Well it looks like Simon Frasier and UBC will be making Canadian football history, when in 2009, they will allowed to play in the US-based, NCAA football conference. The two western-based Canadian universities are to be the first two teams to be admitted into the NCAA in a 10-year pilot program to allow teams from foreign soil to participate. It'll be a great boost for Canadian based schools to start offering full scholarships for Canadian talen, and if successful will boost player development in Canada by leaps and bounds.
For all of you following the mess at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment let’s see if I can clarify the mess with my semi-literate and educated-at the-mess experience. It seems that board member Larry Tannenbaum hates team President Richard Peddie’s guts and would love to show him the door right away but doesn't have the support of the rest of the board. Tannembaum would love nothing more to install Raptor kingpin and savior Bryan Colangelo to head up MLSE while installing Raptor VP Maurizio Gherardini as his replacement with the NBA club. From there they would rid themselves of lame duck GM John Ferguson and bring in someone of talent and experience like Brian Burke to run the hockey end of the incredibly fiscally successful sports conglomerate. With all the backstabbing and drama going on at the ACC head offices, it makes such TV soaps like the Young and the Restless seem like an episode of Leave it to Beaver in comparison.
Speaking of the Leafs, there are rumours aplenty about team Captain Mats Sundin and his possible move down the 401 to Detroit to join the Red Wings-- some say as soon as next season. The classy 36-year-old Swede would love nothing more than to join a true Stanley Cup contender especially a team loaded down with half a dozen talented Swedes such as Nikolas Kronwall, Tomas Holmstrom and team captain Nikolas Lidstrom. Rumor has it that the Detroit Swedes have contacted team officials that Sundin just might be interested in coming aboard to attempt to cap off his successful career with a Stanley Cup, a goal that he must realize is not going to happen anytime soon with the Leafs.
The scenario is very similar to the one a number of seasons back when the then hapless Boston Bruins showed a lot of class and allowed long time superstar Ray Bourque to join the Colorado Avalanche at the end of his career, where in his last season, he and the Avs were successful in winning the Cup whle putting a fairy tale ending to Bourque's career.
The world of sports and entertainment lost one of its legends a few days back with the passing of the great Evil Kneivel at the age of 69. To call him simply a stuntman was not doing this daredevil justice, as he was truly a performer who challenged obstacles at the highest of levels. His Caesars Palace crash is still shown constantly as is his failed rocket jump over the Snake Canyon in 1974. I actually saw him in person in the mid-70s, when as a publicity stunt, John Bassett, president and owner of the WHAs Toronto Toro's bought in the Evel one to take a couple of penalty shot tries on goalie Les Binkley in between periods during a regular season game. What most people didn't know was that Kneivel had played organized hockey as a kid and he actually poked in a few past the rather shocked big league Binkley to the applause of all who witnessed the charismatic daredevil in action.
Speaking of passings, the world of Canadian sports lost itself a great one with the passing of former CFL Commissioner Jake Gaudaur at the age of 87 to prostate cancer. This native of Orillia, Ontario distinguished himself as a player and Ti-Cat executive before tackling his biggest challenge in 1968 accepting the position of league commissioner, a position that he performed with skill and fairness for 16 years before he retired 1n 1984. He helped shape the modern CFL showcasing its national identity and negotiated a big time national TV contract that helped spearhead the league to one of its glory eras. He was a true pioneer of modern sports. A proud Canadian he also served his country with distinction as a pilot in World War II. Remembered by all who knew him as a fair and dedicated individual, he will be missed by all.
For all of you who read my column of last week, you were among the first to be informed that Pinball Clemons would be stepping down from the coaching position with the Argos and taking the helm of the Double Blue as their new CEO. With the official announcement Tuesday, the Argos also heralded the appointment of former Ottawa Roughriders and Toronto Rock executive Brad Watters as team Chief Operations Officer. Clemons will oversee the overall football operation of the Argos while Watters will handle the day to day business and marketing operations and will report directly to Clemons. Interesting enough the team did not announce Pinball's replacement as head coach but it's generally believed that defensive co-coordinator Rich Stubler is the odds on favorite to be offered the job.
Just found out about the passing of one of my favourite high school teachers Dave Wild this morning. Affectionately nicknamed Barney Rubble for his resemblance to the famous Flintstones character Mr. Wild was a true gentleman and a sports lover. We made a connection early on in Grade 9 through our mutual love of boxing and he was one of my assistant coaches on the football team. More than anything, I enjoyed attending his geography class and that in itself is a big testament because anyone who knew me then knows I didn't attend a whole lot of classes except the ones I was forced too at the end of my dad’s steel toed workboots. I would still see Mr.Wild around the area from time to time and enjoyed chatting and keeping up with all the news of the people of our school past. You were a great guy, Sir and you’ll be sorely missed by all who ever had the pleasure of knowing you.
It is with a heavy heart that I write tonight that sportscaster, ‘King of Fight’ Eddie Zawadzki is gone. Eddie’s sister, Christine called to tell Canada Free Press (CFP) that Eddie died this morning of a massive heart attack, age 55.
