Friday, April 14th

1 - Some random thoughts on the Ottawa Renegades fiasco:

a) They should have been named the Rough Riders in the first place.

b) According to reports the Renegades have already paid out more than $250 000 in bonus money, with more still on the way. One league executive was quoted as saying 'there's a reason the Renegades went bankrupt' (off the record of course). When players like punter Pat Flemming are getting $25 000 signing bonuses something is wrong.

c) Mike Toth from Sportsnet hits the nail on the head in his blog when he writes that Ottawa can't support a CFL team because it is infested with fair weather football fans.

d) I don't see the Renegades coming back again, ever, but if they do, I hope they rename themselves the Rough Riders.

2 - Some random thoughts on the Cory Homles trade:

a) There are lots of fans who are upset the Western Riders dealt Holmes instead of Kenton Keith, but I don't think they had a choice. Hamilton's not stupid. They wanted Holmes, and they didn't want Keith because he's injury prone, one dimensional, and a walking off-field distraction, and that's why one was traded over the other.

b) Having said that, this is still not a good deal for Hamilton. They already have a decent Canadian safety in Wayne Shaw, no need for Scott Gordon, and now have Holmes, Josh Ranek, and possibly Jesse Lumsden lining up at running back. That's a lot of clutter. If Hamilton was smart they would have gone after All-Star linebacker Reggie Hunt instead of Holmes, then again, Roy Shivers isn't stupid either.

c) People who are worried about Kerry Josephs 23 interceptions last year should relax. Joseph threw 23 picks while running for his life behind an anemic offensive line. There's a reason he rushed for over 1000 yards last season, it's because he didn't have time to set up in the pocket and throw the ball. Saskatchewan's good offensive line means Joseph's interception total should be cut in half this season.

3 - Good news out of Calgary this week: despite some peoples best efforts, the Red Mile will still be open for business during the Flames play-off run (however long that lasts). Although there will be a heavy police presence during Flames games, fans can still throw a decent size party in the streets and bars.

Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier says, "Flames fans and residents in the area will take comfort in knowing that it is a very positive, well-thought-out management plan that ensures that there is a public celebration that can take place, but public safety is not going to be compromised."

Calgary's Chief of Police Dale Burn paraphrases, "Don't go down if you're looking to get drunk, or if you're looking for public nudity."

Read about it here.

Update: Flames fans almost go bankrupt due to jay-walking tickets police hand out after the Flames beat Colorado 2-0 on Thursday. This article in the Calgary Sun says police outnumber patrons along the Red Mile. Random Flames fan Spencer Freeman says, "What are they going to do if we win the Stanley Cup -- bring in the military?"

4 - Baseball season is underway, and this years favorite to win the World Series has to be the Chicago Cubs. After all, last year the White Sox broke their 88 year drought, and before that the Red Sox won it all, which means, logically, the Cubs should be next in a long line of drought busters. However, I said it once before, and I'll say it again, the Chicago Cubs will not win the World Series, by virtue of being the Chicago Cubs. Don't be fooled by their decent start, the Cubs, by their very definition, will choke. It's in their nature. Instead, look for the Cleveland Indians, who haven't won since 1948, to take home baseball's pride and joy. Right now, they're tied with the Red Sox for top spot in the American League.

5 - Through 9 games with the Yankees this season Johnny Damon has hit .324 with 1 HR and 7 RBI's.

6 - Warren Kinsella has an insightful article in the National Post about the role of God in politics, and, more specifically, whether or not it is right to say 'God Bless Canada' if you are the Prime Minister. Apparently, Stephan Harper has done this on several occasions, earning the scorn of several columnists across the country. Kinsella doesn't defend Harper, he merely points out that this shouldn't be such a big deal, for three reasons: (1) Harper is not using God to justify legislation. (2) Even Democrats pray. (3) Canada's national anthem invokes God, so why can't the Prime Minister?

Should people be offended by a Prime Minister asking 'The Almighty' for protection? No. Using God to dictate public policy or international affairs is one thing. Asking for his blessing, well, who wouldn't want that? This nation is at the point where some people find any mention of God distasteful, regardless of the context.

7 - There are certain people I know who desperately want to see the Atlanta Thrashers in the play-offs, and I agree, but only because I don't want to see Ilya Kovalchuk suiting up along side Alexander Ovechkin at the World Hockey Championships.

8 - Today's Sign of the Apocalypse: Elderly Woman Ticketed for Crossing Street too Slowly

9 - Scientist have just declared that the planet Xena, called the tenth planet, is now the 2nd shiniest object in the solar system, second only to Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. Researchers are puzzled by this, because apparently something this far away from the sun shouldn't reflect light this well. They think Xena has a high concentration of methane, which makes it shiny. Read more here.

Later,

M.O.F.