Monday, September 28, 2015
Autumn Football Nights
Autumn Football Nights
The Toronto Ottawa Argos Chad Argos
Chad Owens- The Flyin' Hawaiian
On the ensuing drive, Ottawa Toronto Argos
The Argos Argos
With the win, the Argos Hamilton Argos Ottawa Rogers Toronto Toronto Argos Ottawa
The Ottawa Argos
The game last Saturday night was marred by innumerable
penalties, many completely unnecessary. In the first quarter, Toronto
For your information, there is a fine working
relationship between the team and the Ottawa Bank Street
The Senators have begun their pre-season schedule. When
the REDBLACKS host the Argos
James Hurst
Sportslices.blogspot.com
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
The Terry Fox Run-2015
It was thirty-five years ago when hoards of people
started participating in what is known as the “Terry Fox Run”. I was there on
that occasion. In fact, I pushed a stroller around the course that day, and on
several other runs. I have traveled the course with two dogs, and I remember
dragging Loki, the Bouvier des Flandres, over the finish line.
But I have not always been faithful to the Terry Fox Run.
There is an element of guilt here. Occasionally, I was far away from a site,
once in Australia Europe . I did a walk
for Terry’s cause when I was away, admittedly half-heartedly.
Last Sunday, I rolled into the parking lot in Belleville West Zwick ’s Park. I was a little
early, and there were very few vehicles on the lot. My heart sunk a little as I
murmured to myself, “Oh no, the spirit is gone. Nobody cares about this. It has
gone to way of all good things.”
I walked to the bandshell and discovered several people
there in bright green shirts, with “Volunteer” written on the backs of their
shirts. That was a good sign, but it did not mean that the “Run” would be a
success. There were hot dogs on the grill, hot coffee and tea, cold drinks,
snacks for energy and the ever-present Hawkins Cheezies!
I mention this product in particular, because the Cheezies’
plant manager 35 years ago, Shirley Woodcox, was a driving force behind the
inaugural Terry Fox Run. She spent a good deal of time with him, and paved the
way for some of his success. He began his journey on the East Coast, and traveled
through the Maritimes and Quebec Ontario Thunder Bay Marathon of
Hope”
Belleville’s mayor, Taso Christopher was on hand to thank
the volunteers at the site. In particular, he had high praise for Vicki
Samaras. She is the President and a partner in the Hinterland Wine Company. She
knows how to get things done.
In 2012, she got geared up for the “Run” at Zwick’s Park.
When she arrived at the site, she was told that run had been cancelled. To
Vicki, that was completely unacceptable. The legacy that Terry had left us
could not be tossed along the wayside by a cancellation. That provided the impetus
for her to gather the troops to continue the fight against cancer.
Christopher told the gathering that he had watched the
movie about Terry’s life the previous evening. He became emotional when talking
about the movie. If you have not seen it, it really is a must. It shows Terry
Fox as a human being, as a young very driven individual trying to make a
difference.
And what a difference he has made! At last report, almost
$ 700 million dollars has been raised to eradicate cancer as a result of his
efforts. The “Run” in Belleville
I was really impressed with the Woodley family. Young and
old, they gathered for the journey-26 of them. As is the case with many of us,
we reflect on lives lost to that despicable disease as we strolled around the
park. Volunteers cheered on our efforts. At ten
o’clock in the morning, I tore into a fine hot dog from the
Agrarian. No serious repercussions.
That being said, to you I throw the torch to do what you
can next year in this great pursuit. My old knees were not up to a run. I
strolled the route casually with my friend Wayne Baker, a long-time supporter
of the cause, and a survivor. You could tell by the smile on his face that it
meant a great deal to him. See you there next year!
James Hurst
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Lessons From Behind the Glass-Allyson Tufts
Allyson Tufts is a hockey fan. She grew up with the game in a large family. She married a hockey player. She raised a hockey player. That does not make her much different from many other mothers in Canada. The difference in her case is that she took the time to write about her experiences. She shares the triumphs, the tragedies and the passion involved in the game. She shares with the reader the lessons she has learned, as it says, “From Behind the Glass”.
In the introduction, she writes: “I have to say my
toughest love affair has been with hockey”. Growing up, she quickly learned the
importance of hockey in the Canadian mosaic. She experienced the excitement of
the game as a child watching the Belleville
Allyson has broken the book down into ten chapters.
Essentially, the lesson is that you should let your kids play and enjoy the
game. But she also cautions that there are lessons to be learned from the
related activities behind the scenes, namely the politics involved in the game.
If you happen to be the parents of a young athlete, you
will benefit from a read of this book. Allyson indicates in several situations
in the book that it is necessary to step away from the game in order to
appreciate it. Move away from the coaches, the managers, the agents, the other
parents, even away from the other kids. When players continue to rise in the
ranks of hockey, and in other sports as well, the pressures mount, as do the
expectations.
As an example, Lesson #2 suggests that you should
leave your baggage at home. There are so many situations that occur in the
games, and on other occasions with the team that defy explanation. Especially
to the parents. The children that do well in sports are expected to climb the
ladder in the levels of the games in Canada
Allyson experienced the frustration dealing with the
levels in hockey. I am not letting any cats out of the bag when I write that
there are mistakes made in player selection. There are mistakes made in the
selection of coaches as well. Certain individuals should never coach. They may
know the game. They may have been fine players. But they also may be completely
lacking in communication skills, and the abilities required to lead a group of
kids. Foul-mouthed immature adults do not belong behind the bench of young
hockey players.
I liked the way that Allyson sets out, in each chapter,
to present a challenge, then summarizes her results at the end of the chapter.
The final chapter is entitled: “Let go of the control-You never had it in the
first place.” The conclusion she presents is that getting your child noticed is
achieved by how they perform on the ice, and how they present themselves off
the ice.
The book is a must read for parents who believe that
their child should rise in the ranks of hockey. There are some unwritten rules
that need to be followed. The pressures do increase right up to the day of the
draft, for players eligible for college or junior hockey. Then there is that
tough decision about what fork in the road is the best to pursue.
Ah! The choices of life! If you choose to read this book,
there is a copy in the Wellington
James Hurst
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
My Friend Charlie
Charlie has attended a few ball games over the years. He
has worked in media for more than thirty years. He told me he has attended 2700
major league baseball games. I usually sit with Charlie in the second row of
the media box when I attend the games. If I arrive early, I try not to disturb
him as he works on the crossword puzzle from the Hamilton
He has been working the Blue Jay games for 34 years, he
told me as I settled in for the Jays and Orioles last week. He keeps score,
meticulously. “I have the score sheets for every game I have attended,” he told
me. He added, with a chuckle, “Maybe they could display them at my wake so that
people can check the results of games.”
Charlie also worked other sports over the years. “I
really enjoyed the Argos Argos Toronto
A few years ago, Charlie would spend some time setting up
his area for his assignments. There had to be a working phone in front of him.
He would condense the game into a few sentences, then call the particular
network that had hired him to do the game. He would relate the details up to
that point in the game, recognize the stars and the outstanding plays, then
sign off. There is very little call for such an exercise today.
Most sporting events are televised, with many camera
angles detailing the game in progress. Fans can catch all of the action on
their computers, on their phones, on their personal devices.
A native of Smiths
Falls
Of all of the athletes he has interviewed in baseball, he
cites Cito Gaston and Joe Carter as two of his favourites, He also enjoyed
dealing with Ernie Whitt and Jimmy Key. John Olerud once simplified the season
for him. Olerud told him that the team would win one-third of their games, lose
one-third of their games. He added that what they did with the remainder would
make the difference in the season.
One of Charlie’s favourite lines goes something like
this: “The last time the Leafs won the Cup I was 25 years old. I had been
married five years. I had a three year old son, and my wife was three years
old!” He is referring to his second wife Anita. They are currently in the
process building a house in Ridgeway. A trip to Toronto Hamilton
And so, at 75 years of age, Charlie has decided to leave
the games. It is obvious that he loves the games, and is a true sports fan. And
a fine gentleman to boot. Enjoy the sunshine years, Charlie.
James Hurst
