2004-2005 Ottawa 67's - 3rd Best Team in Canada

They say playing in a tie game is like kissing your sister. Well, then finishing third at the Memorial Cup must be like frenching Don Cherry. It had to kill the Ottawa 67's to watch that game yesterday. Like a kid standing outside Disneyland the day they close for renovations.

Still, in a week or two, this team will be able to reflect on a brilliant season. No one would have been shocked if this team had been dispatched back in round one of the OHL Playoffs. Today, they stand on the podium. Bronze medalists.

(I know, there are no medals. Just go with me on this.)

Rimouski was there because of "Sid Dy-no-mite" (Hey. That's not bad. If only it were 1975 and Good Times still ruled TV land. Still, if it catches on, I want credit, dammit.)

London was there because...well, d-uh.

The 67's had a star goalie who threw the club on his back and carried them. But there was a pile of determination (or sub for your favourite cliche - heart, grit, moxy, passion, mojo, will) there too. I honestly don't see too many future big time NHL'ers on this team. But if they can all corral the fire they had for 2 months in 2005, these guys will be a success at whatever they do.

Danica Patrick - Hot or Not?

Leading up to the Indy 500, I've heard several discussions as to whether or not Danica Patrick is legitimately hot or whether her status as an athlete makes her seem that way.

Let me settle the argument here and now. She could shovel manure for a living and still be hot.

Danica had a good showing at the Indy 500 yesterday but not nearly as good a showing as the one in FHM magazine.

The 23-year-old rookie actually led with 10 laps left yesterday before being passed by the eventual winner Dan Wheldon. She finished fourth, the same place she started the race.

(Editor's note: Mr. Warne finished this article with the sentence, "she might have had done better had she started on the pole". While in racing terms, this may be a perfectly accurate statement, we're very familiar with Mr. Warne's body of work. We think it's best to err on the side of caution.)

And His Name is Stanley?

I’d like to congratulate the state of New jersey for solving all crimes, diseases and social problems. You’d have to assume that to be the case now that a state assemblyman has come forward, demanding the New Jersey Devils change their name.

Craig Stanley says “I've always cringed when people say they're going to see the Devils. "The merchandise, the paraphernalia is based on the actual demonic devil. Personally, it causes a little bit of an issue with me."

Stanley's legislative district includes parts of Newark, where the Devils are scheduled to move into a $310 million, 18,000-seat downtown arena in September 2007, from the Meadowlands sports complex in East Rutherford.

He raises an interesting point. Completely inaccurate, but interesting.

The team's name was actually chosen in a 1982 fan contest. It comes from the mythical Jersey Devil, not the Christian symbol of the antichrist. The Jersey Devil, according to the myth, had batlike wings, a forked tail and oversized claws. It would terrorize Pine Barrens dwellers in the 18th century after being born the 13th child to poor south Jerseyans and morphing into a dinosaurlike beast.

Yep. If don’t get rid of that nickname New Jersey hockey fans may someday morph into horrible obnoxious beasts. Oh, wait. Too late.

Sorry, but have you been to the Continental Airlines Arena? I mean, good lord.