Award Winning VIN-tage

When covering sports, several terms and words are used to express the play or performance of the athletes...that truly...aren't accurate.

"It was a heroic play by Flutie..." - not really. Heroic is running into a burning building and saving a child.

"Howard gave everything he had to catch that ball..." - giving everything one has, is what those in the military do.

"It was a selfless act for Crosby to pass that puck to Malkin for the goal..." - is it REALLY selfless when you're pulling in $10 million per season?

"Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully is a living legend..." - in this case, the statement is 100% accurate.

Back in 1950 (1950!!) Vin Scully started his broadcasting career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sixty years later...he's STILL the voice of the (Los Angeles) Dodgers...the longest tenure of one broadcaster with a single club in professional sports history.

Recently, Scully announced that next season would likely be his last...and the broadcasting world will lose it's crowning jewel (he'll be 82 so I GUESS he's entitled to retire!)

He works all 162 Dodgers games. He calls the games almost flawlessly. He does every game WITHOUT a colour commentator. He is a master of the English language. He is truly, a living legend.

Scully has called some of the most memorable moments in MLB history including Don Larsen's 1956 perfect game, Hank Aaron's 715th career home run, and the 1986 World Series (sorry Red Sox fans).

He also called the 1988 World Series...which featured one of the most memorable and dramatic home runs in MLB history:

Click here for a short piece on Kirk Gibson's home run, featuring Vin Scully's scintillating call of the dinger (at 3:52 of the piece).

So next time you're diamond surfing and can catch an LA Dodgers game, take a little time to listen to Vin Scully and the magic he brings to baseball...before it's too late.


BrockTalk

Home Sweet Home

It seemed like just another Sunday. There was darkness overhead without a hint of a breeze. Then all of a sudden the heavens opened up to reveal glorious sunshine and create a wonderful pleasing light wind. It was like someone upstairs was thinking of the followers below and the need to be set free from the dreary prison in which they were being held captive.

Of course, I speak of the roof opening at Rogers Centre during the Blue Jays game yesterday.

I'm not the biggest Rogers Centre (er, Skydome) fan, but it is something pretty amazing when that massive roof opens up and lets in all the sunshine.

So it got me thinking about my favourite stadiums in sports. Of course, I haven't been to ALL the stadiums, so I'm going to base my reviews on how they come across on tv. When I'm flipping the channels, if I see a game being played in one of these stadiums, they instantly capture my interest:

MLB
Fenway Park, Boston. The green monster, the short porch in right, the proximity of the fans to the field. Originally opened in 1912, that place has stood the test of time (with some renovations of course)

NBA
Staples Centre, LA. Jack Nicholson, Justin Timberlake, Denzel Washington...they're all courtside for the Lake Show (not so much when the Clippers play there.) The star power alone makes the Staples Centre a "must stop" when channel surfing. Plus the way they've lit the building/floor makes it even more Hollywood.

NFL
Lambeau Field, Green Bay. Not so much in the fall, but in the winter, how can you NOT stop and check out the "frozen tundra" of Lambeau. Not to mention how cool it looks to have this massive stadium right in the middle of neighbourhood!

CFL
Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field, Regina. It's always a fun stadium to see on tv due to the wacko Rider Nation. It's like a train wreck watching the knuckleheads in the stands wearing watermelons on their heads and pounding their 12th Pilsner of the 1st half cheer on their Riders.

NHL
Madison Square Garden, New York. A tough call, since so many rinks look like one another. But considering all the history in the builidng, watching a game from MSG in En-y-ce is special. Plus, when announcers say "the buzzer sounds to end the 1st period"...it's actually a buzzer! Gotta love the World's Most Famous Arena.

Which stadiums are your favourite? I'd love to know!


BrockTalk

Many Happy Returns

Tonight at BC Place, one of the most popular BC Lions in recent memory makes his return to Vancity.

Jason Clermont, the good Canadian kid who played seven years with the Leos and is currently the sixth leading reciever in team history, returns wearing the green and white of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Clermont was always popular with Lions fans for the way he fearlessly went across the middle to catch a pass, game after game after game.



The guy is tough as nails and Lions fans loved him for it.

But it got me thinking about other "return engagements." You know the situation: a long time player and fan favourite, gets traded or signs as a free agent with another team, eventually returns wearing the visitors jersey.

The returns don't always go well, but sometimes, the returns DO live up to the hype:

When Wayne Gretzky made his first return to Edmonton wearing an LA Kings jersey, Oiler fans gave him a tremendous ovation. Then he kicked off the night by scoring on his first shift.

When Michael Jordan returned to Chicago as a member of the Washington Wizards, MJ got a 2:10 standing ovation. Then the Wizards crushed the Bulls 107-82 leaving Bulls fans sarcastically saying "gee, thanks Mike."

And recently, when Mats Sundin returned to Toronto as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, it was a memorable night indeed (not to mention Sundin scoring the shootout winning goal)



So if you are in The Dome tonight, put down your $9.50 beer, stop hassling Riders fans for a second, rise to your feet and please give Jason Clermont a well-deserved standing O.


BrockTalk

Rivalry Renewed

Yanks versus Sox. It just has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?

Tonight one of the best, if not THEE best, rivalries in sports, heats up. The Boston Red Sox travel to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees in a four (even better than three!) game series.

Ya, I know they play each other multiple times during the year, but, for the first time in several years, this series means something with the Yankees just 2.5 games ahead of the Sox in the AL East standings.

It should be fun to see how the series plays out over the weekend, and exactly how much influence it has on the standings at the end of the year.

Sure, there are other great rivalries in sports: Packers/Bears, Canadiens/Leafs, Lakers/Celtics...but to me, Yanks/Sox takes the cake.

The two teams have had many blowups over the years (the incident in which Pedro Martinez threw down 115 year old Don Zimmer after Zim charged out of the dugout at Pedro is legendary) but the following compilation remains one of my favourite Yanks/Sox throwndowns (made even more exciting because I was watching it all unfold live on the tube):



Batter up!


BrockTalk

Fame is fleeting

Fame is fleeting.

Case in point: David Tyree of the NFL's New York Giants.

You may recall back in 2008, little known 6th round draft pick David Tyree made the most incredible catch in New York Giants history, and possibly in Super Bowl history. He hauled in an Eli Manning desperation throw in Super Bowl XLII by pinning the ball to his head and somehow, miraculously, managing to hang onto it.



"The Catch" was made with just :59 left in the game and kept alive a drive that ended up winning the game and the Super Bowl for the Giants, over the heavily favoured and, at the time, undefeated New England Patriots.

Tyree became instantly famous.

Well, flash-forward to today, where it seems that David Tyree may be out of a job.

At best, he sits 6th on the depth chart for the G-Men...and that likely means relegation to special teams or an outright release.

Needless to say, it seems that David Tyree's 15 minutes are going to be up real soon.

But he won't be the first to make a splash before quickly falling off the sporting radar screen:

New York Yankees Bucky Dent. His home run sank the Red Sox in '78. He went on to be the World Series MVP but finished his career batting a pedestrian .247.

Washington Redskins Timmy Smith. He rushed for a Super Bowl record 204 yards in Super Bowl XXII. It was his only signifcant achievement as an NFL player.

James "Buster" Douglas. He did the unthinkable when he knocked out the undefeated and unstoppable Mike Tyson in 1990. He defended the title only once (losing in the 3rd round to Evander Holyfield) before retiring from boxing.

and of course...



Despite the legendary status of this goal, Paul Henderson had a very average NHL career and, despite pleas from some, he is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

So in the end, one play does not a career make...but at least your one play will live on forever.


BrockTalk

Jeremy Roenick - EA Sports NHL '94 legend

So good old JR, Jeremy Roenick, is expected to announce his retirement from the NHL Thursday (and he'll certainly quickly move into some sort of broadcasting role).

While his career stats impress (1363 games, 513 goals, 703 assists, 1216 points, 1463 PIMs) what I remember JR for most, was the ability I (and many others had) to absolutely dominate a game of EA Sports NHL '94 with him.

Anyone who played that game "back in the day" knows what I am talking about.

In NHL '94 Roenick was a GOD. It wasn't unusual to have him skate miles around the opposing team and light the lamp multiple times per game. He was unstoppable.

And like many, I was heavily addicted to that game. I would spend hours upon hours upon hours at my friend TA's place playing it...and we would always aruge about:

A) who got Chicago (and Roenick) next
or
B) one of us using Chicago (and Roenick) too much

JR's utter domination of NHL '94 even made it into a LEGENDARY scene in the movie "Swingers" starring Vince Vaughn and John Favreau:

****CAUTION - this clip contains language not suitable for some viewers****

****DOUBLE CAUTION - this clip exposes exactly what 95% of guys were doing and saying back in '94****



JR...you will be missed!


BrockTalk

Got Melky?

Gotta give props for an impressive performance yesterday by the New York Yankees Melky Cabrera.

Melky hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run...all in one game) for just the 15th time in the storied history of the Bronx Bombers.

Top of the 2nd, Melky homers. Top of 4th, Melky doubles. Top of 5, Melky singles...

But what made his cycle just a little more impressive in my eyes is that when he stepped to the plate in the top of the 9th...he still needed a triple.

Most baseball fans would agree that that's the hardest one to get!

So the pressure is on, likely his last at bat for the game, the score is close, and everyone knows that he NEEDS that three bagger to make a little history.

So what does he do? Steps to the plate and launches a shot over the head of White Sox right fielder Jermaine Dye (who helped by not taking the right angle to the ball...but I digress) and he then chugs his way around the bases for the triple (his first of the season), and the cycle!

Click here to see video of Melky's cycle.

Talk about coming through under pressure!


BrockTalk