Ramblings

Nothing specific to talk about today so let's just have a nice ramble, we can talk about the news, sports, what's new in my life and the lives around me. Just catch up, wouldn't that be nice? I think that would be nice.

First off, mad props to all 17-19 year old males out there. Wait....that sounds really bad. I'm shouting out specifically to those Canadian males with gold medals around their necks. Some of you may have followed the World Juniors tournament in Ottawa this year. Some maybe saw just the final. Either way i think i will go on record and say that this was the most entertaining World Juniors i've ever watched. And i've watched them all for as long as i can remember. First off i got to see a game live, Canada's first against the Czech Republic. Sure they blew them out 8-2 but it was still a great atmosphere and had been on my "To Do Before I Die" list for a long time. Seeing as how i probably don't have much time left I'm glad i got it done. This year's team was fun to watch. So much skill and as cliche as it sounds, so much heart. They deserved to win unlike some years where the goaltending carries them through. The Canada vs. Russia game was a classic and always will be cause of the last second heroics of Eberle. And then the final, although it wasn't much of a nail biter, was still a fantastic game to watch cause they played their best game of the tournament when they needed to. So hats off to those young men, for those of us who were watching, you made us proud!

Next on the list.....let's talk about the Gaza strip! Actually let's not....i'll get depressed and i don't know enough about it. But i think many of us can agree that it's sad to see so many bodies pile up because of a piece of land, no matter how important it may be.

We haven't talked about Mike Denby in a while and i know he's always a hot topic! Specifically cause he just called me up a minute ago. The kid got his old job back! Not full time or anything, but they're going to find some work for him for a while so let's all give a Big John Denby "HEY HEY MIKEY BOY! WHAT A HOOT! ISN'T THAT JUST GREAT! HEY HEY!" Also for those music lovers out there, young Michael Robert is now in Jeff Buckley, and Mike Thompson's band "Make Your Exit". That's them in the picture above sans Mike Denby. I was fortunate enough to see their show at the El Mocambo on Friday night. Wow did they ever blow minds. They get better and better every time i see them play, and with the addition of Mr. Denby into the band they now pop boners aswell. Hmm....probably shouldn't have written that last part. Either way they're playing a show this Friday night at the Rivoli, we will all be there, and you should come too if you haven't seen them cause they're pretty much the best band in the history of music. No exageration.

Ok let's check the list, what's up next? Hmm...nothing there. So i'll just make a few short comments.

The Buffalo Bills suck, and it sucks being a fan, but i will not give up on them.

I've got box seats to the raptors game friday night, high rollin!!!

Alex Kitz wants to purchase a treadmill.

My friend and yours Peter N'geno, is due to be a father this Sunday Jan.11th! We're all very excited for him. But Peter....if the baby comes out white.....and maybe a little slow....and is blonde.....and loves weed.....well i think you know what i'm trying to say.

The Habs rule, the Leafs suck. Accept it.

Nicaragua surf trip is now only about a month and a half away, i seriously can not wait to gnar out with my brohan's in the freshy freshy.

Derek Mumford has a job interview tomorrow. If he gets it, he will be hanging with Inuits 2 weeks every month, and being paid far too much to do it.

Julien Favre cheered for Sweden in the World Juniors final last night, further cementing his position at the top of the list of "World's Largest Douchebags".

My brother will be strapping on the pads and playing goalie for my hockey team tonight. This marks the first time he's played net in 20 years. The over/under for goals scored will be set at 10. I personally am choosing over.

I filled out an expense claim for my year's worth of contact lenses yesterday, that's $445.00 worth of lenses since i wear dailies. I don't believe i filled out the form properly. So i'll probably receive a letter from Manulife Financial promptly in the mail, informing me of this. I'm not looking forward to filling it out again.

Well after rereading my final little note there i think i might have run out of things to say and probably should have stopped a while ago. Unless you guys want to hear about my pubic hair removal fiasco from the other day? No? Well we'll save that for another day then. Happy Tuesday everyone, i'll let you know how Mark does in net tonight!

Peace out,

Optimus Grime

The World of Sports through the eyes of a moron

Ah Monday....delicious Monday....what a day isn't it? New beginnings, the promise of a new work week, things blooming, you gotta love them. Actually no you don't. I hate Mondays, cause it means i'm at the very beginning of five days of pure hell. Ok maybe that's a bit of an exageration, but still it's not my favorite day, and that's compounded by the fact that my bro has this entire week off, so everyday i wake up knowing he's still asleep getting his beauty rest, while i look like shit scraped off a shoe and put in work clothes. Anyways let's do a round up of the week in sports today.

NFL:
Another great week in the NFL. No surprise there, god i love sundays. I was ecstatic to see, or at least see some of (power outage) my Bills take on the Chargers and prove yet again that they are a legitimate threat this year. Trent Edwards was so solid completing about 83% of his passes and engineering several scoring drives. For a 2nd year QB to play so calm and composed all the time is impressive to say the least. Now Buffalo is 5-1 and to make the playoffs only really needs to go .500 the rest of the year to get into the playoffs. With two games remaining against the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots this shouldnt' be a problem. I hope i didn't just lay down a jig ol' Binx! As for my picks, well it was a successful first week and i still have one game to go, so far I'm 9-4. And man did i ever botch a couple calls, I figured New Orleans vs. Carolina would be way closer for one, and good god did i not see that shellacking coming by the Rams over the Cowboys. Tonight's monday nighter should be good, but i'm thinking the Broncos are going to take the Patriots for sure, we'll see how she rolls.

NHL:
The Habs proved once again that they are among the best in the league with their easy 4-1 victory over Phoenix which never seemed in doubt. Price is playing well, all the lines are clicking, Laraque is shit kicking people left right and center, and all this even though the boys still have some key injuries (Higgins, Bouillon and now Kostitsyn). Taking on Florida tonight at home and then Anaheim on Saturday. The Leafs looked like they were going to keep it close with Pittsburgh on Saturday night, but it appears that putting Crosby and Malkin back on the same line was a good idea. The Penguins pulled away winning 4-1, with Crosby picking up a goal and 3 assists, and Malkin equaling his point total with 4 assists.

MLB:
I've said it before, baseball is not my favorite sport, if we were ranking the 4 major North American Sports in terms of my interest, it would go NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB. But there's just something about October baseball that gets the juices flowing. (And no i'm not saying i beat off to playoff baseball). The Rays vs. Sox series was a banger. I went to bed last week with the Rays up 7-0 figuring it was over, and vaguely remember while half asleep my bro saying thorugh my door, "Yo it's 7-4 now!" and thinking, "i don't give a shit, it's still over". Then i woke up and got to watch those insane hilights. Incredible comeback, and after winning again in Game 6 it appeared momentum was on the Sox side. But i watched last night's game from about the 4th inning on and the Rays impressed the hell out of me. Their bullpen got them out of many tight jams, and they willed themselves to a 3-1 victory. David Price was beyond good in finishing the 8th and getting the save in the 9th. And that victory celebration was magnificent although i'm sure we'll be hearing about countless injuries coming from that pile on. I'm on the bandwagon, Rays in the World Series all the way!

NBA:
Not much to report here, the regular season starts Oct. 31st for the Raps, so i probably won't see the game since it's halloween. But i'm excited for yet another season of Raptors basketball. Although i have no idea who's replaced Chuck Swirsky this year as the voice of the Raps, and there's no doubt fans are going to miss the excitment he brought to the telecasts.