Sport Slices

Dustin Johnson

There is no doubt in my mind that Dustin Johnson was ready to win The Masters. He has been knocking around golf balls for many years, and is currently ranked as the best player in the world. He grew up in the shade of great southern pine trees, able to play the game year 'round.

He teed up for the final round on Sunday with a comfortable lead. He stumbled slightly, then got it together to win the tournament, setting a record for the lowest score, ever, in the Georgia sunset. Normally played in the spring, the tournament usually signals a start to the golf season in northern climes. 2020 has been anything but normal, and signs indicate that is not about to change quickly.

For the past seven years, he has been accompanied by his brother, toting the golf bag as his caddy. This is, of course, the same type of pairing that Brooke Henderson has with her sister. His brother's last duty of the day was to remove the flagstick from the 18^th hole. A fitting souvenir.

He was greeted as he finished the tournament by Paulina Gretzky, his partner. In a later interview, he said the the first call he made was to their two sons, Tatum and River. Wayne and Janet were at the course, as were several other family members. There was a small crowd surrounding the green at the 18^th: volunteers, patrons, media, and family.

He then headed to “The Cottage” to receive his green jacket, placed around his shoulders by Tiger Woods. Johnson remarked that it was special to have Tiger assist him, he added that it really didn't matter who it was, as long as he got the jacket!

Four Canadians started The Masters. Top finisher was Corey Connors, who picked up almost $ 300 000, and a berth at next year's Masters. Nick Taylor was six strokes back of Connors. Mike Weir shot a disappointng 76 on the final day, but finished ahead of some fine golfers: Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Brandt Snedeker and Bernd Weisberger. Adam Hadwin did not make the cut.

Johnson carded four bogeys in his four rounds of golf. That eclipsed the previous record of five, held by by Jack Nicklaus. A young Australian, Cameron Smith, tied for second, picking up more than a million American for his efforts. He shot less than 70 in all his four rounds, a first for the Masters. Korean Sunglae Im also tied for second, yet another young golfer who will be heard from in the years to come.

Johnson has won 24 tournaments on the PGA circuit. He won the US Open in 2016. He indicated that he has set his sights on The Open, and the PGA Championship. He has won at least one tournament the past 13 years, a feat accomplished by Nicklaus and Woods. His victory also tied him with Gary Player on the all time list of championships.

There are rumours that the NHL and the NBA will start their seasons next month. There is grave concern in Toronto that the COVID 19 will prohibit the Raptors from playing in Toronto. That would be disastrous for the game in Canada. Then again, anything that can be done to shut down the virus should be welcome. Perhaps they will resort to “the bubbles” they use to complete their seasons.

And yes, I am a bit glum about the Bills' game. That really hurt.

James Hurst

November 16, 2020.

# posted by James Hurst @ 1:49 PM 0 comments

We lost Howie Meeker last weekend. He was the oldest surviving Toronto Maple Leaf. He endeared himself to hockey fans for years, as a player, and as a commentator. He also served as a Member of Parliament, while playing for the Leafs in 1951.

But here is another side of Howie that is also an important part of his story. “He enlisted in the army in May, 1942. He was base in England as a machinist's apprentice in the Royal Canadian Engineers. During basic training, a stupid soldier inadvertantly todssed a line grenade between Meeker's legs, blowing him high in the air, and injuring him badly. He recovered, though, and went on to build bridges in the Rhine. When he was discharged, in 1946, he joined the Leafs.” Many thanks to Andrew Podnieks and his book Players The Ultimate A-Z Guide of Everyone who has ever played in the NHL. (Up to the date of publication, 2003).

Remarkably, Howie went to the NHL in style. He was the “Rookie of the Year” in 1947, netting 27 goals and adding 18 assists in 45 games. The runner-up in that contest was Gordie Howe! One of the most important assists in his career was when he fed the puck to Bill Barilko, in an overtime period. Barilko scored the winner to defeat the Habs in 1951, his last game in the NHL.

His career was shortened with nagging back pain, after 8 seasons with the Leafs. He did win 4 Stanley Cups in that span.

But it was as an analyst, and hockey commentator that Howie is best remembered. He was simply one of those guys who “saw” the game, and could break it down for us. He was never intimidated by situations, or by players. “You can't do that,” he would shout at the TV monitor as we watched a gaffe. “That was wrong! Tim Horton made a mistake. Look at what he's doing there!”

Interlaced with his dialogue, Howie would use several expressions that endeared him to the “Hockey Night in Canada” watchers. “Jiminy Cricket”, he would blurt out to emphasize a point. That might be followed by “Golly Gee Willikers” or “Jumpin Jehoshaphat”. While watching the tape he would say, “Stop it right there” to explain the point. My personal favourite, according to the Meeker way was, “You gotta take the man!”

Always with a broad smile, and a twinkle in his eye, Howie blurted out these expressions in a slightly whiney voice. We didn't care. He was entertaining, and informative. One of his books, published in 1973, Howie Meeker's Hockey Basics, became a hockey bible for many coaches. There are great clips on internet sites of Howie at his hockey school. Certainly a forerunner to Don Cherry.

We lost another great Canadian this past week. Alex Trebek. He was the host of Jeopardy for decades, and ran the show with a calm, caring attitude. Most of the time he reacted only slightly when a contestant submitted a bizarre question. He raised his eyebrows on one occasion when the contestants failed to buzz in on all of the questions about football. He hailed from Sudbury, and attended university in Ottawa. He always made a point to inform the listeners that he was Canadian, and an entire nation smiled in appreciation.

November 11, 2020. A time to reflect, to remember, to appreciate. Lest we forget.

James Hurst

November 11, 2020

# posted by James Hurst @ 1:45 PM 0 comments

Only a few short years ago, on several occasions, football fans from our area trekked to Buffalo for National Football League games in Orchard Park. Hundreds of buses parked outside the stadium, including ours. Grilled burgers, cold pop, crisp autumn air. The spirit of the gridiron in the air. “You know you make me want to shout” echoing around the grounds.

Many of the Bills' fans had made the trip from the Niagara Region, from Western Ontario, and from Toronto. So many, in fact, that a few marketing geniuses decided that they would ask the Bills to play one game a year, at the Rogers Centre, for five years. That was moderately successful, but was scrapped after the fifth year. It did give local fans, from the Quinte area, a taste of the NFL without the bother of driving all the way to Buffalo, at times in horrible weather.

Thus far in the 2020 season, the Bills have played to empty houses, due to the COVID-19. Fans have been able to follow the team from their easy chairs, on both sides of the border. The Bills are in first place in the American Football Conference, quite often due to extremely good fortune.

Such was the case last weekend. The New England Patriots have been the arch-rival of the Bills for many years. The Bills went into the game with eight straight losses to the Pats. On this occasion, the Bills were favoured to win! The one main reason in their favour was that Tom Brady had flown the coop, and was playing in Tampa Bay. The Patriots lineup was depleted because of injuries and defections. The time was ripe to crush the Patriots, well, er, maybe to just squeak by them.

Buffalo started well, last Sunday, on another blustery day near Lake Erie. No snow, mind you, but a chill in the air that had Patriots' coach Bill Bellichik all bundled up on the sideline. The Bills struck first, methodically marching down the field with pass plays and fine running by Zack Moss. Josh Allen was at the helm, and at 6' 5”, he could scan the horizon over the helmets of charging defensive linemen to pick out receivers.

The Patriots had picked up Cam Newton in the off-season to replace Brady. He was able to move the team within the shadows of the goalposts, only to come up short of the goal line. But they did pick up six points on field goals, and headed to the locker room trailing by just one point at half time.

The second half provided far more scoring, with the lead changing hands several times. Moss found the endzone again to put the Bills ahead 14-6. The Patriots responded with a Damien Harris touchdown, and a 2 point convert to even the score. In the 4^th quarter, Josh Allen scored for the Bills, but Newton returned the favour to knot the score at 21 each.

A Bass field goal put the Bills back in front 24-21. As expected, New England began to drive towards the Bills' end zone, with little time remaining. Bills' fans had seen this happen far too many times. At least, in this case, no fans were heading toward the exits!

Needing 3 yards for a first down, Newton scrambled for sufficient yardage to set up a field goal to tie the game. On a subsequent carry, he barged into the Bills' secondary. Justin Zimmer decided to poke his fist at the ball in Newton's hand. Fumble! Bills recover it! Time runs out! Bills win!

And so it ended. For the first time in 9 nine years, they had bested the Patriots in Buffalo. They improved their record to 6-2, leading their conference. They have scored 198 points, but have given up 199. There is still room for improvement.

Players headed to the locker rooms, then prepared to head to the polls on Tuesday. We, in the Great White North, are well aware of the fact that there is an election in the United States. If nothing else, there will be a great sense of relief, once all the ballots have been counted. It could be close, kind of like a Bills' football game. I think I regret writing that.

Dig out the clubs, Ethel! Great weather ahead, for a week, at least.

James Hurst

November 3, 2020

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By the time that this week's issue of The Times gets into your hands, there just might be a World Series champion. Game Six was set to go on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas, at the Globe Life Field. That is the “neutral site” chosen by Major League Baseball to keep the COVID 19 at bay. Baseball has been affected by the pandemic, like all other activities throughout the world.

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers have alternated victories in this year's final. Even the lead has changed hands many times during each game. The “Cinerella Team” in the Series is from Florida, with a payroll that is miniscule compared to that of the Dodgers. Yet another one of the reasons that the casual baseball fan is rooting for the Rays.

There are several players on the Rays who garner our attention. Ji-Man Choi is a prime example. Born in Korea, he moved to the States to attend high school. He plays first base for the Rays, and has made many acrobatic plays this October. He has also provided some timely hitting, and has endeared himself to fans with his infectious smile. He stands at 6' 1”, and tips the scales at more than 260 pounds. He is the first Koren-born player to suit up in a World Series. Manager Kevin Cash recognized Choi's efforts: “He is a big part of our clubhouse, and we benefit from the energy that he brings on a daily basis”.

Randy Arozarena has broken several long-standing playoff records this year. He has more hits (27) this year than any other player, ever. He has proven to be the toughest “out” on the Rays. His dash from first base to home, including a serious tumble between third and the plate, was one of the most remarkable plays in World Series history. Randy hails from Cuba. Here is a tip on how to remember his name, and how to pronounce it: “roz” is rice, and “arena” is sand. I will leave that up to you. “Excuse me, waiter”, you might say, “there is sand in my rice!”

Kevin Kiermaierhas been patrolling the outfield for the Rays for several years. He has led the team in hitting in this series. He is a perennial Gold Globe recipient, and has shut down the Dodgers with his defense.

The Dodgers also have outstanding offensive talent. Corey Seager, Max Muncy, and Justin Turner have been responsible for many of the Dodger runs. In order to win in October, pitching is critical. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw has pitched well. That has not always been the case, but he has not choked this year. He tossed 6 fine innings in Game One, and 5 2/3 innings in Game Five. He might be called upon to weave his magic in Game Seven, if it were to take place on Wednesday evening.

The only quality start that the Rays have had this post-season was Tyler Glasnow's trip to the mound in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Dodgers have countered with Walker Blueher, Julio Urias, and Kershaw.

“If we can somehow get a lead, and limit them, we've got some of the big boys in the back end of the bullpen who are ready to go,” added Kevin Cash.

The television ratings have not been good for this series. The Rays traditionally do not draw well in the ratings game. The game has had to contend with the political events taking place in the United States, as the Americans head to the polls to elect a president, senators, and others. We will see all of that business come to an end, thankfully, on November 3^rd.

“Pass me the clicker, dear. The NFL season is now in full swing!”

James Hurst

October 27, 2020

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There were a few cancellations on the PGA Champions Tour, earlier this year. It is the tour for “Seniors” who wish to continue to play competitive golf. The tour offers great opportunities for fans to see their favourite players, once they turn 50.

Last weekend, the golfers played the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. There were no fans lining the fairways. That will come, in good time. When the final round took place on Sunday, there was a little extra excitement for Canadian golf fans. Mike Weir was in first place, and playing well.

Following his opening round of 68, Weir had a score of 63 in the second round to give himself a three stroke lead going into the final 18 holes. Another left-handed golfer was playing with him on the final round. Phil Mickelson. He also had his 50^th birthday this year, entitling him to play on this tour.

Mickelson had earlier won his first tournament as a senior, and has done well thus far. He has pocketed $ 750 000 with his two tournament victories.

Weir has played in 8 tournaments as a senior. He has finished in the top ten 3 times, and has won $ 475 000.

Last Sunday, Phil capped off a fine weekend with a score of 65 to win the tournament. Weir finished second, with three birdies and one bogey on the final 18 holes. They were tied for the lead at the 11^th hole, but Weir needed three putts on the 14^th hole. Mickelson cruised to victory at that point.

Weir hails from Bright's Grove, in western Ontario. He won several amateur tournaments in Canada before attending Brigham Young University in Utah. His greatest win on the PGA circuit was The Masters. The date has been changed for that tournament this year, and the golfers will head there in November. As a former winner, Weir will be there.

There is a big prize at the end of the Champions Tour season called the Schwab Cup. Ernie Els is the current leader in that race, followed by Bernard Langer, Scott Pareil, Miguel Angel Jiminez, and Jerry Kelly. Most of those chaps have already picked up a million dollars in prize money this year.

Mike Weir has won more than 28 million dollars in his career. He is not one of those big guys who cranks out 400 yard drives. He is 5' 9'', and is listed at 175 pounds. But his average driving distance this year is 286 yards, which is more than suitable for this tour.

When he was 13 years old, he wrote a letter to Jack Nicklaus. He wanted to know whether or not he should switch to playing right-handed. Nicklaus responded by telling Weir to go with his natural swing, as a lefty.

Among his many other awards, Weir was named to the Order of Canada in 2009.

A golfer named Jason Kokrak won the regular PGA event last week. While on a holiday, to visit family members several years ago, his mother gave birth to Jason in North Bay, Ontario. I believe he lived there for two weeks! I could be mistaken, but I think he falls into the category as having “dual citizenship”. Jason will also attend The Masters, one of the perks for winning last weekend.

The World Series opened last night with the Los Angeles Dodgers representing the National League, and the Tampa Bay Rays, the American League. Both teams survived a best-of-seven series to get to the final. Don't be surprised if this turns out to be a long affair. They will be playing in better weather than the Bills had last Monday night. If you wish to learn about Buffalo football woes, tune in to WGR 550 on the AM dial. Most of the time, the dialogue is hilarious.

Stay safe. Less than three weeks from now, our neighbours to the south will finish counting ballots!

James Hurst

October 21, 2020

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The Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Miami Heat in the sixth game of their final series last Sunday evening. The win gave the Lakers their 17^th NBA championship, tying them with the Boston Celtics for the most titles. All of the games were played at the expansive Disney facility in Orlando, under the basketball “bubble”. This was necessitated, of course, by the COVID 19 virus.

The Heat weathered the storm far longer than was anticipated. Most of that was due to Jimmy Butler. He was simply magnificent in the playoffs. He led the Heat past the Celtics to get into the finals. The Celtics, as you might recall, took care of the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern semi final. Miami had disposed of the Pacers and the Bucks, before they met the Celtics.

The Lakers had a relatively easy route to the finals. They won all of their series 4-1, with victories over the Trail Blazers, the Rockets and the Nuggets.

In game six, the Lakers were again led by LeBron James. In winning his fourth NBA title, he was also named as the playoff Most Valuable Player. The score in the game was 106-93, but the victory was never in doubt. Los Angeles led by 28 points at half time, and cruised to the final buzzer.

The National Hockey League also used the bubble technique to hold its playoffs, quite successfully. Games were played in Toronto and Edmonton. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Dallas to win the Stanley Cup. It certainly was far different from any other playoff series: hollow, distant, almost artificial.

Here's a few notes about Canadians playing south of our border. Kelly Olynyk plays for the Miami Heat, and played well in the playoffs. Freddie Freeman plays baseball for the Atlanta Braves. His mother hailed from Peterborough, and his father from Windsor. He was born in the States. Several years ago, he opted to play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, to honour his mother who had passed away from cancer. Freeman has just started the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, to see who will represent the National League in the World Series.

The brightest spotlight following the weekend is focussed on Chase Claypool. He is a wide receiver from Abbotsford, British Columbia, and plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rookie hauled in four touchdown passes for the Steelers in their win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Atlanta Braves plated four runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of their playoff series. The Houston Astros, America's favourite team, have fallen two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in their playoff series in the American League. This should wrap up before you try on your Hallowe'en costume.

I do hope you took the time to see Rafael Nadal win his 13^th French Open. He defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets, decisively.

Stay safe. If you are American, please vote.

James Hurst

October 13, 2020

# posted by James Hurst @ 3:43 PM 0 comments

I have sometimes indicated that proximity has a lot to do with one's favourite sports' choices. There are many Toronto Maple Leaf fans in the Quinte area. But there are also several Hab fans, and some holdover Black Hawk fans from the days of Bobby Hull.

Most Maritime baseball fans support the Boston Red Sox. Their hearts swell when they hear Neil Diamond belting out “Sweet Caroline”. New Brunswickers are particularly steadfast Boston fans: Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and Sox. Most of their radio and television transmissions are from Boston, promoting their teams.

When the Expos and the Blue Jays entered the baseball fray, Canadians from coast to coast gradually began to support those teams. Naturally, fans on the left coast continue to support the Mariners, or the other West Coast American teams.

Let's roll back the clock to 1957. Michael Hatfield had not reached his ninnth birthday. As a native New Brunswicker, he was a devoted Red Sox fan. He comes from the town of Hartland, NB, home of the Hartland Bridge. The bridge is reknown as the longest covered bridge in the world. He followed the game carefully, and collected baseball cards. He was thrilled when he dad told him that they would be going to a Red Sox game, his first at Fenway Park.

It was the last game of the season, yet another disappointing one for the Red Sox and their fans. They were staying at the fabulous Parker House Hotel in the heart of Boston. The Sox were playing the Yankees that day, a meaningless game for the Bronx Bombers. They were gearing up for a World Series date with the Milwaukee Braves, and would simply go “through the motions” that day. It was a Sunday, September 29^th, and the Yankees lost to the Red Sox 3-2. A worthy note: Ted Williams went two for two, and ended the season with a .388 batting average. He was 39 years of age.

As it happened, the Yankees were also staying at the same hotel. Michael slipped away from his father, and wndered the hotel, as kids do. He noticed a group of reporters huddled in the lobby. When he approached the throng, he discovered that they were interviewing the Yankee Manager, Casey Stengel. The conversation centered around potential pitching assignments for the World Series.

I recently chatted with Michael about his experience. “Casey had probably announced earlier that (Whitey) Ford would start the first game. Reporters then asked him who would start game two. When he said (Bobby) Shantz, I asked him why he was going to start Shantz.”

It was at that point that his Dad discovered his whereabouts. Reflecting on the situation today, Michael believes that his Dad was most surprised at his behaviour. Most of the time, Michael was shy, and reserved. Trust Casey Stengel, the “Old Professor” to bring out the best in a Red Sox fan!

The 1957 World Series MVP was Milwaukee pitcher Lou Burdette. He won three games for the Braves, blanking the Yankees 5-0 in the 7^th game. Warren Spahn won the other game for the Braves. Whitey Ford, Don Larsen, and Bob Turley won Yankee games.

That was also the year of the “incident” at the Copacabana, in New York. Whitey Ford's drinking buddy, Billy Martin, was involved that evening. Casey traded him the next day. Yet another tale worth telling, some other time, involving the “Bronx Bombers”.

James Hurst

August 30, 2020

# posted by James Hurst @ 3:37 PM 0 comments

The Tampa Bay Lightning won the 2020 Stanley Cup on Monday night in Edmonton. They managed to put two goals in the Dallas Stars net, and played brilliant defence to stifle the Dallas attack. Victor Hedman, who played spectacular hockey throughout the playoffs, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable player.

Due to the fact that the arena in Edmonton was virtually empty, league Commissioner Gary Bettman was able to present the Cup without the usuual catcalls and verbal abuse from fans. There was a great sigh of relief, more than anything, as players and management from both teams dragged themselves from the ice area, and prepared to leave “the bubble”. In order to complete the season, they had to quarantine themselves, for the most part, away from families and friends. They had not been able to celebrate their children's birthdays, and special events.

Eugenie Bouchard won her first round match at the French Open last weekend. She is on the comeback trail, after several disappointing seasons on the tennis courts. She appears to be ready to make a statement, following recent successes in Europe. There are several other Canadians in the tournament. I suspect Rafael Nadal will work his magic once again to reach the finals. He has raised the trophy there 11 times.

The Toronto Blue Jays began their quest to win the World Series yesterday. They are playing the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East Division championships. The Yankees face the Cleveland Indians. The Minnesota Twins play the Houston Astros, and the Oakland Athletics play the Chicago white Sox in the other American League games. Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo decided to start Matt Shoemaker on the mound in the opening game and Hyun Jin Ryu will pitch the second game. All series are the best of three; therefore, starting pitching is critical.

The National League opens its playoff season on Wednesday with the following games: Los Angeles Dodgers against the Milwaukee Brewers, the San Diego Padres against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs against the Florida Marlins, and the Atlanta Braves against the Cincinnatti Reds. All 16 teams will be in action on Thursday, tying up many of the television networks.

The Miami Heat knocked off the Boston Celtics to earn the right to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball finals this year. All teams have been sequestered in a basketball bubble in Orlando. As was the case with the hockey guys, I am sure that most of the players can't wait to get out of Dodge. The Lakers are led by LeBron James, and he is determined to win another title.

An abbreviated schedule for National Football teams got under way a couple of weeks ago. Buffalo Bills' fans got a nasty scare last Sunday when their team gave up a 25 point advantage, then managed to survive in the dying minutes of the game. They won their third game with no losses, the first time that has happened since Noah began his work on the ark, I believe.

It will be a topsy-turvy season for many fans this year. Tom Brady snuck out of New England to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and coaxed his pal Rob Gronkowski to join him there. Teams are trying to figure out ways to get fans into their buildings, but with recent increases in the numbers of COVID 19 cases, that will not happen.

Oh that the magic wand could wave above the Earth and rid us of this pandemic! Soon, hopefully.

James Hurst

September 29, 2020.  

# posted by James Hurst @ 3:31 PM 0 comments

Yesterday, Rafael Nadal took the court at Roland Garros in an attempt to win his thirteenth French Open title. Unprecedented. No one has close to winning that many titles, nor has anyone come close to winning as many clay court titles as Nadal.

Three tennis players have dominated the game for the last 15 years: Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. Each has won many tournaments, and has enjoyed great financial success as well. Nadal has more than $ 120 million American dollars in earnings, from tennis alone.

Now 34 years old, Nadal was born on the island of Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Spain. A promising soccer player in his youth, he decided to stick to tennis after winning several matches.

Although he appears to be rather small on our television screens, compared to most players, he is actually 6' 1”. We have become accustomed to his personal idiosyncracies as he prepares to serve, quick flips to wipe his brow, moving wisps of hair behind his ears.

He began his domination on clay with a victory over Roger Federer at the French Open in 2005. He has been playing Federer since 2004, and has a 24-16 overall advantage against the Swiss player. Djokovic holds a slight lead over Rafa in their personal contests, 29-26. But when it comes to the clay surface, Nadal still has the edge, 17-7. Federer is not playing in this year's French Open. Djokovic and Nadal are not slated to meet until the finals, should they both advance to that position. Hopefully, we will see that match later on this week.

I found two quotes from a pair of the greatest players from the past. Andre Agassi had this to say: “Rafa has had to deal with Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray in the golden age of tennis.” Jimmy Connors dominated men's singles prior to the turn of the century. He knows a thing or two about the game. “He's built out of a mold that I came from. You walk out there, you give everything you have from the first point to the end, no matter what the score. You're willing to let it all out on the line, and you're not afraid to let the people see that.”

Nadal has won 19 Grand Slam titles: 4 US Open titles, 2 at Wimbledon, and one in Australia, as well as his French Open victories. He needs one more to bring him even with Federer. He has 85 career championships, including Olympic Gold, and 5 Davis Cup triumphs for Spain. He won the Rogers Cup in 2018 and 2019, giving us Canadians a chance to see him work his magic.

The Buffalo Bills are 4-0, after last weekend! The baseball season is winding down, with 8 teams remaining. The Yankees bested the Rays on Monday night to take an early lead, in the best of 5 series. The Astros did the same to the Athletics. The Dodgers and the Padres go head-to-head in the National League, as do the Braves and the Marlins.

Essentially, nice distractions from the you-know-what.

James Hurst

October 6, 2020

# posted by James Hurst @ 3:20 PM 0 comments

It was a rather cool, unpleasant day in October. The Toronto Blue Jays were in a battle with the New York Yankees in the American League East. It was October 4^th, to be precise, in 1985. I kept score, diligently, in those days. I had been taught a “proper” scoring method by Homer “Red” Townsend at Belleville Collegiate Institute and Vocational School, in a Health class. More than 60 years later, I still use most of the same scoring indicators: “K” for a strike out, “BB” for a walk, “SB” for a stolen base, and many other letters and scratches. The idea was that I could look at the page and replay the game with some precision, years later. Advanced techniques in television do that for us now.

On that day, my score card served another function. I used it to gather the autographs of three individuals seated behind us at Exhibition Stadium: Eugene Levy, John Candy, and Larry Grossman. Levy and Candy were comedians I admired, Grossman was a Toronto businessman and politician. There was a rain delay at the game, and I took that opportunity to get them to sign, which they did, graciously. Candy wrote: “Thanks for watching SCTV”. Levy wrote: “All De best”. Grossman simply wrote his name.

We did chat a bit about the weather, and the game. I could be mistaken, but I believe they were at the game with their mothers. I did hear Candy laugh, occasionally. It was worth the price of admission. There was a record crowd on hand that day, 47 686.

The Blue Jays lost that game. The Yankees rallied in the top of the 9^th. The rally began at the bottom of the order. They plated a couple of runs before Winfield hit into a fielder's choice, and Don Mattingly was thrown out at 2^nd base. Rickey Henderson was left standing at 3^rd base. Lloyd Moseby geounded to second in the bottom of the 9^th to end the game. Yankees 4-Blue Jays 3.

The Jays won the following day behind Doyle Alexander, and went on to face the Kansas City Royals for the pennant. They did lose the pennant, but a banner still flies at the Rogers Centre, along with the two World Series markers.

Eugene Levy, now 73 years of age, teamed up with his son and daughter to star in a situation comedy called “Schitt's Creek”. It first aired on January 15, 2015. Last weekend, the show won seven Emmy awards for comedy. It is a record for the most awards in a comedy series. Levy won as the top actor, his son David as the best supporting actor. Catherine O'Hara was selected as the best actress, and Annie Murphy won as the best supporting actress, playing Alexis, Levy's daughter. Eugene's daughter, Sarah, also had a role in the show as the desk clerk.

There are 80 episodes of the show, spread over 6 seasons. The Rose family, (the Levys), have been forced to relocate to a small town that they purchased as a joke. The mayor of the village, Roland Schitt, is played by Chris Elliott. Most of the outdoor scenes were shot in the Toronto area: Unionville, Goodwood, and Mono, to name a few.

Throughout his career, Levy, the father has always played zany characters, during the ten years at SCTV, and in the 8 movies of American Pie. He also starred in several movies directed by Christopher Guest: Waiting for Guffman, and my personal favourite, Best in Show.

A quick peek at Wikipedia will give you an appreciation of the work by Levy. Another great Canadian comic, and a faithful Jays' fan.

And yes, they finally beat the Yankees on last Monday night, after several unsuccessful attempts.

James Hurst

September 22, 2020

# posted by James Hurst @ 3:14 PM 0 comments

I can't think of any situation, in any sport, quite like the last few innings of a baseball game when a pitcher is hurling a “no-hitter”. The silence in the dugout, when his team is up to bat would be about the same as when the proverbial tree stands in the forest.

The Chicago Cubs faced that exciting part of the game, recently in Milwaukee. Alec Mills, a former student at the University of Tennessee, had not allowed the Brewers any hits. A few balls had been hit to the outfield, but had been chased down and snagged by his teammates. Other ground balls had been easily handled in the infield. He had struck out a couple of batters, but not with overwhelming stuff.

At the best of times, his fastball is clocked around 90 miles per hour. In today's game, pitchers topping 100 miles per hour are not unusual. Mills knew that in order to succeed in baseball, he would need other pitches.

While strolling near the baseball fields at his university in Tenneesee, he decided to invite himself to a practice. The coaches reluctantly told him to take the mound. He showed sufficient talent to make the team, as a “walk on”. The scouts became aware of his talent, and he was drafted into the major league by the Kansas Cithy Royals. But in the 22^nd round. That means that more than 600 players had been drafted before he was.

The flame remained, never extinguished. He toiled in the minors for the Royals, and then was dealt to the Chicago Cubs. With limited action, and designated as a reliever by the Cubbies at the beginning of the season, he was asked to start recently by his club.

In seasons past, that would be a firaly rare occurrence. Mainly because of the COVID 19 situation, things are very different. Many players who thought they would never have a chance to play Major League Baseball are getting a chance this year. With a shortened Spring Training, team management had less time to evaluate their prospects. Then all teams cancelled all of the games of their minor league teams. A few players are kept on “alternate” rosters, staying in the wings until their names are called.

Because of injuries, a spot opened up for Mills to become a starter. Under the watchful eye of his manager, David Ross, and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, he took the mound against the Brewers. He had thrown 113 pitches when he wound up to deliver his final pitch.

Javier Baez was ready to field the ball. “I just wanted the ball hit to m. It's unbelievable. This is something that we're going to be part of for life. This is something like a championship kind of thing.”

Mills admitted it was quite an experience. “I watched the video (after the game). I didn't even know if I really celebrated. It was kind of surreal. I don't know what I really did, to be honest with you. I just don't remember.” He finished the game with 5 strikeouts, and three walks.

Albert Pujols stroked the 660^th home run of his career, tying Willie Mays for the most career home runs. The Jays and the Yankees are in a battle for second place in the East Division of the American League. It is critical because it would give them an automatic entry into the post season.

The Dallas Stars knocked off the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night to win a spot in the Stanley Cup final this year. The Los Angeles Lakers await an opponent in the NBA West. The Clippers and the Denver Nuggets clashed last night to settle that score. The National Football League got underway last week to play their shortened season.

Brooke Henderson settled for a second place tie last Sunday, after battling on the last few holes in a tournament in .

Enjoy!!

James Hurst

September 15, 2020.

# posted by James Hurst @ 3:08 PM 0 comments

These are exciting times for tennis fans, especially Canadian tennis fans. For the first time in history, a Canadian male, Denis Shapovalov, has advanced to the Quarter Finals of the United States Open Tennis Tournament. You will recognize him: the tall blond kid who wears his baseball cap backward, the one who bounces the ball from behind his back, between his legs before he serves.

Last year, Bianca Andreescu won the tournament. She decided not to attend this year. Several other notable players have also passed on the opportunity to play: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, to name two of the very best men tennis players. For the most part, the withdrawls are due to COVID 19.

For many years, Federer and Nadal have topped the rankings in the tennis world, along with a lanky Serb, Novak Djokovic. Djokovic did show up in New York, and was playing quite well on Sunday when a series of events resulted in his disqualification from the tournament.

He was battling a Spaniard, in the first set, when he slightly lost his cool. He is impetuous, as are all of the other players on the tour. These players are the very best in the world, and are paid accordingly. Their incomes are augmented by sponsorships, commercial work, and endorsements. The top players can easly take home twenty million American dollars per year. Coin like that might induce many of us to become slightly high strung.

Djokovic whacked a ball against the side of the court in a slight burst of anger. He then took a bit of a nasty tumble, going after a shot in the backcourt. It appeared that he had injured his shoulder, after jamming his hand when he fell. He was administered some physio treatment at the side of the court, and continued to play. But again, he became frustrated, and whacked a ball towards the back wall of the court, where the ball kids and the judges hang out.

Much to his misfortune, the ball struck a female line judge on the neck. She went down in pain, and Djokovic rushed to her side. You could tell by his actions that he felt badly about what he had done. For the officials at the tournament, “Sorry” didn't really cut it, and Novak was disqualified for his stupidity. It likely cost him a couple of million bucks. As Forest Gump once said, “Stupid is as stupid does”.

The baseball world lost one of its greats this past weekend. Lou Brock, a first ballot Hall of Famer, died after a lengthy illness. In 1977, he broke Ty Cobb's record of 892 stolen bases, and finished his career with 932 steals. He had 3 023 hits, surpassing the magical milestone of three thousand. A gentleman on and off the field, his passing was lamented by other Cardinal greats, including Tim McCarver and Bob Gibson.

In this quirky, completely bizarre world of the COVID 19, there are still battles in the hockey and basketball worlds, at the summer's end. The Islanders outlasted the Flyers to earn the right to play the Lightning in the East. The Golden Knights from Vegas dashed the hopes of hockey fans to see a Canadian team advance when they cast aside the Canucks. They now face the Stars from Dallas, who drew first blood on Sunday night.

The Raptors got back on track on Saturday, climbing back from a two game deficit against the Celtics. But on Monday night, the Celtics thumped the Raptors, and they are in a position to move on with a win Wednesday night. The Bucks are in the same position with the Miami Heat.

The Blue Jays unleased their bats on Monday night, scoring ten runs in one inning! The New York Yankees were the victims, and have fallen in the standings. The Jays play half of their remaining games against the Yankees.

More tennis this week. Game, set, and match.

James Hurst

September 8, 2019. 

# posted by James Hurst @ 3:02 PM 0 comments