Sports Talk Ep. 514

Jeremy and Zam welcome Shaheed back into The Press Box, and start the show talking about VANOC and its relationship with the media, the boys also get into the Canucks epic 14 game road trip and the play of Mason Raymond. It’s also just passed the midway point of the NHL season so it’s time to do some power rankings, so the boys give their top 5 teams in the league, they also talk about the NFL conference finals and Brett Favre throwing that infamous pick near the end and more.

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Sports Talk Ep. 513: Headshots and NFL Conference Championships

Headshots are at the top of the agenda on tonight’s show with the QMJHL’s Patrice Cormier and OHL’s Zach Kassian getting punished for recent head shots. The Canucks continue to roll along yet the Calgary Flames are continuing to sputter after their 9-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. As well, the NFL Conference championships kick off on Sunday so the boys make their picks.

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Edwards left wondering what could have been

Former Canadian ski jumper, Jade Edwards. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Nolais, Cochrane Eagle.

by Farhan Devji

Jade Edwards will be at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C. next month. But much to her chagrin, she’ll be there as a spectator rather than a participant.

Edwards, 19, says participating in the 2010 Olympics as a ski jumper was a realistic goal for her. But with the recent ruling that women’s ski jumping will not be included in the Games, Edwards is left wondering what could have been.

“It would have been so much fun,” said Edwards, via phone from her home in Cochrane, Alta. “It just would have been great. That was everyone’s goal, and now they’re telling us we can’t achieve our goals.”

Last March, Edwards joined a lawsuit with 14 other elite women’s ski jumpers from around the world, petitioning to get the sport into the 2010 Olympics.

“When I heard that they needed more Canadians, I thought, ‘heck yes, I’d join,” she said.

In her written decision, Madam Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon of the B.C. Supreme Court acknowledged that the women were being discriminated against. But she also said this matter was out of the court’s reach because the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who ultimately determines which sports are included in the Olympics, is not bound to Canadian law.

“It’s so frustrating,” said Edwards, without hesitation. “They’re basically saying that the IOC is above everything. What if the IOC said they didn’t want religion in the Olympics? Then what would we do? It’s kind of scary that they can do whatever they want.”

The women, led by their lawyer Ross Clark, then took their case to the B.C. Court of Appeal and after a two-day hearing, which Edwards attended last November, the case was dismissed. The Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the case in December.

Edwards started ski jumping when she was eight years-old. She was originally attracted to the sport when her Brownies group had a sleepover at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, where she was able to see all the towers. Since then, she has grown to love the sport.

“It’s hard to describe; there’s nothing like it,” said Edwards. “It’s like no other feeling.”

More than 10 years, several concussions, a broken foot, and a torn meniscus or strained MCL – depending on which doctor you believe – after taking her first jump, Edwards is ready to call it quits.

“Maybe if it was guaranteed that women’s ski jumping would be in the 2014 Olympics, I would continue,” said Edwards, who now hopes to attend medical school. “But I can’t put my life on hold for another five years.”

And quite frankly, she shouldn’t have to.

Our boy, Ron MacLean

Ron MacLean and Colin Campbell on Hockey Night in Canada.

Usually in Canada there’s not a whole of lot of bad things said about CBC’s Ron MacLean. He’s a seasoned sports journalist and broadcaster with a wealth of hockey knowledge and a good head on his shoulders. I’ve always thought that MacLean has done a fairly good job of asking the tough questions and letting his interview subjects speak for themselves. That is, not allow himself and his personal biases and opinions get in the way of a fair interview.

That was until last night.

MacLean interviewed NHL VP of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell on the hot topic of Alexandre Burrows versus Stephane Auger. What ensued, to me, was an embarrassment to MacLean’s reputation.

At various times during the interview MacLean let his opinions as a referee get in the way of his responsibilities as a journalist. When showing the clip of Burrows being hit by Jerred Smithson, MacLean’s comments were not only outwardly biased – which isn’t the biggest issue – but were purely speculative.

For example when Burrows was down on the ice MacLean speculated that he told his teammate Luongo: “Don’t worry, I’m okay. I’m just going to see if I can get more bang for the buck here.”

And then he says Burrows tells the trainer: “Don’t worry, has he signaled five yet?”

MacLean may be right, Burrows could have said those things. But there’s no proof. I understand what he was trying to do: set up a scene and then get Campbell to corroborate it or not. But what he ended up doing is answering Campbell’s question for him. Not exactly what a journalist is supposed to do.

MacLean then went on to say that the hit by Smithson was “obviously just a glancing blow.” Yeah, maybe when you’re watching it in slow motion.

I get it, we all have our opinions and we all have our take on whether Burrows embellished the hit or not. I happen to agree with MacLean that he did exaggerate. But to let that get in the way of asking the questions instead of answering them is a shame to the journalistic process and the integrity of an interview.

Whether MacLean and Campbell are pals or not, and whether MacLean has reffed an NHL exhibition game or not, and whether MacLean needs to tread lightly to continue to have Gary Bettman at the all-star game doesn’t matter. What matters are the substantive facts.

It’s not Ron MacLean’s job to call Alex Burrows a diver or paint any player in any light. Especially when he’s purely speculating. He should leave that to Don Cherry and focus on doing his job: asking the questions.

Here’s the first part of the interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaNNvFCm9XE&feature=related. You be the judge. And I’ll admit it, MacLean gets back to presenting both sides and doing his job in the latter portion of the interview which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py0avvER-qw.

Battle of the Network Stars

In a decision that may seriously botch the landscape of late night TV, Conan O’Brien rejected NBC’s proposal to push the Tonight Show back to 12:05am in order to make room for a half hour show featuring Jay Leno.  While it is still uncertain how this will all play out, Conan surprised many in the industry by not simply accepting NBC’s new work shift.

For a plan flawed from the start, Leno’s attempts at a 10:00pm primetime comedy show have failed.  Miserably.  Viewing audiences for The Jay Leno Show have dropped more than 30 per cent compared with programs in the same timeslot a year ago.  Even as early as last Thursday, when the other major networks were airing encore episodes of their shows because of the BCS National Championship, NBC was live with a new Leno.  The ratings for that show fell below those of Law and Order reruns.  Jays’ decision to come back to TV after only a short hiatus was risky, and something that both he and NBC must have understood.  It was five years ago that he announced he would step down from the Tonight Show and that Conan would take over.  During that time, Jay realized that he couldn’t walk away from showbiz, and NBC couldn’t walk away from a marquee name.  That’s what a network will do when it’s in fourth place in the ratings and in danger of being passed by the CW.  Instead of developing new show ideas, they try to breathe life into old ones.

Now it may cost them up to $80 million dollars.  That’s how much Conan O’Brien’s buyout clause is if his contract is broken in any way.  At the same time, NBC may be seeing some repercussions of giving Leno a gentle nudge out the door.  Remember back when Conan was NBC’s hot new commodity and had his eyes set on the Tonight Show gig, whenever Jay Leno decided to step down.  I think Conan may have played some hardball at the end of his last contract saying if he wasn’t the one to replace Leno, he may jump ship to another network.  That may have expedited Jay’s decision, as he would have had to set a timeline for his departure. And after the incident with David Letterman getting burned and going on to star at CBS, this may have become a decision that NBC didn’t want to mess up — and yet they did anyway.  Of course the winner in all this is Letterman who has become stronger than ever in the coveted 11:30 time slot and really solidified his ratings.

Sports Talk Ep. 512: Mid-Season Premiere, WJHC, Team Canada and a Foot in Mouth Disease

The Boys are back for the new year and it starts off with a bang. The World Junior Hockey Championship just ended and we get into who the best player to don a Canadian jersey for that competition is. As well, Canada’s Olympic hockey team is selected and we dive into those selections, the Canucks are hot and Zam sticks his foot in his mouth…not for the first time…as well the boys get into the NFL Wild Card Games for the weekend.

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Cubed 103: The News of the Week

Cubed is back for the New Year with its first newscast of 2010. It’s the Press Box News of the Week on Cubed with Shaheed Devji.

• Listen: Cubed 103 – News of the Week
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Cubed is always evolving and Shaheed would love to hear feedback or topic suggestions. Contact him at shaheed@thepressbox.org.

Canada's 2010 Olympic men's hockey team predictions

With the announcement of Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team just days away, The Press Box’s Farhan Devji predicts the 23-man roster Steve Yzerman and co. will send to Vancouver in February.

Forwards:
Rick Nash, Sidney Crosby, Martin St. Louis

Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Jarome Iginla

Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau

Jonathan Toews, Mike Richards, Brenden Morrow

Patrice Bergeron

Notable Omissions: Steven Stamkos, Mike Fisher, Shane Doan, Patrick Sharp, Vincent Lecavalier, Eric Staal, Dustin Penner

Defencemen:
Scott Niedermayer, Shea Weber

Chris Pronger, Dan Boyle

Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook

Drew Doughty

Notable Omissions: Jay Bouwmeester, Mike Green

Goalies:
Martin Brodeur

Roberto Luongo

Martin Fleury

This time around, Jonathan Toews hopes to have an Olympic gold medal strapped around his neck.

Final thoughts: Although I do believe my top nine forwards are locks to make the team, the line combinations I have assembled are by no means set in stone. They are simply guesses I made based primarily on familiarity. The last four forwards, however, could go any number of ways. Mike Richards and Brenden Morrow may not be having the strongest seasons, but they bring elements to this team that are important indeed: physicality, defensive awareness, and leadership. Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron on the other hand, are extremely versatile forwards who can excel in any number of situations. I think the main reason Bergeron makes this team instead of some of the other bubble players is because he is a right-handed shot with the ability to win key faceoffs.

Stamkos deserves to be on this team, there’s no doubt; however,  he’s not a fourth line player, and he’s a center. Canada simply has too much depth down the middle so despite his strong season, I’m not sure management would be ably to justify bumping Crosby, Getzlaf, or Thornton off the roster in his favor. I do believe that Mike Fisher has a legitimate shot to make the team in a depth role, but again, his main downfall will probably be the fact that he’s a center. I see the 13th forward spot going to either Fisher or Bergeron, obviously with Bergeron having the slight edge.

Is this the face of an Olympian? Farhan Devji thinks so.

I also think my top six defencemen are locks to be in Vancouver come February; however, I had a very tough time choosing the seventh defenceman. I decided against Mike Green because although he is dominant offensively, he is at times a liability in his own end. Drew Doughty can do everything Green can offensively, while being more responsible defensively. Jay Bouwmeester may very well make this team in Doughty’s place, though. He’s a big defenceman who can skate like the wind, and is effective at both ends of the rink. But the reason I left him on the outside is because I see Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as similar players, who contribute offensively and at the same time thrive as shutdown defencemen.

The goalies were by far my easiest selections. These are the three best Canadian goaltenders in the world, and it’s essentially common knowledge at this point that they will be in Vancouver come February. Who will be the starter? Luckily I’m not the one making that decision. But either way, Mike Babcock and his coaching staff really can’t go wrong.

Life imitates art? A Dexter fan in Indiana pleads guilty to the murder of his little brother

A 17-year-old boy from Rising Sun, Indiana, is being tried as an adult in the strangling death of his little brother, 10, the Associated Press reported Dec. 4^th.

According to prosecutors, Andrew Conley is an avid follower of the Showtime television series Dexter, which chronicles the exploits of a sociopathic serial killer. Conley believed that he too was a sociopath, and had had homicidal fantasies since he was in grade eight.

Conley is, without a doubt, mentally ill. Cold-blooded murder is not something a sane, healthy person is prone to. But Dexter is not to blame.

Anyone who’s ever watched the show knows that Dexter Morgan, serial killer and adopted son of a police officer, kills according to a code of ethics: his victims must deserve to die.

This doesn’t excuse murder by any means, but it does beg the question, if Conley is such a huge fan of Dexter, why target his own little brother?

Perhaps Conley’s grasp on reality is so tenuous that he saw his little brother, Connor, as Dexter’s deranged serial-killing brother Rudy, who Dexter kills in defence of himself and his sister.

Whatever the circumstances, Connor Conley’s death is not Dexter’s fault. Dexter is a television show. It’s fiction.

In fact, despite a multitude of insinuations by the news media that violence in TV, movies and video games increases violent crime, there is no concrete scientific evidence to prove this.

Years of psychological research have proven that witnessing violence can increase aggression, but no causal link between media violence and crime has been found, according to a 2006 study by University of California scientists.

The study found that in the short term, exposure to violent movies actually decreases crime.

Even violent videogames, which are even more widely blamed for youth violence,  cannot scientifically be proven to do so, a similar study out of Harvard found.

So rather than heaping blame on Dexter, let’s take a closer look at Andrew Conley’s life. It may well be that he was in at a high risk for violent offences all along, and his fascination with Dexter just an unfortunate coincidence.

Sports Talk Ep. 511: Fall Finale

This week as the year nears a close, the hosts talk about the biggest news stories of the year, Tiger Wood’s indiscretions as well as the rest of the dirty laundry and biggest sporting news stories of 2009. As well the NHL has rehashed an old argument of renaming the NHL awards, so Zam and Jeremy dive into those murky waters.

Listen to the full show here.

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