The Mayor of Barrhaven is one sleepy cat today. See, we got hit with a little power outage last night. It sounds like it's something else (funding for autism treatment cut off at age 6) I can blame the Liberals for. Nice prediction here this past Saturday by PC leader John Tory.
Anyway, we lost power from 6pm-1:30am. 7 and a half hours. Dinner and evening plans ruined. Slept like crap. As a result, I was more ornery at Buzz than usual on the show today.
Making matters worse, the boy was sick to his stomach. All over the carpet. There we were, my wife and I, hot and exhausted, on our knees, in the dark, except for candlelight and there wasn't a thing sexy about it. Scrubbing hurl by candlelight. Hoo-boy! It was somethin'!
Once that was cleaned up, we got back to sleep when our smoke alarms started yelling at us. I didn't even know the freaking things could talk. Every minute, the thing would shriek then say "low battery" in both french and english. After about 10 times, I got up, stumbling around in the dark, trying to figure out how to open the smoke alarm to change the battery. Inside, was the elusive 9 volt battery.
I knew there was one of those in the garage. Stubbed toe on the garage stairs that the builder was supposed to fix. Rummaged in dark garage. Found 7 batteries before I uncovered a 9 volt. Back upstairs. Replaced battery. Back to bed.
"Shriek! Low battery." The ground floor alarm goes off. "Son of a #$%^&*!!!!!"
Long story short, it was a long sleep made short. And frustrating.
And there will be no hydro rebate. No inconvenience refund. But watch the credit agency roll in if I decide not to live up to my end of the bargain.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Dangling Spezza!
The NHL season will be upon us before you know it. Probably. That's what we're hearing, at least. You know...
Anyway, I have a deep longing to talk hockey. Not CBA. Not lockout. Not future of franchises. Broadcasting deals. Rule changes. Just the kind of talk that makes it fun to be a fan. The kind you talk about over beer. The players. The games. The trades. The playoffs. The debates.
So let me fire this one out there. If the NHL, for the 10th time, bails out on its plan to improve the game to reward skill players, the Senators should go trade shopping using Jason Spezza as currency.
(A collective gasp rises from TGOR Nation)
Let me save you some time. Steve, you idiot. He was MVP and won the AHL scoring title. He's one of the game's bright young stars. You don't mortgage the future.
Well, as much as I think Spezza is a quality talent and character, he provides an ingredient the Sens already have in abundance. A point producer with limited physical play. Sure, he won the AHL scoring crown but Shaun Van Allen once did that too. During the lockout, Spezza has been one of the few players with a buzz factor, a player people have been talking about. That, in my opinion, has escalated his value well beyond his worth and puts him in prime "sell high" territory.
Sure. Spezza may become a star but my guess is, he'll be a very good second line centre. Mike Fisher or Brian Smolinski can already fit that bill. I think, based on the buzz factor, you might be able to find a team, rebuilding with youth, that thinks this guy could be their Sidney Crosby.
If such a team wants to surrender a proven goalie (under 40), a proven, older number one centre or a proven crap disturber (or two) with some offensive upside, I'd make that deal in a heartbeat.
There. Hockey talk. I feel better now.
Anyway, I have a deep longing to talk hockey. Not CBA. Not lockout. Not future of franchises. Broadcasting deals. Rule changes. Just the kind of talk that makes it fun to be a fan. The kind you talk about over beer. The players. The games. The trades. The playoffs. The debates.
So let me fire this one out there. If the NHL, for the 10th time, bails out on its plan to improve the game to reward skill players, the Senators should go trade shopping using Jason Spezza as currency.
(A collective gasp rises from TGOR Nation)
Let me save you some time. Steve, you idiot. He was MVP and won the AHL scoring title. He's one of the game's bright young stars. You don't mortgage the future.
Well, as much as I think Spezza is a quality talent and character, he provides an ingredient the Sens already have in abundance. A point producer with limited physical play. Sure, he won the AHL scoring crown but Shaun Van Allen once did that too. During the lockout, Spezza has been one of the few players with a buzz factor, a player people have been talking about. That, in my opinion, has escalated his value well beyond his worth and puts him in prime "sell high" territory.
Sure. Spezza may become a star but my guess is, he'll be a very good second line centre. Mike Fisher or Brian Smolinski can already fit that bill. I think, based on the buzz factor, you might be able to find a team, rebuilding with youth, that thinks this guy could be their Sidney Crosby.
If such a team wants to surrender a proven goalie (under 40), a proven, older number one centre or a proven crap disturber (or two) with some offensive upside, I'd make that deal in a heartbeat.
There. Hockey talk. I feel better now.
Hardly the 'Gades of Heaven
My reaction to the unveiling of the 2005 Ottawa Renengades was much like the one I had when they unveiled the 2004 World cup of Hockey trophy. Sort of confused and repusled all in one fell swoop. "What the hell....?"
The Renegades lost 41-16 in Edmonton Friday night. Now we look forward to Friday's home opener against Montreal (the Renegades final home opener ever, before they turn back to the Rough Rider moniker - I hope), part of a Canada Day doubleheader on Team 1200. Dave Gross and I will bring you the Lynx game at 1. We'll roll into the Renegades' pre game show at 4pm. Then it's the 'Gades and Larks at 6pm.
This is going to be a rebuilding year for the Renegades. In year four, it shouldn't be the case, but it is. Ownership uncertainty and the horrific timing of the sale have set this team back at least a year. Stars left and weren't suitably replaced. Edmonton parted company with 18 starters from last year but stocked the shelves beautifully in the off season. Easy enough to do when you have the dough and such disinterest in the CFL salary cap system.
Some are teeing off on Joe Paopao and the Gliebermans after just one game. But generally, they're victims of the aforementioned circumstances.
I think the only clear, colossal blunder so far has been the kicking game. Matt Kellett can't see properly and they gave up a first rounder for him. I don't know who's fault that is but it was a bad decision. But let's admit that and move on. A kicker who can't see is no more useful than a receiver who can't run. Put the guy on the DL, already.
In the meantime, you have to wonder how long it will be before Kerry Joseph joins him there. I realize you have to dress your best guys every night, but think big picture. Until they shore up the offensive line somehow, maybe it's best to start Brad Banks or Darnell Kennedy. Let them run for their lives. Let them develop fear in the pocket. Let them think more about getting trampled than waiting for a play to develop properly.
Save Joseph for when the line is decent enough to give him some degree of protection. Save him for the day the line is decent enough to give them a chance to win.
The Renegades lost 41-16 in Edmonton Friday night. Now we look forward to Friday's home opener against Montreal (the Renegades final home opener ever, before they turn back to the Rough Rider moniker - I hope), part of a Canada Day doubleheader on Team 1200. Dave Gross and I will bring you the Lynx game at 1. We'll roll into the Renegades' pre game show at 4pm. Then it's the 'Gades and Larks at 6pm.
This is going to be a rebuilding year for the Renegades. In year four, it shouldn't be the case, but it is. Ownership uncertainty and the horrific timing of the sale have set this team back at least a year. Stars left and weren't suitably replaced. Edmonton parted company with 18 starters from last year but stocked the shelves beautifully in the off season. Easy enough to do when you have the dough and such disinterest in the CFL salary cap system.
Some are teeing off on Joe Paopao and the Gliebermans after just one game. But generally, they're victims of the aforementioned circumstances.
I think the only clear, colossal blunder so far has been the kicking game. Matt Kellett can't see properly and they gave up a first rounder for him. I don't know who's fault that is but it was a bad decision. But let's admit that and move on. A kicker who can't see is no more useful than a receiver who can't run. Put the guy on the DL, already.
In the meantime, you have to wonder how long it will be before Kerry Joseph joins him there. I realize you have to dress your best guys every night, but think big picture. Until they shore up the offensive line somehow, maybe it's best to start Brad Banks or Darnell Kennedy. Let them run for their lives. Let them develop fear in the pocket. Let them think more about getting trampled than waiting for a play to develop properly.
Save Joseph for when the line is decent enough to give him some degree of protection. Save him for the day the line is decent enough to give them a chance to win.
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