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Tag: Donnovan Bennett
Let's talk about Canadian jock journalism and its diversity deficiency
The soft, societal underbelly of Canadian jock journalism is being exposed.
It is ever thus when real-life concerns (racism, gender equality, sexism, homophobia, misogyny, domestic violence, etc.) invade the playground and relegate final scores, statistics and Tiger Woods' pursuit of Grand Slam golf titles to a seat of secondary thought.
That, of course, is what's unfolding now as we observe the horror that is Battleground America.
Unrest has given way to rioting and rubble, the bitter backwash from the death of George Floyd, a Black man whose name held no position in the public conscience until video evidence confirmed that a Minneapolis-St. Paul police officer had used a knee to squeeze the final breath out of him.
In itself, the death of Floyd is not a sports story. Rogue cop kills a Black man. They've seen this movie, too many times.
Except Michael Jordan is talking about this one. Masai Ujiri is talking about it. LeBron James is talking about it. Evander Kane is talking about it. Blake Wheeler, Jonathan Toews and Logan Couture are talking about it. Kareem has weighed in. Numerous pro sports organizations have issued communiqués condemning racism and social injustice, and that includes the National Football League, which has managed to place itself in the awkward position of being full-score against Colin Kaepernick's knee of peaceful protest and, at the same time, against a cop's knee of death.
But here's someone who can't talk about it from a platform of lived experience—99 per cent of Canadian sports scribes.
Unless your name is Morgan Campbell or Donnovan Bennett, the best our flowers of jock journalism can do is provide sound bites from Ujiri, Jordan, LeBron, Kareem, Kane et al.
And, yes, it's terrific when they spread the word. It's important.
Yet they themselves cannot provide explanation, analysis or offer first-person anecdotal evidence in the arena of marginalization. They fall short, like a warning-track fly ball. They are incapable of commenting and opinionating from a foundation of been there, had that done to me. They don't know Black. Just like they don't know female. They don't know fists of fury. I doubt many of them know or care that this is Pride Month.
Consider this passage from a Michael Grange essay for Sportsnet the other day:
Michael Grange
"It was also a reminder that I've never had a moment to be nervous about the police. That I've never sent my teenaged son into the world and worried that he could be a victim of a tragic misunderstanding, or worse. I've never had to wonder if my skin colour or ethnicity or gender was an obstacle to me reaching my potential. No one should have those fears and concerns. Not today, not ever. I believe we should all act, think, and vote in ways that reflect those fundamental values. I've never felt the need to write that before because it's always seemed so self-evident. So clear. It's not."
After viewing the George Floyd death video, a white scribe like Grange might have cringed and muttered something like "That's just horrible" and maybe even wept, but a Black writer would be more apt to gasp, "Good lord, that could be me or my child," then lock his doors and keep his family behind cover.
When racism in hockey became the topic du jour late last year, Ron MacLean had a natter with his Hometown Hockey co-host Tara Slone and Black filmmaker Kwame Mason, and he delivered this confession: "It's a real eye-opener that I don't recognize the structural racism or sexism that's going on."
Ron MacLean
It was an astonishing admission, but MacLean found no requirement to give ponder to racism and sexism because it wasn't, and isn't, his ox being gored. He has the privilege of being white and male, which is totally in keeping with the makeup of jock journalism.
I presented these numbers from the most recent Associated Press Sports Editors Racial and Gender Report Card (2018, a study of 75 newspapers/websites in Canada and the U.S.) on Sunday, but they bear repeating:
90 per cent of sports editors were male;
85 per cent of sports editors were white;
88.5 per cent of reporters were male;
83.4 per cent of columnists were male;
82.1 per cent of reporters were white;
80.3 per cent of columnists were white;
44 women were columnists at 'A' level newspapers/websites, and 38 worked for ESPN. If the ESPN female columnist were removed, the percentage of female columnists would drop to 2.9 per cent.
Is that a recipe for racist, sexist coverage? Not necessarily. But it does explain why there are so few voices that speak to the very heart of those issues. Also why the message often gets misshapen.
For example, when Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped his trousers to his ankles and mooned a female security guard at 2 o'clock in the morning last summer in Scottsdale, Ariz., male sports scribes turned the incident into a forum on his suitability to serve as team captain. They wrote it off as frat-boy frolic and gave scant consideration to his victim, Fayola Dozithee, and the every-day fears of females.
Auston Matthews
"We all do stupid things," Cathal Kelly scribbled in the Globe and Mail. "We are all especially likely to do stupid things when it is late, when we are drunk and when we are 22."
I submit that's the language of a man who's done a fair bit of stupid-thing, frat-boy frolicking himself, some of which might have victimized women.
On the domestic violence file, male scribes crucified NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for his botched handling of the Ray Rice case after viewing video evidence of the former running back dragging his unconscious girlfriend off an elevator, but then the boys celebrated the arrival of woman-beating Johnny Manziel to the Canadian Football League.
"Looking forward to seeing Johnny Manziel play in the CFL. Win-Win for the CFL," rejoiced Chris Cuthbert of TSN.
"It will be fun for everyone to watch," agreed Dan Barnes of Postmedia.
"Welcome to Canada, Johnny Manziel. And where do I sign up," chimed in Steve Simmons of Postmedia.
Again, no thought given to the big picture because they aren't female and vulnerable.
Meantime, there are no figures for the percentage of gay editors/columnists/reporters at major newspapers/websites, but I doubt I'm far off the mark if I suggest it's less than 1 per cent. Consequently, there's no one with lived experience to speak to the issue when someone like Michael Sam, Jason Collins or Robbie Rogers are targeted with anti-gay language and deeds.
When Sam became the first openly gay man to participate in a professional football game, many in the LGBT(etc.) collective were delighted and proud. But one prominent jock journo, the aforementioned Simmons, denied that Sam had actually participated in a Canadian Football League game.
Michael Sam
"In reality, pro football still awaits its first openly gay player," he wrote.
After Sam bugged out on the Montreal Alouettes due to mental health issues, an unidentified sports scribe accused him of "faking it."
So we had one heterosexual man insisting that a gay man never existed, and another heterosexual man presuming to have first-hand knowledge of the demons that torture and haunt a gay man's mind.
Jock journalism in our country has a serious diversity deficiency.
It could serve as a vehicle for societal change, but it isn't constructed that way. Hiring practices make the business too white, too male and too hetero.
The women who appear on TSN, for example, are allowed to be pretty and read a teleprompter, but they aren't allowed an opinion, the exception being women's soccer. When skin hue is the topic du jour, Tim Micallef and Sid Seixeiro of Sportsnet can natter about it, but they are unable to reach the core of the issue until Donnovan Bennett is invited into the discussion. He might crack wise about "dial-a-Negro," which he did, but there's truth hidden in that joke.
Donnovan Bennett
Bennett authored a thought-provoking essay on the current racist unrest in the U.S., and he closed with this:
"I'm going to challenge my own industry. If you work in sports media and make a living off the talent and ingenuity of black athletes, the least you can do is use your journalistic skills and privilege to show that black lives have equal value to your own. The least you can do is allot more than 28 or 29 days in February to humanizing black people."
My guess is they'll have found a new chew toy by this time next week.
FOOTNOTE: Both Bennett's essay and an article on former National Basketball Association player John Amaechi, who came out as gay after his playing career, are live on the Sportsnet website today. Yet the overlords at Sportsnet refuse to allow discussion on these race and LGBT(etc.) issues by disabling comments on both pieces. Go figure.
Author pattidawnswanssonPosted on June 2, 2020 June 14, 2020 Categories LGBT, LGBT and sports, Sports, sports and societyTags Auston Matthews, Canadian Football League, Cathal Kelly, Chris Cuthbert, Colin Kaepernick, Dan Barnes, domestic violence, Donnovan Bennett, Evander Kane, gender equality, George Floyd, Globe and Mail, golf, Hometown Hockey, homophobia, John Amaechi, Johnny Manziel, Jonathan Toews, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kwame Mason, Lebron James, LGBT, Logan Couture, Masai Ujiri, Michael Grange, Michael Sam, Minneapolis-St. Paul, misogyny, Montreal Alouettes, Morgan Campbell, Postmedia, racism, Ray Rice, Ron MacLean, sexism, Sid Seixeiro, Sportsnet, Steve Simmons, Tara Slone, Tiger Woods, Tim Micallef, TSNLeave a comment on Let's talk about Canadian jock journalism and its diversity deficiency
About the Blue Bombers coughing up a hairball…Jacob Trouba's shelf life with the Winnipeg Jets…shoddy journalism…liars, liars in sports…happy 25th to the Goldeyes…a female voice on jock talk TV…a really dumb question about Serena Williams' pregnant pause…who's the duchess of what?…Joey Votto and a rat's ass…numbers crunching in The Athletic Winnipeg…and other things on my mind
Loved the headline in the Winnipeg Free Press after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers coughed up a 17-point hairball and lost 20-17 to the Lions at B.C. Place Stadium on Saturday night: GOOD GRIEF!
Good grief, indeed, Charlie Brown.
Winnipeg FC had no business losing to the inferior Leos, but that's what happens when you play and coach stupid football. Seriously. Three roughing-the-passer violations? Twice ignoring a gimme three points? That's dumb, dumber and dumbest.
Asked post-game why he twice gambled on third-and-short rather than kick field goals, head coach Mike O'Shea said: "To me it's a no-brainer."
Exactly. No brains.
Connor Hellebuyck
I don't know about you, but I look at the signing of Connor Hellebuyck as an appetizer, something for the rabble to nibble and nosh on until the main course arrives, hopefully later this week.
I mean, yes, the freshly minted agreement between the Winnipeg Jets and their all-star goaltender takes care of the blue paint for the next six National Hockey League crusades. It's a favorable development. But the real intrigue in Jets Nation is on the blueline, in the form of Jacob Trouba and, to a much lesser degree, his running mate, Josh Morrissey.
Trouba is the X factor.
Given his history that includes a training-camp/early-season work stoppage and a trade request, skeptics abound when it comes to the 24-year-old defender. They won't be convinced that Trouba is, as they say at the Vegas poker tables, "all-in" with Winnipeg and les Jets until they know his signature is at the bottom of a contract. Long term. As in six or eight years.
Trouba has an audience with an arbitrator scheduled for the morning of July 20, a bargained-for option exercised by 43 other NHL players this summer. If dealings with les Jets stall this week and he meets with the arbitrator, all bets are off on his shelf life in Good Ol' Hometown.
My guess? Trouba stays. Six years. Then he leaves.
Jacob Trouba
Apparently, Paul Wiecek has insider intel on Trouba. If only he'd be kind enough to let the rest of us in on the scoop. But no. When Wiecek writes that "Trouba is a problem. Again." it's his little secret. He isn't prepared to share the gory details. We have to guess what it is that makes No. 8 "a problem. Again."
Well, here's the actual problem: Wiecek harbors a stalker-like obsession with Trouba, one that began in September 2016 and has become an obscenity.
Twice in the past 10 days, Wiecek has launched gratuitous, factless attacks on the Jets young defender. First the Winnipeg Free Press sports columnist informed us that "Trouba, for one, has a long track record of doing what's right for Trouba, even when it's been what's wrong for Trouba." (It's uncertain exactly how Wiecek could possibly know what's right and what's wrong for Trouba, but, hey, perhaps the guy's got a life-coaching gig on the side.) He then doubled down with his cryptic "Trouba is a problem. Again." Ah, but Wiecek provided not a sliver of evidence to prop of his allegation.
Why is Trouba so far up Wiecek's nose?
Is it the arbitration thing? Naw. Can't be. Forty-three other NHL players filed for arbitration, including four of Trouba's teammates. I hardly think that qualifies any of them as a problem child.
Maybe it was the trade demand two years ago. Naw. Can't be that either. Plenty of people have wanted out of Winnipeg, the great Dale Hawerchuk among them. No one thought of Ducky as a problem child.
So what is it? Simple. During the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Trouba told Wiecek a mistruth. Said he was happier than a pig in slop to be playing in River City, and he hoped to be on board for the long haul. Shortly thereafter, Trouba was a no-show at training camp and he was AWOL through the first month of the season. So he had lied (just like everyone else in hockey, including writers). Wiecek took it as a personal affront and he's waged a one-man, two-year vendetta to discredit Trouba, branding him a liar, petulant, a malcontent, impetuous, the biggest loser, reckless, greedy, phony and, most recently, selfish and a problem.
It's irresponsible, tawdry journalism, and someone high on the food chain at the Freep ought to step up and nip it in the bud.
John Ferguson
I had issues with fibbers during my time in sports. Jets GM John Ferguson once told myself and Friar Nicolson a flat-out lie about Bobby Hull. It was a whopper. So I called him out, in print. Fergy was steamed. I was, too. We didn't talk to each other for two weeks. Not at the rink. Not on the team bus. Not at the airport. Not on the phone. He would just glare down the gun barrel that passed for his nose, and I would ignore him. I don't recall how we arrived at détente, but Fergy and I eventually got along just fine. Whatever fibs he told me thereafter were little and white. The worst was Sam Katz, owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Sammy was a carnival barker. He would tell the boys at the Free Press that a baseball was round, then he would tell us at the Winnipeg Sun that a baseball was a hockey puck. I couldn't believe anything that fell from that man's mouth, so I simply stopped interviewing him and took to calling him The Unmentionable Man in print. Sammy and I were cordial when our paths crossed, but we never warmed to each other. No big deal. I didn't need him to do my job and he didn't need me to fill seats in the Ballyard At The Forks.
Speaking of Sammy, his Goldeyes celebrate their 25th anniversary this season. There were ample doubters at the beginning for the independent ball club—and I still wish he'd named his rounders side something other than Goldeyes—but Sammy pulled it off and the Fish have been a rousing success at the box office and between the foul lines with four titles. So good on him and them.
More kudos to Sportsnet for putting Caroline Cameron on the Tim & Sid show while Tim and Sid are goofing around off-set. She was co-hosting with Donnovan Bennett last week and, among many issues, they discussed the eventual return of Roberta Osuna, the Tranna Blue Jays relief pitcher who faces a court hearing on a domestic violence charge and is under suspension by Major League Baseball.
Bennett: "Are you okay with him being back with the Jays before the actual court case is resolved?"
Caroline Cameron
Cameron: "No I'm not, and for a few reasons. If the Blue Jays see this as a baseball decision, it's not simply that. A situation like this never is. And in sports at lot of time we see that it mirrors what's happening in society, and that includes the things that are going wrong with society. And the nice thing about sports—and excuse my use of the cliché—is sports you can play by your own rules, right? You can make your own decisions and figure out how you want to deal with these societal, moral issues. If the Jays bring Osuna back because they think they need his arm in a season that's already lost, what message are you sending to the fans? And even on the flip side, innocent until proven guilty, do you want to have Roberto Osuna out there, out on the field, out in the bullpen when this is not resolved? What kind of reaction do you think he's going to get? I just think you have an opportunity—and I'm not saying the Blue Jays have to set a precedent—but someone at some point has to set a precedent or else change will not happen and this will continue to be just a 'baseball move' as opposed to what it actually is."
Imagine that. A woman, rather than a man, giving voice to a topic so significant to so many women. On a Canadian TV sports gab show. That's as rare as a Serena Williams loss on Centre Court Wimbledon. Most of the women on Canadian jock talk TV get to read a teleprompter, nothing more. This is refreshing.
Mark Masters
Did one man, Mark Masters of TSN, really ask another man, ESPN tennis analyst Darren Cahill, to put the past year of Serena Williams' life into "context?" Yes. Yes he did. Which means Masters wins the award for the dumbest question ever, ever, ever. I mean, how in the name of Mama Liv Walton can a man possibly give context to carrying a fetus for nine months, giving birth to a six-pound, 13-ounce girl, breast feeding, then returning to play in the ladies' championship match of a tennis Grand Slam tournament? Only three people—Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Kim Clijsters—can answer that question, and none of them are men. What will Masters do next? Ask John McEnroe what it's like to be a lesbian on the tennis tour? To his credit, Cahill politely answered the questionable question about Williams' pregnant pause, saying, "You can't put that into context" before mentioning that Clijsters and other women have put their careers on hold to start a family and returned to win Slam titles.
Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber
I suppose with a soon-to-be 37-year-old mom navigating her way to the Wimbledon final in just her fourth post-childbirth tournament, pundits will be slagging the quality and depth of women's tennis. But in besting Williams on Saturday, 6-3, 6-3, Angelique Kerber became the seventh different champion in the past seven majors. So, I'd say the distaff side of the sport is just fine, thank you. The real issue is on the men's side, where all four semifinalist at the All England Club are 30somethings. Generation Next simply cannot break through.
The Duchesses of Something
I don't know about you, but I can't tell my British duchesses without a program. Is Kate the Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan the Duchess of Sussex, or is Kate the Duchess of Sussex and Meghan the Duchess of Cambridge. If they're going to sit in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, I think they should be obligated to wear duchess name tags.
Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds swatted his 266th home run last Monday to climb above Matt Stairs on the all-time dinger list for Canadians in Major League Baseball. He now stands second to Larry Walker. Well, to borrow Votto's words when he piddled on our Corn Flakes earlier this year, "I couldn't give a rat's ass about that," and I won't give "a rat's ass" if he goes on to surpass Walker's record of 383 HRs.
Dave Poulin
I heard Dave Poulin gabbing about the Connor Hellebuyck contract on TSN the other day, and I had to tune out because the guy no longer has street cred. Not after he was one of seven voters to leave Connor McDavid off their all-star ballot. I mean, McDavid was the scoring champion, for cripes sake. And Poulin is telling us he wasn't among the top three centre-ice men last season? What would he have us believe next? That Bobby Orr was a slowpoke? Sidney Crosby needs to work on his hand-eye coordination? Bobby Hull never wore a rug? It's one thing for shinny scribes/broadcasters to dumb down, but there's no excuse for a former NHL player to be such a d'oh boy. If you're wondering, the other geniuses who made their ballots a no-McDavid zone were Dave Shoalts (Globe and Mail), Mike Colageo (New Bedford Standard Times), Stephen Conroy (Boston Herald), Emily Kaplan (ESPN), Gann Matsuda (Frozen Royalty), and Arthur Staple (The Athletic New York). Off with their press passes!
There's a lot of good reading in The Athletic, but I'm deeply disappointed in the Winnipeg content. A chap named Murat Ates is the man about the Jets, and he's advertised as someone who delivers a blend of "modern hockey analysis with engaging storytelling." Sorry, but what I've seen to date is nothing but number crunching. All the "engaging storytelling" must be hidden in the math and, since I'm not a numbers geek, his copy is a total, also lengthy, yawn. Reading all those numbers makes my eyes glaze over. I don't say that to be mean, but math and I have been at odds since Grade 1 at St. Alphonsus, and I believe sports is more about people than salary dumps and contract term. Meanwhile, if The Athletic Winnipeg has someone on the Bombers beat, he or she must be in a witness protection program. I realize the online newspaper is still looking for good people, but giving the Canadian Football League short shrift when Winnipeg FC is the only game in town until September is bad form. The Athletic Winnipeg needs a jolt of creative juice. Pronto.
And, finally, I note that 680 CJOB in Good Ol' Hometown is getting back into the jock talk business. All sports director Kelly Moore needs now is a host, and I find myself wondering if he'd be brave enough to do something radical. You know, like hire a female as the lead voice on the gabfest. Actually, I wonder if any women will bother to apply. As mentioned earlier, jock talk in Canada is very much an old boys club.
Author pattidawnswanssonPosted on July 15, 2018 March 23, 2020 Categories SportsTags All England Club, Angelique Kerber, Arthur Staple, B.C. Lions, B.C. Place Stadium, Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Boston Herald, Canadian Football League, Caroline Cameron, Charlie Brown, CJOB, Dale Hawerchuk, Darren Cahill, Dave Poulin, Dave Shoalts, Donnovan Bennett, Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Sussex, Emily Kaplan, ESPN, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Frozen Royalty, Gann Matsuda, Globe and Mail, Jacob Trouba, Joey Votto, John Ferguson, Josh Morrissey, kelly Moore, Kim Clijsters, Major League Baseball, Margaret Court, Mark Masters, Mike Colageo, Mike O'Shea, Murat Ates, National Hockey League, New Bedford Standard Times, Paul Wiecek, Roberto Osuna, Sam Katz, Serena Williams, Sportsnet, Stephen Conroy, tennis, The Athletic, Tim & Sid, Toronto Blue Jays, TSN, Wimbledon, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Winnipeg Jets, World Cup of HockeyLeave a comment on About the Blue Bombers coughing up a hairball…Jacob Trouba's shelf life with the Winnipeg Jets…shoddy journalism…liars, liars in sports…happy 25th to the Goldeyes…a female voice on jock talk TV…a really dumb question about Serena Williams' pregnant pause…who's the duchess of what?…Joey Votto and a rat's ass…numbers crunching in The Athletic Winnipeg…and other things on my mind
About Auston Matthews and Puck Finn, who ya gonna take now?…hockey goals and soccer goals on TSN…a swing and a miss for the Hockey Hall of Fame…no gay curling champion…Tiger, Tiger burning bright…and a "golden standard" that ain't so golden
Puck Finn, Patrik Laine
Okay, let's ask the Tranna Maple Leafs if they'd like a do-over.
That is, given the opportunity to revisit the 2016 National Hockey League entry draft, would les Leafs still use their first shout-out to select Auston Matthews? Or would they choose Puck Finn, more commonly known as Patrik Laine?
Matthews and Laine went one-two, respectively, in the annual garage sale of freshly scrubbed teenagers in '16 and, almost two complete crusades into their NHL careers, a case can be made that the Leafs chose the wrong guy. Laine, after all, has lit more lamps this winter than anyone other than Alex Ovechkin and a Kentucky coal miner. He's just 10 shy of a 50-goal season as a sophomore. Only two players in history, Jimmy Carson and Dale Hawerchuk, scored more often as NHL teens.
In short, Puck Finn has come as advertised.
Matthews has as well, though, and going by the numbers the difference between the Leafs centre and the Winnipeg Jets winger is just six games, eight goals and a horrible mess of scraggly chin whiskers that make Laine look like an Amish bread, butter and egg man (worst…beard…ever). Matthews is 135-68-51-119; Laine is 141-76-51-127.
So, would the Leafs do things differently? Nope. Would the Jets want them to do things differently? Hell no.
I recall being puzzled by the results of a Postmedia preseason poll, whereby 25 NHL players were asked to read the tea leaves and predict the winner of the Rocket Richard Trophy, which goes to the league's top sniper. Eight players were mentioned, not one of them named Patrik Laine. They were, in order, Sidney Crosby, Nikita Kucherov, Alex Ovechkin, Tyler Seguin, Steven Stamkos, Vladimir Tarasenko, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel. (Seriously, Jack Eichel?) What is it, I wondered, that the players didn't see in Laine? I mean, they're on the ice with him. They have intimate knowledge of the shot that Puck Finn snaps off faster and is more lethal than a Donald Trump tweet. Surely they know more about pure talent than us lumps on bar stools. Guess not.
Speaking of lumps on stools, I direct your attention to The Quiz boys on TSN—Jeff O'Dog, Dave Poulin and Bob McKenzie. Quiz master James Duthie asked the three wise men to choose between Ovechkin (598 hockey goals) and Lionel Messi (600 soccer goals) as the greatest sniper of this generation.
O'Dog: "I'm going to pick Alex Ovechkin due to the fact I've never seen Messi play one second of a competitive soccer match…is that what they call it, the match?"
McKenzie: "I will go with Ovechkin. I've gotta go with the hockey answer simply because, as O said, I don't have the context to provide for soccer. Don't follow it close enough, so, I realize how great Messi is, but…"
Duthie: "You're basically saying that you're both ignorant to soccer."
McKenzie: "That's correct."
O'Dog: "Don't care about it either."
Only Poulin got it right.
"Six hundred goals in soccer is like two million goals in hockey," he advised the two blockheads sitting to his left.
Poulin's point is well taken, even if his math is suspect. The difference between soccer snipes and hockey goals is probably more like dog years to human years—seven to one. Thus, Messi's 600 is the equivalent of 4,200 hockey goals. You'd think someone named O'Dog would know about dog years.
Pierre McGuire
There must be some Arctic air flowing into hell, because I'm going to agree with Damien Cox. The Toronto Star scribe is calling out the Hockey Hall of Fame for appointing "another older, white male" to replace legendary coach Scotty Bowman on its selection committee. "What was the hall thinking?" he asks. "What was (chairman Lanny) McDonald thinking?" They "blew it." Cox figures the HHOF would be more in tune to the times had it chosen a woman or "person of color" to fill the vacancy, rather than broadcaster Pierre McGuire. He believes diversity and gender equality are "critical issues." Hard to disagree. It is, mind you, odd to hear a Canadian sports scribe calling for "diversity" when his own business is largely old, white, male and exclusively heterosexual.
In acknowledgement of International Women's Day, Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet had a panel chin-wag with three female jock journalists—Laura Armstrong of the Toronto Star, Rachel Brady of the Globe and Mail, and Christine Simpson of Sportsnet. I'd like to report that the women provided considerable anecdotal insight about the challenges they face in what remains very much a man's world, but it wasn't much more than bland generalities. That to-and-fro came on the heels of Bennett's gab fest with David Amber, Morgan Campbell, Eric Thomas and Rosey Edeh in recognition of Black History Month. It leaves me to wonder if he'll gather together three or four gay sports writers during Pride Month in June. Oh wait. Scratch that thought. There are no gay sports scribes in Canada.
John Epping
I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been had John Epping and his Ontario team won the Canadian men's curling championship on Sunday. Epping is the only openly gay man to skip in the Brier, and many kudos to TSN for acknowledging his husband, Thomas Shipton, during Ontario's semifinal loss to Brendan Bottcher of Alberta. That recognition might seem trivial to most, but it carries considerable significant to many in the LGBT community.
Interesting gimmick the Southern Professional Hockey League is adopting for its playoffs this year. The first-, second- and third-place teams get to choose their opening-round foes. Yup. Disregard the standings. The top dog decides if it wants to face off against team No. 5, 6, 7 or 8. Then the next two outfits sift through the leftovers and choose. Seems to me that it's a risky bit of business for the teams making the call. Totally insulting and the ultimate bulletin board material. Can't see that ever working in the NHL. But, then, I never thought I'd see the day when an NHL player would be given a minor penalty for scoring a goal (hello Brian Dumoulin). So all bets are off.
So, Tiger Woods didn't win another golf tournament. Same old, same old. Except, this time, Woods only missed it by that much. One less swing and he'd have been in a playoff with eventual winner Paul Casey at the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., on Sunday. Both Woods' game and his body appear to be in fine fettle as we near the first tee at Augusta National. Ditto his attitude. I mean, is it my imagination or is Tiger smiling more? Is he interacting with his playing companions and the rabble more? It's as if he's adopted a "just happy to be here" mindset. He certainly seems less angry. It's a good look.
Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard
And, finally, our Steve-ism from Steve Simmons of Postmedia Tranna. This week we find our man Steve wondering where Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin fit in among the NHL's all-time best middlemen combos.
"Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier have been the gold standard for 1-2 punches playing centre for the same NHL team," he writes.
"Oh, there have been other great combinations down the middle over the years. Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg in Colorado. Mario Lemieux and Ron Francis in Pittsburgh. Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov in Detroit. Stan Mikita and Phil Esposito in Chicago. Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard in Montreal.
"Gretzky and Messier won four (Stanley) Cups together in Edmonton. Should Crosby and Malkin pick up a fourth Cup—and maybe more than that—they will slide neatly right behind Gretzky and Messier in a very special place in hockey history."
Excuse me? Gretzky and Messier are the "gold standard" because they helped the Oilers win the Stanley Cup four times? As if. Believeau and Richard hoisted hockey's holy grail 10 times together. They were winning the thing before Simmons was in his mother's womb. They'd won it five times before he was out of diapers. The "gold standard" is 10, not freaking four.
Author pattidawnswanssonPosted on March 12, 2018 Categories SportsTags Alex Ovechkin, Amish, Augusta National, Auston Matthews, Black History Month, Bob McKenzie, Brendan Bottcher, Brian Dumoulin, Brier, Christine Simpson, Curling, Dale Hawerchuk, Damien Cox, Dave Poulin, David Amber, Donald Trump, Donnovan Bennett, Edmonton Oilers, Eric Thomas, Evgeni Malkin, gay, Globe and Mail, golf, Henri Richard, Hockey Hall of Fame, International Women's Day, Jack Eichel, James Duthie, Jean Beliveau, Jeff O'Neill, Jimmy Carson, Joe Sakic, John Epping, Laura Armstrong, LGBT, Lionel Messi, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, Montreal Canadiens, Morgan Campbell, National Hockey League, NHL Entry Draft, Patrik Laine, Paul Casey, Peter Forsberg, Phil Esposito, Pierre McGuire, Postmedia, Pride Month, Rachel Brady, Rocket Richard, Ron Francis, Rosey Edeh, Scotty Bowman, Sergei Fedorov, Sidney Crosby, Southern Professional Hockey League, Sportsnet, Stan Mikita, Stanley Cup, Steve Simmons, Steve Yzerman, Steven Stamkos, Thomas Shipton, Tiger Woods, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Star, TSN, Tyler Sequin, Valspar Championship, Vladimir Tarasenko, Wayne Gretzky, Winnipeg JetsLeave a comment on About Auston Matthews and Puck Finn, who ya gonna take now?…hockey goals and soccer goals on TSN…a swing and a miss for the Hockey Hall of Fame…no gay curling champion…Tiger, Tiger burning bright…and a "golden standard" that ain't so golden
About Olympians who are not also-rans…passing on Johnny Manziel…shitholes and Presidents…writing in bits and pieces…angry lesbian tennis legends…and Tonya is still a thug
Well, okay, the names aren't sexy.
There's no glitz and glam.
They're more lunch pail and brown bag than champagne and caviar.
A gloomy Gus is apt to suggest that they're scrubs on skates. That the men's hockey tournament next month in PyeongChang, South Korea, will be the Spengler Cup dressed up as the Winter Olympic Games.
Wojtek Wolski
To that I say "no." They're Olympians. Our Olympians. The 25 lads selected to wear the Maple Leaf—from Rene Bourque to Wojtek Wolski—got there the hard way. They earned it, playing hither and yon in remote outposts as far removed from the National Hockey League as Minsk is from Manhattan. And I harbor zero doubt that they'll deliver good, Canadian pluck and backbone in abundance. That might earn them a gold, silver or bronze trinket. It might not be enough. Doesn't matter. They're our guys. Hop on board the bandwagon. There's plenty of room.
Pierre LeBrun gets it. Steve Simmons…(as usual) not a freaking clue.
Here's LeBrun of The Athletic Toronto and TSN on men's shinny rosters at the Winter Games: "We all agree the Olympics without NHL players stinks. But let's have respect for the players selected in their place. They're proud Canadians living out their Olympic dream."
Here's Postmedia's Simmons after the U.S. declared its roster: Those named to the team are "also rans." Read: Bottom feeders. Which means he also believes the Canadians are bottom feeders.
Brian Gionta
Rather than insult the American Olympians, the rude Simmons might have done some research. He'd have discovered that at least 18 of Uncle Sam's reps are champions at the NHL, NCAA, American Hockey League, Major Junior or European professional level. Which disqualifies them as "also rans." (Sourpuss Steve might want to invest in a dictionary.)
Mark Arcobello: Champion with SC Bern of Swiss National League and champion with Yale University in 2009;
Chad Billins: Calder Cup (AHL) champion with Grand Rapids Griffins; Johnathon Blum: Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup champion with Vancouver Giants;
Will Borgen: NCHC champion with St. Cloud State University;
Chris Bourque: Three-time Calder Cup champion and Deutschland Cup champion;
Bobby Butler: Calder Cup champion;
Matt Gilroy: NCAA champion with Boston University;
Brian Gionta: Stanley Cup champion with New Jersey Devils and NCAA champion with Boston College;
Ryan Gunderson: Swedish Hockey League champion with Brynas IF;
Chad Kolarik: Two-time CCHA champion with University of Michigan; David Leggio: ECAC champion with Clarkson University and SM-Liiga champion with TPS;
Broc Little: ECAC champion with Yale;
John McCarthy: NCAA champion with Boston University;
Brian O'Neill: ECAC champion with Yale;
Bobby Sanguinetti: Swiss Cup champion with EHC Kloten;
Ryan Stoa: WCHA champion with University of Minnesota;
Troy Terry: NCAA champion with University of Denver;
Noah Welch: SHL champion with Vaxjo Lakers HC; two-time ECAC champion with Harvard.
Good reads: 1) Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star on Nigerian born and raised Masai Ujiri, general manager of the Tranna Raptors; 2) Cathal Kelly of the Globe and Mail on a ticking time bomb named Johnny Manziel. No one in Canadian sports writing gets to the heart of a social issue quite like Arthur, while Kelly's crystal ball has him convinced that Manziel is destined to become a Grade A pain in the ass to whichever Canadian Football League outfit is foolish enough to recruit him.
Donnovan Bennett has a go at Manziel on the Sportsnet website, listing five reasons why the Hamilton Tiger-Cats should pawn off the former Heisman Trophy winner. He makes a compelling case. Unfortunately, Bennett doesn't list the main reason why Johnny Football ought to be persona non grata in the Hammer or any other CFL port o' call—he beats up women. That's where any discussion of Manziel should begin and end.
Best lip service this week: Ujiri was, understandably, unamused when U.S. President Donald Trump referenced immigrants who arrive in America from Africa's "shithole countries." Said the Raptors GM: "If I grew up in a shithole, I am proud of my shithole."
Lias Andersson
It's about that Swedish kid who hucked his world teenage hockey tournament silver medal into the stands after the title match in Buffalo: So Lias Andersson didn't want to take his trinket home and stuff the thing in a box. His choice. Get off the kid's case. I mean, why did Andersson take such a fierce paddywhacking on social media? It's not like he's the first athlete to get rid of a trinket. New York Islanders/Pittsburgh Penguins legend Bryan Trottier sold two of his Stanley Cup rings. Hall of Fame goaltender Rogie Vachon sold a Stanley Cup ring. The noblest of them all, Jean Beliveau, peddled a Stanley Cup ring. So, in Andersson's case, there's really nothing to see there.
Best tweet about a twit this week is courtesy of veteran broadcaster Dave Hodge: "Less than a month til the Winter Olympics, or as the U-S (sic) President calls them—games involving athletes from non-shithole countries." That made me laugh out loud and reminded me of the type of banter I used to hear in the press boxes of North America. It's all adult humor and quite profane, of course, but press boxes were funny, funny places back in the day. I'd like to think they still are, although the humor doesn't show up in much of the sports writing I read.
Red Smith
A while back Paul Wiecek of the Winnipeg Free Press reviewed his least-read columns from 2017 and, among other things, he said "a bits column is just lazy. Pick a topic—and then write about (it) in an interesting way. It's not that hard."
Two things here:
1) Herb Caen wrote a "bits" column in San Francisco for 60 years. That's a whole lot of lazy. It's so much lazy that the Pulitzer Prize people awarded him a special honor. It's so much lazy that there's a walkway in Frisco named after him. The aforementioned Simmons does a weekly dibs column. Lazy. Ed Willes of Postmedia Vancouver writes a weekly bits column. Lazy. Doug Smith and Kevin McGran write regular bits columns for the Toronto Star. Lazy. Legendary Winnipeg Tribune scribe Jack Matheson penned a weekly dibs column. Lazy. Frankly, if done well, bits and dibs columns can be more enjoyable reads than a lengthy essay on a boring topic. It isn't lazy.
2) There's nothing easy about producing a daily sports column. It's bloody hard. Here's what notable New York scribe Red Smith had to say when asked if churning out a column was a chore: "Why no. You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins and bleed." Smith's take on writing is a lot closer to the truth than Wiecek's.
Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King
Noted lesbians Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova insist that they'd boycott the Australian Open if required to perform in the Margaret Court Arena. When anti-gay preacher Court compared gays to Hitler and communism, then submitted that same-sex marriage would bring an end to Christmas and Easter in the Land of Oz, she lost considerable, if not all, cred as a voice of reason and her verbal attack on the LGBT community was repugnant for its rancor. While it's easy for the long-retired tennis greats to say they'd boycott the AO because of Court's hurtful words, neither King nor Navratilova has ever been a shrinking Violet, so I believe them when they say they'd skip the event. I just wish some of today's players would do it.
By most accounts, former fancy skater Tonya Harding remains every ounce the charmless thug who spent the past 24 years as the queen of denial re her role in the mindless and chilling plot to assault fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. So you'll have to excuse me if I'm in no hurry to watch the movie I, Tonya, which apparently portrays Harding as a victim of life. Hey, I feel bad for anyone who's been physically abused. Especially kids. It's horrible and I can relate. I felt the sting of my dad's belt buckle on my backside and the back of his hand to my head more than once. And he once put the boots put to me (literally) so hard that I piddled in my pants. But it never occurred to me to take a club to his or anyone else's kneecaps. So let there be no pity party for Harding.
Author pattidawnswanssonPosted on January 14, 2018 January 14, 2018 Categories SportsTags Australian Open, Billie Jean King, Brian Gionta, Bruce Arthur, Bryan Trottier, Canada, Canadian Football League, Cathal Kelly, communism, Dave Hodge, Donald Trump, Donnovan Bennett, Doug Smith, Ed Willes, gays, Globe and Mail, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Heisman Trophy, Herb Caen, Hitler, hockey, Jack Matheson, Jean Beliveau, Johnny Manziel, Kevin McGran, Lias Andersson, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, Masai Ujiri, Nancy Kerrigan, Paul Wiecek, Pierre LeBrun, Postmedia, Pulitzer Prize, PyeongChang, Red Smith, Rene Bourque, Rogie Vachon, South Korea, Spengler Cup, Sportsnet, Stanley Cup, Steve Simmons, Sweden, The Athletic Toronto, Tonya Harding, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Star, TSN, United States, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Tribune, Winter Olympic Games, Wojtek WolskiLeave a comment on About Olympians who are not also-rans…passing on Johnny Manziel…shitholes and Presidents…writing in bits and pieces…angry lesbian tennis legends…and Tonya is still a thug
About jock journos still giving Floyd Mayweather Jr. a pass…Winnipeg Jets missing the playoffs…Connor McDavid is No. 1…an unsafe city…and other things that are too dumb for words
Floyd Mayweather Jr. in handcuffs is what the sports media should be talking about.
The circus has rolled into Las Vegas and no one is talking or writing about the elephant in the room.
They talk and write about Conor McGregor's weight, the betting line, the unvarnished vulgarity of a recent travelling trash-talk tour, the price of ringside seats at T-Mobile Arena, pay-per-view audience numbers, McGregor's Irish charm and blarney, the size of the boxers' gloves, the age of the fighters, Justin Bieber unfriending Floyd Mayweather Jr., the heat in Glitter Gulch, racism, McGregor's wardrobe, a fixed fight, and the improbability of a mixed martial arts champion battering the best boxer of a generation.
But nobody is talking or writing about Mayweather beating up women. It's as if the undefeated champion has never hit a woman or never spent any time behind bars for hitting women.
The unbeaten boxing champion is a serial woman abuser and the sports media is giving him a pass in advance of Saturday's scheduled 12-round dust-up with MMA champion McGregor, who is so inexperienced as a pure fist-fighter that he can't even be classified as a novice boxer.
I scanned a dozen articles Wednesday morning on the Mayweather-McGregor tiff and discovered exactly two one-sentence references to Floyd Jr.'s ugly predilection for punching out women, including the mother of his children. Neither of those sentences appeared in a column by Steve Simmons of Postmedia. He went all the way to Vegas to write about himself instead of the fighters. I watched Stephen Brunt, among our country's finest sports scribes, wag his chin for 10 minutes on Sportsnet and not one second was devoted to Mayweather's history of domestic violence.
So here's the question I'm struggling with: Why were jock journalists so hot and bothered and eager to place a focus on domestic violence in February 2014, when Ray Rice KO'd his then-finance on an elevator, yet now it's a non-issue?
Perhaps, like Mayweather himself, they're "waiting to see the photos." Perhaps that's what it takes to stir them. Video or photographic evidence. It isn't enough that there have been 21 arrests of National Football League players on domestic violence/battery charges since the Rice incident, which cost the former Baltimore Ravens running back his career. It isn't enough that Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has been told to go away for six games due to multiple instances of domestic violence. It isn't enough that Willie Reed of the Los Angeles Clippers spent time in a Miami jail last weekend on charges of roughing up his wife. It isn't enough that Mayweather Jr. is a convicted woman-beater.
They need pictures. Otherwise, they'll continue to glorify Floyd Jr. and promote his farce of a fight.
Paul Maurice
This just in: The Hockey News is first out of the chute with a prediction that there won't be any meaningful matches played at the Little Hockey House on the Prairie next spring. Here's what Sam McCaig has to say about the Winnipeg Jets' prospects for their 2017-18 National Hockey League crusade: "The Jets have a premier first line, a solid second line, and some upside on the bottom two units. The defense corps features a sturdy top-six, led by Dustin Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba. The problem areas are in goal, where incoming Steve Mason has been tasked with mentoring up-and-down goalie-of-the-future Connor Hellebuyck, and the team's inability—to this point—to become a sum of its parts. It also doesn't help matters that Winnipeg plays in the West, where there appears to be 11 bona fide playoff teams vying for eight spots." Odd that he had nothing to say about the head coach, Paul Maurice, who's probably the reason the local outfit has yet to "become a sum of its parts." (McCaig, by the way, also has the Tranna Maple Leafs, L.A. Kings and San Jose Sharks among the 15 outfits that will fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup tournament.)
Another reason to like Connor McDavid: He's honest. THN rates McMoneybags as the No. 1 player in the NHL, but the Edmonton Oilers centre is having none of that. "I don't agree with it," says McDavid, who's probably better than anyone not named Sidney Crosby. "Everyone knows who the best player in the league is and it's not me."
THN's top-50 player list is a head-scratcher, to be certain. I mean, Sergei Bobrovsky is No. 6? Steven Stamkos is No. 46? Auston Matthews is already a better player than Victor Hedman? And if Kevin Shattenkirk is a better defenceman than Roman Josi, then Don Cherry is a card-carrying commie. That's just stupid. Only two Jets cracked the THN select 50: Rink Rat Scheifele at No. 15 and Patrik Laine at No. 24. I'm not convinced that's accurate, especially the Laine ranking, but it's no dumber than listing Matthews at No. 8.
I note that a Mainstreet/Postmedia poll lists Winnipeg as the most unsafe city in Canada. There's no truth to the rumor that the poll was taken immediately after Travis Bond, Jermarcus Hardrick and the rest of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' O-line attempted to leap into the stands at Formerly Football Follies Field in Fort Garry.
A week ago, Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet declared Bombers kicker Justin Medlock to be the most outstanding player in the Canadian Football League (yes, a kicker). This week, Bennett asks this of running back Andrew Harris: "Is he the best player in the CFL?" A strong case can be made for Harris, but the answer is "no." It's Mike Reilly. Same as last week.
Let's see if I've got this straight: The Bombers whup the Eskimos in their sole head-to-head skirmish, yet Bennett has the latter ahead of the former in his weekly CFL power rankings. Hands up if that makes sense to anyone other than Donnovan Bennett. I didn't think so.
Looks like UFC fighter Jon Jones has failed yet another drug test. Plenty of athletes get caught using illegal drugs once. But twice? C'mon, man. Guess that's why it's called a dope test.
Speaking of dummies, here are my top five athletes who were just too dumb for words…
1. Ben Johnson. Too easily duped by dishonest people. A total patsy.
2. Tonya Harding. Seriously, a fancy skater hiring a hit man?
3. Pete Rose. Betting on baseball games when you're a manager?
4. Ryan Locte. Really? Fibbing about being robbed at gunpoint during the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil?
5. Jose Canseco. Has the former big league ballplayer ever said anything that wasn't too dumb for words?
Author pattidawnswanssonPosted on August 23, 2017 July 31, 2022 Categories SportsTags Auston Matthews, Baltimore Ravens, Ben Johnson, boxing, Brazil, commie, Connor Hellebuyck, Connor McDavid, Conor McGregor, Dallas Cowboys, domstic violence, Don Cherry, Donnovan Bennett, Dustin Byfuglien, Edmonton Eskimos, Edmonton Oilers, Ezekiel Elliott, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jacob Trouba, jail, Jermarcus Hardrick, Jon Jones, Jose Canseco, Kevin Shattenkirk, Las Vegas, Los Angeles Clippers, Mike Reilly, National Football League, National Hockey League, Olympic Games, Pete Rose, Ray Rice, Roman Josi, Ryan Locte, Sam McCaig, Sergei Bobrovsky, Sidney Crosby, Sportsnet, Steve Mason, Steven Stamkos, The Hockey News, Tonya Harding, Travis Bond, UFC, Willie Reed, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg JetsLeave a comment on About jock journos still giving Floyd Mayweather Jr. a pass…Winnipeg Jets missing the playoffs…Connor McDavid is No. 1…an unsafe city…and other things that are too dumb for words
About death by wedgie in the CFL…the Rodney Dangerfield Blue Bombers…diversity on the gridiron…nonsense on Sportsnet…boffo stuff from Ed Tait…dump the ump…hockey pride at Pride…and hot dogs for Phil Kessel
Randy Ambrosie wants to talk. That's a good thing. I think.
Specifically, the Canadian Football League commissioner would welcome a fireside chat about division alignment and playoff structure, both of which are becoming hot-button issues due to a West-East competitive imbalance that borders on the sadistic.
"I'm happy to have that conversation with everyone and I think we should have it," the commish told Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun.
For those of you keeping score at home, West has met East 20 times during the current crusade. The tally is 17-2-1 in favor of the five outfits left of the Manitoba-Ontario boundary. One game finished 60-1.
That is not a typo. Do not adjust your monitors. It really was 60-1.
Seriously. This is death by wedgie.
Actually, West Division clubs aren't simply giving their nerdy eastern foes a basic wedgie. They're the high school senior pulling the freshman's underpants up to his ears, sticking his head in a toilet bowl, flushing, then stuffing him into a locker. Oh, but first he steals his lunch money.
And yet, under the current structure, two of the eastern rag dolls will qualify for the playoffs in November. And be rewarded with home dates. Nice gig if you can get it.
Little wonder that Ambrosie says he's "willing to have the conversation for sure."
Wyman and others suggest the CFL scrap its antiquated West-East divisional arrangement. Lump all nine teams together, with the top six advancing to the Grey Cup tournament. Radical, yes. After all, geographic rivalry has been the heartbeat of the CFL since its inception, and getting some people to abandon tradition is like trying to pry Donald Trump's thumbs off his Twitter account. You'll need the jaws of life, baby.
I don't think you have to sacrifice tradition, though. Just tweak the schedule. Reduce it to 16 games (18 is two too many) and either eliminate, or reduce by half, interlocking play. You know, just like in the good, ol' days when West and East were separate entities. In other words, go back to the future.
Works for me. So, gentlemen, start your chins wagging.
I wondered when one of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would play the Rodney Dangerfield no-respect card, and running back Andrew Harris delivered not long after he and his blue-and-gold clad pals had paddywhacked the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 39-12, on Saturday at Timbits Field in Hamilton. "I always think someone is out there slouching us and not giving us any respect." Here's the deal, Andrew: Beat someone other than one of the lame and halting outfits from the east and more people will climb on board.
Chad Owens and CFL commish Randy Ambrosie
The CFL broke out its Diversity is Strength T-shirts last weekend, and it occurs to me that it's more than just a fresh marketing slogan. Among other things, the CFL has included a female general manager, Jo-Anne Polak with the Ottawa Rough Riders; another female, Catherine Raiche, is an assistant GM with the Montreal Alouettes; the Larks once had an openly gay man, Michael Sam, in their lineup; Ambrosie's predecessor in the commish's office, Jeffrey Orridge, is African-American; and a black man, Bernie Custis, was playing quarterback for Hamilton as far back as 1951. That's diversity.
Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet writes this: "The MOP at the halfway point of the season is a kicker." Say again? A punter/place kicker, Justin Medlock of the Bombers, is the most oustanding player in the CFL? Spare us the nonsense, Donnovan. Everyone knows that kickers aren't football players (sorry Bob Cameron and Troy Westwood). Once upon a time kickers were, indeed, football players (hello Kid Dynamite James, Choo Choo Shepard, Spaghetti Legs Parker, Jack Abendschan, Don Jonas, etc.), but now they boot the football and go for a Slurpee. Your MOP right now is Mike Reilly.
Terrific read from Ed Tait on Winnipeg O-lineman Jermarcus (Yoshi) Hardrick, who look a long, hard road to the CFL. Tait's piece is the type of feature you seldom read in either of River City's two dailies, due largely to space and access restrictions, and it's a reminder of what the Winnipeg Free Press sports pages lost when he defected to bluebombers.com. Anyone at the Drab Slab who thinks Tait is a hack (hello, Paul Wiecek) has totally lost the plot.
Let's see now, umpire Joe West provides a harmless, fun anecdote about Adrian Beltre and he's suspended for three days. So what will Major League Baseball do with Detroit Tigers second sacker Ian Kinsler? He dumped all over ump Angel Hernandez, telling the Detroit Free Press, "He needs to find another job, he really does. He's messing with baseball games, blatantly. I'm just saying it's pretty obvious that he has to stop ruining baseball games. Candidly, leave the game. No one wants you behind the plate anymore." I'm guessing MLB will be making an ATM withdrawal from Kinsler's account, at the least.
Nice to see Erik Gudbranson, Troy Stecher and Jake Virtanen of the Canucks get into the spirit at Vancouver's Pride parade and hijinks. It takes some special kind of gonads for macho hockey players to put on a rainbow-colored skirt and lei.
Bravo to Phil Kessel. The Pittsburgh Penguins forward has posted a pic of himself and the Stanley Cup stuffed with BBQ'd hot dogs, in what was a direct shot at Postmedia columnist Steve Simmons, who'd written a blistering piece about Kessel after he'd been dealt away by the Toronto Maple Leafs two years ago. Among other things, Simmons called Kessel "poison" and he claimed that the winger pigged out daily at a certain downtown hot dog stand in the Republic of Tranna (proven to be false). So what did Simmons think of the Kessel burn? "One, I thought 'Phil's pretty funny. Good for Phil for making a joke about it.'" he said on TSN 1050's Breakfast Club. "Two, 'This is your day with the Cup. This is your day…you've worked this hard, you get this thing, you're having a party, why be so small to reference something that really isn't important in your life?'" Yo! Steve! "Small" is writing about a guy's rumored eating habits and getting the rumored facts wrong. What Kessel did to you, meanwhile, is a classic burn. Try lightening up.
Which brings me to today's list: Biggest hot dogs in sports…
1. Muhammad Ali: The former heavyweight boxing champion was many things, but he most definitely was a hot dog (in a fun way).
2. Reggie Jackson: Mr. October was also Mr. Swagger.
3. Terrell Owens: Popcorn anyone?
4. Deion Sanders: He once said, "They don't pay nobody to be humble." He's living proof.
5. Johnny Manziel: There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover this do-nothing hot dog.
Further evidence of the Torontofication of the Winnipeg Sun sports section: In Steve Simmons' past two odds-and-ends, three-dot columns that appear weekly, he devoted 21 items to sports franchises or figures in the Republic of Tranna. That's compared to zero (0) Winnipeg references. To repeat: Toronto 21, Winnipeg 0. So, again, I ask why is a Toronto-centric column appearing weekly in a River City sheet? Aren't any of the local writers capable of stringing together a series of wide-ranging quotes, notes and anecdotes that include opinion snippets about Winnipeg's sports scene? I mean, if I can do it from Victoria, surely someone with their feet on the ground in good Ol' Hometown can do it.
Author pattidawnswanssonPosted on August 16, 2017 Categories SportsTags Angel Hernandez, Bernie Custus, bluebombers.com, Bob Cameron, Canadian Football League, Catherine Raiche, Charlie Shepard, Deion Sanders, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Tigers, diversity, Don Jonas, Donnovan Bennett, Ed Tait, Erik Gudbranson, gay, Gerry James, Grey Cup, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, hot dogs, Ian Kinsler, Jack Abenchschan, Jackie Parker, Jake Virtanen, Jeffrey Orridge, Jermarcus Hardrick, Jo-Anne Polak, Joe West, Johnny Manziel, Justin Medlock, LGBT, Michael Sam, Mike Reilly, Montreal Alouettes, Muhammad Ali, Ottawa Rough Riders, Paul Wiecek, Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins, Postmedia, Pride, Randy Ambrosie, Reggie Jackson, Sportsnet, Stanley Cup, Steve Simmons, Ted Wyman, Terrell Owens, Troy Stecher, Troy Westwood, Vancouver Canucks, wedgie, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg SunLeave a comment on About death by wedgie in the CFL…the Rodney Dangerfield Blue Bombers…diversity on the gridiron…nonsense on Sportsnet…boffo stuff from Ed Tait…dump the ump…hockey pride at Pride…and hot dogs for Phil Kessel


text:
Critics question why in D.C. 47 people were arrested for breaking curfew while 26 people were arrested during the storming of the Capitol.
Law enforcement responses to this summer's demonstration compared to Wednesday's riot has brought criticism.
"I think, as someone who has attended several protest — and this is the same thing I'm hearing from activists across the country — the preparation was extraordinarily different," said Newsy criminal justice reporter Jamal Andress.
In 2014, during President Obama's term, he signed a piece of legislation that essentially restricted the amount of military surplus gear that went to a local police departments. And the reason he did that is because that gear — tanks and riot gear and weapons of war — were essentially being unleashed on Ferguson protesters.
"So the idea that you have a group of rioters storming the nation's capital on the same day that we're certifying election results I think it's shocking," said Andress.
Ahead of anticipated unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, "they were far more
prepared," said Andress.
The National Guard was activated, a state of emergency was declared and barricades were put up around the county courthouse for the decision in the Jacob Blake shooting.
Activist Michael McBride from the Bay Area says the reason for this is abundantly simple.
"White bodies who engage in terror are handled gently. Black and brown bodies who engage in resistance are terrorized, handled very roughly and traumatically," said McBride "And so the blatant contradiction is playing for all of us to see."
Andress points to arrest numbers.
Early numbers showed 54 people were arrested in D.C. About 30 of those were for breaking curfew, while far fewer people were arrested during the storming of the Capitol. Compare that with the Dallas protest this summer: 600 people were arrested for blocking a highway.
Twitter, Facebook Lock President Trump's Accounts

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yes, arrested by the angels! He found himself being held by about six angels. They brought him through the roof right before the church altar. He just appeared there as the people were praying. They were deep in prayer, engaged in spiritual warfare, binding and breaking and casting out. The pastor was on the platform leading the prayers and the warfare. The Spirit of the Lord spoke to the pastor, "The yoke has been broken, and the victim is there before you. Help him through deliverance." As the pastor opened his eyes, he saw the young man lying there. His body was with him; he was in his body. The young man said that he doesn't know how his body joined him; he had left it back in his house. But there he was in his body. He didn't know how he had entered it; all he knew was that the angel had carried him through the roof.
Then he shared how he led expeditions through the air. He would go with other satanic agents and many demon spirits. It was as if they were working a shift, in the same way that you've got to go and work your shift. He had a regular, time that he was required to go and wage war in the heavenlies. He said that in the heavenlies, in the spiritual realm, if the land is covered by a blanket of darkness, the blanket is so dense it is like solid rock. And it covers the whole area. The spirits are able to go on top of and below the blanket, and from there influence the events on earth.
Click the link and read more; How satan stops our prayers, Combat in the Heavenly Realm.


You remember that charcuterie guy we told you about forever ago.
The one who cut his teeth at Fatted Calf and the French Laundry. Likes antique butcher knives. Speaks fluent Pig.
It's Kevin Ouzts from the farmers' market circuit. The Spotted Trotter guy.
Well, he's going brick-and-mortar now.
Say hello to the four-walled version of The Spotted Trotter, a pocket-sized charcuterie house and your new munitions depot for all things hog, opening Friday in Kirkwood.
So yeah, right around a year and a half ago, Chef Kevin started the city's first mobile charcuterie, hitting up farmers' markets and keeping restaurants like Haven and Rosebud in pig. But now you'll know exactly where to find him.
It's small in there—sausages hanging from hooks in the window, a meat slicer, a few books like The Whole Beast and the Meat Bible lying around. Oh, and a giant deli case soon to be brimming with Southern stained jerky, fresh sausages and salamis, bacon, terrines and primal cuts like pork chops and rib eyes (they'll also be doling out hot chicharrones to go).
And once they break in the new digs, expect hog-centric cooking classes and butcher demos out on the patio.
Patio butchering: kind of hot right now.


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text:
Posts Tagged 'Concert'
Posted: December 6, 2014 in Band, Concerts, music, rock, Transfer
Tags: Band, Concert, music, Rock, Snow White Smile
We had an awesome time at The Birthday Massacre show earlier this week at the Ace of Spades. So many great bands performed including one of of our local favorites, Awoken Shadows and two spectacular sets by The Red Paintings and New Years Day. Another highlight of the night was catching the energetic set of Snow White Smile. They have a very refreshing sound that blends industrial and alternative edge to rock. Check out the photos by our Rockin Ryan of their set:
This was the last show of 2014 for Snow White Smile but stay tuned because 2015 is going to be a great year for them. They also have available their debut album as well as their remix album for sale on their official webstore: http://snowwhitesmileband.com/store.html. Pick up a couple and give the gift of Snow White Smile to the music lovers in your life.
Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news.
Snow White Smile is:
David Wright – Vocals/Guitar
Zach Tole – Drums
Kyle Vorst – Bass
Stephanie Michelle – Guitar/Backup Vocals|
Website: http://snowwhitesmileband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snowwhitesmileband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xSnowWhiteSmile
Instagram: http://instagram.com/snowwhitesmileband
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SnowWhiteSmileBand/
Merch: http://snowwhitesmileband.com/store.html
Posted: December 5, 2014 in Bands, Concerts, Entertainment, Hard Rock, music, New Music, New Release, rock, Tour, Transfer, Video
Tags: Ace of Spades, Band, Concert, New Years Day, Rock, Tour
We have had the great pleasure of seeing New Years Day nearly half a dozen times in just the last couple years and on Wednesday we saw them once again as they returned to the Ace of Spades as they are out on tour with The Birthday Massacre. New Years Day have the knack of putting on a whole of a performance every time and this time, I believe they outdid themselves. They were absolutely on point the entire night with energy abound and truly reaching a peak of perfection with their music.
Ash Costello is truly an amazing vocalist and artist, her stage presence captivates the crowd and she invites them to join in her in singing the songs. The audience was fully engaged from start to finish. Anthony is a madman on bass and you he has great powerful backing vocals. Nikki Misery is absolutely stellar in his fierce guitar shredding as he is bouncing around the stage with leaps and jumps that will have your eyes wide open.
Nick Rossi unleashes his adrenaline as he turns into beast mode on the drums, delivering precision drumming with every beat. With the addition of Tyler Burgess on guitar, he appears to be the perfect match for the energy that this band brings out. He was wild on stage and together they created an intense level of excitement that I haven't seen in a while. Check out the photos from our Rockin Ryan of their set:
We had the opportunity to chat with New Years Day shortly before their set and we will be bringing that interview to you later this weekend. For now, make sure to check the remaining dates of the tour and don't miss them when they are coming to a venue near you. If you don't already have it, I would strongly encourage you to pick up their latest EP, EPIDEMIC. The EP really displays the great musicianship of this band and how they have evolved through their sound. They really bring out the passion in their songs as well as when they perform live. This is a band that speaks volumes of truth in their music and give you a good dose of hard ROCK at the same time.
DEC 05 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
DEC 06 Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
DEC 09 Salt Lake City, UT – Murray Theatre
DEC 10 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theatre
DEC 13 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
DEC 14 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
DEC 16 Cleveland, OH – The Agora Ballroom
DEC 17 Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot Ballroom
DEC 18 Toronto, CAN – Mod Club Theatre
We loved it when they came to Slim's in San Francisco on the We Love Tour featuring Combichrist and William Control. They delivered a high energy intense set that had the crowd in awe. I think they set a record for crowd surfing during a set at Slim's which rarely tolerates. It was probably the most energetic crowd that I have witnessed at their performances, full on mosh pit, crowd participation and infectious passion raging through the crowd. Check out the slideshow of photographs by our Rockin Ryan from their SF show:
I will leave you with a video from their set at Ace of Spades performing Death of the Party:
Make sure you head over to Itunes to pick up EPIDEMIC and crank it up loud! Also, make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on the latest news from them.
Facebook for New Years Day: https://www.facebook.com/nydrock
Twitter for New Years Day: https://twitter.com/NYDrock
Twitter for Ash Costello: www.twitter.com/Ash_Costello
Twitter for Nikki Misery: www.twitter.com/nikkimisery
Twitter for Nick Rossi: www.twitter.com/TheNickRossi
Twitter for Anthony Barro: www.twitter.com/AnthonyNYD
Posted: December 5, 2014 in Band, Concerts, music, Music News, rock, Tour
Tags: Adelita's Way, Band, Concert, Fit For Rivals, Flyleaf, Framing Hanley, music, SnoCore, Tour
SnoCore Tour have announced their coast to coast itinerary and we are excited to see that there is a scheduled date right here in Sacramento at the Ace of Spades on March 11th. The lineup for the tour will feature Flyleaf as headliner and direct support from Adelita's Way, Framing Hanley and Fit for Rivals. The tour is set to begin on February 3, 2015 in Charlotte, NC at Amos Southend. The on-sale goes live on Saturday, December 6 at Noon via www.snocore.com. Check the dates below and see if they will be coming to a venue near you:
Confirmed SNOCORE Tour appearances include these markets with additional dates to be announced shortly:
2/03 Charlotte, NC Amos South End
2/04 Baltimore, MD Rams Head
2/06 Clifton Park, NY Upstate Concert Hall
2/07 Manchester, NH Jewel
2/08 Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
2/13 Syracuse, NY Lost Horizon
2/14 Buffalo, NY Rapids Theatre
2/15 Pittsburgh, PA Altar Bar
2/17 Louisville, KY Expo Five
2.18 Columbus, OH A&R Music Bar
2/20 South Bend, IN Club Fever
2/21 Flint, MI Machine Shop
2/22 Joliet, IL Mojoes
2/24 Libertyville, IL Austins
2/25 Minneapolis, MN POVS
2/27 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
2/28 Grand Junction, CO Mesa Theatre
3/03 Salt Lake City, UT Hanger 18
3/04 Missoula, MT The Wilma
3/06 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
3/07 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
3/10 Reno, NV Knitting Factory
3/11 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
Flyleaf
Flyleaf bassist Pat Seals shares, "We are thrilled to be headlining SnoCore this Winter. Joining the tour back in 2006 as a support act was such a formative experience for Flyleaf, and we're looking forward to bringing it back to our fans in 2015."
Adelita's Way founder and vocalist Rick DeJesus offers, "We are very excited to be a part of SnoCore with Flyleaf. This tour will be the most energetic, and exciting tour that will be out this winter. It will be a show no one should miss."
Framing Hanley
Framing Hanley singer Kenneth Nixon states, "It's an honor to be a part of this SnoCore lineup. SnoCore is a tour that I grew up always wanting to check out, but Nashville, TN isn't particularly snowy, so I missed out on a lot of great tours. We are absolutely stoked to be hitting the road with Flyleaf, Adelita's Way, & Fit For Rivals."
Fit For Rivals
Fit For Rivals Renee Phoenix adds, "We're excited to be out with Flyleaf because personally, they're a band I've been listening to since I was younger. I remember picking up their debut album in 2005 and becoming a fan myself. We also did a run with Framing Hanley a few years back and it'll be nice to share the stage with them once again!"
So make sure to stay tuned for tour dates and additional information.
Flyleaf:
Website: www.flyleafmusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyleafmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/flyleafmusic
Instagram: http://instagram.com/flyleafmusic
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/flyleafmusic
Adelita's Way:
Website: http://www.adelitaswaymusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adelitasway
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adelitasway
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/adelitasway
Instagram: http://instagram.com/adelitasway
Framing Hanley:
Website: http://framinghanley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FramingHanley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/framinghanley
Instagram: http://instagram.com/FramingHanley
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/framinghanley
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/framing-hanley/id212571442
Fit for Rivals:
Website: http://www.fitforrivals.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitForRivalsOfficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fitforrivals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitforrivals
Posted: December 4, 2014 in Band, Concerts, music, rock, Tour
Tags: Ace of Spades, Band, Canada, Concert, music, New Wave, Rock, Sacramento, Synthpop, The Birthday Massacre, Tour
What an amazing night for music at the Ace of Spades in Sacramento it was yesterday. We will be bringing you our full coverage of all the bands from the night but let's start it off with our feature on The Birthday Massacre. Hailing from Canada, this hybrid new wave, gothic rock and electronic infused band really made an impression on Sacramento!
It was a stormy day that left the roads flooded in some parts of Sacramento but that didn't stop the dedicated fans from coming out to the show. After braving the 3 1/2 hour drive in rain and dodging the lightning storm, we were glad to finish off the night with a stellar set from The Birthday Massacre. Their music is as if they gave a refreshing vibrant makeover to the 90's new wave synth dates, without feeling dated. Their energy was infectious as they each have a cinematic stage presence. We were treated to many of their songs from their recently released album, Superstition and each one had you wanting more. I was hoping to pick up the new album but unfortunately (well, fortunate for them) they had sold out of them! You can head over to iTunes here and pick it up online. With spotlight songs like Divide, Superstition and Surrender you are going to love it.
Check out the photos from our Rockin Ryan of their set:
There are still several dates left on the tour, so if they are coming to a venue near you, do your best to try and make it out to a show!
Website: www.thebirthdaymassacre.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBirthdayMassacre
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBMassacre
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-birthday-massacre/id76797904
Check out photos of Chelsea Grin out on the Moving On Tour
Posted: December 4, 2014 in Band, Metalcore, music, New Music, New Release, Tour
Tags: Ashes to Ashes, Band, Chelsea Grin, Concert, Metalcore, music, New album, Warped Tour
Chelsea Grin are out on Asking Alexandria's Moving On Tour and we had the chance to catch them as they made a stop in San Francisco at the Regency Ballroom. As always, they came out and took over the crowd with intense energy. This was one amazing crowd that literally crowd surfed all night. It was awesome to hear them perform some of their new songs off their album, Ashes To Ashes which was released earlier this year on Razor & Tie Records.
Check out the photos from their set by our Rockin Ryan:
There are still more dates on the Moving On Tour so make sure to catch a show:
THU 12/04 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
FRI 12/05 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
SAT 12/06 – Saskatoon, SK @ O'Briens
SUN 12/07 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick
WED 12/10 – Quebec City, QC @ Imperial
THU 12/11 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
FRI 12/12 – Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
SAT 12/13 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
SUN 12/14 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
TUE 12/16 – Watertown, NY @ Exhibition Hall
WED 12/17 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater
FRI 12/19 – Norfold, VA @ The Norva
SAT 12/20 – Wilmington, NC @ Ziggy's
Website: www.chelseagrinmetal.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChelseaGrinMetal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChelseaGrinUT
Delta Rose album, Golden is out now, keep rock alive and pick your copy up!
Posted: December 3, 2014 in Band, Blues, Concerts, Entertainment, Las Vegas, music, New Music, New Release, rock
Tags: Album, Blues, Concert, Delta Rose, Golden, New album, Rock, Rock n Roll
The highly anticipated new album Golden from rockers Delta Rose is out now! This is one album that is well worth the wait! You can pick up your copy by vi visiting their website: http://www.deltaroseusa.com/. This past year it seemed that many things were said about Rock n Roll, from it being dead, or no new bands, etc. Well you can forget about all that! Rock n Roll is alive and thriving and when you take a listen to the new album from Delta Rose, you will strongly agree with me. They have such a welcoming sound that you just can't wait to tell all your friends about them.
Earlier this year, Delta Rose had the great honors of opening for Guns n Roses at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. They delivered a top notch set and have everyone leaving the venue, knowing who Delta Rose is! They always perform a kick ass set and Delta Rose is one of the best live bands out there. They are such a young band but have showmanship that is well beyond their years. While many young bands are out there creating music that sounds as if it is a carbon copy of eachother, Delta Rose is creating their own style of music. It is pure blues and rock n roll and it is addictive.
Check out their song, One Is Too Many which is off their new album, Golden :
To all the people who are crying out for new music and to bring rock and roll back to the forefront, Delta Rose is the answer to your rock and roll prayers. Their new album shows how much this band has grown in 7 years, each one perfecting their own art and have mastered their own style. As I have said before, You can feel the passion in their songs as one message rings true…. These boys are ready to ROCK! Check their site for more details and upcoming show dates. Check out the slide show of photos from Rockin Ryan from their Troubadour set here:
From the studio to the band, there is quite an amazing amount of talent put into this stellar album. The album was recorded at the legendary NRG Studios, mixed by Steve Hardy (Blue October, Vertical Horizon, Joe Bonamassa, and many more), mastered by iconic Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Ramones, Pantera, and many, many more). The album is produced by Bill Schleifer and Isaac Hasson. It truly is a work of art and we are even treated to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dizzy Reed (Guns n Roses) who plays keyboards on their song 10 Long Years.
The album is filled with smoking guitar solos, cool group chants, vibrant blues licks, solid drumming, infectious basslines and the most captivating and edgy yet sweet as honey vocals you will ever hear. Delta Rose's new album has definitely polished and perfected true rock and roll.
So pick up your copy and make sure to pick up a few extra copies for all your rocker friends this holiday season. It is time to spread the Delta Rose love. Make sure to visit their social media sites and I will leave you with some of our video interviews with Delta Rose.
~ Crank it Up, Marisol
Delta Rose is:
Spencer Krasch – Vocals & Guitar
Forrest Goss – Guitar
Steven Aulcy – Bass
Mikey Herrera – Drums
Website: www.deltaroseusa.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deltaroseusa
Twitter: www.twitter.com/deltaroseband
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/deltarose
Youtube: www.youtube.com/deltaroseband
Itunes: www.itunes.com/deltarose
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Delta-Rose
Epiphone VLogs: Epiphone Vlogs
BlessTheFall ignite a wave of crowd surfers out on the Moving On Tour
Posted: December 3, 2014 in Bands, Concerts, Entertainment, Hardcore, music, Tour
Tags: Band, Blessthefall, Concert, crowd surfing, Hardcore, music, Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, Tour
Blessthefall were another great band to check out on the Moving On Tour. This was the first time for us catching them perform live and they were incredible. The crowd at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco were definitely ready to heavy it up by the time Blessthefall hit the stage. From the second they hit the stage, the intense wave of crowd surfers began. It was like a sea of legs in the air and sweat flying across the venue.
They kicked ass and I am already looking forward to the next time they return to San Francisco. The energy these guys bring out is unreal and they had the crowd under their spell. Check out the photos from our Rockin Ryan of their set:
You can catch Blessthefall out on the remaining dates of The Moving On Tour.
Make sure to pick up their latest album, Hollow Bodies on iTunes and check out the video for the title track here:
Visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news.
Website: http://blessthefallmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blessthefall
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blessthefall
Instagram: http://instagram.com/blessthefall
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hollow-bodies/id672839120
SnoCore Tour announces lineup with headliner, Flyleaf
SnoCore Tour announces their lineup and it will feature Flyleaf as headliner and direct support from Adelita's Way, Framing Hanley and Fit for Rivals. The tour is set to begin on February 3, 2015 in Charlotte, NC at Amos Southend.
Attila destroys the Ace of Spades for another sold out show on the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour
Posted: November 30, 2014 in Band, Concerts, Entertainment, Festival, music, rock, Tour
Tags: Ace of Spades, Attila, Bands, Concert, Monster Energy, outbreak tour, Rockin Ryan, Sacramento
The Monster Energy Outbreak Tour had their stop in Sacramento and we have been featuring the sets by Sworn In and Like Moths to Flames and Crown The Empire. Now it is time for the spotlight to shine on Attila. Attila made their return to the Ace of Spades and absolutely destroy it again with a ferocious energy filled set. It was another sold out show on the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour and the crowd definitely did not disappoint. The second Attila hit the stage, you could just see a rush of crowd surfing bodies. The security definitely had their work cut out for them as they insured everyone that wanted to get up front, safely made it and had a kick ass time as well.
Whether you were there for Attila or the other bands, there is no disputing one simple fact; Fronz is an amazing and captivating front man. He is there to insure that every single member of that packed audience is having the time of their life. That is not to say that his band doesn't have the same engaging adrenaline filled stage presence, because they absolutely do! Chris is a madman on guitar and Kalan is fierce on his bass. These guys are like kernels popping as they just jump around the stage and you are in awe from start to finish. Then you look back and see Sean in all his glory bringing everything together as he is spot on, pounding away on his drums.
I would strongly encourage you to check out Attila on the remaining Monster Energy Outbreak Tour dates. They put on a show you don't want to miss. I know there seems to be so much crap talking about bands these days, but do yourself a favor and check them out for yourself, you just may find yourself hooked.
11/30 West Hollywood, CA House of Blues *
12/02 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
12/03 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
12/04 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater
12/05 St. Louis, MO Ready Room
12/06 Detroit, MI The Fillmore *
12/07 Cincinnati, OH Bogarts *
12/08 Chicago, IL House of Blues *
12/10 Cleveland, OH House of Blues *
12/11 Baltimore, MD Sound Stage *
12/12 Philadelphia, PA TLA *
12/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza (Early Show) *
12/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza (Late Show) *
12/14 Boston, MA House of Blues *
* designates Live Nation event
Attila is:
Chris "Fronz" Fronzak -Vocals
Chris Linck -Guitar
Kalan Blehm -Bass
Sean Heenan -Drums
Need more of Attila, check out Rockin Ryan's photos from their set at Warped Tour here:
You can pick up their last album, Guilty Pleasure on iTunes here and make sure to visit their social media sites.
Website: http://www.attilaband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AttilaGA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATTILAga
Band Members Twitter:
Fronz: https://twitter.com/FRONZ1LLA
Sean: https://twitter.com/attilasean
Chris: https://twitter.com/chrisATTILA
Kalan: https://twitter.com/kalanATTILA
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/guilty-pleasure/id928132083
Like Moths to Flames ignite the crowd at Ace of Spades on the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour
Posted: November 29, 2014 in Band, Concerts, Entertainment, Festival, music, rock, Tour, Video, Warped Tour
Tags: Bands, Concert, Festival, Like Moths to Flames, Monster Energy, Mountain View, outbreak tour, Rockin Ryan
Like Moths to Flames is one band that I have been waiting to catch live and last night, they lived up to and exceeded every expectation I had. These guys have such intense passion that shines right through their hardcore music. You can't stand still as their energy charges the venue and ignites the crowd into a mosh/circle pit frenzy amid the continuous crowd surfing fans.
The Monster Energy Outbreak made a well deserved stop in Sacramento at the Ace of Spades and it was a night full of kick ass music. What was really special about the night was that each band had a great turnout of dedicated fans and you could definitely see that Like Moths to Flames had a really strong fanbase. It seemed that everywhere I turned, I could see fans proudly wearing their LMTF shirts and merch. It is great to see the fans continuing to support their favorite bands and for getting out to a live show. It was a packed house and another sold out show.
Make sure to check the remaining dates of the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour and get yourself to a show.
11/29 San Diego, CA Soma
12/06 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
12/08 Chicago, IL House of Blues
12/10 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
12/11 Baltimore, MD Sound Stage
12/12 Philadelphia, PA Theater of Living Arts
12/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza (Early Show)
12/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza (Late Show)
12/14 Boston, MA House of Blues
Now that I have you hooked, head over to iTunes and pick up some Like Moths to Flames. Also show your support and head over to their Merch site: http://lmtf.merchnow.com/ and pick up some cool merch including the must have LMTF Holiday sweater!!
Chris Roetter: Vocals
Aaron Evans: Bass
Eli Ford: Guitar
Greg Diamond: Drums
Website: http://likemoths.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/likemoths
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmtf
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lmtf
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/like-moths-to-flames/id354095901


text:
Une conciergerie privée est une société d'assistance personnelle proposant à ses clients de faire pour eux différents types de services quotidiens, comme trouver un plombier en urgence, obtenir un visa, attendre une livraison, acheter et emballer des cadeaux, organiser un dîner à domicile, récupérer un papier aux services des impôts. L'objectif affiché est de simplifier la vie des clients en leur permettant de gagner du temps.

Un service similaire se développe aujourd'hui en France, c'est celui d'assistant privé ou secrétaire personnel qui se concentre plus spécifiquement sur le classement des papiers, les démarches administratives et l'aide à la gestion du foyer. Plus récemment, des « e-conciergeries » - conciergeries digitales ou conciergeries en ligne - proposant des services dématérialisés sont apparues.

Le concept fait référence aux services comparables à ceux d'un concierge des hôtels de luxe, chargé de trouver une solution à tous les soucis pratiques, plutôt qu'à un concierge d'immeuble qui ne s'occupe traditionnellement que des parties communes et du courrier.

Sources
 Conciergerie et family office
 Article sur les secrétaires personnels

Articles connexes
 Conciergerie d'entreprise
 Assistant privé

Références

Type d'entreprise

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


There comes a time when staying in the nest no longer serves higher purpose and a leap of faith is needed to jump out and fly.
There comes a time when staying in the nest no longer serves higher purpose and a leap of faith is needed to jump out and fly. This bottle is the gentlest push out of that comfort zone so you too may soar the skies of limitless potential. The soft vanilla energy cuts any cords that still cause bodies to go into resistance of what is in reality, inevitable. Embrace your destiny, which is only ever the spiritual blueprint your soul had planned for you eons ago. You have arrived at the edge of the past and everything and everyone that no longer serves you is being transmuted to allow you to transcend and be the brightest light on the planet.
This next level is about rewards being showered upon you in recognition of the many initiations you successfully completed to arrive at this moment in time where you are consciously in a state of love. You have transcended into peace and here you can only feel the perfection of you in your world.


"Java Media Player" is a project, which is of great use at the present. The main goal of this project is to perform various tasks, which can be done on media. "Java Media Player" specially focuses on playing different types of audio and video format. Capturing audio and video data and saving it to a file is done with the help of "Java Media Player". We can transfer and receive real time media, which makes this project valuable for the purpose such as distant education with the enhancement of this project. Similarly changing the format of the file is another purpose of this project. "Java Media Player" is currently focused on changing the file from WAV file format to MP3 file format that can be extended to change the file format from one format to the different formats. For the completion of this project we use the API called Java Media Framework. It is a good API, which is used to perform the tasks, related with the media. We have used Windows as the platform for the completion of this project. Different class and package of Java Media Framework are used to achieve the task. Different types of the Manager are present in Java Media Frame work, which have different functions to perform with.
:( There seems to be a problem downloading the report for Java Media Player!


Great! Aibou Season 16 Episode 3 RAW released. Let's watching and enjoying Aibou Season 16 Episode 3 and many other episodes of Aibou Season 16 with Full HD for FREE. Check out all of our freely drama series online by clicking on Drama List.