Head To The Net

Newsflash: More Concussions to Come in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:41:00 +0000

"I can't suspend Matt Cooke for being a repeat offender, I have to find a reason. Right now our rules say that shoulders to head are legal." – NHL Head Disciplinarian, Colin Campbell, explaining the non-suspension to Matt Cooke.

Mr. Campbell, there’s also nothing in the rule book saying that I can’t poke the butt end of my stick into a player’s left eye. There are a lot of things that aren’t explicitly laid out in the rule book, but the rules do explicitly say that a player should not intentionally commit an act that could injure another. Is this not precisely why there is an NHL disciplinarian – to watch and police the rules of the game?

You’ve probably seen it many times, but here is another look at Cooke’s hit on Marc Savard:

Campbell compared it to a hit by Mike Richards on David Booth from earlier in the season in which he also handed out no suspension. He stated that since there was no punishment for that hit, the NHL had to be consistent and not discipline Cooke for the hit in question.

For comparison, here’s a look at Richards’ hit:

In conclusion, upon taking a closer look at the Cooke hit, he comes from the side at a player who doesn’t even have the puck, and he means to injure him. Not any regular, measurable injury either, like a broken bone or a sprain, this is a blow to the most delicate, important part of the body.

There should have been a suspension on both hits, and it should have sent a message. Unfortunately, the message now sent is this: “Until the end of the 2009-10 season, take your liberties with people’s heads. We can do nothing to stop you!”

For more on my thoughts on the headshot epidemic, read my previous post on headshots here.

The Secret to the Comeback Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:14:00 +0000

The Vancouver Canucks lead the entire NHL in third period comebacks with 10 this season. 3 of them have come in the 5 games since the Olympic break. Punctuated by Tuesday’s 6-4 win, in which the team trailed twice by 3 goals, everyone is wondering how they’re able to keep doing it. Here are five theories:

1. Now that the players are past the Olympics and the substance testing, the Canucks’ Olympians are taking full advantage, and like BC Bud, BC Sudafed is the most potent stuff you can find.

2. The Canucks are attempting to single handedly reverse the over-referenced stat: “The team that scores the first goal of the game usually wins.”

3. Since the Olympic games, Roberto Luongo has been trying to emulate the thrill he felt in the gold medal game. The following conversation was overheard in the dressing room after Tuesday’s 3 goal comeback:

Henrik Sedin: So is that how the gold medal game felt, Roberto?

Roberto Luongo: Not even close, buddy.

(at the other end of the room Ryan Kesler growls and breaks a hockey stick over his knee)

4. The boys get sh*ts and giggles from seeing Vigneault’s head looking like it’s going to explode, and they keep one upping each other to make it happen. Case in point – the sharp angle goal let in by Luongo from Colorado’s Chris Stewart - he obviously let it in on purpose. Mason Raymond took it too far with the blatant giveaway at his own blueline, though, and he paid for it by only being played for one shift in the entire third period.

5. I went through the Sedins’ contracts and found this interesting tidbit:

“The Player shalt be paid a bonus in the amount of $100 for every point scored in the third period. If thou scores a point in either the first or the second period, nary a bonus shall be paid!”

I also discovered that NHL contracts are written in old Shakespearian English – who knew?

Vancouver 2010 Olympics - Do You Believe?

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:56:00 +0000

I think I speak for all Canadians when I say no one saw this coming. In the lead up to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, who could have ever predicted the two weeks we've had? The world has seen a side of our wonderful country that rarely shows its head, and what a triumph it has been: a celebration of sports, a celebration of athletes and individuals, and a celebration of a proud, joyous nation.

Tragedies struck, conflicts arose, and rain fell, but like a determined athlete battling adversity, the Vancouver Olympic Games met all challenges head on and rose high above them. And here we are, at the end of two weeks, with our highest medal tally ever, and the most gold medals ever won at a Winter Games. Winning, does it make such a difference to our country? Taking a stroll down Granville Street on Saturday night might have left you deaf from all the Canadian chants. Spontaneous outbursts of "Oh Canada" would echo in your ears. Canada's athletes, to a man, said that they were competing for us. The medal winners won for us, and we graciously accepted and stood next to them on the podiums.

When Alexandre Bilodeau's grin stretched from ear to ear, couch-prone Canadians across the country smiled with him. As Kevin Martin finally achieved redemption after eight long years of waiting, Canada itself felt redeemed. And when Joannie Rochette showed us the true meaning of courage, continuing to compete after losing her mother halfway through the games, we watched over her, lifting her onto the podium with all our thoughts and prayers.

For two weeks, our nation has been united. For two weeks, we've all been pulling the rope in the same direction. There is nothing else that can unite such a massive, diverse group in celebration. Nothing but sports has the power, and nothing but the Olympic Games has the breadth.

"I Believe," CTV's Olympic slogan could not have been better chosen. We have become a country of believers. Our heros have inspired and united everyone, from the young to the old, and our country is a happier place than before. What a difference two weeks can make.

The Downfall of Figure Skating

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:15:00 +0000

One day after Even Lysacek beat Evgeni Plushenko for the gold medal in men's figure skating, Elvis Stojko had harsh words for the current state of figure skating. He was incensed with the fact that Plushenko landed two quad jumps in his two programs and still lost to a skater whose program had a lower degree of difficulty.

"The sport took a step backward. Brian Boitano did the same thing, technically, in 1988. There are junior skaters who can skate that same program," he stated in his column on Yahoo.com.

Perhaps he has a point. Imagine if the scoring system in the Snowboarding halfpipe gave more points for five 360's than a double mctwist 1260 (Shaun White's signature move)? Boarders like Shaun would realize that trying to pull of risky moves that sap tons of energy are hardly worth it, and would go for more variety. According to Stojko, a similar thing is happening in skating, and the athletes are not being encouraged to push the envelope.

If you want to read his angry tirade against the current scoring system put in place by the ISU, click here. He closes by saying "I am going to watch hockey, where athletes are allowed to push the envelope. A real sport."

No argument from me there, Elvis!

Good Luck Manny!

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:27:00 +0000

Manuel Osborne-Paradis is my newest follower on twitter, so I'm dedicating this post to him. Racing in the Men's Downhill on Saturday morning, he will aim to become the first Canadian to win a gold medal on home snow, and our entire nation is behind him.

Manny if you win, here are some ideas for your victory celebration:

Party like Ross Rebegliati

Party like Michael Phelps

Shave

Find Lindsey Vonn and convince her you know the secrets of the hill – pretty sure she'll be into that.

Go heckle ice dancers and tell them it's not a real sport
Run for Prime Minister

If anyone has any more ideas for Manny, feel free to add them below!

GO MANNY GO!

Good Looking U.S. Olympic Team

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:18:00 +0000

As this is a sports blog and I cover everything in the sports world, I would not be doing my due diligence on the Olympics if I did not research the other countries fully. I begin with 4 U.S. Olympians. I won't bog you down with stats and numbers, rather let's first get to know their appearance, so that if we run into them on the street, mountain, or hot tub at Whistler, we will know of whose presence we are in.

1. Lindsay Vonn - Skier

FYI - The four athletes recently did a shoot for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

2. Claire Bidez - Snowboarder

The photoshoot took place at Whistler, B.C.!! Why was I not invited?

3. Lacy Schnoor - Skier

I am going to Whistler during the Olympics to find them.

4. Hannah Teter - Snowboarder

If you want to see more, and I see no reason why you shouldn't, click here for the SI Swimsuit Edition website.

Super Bowl Ads

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:50:00 +0000

Up here in the Olympic City, we aren't able to see the famous Super Bowl Commercials. So just to make it easier for you to find them, I've posted some of the best ones below. But, let's start with the ad that we saw over and over instead - the CTV Olympic Anthem. Click here to see it. What can I say... I beleive.

1. Doritos Crash the Superbowl Contest Winners:

2. Brett Favre Staves off Retirement - Hyundai Commercial:

3. Bridgestone - Tires or your Life:

4. David Letterman, Oprah - (the impression is hillarious):

Let me know if I've missed any good ones!

Tiger Woods Rehab Centre - Questionnaire

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:04:00 +0000

It has been well publicized that Tiger Woods is receiving treatment from a Sex Addiction Therapy Clinic in Mississippi. Every patient of the clinic is asked to fill out a questionnaire upon arrival, and Head To the Net's undercover research crew incredibly managed to obtain a copy of Woods'. Our source cannot be revealed, but let's just say a former X-Files superstar isn't too happy that he is not the world's premier sex addict anymore.

Farewell Dion – An Ode to Phaneuf

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:13:00 +0000

A poem, from the heart of a jaded Flames fan:

Farewell Dion Phaneuf, man of many names.

In your second year christened 2-10,
In season 2, acting as if you'd played 10.
'Twas an accurate name for your attitude,
Acting like you were an NHL veteran.

Characterized by the fans as Ion;
For "D" did not fit in your description.
Perhaps you should have been a forward,
As it's clear you're no defenseman.

Duhh-ion – always a fan favourite;
Who gave measured responses post-trade.
What might have been seen as emotion;
Was your mind struggling not to fade.

Finally, our dear Prima-Dion-a;
You used Gretzky's trade as comparison;
An insolent analogy at the least,
In the end, it only proves your delusion.
And we are happy to see your time here cease.

NOTE: Actually, I'm no Flames fan, as you well know from previous posts, but this is how they feel in Cow-town

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Vancouver Argues with Toronto Before HDIC Matchup

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:11:00 +0000

If Toronto and Vancouver could talk, and they had a conversation leading up to this Saturday's game between the Canucks and the Maple Leafs, it would probably go something like this:

Vancouver: Hi Toronto

Toronto: Oh hey little buddy! How's it going? Big game for your Canucks this weekend playing the Leafs, eh? How are you guys doing anyways?

V: We're leading our division, and we're sixth in the NHL right now.

T: Really? Who'd have known...

V: We've got the best team in Canada! You don't even know how well the Canucks are playing right now?

T: Nah. Last time we heard about you guys was when Ron MacLean was talking about that Burrows guy. Burrows – what a jerk eh?

V: Seriously? Don't you know what happened after that? It was the biggest sports story here for two weeks!

T: No idea.

V: MacLean's interview with Colin Campbell was completely one sided! The Canucks even boycotted the CBC last week by doing no interviews.

T: Really? We didn't even notice. You know no one past Alberta watches hockey after 10pm, right? So basically your team boycotted its own fans from interviews.

V: Grrr... I HATE you Toronto!

T: Haha, relax little guy! (Toronto ruffles Vancouver's hair. Vancouver scowls and pouts)

The Top Secret Reasons for the NFL’s Success... shhhh

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:29:00 +0000

As I vegged out on my couch watching NFL football all day on Sunday, it struck me that this was the best part of my week. I was in a happy place. Why? Well, it certainly wasn't because of the game that was on the screen in front of me.

The NFL is the most popular sport in North America, and I believe I've finally figured out why. Here are the 3 simple reasons:

1. The Beer:Sports Ratio

When watching a riveting game like hockey or basketball, a spectator is glued to the game. A quick look down to dip your nacho or take a swig of beer can be disastrous, causing you to miss a key moment or a highlight reel play. So we wait. We wait until whistles, timeouts, commercial breaks – those 30 second breaks where we can quickly munch our hot dogs and wash it down with beer – and then it's back to business, back to the game.

If you don't see where this is going, let me explain: what's the average length of a play in football? 10 seconds? That's being generous. That's a long bomb touchdown pass from Payton Manning to Austin Collie including the 10 yard run into the end zone. Football is actually the reverse of all other sports – the gameplay simply serves as a timeout from the drinking. And boy do North Americans love their drinking.

2. It's all a ruse!

"Sorry Honey, we can't go shopping for new duvet covers today, even though I know we need them. I'm watching sports with the guys."

Sure you are, you average North American male. What a great excuse to sit around with the boys, shooting the shit, drinking, and doing nothing. On Sundays, we return to our days of college bliss – back when we had hours to waste away and no one nagging us to do errands. Female readers: disregard this paragraph, please.

Let's be honest – of the NFL games we watch, how many do we really care about? Oh sure, we've all picked a team we claim to follow, and we cheer louder when they make a good play, but do we really care at the end of the day? Cowboys fans are a dime a dozen, but there are probably 10,000 die-hard fans whose mood will still be affected that night if they lose. Most football fans only care because they've got money on some outcome. They're not upset or excited about the SCORE, they're getting emotional over the money!

3. A Gambler's Paradise

Which brings us to the last point: there are a million things to bet on in a football game, and boy do we take advantage of them. Who will win the coin toss, who will score the first touchdown, what will the score be at the end of the first quarter, who will make the first sack, the possibilities are endless in this game. When we're hooting and hollering in front of the set, it's because we're either making money or losing money. We don't care that much about the teams! Why is it not the same when we're watching hockey? There's no time for bets! We can barely make it to the bathroom and back during a commercial break, let alone propose a bet, decide on odds, decide on the wager, and shake on it.

So there you go – when it comes to competing with the NFL juggernaut in North America, other sports are quite simply out of their league.

The Headshot Epidemic – And the Possible Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:39:00 +0000

In a year when headshots have become a hockey topic too often discussed, Patrice Cormier, of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, has gone above and beyond what anyone thought possible by committing the most egregious of fouls. For anyone who has not seen his gruesome elbow on Mikael Tam of the Quebec Remparts, or would like to see it again, it is posted here:

The most immediate question on everyone’s mind, aside from concerns about Tam’s health, is how will the league punish Cormier? The goal of the reprimand is of course to deter this sort of behaviour in the future, and the thought is to make the suspension so long that other players will never do anything like it again. The question is, can suspensions and fines actually teach players to stop hurting each other? Wouldn’t it be better to somehow increase the level of respect for the fellow athlete, so that people are not so quick to hurt each other when the chance arises?

On Wednesday’s SportsCentre on TSN, hockey analyst Bob McKenzie stated that he would like to see more: “I know there are studies at Harvard University, Boston University, where athletes are donating their brains to science and they’re studying the ill effects of concussions. I’d like these kids that are guilty of headshots to go and find out the true impact of what they’re doing to someone else and give them a better understanding.”

An excellent idea, but why not take it a step further? Instead of teaching hockey players who have committed offences to learn about the results after the fact, why could we not set up a program to teach this information to all young hockey players? Perhaps in doing this, a greater sense of respect could be developed at a younger age, and instead of trying to punish headshots out of the game, we can take a more grassroots approach to educating them away.

The “Head Down” Mentality

There is another problem with the way today’s youth are taught to play. Hockey players are cultured to think that playing with your “head down” is a capital offense and anyone who does so should be taught a lesson. Really, what does “head down” even mean? In plain terms, it suggests that a player was most likely more focused on the puck than on his surroundings. The hockey mentality is that if an individual is not watching out for himself by being aware of those around him, he is a fair target, and the results are his problem. True enough – hockey players do need to be taught awareness for their own safety, but I have issue with the idea that because he is more focused on the puck, he should have his neck snapped back in a massive open ice hit.

If you think about it, the average player has his “head down” at many instances during a hockey game. Any time a forward takes a pass slightly behind him or in his feet, or if a puck is bouncing or rolling, a player must focus on it that much more to make sure he has control. During that moment, the player has his “head down”. Luckily, Scott Stevens is not always present at that split second to “teach him a lesson”. In my mind, the culture of hitting the unaware player as hard as possible because he deserves it for not looking up is just plain wrong. There are many ways to separate player from puck that don’t involve potential injury or concussion that would be just as effective, so why are we teaching young players that the big hit is the right play?

NHL headshots are a by-product of the hockey culture, and the only way for this to change is through enlightenment. Mikael Tam, Paul Kariya, Eric Lindros, Brett Lindros, Pascal Dupuis – anyone ever affected by a headshot – education is the way to salvation.

Scandal in the NHL!

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:47:00 +0000

If any of you are not yet aware, Alexandre Burrows went off on quite a rant following Monday night's game against the Nashville Predators. He made serious allegations against one of the game's referee's, Stephane Auger, stating that, "It started in warm-up before the anthems. The ref came over to me and said I made him look bad in Nashville on the Smithson hit. He said he was going to get me back tonight, and he did his job in the third, I think." – as reported by Brad Zeimer of The Vancouver Sun. He went on to add that Auger's ego cost the Canucks two points, as he made one of the two calls with the game tied 2-2 and 4:45 left in the game.

The surprising thing that occurred as the story developed on Tuesday was that all of hockey's most respected analysts, from Bob McKenzie to Darren Dreger, experts who have no ties to Vancouver, were not critical of Burrows and were not accusing him of crying over spilt milk. Rather, they took the view that for Burrows to give such accurate information on the interaction between him and the ref, and in review of the two penalties in question that did very much appear to be "phantom calls", his story probably was based in fact.

In examining the story ourselves, and trying to take out as much Vancouver bias as possible, it must be understood that the player's post game comments were made after having some time to consider what the repercussions would be. Every player knows that complaining about the refereeing of a game will most likely lead to a fine and a possible suspension. Despite this, Burrows felt it necessary to make his voice heard – obviously believing his story was important enough that it needed to be exposed.

As of Tuesday evening, TSN has reported that the only discipline that will be laid out by the NHL will be a $2,500 fine to Burrows. Apparently they wish for this story that threatens the very integrity of the league, to just go away. One thing is for sure: it won't soon be forgotten in Vancouver.

The Sedins are Superstars!

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:55:00 +0000

“They’re too slow.”

“All they do is cycle the puck!”

“They’re just boring to watch.”

Over the years, supporters of the Sedin twins have heard many comments like these, and they haven’t had much of a response. Halfway through the 2009-10 NHL season, Henrik sits atop the NHL leaderboard, tied for the league lead in points scored, yet the same criticisms seem to remain. While it does appear that most of Canuckland has finally bought into the idea that the brothers are legitimate top line players, the conversion is taking longer for fans outside Vancouver.

Maybe it is the fact that they’re tucked all the way out west that has the duo stuck in obscurity, but one figures it has to change at some point. Perhaps Henrik’s statistical achievements will finally start to turn heads. True NHL fans – the ones who see the beauty in watching Joe Thornton manhandling opponents, or Ilya Kovalchuk’s rocket of a slapshot – should appreciate the slick passing game of the twins. There are not many lines in the league that produce pretty plays as often as these two, and they will start to be appreciated as must watch players. You know the kind – Ovechkin, Crosby, Toews, Iginla – when these guys play, we watch games awaiting their next shift. The Sedins, in their 9th full NHL campaigns, are finally creating this sort of buzz.

World Junior Hockey Championship 2009 – Schedule Demystified!

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:34:00 +0000

Hello hardcore hockey fans. Like me, you are probably trying to schedule your next week around the World Junior Championships, and around Team Canada’s games. Problem is, after the round robin portion, all TSN’s schedule says is “TBA”.

I did some research on the IIHF site and figured out what our schedule will look like, so put this in your calendars!

Quarter Finals:

Canada should finish first in group A, thus receiving a bye through this round to the semi-finals.

Semi Finals:

Sunday January 3rd – 2:00 P.M. PST/5:00 P.M EST A1 (Canada) vs. Winner of Quarter Final 2

Final:

Tuesday January 5th – 5:00 P.M. PST/8:00 P.M EST

TSN also always adds half an hour before the start of the game to try to make us watch the Bob McKenzie pre-game show. I’ve removed that from this schedule for your sanity.

The Canucks Need a Confident Wellwood

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:29:00 +0000

After the Canucks lost road games to Carolina and Nashville last week, Kyle Wellwood took a lot of heat, as he was scratched for two games in a row by head coach Alain Vigneault. He finally drew into the lineup against Los Angeles, but he played himself out of the line-up again for Wednesday’s match against Anaheim. Here are my thoughts on this situation:

In his return against the Kings, Wellwood took a third period penalty, which obviously put him right back in Vigneault’s bad books. But understand that it was Welly’s 3rd penalty in 2 years as a Canuck - considering that the coach asked for more grit, shouldn’t Vigneault be pleased with the effort?

The Canucks need a third line that can take some pressure off the top two, and right now the third and fourth lines consist of Tanner Glass - Rick Rypien – Jannik Hansen, and Darcy Hordichuck – Ryan Johnson – Steve Bernier. Tons of heart, but the only skill resides in Hansen. They need more talent!

Vigneault must get Wellwood going again, and it’s not going to happen without putting him in scoring situations! Put him back on the powerplay – he has magic hands and great vision, and he’ll be much more useful than “Stone Hands” Bernier!

Note: I will be going on holiday for 8 days, beginning today. Have a good week, if you can do so without my posts. I will return on December 28, just in time for the much anticipated unveiling of the Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey Team!

Tiger - Just Do It!

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:15:00 +0000

Tiger Woods is in so much trouble with his wife that he has decided to take an “indefinite leave” from golf to focus on his family. The mistress count is up to something like 13 or 15 - really, does it even matter anymore? Hopefully for Tiger, his therapist doesn’t charge a per affair rate.

The Woodses are trying to repair their marriage, for the kids. Elin came from a divorced family and doesn’t want her children to go through the same ordeals. But is there really any point now? Not only are there 13+ alleged mistresses, but the latest, Jamie Jungers claims that her affair with the golfer started in the Summer of 2005, just after Woods was married! It lasted 18 months, and was much more than only a physical relationship. Elin wants Tiger to quit golf for the time being, and most likely, to quit other women as well. But really, is this going to make the man happy? He loves golf, and he apparently loves women too. Would he actually be able to be with one for the rest of his life? Doesn’t look like it from this vantage point.

Back to the kids, forcing this marriage cannot possibly be what’s best for them. When they reach the age when they start finding out about their father’s mistakes, how can they possibly understand it and lead a normal family life afterwards? As if being Tiger Woods’ children wasn’t enough to deal with on top of it all, their school friends will be dropping jokes about their dad’s cheating ways.

Tiger, maybe it’s time to retake control of your life. Move on from the woman, spend as much time with the kids as she’ll allow, and get back to golf. As the sponsor who will always stick by you says “Just Do It.”

MacIntyre is Offside in Saying Luongo Should Have Started All Four

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:13:00 +0000

“The decision to play Raycroft was overmanaging, and every major-league coach does it.” – Iain MacIntyre, The Vancouver Sun.

In Thursday’s Vancouver Sun sports section, Iain MacIntyre wrote an article stating that Roberto Luongo should have started all four contests on the Canucks’ recent road trip. If ever there was a case of a reaction based on the score rather than the actual game, this is it. Anyone who watched the Carolina match knows that it was not only Andrew Raycroft who did not show up; rather, it was the entire team that seemed to be moving in slow motion on Saturday morning.

But, MacIntyre asserted: “The Canucks were beaten because they were sloppy and uninspired, as if they thought they’d defeat the National Hockey League’s worst team merely by making the opening faceoff. And why might they think that? Because the best Canuck was given the day off.”

According to him, the reason the Canucks played a sloppy game was because they were sent the wrong message by their coaching staff. Is it not because they had just played back to back games on Wednesday and Thursday night, and then were asked to play at 10:30 a.m. PST on Saturday? And if those 3 games in 3.5 days left them tired, shouldn’t they have the same, if not even more of an adverse affect on the only player who plays the entire game?

If you agree with this, then you understand the coach’s decision to give Luongo a rest on Saturday. Plus, don’t forget that the last time Louie skipped his morning skate and played a Saturday morning game –December 2008 against the Pittsburg Penguins – he injured his groin and was out for a month.

With all this in mind, it makes sense that Luongo was given the day of rest. Had Raycroft played a stellar game and won the contest, the decision would not be second guessed at all, and head coach Alain Vigneault would be lauded. Making decisions about when to rest players and when to play them is the heart of the coach’s job, and the distinction between overachieving and overmanaging is often determined by the players.

MacIntyre is a good writer who analyzes the game very well, but in this instance he is dead wrong. Vigneault made a sound, well-educated decision, and had the team won, we’d never hear a peep about bad goalie selection.

To read MacIntyre's article, click here.

Want to See Tiger's Car Crash? Here's What it Looked Like

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:51:00 +0000

Many of us have been wondering what exactly led to Tiger Woods' car crash. Lucky for our curious minds, a Taiwanese news outlet created an animated recreation of the events, exactly as they happened! We don't know how they know more about the details than we here in North America, but if this made it on to the TV, it must be real... enjoy!

Wellwood’s an Angel and Kesler’s a Beast

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

With the return of Daniel Sedin and Jannik Hansen to the Canucks' lineup, the team is beginning to look like a contender. Granted, they skated like slugs in Saturday’s match against the Hurricanes, but who schedules a game at 10:30 a.m. PST anyways? For a team used to night games, it’s no wonder they were half asleep. Going forward, they are going to be just fine – reason being, they have depth at the forward position. We know the chemistry of the Sedin twins and Burrows, so here is a breakdown of the other three forward lines.

Third Line:

Why does Vancouver love Kyle Wellwood so much? Two weeks ago, in a game against Los Angeles, when a goal credited to Wellwood was reviewed and given to the true scorer, Tanner Glass, the GM Place crowd actually booed in protest. Granted it was Wellwood’s first goal of the season, but talk about picking favorites!

Perhaps it’s his angelic, innocent face, or the fact that we all see a little of ourselves in his formerly out of shape physique, or maybe it is because we know that when he’s on his game, he is one of the most skilled Canuck forwards out there. With Wellwood, it’s all about confidence, so what’s the key to keeping his up? For starters, don’t expect him to carry a line. Playing with Tanner Glass and Steve Bernier while the Canucks were reeling from injuries, Wellwood was the only creative individual of the trio, and even when he made good plays they would go nowhere. It was the addition of Jannik Hansen to his line that initially gave him the kick in the butt he needed. Now that head coach Alain Vigneault has moved Mikael Samuelsson to the line in place of Hansen, it will combine a good combination of grit and skill, as Samuelsson is a creative, puck possession player.

Second Line:

The Vancouver Sun seems to think the fact that Ryan Kesler hasn’t scored a goal in 14 games is an issue. It’s not. Kesler is the engine that drives the Canucks, and he continues to play hard and inspire teammates with the way he always put everything on the ice. Goal scoring slumps are often overstated, and that is certainly the case here, as he has 4 assists in the Canucks last 5 games, meaning he is still creating offense.

With Hansen moved to the second line to play with Mason Raymond and Kesler, this is now a line of like minded individuals: they’re all strong, tough, and good with the puck, and all three of them travel in one direction – straight to the net. This combination will continue to provide energy when the team needs it and provide goals at big moments.

Fourth Line:

Rick Rypien and Ryan Johnson are completely underrated offensively, yet they manage to do pretty well in that regard, given their mandate of “don’t make mistakes and keep the puck in the offensive end”. When they poke in the odd goal, it’s a nice present, though not really a surprise.

This Won’t Hurt Tiger - He’s the Man

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:27:00 +0000

Two weeks ago would you have imagined that Tiger Woods could be any bigger than he already was? His face was already one of the most recognizable in the world as the planet's premier athlete and sports superstar, but the truths that been exposed recently about his unfaithfulness will make him more famous, if that is even possible! Surely, a lot of it is negative press, but in the end, more people will be compelled to follow his life and story.

If you are thinking that the negativity surrounding his actions will make him less popular, think again. The core fan-base he already had – 20-50 year old male golf fans – who loved to veg-out in front of the TV for a 6 straight hours on Masters Sunday will not be any less inclined to watch. They are sports fans, who became Tiger fans because he is an incredible golfer,.and they will still be there, useless as lumps on a log for a full day. The difference is that now they won’t be alone. Wives, girlfriends, sisters, those who used to dismiss the man as a part of the couch, an inanimate object that could not be stirred on those golf weekends, will actually sit down next to him. As Tiger makes his charge at a green jacket, they will be booing him and hurling curses his way: “A**hole! Cheater! Jerk!” But the fact is, they will be watching. Upon winning, will he go immediately to his wife and kids for the hug and kiss? During his victory speech, the camera will cut to a close-up on her face to see if she’s muttering swear words under her breath, or if tears are running down her cheeks. This is compelling reality TV, and it’s better than anything else out there, hands down.

As the story was revealed, the first thought of many sports outlets was if Woods would retain his endorsements. Would Nike, Buick, Gatorade not be opposed to align themselves with such a sinner? That’s pretty dumb. If anything, they should be over the moon. Tiger has just made himself the number 1 news story in North America: his face all over every news website, newspaper, and any media outlet, and what’s that little symbol on his hat? Nike’s loving it. And don’t forget General Motors, who paid a reported $40 million for five years for Tiger to endorse Buick. The shot of Woods’ wrecked car is everywhere, and although it’s a Cadillac and not a Buick, that shot alone is worth more than the $40 million for GM. What’s a more memorable image, Woods on a boring TV commercial with a Buick, or the beat up SUV, with the word “Escalade” clearly visible on the side?

Angry ladies on The View, as furious as you are with Tiger, you just made him more legendary.

Tiger Woods Is Not Perfect?

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:03:00 +0000

The above statement is jarring enough. In a statement released on Wednesday in reference to the many allegations he has faced in the past two weeks, Tiger Woods admitted to “transgressions” and being “far short of perfect”. ESPN’s report can be read here. We don’t know the details, and Woods would prefer to keep them within his family, but these statements are enough of an admission to the many rumours that have been swirling regarding his infidelity.

The scary thing is that Woods is a role model to children and adolescents around the world. They want to be like him: strong, in full control of their emotions, able to perform their best under pressure. And now he’s a cheater, allegedly. Unfortunately, he’s not alone. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, David Beckham, and countless other sports superstars have all been caught being untrue to their wives.

But this is not about them, it’s about Tiger. We were not surprised when Kobe’s story came out – after all, he was married at the age of 22 to an 18 year old! Beckham was the world’s playboy, did anyone expect his marriage to Posh Spice to last this long?

Woods was on a different level. He learned to handle scrutiny when he was just a child. He never said anything to anyone that would raise eyebrows or cause a stir. He had the PR thing down pat. And what about the fact that he was married to a beautiful Swedish model? Shouldn’t that be enough to keep him from straying?

But let’s take a moment to feel sorry for Tiger. Not only is he dealing with his wife finding out about his “transgressions” this week, as she realizes she can’t trust him anymore. The entire world has just found out the same harsh truth. Though at the end of the day, none of the ire he faces from the world will matter compared to the heat he has faced and will continue to cope with at home.

Ken Miller Won’t Distract Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Five days before the Grey Cup Championship Game this Sunday, Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach Ken Miller revealed that he suffered from prostate cancer 2 years earlier and underwent treatment during the football season. What a stroke of genius, deflecting attention from his team so that they could focus on the upcoming game against the Montreal Alouettes.

However, this tactic has not fooled us at Head to the Net, and we are not going to lose direction! Don’t be distracted, people, from the fact that Darian Durant is playing in his first Grey Cup Final and the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Don’t forget to ask Jason Clermont about his struggles this year, and how he has faced those inner demons that haunt his dreams every night. Remember to remind each player that their General Manager, Eric Tillman, is embroiled in a sexual assault case, and find out how it has affected the team’s mindset throughout the season. Tell Chris Getzlaf that his brother has a championship ring from the NHL, but he has yet to achieve the ultimate success in his sport.

All of these facts should be brought up and explored before the game, with no stone left unturned. Surviving scrutiny like this is a large part of winning in any professional sport, so let’s not give the Roughriders a pass just because their coach was not well a few years ago. Fans: if you see the players in the street, remind them of what’s at stake! Media: to use a football term – send the blitz!

This post was not intended to make light of the serious issue that is prostate cancer. In fact, I have been growing a mustache for the "Movember" prostate cancer awereness fundraiser, and if you would like to learn about or donate to the cause, please visit my "Mo Space" here.

Team Finland: Leave Kiprusoff in Calgary!

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:28:00 +0000

The 2010 Olympics are taking place in hockey mad Canada, only a short 1 hour flight away from Calgary. One would think that any NHL player would jump at the chance of representing his country in the tournament, in any capacity, but that’s not the case for Flames’ goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff. He doesn’t want to come unless he is assured to be the number 1 goalie for Finland.

Considering he is most likely their best option, with Minnesota’s Niklas Backstrom being the only true competition, his comment, “If I'm not going to start for sure, I think I'm going to take that time off and rest," reported in the Calgary Herald, is completely uncalled for. The only thing accomplished is that he shows selfishness and a lack of support for the Finnish hockey program.

So what happens if he is selected to represent his country, starts the first game and plays a stinker? If he is asked to sit the next game out, will he pout? What if he is outplayed in the round robin portion? Is the team obligated to play him in the elimination rounds, just because they promised him the number 1 position? Will he hop on the first flight back to Calgary if he is asked to sit?

Finland hockey should think this through before pushing Kipper into attending. Do they really want such a self-serving, individualistic player on their roster? Come to think of it, do the Calgary Flames even want a player with his attitude? Kiprusoff is obviously not a team player and this mind-set cannot help any team he plays for.

To read CTV's report on this story, click here.

Who Will Start in Net for Team Canada?

noreply@blogger.com (Omar R) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

In the days leading up to December 31st, Steve Yzerman, Hockey Canada Executive Director, is going to have a number of tough decisions to make regarding the personnel on the Olympic roster. One big decision that he will leave on head coach Mike Babcock’s shoulders will be choosing the number one goaltender.

Clearly, both Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo will be on the squad, and whoever fills the third spot will be there just for insurance purposes.

Here’s the scenario: on February 16th Luongo will play in Canada’s first game against Norway. On the 18th, Brodeur will start the second against Switzerland. And unless Luongo was a disaster in game 1, he will start again in the third game on the 21st against USA. This might be the other way around, but essentially, whoever plays better in the round robin matches will be the starter for the elimination rounds.

The question is, who will Mike Babcock favor?

The Case for Brodeur:

His history speaks for itself:
- 3 Stanley Cups
- 2002 Olympic Gold Medal
- 2004 World Cup Championship
- 4 Vezina Trophies as NHL’s best goaltender

And he is not slowing down: he already has a 12-6-1 record in the 2009-2010 season.

The Case for Luongo:

Ok, so Luongo’s got nothing on Brodeur’s list of accomplishments, but he has been stuck with the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers for most of his career. So why should Mike Babcock give him the job over the incumbent Brodeur?

It’s his city, it’s his arena, and it’s finally his turn. At 30, he’s in his prime and he has certainly paid his dues, playing backup to Brodeur at the 2004 World Cup and 2006 Olympics.

If there are any nuances to know about the ice rink known as “Canada Hockey Place”, Luongo knows them better than anyone in the world, because to him, it is GM Place, his home arena, year round.

And, wouldn’t it be amazing to hear the Arena masses chanting “LOU” every time he makes a save? Coach Babcock, in the words of Russel Peters: "Be a man, do the right thing."

If you have an opinion on who should start for Canada, let it be heard by voting in the poll question on the right!