Some Random Thoughts Across North America

During my recent whirlwind trip to Ottawa I wound up passing through Montreal for the first time since I was a teen. Montreal is a beautiful place and I hope to get back soon to see it as an adult...but unfortunately one of the things I saw there as a teen that I will not see there again is an home game of the Montreal Expos.

My first memory of the Expos is their first-ever game in 1969, as they were defeating my Mets 11-10...so I began with issues with them. That said, I loved watching games from Montreal and hearing the public address announcer speak in French and English, especially when Rusty Staub - "Le Grand Orange" - came to bat. The Expos became very good through the years, but over time attendance dwindled in this town where it's Habs and hockey first, and all else way down the line - and now the former Expos are the Washington Nationals. I guess I'm sorry in part because of the historical role the town of Montreal played in the integration of the major leagues.

After Jackie Robinson was signed by Branch Rickey, he was targeted to spend the next season in the Dodgers' farm system - and Rickey correctly selected the Montreal Royals as the ideal team in the ideal town for Robinson to join. Robinson was beloved by the fans of Montreal, and was carried around the field on their shoulders after the team won the Little World Series. Too bad MLB had to go...but to Montreal - thanks!

************************************************************************************

Thank you to President Obama...glad we're out of Iraq...well not totally out of Iraq, but I'll take what I can get for now. When combat operations were concluded, some clowns stated that Obama needed to thank Bush, et al, for the "surge" strategy that made the draw down possible. That makes about as much sense as thanking the arsonist for calling 911.

***********************************************************************************

So people are upset that Obama checked "Black" on his census form, given that he is of a mixed background. His background is well-documented - he documented it himself within his books! - so there is no lack of knowledge of his love for his mom and his maternal grandparents. But then when I see Tea Party rally attendees' signs depicting him in an obviously racist manner and/or using the "N"-word, or hear Newt Gingrich refer to his behavior as "Kenyan," or see Republican members of Congress signing on to the "birther" madness, I'm wondering what you expect. I mean, you say and do these things which more than imply that you think he's Black...and now you're mad because he checks "Black" on the form? Gimme a break!

**********************************************************************************

Every time I see Armando Galarraga, I STILL think that the official scorer should give him an error on the play. We know he didn't make an error, but had that play been an error, Galarraga would have wound up with a no-hitter, if not the perfect game he deserved. Is it really too late to do that?

Making "The Coolest Game" Cooler

In all of the years I've written columns and blogs on sports, I have rarely
touched on the NHL.  Not that I've never watched hockey; in fact, I remember
rooting for Edmonton throughout their '80's dynasty in part because Gretzky was
just so awesome, and because they had a brother - Grant Fuhr - as their goalie.

I also was into them because they came out of the upstart WHA, which resonated
with me because I was a fan of the upstart ABA.  I found it interesting that the
most exciting player in the NHL - The Great One - came out of the WHA, and the
most exciting player (during the early '80's) in the NBA - Dr. J - came out of
the ABA.  And of course, who anywhere near New York could forget the euphoria
surrounding the Rangers' 52-year drought-ending 1994 Stanley Cup win, and the
excitement in the area as the Rangers and Knicks simultaneously played for the
championships of their respective leagues.

That being said, I never much touched on the sport within my writing. So what
leads me to do so now - in the midst of the baseball pennant races, no less? 
Well, it turns out that I had to make a trip to a seminar in Ottawa, and while
there I naturally picked up a copy of a local newspaper, the Ottawa Sun.  In it
columnist Lance Hornby's offering on prospective NHL rule-tweaking was entitled
"Three-point stance" - which led me to wonder if we were on the same wavelength. 
Turns out we weren't...Lance was discussing the concept of awarding three points
in the standings to the winning team.  My concept is off the chain - or possibly
off the wall to hockey purists...but here goes.

In a sense, my idea has its' roots in the old ABA, a league that in its' infancy
was not at all averse to trying anything to garner attention.  One such thing
was the establishment of the three-point shot.  Though ridiculed by basketball
traditionalists, the three-pointer was loved by fans and is now a vital part of
the game and its' strategy at all levels.  When a crowd sees a player prepare to
take an open three-pointer, the noise level rises in gleeful anticipation if the
shooter is on their favored team - or in fear if the shooter is an opponent. 

So my idea is for the NHL to place a semi-circle within the offensive end -
similar to the three-point line in basketball - behind which any shots on goal
would be "two-point shots." I'm sure there aren't that many goals scored from
out by the blue line, but I can also imagine the excitement as a great
slap-shooter lines up a two-point shot.  And what about the team down a goal
with a minute or so to go...now they pull the goalie to get a sixth skater on
the ice to give them a better shot at getting the tying goal, but with the
two-pointer available, they may try a couple of shots for the win.

The way I see it, the two-pointer has a lot of potential.  Gary Bettman, you've
got a NBA background...are you reading this?