Gold Medal 1972,Canadian A Mens

Spontaneity

There was plenty of that sort of contrast lastnight, delivered with surprising spontaneity and sincerity — no joke socorny to make you groan, no moving moment so maudlin to make you gag.That makes several fine lines that Doc Walker smoothly walks, or,anyway, drives.

Hopefully the opening act High Valley won’t getcorrupted by the Nashvillian success that seems to be coming their way.This group is a diamond in the rough.

With a strong mandolin andthree-way Soggy Bottom Boys vocals leading the way, this trio ofMennonite farming brothers from La Crete, 855 km northwest of Edmonton,is the real country deal — how can you not be when the nearest Wal-Martis five hours away?

They sang of the joys of never forgettingwhere you come from, of their own unique vehicular metaphors — in thiscase, a harvesting combine — and tugged heartstrings, with a song abouttheir dad who never said “I love you.”

They also sang I Want ItThat Way by the Backstreet Boys to a women they dragged on stage — inGerman. You don’t hear that every day.

How refreshing: Another promising Canadian country band that isn’t the next Rascal Flatts. 

More and more, it is obvious that neither side is right in thebattle between Ontario opportunist Jim Balsillie and the Gary Bettmanfiefdom known as the National Hockey League. Media wretches and other members of the public are often assured that Balsillie is a smart man.

Maybe so, but he conducted himself like a dummy in this case.

Having already offended Bettman with his actions in trying to grab theNashville and Pittsburgh franchises a few years back -- remember himtalking about season-ticket sales and other inner matters long beforehis bids had been properly assessed? --Balsillie should have learnedsome rules of procedure.

Instead, he tried what football fans might call an end run and was flattened a long way short of a first down.

From the outside, it's easy to understand why Bettman was, and is,offended. Any leader worth his weight in brown sugar would have reactedwith equal anger.

fctAdTag("bigbox",MyGenericTagVar,1); Whether or not you like the tiny, perfect NHL boss, itmust be recognized that his intellect is top-level. But brain-power andgood judgment are not automatic co-pilots.

Bettman deserves all the criticism he ever received forputting franchises into markets with no proven interest in Canada'sgame, and even more for continuing to insist they should -- no, must--remain in no-win situations such as Atlanta, Tampa Bay and otherplaces.

Including Phoenix.

Bettman's objectivity is gone. Balsillie's methods have been sneaky.

These two guys, and allies in both misguided camps, deserve each other.

Hockey fans deserve better.

THN.com Blog: Very few NHL goaltender openings remain

MartinBiron led the Flyers to the Eastern final two years ago, but couldn'tget his team out of the first round last year. (Getty Images)

Brian Costello

2009-07-12 08:55:00

Did Martin Biron price himself out of a job in the NHL? Looks like it.

Eleven days into the free agent season and virtually every team has filled their starter and backup jobs for 2009-10.

SoBiron may have to look for a job in Europe or the Kontinental League.Same with the other NHL proven UFA goalies Manny Fernandez, MannyLegace, Martin Gerber, Brent Johnson, Joey MacDonald, Curtis Sanford,Wade Dubielewicz and Kevin Weekes. That’s nine looking-for-workstoppers and a shrunken market.

Here are the new goaltender jobs this summer:

Bostonhas top prospect Tuukka Rask as backup. Chicago has Cristobal Huet asstarter and top prospect Corey Crawford as backup. Colorado has CraigAnderson as starter and Peter Budaj is relegated to backup. Dallas hasAlex Auld as backup. Detroit has prospect Jimmy Howard as backup.Edmonton has Nikolai Khabibulin as starter. Columbus has Mathieu Garonas backup. Florida has Scott Clemmensen as backup. New Jersey hasprospect Jeff Frazee as backup. The Islanders have Dwayne Roloson asbackup. Ottawa has Brian Elliott as backup. Philadelphia has Ray Emeryas starter and Brian Boucher as backup. Phoenix has Jason LaBarbera asbackup. Pittsburgh has John Curry as backup. San Jose has Thomas Greissas backup. St. Louis has Ty Conklin as backup. Tampa Bay has AnteroNiittymaki as backup. Toronto has Jonas Gustavsson as backup. Vancouverhas Andrew Raycroft as backup.

From my point of view, here are the only openings remaining and a possible outcome. Good health is presumed at this point.

Calgarymight want an experienced backup to spell an overworked MiikkaKiprusoff, but Curtis McElhinney makes the $500,000 minimum and theFlames are up against the cap. Maybe one of those nine UFAs getsdesperate and settles for $700,000 or $800,000.

Related Links

Martin Biron player pageMore from Brian CostelloTHN.com Free Agency CentralAll THN.com blogsThe Los Angeles Kings maintain they’re not looking to sign agoalie and will open the season with Jonathan Quick and Erik Ersberg onthe roster. Top prospect Jonathan Bernier will push for a job as well.A slow start may prompt the team to consider signing a veteran.

NewJersey is high on Frazee to eventually spell the aging Martin Brodeur,but 50 games in the American League would be better for the 22-year-oldthan 15 in the NHL. Opening for a backup here…if they’re not happy withthe recently signed Yann Denis.

There’s another opening for a backup behind Marc-Andre Fleury in Pittsburgh, but Curry is 25 and it’s now or never time for him.

EvgeniNabokov plays a lot in San Jose and the Sharks have a stable ofgoaltending prospects on the farm team. They’ll probably stick with23-year-old Greiss as the 10-15 game backup.

So just a fewbackup openings for nine available NHL goalies. And Biron looks to bethe only one who wouldn’t be satisfied with fewer than 40 games. Startlooking east of the Atlantic, Marty.

Brian Costello is The Hockey News’s senior special editions editor and a regular contributor to THN.com. You can find his blog each weekend.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

the CCMA awards show was as good an entertainment show ,as can be! we have a lot of talent,and great people to,take Paul Brandt,Canadas priemer Country star,he shared the CCMA stage with ,High Valley,this is an act of pure love of the bussiness,what a nice break for HV ,and what class shown by PB,makes one proud to be Canadian!!

Gold-Kitchener Rivershark Twins

Silver-Jarvis Gamblers

Bronze-St.Thomas Evergreen Centennials

Dean Holien of Saskatoon,played for the Riversharks

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Softball will not be included in the programme for the 2016 Olympic Games as the 15 members of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board decided Thursday at a meeting in Berlin. One of the seven sports in contention for the 2016 Games, softball was passed over in favor of golf and rugby as the list of possible additions was narrowed down to a final two candidates.

(For reaction from USA Softball leadership and athletes, please click here.)

“Obviously, we’re very disappointed by the IOC decision today as we were hoping for softball to be considered for inclusion in 2016,” said Ron Radigonda, the executive director of the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA)/USA Softball. “However, softball is still an international sport power as we have been. We have to continue to focus on the World Championships next July here in Oklahoma City and future international events. Despite today’s announcement, softball will continue and move on and work to be stronger than ever.”

Also eliminated from contention were baseball, karate, roller sports and squash.

In Copenhagen on October 9, at a meeting that will also decide the host of the 2016 Olympic Games between four candidate cities, golf and rugby are being put forward by the Executive Board for an entire vote of the IOC. Both sports must be approved by the majority of 107 IOC members in order to be added to the Olympic Programme starting with the 2016 Games.

International Olympic Committee will not reinstate softball for the 2016 Olympic Games

OKLAHOMACITY, Okla. — Softball will not be included in the programme for the2016 Olympic Games as the 15 members of the International OlympicCommittee’s (IOC)Executive Board decided Thursday at a meeting in Berlin. One of theseven sports in contention for the 2016 Games, softball was passed overin favor of golf and rugby as the list of possible additions wasnarrowed down to a final two candidates.

As you can see from above, it was a sad day for softball globally.

I was so saddened and disheartened by the announcement today by the IOC.So many have worked so hard playing, coaching, supporting, this greatgame of softball to get it where it is today. I, in my short time of 25years playing this game have seen and experienced it transcend,transcend beyond imagination. Thanks to the many before us, past,present, and future.The opportunities, growing, expanding, becoming... finally. It isplayed in over 130 countries. We have never had a positive drug test inour sport. We send our best players. I could go on and on. In 2008,having Venezuela qualify for its first Olympic games in our sport isproof that we are growing. Japan getting its first Olympic Gold in oursport. It's Botswana qualifying for World Championships, these opportunities. What an amazing accomplishment for them all! Regarding Olympics, now we will not ever know Who would be there in 2012? Take Gold? 2016?

Luckily here in the US we are blessed! We are blessed with theincredible NCAA as a goal, a hope to achieve along with getting youreducation. We are so very very lucky! We have the NPF and PFX pro leagues to look forward to, to hope for. There will still be USA softball.

Myheart is deeply saddened for the many countries who will not have thisfunding and the many opportunities that we have. Honestly, it will betough to continue the growth globally that we have had with our sportwithout the funding and it not being an Olympic Sport. This makes myheart ache.

Peopleasked me today if I would've played in 2016? I can't even begin tothink about me in this situation. I've had the chance! Its the girlswho didn't get the chance, the future! The millions of girls who playthis sport world wide. Its the girls in Venezuela and Botswana that iswho my heart aches for. As a female athlete and ambassador,your goal/hope is to create more for the future. It's to leave the gameand know that you have seen it grow and now it is better because ofyour era. This makes me feel as though we let the future of our sportdown. Opportunities now are not what they were, we today took a stepbackwards as a sport. For this, I am deeply hurt and sad!

Yetthere is the future, there is those millions of girls out there... Wewill continue to fight the fight! I, being married to a MLBplayer especially realize how far we have to go, a long long ways. Aceat 3 years old has noticed it, "Mommy wheres your clubhouse?" Yes, Ihave seen how far we have come but today again I am reminded how far westill have to go!

Therestill will be a USA softball, so girls can still have the dream ofwearing red, white, and blue! No, it won't be in the Olympics but itstill will be the chance to compete for your great country. This iswhat we have to build upon. Our sport is too great not to prevail. Wehave to move on, continue to create opportunity for women in our sportall over the world! We look forward to hosting World Championships nextyear on our soil in Oklahoma City, next July! This is the event of theworld, now "our" Olympics. As softball fans and players all we can dois play it and support it. Continue to prove to our world what a greatsport we all know it is.

Younggirls out there we pledge to do our best, give it everything we have!Our goal is for more, more opportunity for you than what we had/have!This being said next week there will be some incredible softball beingplayed in Akron, Ohio. The NPF finals! For those of you who do not know, YES we have a pro league! The National Pro Fastpitch!Come out, support, be uplifted by watching some of the worlds bestcompete! We open up Thursday and finals are til Sunday finishing with a1 Champion! I look forward to seeing you there!

Dreaming & Always Always Believing!!!!

#27

SINGAPORE - The International Olympic Committee delivered a shocking message to baseball and softball on Friday: Yer out!Thetwo sports were kicked out of the Olympics, unwanted by internationalsports officials who felt they were too American for the world sportsstage.

Thedecision, made during a secret vote in Singapore, is effective for the2012 London Games, meaning the two sports will have a final fling atthe 2008 Beijing Olympics. The sports, the first eliminated since poloin 1936, are eligible to reapply for the 2016 Games.

Rex Murphy The rhetoric is warming Thursday, May 3, 2007 | 09:44 PM ET Another noted environmentalist, Prince Charles, has been standing on the same ledge.

The Prince has claimed that urgent action is needed on climate changeand likened the struggle to do something to Britain's battle againstthe Nazis in World War II.

These are not the only occasions. The more fervent advocates ofglobal warming are also far too fond of calling those who disagree withthem deniers, trying to associate a policy difference with the brush ofHolocaust denial.

It is a despicable tactic.

There are a number of problems with injecting the Holocaust or itsshadow into the current political debate on global warming and theseparate debate on what to do about it.

For the West, the Holocaust is the absolute standard of evil. It was- maybe the reminder is necessary - the deliberate, conscious tortureand inhuman murder of 6 million people, men, women and children, by theNazi government because those people were Jews. It is also anhistorical fact, something that dreadfully has really and alreadyhappened. Aside from the most pathetic anti-Semites, no one can or doesdispute it. Political policy on global warming is a choice, from arange of possibilities about what to do in the face of some veryserious arguments that mankind is influencing the global climate.Advocates on either side may be claiming absolute certainty for theirpositions, but precisely because we are dealing with the future, withmodels and estimates, neither side can possess such certainty.

Invoking the Holocaust is wrong first on logical grounds. It hashappened. We know it. Global warming policy is an attempt to meet afuture contingency.

It is also wrong on much higher ground, for it is an attempt toclaim or associate with the absolute moral authority that belongs tothe Holocaust and all who were victims of its torments and to transferthat authority to the advocacy of a current and contentious issue.Extreme rhetoric is often a mask for weak argument.

It is also very often an attempt to override discussion in favour of a stampede to predetermined and unexamined policies.

Surely with all the science that Kyoto and its advocates have linedup on their side of the debate, dipping into the history of appeasementand the Holocaust is, at the very best, unnecessary. For "TheNational", I'm Rex Murphy.

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Rex Murphy » About Rex MurphyRexMurphy is one of Canada's most recognizable broadcasters. His politicalinsights, viewed with his Newfoundland sensibilities, are showcasedregularly on The National where he contributes feature documentariesand political commentary. He also hosts CBC Radio's Cross CountryCheckup, a national open-line radio program.

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