Move over Milos (Raonic), there's a new Canuck hero on the block. Teen sensation Denis Shapolarov not only took the US Open and New York by storm, he took Canada and even the United States down a fairy tale book road; which unfortunately ended up on a dead end street. Nonetheless, everyone fell in love with his game, his persona, his enthusiasm and the electrifying atmosphere he created every time he took to the court at Flushing Meadows. It’s been decades since a qualifier (Michael Change ‘89) made it so far at the Open (round 4) before losing out, a real bummer, but then again I’m sure the $320,000 (CDN) he pocketed will ease his emotional pain somewhat. The one time 240th ranked player on the WTA tour has now skyrocketed into 51st position.
Roger Federer is on track to win his 18th grand slam major and if he does, it would leave little doubt as to who is the greatest tennis player of all time. The Swiss legend even at 37 years old can still run them down and serve them up with the best of them. On the women’s side Venus Williams, another 37 year-old, is having a season for the ages as she hopes to make her third major final of 2017, thus trying to win her eighth major singles career title. It should be noted that the Americans are ecstatic because with Venus playing another Yankee (Sloane Stevens) in the semis, this guarantees an American will play in the final, a very rare occurrence these days indeed.
Virden’s own sweet swinger Don Reid wasn’t going to let his grandson (Eric Reid) hog all the headlines with his excellent play at the Tamarack, he wanted not only the family but the world to know that there’s still a little “game” left in the old man. He proved exactly that by jugging every golfer’s dream shot at the difficult 128 yard 14th hole at Oak Island Resort, the second of his career, after knocking one in at the Rec Centre in Brandon some 25 years ago. I hear the choir that was following him took it easy on his pocketbook.
Didn’t you just know or had that feeling that the Blue Bombers had absolutely no chance to beat the Rough Riders in their new “digs” last Sunday at the Labour Day Classic. Now we’ll see if they can return the favour when the Green Machine “comes a courtin” tomorrow afternoon in the Banjo Bowl. I’m still amazed that at this point in the CFL schedule (10 games in) that no team in the East has a winning record while no team in the West has a losing record. League office won’t like that one bit!
It’s showtime in the NFL as the new season started last night in New England where the Patriots hosted the Kansas City Chiefs with ageless QB Tom Brady at the helm, starting his 18th season in Foxboro, Mass. Hard to believe the 7-time Super Bowler, five times a winner, was a sixth round draft choice and almost chose horsehide over pigskin, as he was an all-star baseball player in his college days at Western Michigan.
The Blue Jays tied a team record for the longest game played when they lost to the Red Sox in 19 innings. My only question is, why is Jose (Bautista) still in the line-up when he is hitting only five points above the Mendoza line? Time to give the “call ups” some playing time, see what they have to offer. Trivia time, what is the Mendoza line?
The Virden Oil Capitals are fully into their fall training camp and a few local players certainly do not look out of place, giving a good account of themselves in a tough, competitive environment. Riley Wallace, Brennan Williams, Ryan Colon, Andrew Gerrand and the Andrew brothers, Tanner and Hunter, are all giving a good, solid efforts that will make coach Troy Leslie think twice about the many difficult decisions he will soon have to make. Camp continues with its grueling practices along with a few exhibition games, most notably tonight when the Caps play in Selkirk before returning home to face the Steelers tomorrow night. The Portage Terriers, who beat the Caps in an all-rookie game, visit TOGP on Tuesday night.
Trivia answer, the Mendoza line is a batting average of .200. Until next time....
