Neither rain nor wind nor cold could dampen the spirits of Toronto’s soccer fans Thursday night. Despite the inclement weather, BMO Field was a packed house of chanting and singing soccer fanatics. I have lived in Toronto my whole life and have been to a countless number of sporting events, but none have had the energy of the two TFC games I have witnessed. The Toronto Maple Leafs might be our city’s first love, however; the ACC is a corporate building with very few “real” fans. The Blue Jays had some great nights when they were champs, but have failed to capture much interest since those glory days. To put it mildly, I am new to the world of soccer. In fact I have only recently started calling it football. So it was a real treat to be around so many passionate, and surprisingly well-behaved fans. I suppose the only negative aspect of TFC’s success is that all the money generated goes straight into the pockets of the ravenously greedy Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Quebec Media Stomps on Grapes
Posted on April 22, 2008 – 8:43 pm
Don Cherry has been villified by the Motreal media lately for supporting the Boston Bruins on his Coaches Corner segment of Hockey Night in Canada. I must have missed the memo that free speech has been banned in our country. How could anyone think that the former Bruin coach, who has spent his whole career using terms like “could of been a Bruin”, all of a sudden switch his allegiances? The Montreal media also needs to be reminded of how Canadian the Boston Bruins are. From Shore to Schmidt to Orr to Neely, the Bruins have always been lead by great Canadians. The fact that Cherry wasn’t backing the Canadian based team shouldn’t really offend Habs fans or their media anyway. A good number of them would like nothing more than to have their province separate from the rest of Canada.
Sweeping Changes Needed in Ottawa
Posted on April 16, 2008 – 10:29 pm
It is true that Toronto is the only place on earth where the Leafs wait until spring to fall. But cheer up Leaf fans,there is a bright side, you’re not an Ottawa fan. After an astonishing start to the season, the reigning Eastern Conference champ limped down the stretch and were swept by the upstart Penguins. Not surprising, the Sens problems started from the top. Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza were held to just a pair of assists between the two. Even with captain Daniel Alfredsson back in the lineup, nothing improved. When a team as talented as Ottawa goes out with barely a whimper, it’s time for changes to be made. There is not a player on the team that should be left off the list of potential off-season moves. Another season ends for a franchise that was built for nothing less than a championship. There will be a need for rebuilding this summer.
Can Anyone Stop Tiger?
Posted on April 8, 2008 – 7:14 pm
As the spring flowers bloom in Dixie, The Masters golf tournament always comes to mind. This year, like any other in the last decade, who will win is not the question on people’s minds, but will anyone beat Tiger Woods? At just 32, Woods already has four green jackets in his closet and a fifth could easily come on Sunday. He has been dominant early this year winning three of the four tournaments he’s entered. And at Augusta, home to some of his greatest moments, he will be tough to stop. A win this weekend will give him 14 majors, just four short of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18. A record he will be certain to smash. There is only one negative with the Woods reign; on the rare occasion he is not near the top of the leaderboard, the tournament is not worth watching. So this weekend, if someone offers you the field versus Tiger in a friendly wager, politely pass.
The Madness of March
Posted on March 11, 2008 – 10:11 am
Does the lack of football depress you? Is your local NHL team a joke? Are you fed up with this nasty weather? If so, we have the answer to your winter blues. The NCAA basketball tournament kicks off on March 19, and if you haven’t witnessed it you are missing out on one of the greatest spectacles in all of sport. Their are so few events that provide the drama and intrigue of “March Madness”. The Dizzy will be providing around the clock coverage, from the selection show right through to the finals. So come on in for a pint, and something off our tasty menu, and enjoy the roller coaster ride that only this tournament can provide.
Sundin’s Decision a Selfish One
Posted on February 26, 2008 – 1:17 pm
He said all the right things to the media and fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Mats Sundin’s actions spoke louder than words. Rather than waiving his no-trade clause, giving the opportunity for the Leafs to get something in exchange for his services for the rest of the season and playoffs. The longtime captain snubbed his nose at management, forcing them to keep the aging veteran. Sundin claims to bleed blue and white, and only wants what’s best for the team. If this were the case, Sundin would of waived the clause, played with a contender for a few months, then simply re-signed with the Leafs in the offseason. Cliff Fletcher should introduce Sundin to the ushers up in the press box for the rest of the season. He won’t because the fans and media in Toronto would be up in arms about their beloved captain, no matter how much he hurt the team. Leaf fans, and the the media that follows them, both deserve this team. And their so called captian.
NFL Machine Always in Motion
Posted on February 22, 2008 – 2:51 pm
If you thought the NFL season ended when the Giants hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Super Sunday, you are mistaken. The NFL season never ends. The league has mastered the art of being in the public eye all 365 days of the year. This weekend is the NFL combines, where prospects meet in Indianapolis to have their size, speed, strength, and agility measured and evaluated by every team in the league. And since the creation of the NFL network, fans can watch every minute in the comfort of their Lazy-Boy. This all leads up to one the biggest days of the NFL calendar, the draft in April. It’s the day that every fan hopes that their team will find the player that will finally get them to the promised land. Not long after that, summer practice sessions will open, followed by the start of the season in the fall. Of all professional sports, football has the longest off-season. But with an around the clock television network, countless websites, and fanatical fans, you would never know it.
Dale Jr and Nascar Ready to Roll
Posted on February 12, 2008 – 6:41 am
The good ol’ boys of NASCAR started their season Saturday night, and it didn’t take the fans long to find their beloved Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was right up front through most of the Bud Shootout, cruising to victory in his brand new #88 Hendrick Motorsport car. After a year of infighting with his stepmother/boss Teresa Earnhardt, who owns Dale Earnhardt Inc, NASCAR couldn’t have written a better script to start the season. Earnhardt Jr is by far the sport’s biggest star, so having him in a competitive car is crucial. Hendrick will no doubt supply him with that, and with teamates like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson watching his back, expect to see Jr with the frontrunners for most of the season. As Sunday’s Daytona 500 grows closer, one has to think that Teresa and the rest of DEI made a huge error in judgement. The revenue lost by Earnhardt Jr’s departure will be impossible to recover.
Perfect No More
Posted on February 4, 2008 – 3:08 pm
The old saying, offense sells tickets and defense wins championships, rang true once again on Super Sunday, as the New York Giants battered Tom Brady and his 18-0 New England Patriots 17-14. In any post-mortem Super Bowl chat, legacies are often argued. This year is no different. How will history treat the Pats? After steamrolling the competition for most of the season, New England won three of their last six games by just a field goal and were not their dominant selves through their two playoff wins. However, 18 straight wins is still an accomplishment that has never been done in the history of the league. Unfortunately for the Pats and their fans, the one loss will weigh much more than the 18 wins. They will be remembered as the team that couldn’t win the big game. The perfect season has been shattered, and once again the childish ‘72 Dolphins can sip their champagne. The greatest team ever? That debate will rage on.
Get Ready For Super Sunday!
Posted on January 21, 2008 – 10:02 am
The sun is beginning to set on yet another NFL season, but there is still one last hurrah, and at The Dizzy World Headquarters it promises to be a memorable Super Bowl. There willl be Texas chilli, plenty of cold beer, and a pile of Super Bowl swag given away by the Bud Girls. Get there early, because it promises to be a packed house. Will the Pats make history? Or will G-men pull off the ultimate upset? One thing is for certain, The Dizzy is the place to watch it.
