Hanson, who signed with the Maple Leafs last week after finishing his career at Notre Dame.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I don’t know what kind of a hockey player Christian is, but his dad, Dave, was absolutely fantastic in 'Slap Shot.' What a great movie.
Judge Rejects Bid To Keep Vick In Virginia Jail
09/04/2009 04:39
RICHMOND, Va. - Michael Vick will head back to a Kansas prison after a judge rejected an effort Tuesday to keep the suspended NFL star in Virginia to work on a new bankruptcy plan.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank J. Santoro denied a motion Tuesday to require Vick to attend an April 28 status hearing on his case in Newport News. Vick's lawyers had hoped such an order would prompt U.S. marshals to leave him at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in southeastern Virginia until then.
Santoro had ordered Vick to testify in person at a hearing last week, but the judge ruled Tuesday that he did not need Vick at the next hearing because no evidence will be presented. Vick and his lawyers are developing a new plan for the 28-year-old former Atlanta Falcons quarterback to pay back his creditors after Santoro rejected Vick's Chapter 11 reorganization plan on Friday.
"It just means he's going to end up back in Leavenworth, and we'll have to deal with the case long distance," said Paul Campsen, one of Vick's bankruptcy lawyers.
Vick remained in the Suffolk jail late Tuesday afternoon, and it was unclear when he will be returning to the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., where he is serving a 23-month sentence for bankrolling a dogfighting ring. Vick is scheduled for transfer to home confinement in Hampton, Va., on May 21 and for release from federal custody July 20.
Vick's lawyers have frequently lamented that the distance between their East Cost offices and Leavenworth has made his case exceedingly difficult to manage. Campsen said someone from Vick's legal team will be travelling to Kansas to work with him before the status hearing.
Santoro said Friday that Vick's plan to repay his creditors was not feasible, largely because there is no assurance that Vick will be able to resume his once-lucrative NFL career. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said only that he will review Vick's status after he is released from prison.
Vick's bankruptcy plan would have allowed him to keep the first US$750,000 of his annual salary. Creditors would get part of any amount over that.
Santoro also was troubled by the plan's reliance on money from speculative film and book deals to make $1 million in payments that will be due as soon as the plan takes effect, along with millions in other expenses Vick would soon face. He calculated that Vick would need to earn $7.5 million to $8 million annually to break even over the next three years.
But the only income Vick can count on in the near future is the $10 an hour he will earn in a construction job that is part of his probation.
Santoro suggested that a new, more realistic bankruptcy plan should start with Vick selling one or both of the luxury homes and the three cars he wanted to keep.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I’m starting to get the distinct feeling that this Judge Santoro does not much like Michael Vick, aren’t you folks?
Just How Well Does Council Serve Us?
08/04/2009 06:00
Don,
Just a suggestion, but do you think you could ask your readers which one of our council members is the most responsive or unresponsive when it comes to acknowledging e-mails, letters or phone calls?
As far as some people are concerned, this is the most unresponsive council we’ve ever had to deal with in over a decade.
Word it any way you like. Many people have no luck getting any answers, except sometimes from the mayor.
What about the rest of them? Can they even read or type?
No Name Please
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Well, I can certainly understand why you would not want your name used to ask that type of question. The only way I could figure to try and find out is to list each member of council’s name and allow only one vote for readers to indicate which one has been the most responsive in their experience, or alternately who they think would be most responsive if they have never contacted a member of council.
A couple of notes regarding the poll:
1. Don’t expect a large number of votes since not everyone has ever dealt directly with a member of council. That being said, readers are welcome to vote for whom they think would be responsive.
2. For the record, Mayor Crouse has answered every single e-mail or phone call I have ever made to him, all in a very timely manner. I don’t vote in our polls, but if I did, my vote would go to the mayor.
The Incredible Reach of St. Albert's Place
08/04/2009 06:00
The reach of St. Albert’s Place continues to astound me and now that I have more tracking software in place the details are beginiing to appear.
On the world map above, the larges red dots designate over 1,000 visits, the middle size dots from 100 to 999 visits and the smaller dots to less than 100 visits.
In order of most visited to least visited they are: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Austria, Australia, China, South Africa, India, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Japan, Namibia, Philippines, Macau, Portugal and Belgium.
As you can see from the map, the concentration of visits is mostly from the US and Canada, but it is intriguing to know we are watched from afar as well.
Whodathunkit?
Music Made From Tic Tac Candy Boxes
08/04/2009 06:00
Every once in a while
you run across some music that comes from the
most unlikely source. St. Albert’s Place reader
Merv Hawkins of London, Ontario did just that
and sent it along for your enjoyment. This
video consists of a single man who enlists the
help of the public in creating music from Tic
Tac candy boxes. The sound reminds me of flute
players from the Andes. Thanks for sharing this
Merv, it rocks!
Moose Rescued After Falling Through Ice
08/04/2009 05:59
NEWMAN LAKE, Wash. -
Spokane County Sheriff's deputies believe a
moose that had to be rescued after falling
through a frozen Newman Lake will be just
fine.
Deputies were called
to the lake after a person that lives on the
shore called to report a moose had fallen
through the ice. When the Spokane County
Sheriff's Water Rescue team arrived on scene
they found the moose almost fully submerged
about 200 yards from shore and immediately got
to work.
Four rescue team members ventured out on the ice, which was said to be cracking under their feet. Once they got to the moose, they put a rope around the moose which was already breathing very slowly. Deputy Wade Nelson says the moose was taking a breath every 30 to 40 seconds. Wade added that the moose had been working very hard to free itself from the ice.
Deputies report they also had to break away some ice from the animal in order to free it.
Team members then anchored the rope and began to pull the moose up on to solid ice at which point fire department crews arrived on scene to assist with the tow. Crews put the animal on a sled and slowly brought it back to shore. Nelson says the toughest part of the rescue was the distance the moose had to be towed.
Once back on shore, officials found the moose to be exhausted but still breathing. Nelson says that as long as the animal can breath on it's own, it will most likely survive, adding it will take around 3 to 4 hours for the moose to recover.
It took crews around 2 hours to rescue the moose.
SINC SAYS:
It never ceases to amaze me that man continues to rescue wild animals at great expense. And good on him for doing so.
Four rescue team members ventured out on the ice, which was said to be cracking under their feet. Once they got to the moose, they put a rope around the moose which was already breathing very slowly. Deputy Wade Nelson says the moose was taking a breath every 30 to 40 seconds. Wade added that the moose had been working very hard to free itself from the ice.
Deputies report they also had to break away some ice from the animal in order to free it.
Team members then anchored the rope and began to pull the moose up on to solid ice at which point fire department crews arrived on scene to assist with the tow. Crews put the animal on a sled and slowly brought it back to shore. Nelson says the toughest part of the rescue was the distance the moose had to be towed.
Once back on shore, officials found the moose to be exhausted but still breathing. Nelson says that as long as the animal can breath on it's own, it will most likely survive, adding it will take around 3 to 4 hours for the moose to recover.
It took crews around 2 hours to rescue the moose.
SINC SAYS:
It never ceases to amaze me that man continues to rescue wild animals at great expense. And good on him for doing so.
Save Up To $130 A Year By Switching Toilet Paper
08/04/2009 05:59
According
to
Consumer Reports
Magazine
YONKERS, N.Y., April 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers don't have to pay a lot for strong and soft toilet paper, according to the latest report from Consumer Reports. Store brands like Costco's Kirkland Signature and Walmart's White Cloud cost roughly half as much as brand-name toilet paper, and scored very good or better for softness and disintegration in Consumer Reports' tests.
Quilted Northern Ultra Plush ($0.29 per 100 sheets) topped the list for its strength and softness. But at just 12 to 15 cents per 100 sheets, Kirkland Signature and White Cloud offer the most performance for the price. Either of these CR Best Buy rolls could save a family of three roughly $130 per year.
Cottonelle Ultra ($0.37 per 100 sheets) and Scott Extra Soft ($0.13 per 100 sheets) also scored well in the Consumer Reports tests for strength and softness, but they weren't found to be the best values.
The complete report on toilet paper is available in the May issue of Consumer Reports, on newsstands on April 7 and online at www.ConsumerReports.org starting April 6.
Wipe the details here.
SINC SAYS:
Imagine how much more you could save by just using the magazine itself.
YONKERS, N.Y., April 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers don't have to pay a lot for strong and soft toilet paper, according to the latest report from Consumer Reports. Store brands like Costco's Kirkland Signature and Walmart's White Cloud cost roughly half as much as brand-name toilet paper, and scored very good or better for softness and disintegration in Consumer Reports' tests.
Quilted Northern Ultra Plush ($0.29 per 100 sheets) topped the list for its strength and softness. But at just 12 to 15 cents per 100 sheets, Kirkland Signature and White Cloud offer the most performance for the price. Either of these CR Best Buy rolls could save a family of three roughly $130 per year.
Cottonelle Ultra ($0.37 per 100 sheets) and Scott Extra Soft ($0.13 per 100 sheets) also scored well in the Consumer Reports tests for strength and softness, but they weren't found to be the best values.
The complete report on toilet paper is available in the May issue of Consumer Reports, on newsstands on April 7 and online at www.ConsumerReports.org starting April 6.
Wipe the details here.
SINC SAYS:
Imagine how much more you could save by just using the magazine itself.
Martin 7-0 At Worlds, Two Games Clear Of Pack
08/04/2009 05:59
Norway's Ulsrud second at 5-2
MONCTON, N.B. - Canada's Kevin Martin displayed the killer instinct that has served him so well throughout his lengthy career Tuesday, crushing Switzerland 8-3 to remain undefeated at the Ford World Men's Curling Championship.
As expected, Martin has dominated through his first six games here, only reaching the 10th end once. He has yet to have to throw his final stone.
Switzerland's Ralph Stoeckli, the 2003 world silver medallist, was the latest victim for Canada. Stoeckli, 2-5, has struggled during the championship and Martin didn't wait long to exploit that. The Canadian skip scored two points in the first, third, fifth and seventh ends.
"When we saw a couple of misses early on we played a little more aggressive than we maybe would have,'' said Martin.
"The thing is you become more aggressive - not less. You keep putting on the pressure and if you see a little bit of oil leaking, boy, you want to go after it. You want to take advantage of a situation because if it's 4-1 and you play defensively they may come around and snap a deuce and suddenly it's 4-3 and now you're in a ball game.''
Stoeckli said nobody has a better killer instinct than Martin.
"Why wouldn't he be No. 1 because he knows those kind of things?,'' said Stoeckli. "He knows when it is the moment to take that opportunity.
Canada meets Thomas Ulsrud of Norway in Tuesday's evening draw.
Scotland's David Murdoch was disgusted with his team's play after a 9-7 upset at the hands of China's Fengchun Wang. Murdoch (4-2) gave up a steal of three in the first end when he was heavy with his draw. China had lost its first five games and Murdoch missed out on an opportunity to stay close to Canada in the standings.
Murdoch said the weaknesses were there but his team failed to capitalize on them.
"We had plenty of opportunities today but never took them and we needed some tight ends and unfortunately we had some slack ones,'' Murdoch said. "If you see the team in front of you is a bit weaker you certainly play some aggressive shots and we tried to do that today, but unfortunately never got them in the right place.''
John Shuster of the U.S. improved to 4-2 after pounding Japan's Yusuke Morozumi 9-1.
"We realized we were close and it took five games at the Olympic trials to find our swagger and this was our sixth game here,'' said Shuster.
Germany's Andy Kapp edged Thomas Dufour of France 7-5 to round out the morning draw, evening his record at 3-3.
"We missed some shots but we don't care. It's a point,'' Kapp said.
The morning draw drew 2,573 fans for a total attendance of 27,988.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
If Team Martin wins both their games today, they clinch first place without having to win either of their games on Thursday. However, I’d still like to see them royally pound the Scots in the last game of the round-robin on Thursday evening. It might be the earliest that first place in the Page 1 vs. 2 playoff game has been clinched in the history of the World Curling Championships. So far, Team Canada is clearly, head and shoulders the class of this field.
Catch all of the action of Canada’s games today as they take on Finland at 7:00 a.m. local time and then the United States at 12:30 p.m. local time on TSN and TSN-HD.
Adam Braidwood Boxes Around Future
08/04/2009 05:59
Eskimos defensive lineman will be back in Green and Gold this season, but the ring has big man's attention
His gigantic, swollen hands delicately tear away at strips of athletic tape and he gingerly adheres them to the ropes surrounding what will soon be a sweaty boxing ring.
He first methodically wraps his hand, then gently peels the tape off the ropes and tucks the strips around his fingers. He completes the task and the finished product forms a solid clump of guaze and tape, protecting his punishing paw.
During his preparedness, his bulging left bicep and shoulder showcases a stylish tattoo -- Grim Reapers, skulls, flames and the words "Tragedy Falls" are prominently displayed as he flexes his arm in rehearsal.
He completes the identical assignment on both hands, then enters the ring where he starts to snap his leather gloves off his trainer's padded mitts. The stinging blows echo through Legends Training centre, a brand new gym near MacEwan College in the downtown core.
There is clearly anger in Adam Braidwood's eyes, and even more in his massive arms, as he completes a brief training session. The Edmonton Eskimos defensive lineman is preparing for his second boxing card, taking his 1-0 record into the ring on Thursday night's undercard of Blunt Force Trauma.
The six-foot-five, 265-pounder readily admits his fury.
"You have to learn how to control it," he said of his role as Angry Adam, former mixed martial arts combatant and now boxer in the off-season. "But you have to stay motivated. I have an aggressive nature, just by nature. It just kind of built up in me growing up, and I guess I like to take it out on other people -- in the form of sport. Outside the ring, and field, I stay out of trouble.
"I have a bunch of family out here that have been in a few bar fights though," he chuckled.
"Not a whole lot of athletes in my family. They like to hunt and fish. They wonder where this comes from? As a kid, growing up I liked to play rough so I do all the tough sports, the combat sports are my favourite," said the Delta, B.C., native.
After a full season away from his regular role as a Canadian Football League defensive lineman, many fans wonder just what makes Braidwood -- a.k.a. The Boogeyman in boxing circles -- tick? The mountain of a man destroyed his left knee, damaging both the ACL and MCL more than a season ago and he hasn't hit an opposing lineman or quarterback in more than a year.
"It's one of those things. I did it in college. I wrestled. My buddy fought. I used to train with him; we just wanted to line up some fights," he said, his voice moving as quick as his hands in the ring. "I get bored in the off-season. I like to fight.
"At my age I might look at fighting as a career and football would take a back seat, but right now I'm still focused on the football," said the 24-year-old. "You can call me crazy, but I don't want to have any regrets, and I think I have a talent for fighting and I want to keep pursuing that."
That's where the alarm bells should be ringing for the Eskimos. Last week, KO Boxing promoter Glen Carriere outlined a bit of a plan for the Boogeyman, stating he could see Braidwood playing out his option and turning to the ring -- full time. Canadian heavyweight champion is a definite possibility, said Carriere, and from there, who knows?
"I read it, yeah," smiled Braidwood. "It might be an option. I want to string together 10 wins. Maybe get four or five fights next year -- win this fight, come out strong next year. Get some sponsorship. It's something I would consider because the heavyweight division is wide open. I feel confident in my training, maybe I could make a career out of it, but that's a long time down the road.
"I have this fight coming up, then I have the (CFL) season. My biggest goal right now is to win the Grey Cup."
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I really wish Adam Braidwood would just stick to football, before he gets his block knocked off and misses more football.
Festival Funds Could Tune Up Indy Race
08/04/2009 05:59
Federal aid program aimed at boosting marquee events
A federal program to boost "marquee festivals" could help pull the Indy out of the red, despite a focus on attendance numbers organizers have not released, say some backers of the race car event.
When the federal government announced the Marquee Tourism Events program in January, there was immediate speculation that some of the $100 million promised for festivals could help the Rexall Edmonton Indy, which cost the city $5.3 million in 2008.
On Monday, the government announced it would provide two years of funding for "significant events that have an established international presence." It laid out two programs -- one for events with overall attendance of at least 250,000 people and another for events with at least 50,000 visitors.
The program would inject $3 million per year to larger events and $1 million per year for smaller ones.
The Indy Race League does not allow for the release of attendance figures. The policy raised eyebrows last year since Northlands, which operates the race and Capital Ex, also withheld attendance figures for the fair -- a first in its 129-year history.
The Capital Ex attendance figures were eventually made public.
Brian Leadbetter, director of government and community relations for Northlands, said he must study details of the government program but anticipates his organization would apply for funding for the Indy, and perhaps the Capital Ex.
If the program is about "economic activity and a tourism draw, the Edmonton Indy would meet those criteria," Leadbetter said.
Coun. Kim Krushell, a city representative on Northlands' board of directors, said it would be "very disappointing" if the Indy couldn't apply to the fund.
"But I suspect the feds want to support events that attract tourists, and the Indy certainly does that. I think there are ways we can probably work with the program parameters. It is challenging, not releasing the figure, there's no doubt about it."
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Just in the nick of time, it sounds like there may be some federal funding available for the Edmonton Indy car race.
Augusta National A Beautiful, But Flawed, Lady
08/04/2009 05:59
Course changes ensure less exciting finishes and a spectator-unfriendly atmosphere, pros say
Three years after Hootie Johnson stepped down as chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, his ghost still haunts the place.
It sticks its tongue out from the tips of the tee boxes on the back-nine par-5s, and laughs from the seventh tee at the fans who are marooned on either side by this abomination on an otherwise beautifully designed golf course.
Of all the miraculous changes that have blown through the once musty corridors of the National since Billy Payne succeeded Johnson, the one area most resistant to reclamation has been the golf course.
Other than a few token concessions -- build-ons to the fronts of tee-boxes, providing the option to shorten holes depending on wind and temperature -- the basic crime that was perpetrated upon one of sport's greatest stages by Johnson's misguided devotion to length has gone unpunished.
The victim remains damaged, even though its face is as drop-dead gorgeous as ever.
"To me, it's just been . . . you come down the last nine holes now, and you're not seeing as many birdies and eagles and changing of scores and the cheers through the trees," 73-year-old Gary Player said Monday, in announcing that this would be his last Masters. "I don't know whether I'm imagining things. Do you guys see that?"
Player made it clear he loves this tournament, which he has won three times, and had no desire to add to the rising tide of criticism about the scene of some of his greatest moments. But yes, Gary, we all see that.
So do most of today's stars.
Tiger Woods, in the interview room a year ago, was as blunt as he could be: "There's really no roars out there anymore," he said. "It's hard to make eagles and the big birdies."
"I'm coming to believe this is more like a U.S. Open course every year," said Steve Stricker.
For some reason, Payne and his green-jacketed teammates have been slow to react to the evidence, which means they must be analyzing stats instead of opening the windows and listening. Some suggest they don't want to rain on Hootie's legacy by undoing his changes.
Not that Augusta National has ever been perfect.
It is still, comparatively speaking, a poor spectating facility for anyone trying to follow an important group around the course, and the club has actually removed at least one grandstand, exacerbating the viewing difficulties.
Crowd movement hits numerous bottlenecks, thanks in large part to the yardage added to several holes.
But by far the loudest criticism since Johnson's dramatic lengthening process added nearly 500 yards to the course that Woods won on in 1997 is that Sunday drama at the Masters has become a rarity.
"Bland might be too strong a word, but probably it has become a little like that," 2003 champion Mike Weir, of Bright's Grove, Ont., said Monday. "I was watching the '86 Masters (Jack Nicklaus's sixth win) last night, birdies and eagles flying everywhere, and you know, just the way the course is set up now, mowing patterns and everything, just makes it hard for that to happen."
Sundays at Augusta used to have an aura unlike anything else in golf, a trademark sound, or variety of sounds, that were identifiable by volume and location. You could confidently expect someone to come out of the pack with a back-nine 31, and ignite the crowd.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I can’t say as I disagree with Cam Cole. Augusta and The Masters has never been the same since they started tinkering with the course following Tiger Woods ripping it up during the 1997 Masters. There definitely have not been as many exciting finishes since they lengthened the course in order to combat today’s equipment and athletes and it certainly has become a much less spectator-friendly atmosphere. I don’t think we’ll ever see any finishes like 1986 again.
Worlds Tougher Field Than Brier: David Murdoch
08/04/2009 05:59
Scotland skip Murdoch's comments stir up controversy, Norway's Ulsrud doesn't disagree
Kevin Martin tried his best to duck the question Monday at the Moncton Coliseum.
Told that Scottish skip David Murdoch had made the claim in the Eye Opener newspaper -- the free publication handed out to fans at the Ford world men's curling championship -- that the worlds field was tougher than last month's Tim Hortons Brier field at the Pengrowth Saddledome, the defending world champ attempted to go into diplomat mode.
"Well, I don't think I should say anything, really," said Martin. "None of the European or Asian teams play in the Brier, and I guess from the Canadian point of view, we have, so I don't think it's a level playing field as far as commenting both ways." Except, it was pointed out to Martin, no one is more qualified to comment, seeing as how he's the only one in the field here who's played in both the Brier and world championship, for two years running; Murdoch was at the Calgary Brier, but he didn't play.
So what does he really think about the Murdoch statement? "Obviously, Canada has a pretty good record as far as world curling goes, and it's (Brier) a tough event, a tough event to win," said Martin. "There are five or six teams at a Brier that could win any event on the planet." True? Not true? It's a thoroughly subjective argument, one that can never be compellingly answered until the sixth-place team at the Brier (for the record, this year it was B.C.'s Sean Geall) gets a crack at the worlds field.
But the top-end talent in Canada seems to be getting the job done at the world championship on a regular basis, and Martin's 5-0 record is more support for that statement.
Martin, backed up by third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert, drilled Jiri Snitil of the Czech Republic 10-4 before a testing 6-4 triumph over Andy Kapp of Germany on Monday to keep pace with Norway's Thomas Ulsrud, who's 5-0 after posting a pair of tough wins on Monday -- 7-5 over John Shuster of the U.S. and 7-6 over Fengchun Wang of China.
Canada takes on Norway in the featured game of the week so far tonight.
Ulsrud, for the record, doesn't necessarily disagree with Murdoch's statement.
"It's not far off," said Ulsrud. "I think last year, (Martin) was unbeaten in the Brier and he lost a couple in the worlds (to China and Murdoch in the Page playoff 1 vs. 2 game; Martin came back to beat Murdoch in the gold-medal game). I'm not saying it's going to happen, but I'd be surprised if he goes unbeaten this week." Ulsrud's coach, Ole Ingvaldsen, who's helmed the Norwegian men's program for a decade, isn't so sure, though.
"I very much doubt that, but it could be on the same level," said Ingvaldsen, who was in Calgary for the last weekend of the Brier.
"The weakest teams at the Brier would probably not be able to be top four here. And when (Glenn) Howard played Kevin Martin, those were the best games I ever saw. The top teams drag everything up, in my opinion, and the lowest teams at the Brier are level, and probably a little bit above the level of the lowest teams here." While Morris believes Canadian teams, on average, still hold a strategic edge on the rest of the world, he's a fan of the way non-Canadian squads have ramped up the physical part of the game.
"Those athletes are training really hard, especially the teams like Japan, China, Switzerland, Scotland and Norway; they're training all year, and I think on average they're fitter individuals than some of the curlers in Canada," said Morris. "I would say the top teams at the Brier realize you have to stay fit and be athletic to have a real good chance. I think that's one thing internationally that they've done a better job than us over the last five or 10 years. They've taken it to a new level as far as conditioning goes.
"As Canadians, we have the curling in our blood, but if we want to continue in the future years to really compete against and continue dominating the other nations, we have to make sure we have to stay up to par in terms of fitness." Canwest News Service
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
What would David Murdoch know about the Brier field? Boy, he’s sure one annoying little Scotsman, folks, I’ll tell you that.
Guess what Murdoch? You’re not nearly as good a curler as you think, either.
Legend Gary Player To Call It Quits After 52 Masters
08/04/2009 05:59
Nine-time major champion Gary Player will play his final Masters this week, the 73-year-old South African legend announcing Monday he will call it quits after his 52nd Augusta National start.
"I've decided I would like to make this my last appearance in the tournament," Player said. "This will be my last major championship that I will play on the regular tour."
Stretching the famed Augusta National layout to 7,435 yards over the past few years has proven too much for even the fitness-focused Player.
"I'm exercising profusely, but at 73 it's difficult to build strength," he said.
"The course is so long there are very few holes I can hit an iron to. It's just too long for me."
Player won the Masters in 1961, 1974 and 1978 and is one of only five men to capture a career Grand Slam, joining an elite group that also includes Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Tiger Woods, who did it at age 24.
"I've managed to break 80 the last two years. It's getting to a stage where I don't know if I can do that any more," Player said. "I'm getting old and it's getting so much tougher."
Player joked that "I'm hitting the ball so short now I can hear it land." Having become the first golf star to dedicate himself to playing tournaments around the world, Player will break his own record for the most Masters starts with number 52 on Thursday, but says he expects his mark will one day fall.
"It will be broken," Player said. "We're in our infancy when it comes to the art of the mind and the body."
Player said his greatest Masters memory was his rally to win in 1978, when he birdied seven of the last 10 holes to fire a 64 and recover from seven strokes off the pace to win.
His worst memory came in 1962 when he told his caddie, "We've won," only to watch Arnold Palmer sink a long putt and overtake him for the triumph.
"I've had it all. You can't be greedy," Player said. "I'm very grateful.
I realize my talent is on loan."
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Wow, 52 Masters – that’s really an amazing feat and two more than Arnold Palmer. And, Gary’s right – he just can’t hit it far enough anymore, particularly since the powers-that-be at Augusta National lengthened the course more than 500 yards in their infinite wisdom and ruined the course in the process.
Sexual Assault Case Against Tillman Pushed Back Again
08/04/2009 05:59
REGINA -- A sexual assault case against the general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has been pushed back for two weeks.
Eric Tillman was not in court Tuesday, but a lawyer appearing on his behalf asked that the case be adjourned to April 21 to allow for "additional discussions."
There was no comment from the lawyer outside the provincial courthouse in Regina.
Tillman has yet to enter a plea on an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl last summer.
When the charge was first laid in early February, the married father of two suggested there was more to the story and said he would rely on the justice system to air the facts.
Tillman, who helped lead the Riders to the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup championship in 2007, remains on paid administrative leave.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Hmm . . . the case has been pushed back another two weeks to allow for “additional discussions.” Here comes the plea bargain and out-of-court settlement SWIVEL HIPS originally predicted.
Savard’s Group Ready To Make Offer If Habs Hit Market
08/04/2009 05:59
MONTREAL -- Former Montreal Canadiens general manager Serge Savard says he and a group of partners are prepared to buy the National Hockey League franchise if it is put up for sale.
Majority shareholder George Gillett is currently seeking advice from financial firms in Canada and elsewhere about how he might maximize his holdings.
Gillett owns the Bell Centre, where the Canadiens play, as well as 80.1 per cent of the team.
Savard doesn't know if the Canadiens will go on the block but he has told various Quebec media he would be part of a consortium that would bid for the team.
Gillett also owns 50 per cent of English soccer giant Liverpool and has interests in the Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR team, event promoter Gillett Entertainment Group, ski resorts, car dealerships and agricultural companies.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Well, if anyone has the kind of money it will take to buy the Montreal Canadiens, it’s Serge Savard. And, he would also have the Habs’ best interests at heart as well.
Taxpayers Association Opposes New City Hall
07/04/2009 03:10
Dear Mayor and Council:
On reviewing the recommendation to designate City Hall as an historic resource, as a representative of the St. Albert Taxpayers Association, I have several questions and concerns.
See the document here.
I note that there are significant restrictions on the alteration etc. of the building once it is designated. It seems this is likely to increase costs and involve a regulatory process for alterations should they be required. City administration has suggested it is short of space and this led to the proposal prior to the last election of a new city administration building. This seemed to die a natural death due to the negative response by taxpayers.
Taxpayers continue to think that a new city administration building is not necessary and that better use of existing space could alleviate shortages.
In addition, we wonder about the timing of this initiative and whether it is an attempt to so restrict city hall redisign and renovation in the future to make it less viable as a fully functioning City Hall. We are particularly concerned that the issue of a new city hall will be raised again, as has been suggested by several of our constituents after reading the report of the Mayors Task Force on downtown revitalization.
If the city is short of space for its employees, and as there is a significant amount of space in the building currently being used for non-city purposes, most notably on the 1st floor with the museum and craft guilds and the library on all floors, would this type of designation impede restructuring to create space for city needs or increase costs to refurbishing these spaces for city use in the future? Can the city say NO, there would be nothing in the designation to impede such restructuring of space, and that there would be no significant costs to designating the building as a historic resource.
We urge City Council to reject the proposed designation of City Hall as a historical resource at this time. There is plenty of time for doing so in the future.
Lynda Flannery
President
St. Albert Taxpayers Association
SINC SAYS:
There is little doubt in my mind that Robing Hood And His Merry Band Of Men are hell bent on pushing through a new city hall. More empire building of monuments to themselves. How many city senior managers who push to spend our tax dollars even live in St. Albert? That leaves zero economic impact on themselves on the decisions they make which affect taxpayers.
They will push and push and push until one council folds and does their bidding. Sadly, I very much fear this may be the very council that collapses under their weight and agrees with their thinking and moves to build a new city hall in the middle of a recession.
Reader: We Don't Need A New City Hall
07/04/2009 03:10
Hi Lynda.
I read your note to Council with a great deal of interest.
I agree with you – all of the “non-essential,” let’s call them, “uses” of the building should be moved. It is not necessary, nor crucial for the museum and the library to be located in City Hall. They could be relocated to $ervu$ Place, for example – there’s lots of room there. The crafts guilds could also be relocated to the old RCMP building on Churchill, or other city properties. If you clear out the library, museum, crafts guilds and other such activities from City Hall, you would have more than ample room to expand that space for city departments. The Arden Theatre and Progress Hall are two other facilities contained within St. Albert Place that should seriously be looked at.
However, you will get the argument from some councillors, most notably Watamaniuk and her fellow artsy-fartsy crew I’m sure, that St. Albert Place was intended to be a “gathering place” for all St. Albert residents – that it was the intent to have an arts, heritage and cultural component to St. Albert Place right from its inception.
I think that argument is a load of crap, by the way, but that’s the quiet “opposition” or “push back” you will be facing. It’s sort of similar to the Chamber of Commerce insisting that the Farmer’s Market be held right in front of St. Albert Place, as well, and that St. Anne Street should be shut down every Saturday during the Spring, Summer and Fall to accommodate them, when a much more suitable venue would, once again, be $ervu$ Place. Or, that the Winter Farmer’s Market be held inside St. Albert Place and, when that didn’t happen, the Chamber picked up their toys, like a bunch of spoiled brats, and went home. I mean, we’re paying for $ervus$ Place, so why aren’t we utilizing it to its full capacity?
You are right – this “heritage site” designation is just another step to ensure St. Albert Place is turned over to the Arts & Heritage Foundation and that a new City Hall is built at taxpayer expense. I can see it coming a mile away.
Just a couple of thoughts.
Cheers,
Jim Starko
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Excellent points all Jim. From talking to many people, your opinion is widely held where it concerns a new and totally unnecessary city hall.
'Tis The Season For Car Shows, Just Not Here . . .
07/04/2009 03:10
GUESS WHO CAME HOME FOR DINNER?
07/04/2009 03:10
Could you imagine
coming home from work and find this tiny
creature napping on your couch with your dog?
It followed this beagle home right through the doggie door in the Bittinger, MD. area recently.
The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home.
SINC SAYS:
Kind of a nice surprise if you ask me.
It followed this beagle home right through the doggie door in the Bittinger, MD. area recently.
The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home.
SINC SAYS:
Kind of a nice surprise if you ask me.
Breast-Feeding Drunk Driver – Alice Springs
07/04/2009 03:10
A 19-year-old woman
who was breast-feeding her baby whilst driving
intoxicated was arrested in Alice Springs just
before 7pm last
night.Police said the woman drove out of the Gap View Hotel carpark onto Gap Road into the path of on on-coming police car. Police avoided colliding with the woman’s vehicle, and she was apprehended a short distance along Gap Road. Police said the driver was breast-feeding her four-month-old son as she was driving the Holden Commodore Station Wagon.
She was taken into custody and the baby was given into the care of relatives. The woman has been charged with:
* Failing to provide a breath sample
* Drive whilst disqualified
* Drive an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle
* Failing to give way to the right
* Driving with a child under 12 months unrestrained
She has been bailed to appear in the Alice Springs Magistrates Court on April 23
Believe it or not here.
SINC SAYS:
You just can’t make this kind of stuff up folks!
Martin Improves to 5-0 At World Curling Championships
07/04/2009 03:09
MONCTON, N.B. - Canada kept pace with first-place Norway at the Ford World Men's Curling Championship on Monday, but for the first time Kevin Martin actually had to work for a win.
Canada's first four games were abbreviated affairs, but 2007 world silver medallist Andy Kapp of Germany was able to keep the game close and took Martin to the 10th end before falling 6-4.
The teams were tied 3-3 after four ends, but Martin scored one in the fifth and stole another in the sixth to take the lead for good, with the Germans running out of stones in the final end.
"We've played Andy I don't know how many times over the years but it's lots,'' said Martin. "He should have beaten us a couple of times over the years - he hasn't yet but it's been close a couple of times.''
With a 5-0 record, Canada is tied with Norway's Thomas Ulsrud for first place.
Martin said he has his work cut out for him on Tuesday with games against Switzerland's Ralph Stoeckli in the morning and the Norwegians in the evening.
"We're where we hoped to be but we come out tomorrow morning and we have a tough game against Switzerland and I know they want us bad,'' he chuckled.
Stoeckli acknowledged his team is in tough after dropping to 2-4 in a 6-5 evening loss to Thomas Dufour of France.
"We are in deep trouble,'' sighed Stoeckli. "We have lost two games in the last end that we should have won and we are running out of time. I am struggling and can't seem to find my draw weight.''
Ulsrud, who beat Fengchun Wang of China 7-6 in the afternoon draw didn't expect things to go this well.
"Not at 5-0 but when we looked at the games we thought if we get a really good start it could be but I wouldn't have dreamed of it,'' said Ulsrud, who defeated the United States 7-5 earlier in the day.
The Norwegian skip was looking forward to a night off before meeting both Switzerland and Canada Tuesday.
"We need a rest because we need to pick up the game,'' he said.
"Tomorrow is a tough day for us.''
David Murdoch of Scotland moved alone into second place - one game behind Canada and Norway with a 4-1 record after outlasting Japan 7-5.
"We're pretty happy. The week's going well,'' said Murdoch, the 2006 world champion.
"We're better finishers than starters and the fact that we're 4-1 means we're doing something right. The last couple of championships we would have lost a couple by this stage,'' he added.
The United States and France sit at 3-2 after three days of competition.
John Shuster of the U.S. stole a single point in the extra end to beat China 9-8 when Rui Liu, who throws fourth stones, was heavy on a draw attempt. China, which finished fourth at last year's world championship is 0-5.
More from ctvolympics.ca
SWIVEL HIPS
SAYS:
So far it’s been a cakewalk for Team Canada at the World Curling Championships. So much so, that they’re 5-0, despite playing some very sloppy curling games along the way. They will have to be much better today as they take on Switzerland’s Ralph Stoeckli at 7:00 a.m. local time and Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud at 4:30 p.m. local time on TSN and TSN-HD.
Both Switzerland and Norway are expected to be playoff contenders this coming weekend. If Team Martin doesn’t pull up their socks today, they could very quickly find themselves 5-2.
Countdown To The 2009 Masters . . .
07/04/2009 03:09
Countdown To The 2009 Masters . . .
In an ongoing daily series leading up to the 2009 Masters, which will take place at the fabled Augusta National Golf Club from April 6-12, 2009, St. Albert’s Place brings you Countdown to the 2009 Masters . . . We'll reprise classic reporting and articles from earlier Masters, photo galleries, daily updates of current qualifiers, press releases from Augusta National and coverage of significant Masters 2009 anniversaries.
We hope you enjoy.
Countdown To The Masters – Part 19 – 1986 Jack Nicklaus: The Greatest Masters
At 46, Jack Nicklaus Turns Back the Clock and a League of Nations to Win His 20th Major
If you want to put golf back on the front pages again and you don't have a Bobby Jones or a Francis Ouimet handy, here's what you do: You send an aging Jack Nicklaus out in the last round of the Masters and let him kill more foreigners than a general named Eisenhower.
On that final afternoon of the Masters Tournament, Nicklaus' deeds were so unexpectedly heroic, dramatic and historic, the taking of his sixth green jacket would certainly rank as the biggest golf story since Jones' Grand Slam of 1930. That Sunday night, writers from all corners of the globe were last seen sitting limply at their machines, muttering, "It's too big for me."
What indeed could be said? That it was one for the ages? That Jack Nicklaus saved golf from the nobodies who populate the PGA Tour these days? That surely this was Jack's finest hour, this 20th major? As much was said back in 1980 when he surprisingly won the U.S. Open and PGA. But here he comes again, six years later, now a creaking 46, hopelessly trailing a group of younger stars, most of them glamorous foreigners like Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Tommy Nakajima, Nick Price and Sandy Lyle and what he does is suddenly catch fire over the last 10 holes of the tournament, shoot a seven-under 65 (with two bogeys), knock all of the invaders into a killer funk and win a sixth Masters by filling the Augusta National's pine-shadowed corridors with roars unlike any before them.
And he does it at a time when it looked like you needed a visa to get on the leader board. He had to beat a league of nations.
This history book, please. Now that it's over and Jack has hugged his son, the caddie, and survived the cordon of policemen who hadn't surrounded a golfer in such numbers since Jones completed the Slam at Merion 56 years ago, or since Ouimet upset Vardon and Ray 73 years ago, what does it mean?
When he won his fourth U.S. Open at Baltusrol in 1980, it tied him with Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson. When he won his fifth PGA at Oak Hill in 1980, it tied him with Walter Hagen. Now look, Nicklaus' sixth Masters victory gives him a tie with none other than Harry Vardon in an odd category. Vardon had been the only professional to win a specific major six times, having taken his half-dozenth British Open at Prestwick back in 1914.
In the case of Nicklaus, it wasn't so much that he did it but how he did it. With 10 holes left in the final round, Jack was six shots off the pace being set by Seve Ballesteros, who simply looked as if he owned the tournament, and had been looking like the owner all week long. But let it be recorded that Jack played those last 10 holes in 33 strokes--with a birdie at the ninth, a birdie at the 10th, a birdie at the 11th, a bogey at the 12th, a birdie at the 13th, a par at the 14th, an eagle at the 15th, a birdie at the 16th, a birdie at the 17th and a par at the 18th. Poor Jack. The guy almost didn't know how to make a par.
To be serious, it was a miraculous stretch of holes that tore the foreigners apart. None among them had a reason to take Nicklaus seriously until Jack hit the most gorgeous 4-iron you ever saw to the water-guarded 15th and then rammed home a 12-foot putt for an eagle 3. That got their attention, and then when Jack put every pore of knowledge into a 5-iron and damned near aced the par-3 16th, it frankly scored a knockout over Ballesteros.
There stood Seve, back in the 15th fairway with a one-shot lead on the field. Here was a man who had already made two eagles in the round, one at the eighth with a 50-yard pitch and another at the 13th with a two-yard putt. Until this moment, Seve had looked indestructible. But the repetitious punches of Nicklaus finally got to the Spaniard, and he did the only thing he could have done to lose the tournament he wanted so badly to win. He jerked the worst-looking 4-iron shot imaginable into the pond with a one-handed finish and took a bogey that bruised his confidence beyond repair. Make no mistake: Jack knocked the club out of his hand.
Perhaps the next most amazing shot Nicklaus hit came then at the 17th, after his pulled drive left him on hardpan, 125 yards from the green. A shot like that is supposed to spin, but Jack just fluttered it up, hop, hop, and he had a 10-foot birdie putt that destiny would allow him to rap into the throat of the cup. Finally, he played to a masterful par at the closing hole for his winning total of 279.
Nicklaus has rarely won his stockpile of majors watching television--until this one. In the Jones cottage near the Augusta National clubhouse, Jack watched the failures of Tom Kite and Greg Norman.
Of these, Norman's was the most necessary, and perhaps the most deserving, given the fact that the way Greg struck the ball on Sunday, his 70 could well have been an 80. He bounced off of everything but a nearby shopping center, and kept getting saved by the crowds, whose numbers prevented his ball from finding even worse places to come to rest, or, in fact, be lost. It was Nicklaus' presence on the scoreboard that ultimately did in the Australian at the 18th hole when Greg needed a par to tie, just as it was Jack's presence on the course that had done in Seve and others. What do you do if you're Greg Norman in the 18th fairway of the Masters on Sunday and you're trying to get Jack Nicklaus into a playoff? You hit a half-shank, push-fade, semi-slice 4-iron that guarantees the proper result for the history books. When you stop to think about it, Norman probably didn't want to play the 10th hole again in sudden-death; he already had double-bogeyed it twice that week, once four-putting. Oh well, Greg Norman always has looked like the guy you send out to kill James Bond, not Jack Nicklaus.
More from Golf Digest.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I will never forget that Sunday in April 1986 as I sat in front of my television set with tears streaming down my cheeks as Jack Nicklaus turned back the hands of time and won his record sixth green jacket at age 46, with son Jackie on the bag. It was a magical Sunday, indeed.
Scottish Skip Wants To Break Canadian Hearts In 2010
07/04/2009 03:09
It's a delicious opportunity, one that won't come around again for a generation or more.
To win an Olympic gold medal in curling is one thing; to do it in the most curling-crazy nation on the planet, and break millions of Canadian hearts in the process? "That," said smiling Scottish skip David Murdoch, "would be sweet." More so on the men's side than on the women's, where the rest of the world has drastically narrowed the talent gap, Canada remains the gold standard for the rest of the world.
It's understood that regardless of which team prevails at next December's Tim Hortons Olympic Trials in Edmonton, it will head to the Vancouver Olympic Centre two months later an automatic favourite.
"Canada's the benchmark, without a doubt," said Murdoch. " These guys are playing at a really high level. It's always sweet to beat Canada." But beating a team besides Canada in a gold-medal game wouldn't take anything away from the experience, suggested Murdoch.
"Getting the gold medal is the priority," said the former world champ, who's expected to officially be handed the skipping duties for the team from Great Britain on May 1. "That's what we're planning for, for sure. That's the reason we spend so much time over here curling against Glenn (Howard) and Kevin (Martin) and Randy (Ferbey) and all these guys." A few of the Europeans got their first look at the curling venue at the Vancouver Olympic Centre last month when the world juniors were staged as the Olympic test event, and while they have high hopes for the arena as finishing touches are applied over the next 10 months, they admit they expected a grander setting.
"To be honest, it was a chance to really show the whole world how big the crowds could be in Canada and how big the sport is," said Murdoch. "Obviously, they want the legacy and they don't want to be left with an empty 15,000-seat stadium, and that's perfectly understandable."
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I can’t stand Scottish curlers at the best of times, particularly David Murdoch. It will be really “sweet” when Canada pounds Murdoch any time – and, particularly, at the 2010 Olympics. The “sportsmanship” he normally displays on the ice always puts a target on his back.
Spruce Grove Saints Go Marching Out . . .
07/04/2009 03:09
Grande Prairie / The Grande Prairie Storm won their first Alberta Junior Hockey League championship since 2004 on Sunday, defeating the Spruce Grove Saints 4-3 in double overtime.
The Storm swept the top-seeded Saints in four games, allowing only six goals in the process.
Grande Prairie took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission, but the Saints battled back with a pair of late goals. Nate Fleming pulled Spruce Grove within one at the 14:48 mark, and Curt Morrison tied the game with only 21 seconds remaining.
After the first overtime period settled nothing, the Storm's Morgan MacLean scored his second goal of the game at the 11:50 mark of the second extra frame to clinch the championship.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Why do I have this overwhelming desire to sing, “Oh, when the Saints . . . go marching out . . .” Oh, stop it!
International Curlers Enjoy Canada’s Rock Star Status
07/04/2009 03:09
MONCTON, N.B. - While curlers in Canada are accustomed to being in the spotlight, representatives from the other countries are getting a taste of the rock star treatment at the Ford World Men's Curling Championship.
When Canada's Ben Hebert and John Morris dropped in to the Keith's Patch, the watering hole of choice for many fans at the tournament, neither curler needed to buy a drink. The pair spent most of the evening signing autographs and posing for pictures.
"There are some nights when you just want to put on the 'Guy Incognito' costume and go in and no one knows who you are and you can just go have a beer with your buddies,'' said Morris. "But it's part of the game and I'll never turn down an autograph. I've seen guys get too big for their britches and I'll always make time available to make sure I'm there for the fans.''
Making time for fans isn't something Thomas Ulsrud worries much about back home where the Norwegian skip would never be recognized on the street, let alone asked for an autograph.
"I'm happy with two weeks of fame here at the worlds,'' said Ulsrud, who was 5-0 after his two games Monday. "That's good enough for me. Back in Norway no one recognizes us except those for those people who also curl.''
Curlers from around the globe get the chance to live the high life when the world championships are held in Canada. There are autograph sessions set aside for all the teams and a chance to interact with appreciative fans.
"This is perfect for us,'' said Ulsrud. "Two weeks of playing curling on great ice and big crowds and people want to talk to you and have autographs and things like that. It's perfect.''
Skip Kevin Martin, the four-time Brier champion and defending world champion, has been dealing with celebrity status for years.
"Here it's fine but in a restaurant at home with my family it's a little different,'' Martin said with a grimace. "That's something that my son, who is 19 now, has grown up with since he was little. Our family just gets used to it and you deal with it.''
"If you don't like it stay home and have supper and barbecue on your deck,'' he added.
The rock star status even carries over when Martin goes on vacation.
"If we go to somewhere like Florida or California - of course it's all Canadians down there,'' he said. "So it's the same thing when we go to vacation spots.''
Ulsrud, who expects to represent Norway at the 2010 Winter Olympics, thinks curling's popularity will get a boost in his home country once it is televised next year.
That's not likely to happen in the Czech Republic where skip Jiri Snitil estimates there are about 500 curlers in the whole country.
"People don't care about curling much other than a few articles in the paper,'' said Snitil as he headed to an autograph session. "Back home it's soccer and hockey.''
More from ctvolympics.ca
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Hmm . . . I've always wondered what it would be like to be a rock star.
No Shortage Of Storylines Heading Into 73rd Masters
07/04/2009 03:09
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - One thing you can't say about this year's Masters is that it's devoid of storylines.
First, Tiger Woods makes his triumphant return to major golf just 10 months and one massive leg surgery removed from his epic U.S. Open playoff victory over Rocco Mediate.
Woods has teed it up three times so far in the 2009 season. He lost in the second round of the Accenture Match Play Championship, tied for ninth at the WGC-CA Championship, then finally broke through with a comeback victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
What's perhaps the scariest thing about Woods' return is that he has gotten better each tournament, not just in results, but in play. Tim Clark played brilliantly to defeat him in the Match Play and he couldn't buy a putt with all of his personal wealth at Doral.
Where it all came together was at Bay Hill. Woods trailed by five shots at the start of the final round and played smart, steady golf. Sean O'Hair gave some back to Woods, but it was Tiger standing on the 18th green with a 20-footer to win and that's what happened to the shock of exactly no one.
So now Woods has the taste of winning back in his mouth. It happened just two weeks before the mint juleps are being served at Augusta National. He is peaking, and keep this in mind: Not only does Woods want to put the leg injury behind him, but he hasn't donned the green jacket since 2005 and if Woods can't do it this week, that will represent his longest drought between Masters titles.
One thing missing from Tiger's resume is the single-season Grand Slam. He picked up the "Tiger Slam" where he held all four at once, just not in the same year.
There's someone in the field who can get a third leg of the "Tiger Slam," although let's call it the "Paddy Slam."
Mike Weir, the only Canadian to ever win the tournament, seeks his first Green Jacket since winning at August National in 2003. It will be Weir's 10th Masters tournament.
Padraig Harrington, the no-nonsense Irishman, captured his second consecutive British Open Championship last July, then outlasted Sergio Garcia to win the PGA Championship.
Harrington last missed the cut at The Masters in 2005 and posted top-seven finishes in each of the last two years. He tied for seventh in 2007 and shared fifth last year.
While Harrington's 2009 campaign has been less than stellar, he still has a ton of momentum on his side. He admitted in a recent interview that he needs to be more aggressive at Augusta National. If Harrington has the right attitude (more aggression at Augusta could be dicey), and is in it on Sunday, he's got a great chance.
Harrington never held the third-round lead in any of his three major victories. He even made up a six-shot deficit to Sergio Garcia in the 2007 British Open and tripped up the great Greg Norman on the back nine Sunday last year.
Harrington's pursuit of his own Grand Slam will be a big story through most of the week, but especially when the Irish lad visits the media center before the tournament. If he vaults into contention, it'll be all that's heard about.
Kind of like Norman.
The Shark's tie for third last year at Royal Birkdale got him an invite into this year's field at The Masters. Norman has worked hard over the last few weeks acknowledging he's practiced and prepared, but his very presence should be a bigger story than his performance.
Whether or not Norman, 54, can handle the lengthened Augusta is a big question. He still hammers it out there a bit and knows his way around the venue. Norman has runner-up finishes, and if you believe in karma at all, this place owes Norman one.
He got swept aside when Jack Nicklaus turned back the clock in 1986, then Larry Mize chipped in during a playoff to beat him the very next year.
Anyone remember the 1996 Masters? Of course. It was supposed to be a Sunday coronation for Norman, who was six ahead of Nick Faldo. What happened next has been discussed ad nauseam, but there was also 1999 when Norman could've finally got that green jacket that has alluded him his whole life.
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Based on his performance last week at the Shell Houston Open, there’s no way I can see Phil Mickelson winning the Masters. Wouldn’t it be just a great story, folks, if Greg Norman, The Great White Shark, could finally win at Augusta? However, being a realist, I’m still not betting against Tiger Woods.
Jack Frost Nipping At Your Draws
07/04/2009 03:09
Mild weather wreaks havoc on ice at world curling championship
Ben Hebert is one of the strongest sweepers in the world, but he spent much of the opening weekend at the Ford world men's curling championship feeling like his broom was all but useless.
The lead man for Kevin Martin's Canadian champions -- holders of a 3-0 record after drilling Thomas
Dufour of France 7-2 and Fengchun Wang of China 9-4 on Sunday at Moncton Coliseum -- said excess frost on the ice, caused by warm temperatures and high humidity, is making life tough not only for the men throwing the rocks, but also their teammates sweeping them.
Iit's particularly tough on a team like Canada, which boasts arguably the best front-end tandem (Hebert and second Marc Kennedy) in the field.
"One of our biggest strengths is sweeping, and we can't use it to get around guards or drag rocks," said Hebert, who had much better conditions to work with in the late win over China. "Sweeping does nothing. If you throw it light, it doesn't matter if it's Marc and I or our moms sweeping; it ain't going any further.
"You know what this is? It's like women's curling. They have no sweeping (relatively speaking), so you have to throw it where it's going to be anyways (on the assumption that sweeping won't help). So now we're figuring out how hard it is to make shots as a girl. I guess it's hard."
Canada, which heads into today's play tied for top spot with Thomas Ulsrud of Norway, has made enough of their shots to date.
"It's all good so far," said Martin, who was able to use fifth player Terry Meek in place of Hebert after building a lead against China. "The guys are playing well. We were able to be more aggressive tonight, and if the ice stays like this, we'll be more aggressive."
While it's been a grind at times on the ice -- it could get worse as rain is forecast in the Moncton area, and temperatures are going to remain above normal -- Martin can see a bright side to the situation.
"This is a very good thing," said the defending world champ from Edmonton, whose team is rounded out by third John Morris. "When we go to most arena events in Canada, the conditions are pristine. John and I have played on some adverse conditions before but Ben and Marc haven't."
"So this is great for us, it really is," Martin said. "It might not show up on the percentage sheet, but it's good for our team."
"It's not a bad thing," added Hebert. "If we get on really good ice, to be honest, we would hammer a few teams out here. This is going to keep things a lot closer.
"We're spoiled, we get to play on great ice. I can go out and shoot 95 (per cent) every day on the ice we had at the Brier. Perfect ice. But here? If you hit the 90s, you're masterful (Hebert, for the record, was scored at 94 against France). But we're not going to complain; it's the same for everybody."
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Between the ice and the rocks, it’s been a very interesting World Curling Championships so far. As I said the other day, kudos to head ice-technician Hans Wuthrich and his crew for doing as good a job with the ice as they have.
I guess that’s what happens when you try to put artificial ice into an old cow barn like the Moncton Coliseum. I don’t know why they can’t hold these events in cities that have proper facilities.
Oh, and Benny, you haven't heard the last about your comments regarding how the women curlers sweep, either. Not by a long shot, bud.
In Answer To Your Questions . . .
06/04/2009 04:55
Don:
1) I wondered the same thing about these two cases. While I am not a universal fan of our justice system, I have sat through lot of trials I am disinclined to blame judges for its troubles. Given the same facts they have, nine times out of ten, most of us would make the same decision. That one time out of ten is why we have appeal courts. I do blame poor reporting for public cynicism about the courts. This is an example. Surely it is incumbent on someone in the mainstream press to explain what happened here. And I am sure there is an explanation. At a guess, the law must recognize (as is surely the case) that there are degrees of insanity and sometimes people can understand the consequences of their actions but nevertheless be influenced by their craziness to commit crimes. This seems to be the case in the Edmonton killing, where the judge (as I recall) cited the insanity as a "mitigating factor" in sentencing.
2) To quote a book I read as a kid, "never try to understand the official mind." I used to wonder, "why not put an advanced green for eastbound traffic on St. Anne at Perron?" Now we know the answer to that one, I guess.
3) My suggestion on the 150th anniversary celebration is the same as the advice given by a 1,000 fictional detectives of my literary acquaintance: "Follow the money." Nothing wrong with a bit of stimulative spending, of course, but on a party?
4) No, I have not noticed a difference in your pictures. If it's that much work for you, my advice would be not to bother. You put out an excellent blog, and it's the entertaining writing that makes it a winner. The pictures are good too, but they were good before.
Now, a question for you: a few days back you made a reference to a third paper coming to town. I'm afraid I had to be out of town for a few days and I missed the story, I think. I couldn't find it in your back issues. Any developments on this?
David J Climenhaga
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Thanks for the edumacation David, it brought me back to near reality.
* About those pictures, readers used to have to click on each stand alone photo published to increase the size to see the detail. Then they had to close that new window to resume reading. I reasoned I could simply enlarge the pictures in the first place to avoid that step. That and one other rather minor tech change is the extra step involved to hopefully make this place a tiny bit easier to navigate. Photos with wrap-arounds remain in the smaller format with the click to enlarge feature intact.
* As to your question regarding a third newspaper coming to town, you might have misread my "entertaining writing". There was no third paper mentioned, I simply pondered, given the state of the newspaper business these days and a certain corporation's penchant for closing down publications in neighbouring communities, would one of the local papers fall victim to the economic times? Given they at the end of the day have essentially the same corporate owners, it seems to me to heighten the possibility.
An Invitation To City Council . . .
06/04/2009 04:40
Hi Nolan,
I would like to invite council to come for a walk to the BLESS platform to watch the migrating birds arrive. Quite a sight tonight.
Wear adequate footwear please. Quite enjoyable really!
Unless one is on crutches by now.
Elke Blodgett
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
This e-mail including the pictures were copied to St. Albert's Place and originally sent to the mayor and city manager last night. Elke appears to be the master of sarcasm. Let us know if council accepts your invitation, Elke.
I would like to invite council to come for a walk to the BLESS platform to watch the migrating birds arrive. Quite a sight tonight.
Wear adequate footwear please. Quite enjoyable really!
Unless one is on crutches by now.
Elke Blodgett
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
This e-mail including the pictures were copied to St. Albert's Place and originally sent to the mayor and city manager last night. Elke appears to be the master of sarcasm. Let us know if council accepts your invitation, Elke.
Cutesy Nicknames Strengthen A Couple’s Bonds
06/04/2009 04:34
Lovey-dovey language
— even your own — can be so corny it makes you
want to puke.
But researchers have
found that it might actually serve a purpose:
Pet names and code phrases pave the way to a
playful, resilient, and satisfying
relationship. One study on couples' "insider
language" published in the Journal of Social
and Personal Relationships reported that the
more goofy names, made-up terms, and covert
requests for nooky a couple used, the higher
their relationship satisfaction tended to be.
The quantity of sweet or silly nothings you utter on any given day may be even more important than the quality, says Jamie Turndorf, Ph.D., a New York City relationship therapist. Studies have found that couples who maintain a five-to-one ratio of positive to negative communications are far more likely to remain happy. "Using nicknames and made-up language is an easy way to inject positive communication into everyday life," Turndorf says. In fact, it's probably the single easiest thing you can do to keep your relationship going strong.
Whether it's baby talk or coded conversation ("It's getting chilly." Translation: "Let's leave now."), the overall message is: The two of you are tight. "You are saying, symbolically, that you care enough about the other person and the relationship to develop your own way of speaking," says Carol Bruess, Ph.D., the director of family studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a co-author of "Belly Button Fuzz and Bare-Chested Hugs: What Happy Couples Do." "You've got your own private world, your own mini culture."
The quantity of sweet or silly nothings you utter on any given day may be even more important than the quality, says Jamie Turndorf, Ph.D., a New York City relationship therapist. Studies have found that couples who maintain a five-to-one ratio of positive to negative communications are far more likely to remain happy. "Using nicknames and made-up language is an easy way to inject positive communication into everyday life," Turndorf says. In fact, it's probably the single easiest thing you can do to keep your relationship going strong.
Whether it's baby talk or coded conversation ("It's getting chilly." Translation: "Let's leave now."), the overall message is: The two of you are tight. "You are saying, symbolically, that you care enough about the other person and the relationship to develop your own way of speaking," says Carol Bruess, Ph.D., the director of family studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a co-author of "Belly Button Fuzz and Bare-Chested Hugs: What Happy Couples Do." "You've got your own private world, your own mini culture."
SINC
SAYS:
I can live with
"Honey", or even an odd "Dear", but I draw
the line at "Babycakes".
The 19 Worst Drive-Thru Foods
05/04/2009 21:02
Fast food is easy on
the wallet, but it's no bargain in terms of
your healthTime and money are two things Americans can’t afford to waste. So it’s not surprising (though slightly disappointing) that the drive-thru is considered one of the great inventions of all time. There’s even a study to prove it. In 2005 and 2006, researchers asked 600 adults and teens why they eat so much fast food.
Three of the top four responses were it’s quick, easy, and affordable. Taste came in third, with only 69 percent of respondents listing flavor as a factor in their fast-food love.
Drive-thru foods may be convenient and easy on the wallet, but they’re loaded with unhealthy fats, added sugars, carbohydrates, and sodium. Translation: They’re no bargain when it comes to your health. But jam-packed schedules and a dismal economy make the occasional drive-thru meal a part of life. That’s why Eat This, Not That! studied the open-air menu boards and compiled a list of the worst items out there, plus better alternatives. Avoid these dietary land mines and save more than a few minutes and a couple bucks—how does up to 20 pounds in a year sound?
Check them all out here.
SINC SAYS:
I was pleasantly surprised to find only one item on the list for McDonalds, that being their milkshakes. On the other hand, neither Kentucky Fried Chicken nor A & W had one food make the worst list.
Parents Say School Taught Cuss Words
05/04/2009 20:50
BRADFORD ON AVON,
England, April 5 (UPI) -- Parents complain that
their 11-year-old children got a lesson in
swear words at an English
school.The parents -- whose children attend St. Laurence School in Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire in southwest England -- said many of the youngsters were upset. They said they were given no warning of the lesson plan by the head teacher.
The children said the teacher wrote words on the board and had the children shout them out. The school said the goal of the lesson, part of a sex and relationship curriculum, is to rob profanity of its mystique.
"This is a total disgrace," a parent said. "Our children go to school to gain an education, not qualifications in swear words. Most kids had no idea what the words meant and were forced to grow up faster than their parents want. Heads should roll for this."
SINC SAYS:
Makes you wonder what goes on in the minds of educators who pull this kind of stunt.
05/04/2009 20:44
"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." --- Abraham Lincoln
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." --- Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." --- Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend ... If you have one." --- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill. "Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... If there is one." --- Winston Churchill, in response.
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." ---Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." --- John Bright
"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others." ---Samuel Johnson
Martin Dominates France, China, Is 3-0 At Worlds
05/04/2009 19:59
MONCTON, N.B. - Canada's Kevin Martin lived up to the pre-
tournament hype Sunday, crushing two opponents to earn a share of first place along at the Ford world men's curling championship.
Martin took apart Thomas Dufour of France 7-2 in the afternoon draw and then dropped Fengchun Wang of China 9-4 in the evening to run his record to 3-0.
"It's all good so far ... the guys are playing well,'' said Martin, the defending world champion. "So far, so good.''
Martin broke open his showdown with Wang with three points in the third end and another three in the fifth end.
"It's nice see to the ice coming back,'' said Martin "There was no frost tonight at all so it's all under control.''
Players were forced to battle through high humidity and heavy frost on opening day Saturday because of higher than normal temperatures in Moncton.
Martin, who played a more tentative style in his first two games, changed his strategy against China.
"We were more aggressive tonight and hopefully if the ice stays like this we'll be able to be very aggressive,'' he said.
Canada is tied with Thomas Ulsrud of Norway, who won his third straight in Sunday's afternoon draw. Ulsrud stole six points in the first six ends in an 8-2 win over Czech Jiri Snitil.
"It's a good start for us,'' said Ulsrud. "To be honest, when I saw the draw for the worlds I pretty much hoped we would win the first three, but you're never sure.
"On paper I think we are a better team than the three we have met so far but this is perfect to get off to a good start.''
John Shuster of the U.S., shook off a poor showing on Sunday's morning draw with an impressive 10-3 victory over Switzerland's Ralph Stoeckli.
The win came after the U.S. gave up a six-point end in a 12-6 loss to Scotland's David Murdoch earlier in the day.
"We really just regrouped after that,'' said Shuster. "During the trials this year we lost the one-two game and that could have devastated us and we were able to rally back from that.
"Today after we gave up that huge end to end our game we kind of went back and said we can put it in our past like we did then and we did a great job today. The guys played great.''
Stoeckli, who is being coached by two-time Canadian and world champion Russ Howard ,is now 1-2 but said there is still lots of time to turn things around.
"There are so many good teams out there you can win and lose any given day,'' he said. "I think we can turn around if not then there is something wrong.''
Dufour and Murdoch also improved to 2-1 in the evening draw.
Dufour defeated Japan's Yusuke Morozumi 8-2 while Murdoch won an 11-8 shootout with Andy Kapp of Germany.
Six teams were sitting at 1-2 after two days of competition: the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Finland and Switzerland.
Total attendance for Sunday's evening draw was 3,591, bringing the two-day total to 18,213.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Well, so far – so good for Team Canada at the World Curling Championships. They’re in first place at 3-0. Catch all of the Team Canada action today as they face Jiri Snitil of the Czech Republic at 12:00 p.m. local time and Germany’s Andy Kapp at 4:30 p.m. local time on TSN and TSN-HD.
Casey Wins First PGA Tour Event, Fred Couples Third
05/04/2009 19:58
HUMBLE, Texas - Paul Casey won the Shell Houston Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory, beating J.B. Holmes with a bogey on the first playoff hole.
The 31-year-old Englishman has nine international victories, but had never won in the United States. The victory boosted Casey to No. 6 in the world rankings, a career high.
Holmes needed a win to earn a trip to next week's Masters, but is the only player from last year's Ryder Cup who failed to qualify.
Casey bogeyed the 18th hole in regulation to complete a 72 and tie Holmes at 11-under par. Holmes wrapped up a 69 almost three hours before Casey finished.
The players met on the tee of the 488-yard 18th hole, the most difficult hole of the tournament with an average score of 4.336.
Holmes hooked his tee shot into the pond that lines the hole up to the elevated green. Casey then drove into the fairway bunker on the right side and hit a safe layup to the front of the green.
Holmes reached the green with his fourth shot, then missed a long bogey putt. Casey two-putted from 27 feet to secure the win.
Wind gusts topped 30 m.p.h. on Sunday and blew straight into the players' faces on the 18th hole. As Holmes putted on the practice green, Casey hit his 214-yard approach into the greenside bunker.
Casey blasted his sand shot to the bottom tier of the green and two-putted from 36 feet to force the first playoff in Houston since 2005.
Fred Couples, seeking his first victory since winning the 2003 Houston Open, led for most of the final round before bogeys on his final three holes left him at 9-under par, tied with Henrik Stenson and Nick O'Hern in third place.
More from Canadian Press.
Lincicome's eagle wins Kraft Nabisco Championship.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I'm not a big fan of golfers from England at the best of times, so I was hoping for the 49-year-old, sentimental favorite, Freddie Couples, who will be eligible for the Champions Tour later this year. And, it was looking pretty good for Freddie for the longest time today, until he imploded – bogeying the last three holes and falling out of the lead.
Countdown To The 2009 Masters . . .
05/04/2009 19:57
Countdown To The 2009 Masters . . .
In an ongoing daily series leading up to the 2009 Masters, which will take place at the fabled Augusta National Golf Club from April 6-12, 2009, St. Albert’s Place brings you Countdown to the 2009 Masters . . . We'll reprise classic reporting and articles from earlier Masters, photo galleries, daily updates of current qualifiers, press releases from Augusta National and coverage of significant Masters 2009 anniversaries.
We hope you enjoy.
Countdown To The Masters – Part 18 – Billy Payne Is Masters Gain
Every indication is that in Billy Payne, (pictured) the powers that run Augusta National GC have chosen the right man to steer a club steeped in tradition through the tricky waters of the 21st century. After just two Masters as chairman, Payne's imprint is clear at golf's most-watched event, and all of it is good.
Whether it's allowing children in for free, switching the cable coverage to ESPN or permitting TV audiences to see the Wednesday Par 3 Contest, Payne has made it clear he wants Augusta National, already a quasi-governing body of the game, to play a more active role in growing the game. Which brings us to Payne's biggest challenge: carrying out the balancing act between progress and tradition.
Who can argue with any of the moves mentioned above? Exposing children to golf sows the seeds for golf's future. And Arnold Palmer's tee shot to a foot on the first hole of the Par 3 Contest alone justified the decision to put it on TV. But if the Masters is a tradition unlike any other, what about the parts of the tradition that need to be protected?
Such as? The hand-operated leader boards, for one. Nothing in golf is as exciting without actually seeing a golf shot struck. Anticipation is an intense emotion, and when a number is removed for a player in contention, the wait to see if he has birdied or bogeyed is part of the fun of the tournament. Please, Mr. Chairman, don't ever replace those with electronic leader boards.
There are a few other low-tech aspects of the Masters that need to be maintained. The pairing sheets are not glossy, overly produced vehicles for advertisements but rather simple pieces of paper that tell you all you need to know: who plays together and when. No need to be more complicated than that.
Let's talk about food. The concessions on the course are simple sandwiches, chips, candy, soda and beer. The smell of hotdogs or hamburgers cooking isn't to be found anywhere on the course. Why change that? And all the food comes in wrappers that say "Masters" and not a brand name. That's pretty cool.
And definitely don't change this: There is no price gouging at the Masters. Anyone fortunate enough to get in will find food at affordable prices. Two bucks for a beer, three if you want an import. How about a grilled chicken breast sandwich for $2.50, or a pimento cheese sandwich for $1.50? Those are some traditions worth preserving.
From 1962 until 1999, the first two rounds of the Masters were played in twosomes, and the groups were repaired after the first round. That tradition was abandoned when the field grew into the mid-1990s, and there was concern not all would finish before dark. Now the tournament is played in threesomes, but everyone starts their round on the first tee. I prefer that method over making half the field tee off on No. 10, as they do at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. The course should be played in the order the architect designed the holes. That's another tradition worth preserving.
Part of the beauty of the Masters is that they don't over-think things. What Payne understands is some things don't need to be messed with. He understands -- and respects -- tradition.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
That’s one thing I have always loved about the Masters. They maintain just the right blend of change and tradition. As the article says, Payne is exactly the right man for the job of chairman of Augusta National, because he understands that some things don’t need to be changed. In short, he is truly a man who understands and respects tradition.
Hockey A Family Affair For Canada’s Mikkelson
05/04/2009 19:56
St. Albert product's brother played for WHL's Giants
Phone calls home for Meaghan Mikkelson from the IIHF women's world hockey championship can sound like a barter session.
She gives some game details, and gets a few in return.
Mikkelson, 24, is one of the relative newcomers with Canada at this event. Saturday's 13-1 win over China in the team's tournament opener marked just the 13th career contest with the national side for the winger. Her younger brother Brendan, 21, is a rookie defenceman with the Anaheim Ducks, with 32 NHL games on his resume so far.
Mikkelson gets updated on her brother, who played for the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants, when she telephones the family home in St. Albert and talks to her parents, Bill and Betsy.
"They get me the updates on their games and their progress moving toward the playoffs," said Mikkelson, whose brother has spent a chunk of the campaign with the AHL's Iowa Chops. "I'm happy to see that he's still up in Anaheim and the team is doing well.
"We're very close. We have a lot in common. We just get along really well. We're lucky to have each other." They are in similar career spots right now. Meaghan was a star at the University of Wisconsin. In her senior season in 2006-07, she helped the team to a second straight NCAA championship and was named a first team all-American and to the Frozen Four all-tournament team.
That same season, Brendan was named to the Memorial Cup all-star squad after helping Vancouver win the prize.
Meaghan is now trying to cement her spot in the Canadian lineup, while Brendan, the Ducks' second-round pick in 2005, is attempting to do the same in Anaheim.
"Obviously when you get up to that next level there are new things that come at you and things you need to learn," said Meaghan.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Good luck to Meaghan in solidifying a spot on Canada’s national women’s hockey team and brother, Brendan, on nailing down a spot with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.
YouTube Sensation Omark Considering Offer In KHL
05/04/2009 19:56
After causing a sensation on YouTube, Linus Omark is reportedly considering an offer to play in Russia next season.
Omark was originally a fourth round draft pick (97th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 NHL Entry draft. He recently rose to prominence thanks to a phenomenal shootout goal in a game against Switzerland.
Sources tell TSN that Omark is seriously considering a one-year deal with an unnamed team in the KHL that will pay him over one millon dollars next season.
The 22-year old Omark remains unsigned by the Oilers and is looking for the rookie maximum on an entry level contract, however according to the same source, no offer has been made.
Oilers' general manager Steve Tambelini told TSN Saturday that negotiations are under way.
Omark is one of the top scorers in the Swedish Elite League this season with Luela, racking up 23 goals and 32 assists in 53 games. He is also slated to play for Sweden at the upcoming World Hockey Championship in Switzerland.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
That’s just bloody great news, isn’t it folks - considering Omark is an Edmonton Oilers prospect? I would suggest the Oilers just hang the expense and get the kid signed to a NHL contract, rather than letting him escape to Russia next year.
To watch Omark’s amazing shootout goal, click below.
Avery, Thomas Tussle As Bruins Beat Rangers
05/04/2009 19:55
BOSTON -- A boost to his bank account and a stick to the head couldn't throw Tim Thomas off his game.
One day after signing a US$20-million, four-year contract extension and 5 1/2 minutes after being hit in the back of his helmet by Sean Avery, Thomas was mobbed by teammates celebrating the Boston Bruins' 1-0 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.
The victory clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference for Boston for the first time since 2001-2002. And it may have been a preview of the first playoff round. The Rangers hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
"Obviously, this stuff affects you to a certain point," Thomas said of the contract talks, "but I've been able to put it behind me and just concentrate on hockey."
He did that so well that the Bruins won their sixth straight game -- five of them before he signed -- and he got his fifth shutout of the season.
Blake Wheeler scored his 21st goal for Boston at 9:04 of the first period and nothing New York did could tie the game.
Then Avery hit Thomas as the goalie was stretching in front of his net during a television timeout with 5:24 left.
"I really like the fact that we kept our composure and got the win," Thomas said. "If you can react and not have it affect your game, then he didn't do his job and it didn't work."
After that, he made a save on a slap shot by Derek Morris on a New York power play and finished with 31 saves.
Thomas did chase Avery to centre-ice as Avery kept skating with his back to the goalie. He pushed Avery then was hit from behind by New York's Frederik Sjostrom. Thomas turned and swung at Sjostrom before officials separated players.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stayed out of the action.
Thomas "looks like a pretty strong guy. When he goes after one of our guys, I looked at the bench for the OK," Lundqvist said. "I think he overreacted."
Avery was acquired on waivers by the Rangers on March 3 after being released by Dallas. While with the Stars, he was suspended by the NHL for crude public comments directed toward players dating his former girlfriends.
"I actually like the way he plays around the net. He's tenacious. He gets in right around the crease but he's not actually doing anything illegal," Thomas said, "but there's lines that you can cross and he seems to have a hard time figuring out what those lines are."
Both received two-minute penalties.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I’m telling you folks, this clown Sean Avery is a real head case. And, I hate to say I told you so, but the leopard never changes his spots, either. They should just kick the guy out of the league and be done with him once and for all.
To see the video of Sean Avery’s latest stupid stunt, click below.
Judge Rejects Michael Vick’s Bankruptcy Plan
05/04/2009 19:55
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Fallen NFL star Michael Vick told a bankruptcy judge Friday that he became a changed man in prison and is determined to do all the right things upon his release from prison, including repaying his creditors with the millions he hopes to resume earning in professional football.
But after more than three hours of testimony in which Vick laid out what he called his "exit strategy," U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank J. Santoro rejected it. Santoro told Vick to draft a new Chapter 11 plan, one with a bit more certainty.
Santoro said there is no guarantee the league will have the 28-year-old player back, and suggested he start on a new plan by considering liquidating one or both of his Virginia homes and three cars he had planned to keep.
A status hearing is set for April 28, but Santoro set no deadline for submission of a new plan.
Vick is pinning his hopes of emerging from financial ruin on returning to the NFL. He remains indefinitely suspended, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has not said whether he will reinstate Vick after his July release from the federal penitentiary in Kansas where he is serving a 23-month sentence for a dogfighting conspiracy.
Vick's testimony -- his first extensive public account of his life since entering prison in November 2007 -- offered a glimpse of what he's likely to tell Goodell in his bid for reinstatement.
"I can't live like the old Mike Vick," he said, speaking softly as many of his friends and family members listened in the courtroom.
One of his lawyers, Peter Ginsberg, asked Vick about a note he recently wrote in prison saying he was in good spirits.
"I'm happy where I am because I'm going in a totally different direction," Vick said.
He said his plans include marrying his fiancee next summer and working a US$10-an-hour construction job as part of his probation until he can resume his football career.
Vick was once one of the NFL's highest-paid players, but lavish spending and poor investments, coupled with the backlash from his dogfighting case, led to his downfall. Vick filed for bankruptcy in July claiming assets of $16 million and debts of more than $20 million.
Santoro asked Vick about the likelihood of Goodell lifting the suspension. He said he can only hope that "if I do the right thing -- if I keep showing I'm remorseful, show true remorse," the commissioner will give him a second chance. He also told the judge that he thinks he could play in the NFL another 10 to 12 years if reinstated.
Vick said he has accepted full responsibility for a "heinous" and irresponsible act. In addition to bankrolling the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting operation, Vick has admitted helping kill some dogs that fared poorly in test fights.
In addition to a possible NFL salary if Goodell lifts the suspension, Vick has some other income prospects, his lawyers said. He has agreed to a television documentary deal that will pay him $600,000, and Ginsberg hinted of a possible book. He could be transferred to home confinement at his eastern Virginia home by late May, and Vick's agent has said that he hopes the player can return to the NFL by September.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Well, I guess it’s back to the drawing board for Michael Vick, eh, folks? Seems like he just keeps taking one step forward and two steps backwards these days.
Questions On My Mind This Week
05/04/2009 05:33
* Lemme see now, a mentally ill young man stabs and kills a senior out celebrating his 29th wedding anniversary and gets 14 years in jail. A mentally ill middle aged man stabs, kills and beheads a fellow passenger on a bus and he’s deemed innocent due to his illness. Where’s the balance?
* When westbound traffic is given a green light to proceed from Hebert Road across the Trail onto Gervais, it runs smack into an always red light at Galarneau Place. Who is the traffic genius who times these lights? An average citizen could point to the common sense solution to reverse the red green sequence timing at that intersection to create free flowing traffic.
* The province of Newfoundland and Labrador decided not to spend a dime to celebrate their 60th anniversary of joining Canada. St. Albert will turn 150 next year, a far less significant event, in the same depressed economy. Why does our council not reverse its decision to spend hundreds of thousands on this pretty much non event?
* I've been experimenting with a new method of presenting pictures here on the site so they appear larger to viewers. I am wondering A) if readers have noticed and B) if you like the new format. It is quite a bit more work to present them in this manner, so I'm curious to know if readers think I should continue with the larger sizes?
Have a question on your mind? Send it along to mybirdie@telus.net.
St. Albert's Place Reader Questions:
Hi Don,
Try to put a dollar value on this subject.
George Proulx
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Wow George, what a set up. Thanks for sending it along. As to your question of cost, I can only imagine.
________________________________________________
READER RESPONSE:
Hey Don,
Mybirdie looks great with the new photo format.
I liked the Message in a Bottle story and (of course) the Gold-fish picture!
Kim (in CALGARY)
SINC SAYS:
Well, that's one reader who like the larger pictures. Anyone else?
_____________________________________________________________________
Hi, Don,
I have traveled the Hebert west/east route to Riel drive for over ten years. Two years ago it was synced. They keep playing with the timing every couple of months. Perhaps a copy of Sim City is in order for the "genius".
Hmmm, with the economy on a downward trend and the city needing more cash I believe it is time for the city to put in a bylaw for cats. Yes, $25 for each cat license and a $100 ticket for each time the cat is caught roaming off the owners property. Dog owners have been descriminated against for far too long.
Taking it one step further, each dog/cat owner would be rquired to provide a DNA sample from their pet so that when a "treasure" is found, the city would know exactly where to send the summons. Just a thought . . .
Al Popil
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
We have always had pets Al and none of them, cats included were ever allowed to soil our neighbour's property. No reason for it if they are contained, as they all should be.
Man Finds Message In A Bottle From 1913
05/04/2009 05:33
SPOKANE, Wash. --
Darin Winkler was out walking the banks of the
Spokane River with his kids last weekend when
he saw something that
looked...
Well, let me put it this way: After you hear this story, the song "Message in a Bottle" may be stuck in your head for days.
"Spring and high water brings up various kinds of things on shore," said Winkler, who lives in the River Run subdivision on the Spokane River, just south of Spokane Falls Community College. "We saw an old flattened basketball and a bunch of bottles. Mostly they were whiskey bottles, Mad Dog 20-20 bottles, things like that. But this one stood out."
It looked like an antique bottle, with an old-fashioned cork stopper.
So Winkler and his kids, Evan and Iris, walked up and took a closer look. That's when they saw it.
A message in a bottle.
Winkler grabbed the bottle and took it back to his house. He carefully teased the note out of the bottle. The paper was a little damp, flaking in places, but mostly intact. The first thing he saw took his breath away: "March 30, 1913."
Some parts of the note had deteriorated, but large portions of the pencil-written note remained decipherable.
Here's what it says, with missing parts noted with ellipses:
March 30, 1913
Read the message here.
SINC SAYS:
It is simply amazing how much one can find out on the internet about a person who lived so long ago.
40 % Of Oz Women Wear A DD Bra Or Bigger
05/04/2009 05:33
THE bra market is
expanding, literally. Up to 40 per cent of
Australian women now buy bras with a cup size
of DD or higher, new figures from lingerie
suppliers
show.In the 1950s, the most common bra-cup size was a B - three sizes less than a DD.
Modern breasts are getting so large that some bra companies have introduced cup sizes as high as K, The Sunday Telegraph reports.
Experts blame the cleavage boost on obesity, contraceptive pills and artificial hormones.
Myer lingerie buyer Kerryn Sawyer said sales of DD-plus bras have grown from about 20 per cent of sales to 28 per cent in just five years.
Many lingerie labels such as Berlei and Triumph are now offering G cups while Fayreform, Freya and Le Mystere are producing select styles up to a size J.
Berlei brand manager Jane Edser said the company's range of bra styles, available in DD-plus, had, increased since 2005 from 75 per cent to 83 per cent, to cater for the growing market.
Inflated story here.
SINC SAYS:
Those are definitely some top heavy statistics.
A Senior Moment . . .
05/04/2009 05:33
'WHERE is my SUNDAY
paper?' The irate customer calling the
newspaper office loudly demanded, wanting to
know where her Sunday edition was.
'Ma'am,' said the newspaper employee, '"Today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on Sunday.'
There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition as she was heard to mutter, 'Well, shit... so that's why no one was at church today.'
Check Out This Little Pad!
05/04/2009 05:33
This place seems very
modern, BUT, HERE'S THE INNOVATIVE PART!
This one bedroom loft apartment was built inside a granary.
It was renovated into this upscale unit after it was purchased and relocated to the grounds of an old homestead in Saskatchewan in 2007.
This one bedroom loft apartment was built inside a granary.
It was renovated into this upscale unit after it was purchased and relocated to the grounds of an old homestead in Saskatchewan in 2007.
05/04/2009 05:33
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.
Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?
Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? '
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'
May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.
I know you smiled!
Parked On Double Yellow Lines?
05/04/2009 05:33
It's a fair cop as
these police cars get caught in the
act
Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted. In this case it was two police cars illegally parked on double yellow lines that fell prey to a couple of police community support officers.
The humour of the situation wasn't lost on the PCSO on the left, who can be seen laughing as his colleague places a fixed penalty notice on the first victim's windscreen.
The cars were illegally parked outside New Scotland Yard in Westminster on Wednesday afternoon - when spaces must have been very scarce because of the G20 summit.
You're nicked: PCSOs see the humour in ticketing police cars for illegal parking
To add insult to injury, the officers, who were on the prowl on Wednesday afternoon outside New Scotland Yard in Westminster, are employed by the Metropolitan Police.
An onlooker said: 'One of the PCSOs was on his mobile phone then he turned to the other one and was laughing.
'Maybe he'd rung to check whether he should put a ticket on the police cars and had been told to go ahead.
'It was very difficult to find any parking, probably because of the G20 summit. Downing Street is only 150 yards away and a loads of parking bays had been closed down, but you've got to use a bit of sense, haven't you?'
The Metropolitan Police yesterday said it could contest the £40 fixed penalty notices only if the drivers have 'a very good reason'.
A spokesman added: 'Police officers should always make sure their vehicles are parked in a considerate manner and consider parking restrictions - unless there are operational reasons for not doing so, for example if they are answering a 999 call and they have to park in the quickest place available.'
SINC SAYS:
I would still like to see this happen to those damn photo radar vehciles that park wherever they please on city streets.
Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted. In this case it was two police cars illegally parked on double yellow lines that fell prey to a couple of police community support officers.
The humour of the situation wasn't lost on the PCSO on the left, who can be seen laughing as his colleague places a fixed penalty notice on the first victim's windscreen.
The cars were illegally parked outside New Scotland Yard in Westminster on Wednesday afternoon - when spaces must have been very scarce because of the G20 summit.
You're nicked: PCSOs see the humour in ticketing police cars for illegal parking
To add insult to injury, the officers, who were on the prowl on Wednesday afternoon outside New Scotland Yard in Westminster, are employed by the Metropolitan Police.
An onlooker said: 'One of the PCSOs was on his mobile phone then he turned to the other one and was laughing.
'Maybe he'd rung to check whether he should put a ticket on the police cars and had been told to go ahead.
'It was very difficult to find any parking, probably because of the G20 summit. Downing Street is only 150 yards away and a loads of parking bays had been closed down, but you've got to use a bit of sense, haven't you?'
The Metropolitan Police yesterday said it could contest the £40 fixed penalty notices only if the drivers have 'a very good reason'.
A spokesman added: 'Police officers should always make sure their vehicles are parked in a considerate manner and consider parking restrictions - unless there are operational reasons for not doing so, for example if they are answering a 999 call and they have to park in the quickest place available.'
SINC SAYS:
I would still like to see this happen to those damn photo radar vehciles that park wherever they please on city streets.
Kevin Martin Opens Worlds With Win Over Japan
05/04/2009 05:32
After a delayed start resulting from problems with the ice surface, Kevin Martin lead the Canadian rink to a 7-4 win over Japan in the final draw of Saturday at the men's World Curling Championships in Moncton, N.B.
The Canadian and Japanese rinks traded points over the first four ends, and then the Martin rink scored a three point fifth end. Despite attempts by Japan to score additional points to catch up, the score at the end of the ninth end was 7-4 and Japan conceded the match.
In the Scandinavian match up of Norway versus Finland, Norway took an early lead and dominated the match, scoring a four point sixth end. The Finnish rink conceded the match at the end of the sixth for a final score of 9-1.
The Czech Republic scored over three consecutive ends against Denmark, and scored a four point end in the sixth. Despite a two point end for Denmark in the eighth end, the Danish rink opted to concede the match at a final score of 8-4.
Only the China versus France match would go to the full ten ends. After blanks on the first three ends, each rink began to notch up points, with both rinks scoring three point ends in the final hour of the game. France would ultimately win with a final score of 7-5.
Humidity during the first draw on Saturday resulted in poor ice conditions heading into the second draw. The second draw was delayed half an hour while the ice crews fought to resolve the problem.
Canada plays in two draws tomorrow, first against France at 12:00pm and then against China at 6:30pm.
More from ctvolympics.ca
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I’m not really sure Japan knew what ‘hit’ them when Canada started peeling rocks later in the game. No doubt, they’ve never seen “boom-booms” like that before.
Kudos to head ice-technician Hans Wuthrich and his crew. The evening draw was delayed ½ hour while he and his crew worked feverishly to resolve ice problems caused by very high humidity and temperatures in Moncton. I understand they just about lost the ice in the Monton Coliseum this afternoon.
Catch all of the action of Canada’s games today vs. France at 10:00 a.m. local time on TSN and 4:30 p.m. local time vs. China on TSN2.
Countdown To The 2009 Masters . . .
05/04/2009 05:32
Countdown To The 2009 Masters . . .
In an ongoing daily series leading up to the 2009 Masters, which will take place at the fabled Augusta National Golf Club from April 6-12, 2009, St. Albert’s Place brings you Countdown to the 2009 Masters . . . We'll reprise classic reporting and articles from earlier Masters, photo galleries, daily updates of current qualifiers, press releases from Augusta National and coverage of significant Masters 2009 anniversaries.
We hope you enjoy.
Countdown To The Masters – Part 17 – Masters Report: Serious Business
Trevor Immelman wins a brutally difficult Masters, and the grumbling builds that the fun has disappeared from Augusta National
The world's greatest golf tournament IS no longer the world's greatest golf tournament, not in the context of how we once knew it, anyway. Gone are the Sunday afternoon fireworks, the four-hole birdie runs, the leader boards that changed faster than the arrival/departure screens at Grand Central Station. Power is now passé; control rules the day. Love it or lament it, the azalea patch has grown fangs and chest hair, altering the competitive disposition of the Masters to a degree many would find easier to abhor than ignore.
To find an ounce of fault in Trevor Immelman as its latest champion, however, would qualify as grasping at straws to validate the cause. From the spooky fog of Thursday morning through the blustery chill of Sunday night, no player proved more consistent in dealing with Augusta National's treachery. No one made a better case for himself statistically: Immelman ranked fourth in the field in driving distance and hit more fairways than anybody. Just one man hit more greens in regulation. Only three guys needed fewer putts.
And so he is quite worthy, a post-Tiger Woods prodigy whose development, just as several others in their late 20s, often required a pair of rose-colored glasses. If Australia produced Adam Scott, if Spain brought us Sergio Garcia, if the United States had Charles Howell III, South Africa pinned its superstar tag on Immelman, and the four remained majorless much longer than many would have suspected.
"Trevor is a player who has had to realize his own potential," said Irishman Padraig Harrington, the reigning British Open champ. "There's no questioning his [ability], but he has had to overcome the pressure of everything that has been said about him -- being the next Gary Player and all that."
The next Player? Immelman arrived here with two notable career victories in his pocket: the 2004 Deutsche Bank SAP Open, where he defeated Harrington by a stroke in a premium-field European Tour event; and the 2006 Western Open, where he holed a long putt on the final green to beat Woods by two. Immelman's five other professional wins all came in his homeland. After a big '06 in the U.S., he earned less than half as much money last season and fell from eight top-10 finishes to four.
What made this Masters champ such an improbable one was the tumor removed from Immelman's diaphragm less than four months ago. "A very serious operation," said Nike Golf president Bob Wood, whose division has sponsored Immelman since he turned pro in 1999. It took two days for doctors to declare the tumor benign and about six weeks for Immelman to regain his form, but nothing he did between mid-February and early April would have led you to believe he had any chance of winning the year's first major championship.
More from Golf Digest.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I have to be honest, folks. I’m not really a big fan of 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman.
