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Ole Espana - My World Cup experience in Spain

I have never liked soccer. Not one bit. Too many dives and players splashing around on the ground like a fish out of water.
My recent trip to Spain however, during the World Cup, has changed my perspective on the "World's most popular sport." I don't know what it was exactly, I'd like to guess in fact that it wasn't the actual sport of soccer that won me over.

Rather, it was the people. Celebrating in the streets of Madrid after a quarterfinal victory over Paraguay, and then on the beach of Malaga after Spain beat Germany in the semifinals, I fell in love with soccer. Not for the skill of the players, which became more apparent with every game I watched, and definitely not for the yellow and red cards, for which, I still say the majority of fouls are faked, but for the people.

For the impact of the game on the people, and now, the impact of the game on me. If you'd like to read about my entire trip and World Cup experience, check out my sports column for the Chatham-Kent Daily Post: Ole Espana - My World Cup Experience

The agony of defeat, NHL style

It's always a tough day. That is, the day after your favourite team is eliminated from the playoffs. For me, that day is today. Last night, my Detroit Red Wings met their demise against the San Jose Sharks.

It was a long season for the Wings, one in which no one expected them to succeed, at least until after the Olympic break. Now it's a summer of building and one filled with uncertainty. Especially with the potential retirement of Niclas Lidstrom. Even if the future Hall of Famer doesn't retire, this playoff season made it all too clear that he has lost a step.

So what is next? Well for me, I'll still be watching hockey, but with a little less vigor. And just like those NHL players, it's time for a little golf. Plus, the Wings can rid themselves of the traditional playoff beards.

I am cautiously optimistic about the Red Wings' future. They don't seem to have a hidden Datsyuk or Zetterberg on the horizon (with the possible exception of Tomas Tartar. But who knows, they wouldn't be hidden if we saw it coming.

In net, I think Jimmy Howard did a fine job and that he is capable of carrying the team again next season. I would like to see a young back up come in and replace Osgood. With multiple Stanley Cup rings in his cupboard, it's time for Ozzy to gracefully bow out.

For those of you who question why Detroit is still "Hockeytown," well, try four Stanley Cups since 1997 and the longest active playoff streak in professional sports. Sure, the Red Wings will go through struggles in the coming years, just as the city of Detroit has done, but everytime an octopus hits the ice, it will definitely bring chills to the spines of thousands of fans, including mine.

Let the games begin.

Our wedding invitation to Steve Yzerman

This letter is a little late as you can find it already posted on the CIK Marketing Blog and Chatham-Kent Daily Post, but I thought I would give it a whirl here too. What's cooler, is that within hours of this article surfacing, Steve Yzerman's people actually contacted my fiancee about her wedding invite to Stevie Y:

Dear Mr. Yzerman,

I know you’re a very busy man. In the past year you’ve been involved with the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team, you’ve been spotted scouting at various Ontario Hockey League playoff games, and right now, your Detroit Red Wings are battling it out against the San Jose Sharks in Stanley Cup playoff action. But with that being said, I really need a minute or two of your time. I’m writing this letter because I need your help.

You see Mr. Yzerman, I’m engaged to be married on June the 26th, and I have a sinking suspicion that my soon-to-be husband loves you more than he will ever love me. And I don’t mean in a creepy way; his love for you is pure and genuine. I guess I really can’t blame him; he’s followed your career since he was a young boy and knows more about you than you probably know about yourself. You’ve been the most important figure in his life for more than a quarter century, and that is why I would like to invite you and your family to join us on June 26th as a guest of honour at our wedding.

Now, I know you probably get a lot of these sorts of invitations from so-called “die-hard” fans, but believe me; no one loves the Red Wings and Stevie Y quite like my fiancée. Ian knows everything about your career, from your birth city in B.C. and your days as a Peterborough Pete, right up to your final minute of play as a Red Wing. He knows every goal and every assist. He knows that you scored your milestone 500th goal on Patrick Roy and the Colorado Avalanche on January 17th, 1996, and that you played a record 23 seasons with the Red Wings. He’s seen you play dozens of times at the Joe, and I’d hazard to say he’s never missed a single game on television. Heck, he proposed to me on the 19th of October, (and no, the date wasn’t just a coincidence). He’s walked in Stanley Cup parades and cried after playoff loses. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been forced to watched that overtime goal from 1996, when you beat Jon Casey with a slap shot from the blue line to win the Western Semifinals in double O.T. of game seven. And while he still loves the Red Wings more than anyone ever should, it’s just not quite the same as when you were wearing the “C”.

I know you’re schedule is probably pretty booked in the upcoming months, but not to worry – Ian made sure the wedding date didn’t conflict with the NHL playoff schedule. (I’d have been walking down the aisle by myself had the ceremony taken place on the same day as a Stanley Cup Final game). He’s also gone ahead and re-arranged the head table seating plan so you’ll have a prominent spot… in my chair. There would have been a Stanley Cup wedding cake too, but I had to draw the line somewhere. All of the arrangements have been made; all we need now is to hear back from you. You can reply by email to stevieyweddinginvite@gmail.com.

So Stevie (can I call you Stevie?), what do you say? Nothing would make my fiancée happier than to have you as an honoured guest at our upcoming wedding. It would truly make the wedding the most memorable day of his life. Just be forewarned – I come from a family of die hard Maple Leafs fans, so expect to hear plenty of crazy talk about playoff hopes for next year.

Best of luck to you and the boys in game four tonight… you can rest assured that Ian and I will be watching.

Sincerely,

Chantielle MacFarlane

Should your sports team be using social media?

We've all seen the horror stories of pro athletes misusing Twitter and Facebook. I've seen my fair share of NHL friends posting pictures on Facebook they wouldn't want to be public. I've seen NFL and NBA players bashing teammates or referees.

Beyond the negatives however, social media and networking has a world of benefits for professional and amateur sports teams. From promoting athletes, marketing your team to fans, and connecting with parents, players, and media, social networks such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and even blogging can benefit your team.

I recently wrote a guest blog for a Chatham-Kent Marketing company, CIK Marketing, on this topic. Check it out, let me know what you think, and if you need help utilizing social media for your team, feel free to contact me or the good people at CIK Marketing: Should sports teams use social media?

The plague of Toronto sports

If you're a Canadian sports fan, or just a sports fan in general, you've likely seen a trend over the last few years. It has to do with professional sports teams from Toronto.

How are fans still putting up with the mis-management, frequent collapse, exodus of top players, and losing seasons? There is something to be said as a fan for dedication to your team, but there is a point where the fans move from dedicated to dumb. Just take a look at the six Toronto teams:

+ Toronto Raptors have never won an NBA championshop, haven't made the playoffs in two years, and haven't won a playoff series in the last decade.
+ Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won an NHL championship since 1967 and haven't made the playoffs since 2003-2004.
+ Toronto Blue Jays have not made the playoffs since they won the World Series title in 1993.
+ Toronto Rock lacrosse team have failed to make the playoffs the last two season and haven't won a series since they were league champions in 2005.
+ Toronto FC has yet to qualify for the playoffs since entering the MLS in 2007.
+ Toronto Argonauts, this may sound like a broken record, but no playoff appearances in the last two seasons.

The losing history of Toronto sports teams in the last two seasons is incredible. Due to this lack of success, top professional free agents have avoided Toronto like the plague. The ultimate goal for most professional athletes is to win a championship, and if recent history serves, that is not an option in Toronto.

If it were only one team struggling, the source would be easy to trace, but the widespread failure of Toronto teams is incredible. Why are they losing, collectively? I would tend to blame poor management.

The Leafs selling off draft picks for overrated players, the Raptors inability to keep star players happy or to surround them with legitimate support, and I won't even begin with the Blue Jays.

Kudos to the dedicated fans, even if you are disillusioned. With six professional teams in the city of Toronto, you would have to predict one will make the playoffs in the next year...or two. Maybe.

Five people the NHL could do without

As the end of the NHL season arrives, hockey analysts are examining the future for non-playoff teams and making picks for the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the end of the season upon us however, I'm thinking of something else. I'm thinking about 5 people the NHL could do without. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Chris Chelios: The fact that Chelios made it back to the NHL at age 48 is less of a testiment to his ability, than it is to the sad state of the Atlanta Thrashers blueline. Chelios has no business playing in the National Hockey League let alone the American League. If you had the opportunity to watch any Thrashers game that featured Chelios, you'd know that he caused more damage, and directly caused more goals against, than he did good for the team.

2. Pierre McGuire: For the love of all that is good in the world, Pierre McGuire needs to go. Listening to his moronic analysis (if you can even call it analysis) of plays makes me want to throw myself out a window. Seriously, look at the Facebook groups, read about the drinking games, search his name on Twitter; Pierre McGuire is undoubtedly the most hated and least respected announcer in the history of hockey.

3. Brian Burke: Now I know this will never happen, not with all the brain washed idiots in Toronto that actually think the Phil Kessel trade was a smart idea. Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall, a 2nd round pick, and another 1st round pick for Kessel? Ridiculous. And how about that "Monster" Jonas Gusttavsson? Monster is right. Gustavsson finished 36th out of 44 goalies in both Save Percentage and Goals Against Average. In the most talked about hockey city on the planet, Burke is the most overrated GM on the planet.

4. Gary Bettman: If you've ever read my blog, you should have seen this one coming. I firmly believe Bettman has done more damage to the National Hockey League over the last decade than anyone. Bettman's crowning jewel of the last year has been the Phoenix Coyotes. Until Bettman can figure out that protecting his image is less important than protecting the players and teams of the NHL, this league will struggle. It's time for Bettman's dictatorship to end and for a breath of fresh air to rejuvenate the NHL.

5. Matt Cooke: It was the year of the head shot, and no one has dominated the press for dirty hits over the past few seasons more than Matt Cooke. Is he a decent hockey player? Definitely. Could the NHL do without him? Definitely. Big, open ice hits, even one's involving the head, are a key component of the NHL. Blindside hits or knee on knee hits aren't, and these dangerous plays are a specialty of Cooke.

I know my list is a little lopsided and I know none of them will likely be leaving the NHL anytime soon, but these are five men the NHL could do without.

The best time of year in sports

In case you haven't noticed, the weather is getting warmer, the birds are starting to chirp, and this is the greatest time of year for sports.

Why? Let's start with the NHL and NBA playoffs. Teams are jockying for position, the first round is soon to begin and every game is important (unless you play for the Edmonton Oilers or the New Jersey Nets).

Not only that, but opening day of Major League Baseball is here. For Toronto Blue Jays fans, that means one legitimate month of playoff hopes remaining.

Not enough? How about the Final Four in NCAA basketball and the Frozen Four in NCAA hockey.

Sitll not enough. How about the Masters in PGA golf. I'm not going to mention the slime ball golfer everyone has been talking about. The Masters would and will be great (perhaps better) without him.

This spree of outstanding sports action comes at just the right time. Most people are still feeling a slight Olympic hangover, and this exciting time of the year is just the thing to revitalize sports fans. So get your seat ready, put on your favorite jersey, and let the games begin.

Does the best team win the NCAA tournament?

As a sports fan, you have to love upsets. This year's edition of the NCAA tournament has offered more upsets than our brackets can handle. But these upsets have got me thinking, does the best team really win the NCAA tournament?

Entering the tourny, Kentucky, Syracuse, Duke, and Kansas were regional number 1 seeds. Kentucky got beat by West Virginia in the Elite 8, Syracuse was ousted by Butler in the Sweet 16, and Kansas lost to Northern Iowa in the round of 32.

Does this sound like a tournament where the best team wins? Not necessarily, but some top teams are still surviving. West Virgina won the Big East title, Duke is still alive, and Butler looks like a legitimate contender.

How does this happen? Well, it is a single loss elimination tournament, the games are short, injuries can happen, fouls can happen, and upsets are inevitable.

Part of the confusion however, comes from the inability to accurately rank teams prior to the tournament. West Virgina won the Big East tournament, not Syracuse, yet Syracuse still entered the tournament with the number 1 seed while West Virginia was pegged as a number 2 seed.

As well, it is truly difficult to calculate who actually plays a more difficult schedule. Overall record has a large impact on rankings, but strength of schedule is also weighed in. Mistakes are bound to happen.

Will the best team in NCAA basketball win the NCAA tournament? Probably not, but that does not diminish how outstanding this tournament has been. Cinderella stories have been popping up from every corner of the country and top teams have been slayed by tiny schools from unknown conferences.

For the record, my official pick to win the tournament has been and remains the West Virginia Mountaineers, but I won't be surprised if they don't pull it off.

Will the best team win the NCAA tournament? Likely not. Has the best team already been eliminated? Probably. Will the most deserving team win? Definitely.

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The time is right to move the Phoenix Coyotes

After years and years of turmoil in sunny Phoenix, it seems like the chips are finally falling into place to move the Phoenix Coyotes back to Winnipeg.

Yes, I've looked at the standings and I'm well aware that the Phoenix Coyotes are near the top of the Western Conference. That is why this is the perfect time to move them. Before, the NHL could blame poor performance on the ice, for poor performance in the stands. That is not the case now.

Now, a perspective city, Winnipeg to be exact, would not be getting a terrible hockey team, they would actually be getting a winning club.

One thing that needs to be said is, this shows 100% that Gary Bettman was out to beat down Jim Balsille for personal reasons alone. Or at the very least, a mix of personal hate and a little protection for the Toronto Maple Leafs' pockets.

Giving a club back to Winnipeg can't be detrimental to the NHL. For one, a new owner (possibly Canadian billionaire David Thomson) would have to pay a hefty relocation fee. That's free money for the rest of the NHL. Second, even if Winnipeg didn't sell out every game, they would undoubtedly house more paying fans per game than Phoenix.

In fact, Winnipeg would only have to fill the 15,000 MTS Centre to 75% capacity to show an increase in attendance. Phoenix is sitting dead last in NHL attendance averaging just over 11,000 fans per game.

The time is right for this move to happen. The people in Winnipeg want their team back, the people in Phoenix obviously don't care, the Coyotes on ice package is the best it's been in years, and a building, and ownership are in place (although the NHL would likely request a renovation to increase seating capacity to 17,000).

The Hockey News recently reported that if the Phoenix Coyotes can't find suitable ownership, and/or reach a new deal with the City of Glendale, that a deal is in place in principle with David Thomson to purchase the Coyotes and move them to Winnipeg.

If the Coyotes do in fact move back to Canada, it would be great news for Quebec City, who is looking to build a new arena and lure an NHL team back. Other cities in the running for a relocated team include Kansas City and Seattle, but they likely won't be in the market for the Coyotes.

The chips are in place for this to happen. Here's hoping by the time we drop the puck next season, the Winnipeg Jets will have made their return to the NHL.

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Basking in our disconnected social power

After reading the recent hate spread across the web about NHL player Matt Cooke, it caused me to take a step back while looking at social media.

People, we'll loosely call "fans" seem to use sites such as Twitter and Facebook as a form of catharsis, and places to spread hate. I thought these sites were designed to be social?

Instead, people forget that what they write is being read by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. On my evening Twitter visit, I came across several Matt Cooke related posts while his name was trending.

After concussing Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins with a dirty hit, Cooke and the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Bruins only a week later. Cooke was forced to fight in the game, but fans wanted it to go a step further and voiced their ideas.

These posts said things like, "I want to see Matt Cooke get paralyzed by the end of the night," and "Matt Cooke can suck it, I hope that felt nice fa&&ot," and "F#$@ U Matt Cooke." I've used symbols to attempt to clean up the comments.

Even more of you are calling Cooke "gutless." You know who is gutless? Anyone making that comment, sitting behind their computer screen, making idle threats to impress their Twitter followers. Guess what? It's not impressing anyone. And if you did end up facing Matt Cooke in a fight, I'd bet my last dollar that he would beat the tar out of you...cleanly.

Here's a thought people, of the three quotes I showed, I checked out the peoples profiles, all of these individuals used a real name and location, and if you followed the links that they posted, it gave even more personal information.

Why would people connect themselves to such ridiculous, hateful, and inappropriate comments? Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint, and I've seen and heard it all. You're reading an article from someone who played 7 years of Junior hockey in Canada with and against several current NHLers.

Get over yourselves people. Respectfully give your opinions, blog about it, comment on a story, and then get over it. All of this Matt Cooke hate mail, and the Matt Cooke death threats, and racial, or sexist comments, it just makes you look like an idiot.

Cooke will wake up tomorrow in a comfortable hotel room, he'll have a big breakfast, read the paper, go for a morning skate, and play again. He'll go home happy because he's doing what he loves and he makes more money doing it than most of us will see in a lifetime.

Nothing we as fans, or as virtual bullies on Facebook or Twitter will ever change the way Cooke plays and our messages will never reach anyone that can change the NHL. All they do is make you look silly and put your future in jeopardy.

In all likelihood, no one important will ever read your Twitter posts or blog. The day they do, it will be a potential boss explaining to you that you are not a fitting candidate because your social actions they read on Twitter, do not represent the ideals of their business.

Feel free to Follow Instant Replay on Twitter, or don't. Just know one thing, you won't read me wishing terrible things on any athlete.

Obama's bracket is boring

I've looked at the President's bracket, and I have to say...booorrring. It does seem like several teams have fairly straight forward routes to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 this year, but come on people, the President needs to be a risk taker...at least when constructing an NCAA bracket.

As a re-cap, Obama has Kansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Georgetown, Kansas State, Syracuse, Duke, and Villanova in the Elite 8. That group includes each and every 1 seed, and every 2 seed, with the exception of Ohio State which President Obama has getting "upset" by Georgetown.

If the tight conference championships were any indication, I think we can expect a little more Madness this March.

One team that has been getting a lot of press, and I happen to agree with, is Wisconsin. As a 4 seed, Wisconsin would not be a monumental longshot, but other than number 5 Temple, they have a relatively straight route and I think they'll upset someone in this tournament.

I do however, agree with President Obama that Georgetown is a threat. They have been playing great lately and could go even farther than Obama predicted.

One team I really like to make the Final Four and potentially squeak into the big dance, is West Virginia. West Virginia won the Big East title over Georgetown and seem to be carrying momentum. The Big East is a tough conference to win, especially this year with number 1 Syracuse and number 2 Villanova playing like contenders.

As for President Obama's NCAA tournament winner Kansas, he might be right there. I'm going to go with either West Virginia or Duke. Either way you look at it, March Madness is here and it's going to be an amazing ride. Still Mr. Obama, make it exciting for us. We're tired of the economy and health care, this was your chance to show some personality. Instead, you played it safe.

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Lance Mackey is the king of the Iditarod

Just as Lance Armstrong's name is attached to Tour de France domination, Lance Mackey is becoming synonymous with winning the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

For many, completing the Iditarod is an amazing accomplishment, because numerous competitors are forced to drop out each year, but for Lance Mackey, anything less than victory is a dissapointment.

Mackey is considered one of the best musher's in the business. Crossing the finish line in Nome, Mackey has solidified his place in Iditarod history, capturing a record setting, 4th straight Iditarod championship.

More than just dominating their sport and sharing their given name, Mackey holds more in common with Lance Armstrong than many know. In 2001, Mackey beat throat cancer.

Although Mackey will never reach the rockstar status that Lance Armstrong carries across the globe, his accomplishments are no less impressive.

Congratulations to Lance Mackey and his team of sled dogs on winning The Last Great Race on Earth for the 4th straight year.

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After Olympic shun, McKeever wins gold

Winning a gold medal in the Paralympics 20-km cross country event must be a bitter sweet moment for Brian McKeever. As a visually impaired athlete, McKeever was only hours away from skiing for his country in the Olympic Games, when he was told by his coach he would not be competing.

Less than a month later, McKeever stands atop the world at the Paralympics after winning Canada's first ever Paralympic gold medal on home soil.

It isn't all smiles and congratulations for McKeever, he still has a foul taste in his mouth from the Vancouver Winter Olympics and a goal in his mind for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

What is sad about this, is the media coverage surrounding McKeever is not for his amazing accomplishment in the Paralympics, it is because he was shunned at the Olympic Games.

McKeever is the kind of athlete children should be looking up to. He aspires to be the best, and in fact, is the best in his sport. Brian McKeever's gold medal at the 2010 Paralympics shouldn't be thought of as second rate; his first Paralympic gold on home soil is every bit as important as the Olympic Gold won by Alexandre Bilodeau.

I wouldn't count McKeever out just yet. If you know anything about the Paralympics, you'll understand that overcoming odds is just a part of the business. For McKeever, despite his visual impairment, the 2014 Olympic Games are still very much in sight.

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Alex Ovechkin threw a CLEAN hit

It seems like people want to find something wrong with the NHL these days. It's almost like hockey became too popular during the Olympic Games to be healthy. Now all anyone can talk about is dirty hits.

Here's a news flash people, the Alexandre Ovechkin hit on Brian Campbell was clean. At worst, it was wreckless, not malicious. Just as his hit in the Olympic Games that concussed Jaromir Jagr was clean. That hit was highlighted across the world as a positive.

The difference between what Ovechkin did and the hit by Matt Cooke on Boston Bruins Marc Savard is huge. Ovechkin throws hits to the body. Yes, they might injure the opposing player's head, as was the case with Jagr, but the hit is to the body.

Watching Matt Cooke's brutal hit over and over this week, he hit only Savard's head. Not only that, but he extended his arm to assure he made contact with Savard.

The NHL GMs have been doggedly working on a new rule to curb hits to the head over the last week. I think what needs to be done is obvious. If a player is injured from a hit that connects to the body AND head, it is clean. If the player mainly makes contact with the head without making significant connection to the body, then it is a suspendable hit.

Think about it, if you make significant contact with your "targets" body, it likely will not be a blindside hit. It is easy however, to reach out, or blindside an opponent and only make contact with the head. Yes, that would put Cooke in this category, along with the Mike Richards hit on David Booth earlier this season, but it would save hard, agressive plays like Alex Ovechkins.

Taking the edge out of hockey would be catastrophic, but allowing blatent hits to the head to continue would also have damaging affects on the game of hockey.

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David Beckham out of the World Cup

It will be the first time in years that England won't be able to call on David Beckham for international play. Here's the real question, does it really matter?

With a nation filled with young soccer stars, Beckham seems like a sentimental favourite, not an actual asset. Yes, I understand he's still one of the best in the world at free kicks and crosses, but we're missing the point here.

Not only is Beckham far past his prime, he wasn't even guaranteed to make the English roster. Beckham, who was on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, was only playing for AC Milan in order to improve his chances of making the English national team.

So why are so many soccer fans worried about this injury? Honestly? I have no idea. To me this seems like the perfect opportunity to replace Beckham without debate or hard feelings, and to welcome in another young, talented player.

Sports fans are sentimental and experience is always a benefit, but at some point, sentiment and experience need to be outweighed by other factors.

For the soccer fans worried across the world of the impact David Beckham's absence will have on Team England, if anything, you should be worried if you're cheering for a nation other than England. England just got younger and stronger.

David Beckham would have been a reserve at best for England's national team. So is this the worst thing that could happen? No. Who knows, it might even be the best thing that could happen to England.

It's time soccer fans say goodbye to the David Beckham era and look for a new star at this year's World Cup of Soccer.

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Why you should be excited for the Paralympics

For some people, the Paralympics might seem like a lesser version of the Olympic Games. Not so at all. The Paralympics are as fine of an example of elite sports as you'll ever see. There are many reasons to be excited for the Paralympic Games in Vancouver. If anything, these two events are a part of each other. The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are one amazing, unifying, sporting event.

Get excited Canada (and the rest of the world). Round one was amazing, it left us with dozens of tear inducing stories, and round two is about to start. Here are 5 reasons to get excited for the Paralympic Games:

1. The Olympics were an amazing warm up: We experienced emotions related to sport over the 17 days of the Olympic Games that haven't been seen by our planet in decades. The Olympics were amazing from the opening ceremonies, to the slightly corny, yet still entertaining closing ceremony. And everything in between, well, the athletics were absolutely mind blowing.

2. Canada vs. USA Part 3: So far, the season series between Canada and the USA in Olympic Hockey is 2-0 Canada. Does that mean the Canadian Sledge Hockey team is guaranteed gold? No way. This will be another epic battle between dominant forces. Led by Canadian flag bearer and captain Jean Labonte, Canada will be desperate to win another gold on home soil. Especially if they face off against Team USA.

3. Brian McKeever will finally get to perform: After making the Canadian Olympic team and preparing for the Olympic Games, Brian McKeever was told the night before his cross country race that he would not be competing. Once hoping to become the only athlete ever to compete in both the Olympic Games and Paralympics, the legally blind cross country skier now must focus on winning gold in only the Paralympics after having his Olympic dream crushed.

4. The athletes are an inspiration: You can't watch the Paralympics without feeling at least a little inspired. These athletes don't see what they've been given as a "disibility." What they show is their amazing athletic ability. And personally, it makes me often feel like a whiner, or like I should be doing more with what I have. There is nothing about the Paralympics that is low calibre. Top athletes, using every ounce of their ability to compete.

5. There is a unique quality to Paralympic sports: The Paralympics offer several unique variations to regular sports that are both amazing and entertaining. Sledge hockey, wheelchair curling, and watching downhill skiers fly down the hill on modified skis. There is no other time of year, when these variations of sport are highlighted on such a national and international scale.

Personally, I think the Paralympics are going to be every bit as special as the Olmypic Games were. Follow Instant Replay on Twitter for Paralympics updates.

Let the games begin.

Who's to blame for the Phoenix Coyotes?

It's a simple question really, unfortunately, it's a question that most hockey fans don't know the answer to. Who is really to blame for the Phoenix Coyotes financial fiasco?

Yes, the team is doing much better on the ice, but that has nothing to do with the rest of the issue. When former Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes put the team into banckruptcy and attempted to sell to Canadian businessman Jim Balsille, the entire world seemed to implode on the Phoenix Coyotes organization.

Here in no particular order (well actually in a particular order), are your three suspects. Who is really to blame for ruining the Phoenix Coyotes? Let's look at the evidence against our three suspects, Jim Balsille, Jerry Moyes, and Gary Bettman:

1. Jim Balsille: The owner and CEO of Blackberry, Jim Balsille has made it no secret that he badly wants an NHL franchise that he can operate in Canada. Sure, Balsille should have waited in line like everybody else, but his bid was extremely attractive. He has money, he has business sense, and he had a market that desperately wanted NHL hockey. Whether he moved the team to Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, or Winnepeg, Balsille knew the NHL market would succeed. Evidence against: Balsille tried to use money to buy his way through the process. Did it hurt the Phoenix Coyotes? Yes, but only because he didn't successfully buy the team. Verdict: Not Guilty.

2. Jerry Moyes: The former owner of the Phoenix Coyotes obviously couldn't hack it. Can you blame the man though? His team was seeing less than 10,000 fans in the seats on a nighly basis, half of those being free tickets, and he was losing money faster than he could write checks. Evidence against: The NHL is claiming Jerry Moyes violated several league agreements by putting the team into bankruptcy. The NHL is sueing and seeking money for their lawyers, $20 million for the money they expect to lose from running the team this year. and $8 million the for the money the team owes to Wayne Gretzky. Verdict: Moyes should be ordered to pay the $8 million to Gretzky. On the rest of the claims...Not Guilty. If the NHL didn't want to lose $20 million, they should have sold the team to Balsille.

3. Gary Bettman: It's a known fact Bettman doesn't like Jim Balsille. Bettman was also to blame for both NHL lockouts. He was also the brain behind the NHL's expansion to the South. Team's including Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, and Atlanta have all been flops in the financial and fan department. Jerry Moyes and Jim Balsille are businessmen. How can you blame businessmen for trying to run a business, and make (or at least not lose) money. Bettman has stopped any possible relocation to Canada even after giving NHL clubs back to American markets that previously failed. The next time Gary Bettman and the NHL point fingers for the Phoenix Coyotes mess, they had best be looking in a mirror. Evidence Against: Gary Bettman's actions since 1993. Verdict: Guilty. Bettman is to blame. The NHL would be better off with a new commissioner. Someone who understands hockey, someone who cares about the real fans of the game, someone who doesn't allow emotion into business transactions, and someone who won't put their own agenda before the best interest of the league.

The NHL and Phoenix Coyotes need someone completely unlike Gary Bettman.

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NASCAR probation for Edwards is ridiculous

I'm sorry, but NASCAR just went from being a fringe sport on my radar, to a complete and utter joke.

After Carl Edwards intentionally crashed Brad Keselowski in Atlanta, NASCAR came down with a "punishment" of a three-race probation.

What does that mean? It means Edwards can still race, and all he has to do is not play dirty in any of those races. Who cares? Not Edwards. He'll still make his money, still profit from merchandise sales, and he'll still feel like he did the right thing by "policing" the race himself.

The last time I saw an intentional attack on someone was Todd Bertuzzi in the NHL. Bertuzzi sucker punched Steve Moore from behind fracturing vertebrae in Moore's neck. What happened? Bertuzzi was given an indefinate suspension, which ended up costing him $500,000 in salary, the team was fined $250,000, Bertuzzi was sued, and he missed the remainder of the season and playoffs.

This is the same type of situation people. Carl Edwards meant to attack Keselowski. He might not have meant to hurt him, but face it, Bertuzzi didn't enter his incident planning to break Moore's neck, he wanted to send a message. The same thing Edwards intended to do.

NASCAR has proved again with this ridiculous ruling and the dangerous standard it has set, that it does not belong in the rhealm of major sports. NASCAR belongs in a class with the WWE, a spectacle, not a sport.

Carl Edwards deserved to be suspended for his actions. He should not be racing. He should be losing money, not making it. Instead, it is a glorified publicity stunt for all involved. NASCAR gets more promotion, Edwards gets more promotion, and everyone goes home happy.

When NASCAR promised to allow drivers to police themselves and settle scores on the track to energize their "sport," all they did was sign the death warrant for a driver to be named later, whether it be in two weeks, two months, or two years.

Wake up NASCAR, your "ruling" on Carl Edwards was a joke and your entire organization is a joke. Probation? You might as well give Carl Edwards a pat on the back and tell him he did a great job "policing" your sport. Something the brains at NASCAR obviously have no idea how to do.

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NASCAR needs to better police drivers

We've seen it all before. A player throws a cheap shot on the ice, which is followed by the team enforcer fighting the guilty party. In baseball, it's the brush back pitch. Hot and high inside will teach you a lesson.

Often, players and athletes are able to police themselves. And then it goes too far.

Recently at a NASCAR race in Atlanta, Carl Edwards intentionally wrecked Brad Keselowski in response to previous nudges and bumps. Is this taking it too far? Edwards was closer to killing Keselowski then to teaching him a lesson.

For all of the heat the NHL takes for fighting, the league also has one of the best systems in place to deal with severe situations. NASCAR has no such policy and has promoted drivers policing each other on the track. In a sport where one mistake could take a life, NASCARs "policing" policy is a little ridiculous.

What about Major League Baseball? Well the brush back pitch and over dramatic bench clearing dust ups are all fine and dandy, but when it comes time for a suspension, even the MLB falls short. Players can challenge a ruling and be back in the line up the next night. If you're a pitcher, you might not even miss a start. Something doesn't seem right there.

The NHL has an interesting mix of self policing and league monitoring. In my opinion, it works. Sure you'll always have goons who go too far, but that is the case in any sport. There will always be dirty hits like Matt Cooke's headshot on Marc Savard regardless of the penalty attached to the action.

Look at Carl Edwards, he intentionally took a life in his own hands and luckily everyone walked away. He could have killed Keselowski and he could have killed fans in the stands. If NASCAR had dealt with Keselowski's antics earlier, this outrageous incident would never have happened.

League's like the NHL and the NBA have been properly dealing with player behaviour for years. It's time other sports including the MLB and NASCAR follow suit. If they don't, the results will damage their leagues, damage their image, and hurt or kill thier athletes.

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Iditarod is the most extreme sporting event on earth

Frigid cold weather, 1,770-kilometre's (approx. 1100 miles), and two weeks of continuous physical exertion.

For those of you that have never heard of the Iditarod, it is simply the world's most extreme sporting event. Currently taking place in Alaska, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race runs from Willow Lake (80km from Anchorage) to Nome, Alaska and takes anywhere from 8 to 15 days to complete.

This grueling race covers frozen lakes, tundra, trails, forests, mountains, rivers, and other trecherous stretches of terrain. Don't underestimate the endurance and physical ability this race requires. Yes, the dogs may be doing the majority of the running, but one lapse in navigation, concentration, or guidance, and the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race can turn deadly.

The past four years, Alaska native Lance Mackey has won the Iditarod, and is again in the field this year. And don't assume this is a race for men alone. Every year, women endure this incredible race including four time winner Susan Butcher and the first woman ever to win the race Libby Riddles.

Referred to as the "Last Great Race on Earth," the Iditarod Trai Sled Dog Race is extraordinary. For the average sports fan this event might seem a little out to left field, then again, nothing about the Iditarod is average. Not the athletes, not the feat of finishing, not the conditions, and certainly not winning the Iditarod.

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Expanding the NCAA Tourny is a bad idea

I'm all for bringing great sporting events to a larger market, but expanding the NCAA basketball tournament from 64 teams to 96 isn't March Madness, it's March Insanity.

If this were for the sake of welcoming 32 extra teams with legitimate chances to advance to the final four, it would be a-ok with me, but it's not. This is about putting money in the pockets of the NCAA and its member leagues.

There is no way, let me repeat that, NO WAY, that the 65th ranked team, 80th ranked team, or the 96th ranked team will EVER win the NCAA tournament. When it truly comes down to it, the best teams are in contention every single year, and the rest are left in the dust.

This year, just as in any other year, it will likely be one of the top 10 teams entering the tournament that walks away with a National Championship. Even more likely, it will be one of the top four teams, Syracuse, Kentucky, Kansas, or Duke that wins.

If there were an ounce of logic behind expanding the tournament for competitive or even developmental reasons, I would be on board with this, but there isn't. The NIT tournament has been created for teams that aren't able to crack the top 64, and that is where these teams belong.

Expanding the NCAA tournament to 96 teams would be ridiculous. It would dilute the pool, add additional length to an already substantial tournament, would make the regular season almost meaningless, and create games that the average fan would be less than interested in watching. I don't want to see a blowout in the NCAA tournament, I want to see Cinderella teams with a legitimate chance to win a game.

That is what makes it March Madness. The NCAA should learn not to mess with a good thing. The NCAA tournament is popular for a reason and needs to be left just the way it is. What would we even call it? Sweet 16, Final Four, Numbing 96?

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Is Ben Roethlisberger guilty?

After it recently broke that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has been accused of sexual assualts, stories started popping up all across the internet.

Pictures of Big Ben Roethlisberger with numerous women and accounts of drunken debauchery from the night were soon to follow. Now, police are investigating, and Ben Roethlisberger is in a precarious situation.

Unfortunately for Roethlisberger, this is not the first time he has been accused of sexual assault. In 2009, Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.

The current situation, which happened at a bar near Georgia College and Georgia State University, is unrelated, but still potentially devastating for Ben Roethlisberger. In the account, Roethlisberger allegedly assaulted a 20-year-old woman in the washroom of the Capital City nightclub.

I would love to say this is just another crazy fan trying to make some money, and I would like to defend Roethlisberger, but whether he is innocent or guilty, he definitely is putting himself in potentially dangerous situations. Two sexual assault accusations in less than a year?

Based on the accounts on TMZ.com, I would tend to assume he's not guilty, but as a professional athlete, Ben Roethlisberger needs to be aware that his actions, even those he thinks are private, are available to the world at any moment. Just ask Tiger Woods.

Is he guilty? I guess we'll have to let the courts decide, if the case even gets that far. One thing is for sure, the former Super Bowl Champion needs to re-evaluate his social life. Ben Roethlisberger is one mistake away from being dragged through the media and tarnishing his spectacular NFL career.

Was Brittney Griner's punishment too soft?

I'm sure you've all seen the replay by now. If not, feel free to exit to You Tube and then come back to weigh in on this situation. Brittney Griner made headlines across the nation recently after punching Texas Tech's Jordan Barncastle in the head.

This was no little push or shove, this was an all out haymaker. What punishment did Brittney Griner, a 6'8" freshman basketball player for Baylor, receive? A two-game suspension

Seems fair to me.

Media across North America are up in arms right now about this situation. Just as we saw with the backlash following the on ice celebration of Team Canada's gold medal winning womens hockey team, there seem to be a double standard at play here.

If this were to occur in the NBA or Mens NCAA, it would make a few highlight shows, SportsCenter would put it in their plays of the day category, and we would move on. The fact that a woman got so angry she felt the need to punch another human being seems to be the fact most are struggling with.

Griner apologized publicly to fans, media, her teammates, and coaches saying, "I let my emotions get the best of me and I am deeply sorry for my actions. I am committed to doing a better job of maintaining my composure in the future."

Sounds fair to me. Let's remember something people, Brittney Griner is a freshman. She is only 19 years old and playing a dominant role in a pressure packed league. Not only this, but Griner is consistently targeted by opposing teams and frequently has to deal with overly physical play from opposing defenders.

Why is she picked on? It's simple, Griner has become an extremely high profile player for her ability to dunk and her amazing athleticism.

Get over it people. She made a mistake, she's apologized, she has been punished, and now, we all need to let Brittney Griner get back to school and basketball without ridiculous criticism. Sports are physical, yes, even womens sports, and Brittney Griner is a strong and competitive athlete.

When men do this, we celebrate their antics. So either we need to start celebrating Brittney Griner for her punch, or we need to drop it and move on. You decide.

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It was an insignificant NHL Trade Deadline

Having a day to reflect on the NHL Trade Deadline, I've come to the same conclusion many hockey analysts have: it was an insignificant day. Most NHL teams ended up trading depth players for mid-level draft picks or mid-level prospects.

Don't get me wrong, that's not to say that some of these deals won't have huge future implications as a prospect blooms or a draft pick pans out. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery for a player to break through.

The most significant deals came from the Boston Bruins who acquired Denis Seidenberg, the Ducks trading Ryan Whitney to the Edmonton Oilers for Lubomir Visnovsky, the Washington Capitals acquiring Joe Corvo, and the Phoenix Coyotes trading Peter Mueller for Wojtek Wolski from the Colorado Avalanche.

The names aren't huge, but the deals still added important depth for each team. For general managers, the toughest part about trade deadline day is the ability to add a player without greatly affecting team cohesion. Luckily, most of this year's trades won't hurt anyone's locker room.

The most compelling trade was Wojtek Wolski for Peter Mueller. Both players are young stars with potentially huge careers ahead. Either one could bust out for a 30 goal season or fade into oblivion. In my opinion, this is the key deal to watch down the road.

It may have been an insignificant NHL trade deadline at first glance, but only time will tell how unimportant the 2010 deadline will remain.

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NHL Trade Deadline is looming

Now that the Olympics are over, it is time for NHL teams to get into stretch drive mode and make some final roster moves.

With big names such as Ilya Kovalchuk and Dion Phaneuf moving already, it's hard to imagine there will be many blockbuster deals at the NHL Trade Deadline. Of course there is always a surprise or two, but who is really left?

The biggest potential, and I am loosely using the term 'potential' deal, could come out of Montreal. The Canadiens could face losing either Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak in the very near future for nothing if they don't make a move soon.

I would have to predict that if the Montreal Canadiens move either goaltender, it will be Halak. Halak is having a strong season and had a great Olympic Games while playing for Slovakia. His value is likely as high right now as it will ever be.

The Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Carolina Hurricanes are also all likely deadline players. The Oilers will be looking to flush out several players including Ethan Moreau and Tom Gilbert.

Another, more high profile, name that is being tossed around right now is Nashville's Dan Hamhuis. Apparently the Philadelphia Flyers are very interested in Hamhuis, but if history serves itself, it usually is not the first team rumoured to be in the game that wins. Another factor is, with the injury to Ray Emery, the Flyers might need to spend their extra cap space to acquire a legitimate playoff goaltender. Tomas Vokoun anyone?

Other names frequenting the phone lines include Ray Whitney of the Carolina Hurricanes and Alexei Ponikarovsky of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Either way, I'm sure the next 24-hours will be filled with several interesting trades. Lots of draft picks and cap space maneuvers will happen for sure, but we'll have to watch and wait for the off chance of another blockbuster move.

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I have Olympic Games withdrawl

Pressing the recall button on my remote control tonight had a strange effect. First, I saw the evening news. Recall. Then it was an ESPN film? What the heck? Where were the Olympics?

Yes, I watched the closing ceremonies just like everyone else. I realize the Games are over. But now, I was forced to do something I hadn't done for two weeks. I had to press the "Guide" button, and explore what else was on TV.

No skiing, no bobsleigh, no curling, no speed skating. What a rip off. NBA basketball seemed like a cheesy participation ribbon. It seemed like TSN was sending me a message saying, "thanks for tuning in, unfortunately, this is all we have for you."

The Vancouver Olympics were a truly great event and displayed the outstanding power of sport. 14 gold medals were won by Canada, more than any nation in the history of the Winter Olympics. More importantly, millions went back to work following the closing ceremonies feeling refreshed, proud, and excited.

Don't worry sports fans, there are a few things for us to look forward to. We have March Madness, the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the World Cup of Soccer. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a few years before the Olympics re-appear and much longer before we are able to experience another Olympic Games on Canadian soil.

It was good while it lasted, I just wish it had lasted longer.

Let the games begin.

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Canada wins hockey gold

I'll keep this one short and sweet. In epic style, the Canadian men's hockey team captured Olympic Gold in overtime. Sidney Crosby scored the clinching goal winning it for the host nation.

This gold gave Canada 14 for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, setting the all-time record for most gold medals in one Olympic Games by any nation.

The Game was an outstanding battle between American netminder Ryan Miller and Canadian goalie Roberto Luongo.

I'm sure the streets of Vancouver and many cities across Canada will be rocking until the early hours of the morning.

This USA vs Canada game will easily go down as one of the most watched, most talked about, and most memorable sporting moments in history.

I am proud to be Canadian, for our hockey golds, 14 gold medals total, and for the outstanding Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Let the games begin.

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Canada sets host nation gold record

The host nation might not have "Owned the Podium" in overall medals, but Canada owned the most important medal count: GOLD.

Canada set the record for most gold medals by a host nation with 13, surpassing the former record shared by the USA and Norway with 10. Canada won gold medals in curling, bobsleigh, skeleton, moguls, ski cross, ice dancing, hockey, snowboard slalom, snowboard cross, short track speed skating, and long track speed skating at the Vancouver Olympics.

Thinking back to the criticism of other nations and from the Canadian Olympic Committee itself, it all seems irrelevant now. Canada did "Own the Podium" at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

More importantly, as is being shown in montage after video montage, Canada exhibited the nation's unique personality. The friendliness, respect, fair play, and kindness. From Jon Montgomery's memorable skeleton gold and celebration, to the on-ice party that commenced following the Canadian womens hockey gold, Canadians have acted as expected.

They have won gold medals, showed dedication through adversity, exhibited sportsmanship, and had fun. On the closing day of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the host nation is celebrating great success in all facets of the Olympics.

Thank you Vancouver and Canada for hosting such an outstanding and memorable Winter Olympics.

Let the games begin.

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Joannie Rochette wins Terry Fox Award

Awarded for determination, and pushing on regardless of the obstacles an athlete faces, Joannie Rochette was the co-recipient of this year's Terry Fox Award.

Along with Slovenian cross country skier Petra Majdic, Rochette was given the Award aftering winning a bronze medal in figure skating, only days after her mother, Theresa Rochette, tragically passed away.

Majdic, who won a bronze medal in cross-country skiing, competed after falling 9-feet (3 metres) into a rocky pit during a training run. During the fall, Petra Majdic broke multiple ribs, and still managed to compete.

Rochette, shocked the sporting world by putting together two memorable performances to capture a bronze in womens figure skating. Although Petra Majdic should not be overlooked in this story, Joannie Rochette is definitely one of the Vancouver Olympic Games' most compelling stories.

Her ability to overcome what looked like impossible odds to compete, let alone win a medal, was absolutely amazing.

Canadians have experienced more gold medals, and more medals total in the Vancouver Olympics than ever before, but Joannie Rochette's bronze will be remembered long after many gold medal winners are only names in a record book.

Joannie Rochette was well deserving of this honour, which was named for one of Canada's bravest and most determined athletes.

Let the games begin.

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Give the Canadian Women a break

It's a double standard. The media backlash that has chased Canada's Womens Hockey team after their post gold medal, on-ice celebration is overblown and unnecessary.

The Team Canada women were seen on-ice drinking beer and smoking cigars following their Gold Medal 2-0 victory over the USA. Yes, the women should have kept their celebrations in the dressing room, but nothing they did was outrageous.

Look at every single Stanley Cup celebration. The boys are seen smoking cigars, drinking beer and champagne, and partying like there is no tomorrow. The same goes for any major sport. And if we want to debate the moral actions of the Olympic athletes partying in the Olympic Village, we can. The Olympic Village is known for sex, drugs, and alcohol.

What these Canadian women did was harmless. They did not hurt anyone, they did not do this for the media, they did not damage the image of the Olympic Games. Led by Haley Irwin, Meghan Agosta, and others, the Canadians were having innocent fun.

All they did was celebrate a hard fought victory. They celebrated committment, effort, dedication, and the realization of a dream. Beer and cigars? That doesn't seem outrageous.

In fact, watching the girls on ice together, looking at the pictures, the comradery and togetherness of the Canadian team is apparent and refreshing. Nothing they did was illegal. Think of it this way, only hours before, children were exposed to drunken debauchery and foul language of innebriated Canadian and American fans in the stands. These women played the game with class and deserve their moment to celebrate.

Team Canada was celebrating in front of an empty arena. No fans or children remained and only a small handful of media were present. The media needs to give these girls a break. If this were a party following the men's final, it would be accepted and likely praised.

Way to go Canada, you deserved every moment of your celebration.

Let the games begin.

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Charles Hamelin finally gets his gold(s)

After missing out on a gold medal earlier in the games, Charles Hamelin finally got his gold(s).

The Canadian from Montreal, Quebec, narrowly missed a medal in the 1000m short track speed skating event early in the Olympics after leading for much of the race.

In the 500m however, Hamelin could not be denied. Hamelin's medal was Canada's first in 500m short track speed skating since 2002. Later in the evening, Hamelin won his second gold medal of the night in the short track speed skating relay.

Hamelins medals were also important to the host nation because of the significance toward their gold medal count. Nearing the end of the Vancouver WInter Olympics, Canada is in a heated battle with Germany, Norway, and the USA for the most gold medals in the Games.

Hamelins gold medal winning relay team also included brother Francois Hamelin, Olivier Jean, Francois-Louis Trembley, and Guillaume Bastille.

With a late push, Canada could potentially beat the nation's previous record of 24 medals in the Winter Olympics.

Congratulations to Charles Hamelin and the rest of the mens speed skating team for winning Canada's 9th and 10th gold medals of the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Let the games begin.

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Canada's Golden Hockey Girls

Women's hockey took a lot of abuse at the Vancouver Olympics this year. The lack of competition is evident and the lopsided games are not entertaining.

Luckily, whenever Canada faces off against the USA, sparks are going to fly and you are guaranteed a great game. Watching the USA play Canada in the womens final shows that there is hope for womens hockey at the Olympics.

These two nations are packed with skilled hockey players and every gold medal game is epic. In this round, Canada captured another Gold in Women's Hockey, their third straight Olympic Gold.

Led by young stars Meghan Agosta and Marie-Philip Poulin-Nadeau and veterans Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford, the Canadians were too powerful for the USA team taking home a 2-0 victory in the Gold Medal game. The shutout in net for the Canadians went to Shannon Szabados.

Unfortunately, if other nations can't match the talent of the USA and Canada, the womens game might become extinct at the Winter Olympics. Until then, we'll have to settle for amazing gold medal game, after amazing gold medal game between the USA and Canada.

Congratulations to the Canadian Womens Hockey team for winning Canada's first Hockey Gold Medal on home soil.

Let the games begin.

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Own the Podium is already a success

Let's put all the critics to rest right now. Canada's 'Own the Podium' program has been a success already.

It's true, Canada will not win the overall medal count at this Olympic Games, but relative to past Olympic Games, particularly those on Canadian soil, Canada has done extremely well.

Canada is tied for the lead in Gold medals and has several opportunities to add to that number including in curling, hockey, and speed skating.

For the head of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Chris Rudge, to come out and say that the 'Own the Podium' program was a failure, is wrong. Look at our success stories. Athletes such as Jon Montgomery and the bobsleigh team of Kallie Humphries and Heather Moyse might never have captured gold at the Olympic Games without 'Own the Podium'.

Canada sunk $117 million into athletics. Was it money wasted? I don't think so. The problem with the program was the unrealistic goals and the outrageous pressure they placed on Canadian athletes. If Canada continuosly funded athletics, not just in the few years leading up to a home Olympics, we truly would 'Own the Podium' everywhere we went.

Canada is Owning the Podium and Canadians should be proud of the dedicated athletes who are working hard to bring pride to their country. Remember, before these Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada had never won an Olympic Gold Medal on home soil. When the Vancouver Games come to a close, Canada will likely have more than 10 gold medals. That is what I call 'Owning the Podium'.

Let the games begin.

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Stop blaming Sven Kramer's coach

After Sven Kramer lost a gold medal due to his disqualification from a lane violation in 10,000m long track speed skating, all fingers instantly pointed at his coach Gerard Kemkers.

As Kramer headed for a corner, Kemkers yelled from the sidelines "inside lane" despite the fact Sven Kramer should have remained in the outside lane.

Kramer crossed the finish line well ahead of second place skater Lee Seung-Hoon, but was disqualified for his lane violation.

Everyone, media, fans in the Netherlands, and those in the skating community are pointing fingers at Sven Kramer's coach Gerard Kemkers. Personally, I think this is utterly ridiculous. Kemkers did not reach out and push Kramer into the wrong lane. Kramer is an athlete at the top of his sport, likely the best in the world. His mistake is his and his alone.

If a slalom coach yells to miss a turn, or if a hockey coach yells to go offside, the player would not listen. It is the athlete who is competing for a gold medal, not the coach. Sven Kramer should have been fully aware of his situation and remained in the correct lane.

This is the athlete's mistake. Yes, a certain level of trust is held between coach and athlete, but in the end, it is the athlete's responsibility, especially one who is the world's best in a sport, to compete within the rules.

When the music stops in figure skating, the skater stops; no amount of yelling from a coach would keep that skater moving beyond their routine. No amount of yelling should cause an athlete of Sven Kramer's calibre to break such an integral rule.

If the long track speed skating community wants to point judgement at someone, it should be Sven Kramer, he is the one who changed lanes illegaly. He is the one who lost the gold medal. And the fact that he is publicly denouncing his coach, and complaining to the media, brings doubt to the quality of his character and judgement.

Stop blaming Sven Kramer's coach. It was Kramer alone who broke the rules.

Let the games begin.

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Joannie Rochette is skating for more than her country

As Joannie Rochette takes to the ice in womens figure skating, she is living a dream and a nightmare simultaneously. Following the tragic death of her mother Therese, Joannie Rochette is skating for more than gold in Vancouver.

Therese Rochette suddenly passed away from a heart attack in Vancouver, only two days before her daughter was set to skate in the 2010 Olympic Games.

Just by stepping on the ice at the Vancouver Olympic Games, Joannie Rochette is exhibiting a strength and courage many people do not have. Rochette's mother was integral in her rise in the figure skating world, and has been at Joannie's side every step of the way.

Although Theresa Rochette isn't beside Joannie at the Vancouver Olympics, I'm sure her presence will be felt by the 23-year-old Montreal, Quebec resident.

Joannie Rochette is not just skating for a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, in fact, that is likely the last thing on her mind. Joannie is skating for the memory of her mother.

Luckily, Joannie Rochette has the encouragement and support of an entire nation. Canada is backing her and will cheer her every move.

When the music stops on Joannie Rochette's final program at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, regardless of her results, you can bet the Canadian crowd will be cheering her as though she won the figure skating Gold. If for nothing else, they will be cheering for the golden spirit and heart this young athlete has shown in such trying times.

Let the games begin.

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Ashleigh McIvor is the queen of ski cross

The Olympic Games newest sport has just named a new queen, and her name is Ashleigh McIvor.

Born in Whistler, British Colombia, Canada, Ashleigh McIvor won Canada's 6th gold medal on home soil. Although Canadian officals have been less than impressed with the country's overall medal count, success stories such as Ashleigh McIvor are bringing pride to Canadians.

Ski cross and snowboard cross have been hailed as two of the favourite sports of the Vancouver Olympic Games for the crashes, speed, athleticism, and the unpredictable finsihes exhibited in the sport.

Ashleigh McIvor, 26, was the reigning World Champion in ski cross entering the Olympic Games and recently finished 2nd at the X-Games. Ashleigh is considered by many to be the Lindsey Vonn of Canada featuring a unique package of athletic skills and good looks.

McIvor was excited following her Gold medal win in ski cross stating that she hopes she has inspired Canadian children to follow their dreams and to maintain healthy, active, lifestyles.

Congratulations Ashleigh McIvor on becoming Canada's sixth Gold medal winner on home soil and for becoming the first ever Olympic Gold medalist in womens ski cross.

Let the games begin.

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Will there be another USA 'Miracle' on ice?

If decisively beating Canada in a heated preliminary round game on enemy soil is any indication, the USA are well positioned for a run at a gold medal.

I wouldn't quite call this a "miracle," but a medal of any colour will be considered a success for the young and feisty USA hockey team. This is no team of bushy haired college boys, but the USA are definitely inexperienced and were picked by many to finish well out of the medals. Now, the USA have almost assured themselves a medal round game.

In my Olympic Hockey Preview I stated that I felt like this could be another "Miracle" team based on the performance of goaltender Ryan Miller.

Against Canada, Miller was a difference maker standing on his head throughout the game, specifically in the decisive last minutes of the third period. Not only did the USA receive clutch goaltending from Ryan Miller, their young and fast forward corps featuring the likes of David Backas, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, and Dustin Brown, was impressive.

Would I call it a "miracle?" No. I would call it a young and talented team coming of age on the world's biggest stage. Is Canada out of it? Not by a long shot, but they've made the road to gold more difficult then it seemed at the start of the Games.

Saying the USA will win Gold, or even medal is a little pre-mature, but this team that is beaming with young stars (and stripes) and have the potential to go wherever goaltender Ryan Miller leads them.

After beating the heavily favoured Team Canada at the Vancouver Olympics, Team USA has officially erased their "miracle" status and replaced it with "Olympic contender."

Let the games begin.

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Should Martin Brodeur be Canada's starter?

For anyone who watched the Canada-USA hockey game, you'll know there are questions about Martin Brodeur.

Is he still Canada's best goalie? Should his experience keep him in goal for Team Canada? Can he lead Canada to a gold medal?

The answer to each of these questions is no. Not if Canada's preliminary round game against the USA is any indication. Martin Brodeur allowed 3 goals on the first 15 shots. That is a .800 save percentage. That number wouldn't keep you in the net in the NHL, AHL, or a beer league. Canada lost 5-3 after outshooting the USA 45-23.

When he handled the puck (if you can call it that), Brodeur looked terrible and directly caused 2 of the 3 goals. The difference in the game was in fact goaltending, Ryan Miller played great, Martin Brodeur did not.

This is a point in the coaching career of Mike Babcock that will go down in history. Will he make the right decision and play Roberto Luongo the rest of the way, or will he hope the experience and reputation of Brodeur is enough to compensate for his poor play?

If Canada wins the Gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics, or any medal for that matter, you can bet it won't be because of Martin Brodeur. Rather, the team will have to put forward an impressive defensive effort in front of the aging goalie, and score enough goals to balance those he allows.

Please Mike Babcock, find it somewhere in your heart to play Roberto Luongo. He is Canada's goalie and Canada's hope for a gold medal. Let's get behind this hockey fans. We need to put Martin Brodeur out to pasture and let Roberto Luongo lead his team and his country to the Olympic Gold medal they so desperately want.

Let the games begin.

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Snowboarder Scott Lago banished from Olympics

It only took one snapshot instant. After a few questionable pictures of snowboarder, and Olympic bronze medalist in the half pipe, Scott Lago hit the internet, he was asked to leave the Olympic Games by US officials.

I say, good for them. Before the summer games in Beijing, the United States Olympic committee created an etiquette program for all Olympic athletes. The goal of the program was to minimize negative press, to show respect for the cultures of host nations, and to boost the USA image internationally.

In the pictures, an unamed female was seen biting Scott Lago's medal which was located in the crotch of Lago's pants. The suggestive pictures were enough for the USOC to conclude Lago had violated their etiquette program. Lago apologized for the incident, and was shipped home.

The United States sent a message to their athletes, and to the world, that they are trying to change the image that many American's have in the media. The question still begs though, what was Lago thinking? In the digital era, any photo taken, especially when you are a celebrity, is bound to be exposed. Just ask Michael Phelps about his pot smoking pictures.

Either way, Scott Lago has now learned his lesson and will now be watching the remainder of the Olympic Games from his couch at home instead of being treated like a hero in the Olympic Village. Sure it was a simple mistake, but these athletes need to exemplify respect and professionalism when they are in public.

Snowboarding is a sport that already stuggles with image issues in the general public, as does the United States on a world scale. Fortunately, the US officials dealt with Scott Lago quickly and decisively and showed that his behaviour is not acceptable for an Olympic athlete; especially a medalist.

Let the games begin.

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Hamelin brothers are an Olympic family

For a parent to watch their child succeed in the Olympics, it is a dream come true. For the Hamelin family of Levis, Quebec, Canada, they got to watch both of their sons race in an Olympic final.

Brothers Charles and Francois Hamelin found themselves racing as opponents in the mens 1000m short track speed skating final.

Their father and team leader, Yves Hamelin, sat watching in the stands as his two sons battled for Olympic supremacy.

Unfortunately for the Hamelin family, older brother Charles Hamelin and younger brother Francois Hamelin both missed the podium finishing 4th and 5th. The day belonged to Lee Jung-Su of South Korea, but that doesn't take anything away from the Hamelin brothers.

Obviously they would have liked two Olympic medals, and they in fact led the race until the final few laps, but their accomplishments as a family are incredible. Imagine lining up beside your brother in an Olympic final. The epitome of your sport.

Any parent able to witness that would be extremely proud as I'm sure father Yves Hamelin was. Congratulations to the Hamelin family for their accomplishments at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The brothers will get another shot at an Olympic medal later this week in short track speed skating.

Let the games begin.

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Are you tired of the Tiger Woods saga?

With so much happening in the world of sports including the Vancouver Olympic Games, most of us were almost able to forget about Tiger Woods. Almost.

In his first public statement since his Thanksgiving dust up with wife Elin, Tiger apologized to his friends, family, fans, and everyone else involved with him. My question is: does anybody still care? Is anyone else tired of the Tiger Woods saga?

I agree, if he had come out with a statement a month or two ago, I would have been glued to my television. Now, however, many in the sports world are tired of hearing about Tiger.

Yes, we all know he's cheated with more than a dozen women. Yes, he's a bad person who has a lot of problems. Yes, he's a great golfer. And yes, he will return to golf at some point.

Can't we just leave it at that and stop talking about Tiger Woods? When Tiger is set to return, which many are predicting will be in time for the Masters, let's re-open the debate and discuss all of Tiger Woods' indiscretions, his cheating, and what his golf game will look like.

For now, let's close this chapter and move on. If Tiger Woods comes back and wins the Masters and five more tournaments or ten more tournaments, good for him. Remember, he is the best golfer in the game. If Tiger Woods comes back and proves yet again that he doesn't belong in the same division as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer when it comes to class, sportsmanship, and character, well, we already knew that. So again, it will be no surprise.

I truly hope Tiger Woods is sorry. I hope his public announcement wasn't just an effort to save his brand and his billion dollar empire. Hopefully, Tiger Woods has changed. It seems a little unrealistic to expect he is completely rehabilitated after such as short time. And personally, his recent announcement sounded like a carefully concocted batch of lies. Even the embrace with his mother seemed fake.

One thing is for sure, I'm sick of the Tiger Woods saga and I can't wait for it to be over. Goodbye Tiger Woods. I'll write about you again once you do something sports related.

Let the games begin.

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Montgomery is golden in skeleton

The medal count continues to climb for host nation Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The latest gold medal winner is Jon Montgomery of Russell, Manitoba who captured gold in skeleton.

Skeleton is one of the craziest sports on the planet as riders blaze down the icy track, face first, at speeds of 90 mph or 145 km/h. Montgomery overcame huge odds to beat out dominant skeleton rider Martins Dukurs of Latvia.

Montgomery, a small town auctioneer, set the track record in his gold medal winning run.

Although Canadian Olympic officials were hoping to be atop the medal count, the country is showing strong signs of improvement in almost every sport. If a Canadian hasn't finished on the podium, then at least one Canadian athlete has finished from 4th to 6th in most events.

The dividends are obvious however, with the success stories of athletes such as Jon Montgomery, Maelle Ricker, Christine Nesbitt, and Alexandre Bilodeau. Canada's Own the Podium program has enabled the nation to put up several gold medal performances, with more predicted in the coming days.

Congratulation to Jon Montgomery for capturing Canada's first gold medal in skeleton.

Let the games begin.

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Plushenko is the best in the world

I don't care who won mens figure skating at the Vancouver Olympics, because regardless of what the idiotic judges awarded, Evgeni Plushenko is the best skater in the world.

The reason he lost? Because he spoke out against the skating world. Plushenko was quoted before his skate, saying that if skaters don't include a quadruple in their program, then it is not mens figure skating.

You know what? He's right. In every other sport you are forced to be better, to train and set new world records. Not in figure skating. In figure skating you're expected to follow the old rules, play within the rules, pay your dues, and let the judges decide who wins, regardless of who deserves to win.

The sport is ridiculous and has lost all credibility after yet another judging fiasco.

Former Canadian skater Elvis Stojko was one of the first to raise questions about the judging, even regarding fellow Canadian Patrick Chan, who finished in 5th place, well higher than he desvered. Stojko also went on to say how the judges are removing the 'sport' aspect from figure skating.

The eventual winner, Even Lysacek, didn't attempt a quadruple jump. Plushenko, attempted and landed two. If Lysacek winning is the result of the new judging system in figure skating, then the system is flawed. How can a system award the same points for a triple as it does a quadruple?

What is definitely flawed, is the judges who implement the system. Theese judges pick and choose who will win with an utter disregard for talent and zero respect for sport.

Evgeni Plushenko is the best in the world and he deserved to win gold at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Evan Lysacek, yes he won, but he shouldn't feel proud about his "victory." It will forever be tainted by a dirty sport and dirty judges.

Congratulations to Evgeni Plushenko, who was the best skater at the Vancouver Olympics, and is still the best figure skater on the planet.

Let the Games Begin.

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