Winter Olympics
The PyeongChang Winter Olympics officially begins today in South Korea but somehow it seems to lack the usual hype, interest and fanfare usually associated with the greatest, largest sporting event this planet holds (over 3,000 athletes), along with the Summer Games of course. Maybe it's the cold weather, the long drawn out winter, people tired of all the doping scandals, North Korea's presence or the lack of big name competitors, like NHL stars? Whatever the reason, the IOC has a huge problem on its hands, so let's hope all goes well, especially for the Canadian contingent, and we bring home a ton of medals.
Just when you think the IOC was finally getting their act somewhat together, in regards to the Russian doping scandal, it received a huge slap in the face from a friend, the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport, the world's highest sports tribunal). Citing insufficient evidence (which we all know is complete BS), the Court lifted the lifetime ban on 15 Russians who will now be eligible to compete at this year’s Winter Olympics, plus it reduced dozens of other lifetime bans to only include these Games. What a farce! To their credit, the IOC stood firm and unanimously told the 15 Russians that they would not be invited to the Games. In hindsight, if the IOC had any guts and brains, it would have banned ALL Russian athletes from these Games to send the world a strong message, "Cheating doesn't pay"!
Super Bowl LII
In the most offensive Super Bowl game in history, the Philadelphia Eagles somehow survived this year's NFL MVP Tom Brady's fourth quarter storybook comeback ending and hung on for a thrilling victory, just maybe the most exciting game in decades. Underdogs for all of their three playoff games, the City of Brotherly Love showed the Pats (five-time SB champions) very little of that and pummelled the defending champs without mercy, moving the pigskin at will. There's three reasons why the Patriots lost; 1) they couldn't tackle, 2) they couldn't tackle and 3) and they couldn't tackle!
Now that Philly is slowly recovering from a massive headache (hangover) from their first ever Super Bowl victory, which by the way was very well deserved, there's bound to be a controversy soon over who should be their starting QB next season. As there will be "no room at the Inn" for two no. one pivots, past protocol dictates that sophomore star Carson Wentz would naturally go back to his no. one status, but after what Nick Foles has accomplished over the last month, he might think he deserves top billing. My guess, he'll stay in Philly.
Justin Timberlake is taking lots of heat from critics for his lacklustre Super Bowl halftime show, with many saying it was old fashioned, boring and repetitious. Although he never got paid for his 20 minute stint, a standard for SB halftime performances, he's making a ton from thousands of downloads of his newly released album. Speaking of dull, weren't these the worst SB commercials of all time?
Curling
Jennifer Jones ties legendary Colleen Jones from Nova Scotia as the only skips to win six Canadian women’s Scotties titles when she defeated fellow Manitoban Kerri Einerson in Penticton, BC. She now moves on to the Worlds which will be played in North Bay, Ontario. On the men's side, the Tim Hortons Brier opens on Mar. 3 in Regina, Sk. with Team Canada's Brad Gushue's NL rink being the heavy favourite in a less than star studded field. The only other 4somes that have a chance of winning are Manitoba's Reid Carruthers, Ontario's John Epping and host Steve Laycock.
Trivia time, where are the men's Worlds being held?
NHL
The surprising Vegas Golden Knights, who are by far the most amazing story in the NHL this season, are the no. two team in the NHL. Who could have predicted this Cinderella story for this new franchise but it does show you what half a billion dollars can buy you. Were the new franchise expansion rules and conditions too lenient, maybe, but how about giving Asst. GM Kelly McCrimmon some credit?
Now that Rick Nash is being shopped around, wouldn't NASHville be a logical stop?
Trivia answer: Where else but Las Vegas. Until next time....
