It sounds like Alex Rodriguez is going to be busted again for using PEDs. At first, I thought, what's the big deal? All athletes are doing this. But, Ron Irvine (Access 7 Sports) makes a good point in that Major League Baseball now has very specific rules regarding the use of PEDs and, therefore, this is cheating. I look at the other major professional sports, however, and I see no real program in place to curb PED use. I think you should treat PEDs like smoking and drinking. If you are of legal age, then go ahead. I mean how naive are we anyway? You can't convince me Adrian Peterson can return from tearing up a knee to register the best individual rushing season in the NFL ever within a year of this major surgery without the aid of something synthetic. The media is to blame for the lack of reporting on this too. Think about the people who have been exposed. Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and A-Rod. None of them are overly well liked. Can you imagine someone like Peyton Manning, Jose Bautista, or Sidney Crosby being exposed? Sure, Mark McGwire was well-liked; but that was so incredibly obvious there was no way around it.
Hockey Night In Canada sure isn't what it used to be. I watched it for a few minutes on Saturday for the first time this year and the on-air talent has really been diminished from years past. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact certain people have to be hired so that CBC can show workplace diversity and, therefore, you don't always see the most qualified people on the air. Ron MacLean is still the best in Canada as far as being a host/anchor is concerned. Elliote Friedman is a star reporter. The accolades stop at that point. Even Don Cherry, who I have supported for years, is past his prime. I made that deduction after watching him denounce PK Subban and his high five antics after the Montreal Canadiens win hockey games. The NHL needs flamboyant characters like Subban, but Cherry feels this is a detriment. I despise the Habs as much as the next guy, but Subban I like. I respected how he made himself useful during the lockout and I appreciate him being 'real'. Most hockey players are like some guy named Matt Frattin, who was interviewed pregame on Saturday and sounded like a poorly constructed robot.
I'm the media reporter for my son's Under-12 Yorkton Storm indoor soccer team; so I'll use some space here to make mention of how special some of these boys are. A lot of them have been playing together for about four years and they have become pretty good at what they do. They've always been on top of their game at the Division 2 level and they won a tournament in Regina in early January. A couple of weeks ago they went up to Division 1 and didn't win; but played some real competitive games. It's not the first time they've moved up to Division 1 and there have been times where they have still managed to emerge victorious against some very elite programs in Regina and Saskatoon. To mention a few of the players isn't doing the rest of them justice, so I'll just say don't be surprised to see several Yorkton area players at the U of S or the U of R within six or seven years. There are a handful that are that good. Full credit to a very busy Andy Wyatt, who works long hours in the Crown Prosecutor's Office, who spends whatever spare time he has on coaching. Glen Gelowitz and David Malinowski have also been instrumental coaches for these boys. On behalf of all parents, thank you.
I applaud making the penny go the way of the dinosaur, but I've also heard great points brought up by people in the retail and banking world who wonder how they will ever balance their financial statements. Time for a new update from Quick Books, I guess.
Separation appears to be back on the table in Quebec. Growing up in New Brunswick, this was a real thorny issue because if Quebec did separate, where does that leave the Atlantic provinces? It would be tough to have a different country splitting Canada into two different geographical areas. Now that I'm older and don't live there anymore, my feelings are more clear cut. If they want to go, let them. But, there are no more ties to Canada. No bail outs, no financial aid, nothing. They can't use our dollar or anything else. Ties are cut. It wouldn't be disastrous for Atlantic Canada either. That part of Canada could be treated like Hawaii is for the United States. It's still part of Canada, just not attached geographically. I like to be proactive. I say let Canada vote on whether or not we want to keep Quebec and then the decision can be made for them. Call their bluff. It's too bad because I know some very nice people in Quebec who want absolutely nothing to do with separating. Let's hope it's those people who speak louder in the coming months.
Nice person mentions to Mike Smith, Louise Martin Linton, Chad Morris, Andy Lauer, Martin Smith, and Ane Roodt.
