Monday, January 28, 2013
Helmer Marches On!
Bryan Helmer
When the
news flashed across the screens recently that Bryan Helmer had signed with the
Springfield Falcons to play hockey, it came as no surprise to hockey observers
in the Quinte area. We have followed Helmer’s career for the past several
years.
By no means
was the start to his hockey career auspicious. He had been invited to the
Belleville Bulls’ training camp in 1989. Both he and Tod Lavender were asked to
clean their lockers after a few exhibition games. Helmer decided to join Tod in
Wellington, and moved into the Lavender home, perhaps for the weekend. He
seemed to enjoy Diane’s cooking, and Garry’s wit. He stayed four years.
As the
announcer/scorekeeper and occasional timer, I had a front row seat for all of
Hermy’s games. From the very start, he appeared to be a man among the kids. He
was taller, stronger, and had great hockey instincts. Throughout his career in
the Metro Juniour Hockey League, he was an all star. Most of us could not
fathom why Larry Mavety, the coach of the Bulls, had no interest in Helmer. We
looked at it, from a Dukes’ perspective, as their loss, our gain.
From that
moment on, we have followed Helmer’s career with great interest. No matter
where he played, it was always an experience he relished. Never once did he
take the situation for granted. Throughout his career, he knew he was playing a
kid’s game, and getting paid for it. The journey has taken him far and wide in
the hockey circles, for almost 25 years.
I heard from
Bryan a couple of days ago. “I’m very excited about playing my 20th
year (as a professional hockey player). I am so lucky to play this long.” Most
of us who know Bryan, luck has little to do with it. Just plain hard work.
We went to
see Bryan play in Montreal when he was with the St. Louis Blues. I spoke with
coach Joel Quenneville after the game, and he said that he was very pleased
with Helmer’s game. We waited for some time to meet Helmer after the game. He
was winding down on the stationary bike for almost fifteen minutes. He was
thrilled to meet family and friends, with a large contingent from the
Winchester area. Habs Hall of Famer Larry Robinson also hails from Winchester,
and was Helmer’s idol from day one.
Helmer made
the quantum leap from the Wellington Dukes to the American Hockey League Albany
River Rats to begin his pro career. He spent five years with the Rats before
moving on. And move he did, year after year: Las Vegas, Worcester, Phoenix, St.
Louis, Worcester again, and then Vancouver. Take a deep breath, I’m not
finished.
Kansas City,
Vancouver, Winnipeg, Springfield, Phoenix, Grand Rapids, San Antonio, Hershey,
Washington, Oklahoma City, and Springfield again. Simply doing what he loved,
and, yes thanks, I will take a pay cheque.
I can assure
you that no matter where he played, he was loved. He did what it takes to help
in the communities in which he played. He visited hospitals and schools, signed
a million autographs, posed for photographs. Always the consummate
professional. On several occasions, he has been selected as team captain, by
his teammates.
Helmer often
returns to Wellington for the Garry Lavender Memorial Golf tournament. When the
old Duke Dome was put to rest, and the Essroc Centre opened in Wellington, he
made a special trip to the village to drop the puck, before continuing his
career in Oklahoma City.
Every time
he steps on the ice, he adds to his record of playing more games than any other
defenceman in the AHL. With 563 helpers, he has assisted on more goals than any
other defenceman in the history of the league. Only two other individuals, Willie
Marshall and Fred Glover played more seasons in the AHL, one more than Hermy.
We will not be surprised to see him in uniform again next season, likely in the
AHL.
James Hurst
Sportslices.blogspot.com
Friday, January 25, 2013
Lightning Camp in South West Florida
The Tampa
Bay Lightning completed their four day mini camp last Thursday at the Germaine
Arena in Estero, just south of Fort Myers, Florida. It was a special event for
hockey fans in the area, as the doors were open for the entire camp.
For many
years, Scott Young worked as a columnist in Toronto. He wrote for several
newspapers, and crafted books on the side. After all was said and done, he was
better known as the father of Neil Young. Neil gained world-wide fame as a
singer and song writer, one his own, and with the group Crosby, Stills, Nash,
and Young.
Many of us
had the opportunity to enjoy Young’s books in the 1950s which were written for
a younger audience. We were invited to enter the door of the hallowed hall on
Carlton Street, Maple Leaf Gardens. Young walked us along the corridors to the
dressing room of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He invited
us to try to become part of the team. In a magical instant, I was a “Boy at the
Leaf’s Camp” or a “Boy on Defence” and I would play in a game as “Scrubs on Skates”.
Those were magical times, shared by many a youth.
I played
alongside “Teeder” Kenndedy, Tod Sloan, Max Bentley, and Sid Smith. I sat
beside Harry Watson in the dressing room, reefing at my skate laces. I giggled
at “Turk” Broda’s jokes as we headed to the ice to start the practice.
I am certain
the same applies to later generations from the books of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R.
Tolkein, or more recently the Harry Potter books by Mrs. Rowland, and rightly
so.
Back in
Florida, once the lights were brightened, and the clean sheet of ice was
placed, glistening, by the Zamboni, the Tampa Bay goaltenders were the first to
take the ice. It was an important moment for many in attendance, having
lingered in the dust for months of lock out negotiations. Mathieu Garon hails
from Chandler, Quebec. He played last year for the Lightning. Anders
Lindback is from Gavle, Sweden, and
arrived by trade last June.
Both goalies
went into their stretching routines as the other players emerged from the dressing
room through a phalanx of fans lining the barricades at the entrance to the
ice. There was no pushing and shoving, no great lineups. The autograph hounds
were there, but not in the same demanding fashion one sees in the northern
arenas.
This was the
second day of practice for the Bolts, as they had taken the ice the previous
day in Tampa. They moved the camp, hook, line, and sinker to Estero for the
remainder of the training camp.
Vincent
Lecavalier has been the face of the Lightning franchise for many years. He
recently played his 1000th game for the team. As was reported in the
Fort Myers News-Press, he was impressed with the reception of the fans at the
arena. “The fans here, especially the children, was an added motivation at the
practice.”
Listening to Drill Structures
Defenceman Eric Brewer added: “I’ve lived in Florida almost two calendar years, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised how good the fans are, how much they are into hockey, and how they just want to watch the game.” He also quipped that it was good to be back, and how normal it felt to be yelled at by the coaches.
Coach Guy
Boucher indicated that they had moved the camp to Estero so that the players
could bond more quickly. “We wanted to go where there were the least
distractions and where it was most possible to have guys interact together.
We’ve been down here before and had a good experience. We want players together
all week, non-stop. Those who don’t know one another, we want to get laughs, to
get things going, get some competition building up. With just five days before
our first game, there’s not much time to get a team together.’
Vivtor Hedamn and Vincent Lecavalier
For most of
the practices, Boucher and the rest of the brass perched in the rafters of the
Germaine Arena, carefully assessing the talent. They were faced with the chore
of paring down the roster from the thirty invitees to the eighteen skaters that
would take the ice for the first game. Legendary Hall of Fame member Steve
Yzerman is the Bolt’s General Manager. He watched all practices intently, then
signed for a dozen fans before heading to the dressing room during the breaks.
Julien
Brisebois is the assistant GM of the Bolts, and is Yzerman’s right-hand-man. A
lawyer by trade, he takes care of personnel matters, contract negotiations, and
such. He also serves as the GM for the Syracuse Crunch, an American league
affiliate of the Lightning. I spoke with him after the Thursday practice. “This
has been a fine experience for the club,” he told me.
Assistant
coaches Daniel Lacroix, Martin Raymond, and former Leaf Steve “Stumpy” Thomas
took care of most of the on-ice activity during the week. They had specific
ideas drawn on the message boards to share with the players. There were several
gatherings at centre ice face the players as they gathered to discuss the
drills.
Players
participated in drills, broke for a rest while the ice was re-surfaced, then
played inter squad games of blue on white. Even from the first drop of the
puck, there was a hint of intensity. Mind you, I did not witness any
bone-crushing hits behind the net. One could afford to keep one’s head down for
an instant with the fear of running into an elbow. On the first shift,
Lecavalier made it clear that he wanted the puck in the corner, and he banged
away with a defenceman for the biscuit. It set a tone for the rest of them.
Radko Gudas
hails from the Czech Republic. He was drafted by the Lightning in 2010, and had
a fine year in the AHL last year with the Admirals,setting career highs for
goals, points, and penalty minutes. He ripped the first goal of the camp into
the net, and was duly rewarded with glove taps from his teammates.
A short
while later, Steve Stamkos was robbed by Andres Lindback on a breakaway. He
slid into the boards, then picked himself up and skated over to Lindback. He
tapped the goalie’s trapper with his glove, paying tribute for a fine save. Not
to be expected in the regular season!
G.M. Steve
Yzerman was simply grateful that the players were back on the ice. “It has been
a whirlwind,” he stated on the Bolts television network, referring to the brief
training camp. “I’m thrilled that we are back to playing hockey. It’s good to
see that everyone showed up healthy and in good shape.”
Naturally,
many eyes were on Steve Stamkos, the young Tampa Bay forward who has taken
little time to make his mark on the NHL. In 2009-2010, he scored 51 goals. Last
year, he had sixty tallies. Only six other players have managed to put up more
than 50 markers in two seasons, before the age of 23: Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux,
Joe Nieuwendyk, Pavel Bure, and Alex Ovechkin.
Stamkos
works well with teammate Martin St. Louis. Stamkos roomed with St. Loius during
the 2009 World Hockey Championships. From the News-Press: “We created a lot of
chemistry. He’s a true professional, works extremely hard. I try to pick his
brain all the time. The more tendencies and experience on the ice, the more
plays we make. If we’re not in a place, we should have been there”.
Coach
Boucher concurred. He spoke to Stamkos about a particular drill to practice.
“With those kinds of guys, the margin to improve is smaller and smaller. But he
knows he wants to improve on faceoffs, and improve his strength. He wants to be
one of the top two-way players in the game, and he has all the tools to do so,”
he told Craig Handel of the local media.
Everblades
fans kept a keen eye on Mike Angelidis, from Woodbridge, Ontario, who played in
Fort Myers in 2006-2007. Since that time, he has been in the American League
with Albany, Syracuse and Norfolk. He knows about the tendency to become
complacent in the lower leagues, and he is doing what it takes to make the
grade in the NHL. He has improved his skating, and his energy level has
improved. He wanted to leave a good impression with the brass in case he did
not make the big league roster.
Lyle Lloyd, with Gil Lafleur seated behind him
Many of the
fans in attendance at the practices hailed from the north, Canadians and
Americans alike. Lyle Lloyd hails from Prince Edward County, about a hundred
miles east of Toronto. Lyle has refereed more games than Carter has pills, at
most levels of hockey. “I am impressed with the guys here. There is a skill
level, and a fitness level that you only get in the NHL." He liked the play of
Cory Conacher, Tyler Johnson, and St.
Louis. On one occasion, St. Louis flew over the blue line along the boards, and
ripped a hard shot at the net. “You can’t teach that,” Lloyd remarked.
Doug and Bev
Townsend have also seen more than their share of hockey. They are season ticket
holders of the Belleville Bulls, and also follow the exploits of several
nephews still playing the game. They told me they once flew to Holland for a
weekend to support Tyler Melancon, a nephew, who was playing for Herentals.
They were impressed with the size of some of the players at the practice. Both
Keith Aulie and victor Hedman are listed at six feet, six inches. Adam Hall and
Sami Salo are well over six feet, and take up a lot of space. Even the new
goalie Lindback towers above many others at six six.
Doug and Bev Townsend
Gil Lafleur,
no relation to Guy, he whispered, is a Sudbury snowbird. He was a Sudbury Wolves
supporter, and as such, he had his eye on Benoit Pouliot, a left winger
acquired from the Bruins in trade in the off-season. Pouliot was in Sudbury for
three seasons before moving on. “He had
a pretty good thing going in Boston last year,” he remarked. He was impressed
with the physical condition of the players.”Years ago, many NHLers stayed in
shape in the summer by working in the lumber yard,” he added.
Teddy
Purcell also left a positive impression. Coming down his off wing, he snapped
an unexpected shot high on Lindback. He backed into the slot, took a pass from
St. Louis, and ripped it into the net. Semper paratus.
The big boys
played the fighting game for the last ten minutes of the practice. They know
that the time will come when they will drop the sticks and gloves during the
regular season. B. J. Crombeen and Pierre-Cedric Labrie grasped at each other
with one hand, holding the hammer back at the ready position. They circled,
discussing the merits of position. Keith Aulie and Ryan “Buggsy” Malone did the
same, a friendly dance with a teammate, smiling all the while!
Keith Aulie signs for fans,
When the
practice ended, the boys of winter headed to the beach for some serious
volleyball. Southern hockey has its merits.
James Hurst
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Cory Conacher's NHL Debut-2013
Cory
Conacher played his first National Hockey League game last Saturday night. He
scored one goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Washington Capitals
6-3. Just sixteen months ago, he was invited to attend the Lightning’s training
camp as an undrafted player. Since that time, he has seized the opportunity,
and has blossomed as a hockey player.
Conacher
player in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League in 2006-2007 for
Orangeville, amassing 62 points in 48
games. He caught the attention of the hockey people at Canisius College, where
he spent the next four seasons. His statistics improved year after year, and
Coach Dave Smith took the opportunity to contact his good friend Pat Verbeek
about Conacher.
Conacher is
listed in most media guides at 5’ 8”. As
I am sure you well know, for many years smaller players have virtually been
ignored by scouts. To his good fortune, Verbeek is a good judge of talent, and
he is also well under six feet.
Following
his stellar career at Canisius, Conacher, a distant relative of the famed
Conacher family, was invited to the Lightning camp. He relished the opportunity
to play at the highest level, with the
best players. Naturally, he was compared to another star, Martin St. Louis.
Following
one of the training camp sessions in Fort Myers, he chuckled at the comparison.
“I always hear that. But you have to understand that Marty is a star in this
league, and I am just starting out. So it’s good for me to see a player like
that, of that size, to use as a model. I consider the comparison as a real
compliment. I work hard because I see what he’s done. He has made is easier for
guys like me to be considered.”
Cory told me
that he had attended Frontenac School in Burlington, Ontario. He paid a
compliment to one of his teachers there. “Her name is Madame Laferiere, and,
well, put it this way, she kept me honest!” He also tipped his hat to one of
his high school teachers, Bob Stacey, a physical education teacher at Nelson
High School.
He credited
his teammates from the past year in Norfolk for his outstanding rookie year in
the American Hockey League. He had moved from the college ranks to the American
League quite smoothly. He won the “Red” Garrett Award as the Rookie of the
Year, the Les Cunningham Award as the league’s Most Valuable Player, and helped
the team capture the Calder Cup.
“Tyler
Johnson, P. C. Labrie, and Trevor Smith were great teammates. They gave me tips
and pointers throughout the year”.
I spoke with
Coach Guy Boucher after the third day of workouts at the Germaine Arena.
Boucher is a good friend of Doug Orr, a former favourite of Dukes’ hockey fans.
I told Boucher I used to announce Doug’s goals as scored by “Number 14 on your
score sheet, number one in our hearts.” He seemed to appreciate the levity.
Boucher
talked about the job at hand. He had holes to fill in a one week camp, with no
exhibition games. He paid tribute to GM Steve Yzerman for the acquisitions made
in the off season, particularly in goal and on defence. When I asked him about
Conacher’s chances to make the squad, he gave me one of those “excuse me, but
we are not there yet” looks. Thankfully, he was not offended by my nerve.
Before the
game, Conacher was quoted as saying, “I’d rather get the two points for the
team, than get my first goal”. As noted, both goals were accomplished.
His cousin
Dale extended his holiday in Florida to catch the first game. He’s likely
sharing that event with his pals in Burlington today.
James Hurst
January 21,
2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Sorry! No Vacancy!
Sorry! No Vacancy!
Last week the Baseball Writers
Association of America decided that they would not elect a single player into
the Hall of Fame. After all of the ballots were cast, and counted, Hall of Fame
President Jeff Idelson took the podium, opened the envelope, and announced,
“And the winner is? Nobody”.
Many of the writers have sent a clear
message to the baseball nation. They have indicated they will not tolerate
cheating. There are players who should have been inducted into the Hall, on
their baseball merits. But they failed to receive sufficient support from the
media. They allegedly took medication to enhance their performances. Then they
denied it.
These are slightly murky waters, as
the public has not seen all of the evidence regarding the names of the players
caught taking steroids. We do know that there is a long list, and we also know
that the drugs they took did enhance performance.
Players ballooned in size, and became
home run hitters overnight. Part of the problem lay with the teams, and the
administrators of the game. Some believe that shutting the barn door after all
the cows have escaped is not the solution to the problem.
I am rattled by the following: Bert
Blyleven was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. He was on the ballot for
14 years. On his second year on the ballot, he garnered only 14.1 percent of
the vote. Twelve years later he made the
grade.
Barry Bonds received 206 votes of the
569 votes cast, which is 36.2 %. Roger Clemens got 214 votes, registering 37.6
%. Sammy Sosa received 71 votes. Rafael Palmeiro was named 50 times.
Bonds and Clemens both registered
more than 30 % of the vote. Therefore, according to Blyleven’s results, they
may head into the Hall long before the 15 year mark is reached, when they would
no longer be eligible. Some believe that the culprits may get in next year,
that the writers chose not to include them for one year “as a lesson”.
That stinks. How in the world did
they each get that many votes? The reason is that there are many sports fans
and writers who do not care. According to their reasoning, we enter the world
of “So what, who cares?” They put up majestic numbers, they entertained, they
put bums in the seats. They were good for the game. Nonsense.
The League now plans to test for
human growth hormone, another drug to enhance performance this coming season.
It was on the test list during last season’s Spring Training. The League and
the Players’ association reached an agreement last Thursday to allow the
testing. As was reported in the Associated Press, the drug test results of all
players will be kept by the World Anti-Doping Agency in Laval, Quebec.
Christine Ayotte, the director of the Laval agency added that the addition of
random blood testing and a “longitudinal profiling program makes baseball’s
program second to none in detecting and deterring the use of synthetic human
growth hormone and testosterone”.
Commissioner Bud Selig stated, “This
is a proud and a great day for baseball. We will continue to be a leader in
this field and do what we have to do.”
Every player will be tested “at least
once”. Understandably, there will be players who will be caught cheating. There
is a bucket full of cash at the end of the rainbow. Many players feel that it
is worth the risk.
Many writers vote against the likes
of Bonds and Clemens because of their alleged use of the substances. Others are
upset by their constant denials of the usage. Still others do not appreciate
the arrogance that goes with the denials.
I cringe when I think of what the
Hall of Fame ballots might look like in the next few years. It does matter!
James Hurst
Sportslices.blogspot.com
Randy Rowe-A Classy Road Warrior
Randy Rowe-Road Warrior
With Class
Randy Rowe is currently in his
sixteenth hockey campaign away from home. It began with a four year stint with
the Belleville Bulls. He now plays for the Toledo Walleye in the East Coast
Hockey League, and was in Fort Myers last week to play against the Florida
Everblades.
He was not at all thrilled with the
outcome of the visit. The schedule dictates that teams often play against each
other three times in a row, to cut down on travel expenses. That gives players
from both sides plenty of opportunity to retaliate for nasty business. As well,
the league uses two linesman, but only one referee. The Walleye came into the
games leading the Everblades; they limped home without taking a point.
At dinner after the game on Friday
night, Randy explained the current roster woes that all teams in the ECHL are
suffering at the present time. “Several players from the AHL are being recalled
to the NHL teams, now that the lockout has been lifted. In turn, the AHL teams
are pulling players from the ECHL to fill the rosters. We lost six players in
the last two days.” Truly a coach’s nightmare.
Randy crawled off the ice midway
through the first period after taking a wicked slapshot from the point on his
thigh. Always the consummate pro, he did not miss a shift. Mind you, he walked
with some difficulty after the game.
Randy began with the Bulls in 1997,
and played until 2001. Many Bulls fans will remember their trips to Ottawa for
the Memorial Cup Finals when Rowe was a teammate of Jonathon Cheechoo, Justin
Papineau, and Chris Stanley. In his final year with the Bulls, he skated with Kyle
Wellwood, Matt Stajan, Branko Radivojevic, Cody McCormick, and Mike Renzi, to
name a few. Rowe potted 64 goals in 63 games in his final season with the
Bulls.
When asked about his current injury
status, and lumps and bruises over the years, Randy shrugged. “I think I’ve
broken just about every bone in my body, including my back.” He does work hard
to keep in playing shape, and assisted others in that regard last summer in
Belleville. He has completed courses in fitness training, but would dearly love
to get involved with firefighting when he finishes his hockey career. “There
are similarities in both, especially when it comes to working as a team.”
Randy Rowe signs an autograph for Judy Cole from Bennington, Vermont
Randy spent three years with the
Peoria Rivermen in the ECHL before he began moving from the ECHL to the AHL for
several years. He had stints in St. John’s with the Maple Leafs, in Springfield
with the Falcons, and with the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL.
He told me his favourite team in the
NHL is the Vancouver Canucks. Always a big fan of Mark Messier and Pavel Bure,
his first NHL training camp was with the Canucks.
Randy indicated that he might be
nearing the end of his career. He has seen a lot of chain restaurants, slept in
hundreds of different beds, and has spent plenty of time on the road. He has
purchased a house in Quinte West, overlooking the new YMCA.
When I asked him whether or not
meeting curfew would be a problem, he chuckled and added, “I am the oldest guy
on the team. There are advantages in being the senior guy!”
Yet another success story for the
Belleville Bulls. A great kid playing the game he loves, and making a living at
it!
James Hurst
Saturday, January 05, 2013
The Dog Ate My Breakfast!
That is up there with
the best excuses a teacher hears when the job does not get done.
As a Canadian hockey
fan, I have heard a few good ones over the past few months. Some have emanated
from the so-called negotiations for the National Hockey League. Other excuses
come as a result of the recent performance of the Canadian National Junior Team
at the World Championships in Ufa, Russia.
Seth Jones
The team breezed through the preliminary rounds to earn a berth in the semi-finals, and drew the American team as an opponent. The Canadians were eliminated by Seth Jones and the Americans in a game that was never in doubt. Final Score 5-1. Adding insult to injury, they dropped an overtime decision to the Russians 6-5, and will not mount the podium this year.
The team breezed through the preliminary rounds to earn a berth in the semi-finals, and drew the American team as an opponent. The Canadians were eliminated by Seth Jones and the Americans in a game that was never in doubt. Final Score 5-1. Adding insult to injury, they dropped an overtime decision to the Russians 6-5, and will not mount the podium this year.
As expected, a host
of authoritative voices has been heard these past few days, explaining the
loss. There have also been many excuses thrown out there. Some of the following
may apply. Others have come from the depths of my imagination.
1. We were fatigued by the trans Atlantic
flight, and we did not have adequate time to adjust to our surroundings.
2. The food was terrible. Many of our players
had serious food poisoning before the big game.
3. We did not have enough time to get to know
each other, to learn the nuances of each other’s game.
4. Our skates were tied too tight.
5. Our skates were too loose.
6. I lost an edge and let that guy get by me.
7. We had too much time after the preliminary
rounds, and we were rusty.
8. We did not have enough time after the
preliminary rounds to analyze the Americans, and make adjustments.
9. The ice was poor.
10. The referees were terrible.
11. The referees had it in for us. They would
not let us play our game. They called everything.
12. The referees let the game get out of hand.
They had their whistles in their pockets.
13. We did not get any breaks. The puck just
did not bounce our way.
14. We
had far more injuries than they did.
15. Our biorhythms were not perfect.
16. Our astrologer indicated the stars were not inproper alignment.
15. Our biorhythms were not perfect.
16. Our astrologer indicated the stars were not inproper alignment.
1. They were better than we were. Perhaps
bigger, stronger, faster.
2. They had better coaches than we did. At
least their coaches made better decisions.
3. They were in better condition.
4. They finished their checks better than we
did.
5. They protected their lead very well. We did
not have a chance to do the same.
6. They got better goaltending than we did.
The played better on defence. Their forwards capitalized on scoring chances. We
didn’t.
7. We may have been slightly overconfident.
In order to create a suitable
spin, it is suggested that pundits take a couple of items from Column “A”, and
mix them with a couple from column “B”.
As has been the case in the past,
we need time to lick our wounds, and prepare for the next competition. We will
do our best. It is, after all, our game.
James Hurst
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
American College Football Bowl Games-2012-2013
More than fifty years ago, Disneyland opened in California.
For some reason the concept captivated my father, and he decided that the
entire family would visit the West Coast. We combined the excursion with visits
to San Diego, San Francisco, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the Rose Bowl Parade.
It was indeed a monumental adventure. We boarded the train
in Belleville, stopped in Toronto, caught another train to Chicago, then headed
across the United States to California. I spent most of the cross country trip
travelling up and down that train with my younger brother David. There were few
people who did not know us by the time we screeched to a halt in San Francisco.
I was ten years old, he is fifteen months younger than I. We were avowed sports
fans at the time, still are.
We were bitterly disappointed in Los Angeles when my father
announced that he had procured tickets to the Rose Bowl game for my older brother
Dick and himself. David and I got shut out.
I remember that Michigan State played UCLA, and that the
Spartans triumphed 17-14 against the Bruins. With a little internet snooping, I
discovered that Earl Morrall, later to become a legendary Baltimore Colt, threw
a touchdown pass for the Spartans. Ronnie Knox was the quarterback for the
Bruins. More than 100 000 fans attended the game.
How times have changed!
At last count, I discovered there are now thirty-five bowl
games this season for college players in the United States. It has become a
nightmare of names.
The first bowl game of the year, the New Mexico Bowl, was
played in Albuquerque on December 15th. Arizona defeated Nevada
49-48. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl also took place that day.
You may have missed the Poinsettia Bowl, before
Christmas. The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl
followed the next evening. That was followed by the MAACO Bowl, the Little
Caesar’s Bowl, the Russell Athletic Bowl, and the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Last
Saturday they played the following: the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, the Pinstripe Bowl,
the Alamo Bowl and the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
Most Americans have their favourite school represented in a
Bowl. Some of the locals around the pool will be in front of the television
when the chosen Bowl takes place. Paul Cross is an avowed Georgia fan, and he
will watch his team play in the Capital Bowl against Nebraska on Tuesday
evening. His daughter attended Georgia Tech, and they play in the Sun Bowl the
night before. He told me his house is divided. Good thing they do not face each
other in post season activity.
Art Mercier hails from the Boston area, and supports local
teams. With no appearances by eith BU or Boston College, he is focusing his
attention on his beloved Patriots. “Anybody except Ohio State,” he told me.
Don Cole was pleased to see the Orange from Syracuse crush
West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium last Saturday. He entered
a state of mourning Sunday afternoon when his Giants were ushered out the
playoff door.
The game which garners most of the attention of football
fans takes place on January 7th. It is entitled the BCS Bowl, and
features the two top teams in the country, as chosen by a panel. Notre Dame has
yet to be defeated this year, and they will play Alabama in Miami Gardens,
Florida. A great rivalry from two legendary college football franchises.
There is almost $ 18 000 000 doled out to the colleges
involved in the top five Bowl Games. Buys a lot of pens and pencils.
Many pundits would like to see a system in place whereby
there is a playoff structure, like the Final Four of basketball. Then again,
the game is supposed to be secondary. That is supposed to happen next year.
After all, the players are students, and
their education comes first. There are more than 400 000 student athletes in
National Collegiate Athletic Association programs in the United States. All
worthwhile.
James Hurst
December 30, 2012
