Congratulations for still being here. But now we've got Oct. 21 to which to look forward. Can't we just get it over with and be rid of the accompanying angst? . . . Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on the supposed big day that was to have occurred a week ago: “Saturday's doomsday proclamation was the media campaign of a Christian radio broadcaster named Harold Camping, 89. It might have been a weird mix-up, though. Perhaps, instead of the world ending, he meant to proclaim that the Oprah Winfrey Show was ending.” . . . If you missed it, Friday night's NHL game ended early in the first period after the linesmen threw all 40 players out of a faceoff. . . .
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, on the impending move of the NHL's Atlanta franchise to Winnipeg: “One thing to be thankful for: There are few married veteran players on the Thrashers; when the Flames moved to Calgary in 1980, the divorce rate among players was crazy high.” . . . He didn't cite any examples, but that is an interesting sidebar. . . . The next time you run into Tony Parker in our town, thank him for all he does for amateur sport. Without him, there are some organizations in this town that wouldn't have a voice. . . . And, no, Tony doesn't know where Eva is right now. . . . “I don't know what happened there,” analysed Phil Esposito, the Tampa Bay Lightning's astute radio analyst after the Boston Bruins scored their fourth goal in Game 6 on Wednesday night. . . . Hey, at least he's honest. . . .
Outfielder Tyson Gillies of Kamloops, who has yet to play a game this season because of hamstring problems, is getting close to returning to action with the Class AA Reading Phillies. He has been taking BP and doing some pregame work, while getting in a lot of running. "The report was he was running at 100 and 110 per cent," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told phillies.com. "I don't know how you get to 110 per cent, but that's what our trainer wrote.” . . . How goofy is life in and around the NFL lockout? Dallas owner Jerry Jones had to get special permission in order to attend quarterback Tony Romo's wedding this weekend. . . . Hey, Kamloops, it's one thing for Target to snub us in favour of Kelowna. But, sheesh, Prince George and Vernon get stores and we don't! What's with that? . . .
Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News figures cycling's Lance Armstrong is in a spot of trouble because “the feds will be much tougher to outrun than the rest of the field in the Tour de France. But watching this play out, you do have to say that the mob has more honor than cycling, a sport that seems to be overrun with snitches and cheats.” . . . You've got all those Vancouver Canucks flag thingies hanging all over your vehicle. So if you're such a big fan why are you out driving around while your favourite team is on TV? . . . Ian Hamilton, in the Regina Leader-Post, after people hit the streets of Winnipeg to celebrate the impending arrival of an NHL team: “Those fans know the team (supposedly) on its way to Winnipeg is the Thrashers, right? Not the Detroit Red Wings? Just making sure.” . . .
For some reason, Len Berman of thatssports.com broke me up with this: “(Tuesday) was 'Tribute to Bacon' night at the minor league Richmond Flying Squirrels' game. Kevin Bacon threw out the first pitch. Actually, it wasn't that Kevin Bacon. It was a local police detective with the same name. One lucky fan won a year's supply of bacon. The president of the team said the whole idea of the night was to 'ham it up.' ” . . . One more from Berman: “Tiger Woods is now ranked 12th in the world. It's the first time he hasn't been in the top 10 in 14 years. It must be an interesting computer program. He's still No. 12 despite not winning a PGA tournament since 2009.” . . .
You know a team will never win a Stanley Cup when it gets five straight power plays, doesn't score and then gets burned on three consecutive 5-on-3s in a span of 1:55. Hey, San Jose Sharks, thanks for coming. Again. . . . The Vancouver Canucks scored one 5-on-3 goal during all of the regular season. They got three in less than two minutes on Sunday. Combine that with defenceman Kevin Bieksa's OT goal in Game 5 and, sorry Ovie, but it means the Cup will be theirs. . . . These NHL playoffs have taken so long to complete that Michael Buble has gotten married three times since they started. . . .
Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Willie Horton, talking about the late Harmon Killebrew with the Detroit Free Press: “He, Richie Allen and Frank Howard hit the high balls that just kept going. It looked like it would be a pop-up. You'd come in for it. Then you'd have to look in the upper deck for it.” . . . Mike Bianchi, in the Orlando Sentinel: “Three signs that you might be naïve: (1) You believe that if you send them your credit card number, the National Bank of Nigeria really will transfer US$47 million into your account; (2) You think your favorite politician is going to actually keep his campaign promises; (3) You still believe Lance Armstrong is clean.”
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
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