I apologize for being a day late, but the NFL playoffs took over my life this weekend and prevented me from my usual writing schedule. Without further ado; here’s this week’s questions:
Name: Chris
Comment:
Looking sharp in 2010, Langer. Sometimes it bothers me when the term “hero” gets applied to professional athletes. Granted, some of their accomplishments are spectacular – but, in general, this term is best left to fellow Canadians getting it done in the real world. I’m more comfortable with applying the term “hero” to our doctors, cops, fire-fighters, troops, teachers, etc.
Given that you are a history/military buff; could you give us a few well-deserved real-world hero shout outs?
Additionally, how about a few shout outs to athletes you feel do qualify as heroes?
Answer:
Hi Chris, thanks for an interesting question. I completely agree, teachers, cops, firefighters, nurses, soldiers are far more “heroic” than any athlete will ever be. You should read some of the citations for the Honourable Michaelle Jean’s annual Governor General Decoration for bravery. They’re amazing.
Just check out the official citation for Sydney Nova Scotia’s Chris MacLeod:
On January 24, 2008, Chris MacLeod rescued a boy who had fallen through the ice of Crane Cove, in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia. Alerted to the incident, Mr. MacLeod immediately ran to the scene. Wading through the freezing and rapidly deepening water, Mr. MacLeod broke the ice with his fists until he finally reached the young boy, who was starting to sink. He managed to get the boy up onto his shoulders and to bring him safely to shore where others helped them both out of the water.
I know for a fact there are a number of high-profile athletes Canada that donate large amounts of money to charity and visit children’s hospitals on their own time and you never hear anything about it because they want it kept private. I will tell you a quick story about Kurt Warner that will give you an idea of what I’m talking about. Every Friday, Kurt and his wife and their seven kids go out to dinner. Nothing too fancy, just a nice place to eat out. Kurt and his wife will find a young family sitting at another table and pay for their entire meal without them ever knowing about it. That doesn’t make Kurt Warner a hero, but it does make him a really good guy in my books.
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Name: Claire from Vancouver
Comment:
Just wondering what happens to all the hats when someone (Alex Burrows!) scores a hat trick? I know the term “hat trick” came from cricket initially and then was adopted by soccer and hockey, but when did the tradition start of throwing hats on the ice?
Answer:
Hi Claire, I love this question. The term “hat trick” started being used in hockey during the early 1950’s. At the time, a local store offered up free hats to any NHLer who scored three goals in a single game at the Montreal Forum. Soon after a Toronto clothier did the same to anyone who scored three goals at Maple Leaf Gardens. From then on, three goals in a game would forever be known as a “hat trick”.
As far where the hats go now, it all depends on which rink the feat takes place in. I know at the Wachovia centre, the Flyers display all the hats that are thrown on the ice in a huge glass case located in the concourse.
According to Ian Mendes, any hat thrown on the ice at Scotiabank Place ends up in the arena’s Lost & Found for a couple of days.
According to Louis Jean, any hat thrown on the ice at the Cell Centre are given to a non-profit organization and distributed to those in need. So if you throw your hat on to the ice in Montreal after Hal Gill picks up a hat trick, you will never see it again.
At the ACC in Toronto, the game grew picks them up and they end up being donated to one of the Leafs charities called the Team Up Foundation.
Now there is only thing I collect and that is hats. I have hats for the cottage, hats to walk the dog, hats to wear to the gym, you name it. I am also a firm believer that you never wear your best or favourite hat to a game on the off chance someone scores three goals and you have to pitch it onto the ice. I love Willie Mitchell as much as the next guy, but there’s no way I’m throwing my beloved Raiders hat on to the ice at GM Place.
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Name: Nate
Comment:
Hey Jim, a couple questions for you. First, who do you think would win in a hockey tournament between all of Canada’s provinces/territories? Maybe combine the Territories into a team and the Maritimes into a team. It would be interesting. Looking at Canada’s Olympic roster Ontario seems to have the most forwards, B.C. has the most d-men and Quebec has all three of the goalies. Of course, there are good players from all across our great country who are not in the Olympics. What do you think?
And, do you ever actually get questions about your over-sized honker?
Answer:
Hi Nate, to answer your first question, that is a great idea. I just can’t see how you could pull it off. The logistics and organizing would be pretty much impossible.
As for your second question, see below.
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Name: Jon
Comment:
Jim, hypothetical question for you. Darren Millard offers to pay for your nose job. Do you do it?
Answer:
Hi Jon, it’s you funny you asked me that question because Millard actually offered to pay for my nose job. I had been working at Sportsnet for a couple of years when he walked up to me and said he couldn’t take the sight of my nose any more and offered to pay to get it fixed. We consulted a prominent plastic surgeon in Toronto and he agreed to meet with me. The poor guy took one look at my nose and said he would do it, but only for triple his normal rate. He said something about needed extra medical staff and specialized equipment to do the job. Well, Millard took one look at the price tag and said: “Sorry dude, you’re stuck with that honker.”
On a brighter note, a professor from Livingstone College in North Carolina e-mailed me and asked that when I die, would I be willing to donate my nose to the school’s medical and science department.
I told the guy that I would think about it.
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Name: Jim at Queen’s U in Kingston
Comment:
Hello Langer: Being an old Expos’ fan it is nice to see Andre Dawson finally get into the HOF. My question to you is he going in as an Expo or a Cub?
Answer:
Hi Jim. I hate to say this because I loved Dawson when he played for the Expos, but I have a bad feeling he will be wearing a Cubs hat when he’s enshrined in Cooperstown.
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Name: Mike from beautiful, sunny Victoria
Comment:
What is up Jim! Three questions:
First off let me say that I am a big CFL fan. I also follow the NFL fairly closely … just not as much as the CFL. Last weekend I went to the Seahawks-Titans game in Seattle … the first NFL game I’ve been to. Now, it was a mean nothing game to both teams at the end of a disappointing season for both teams and yet the noise level (at an outdoor stadium) and atmosphere was as great, if not greater than any CFL game I’ve ever been to …and I’ve seen playoff games with about equal amount of people at BC Place (indoor domed-stadium), a Grey Cup and Riders games whose fans are supposed to be the rowdiest, or whatever.
I’m wondering why this is so? Are Canadian football fans not as passionate about their teams as Americans? Are Americans just louder? Cheaper beer at games?
Second, why do so many good hockey goalies come from Quebec?
Third, you seem to post questions from people that have good things to say about you. I’m wondering if you get questions from people who don’t like you but you don’t post them or if everyone who asks questions likes you?
Answer:
Damn you Mike for living in sunny Victoria. Way to throw that in my face. Of course my sister-in-law in Regina thinks I am an absolute wussy because I live in Toronto and have no idea what winter is all about.
First question: American sports fans in general are much rowdier and much louder than Canadian sports fans. NFL games, in the USA, will almost always seem louder and noisier than most CFL games in Canada.
Second question: Patrick Roy. Saint Patrick was such an icon to young hockey players in Quebec that it inspired a ton of them to play goal in hopes of one day that they would be just like him.
Third: I have posted a few questions from people who think I suck or hate my guts. After awhile I told my wife to stop e mailing questions and let me get back to my “Transition Time”.
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Name: Dale
Comment:
Hi Jim, who was the last NHL player to wear a Mike Reno/Olivia Newton-John style headband?
Answer:
Hi Dale, actually the first player that I can think off that was “working for the weekend” as a professional hockey player was none other than Manitoba’s Henry Boucha. A former Red Wing and Kansas City Scout, check out this shot of Boucha when he played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA:
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Name: Pete with the Big Feet
Comment:
Hi Jim. It has been said that Team Canada could have two competitive teams if they were allowed to in international hockey. I would like to know who you would pick for Team Canada II? Also you always talk about 80’s bands but you never comment on the best band of the 80’s, Mötley Crüe. Why is that?
Answer:
Hi Pete, I hope you and your feet are doing well.
Let’s face it; Team Canada II would be better than just about every other country there. My team Canada II would include the likes of Mike Fisher, Steven Stamkos and Ryan Smyth. How the hell can you have a team representing Canada at the Olympics without Ryan Smyth?
As far as Mötley Crüe goes, I don’t know why I haven’t talked about them. I have been lucky enough to meet both Vince Neil and Tommy Lee during my career. I am happy to report that they’re righteous dudes. Every time I think about the Crüe, I can’t help but remember this guy I went to Humber College with back in the 80’s. He had an early 70’s vintage Chevy Nova with huge tires and a massive stereo. We would all pile in the this beast of a car, head for the beer store, and crank up the Crüe so loud I swear my hearing has never recovered.
If there was one Mötley Crüe song that was guaranteed to get my mullet flying it was the classic, Looks That Kill from Shout at the Devil. Break out your devil horns, start banging your head and enjoy.
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Name: Jack in Bathurst, New Brunswick
Comment:
Jim, two questions:
Why is it that most national anthems are sung with no music background? I like the way it is done in Boston and Chicago, and I wish it was like the good old days in Montreal with the organ accompanying the singer.
Why doesn’t the NHL adopt a baseball style of umpiring system with a four-man unit? The four-man unit stays together all year. Will certainly bring some controversy but we need some of that.
Answer:
Hi Jack, are there still like four million moose running around New Brunswick? I was there on vacation a couple of years ago and every 10 kilometres there was a huge sign warning you to watch out for moose.
I am not sure why they don’t use music to accompany the anthem singer. Like you, I love what they do in Chicago. It totally adds to the atmosphere of the game day presentation.
As far as the NHL adopting four-man units that stay together all year, I am not so sure that would work. Don’t forget, in baseball, the four-man crew will fly into a city and spend four days there calling the series. NHL officials are constantly on the move. Plus, one NHL ref explained to me that there’s a limit to how many games they can call. They way he explained it, they are not allowed to call 82 regular season games.
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Name: Doug the prop in Chilliwack BC
Comment:
Can you please tell Don Taylor that Oscar Moller of the LA Kings is not a “former Chilliwack Chief” as he always infers when showing highlights on connected? Moller played two seasons for the expansion Chilliwack Bruins of the ‘dub. Sadly our beloved Chiefs moved to Langley to make way for the arrival of the Bruins. Thanks Mate, and you guys at Sportsnet need to cover more rugby from overseas.
Answer:
Doug, thanks for the question. I will let Don know about his faux pas and I will tell management to step up the coverage of rugby.
That’s it for this week, keep the questions rolling in.