Richmond blogger T.C. Chong notes: “A recent study states that eating beef will shorten your lifespan. PETA chimed in: ‘It’s not so good for the cow’s lifespan either.’ ” . . . Headline at TheOnion.com: Exhaustive investigation by broadcasters finds every player in NCAA tournament just a great kid. . . . There was lots of chatter about forward Brayden Schenn of the Philly Flyers having cross-checked Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby in the back on Sunday to precipitate a bit of a late-game kerfuffle. But a lot of people not named Mike Milbury seem to have missed Crosby’s shot on Schenn in a corner just before that. . . . If Sid the Kid can’t stand the heat, perhaps he should stay out of the kitchen. . . .
Here’s R.J. Currie of SportsDeke.com: “The Government of Canada is phasing out the penny. This will end great Canadian traditions like penny jars, penny-ante poker and CFL signing bonuses.” . . . Mike Ouellette of Kamloops has a hockey championship to his credit after helping the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz to the Austrian league title. He was second in the league scoring race, with 72 points, including 47 assists, in 66 games. . . . Linz is coached by Rob Daum, a former WHL coach who had a good run at the U of Alberta before moving into the pro ranks. Daum signed a four-year deal with Linz earlier this week. . . . Linz’ roster also included forward Brian Lebler of Penticton. He was a seventh-round selection by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2003 bantam draft but chose the NCAA route and never played a WHL game. . . .
The photo appeared at chinadaily.com on March 23. It was from Game 2 of the Chinese Basketball Association final and showed Stephon Marbury of the Beijing Ducks driving past Zhou Peng of the Guangdong Southern Tigers. And there in the background was a referee. Yes, it was Kamloops’ traveling referee, Steve Seibel, whose whistle continues to take him around the world. . . . John Keeney, once on the Blazers’ protect list, has committed to the U of Alaska-Fairbanks. Keeney, who turned 19 on March 5, is from Lake Arrowhead, Calif. He played this season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. . . .
Randy Sportak, in the Calgary Sun: “It’s hard to keep track, but is it even-numbered days or odd-numbered days the fans in Vancouver love Roberto Luongo?” . . . Hockey fans in Vancouver cheered when Luongo got hooked on Tuesday, never mind that the Canucks moved into a tie for first place overall when they won their 50th game of the season later on that night. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised when they riot over there. . . . “That is the melodrama capital of Canada when it comes to goaltending,” TSN’s Bob McKenzie said in something of an understatement. . . .
The 2004 Kamloops Ice Pirates won their own tournament on the weekend, going 5-0 in the process. A little birdie says they were supposed to have played six games but one team — the Vancouver Red Giants — forfeited a semifinal game after a coach was ejected and wouldn’t leave the McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre. Apparently, one of his players got tossed for a headshot, the head coach had a throwing tantrum and was ejected, but wouldn’t leave. So the referees called the game. . . . Good for the referees for holding their ground. . . . Outfielder Tyson Gillies of Kamloops was 4-for-5 last night, helping the host Reading Phillies to a 9-4 victory over the visiting Portland Sea Dogs in a Double-A Eastern League game. Gillies had three singles and a triple and scored three times. . . .
Scott Ostler, in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Phil Knight elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame? Absolutely! Who can forget when Phil the Thrill 360-dunked on LeBron’s head? So what if Knight was wearing the now-banned Helium Jordans?” . . . More from Ostler: “Knight goes into the Hall under the category of contributor. Ahead of Chuck Taylor? I’d honor Spike Lee and Jack Nicholson before Knight.” . . . In case you missed it, Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) sniped at the CFL during a WWE telecast this week. “In 1995, The Rock was cut from the Canadian Football League,” he said. “Do you have any idea how much you’ve gotta suck to get cut from the Canadian Football League?” . . . That being the case it’s hard to believe he could suck more than that on the big screen. . . . Former Blazers captain Jared Aulin has signed a two-year extension with Örebro, a team that plays in Sweden’s second-highest league. Aulin put up 58 points, including 25 goals, in 49 games with Örebro this season. . . .
You should know that each of the last six seasons in which the Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA men’s basketball championship, the New York Yankees won the World Series. . . . Karan Toor, an 18-year-old defenceman who put up 17 points in 34 games with the junior B Kamloops Storm this season, will play next season for the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings. Toor, who is from Surrey, got into 12 games with the Sprucies this season before coming south. . . . “Mike Tyson told a Detroit radio station, ‘If I were president, I’d put Pacquiao and Mayweather in jail if they refuse to fight,’ ” writes Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald. “At least I think that’s what he said. I briefly passed out while pondering ‘President Tyson.’ ”
(Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca, gdrinnan.blogspot.com and twitter.com/gdrinnan. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.)
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