Jim Lang

Jim Lang is a Connected anchor and NFL reporter for Sportsnet. Also check out Jim's website, www.jimlang.ca

Brian Propp, perhaps the unluckiest player to ever lace 'em up.

How unlucky is Marian Hossa? Clubber let's you know in this week's Ask Jim Lang.

After taking a break to honour Queen Victoria's birthday, the Mail Bag is back. Last week I was a parent helper for my oldest daughter's track and field competition. Some of the kids did a good job with one of the toughest races in track, the 800m. It still blows my mind that Great Britain's legendary Sebastian Coe once ran the 800m in a time of 1:41.73.

Now on to this week's questions:

Name: Andrew

Comment: Hey Clubber, are you going to be around this summer? I'm not a baseball fan and I sure could use something to look forward to reading on Mondays when I'm stuck indoors nowhere near a window and natural light.

I'm hoping to see the 'Hawks lose in the Stanley Cup Finals. This has nothing to do with me being a bitter 'Nucks fan, I just think it would be hilarious if Marian Hossa lost in the Cup finals for the third year in a row with a third different team. He would be like the NHL's equivalent of the early '90s Buffalo Bills. That would have to be some kind of record. Wouldn't it?

My real question though is what player in NHL history has made it to the Cup finals the most and NEVER won?

Answer: Hi Andrew, I am not sure what you do for a living but it sounds kind of rough. Yes I will be around this summer. However, because of added football reporting duties I won't be filing the Mail Bag every week over the summer. Now as far as your question is concerned, Marian Hossa has a long way to go to match the Stanley futility of five other poor souls.

Brian Propp, Norm Ullman, Gerry Melnyk, Pep Kelly and Bruce MacGregor all have the dubious distinction of going to five Stanley Cup finals and coming up empty every time.

Propp went to the Cup final three times with the Flyers, once with the Bruins and once with Minnesota. In 1987 not only did Propp and the Flyers lose to the amazing Oilers juggernaut in seven games in the Cup final, he also finished second to Wayne Gretzky in the playoff scoring race.

Because Brian Propp was on the Stars team that lost to the Penguins in 1991, it gives me an excuse to share the video of Mario Lemieux's Hall of Fame goal in the Cup final that year.

Growing up, my dad would often tell me stories about Norm Ullman and his uncanny ability to pass the puck. Years later, my dad and I went to an NHL legends charity game. Ullman, who was 59 at the time, could still pass the puck like a magician. I swear he could go tape-to-tape with his eyes closed.

Now there's no way I am putting Hossa in the same class as Propp or Ullman. But there have been a lot of great players in the history of the NHL that have never won a Cup. That's why it's the hardest trophy to win in professional sports.

Name: blue revolution

Comment: Hey Clubber thank you for the nod to the troops re. VE Day. I love the fact you often pay homage to our armed forces.

The recent tasering of a spectator at the Phillies game again brought to light the dangers of people running on to the field. I was at the Bombers/Lions game when someone ran on to the field to attack Eric Carter, (scary stuff). My question is this: Do you think the threat of getting tasered might curb the behaviour of these morons or is there no end in sight? What else could be done to further prevent these clowns (I refuse to call them fans) from endangering the safety of fans, players, officials, cheerleaders etc.?

Answer: The Blue Revolution, I love the name. I wish I could say the threat of being tasered would put an end to boneheads running on to the field; but it won't. I would like to hear a sociologist weigh in on this subject because for whatever reason, there is a segment of sports fans who feel they have the right to do whatever they want, whenever they want. If they want to drink 20 beers and run onto the field, they are going to do it, no matter what the consequences. I like having a beer at a game as much as the next guy, but I like to remember what happened in the game. Maybe the solution is to create a 'party' section within stadiums and arenas. Families with kids would know enough to stay away from that area. If fans in that section want to drink their face off and go crazy and heckle the opposition, they wouldn't be offending anyone. Instead of tasering, stadiums should hire local high school football and rugby players to chase down these boneheads who insist on running onto the field. They can make some money and work on their tackling skills at the same time.

Name: Chris

Comment: Hey Clubber, love the blog, it's yet another reason to spend endless hours on the Sportsnet site while I should be working...but enough of that.

So, with the Phillies-Jays series being moved to Philly, are the Jays going to get compensated in any way, considering they're losing out on the revenue they would have generated from those three home games? This series would've been a big draw for them, and with the crowds being rather small so far this season, it's going to hurt. I figure they ought to, but I haven't a clue. Perhaps you could shed some light on this?

Thanks, Chris, all the way from Gold River, BC!

Answer:Hi Chris. Gold River BC? Isn't that a small town in the middle of Vancouver Island? When I lived at CFB Greenwood, a buddy of mine had moved from CFB Comox and told me about Gold River once.

Now since the big announcement about the move, Blue Jays President and CEO Paul Beeston went on record saying that the Jays and the Phillies have a financial agreement to share the revenue generated from the series at Citizens Bank Park.

Considering the average attendance this year at Rogers Centre, the Jays could en up making money on the series in Philadelphia. Actually Citizens Bank Park is part of an amazing sports complex off of Broad Street on the South Side of Philly. If any fan gets the chance, it's definitely worth a road trip to check out Mr. Perfect, Roy Halladay and the Phillies take on the Jays in a "home" game at the Park. Because it is considered a home game, there will be a DH and the Jays will bat last. Plus is you make the road trip you will get a chance to eat some authentic Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich.

Name: Blair (Revelstoke BC)

Comment: Hey Jim, Quick playoff question for you: has any team ever won Lord Stanley's Cup by playing four series that all went the distance of seven games? Keep on keepin' on Jim.

Answer: Hi Blair. Revelstoke eh? Home of the Grizzles, I like that. The answer to your question is not yet. The 2006 Carolina Hurricanes played in 25 of a possible 28 games when they beat the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. There have been teams that have played more than 25 games but they didn't win the Cup. Of course, if Kerry Fraser hadn't missed that heinous-and-blatant Wayne Gretzky' high stick on Doug Gilmour back in 1993, the Leafs would have went on to beat Patrick Roy and the Canadiens in 7 games. That would have meant that Pat Burns and the Leafs would have won the Stanley Cup in 1993 by playing 27 out of a possible 28 games. Not that I am bitter or anything.

Name: Dexter from Brampton

Comment: Heyo Jimbo thanks for taking my last question about your hair (mine is looking amazing thanks to you). I was just wondering if you mind people calling you Jimbo and where the word shorts came from?...Its not like we call pants 'longs'. Hope ya hit me back! Thanks!

Answer: Hi Dexter, glad to hear your lid is looking good after I answered your question. I don't mind being called Jimbo at all. If you work around sports you are going to have to get used to being called by a variety of nicknames. I get Jimbo, Langer, Jimmy, Clubber. Whatever works is all good with me. I also get called by a lot of other names but since this is a family website I am not at liberty to repeat them.

Shorts got their name from being a shorter version of traditional long pants. Originally they were called "short pants". But over times, that has evolved to the term we use know in our everyday language, "shorts". For the record, only women should ever be allowed to wear cut off denim shorts. Spandex cycling shorts should only be worn when you are actually out riding your bike. Lederhosen should only be worn during Oktoberfest in a Munich beer garden or at a Halloween party.

Name: Dale B.

Comment: Hi Jim, if Winnipeg gets an NHL franchise again, do you think they'll be named the Jets, the Moose or do you think they'll do something crazy and name them the Roughriders?

Yours in all seriousness, Dale B.

Answer: Hi Dale. If Winnipeg gets an NHL team again, they have to call it the "Mosquitoes". The logo would feature one of the greatest fighter/bombers from World War 2 - that all wood phenomenon, the deHavilland Mosquito. It was one of the fastest propeller driven planes in Europe and played a huge role in the Allied Victory in World War II. Besides Manitoba has a strong history with the RCAF and many of the pilots who flew the "Mossie" in the second World War trained in air fields throughout the province. In the rafters, they could hang a life size model of the Mosquito. The plane would be painted in the colours of Canadian World War II ace Russell Bannock. Bannock shot down 11 German fighters and destroyed 19 V-1 rockets in his trusty Mosquito. Better yet, every time Winnipeg would score a goal, the bomb bay doors would open up and lasers would start shooting all over the ice. For the kids, the team will have a cute little Gary Bettman-sized Mosquito mascot.

That's it for this week. Just a reminder, Monday May 31st is Memorial Day in America. If you ever get a chance, you have to check out the Arlington National Cemetery. It's just across from Washington DC in Arlington, Virginia. It's overwhelming to see that many gravestones in one place. To all the American men and women who gave their lives in service of their country, we salute you.