Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Snippets from the World of Sport
The amount
of recent activity from the world of sport is almost overwhelming.
Never completely, of course.
The Florida
Everblades have captured the attention of many Canadian snowbirds who
spent months in the south in the winter. During the season, there are
many empty seats at the Germain Arena on Route 75 in Estero. But
during the playoffs, fans come out in droves to cheer on the team.
Such was the
case this past week as the Everblades were in a heated battle with
the Colorado Eagles to win the Kelly Cup, the final rung on the ECHL
ladder. The series had gone down to the seventh and final game, and
the house was packed, with no tickets available at game time.
The Blades
had finished first in their division, thus obtaining the right to
host the final game. Spencer Smallman scored the first goal for the
Blades in the first period, but the Eagles replied with a goal in the
second. The Blades regained the lead at 6:15 in the third period, and
appeared destined to capture their first title in 6 years. Alas, not
to be. The Eagles tied the game just past the midway mark of the
third period, then went ahead with a shorthanded goal with 2.29
remaining in the game.
Despite
their best effort, the Blades could not reply, and the game ended
with the Eagles hoisting the Kelly Cup for the second consecutive
year. I listened to the game via the internet. I believe that in
1959, the Belleville MacFarlands' World Championship was broadcast by
telephone from Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Blades open their
season next year playing a new entry in the league in Newfoundland on
October 12th. There are a few tickets still available.
“Justify”
recently led the field at the wire to capture the Triple Crown of
horse racing. That is the second time in recent history that a horse
has been able to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the
Belmont Stakes. American Paraoah won the crown a couple of years ago.
There is such wonderful tradition in those events. It is a rare
occasion when a horse manages to win all three events, this being the
13th time in more than a hundred years.
The
Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup this past week with a
victory over the upstart Vegas Golden Knights. All of the hoopla at
the events in Vegas became a little tiring. The game became almost
secondary. Even in Washington, the team added a little extra. Pat
Sajak from the word game “Wheel of Fortune” was asked to
introduce the players. Apparently, he is a big fan, and has held
season tickets for many years.
Now, my
friends, it is time for baseball. Your Blue Jays have struggled
mightily this season, but managed to recover in fine style last
weekend against the Baltimore Orioles. They swept the birds, four
games straight. They got great pitching, they fielded well, and the
bats were hot. And then, Boom!! On
Monday night, not the case. A throwing error led to two runs to give
the Tampa Bay Rays a victory. As you know, it is a very long season.
162 games, in fact.
The
World Cup of Soccer is about to start in Russia. One of my networks
is showing all the games. Each to his or her own, as they say. I will
likely watch the final. Just to clarify, the game is called soccer
here in North America. Football is the game where they play with
helmets, and the Canadian Football League is about to kick off this
week.
Cheerio!
James
Hurst
June
12, 2018
# posted by James Hurst @ 8:51 AM 
