The Hockey54 Show

Episode 62 of This Is Toronto is now available!

This latest edition follows up with Hockey54.com. The Toronto-based website is preparing for the debut of The Hockey54 show, which will air on an all-sports radio station in (of all places) Nashville, Tenn.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

NEXT EPISODE: Oct. 21, 2011

Blue and White Love

Episode 49 of This Is Toronto is now available!

This latest edition features WeWantACup.com, a new website that hopes to maintain the Maple Leafs' presence in Toronto. According to the site's founder, the team's lack of success hurts the city in many ways.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

NEXT EPISODE: April 22, 2011

Marlies Nation

Episode 35 of This Is Toronto is now available!

Not only are the Toronto Marlies the top minor-league affiliate of the Maple Leafs, they're also heavily involved in the community. Marlies Play-by-Play Announcer John Bartlett talks about the team and the contributions the players make on and off the ice.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

NEXT EPISODE: Oct. 8, 2010

The Baseball Leafs

Episode 24 of This Is Toronto is now available!

The Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League have been a part of the local sports scene since 1969. They are also one of the city's most successful franchises. Maple Leaf P.A. Announcer, Statistician and Fan 590 Sportscaster Roger Lajoie discusses the team and previews the 2010 IBL season.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

Next Episode: May 7, 2010

CBC Cuts go Deep, But Radio 3 Lives On

Steve Pratt has a Radio 3 site outlining the changes coming to CBC Radio 3 but the important part is that it will go on.

Live recordings will be less, the budget will be lower and there may be staff reductions (they won't know until May) but the important part is that Radio 3 will remain. Thanks to everyone who chimed in, emailed the CBC, joined up on Facebook, signed the petition, posted to your blogs and did whatever else you did to help make this happen.

From Steve's post (do read the whole thing for details on the changes):

"This is a bad day for CBC Radio 3. There is no doubt about it.  However, it could have been much worse and for that I think we are all thankful.  We are moving forward with a very strong radio station, a brand new version of the website coming within a couple months, and a powerful, passionate community of artists and music fans.  Despite today’s bad news, I’m personally very confident that Radio 3 will continue to grow and prosper in the future and that impact of the cuts to our budget has been minimized at best as humanly possible.

I would personally like to thank each and every one of you who raised awareness online about the risks to Radio 3 since the infamous ‘unload Radio 3’ quote was seen in the media.  Your support and the visibility of that support was heard loudly inside the company and I hope was a factor in making today’s news considerably less than it might have been otherwise."

The rest of the CBC is also sharing the pain. Cuts are coming to news, radio, sports, drama and regional programming. A full list of the damage is available at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/03/26/cbc-layoffs.html?ref=rss.

NxEW.ca

Truth: Athletes and Soft Drinks

The first installment in the Truth series is so obvious it almost goes without saying but since it continues I'll mention it anyway. High level professional athletes do not drink pop or eat fast food on a regular basis. This ad is particularly cute because it is, to an extent, downplay itself:



The reality is that if you drink alot of pop, including Sprite, or eat alot of fast food you are far more likely to grow up to be diabetic than you are to grow up to be in the NBA or the NFL.

Why Softdrinks Are Dangerous to Your Health

Effects of Soft Drink Consumption on Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Soft Drinks, Hard Facts

Soft Drinks: America's Other Drinking Problem

The Health Effects of Drinking Soda - Quotes From the Experts

There was a bit of controversy recently when I suggested that there was nothing wrong with Feist endorsing Ipods and there's not. Feist probably has an iPod (they are pretty good mp3 players), she probably has a Mac and uses iTunes. What is wrong is for athletes to suggest that soda or fast food contribute in any way to being athletic. The athletes and the companies that hire them to do these ads are lying to you and your children.

It is shocking, given the outrage over steroid use, that there is not broader condemnation of athletes pimping products that obviously harm the health of others but that they likely don't use themselves. Again from Advertising Standards Canada

""Fact is, truth is an essential part of any successful ad campaign. Smart advertisers have known this for years. That's why the advertising industry created the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. For more than 40 years, the Code has set the standards for acceptable advertising in Canada. It helps ensure that the ads you see and hear are truthful, fair and accurate. Check it out for yourself. Because the more you know about advertising, the more you get out of it."

More Truth to come.

MLSE = Disgrace

Yes, there needed to be a change in the Maple Leafs' front office. Yes, John Ferguson Jr. was not getting the job done and needed to be replaced. However, the way Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) handled this situation was absolutely disgusting.

Just imagine what it would be like to be John Ferguson Jr. For the last few weeks you have had to endure scathing comments from the fans, the media, and your employer.

The lack of confidence from your employer has to be the worst; especially when that employer is subtlety letting everyone know that you're not a good General Manager, you're going to be fired shortly, and a number of replacements have already been contacted. MLSE openly made all the preparations for JFJ's execution. Fortunately, their actions have been condemned by many high-ranking officials in the NHL.

The majority of Leaf fans can be very irrational sometimes. They have insulted and ostracized JFJ to a point that is disrespectful and downright disgraceful. I understand his track record was less then stellar, but that does not give people the right to go on Facebook and create groups such as "John Ferguson Jr Must Die" and "John Ferguson Jr has royally f**ked over the Toronto Maple Leafs." I don't like J.P. Richardi. I don't like what he's done to the Blue Jays. I think he should be fired. However, I don't want him to die and I'm certainly not going to put the blame all on him.

Making JFJ the scapegoat for forty years of futility is ridiculous. Most of the blame should fall squarely on MLSE.

Like any other corporation, MLSE only cares about making profit. Regardless, of how the Leafs fare every season, MLSE will always have financial success. If doesn't matter if the Leafs are the best team in the NHL or the worst, fans will still fill up the Air Canada Centre. Therefore, in the eyes of MLSE, there's no need to fix the product because people are willing to pay outrageous prices to watch a mediocre hockey team. Even if one person canceled his/her season tickets as a way of protesting the on ice product, there would be 100 people waiting to take that person's place.

The real victims - along with the fans - are MLSE's "neglected children:" the Raptors, the Rock, TFC, and the Marlies. These entities have had to fight for attention while the Leafs get the majority of support. There are probably people at MLSE who only care about the Leafs and wouldn't mind if the other teams disappeared. Fortunately, the neglected children understand that in order to have financial success, you have to have a winning product. Some have found that success (Raptors and Rock), some are building towards that success (TFC), and unfortunately, some have floundered (Marlies). However, this in turn allows the four teams to have a loyal and intelligent fan base.

To his credit, JFJ acted very professionally despite the way he was treated. He will probably find work somewhere else very soon. Truth be told, he was probably relieved he would never have to work for MLSE ever again.

Vote For Bosh

Chris Bosh needs your support.



He's got my vote. 20.5 PPG. 9 RPG. Heart and soul of the Raptors.

Meanwhile...

According to Doug Smith, former Raptor Rafael "Hoffa" Araújo is living up to his potential......in Russia.

Playing for Spartak of the Russian Basketball Federation, Hoffa is averaging 11.4 PPG, has a 57% field goal percentage, and is 61% from the line. You probably don't believe me, so here's the link to prove all this. Ignore the fact they spelled his name wrong.

This leads me to one of two conclusions: Either A) Hoffa plays better in an non-NBA setting; or B) RBF players are really that bad.

Don Chevrier: 1938 - 2007

Canadian sportscaster Don Chevrier has passed away.

For many, including myself, Chevrier will be remembered as the original television voice of the Blue Jays. Like his radio counterpart, Tom Cheek, Chevrier provided solid play-by-play for over two decades. He was the man in the television booth during Toronto's "glory days."

As a young fan, I always viewed Chevrier as a wise and articulate elder. He seemed to know every single detail about any baseball player, regardless of whether the player wore a Blue Jay uniform, or an opponent's uniform. His voice was authoritative but not commanding.

He was a versatile broadcaster, covering a number of sports. Along with the Blue Jays, Chevrier was the play-by-play voice for the Ottawa Senators, a number of Grey Cup finals, and many Olympic events. In fact, the last time I had the pleasure of watching and listening to him was during the 2006 Winter Olympics when he covered the men's and women's curling tournament for NBC.

A fixture of the Canadian sporting scene, he described many great moments. He will be sorely missed.

RIP Don Chevrier.

Ugly Sunday

It was an ugly Sunday for Toronto's sports teams.

The Argos lost the East Division final. Next week's Grey Cup - which will take place at the Rogers Centre - will feature Winnipeg battling Saskatchewan. The Blue Bombers aren't even a true East Division team. They're only in the East because Ottawa folded. When there is a team in the Nation's Capital, Winnipeg moves back to the West.

I don't know what was worse: seeing the offense sputter, or watching Damon Allen on the sidelines, eating his guts out.

Regardless, no Argos = no Gery Cup sellout. Thank God For Riders' fans. Toronto is not a football town. It's sad, but true. And to think, some people want an NFL franchise. The NFL in Toronto would be a complete disaster. Not just for the NFL, but also for the CFL.

On top of that, the Raptors lost to Golden State. I'm having a tough time trying to figure them out. They're a "Jekyll and Hyde" team. You never know what team will show up on the court. No consistency = no success. Let's hope this is only temporary.

The Marlies were defeated by Rockford. Unfortunately, no one in Toronto cares about the Marlies. Do I even need to bring up the disastrous 2007 AHL All-Star game?

At least Toronto's Dwayne De Rosario had a nice Sunday.

All For One!

Having witnessed my first ever Toronto FC match from the stands of BMO Field yesterday (TFC defeated New York 2-1), I have come to the following conclusions:

1. Soccer fans are not like the fans who watch sports at the Rogers Centre and the Air Canada Centre. Soccer fans are a different breed.

2. Danny Dichio's tears cure cancer.

Stay in Nashville; Avoid Hamilton

The City of Hamilton does not deserve an NHL team.

I have nothing against the city. It's a nice place with a rich history and some of the most passionate football fans in this country. However, it would be wrong for the Nashville Predators to move to a city that does not even support their current professional hockey team.

This year, the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs averaged only 4900 fans at each home game. The arena, Copps Coliseum, can hold up to 19,000 fans. 4900 out of 19,000? That is horrendous.

The Bulldogs aren't even a bad hockey team. They won the league championship last week. To make matters worse, the final game of the AHL's Calder Cup, which was played in Hamilton, had a paid attendance of 14,205. The local team wins the league title and their are about 5000 empty seats? That is embarrassing.

How can a city that barley supports their minor league team, be worthy of a major league team?

If the citizens of Hamilton were true hockey fans, they would support their local team regardless of the league the team is affiliated with. The city of Hamilton has not earned the right to have an NHL team. The only way they could earn such a right is by supporting the Bulldogs and showing the NHL that they are loyal hockey fans. The citizens of Hamilton have not done this.

Sure, a number of people may have put down deposits today for "Hamilton Predators" tickets. But how many of those deposits are actually from Hamiltonians? I have a good feeling that the majority of deposits given today were from fans outside the Hamilton area; namely fans from Toronto and Buffalo.

If I'm running the NHL, I would seriously consider blocking the sale of the Nashville Predators to Jim Balsille and any subsequent move to Hamilton. If Hamiltonians refuse to support the Bulldogs, they don't deserve the Predators. Privileges are not given, they're earned.

Unfortunately, in reality, money has more value then public support. If the NHL believes that moving the Predators to Hamilton will lead to a large profit, then they will ignore the city's abusive relationship with the Bulldogs.

TFC On Demand

If you missed Toronto FC's home opener this afternoon, you can watch the game in it's entirety on CBC's website. The match was streamed over the internet and has been archived here. Best of all, it's free to watch.

From the looks of things, it appears the CBC will do this for all TFC and Major League Soccer telecasts.

It's Always Game Time

For the last few years, the Blue Jays have used a marketing campaign, showing how the players are always ready to play, whether it's on the field or off it.

Out of all the advertisements, this one is my favourite. It features first baseman, Lyle Overbay, who in my opinion, is one of the most underrated players in baseball. However, that has nothing to do with the ad.

The Autumn Wind

The National Football League has a media division known as NFL Films.

During the season, crews are sent to every game, to capture the "sights and sounds." The footage is then taken and used for documentary specials about a certain player, team, season, or specific match.

What I find enjoyable about these documentaries, is how NFL Films can take a simple football game and turn it into an epic battle.

This is done by using powerful orchestral scores, a dramatic script, and a narrator with deep, Godlike voice, who reads the script. The most popular narrator for these films was a man named John Facenda. Football fans have described him as the "voice of God."

Here is an example called "The Autumn Wind." It's a montage dedicated to the 1974 Oakland Raiders. Notice the language and Facenda's strong vocals.

Here's To You, Tony Dungy

Congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts. Super Bowl champions.

If there is one person on the Colts that I am really happy for, it's their head coach, Tony Dungy.

Dungy is one of the most respected coaches in the National Football League. This admiration is not only for his work on the field, but also for his work off the field. Unlike other coaches in the NFL and other professional sports leagues, he is very respectful to his players and doesn't raise his voice or go on a power trip.

Fourteen months ago, Dungy was probably at the top of his game, when tragedy struck his family.

Three days before Christmas, Dungy's 18-year-old son, James, died of a drug overdose. A preliminary coroner's report showed that James had committed suicide. The death was devastating to Dungy, his family, and the Colts.

At the time, the Colts were having a phenomenal season. They went an impressive 13-0 before finishing the 2005 campaign with a record of 14-2. Many had picked Indy to win the Super Bowl. However, James' death clearly affected the Colts, who seemed to lack the desire and energy they showed for most of the season. They ended up being eliminated by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. Nobody could blame Tony Dungy if he wasn't focused on winning. The fact that he was able to return to the sidelines, just a couple of weeks after burying his son, was something no one was expecting.

One could only imagine the pain Dungy was and probably still is feeling. The worst thing for any parent is outliving a son or a daughter. I hope I never have to go through that. I pray that it never happens to any of my friends or family. You have to appreciate how Dungy was able to come back this season despite carrying such a heavy burden.

The Colts were not as impressive as they were in 2005. They went 12-4 and failed to earn a bye to the second round of the playoffs, as they had done in the previous year. However, they managed to fight their way to the championship. Many teams are not be able to hold on, when it appears that any chance of winning would end up unfulfilled. I believe the Colts were able to win because of the strength and leadership provided by Dungy. He is not only their head coach but also an inspiration and a metaphor for overcoming your deepest sorrow.

Of course, winning the Super Bowl will not bring back his son. However, it will help ease the pain, just a little bit.

Here's to you, Tony Dungy.