– I can’t help but wonder if years from now we will look back upon the 2012 NFL campaign as one of those “remember the year” type of seasons. As we sit and watch Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III electrify crowds and set rookie quarterback records, you get the feeling that this is truly historic stuff we are watching. Granted, we said the same thing last year watching Cam Newton. It’s been a difficult sophomore season thus far for Newton, but Luck and Griffin made the transition from college to the pros look easy.
– With no NHL, fans have been left to look elsewhere to occupy their time and get their sporting fix. In 2005, the “sport” of poker took off. Many wondered what sport would benefit this time around. I can honestly say that I’ve come around on one sport in particular that I would have never expected. I know I’m way late to the party, but I have a new found, genuine interest in UFC. Maybe it’s the lockout or the fact that I went to my first live UFC event earlier this year in Calgary (which didn’t excite most people), but I was legitimately excited for the most recent fight card. I’ve long respected the sport and its incredible popularity, but for the first time I can truly say that I’ll be making plans to watch the next pay per view. With or without hockey.
– How about the Indianapolis Colts? Granted, they had to endure one season of Curtis Painter, but they have effectively gone from one of the top five or six quarterbacks to ever play the game to Luck, who looks as though he might fit into that same category soon enough. Some teams struggle to ever find a franchise quarterback, while others have gone from one right to another. Probably the greatest example was seeing the San Francisco 49ers go from Joe Montana to Steve Young. From Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer.
Must be nice.
Think of how it must feel for the Cleveland Browns or the Kansas City Chiefs to go for decades without a bonafide number one guy, while a team like the Green Bay Packers moves from Brett Favre right to Aaron Rodgers.
– If for only a few weeks, it looks like we all need to show a little love for the Edmonton Oilers. If Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on a plane with Team Canada bound for the World Junior Hockey Championships in Russia, it would seem like our country would have to be the odds on favourite to win gold. He was too good to be cut from the Oilers last season, and is at an over a point-per-game pace playing with men in the American Hockey League this year. What kind of impact will he have on kids all under the age of 20? It’s not yet official, and I won’t totally be confident he’ll be there until that plane leaves the ground, but if Nugent-Hopkins is in fact on the team he might put on the greatest individual performance we’ve ever seen at this event.
– I was happy to see Kaleb Toth brought back by the Calgary Roughnecks. Loyalty is a rare thing in sports, but for Toth to be on the floor for his 12th season in Calgary speaks to the affinity both sides have for one another. The team has undergone significant change in the last couple of seasons and I think there’s definite value in keeping a guy like Toth in the fold. He was used sparingly down the stretch last year and into the playoffs, but his leadership qualities and experience are worth it alone for the Roughnecks. Over the years, he’s been a terrific ambassador for his team and our city. If there’s a charity event, you can bet he will be there. Beyond that, I’ve got a feeling he’s not quite done yet contributing on the floor as well. I can’t wait for the start of the season.