The 2017 Canada Summer Games, the 50th anniversary of Canada's largest multi-sport event for young amateur athletes, starts next Friday in Winnipeg. There will be around 4,000 athletes competing in 16 sports and many of them will hope to, and will, become Canada's next generation of national, international and even Olympic heroes. Some examples would be; Susan Auch, Sidney Crosby, Bruny Surin, Steve Nash, Cindy Klassen and Catriona Le May Doan, just to name a few of the athletes who went on to have spectacular careers. Trivia time, two parts; name the city that first hosted the CG way back in 1967, plus name the city that hosted the 1997 Summer Games?
The Senior AA All Star Provincial Baseball championships get underway today in Brandon and all 4 rural senior leagues in the province, plus 4 very good Winnipeg teams, will have representatives there. All Star teams from the SWBL, the Border West League, the Santa Clara League and Brandon's Andrew Agencies League will be joined by teams from Elmwood (Giants), Kildonan (Mudcats), St. James (A's) and Stonewall (Jays), with the final game being played at Andrew's Field on Sunday afternoon.
Representing Virden at these AA Provincials will be Jeff Peel, Zane Sawyer, Tyler Strachan and Nolan Jago while Brett Braybrook and Des Koop will be in a coaching capacity.
The Virden Oilers finds themselves in a tough playoff series with the North Division winners, the Oak River Dodgers, with the series tied at one a piece in the best of five affair. This little "puppy" should go the distance and when a series or game is too close to call, it's called "pick'em or "toss up", and that's exactly where it stands. In the other series, the Boissevain Centenniels lead the Hartney Hoppers 2 games to 0.
Roger Federer won his record eighth Wimbledon men's title, his 19th major overall, and IMHO becomes the undisputed greatest grass tennis player (many will say on any surface), this world has ever seen. At 35 years old, age is supposed to catch up to professional athletes and make them slower but Father Time seems to holding off on this gifted player.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-1) will get a true test of how good they really are at this point in time in the season when they visit the den of the BC Lions tonight. Things have gone relatively smooth for the Blue and Gold up to now, so this match up should be a good indicator on where they actually stand in the league's pecking order.
I have previous mentioned on a number occasions the dominance of the Asian Invasion, in particular from South Korea, on the LPGA Tour. Never has this been so evident then at last week's US Women's Open, where an astonishing 8 out of the top 10 women came from this SE Asian country, truly an extraordinary performance.
Bryson DeChambeau's 40th start on the PGA Tour turned out to be pretty special as he wins his 1st PGA title, the John Deere Classic me he's following the pattern as he becomes the 10th player this year to win their 1st tournament.
The 146th Open is currently being played across the pond, and if past weather conditions on Royal Birkdale are any example, especially the wind, the best golfers in the world better be prepared for some inclement conditions from Mother Nature. It'll also be interesting to see if some of the best players in the world, like Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Jason Day, can reverse their fortunes and hopefully, at least, make the cut. The Claret Jug is the most treasured trophy in all of golf, one that can alter a duffer's career in so many positive ways but the pressure is enormous.
Trivia answers, the first one was held in Quebec City while in 1997, the Wheat City hosted the national event. I was fortunate enough to play in the fourth one (baseball) in New Westminster/Burnaby, BC. in 1973. (I know, I look younger!!). Until next time....
