Bret Screwed Bret

So Cliff and I can now proclaim ourselves as crowd favourites. He posted a picture of himself this morning in the crowd at a bowling game, and it reminded me of a picture Cliff e-mailed me back in March of 2003 (three years ago!) of me in the crowd of Survivor Series 1997 (SCREWJOB!)

Cliff @ ESPN Bowling

Rick @ WWF Survivor Series 1997

Anyone got a little piece of celebrity to share?

It's Got Conditioners For His Skin!

Nice lazy weekend - watched the rest of the first season of 'Charmed' (I know, I know) and basically hung out with the wife. Met Rob and Carrie tonight for dinner at Baton Rouge, which was nice. Mary and I need to make an effort to see friends more, we're horrible at it. I'm still supposed to meet Clive and Missy for Greek, and it WILL happen. Got creative yesterday for dinner - made a shrimp cake (like crab cakes) with a white wine coconut sauce, sided with poached tilapia with red wine honey dijon vinaigrette over top. Worked out well.

Anyone up for joining me at the Irish Spring Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K? It's a second annual event I do with Clive, who is much better than me. I'm aiming for a 25-minute finish this year, but I'm not near that yet. The next two weeks are being spent in full training mode to get myself in form. Anyone want to join us?

Counterpoint: "Puck You"

Weekend's here, so I can do my counterpoint to Mark's post. I feel much differently.

I don't have any trouble at all admitting that other countries fared better than we did. Russia.. Czech.. Sweden.. Russia.. Finland.. they were all better teams than we were. But, as Clive noted in comments to Mark, Canada is still the home of the best hockey players in the world on large. Russia sends out a lot of fast playmakers, Sweden is home to scorers and leaders, but on a wider scale, the best players in the world come from Canada. So why, then, did we fare so poorly? And why, then, did I predict a non-medal finish?

It really is as simple as the players selected. Four years ago Gretzky committed himself to bringing the best players in the game at that time, and he did. The top players in the game of hockey played for Canada, had a rough start, but won. Four years later he assembled almost the same team - four years older. By and large these players are no longer on top in the NHL. In fact, the #2 (Staal), #3 (Savard), #5 (Tanguay), and #6 (Crosby) top Canadian NHL point scorers this season watched the games the same way I did - on TV. One of the top five defensemen in the NHL this year - Dion Phaneuf - also didn't make the trip. Ottawa Senators' #3 scorer Jason Spezza wasn't invited. These are players at the top of their game, all making Canada proud for their respective NHL teams, but not given that chance at the Olympic level. And why?

The reason we weren't in the medal hunt was solely passion. There was none. Players were selected based on friendship and blind loyalty, and largely consisted of players who've won before. The second time is never as exciting as the first. No passion, no hunger, no desire.

Building a winning team in 2010 is easy enough - you build a winning team. A team of people who've proven in the weeks and months leading up to Vancouver that they're the best we have to offer. The best goal scorers. The best puck stoppers. The best defenders. It's not hard, but it does require one thing.

Brent Sutter. Someone who could both assemble and get the most out of a team, something that neither Wayne Gretzky or Pat Quinn were able to do in 2006. Let's hope it happens.

Today's Random Links
Teen buys one billionth iTunes song; showered with prizes
Come to think of it, I haven't seen Mark and Paul...

"Puck You," A Canadian Tragedy

Well against my better judgment I’m going to post about this. If nothing else it should provide some great arguments for the next little while and possibly some comments for once (you guys have been slacking).

It’s now been almost 24 hours since the men’s hockey team took to the ice for what was the final nail in the coffin for this year’s Olympics. I just wanted to put forth what is my opinion of the subject (and I’m sure I will be getting an ear full for it).

I am probably the only person in Canada right now that is not saying, “We should have had Crosby, Staal, Spezza and Savard with us in Torino.” I firmly believe that the outcome of these games is not purely the result of a lack of younger/ hungry guys on the team. Check the stats. 7 members of team Canada have birthdays of 1980 or greater and therefore were not around last time and would be looking for that gold medal. I also believe that the rest of the world have developed a different style of hockey in international play and Canada’s plan of lets just overpower them all with our big guys is no longer going to fly.

Now I’m not going to say that I have all the answers or even that I can pinpoint where things went wrong, but the fact is that Hockey Canada needs to go back and think long and hard about this. The world is no longer going to roll over for Canada and frankly I think teams, like Finland, are simply better this time around. Oh and for you Crosby fans I sure we will be getting a good look at him in the upcoming World Championships this spring (sorry about Pittsburgh Cliff).

Today's Random Links
Areials to gymnastics in 0.09 seconds

Tasty Fish

First up today is a hearty welcome back/home to Kip and Shaz. Two of our regular folks around these parts have returned from Belgium, and hopefully they're not too sad about the whole thing. Unfortunately you two still live a fair distance from me, but we'll need to make up some reasons to get together - a tour of Brick would seem a good place to start. Everyone else can keep track of them on their websites as they get back in the swing of things Canadian style: Shaz and Kip.

Yesterday I hit Ginza, a popular sushi place in Woodbridge. This was my second visit ever to a sushi restaurant, and I was much more impressed this time around. Luckily I think my tastes continue to evolve in a favourable way, allowing me to enjoy more and more things I once disliked. I started with miso soup - simple and great. I was convinced to try edamame for the first time - and you regulars know convincing me to have soy is a feat in itself. Not bad, but they gave me a huge bowl of them for $2.25 and I could barely get through half of them. Finally, as I wasn't that hungry, I settled for one order of the Spider Roll: soft shell crab, flying fish roe, crab, avocado, and mayo. I think I've realized that even things I don't like (salmon, tuna, lobster, crab) taste fine when mixed with good stuff in a little sushi roll.

Tonight I'm trying an injectable marinade on some turkey breasts.. that should be fun.

Today's Random Links
One man's pick for the hottest 8 female Olympians
The results of the Bathroom Survey upset me

Your Karma Check for Today

Apple Developers Embed Poetic Warning for Hackers

Well it seems that Apple has a bit of a sense of humour when it comes to the launch of their operating system X. Hackers looking to crack the new Intel based OS X will find a neat little surprise as they dig around looking for a way to run it on non-Apple computers.

Moore Money

Two quick tidbits this morning:

Why is Steve Moore suddenly a bad guy? I seriously think this world becomes more messed up by the day. He didn't ask Todd Bertuzzi to smash his neck to bits with a forearm, nor did he ask Todd Bertuzzi to jump on his back and ride his face into the ice. Todd Bertuzzi's punishment for his actions have thus far been non-existent, and there needs to be punishment. If the NHL isn't willing to do something about it, Steve Moore is well within his rights to sue Bertuzzi. And Moore should win. I'm not sure $18,000,000 plus $3,000,000 for mom and dad is ideal, but Bertuzzi definitely owes Moore money. Let's all try and remember which one of these two is the real victim.

Further to Mark's link from yesterday pertaining to the appeal by Canada in the short track result, I'm mixed here. Part of me says if you break the rules, that's your problem. If the girl had her skate up then she didn't win the race, and the silver and bronze medals actually belong to Canada. The other part of me says one day prior the Norwegian team gave our folks a ski pole that allowed us to medal AND knock the Norwegians down to fourth - Olympic spirit at its finest. But then I resolved things to the fact that perhaps the Norwegians think like I do, and that's the fact I'd rather beat someone at their best than beat them at their worst. As militant as I tend to be around rules and such, I'd have given the ski pole too, so there'd be no excuses if I was to beat them. I'm still not sure how I feel about the appeal.

Cheers!

Testing, testing.....

Well for my first official post here at overanything.com (I hope this all works) I would just like to say hello. I may not be the best when it comes to spelling and grammar, but I’m going to attempt to help Rick out around here and provide a little more for all of us to read during the day.

To start I wanted to bring up a few of the stories that I’m following this morning.

Canada Files Short-Track Protest
In what seems to be a regular occurance in the modern day Olympics, The Canadian short-track speed skating officials have filed a grievence with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the Women’s 500m final yesterday. Now I would like to think that this has more to do with the integirty of the sport and upholding the rules, rather than Canada crying over lossing once again, but I’ll let you be the judge as this one plays out.

Dick Pound is at it Again
Well good old Dick is at it again. It seems this time that a number of cross-country skiers have test positive for high levels of hemoglobin during the Olympics. What a surprise that Pound is the first to be shouting drugs at the top of his lungs. Oh well I guess he need something to do seeing as he can’t complain about the testing in the NHL while its on the Olympic break.

Oh and all comments on this are definitely welcome.

Introducing: Someone to Post!

Ok, it's obvious my time is too full to be amusing around these parts. So I've brought on some help - my cousin Mark has indicated he'll keep y'all entertained while I fart around doing nothing or whatever it is I do. Be kind to him. Or don't. Whatever.

I NEED MORE COWBELL!

I'm too lazy to take a picture of my new toy, so I'll just out and say that I finally snagged an Apple iPod 30GB Video, in black of course. I researched things quite a bit, and while no player seems to do what I want it to, iTunes as my default media player cinched it for me. I went from an Apple-hater to an iTunes lover in about two days. I've been a day one Winamp fan, but iTunes is better. I'm especially impressed by the random function, which appears much more intelligent and truly random than others I've used before.

Unfortunately, thus far, I haven't managed to use it very often as I've been work bound forever. Friday at the latest I'll take a nice jog around the neighbourhood and try out the CaseLogic case I got for $20. It holds the iPod and can be thrown around the shoulder, wrapped around the hand, wrapped around the arm, or put through a belt loop. Pretty versatile, and much cheaper than any other case option I found.

I should also note that Kristy and Rachel got together and bought me something I can truly make use of into the future - a cowbell! No kidding.. now I can put my pants on one leg at a time, and then go out and make hit records.

Today's Random Links
For Cliff.. the Car Wash Girls
Shame on you, big tobacco...
Awesome game show blooper
Super Bowl XL ads
Chewie blog

Made To Love Magic

I'm 32. Most of you forgot, and that's just the way I like it. :)

We had a Super Bowl gathering on Sunday, and by gathering I mean four people came over and two made it to the end. Predictable game, I would have preferred a Seattle win because I like the city a lot more. I've been to both, I wouldn't go back to Pittsburgh unless it was a significant short cut to another location. Seattle is chocolate pie.

I have a new toy. I'll take a picture of it later.

Finally, Paul pitches a question to me, which I throw to you for comments:

On Like Donkey Kong

I can really tell I'm getting old because I'm totally turning into my grandfather. My transition to ornery old man appears to be well under way, which (on the bright side) should make for some more interesting reading around these parts in the future. So, without further ado, allow me to rip some headlines out and slap them like red-headed stepchildren:

Women Sue Wal-Mart Over Access To Pills
Step one in being an ornery old man - defend your beliefs, no matter how unpopular. Folks, I really could care less about morning after pills or week before pills, or during the act sheaths.. really. What I do care about is that some people seem to think the rights of people to buy controversial medication anywhere they want to is more important the the rights of others to protect their personal beliefs. Because clearly there's no other pharmacies in Boston that one could go to, they simply *HAVE* to go to Wal-Mart. I'm really a huge fan of incessant whining babies who feel the need to shove their liberal opinions down my throat whenever they get the chance, y'know. If I was Wal-Mart I'd go ahead and help appease all personal belief systems and go ahead and stock that morning after pill - put it on the shelf right next to the Penthouse magazines and Vivid Videos. Lets see you complain about that, Katrina McCarty.

Administration backs off Bush's vow to reduce Mideast oil imports
I'm honestly LOVING this one. President Bush vows to eliminate dependence on middle east oil, and now all our Bush-hating environmentalists are completely conflicted. Bash Bush? Support less oil dependency? Bit of both? Heh.. I gotta go make some popcorn before I continue reading blogs..

Time to head north to Espresso Post in Collingwood, my favourite cafe in Ontario thus far. Good times. Please, I implore you, feel free to throw some hate at me in the comments. I really need a good laugh.