Reflections on Another Holiday Past

Once again the holiday season has hit us, and I numbly managed o get my way through the last few days of food, relatives, music, food, gifts, church, and more food. There is that holiday magic, the good will and kindness towards others, but there are also parking lots that turn into war zones and streets so busy they may as well be a parking lot. There is nothing to make sense of all of this, there is only the knowledge that we are all in this together so getting agitated, while only a normal reaction is not helpful in the least. You can find any number of supposed experts and their Holiday survival guide, but the truth is that its up to the individual to cope with this most hectic of seasons their own way. Many of us are fortunate to spend this time with family and friends and this is what gets us through, while others may have to look a little harder to find something to hold on to. Whatever the case, the holiday season holds many more blessings than problems, at least in my eyes. There is always the inevitable question of why can't people be this happy and this kind to one another all year? This makes the holidays special, true, but is certainly a valid point. There is no good reason we cannot show good will 365 days a year. The fact that many find this to be a stressful time may not led to them being very kind however, so we cannot assume that everyone is in the holiday spirit. But whatever you feelings on the holidays, weather you love them or hate them or are just glad for a few days off work. enjoy them!

Long Time Coming...

With the release of the Simpson's movie the other day, I felt compelled to talk about it, as it is one of the funniest movies of the year, as well as one of the best TV shows ever. The movie delivered and fans had a lot to cheer about as it was the best thing the Simpson's have done in many years. While many focus on the declining quality of the show or it's attempts to match the crude mindless humor of Family Guy and the like, this movie was smart, and irreverent enough for everyone to appreciate. The story was actually quiet entertaining, if only a little far fetched and the film contained some very nice and important messages, which is rare these days. The movie is not long, and the focus is certainly on the Simpson family with little help from the huge cast of other characters, but it doesn't seem to take to much away as the focus needs to be on the story like any movie. So watch, enjoy and don't have a cow!

Red, White and Blew...

So America' s game has now had its darkest day and what have we come to discover...well, little that wasn't suspected or known already. Ball players like many other athletes are on the juice and they only have themselves to blame. The league turned a blind eye and are now paying the price. George Mitchell is coming out and shedding some light on the matter years after these events occurred and many of the players involved have retired. This report put it all out there, named names and now many are thinking of legal action sighting that they were not guilty and are now being slandered. But whatever the case maybe, it was and is a problem. The positive tests are still there and Mitchell made suggestions to stop this once and for all. Perhaps this is presumptuous as Bob Mcowan of the Fan 590 in Toronto pointed out, and I agree to a certain extent, but the fact is at least he is trying and clearly whatever Bud Selig and his minions were doing, if anything, didn't work, and his era as commissioner is a joke as far as I'm concerned. I am loyal hockey fan and while the league's testing policy isn't as modern as some the lack of positive tests proves the athletes are cleaner, or better at avoiding detection, but I highly doubt that is the case. No sport has seen doping like this before since American track teams in Sydney. American athletes are not the only dirty ones, and are not the first to suffer for it but they seem to have a terrible track record, worse then anyone else at the moment. It speaks volumes of the culture and of what they have allowed their athletes to become for glory. Integrity and honesty have been forsaken and all but abandoned it seems for the long ball and the all mighty dollar. Maybe now we'll listen to what's really going on in the locker room.

NHL News and Notes

The Sens finally managed bumped their ugly losing streak last night, if only by the slimest of margins, and it shows what an incredible star they were off too as they still have the best record in the East. Speaking of the East, the devils are back in business after winning eight in a row, which means Martin Brodeur of Patrick Roy's all time wins record is back on track and should happen next year barring any unforeseen problems. Also East met West - Finally - as Sidney Crosby took his penguins to Edmonton and single handidly turned the game around for them in the third. I watched it and believe me he was everywhere in that period. And despite the loss the Oilers have been playing much better hockey of late and if they can get some more bodes back soon may be in the race in the tight western Conference. In the west Vancouver continued to roll, and maintained their lead atop the Northwest after a Minnesota loss and a Vancouver win over Chicago. The fact that East meets West happens so rarely led to a huge circus around Crosby finally going to the house that Gretzky built and just goes to show that the new schedule changes planned for next year are necessary. Trades may soon abound as temas look to what they have accomplished thus far and grimace, Toronto being one example, and Montral may look to shake things up as they have struggled of late as well.