The start of another hockey season

Henrik Sedin is named the Canucks'
new captain in a ceremony before the game

Last night my team, the Vancouver Canucks, played their first game of the year against the Los Angeles Kings. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks and was trying to think of a way to describe the feeling of anticipation that opening night invariably brings.

Remember how you used to feel as a child when the new school year started? You had your brand new pencils and school clothes all ready to go, and everything felt so fresh and full of possibilities. As we get older we tend to lose that – jobs continue day after day and seasons slide into one another and everything can just kind of blur together.

Becoming a sports fan is one way to recapture that September feeling. The beginning of a new season for your team gives you that fresh start that we all crave so much. You look at the schedule and see limitless potential for your team. Injuries, heartbreaking losses and losing streaks have yet to happen. And a new season washes away the pain of the year before – yes, the Chicago Blackhawks threw my Canucks out of the playoffs last year and went on to win the Stanley Cup, but that doesn’t matter today. All that matters now is what happens in the weeks and months to come – and ultimately what happens next April. A fresh start, another chance, the opportunity to write a new story…that’s what we all looked for at the start of each school year. And that’s what keeps sports fans coming back for more year after year.

Anze Kopitar scores in a shoot out on his team's way to
victory. Kopitar had returned to the game with a few less
teeth after being hit with a stick in the mouth earlier on. 

The Canucks lost last night. In sports as in life you quickly learn that there is no such thing as a perfect year. A new haircut or a new defenseman is not a magic pill. There will be ups and downs. But I still believe that come next summer I will be looking back at a truly great year. Yes, this will be a year to remember.

Your NFL news: Week 4

Today we start a new feature: Your NFL news. Every week I'll be posting about a couple of interesting or noteworthy things that happened in the NFL so that you can participate in the watercooler conversation if you so choose. First up, Week 4.


Cutler and Cavallari

Remember Jay Cutler, the Chicago Bears’ quarterback who is dating Kristin Cavallari? Well, he had a rough game on Sunday, when his team lost for the first time this season to the New York Giants. Kristin’s new man was sacked (meaning he was tackled while trying to throw the ball) a record 10 times and he left the game with a concussion. Apparently it’s not serious (is it possible for a head injury to not be serious?) and he’ll be back playing next week when his team meets the Carolina Panthers.



Speaking of the Carolina Panthers, one of their players, DeAngelo Williams, was one of those responsible for all the pink – pink gloves, pink shoes, pink hats - you may have noticed if you caught any of the games this weekend. No, the players didn’t call each other before the game and coordinate outfits junior high style; the NFL is actually honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The NFL’s participation was championed by Williams, who lost three aunts to the disease and whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. Doing good must have given him some good karma: he scored his first touchdown of the season on Sunday.



Speaking of karma, Michael Vick – you know the guy, the one who went to jail a few year ago for his role in a dog fighting ring – got squished between two opponents and had to leave the game with a rib injury. He's damaged some cartilage and will find even basic things like breathing quite painful until it heals. No word yet on when exactly he will return as quarterback to his team the Philadelphia Eagles, but it sounds like it may be a while.

Vick getting sandwiched

So there you have it: three little tidbits to get you through a football conversation. So much happens every week that there's no point trying to keep up with it all, but this will keep you going - at least 'til next week.

Starin' at Darren

Today's Monday Man is Darren McFadden, a 6'2", 210-pound running back. The 23-year old was born in Little Rock, and after playing football for the University of Arkansas was drafted fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2008, who promptly signed him to a $60.1 million contract.

McFadden had a rough road to the NFL. The tenth of twelve children, he grew up in one of the most gang-ridden neighbourhoods in the country (it was once featured in the HBO documentary Gang War: Banging in Little Rock). In fact, one of his brothers was in the Crips, while another belonged to the rival Bloods. His mother was addicted to crack (her supplier was another one of her children) and has said "Drugs were a way of life for us." 

McFadden credits sports for keeping him clean and out of gangs in high school, but he did have some difficulties in college, including some arrests and injuries in bar fights and several paternity suits before his 21st birthday. Those who know him, however, insist he's a gentle soul who loves making people laugh.

Since starting his professional career McFadden has had some ups and downs on the field, but this year he was off to the best start of his career. Before yesterday's game against the Houston Texans he was one of the leading rushers in the NFL, meaning he had been playing very well indeed. Unfortunately he injured his hamstring in the game and there's no word yet on how long he'll be out. He's listed as day-to-day, so hopefully he'll be back lighting up our TV screens by next weekend. Until then, enjoy the pictures!

Bye-bye Cito

This afternoon the Toronto Blue Jays are playing their last game of the season on the road against the Minnesota Twins.  Not only is it the end of another year for the Jays, but it is also the last game for their manager (or coach) Cito Gaston, who's retiring after today's game.


Cito Gaston



Cito is a big deal in Toronto, having led the Jays to two World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.  He left the team in 1997, but was brought back in 2008. 



Alex Anthopoulos



Since I didn't grow up in Toronto and wasn't a baseball fan in the early 90s when the Jays were dominating, I don't have the hero-worship for Cito that many people have and tend to be a little more critical of him than others I know.  Despite my reservations, he is leaving the Jays in a better position than he found them.  As the announcers during today's game mentioned, he's also a big enough name and well-respected enough that he can bring other good baseball people to the Jays organization. 

 

I have no idea right now who will be the Jays next manager.  Our GM, Alex Anthopoulos, seems to be content to take his time with this decision and keep his cards close to his chest.  Anthopoulos certainly has a lot of work to do in the off-season.  As for Gaston's winter plans?  The Jays gave him four first-class tickets anywhere in the world as a farewell.  Not a bad parting gift, huh?

Another reason to ♥ NY



The first-ever football player to be featured as our Monday Man is Mark Sanchez, a third-generation Mexican-American from California. 

This 23-year old is doing well in his second season in the NFL.  He is the quarterback for the New York Jets, and they've won 2 of their 3 games so far, including a victory yesterday over the Miami Dolphins. Before being drafted by the Jets, Mark played football for the University of Southern California where he earned a degree in Communications.

Off the field Mark does charity work with inner-city kids, and has become quite the hero to the Hispanic community.  In order to better communicate with his many Spanish-speaking fans, Sanchez - who is not a native-speaker - studied the language at university.



Mark at the Tonys



He's also a big musical theatre fan (yes, you read that right).  He was even a presenter at the 2010 Tony awards, where he introduced a number from the show Memphis.  It was at the awards that he confirmed that he and Jamie-Lynn Sigler of Sopranos and Entourage fame are an item.  Apparently the two like to go the baseball games and Broadway shows - the best of both worlds in my opinion!

Enjoy the photos below.... I told you there were some things to love about football!



Blue Steel?



Having a Baywatch moment



Love and lust in the NFL

Miles Austin & Kim Kardashian

Even if you’ve never watched a football game, chances are you know a couple of players. That’s because they often grace the pages of gossip magazines on the arm of some starlet or celebutante. Kim Kardashian is one such lady who loves her some NFL meat. Unfortunately for Miss Kardashian, her latest football love, Miles Austin, reportedly ended their fling last week. The two dated over the summer but apparently now that the season has started, Austin, a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, has no more time for the high-maintenance Kardashian.

Kim with former flame Reggie Bush

Austin is not Kardashian’s first NFL conquest. You probably remember seeing her former flame, Reggie Bush, on the cover of every celebrity news magazine last March. These two loved attention, but apparently Bush, 25, was not ready to cave to Kardashain’s demands for a ring, so he called it off. Bush’s luck seems to have taken a turn for the worse since the breakup, however. Last February, while still with Kardashian, his team the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. But last Monday just a week into the season, Bush broke his leg on the field.

Cutler & Cavallari

Leinart & Cavallari

The two were introduced by Matt Leinart in 2007. Leinart is the back-up quarterback for the Houston Texans, and has dated/drunkenly groped Paris Hilton as well as Kristin Cavallari. Cavallari has now moved on to Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. They’ve been dating since August, and according to a recent interview with Cutler “It’s working out so far.” Not exactly a gushing response, but I guess she has to take what she can.

Boller & Reid



Boller & Prejean



As you can see, these people seem to date within groups – like high school. Another group has a couple that actually made it to the altar this summer. Former beauty queen Carrie ““that’s just the way I was raised” Prejean tied the knot in July with Oakland raiders quarterback Kyle Boller. Before Prejean, Boller had the misfortune of being linked to Tara Reid.

Reid, meanwhile, once dated Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots and three time Super Bowl champ. He’s moved up in the world since then, and nowadays is known as Mr. Gisele Bundchen. The two married in February 2009 and had son Benjamin last December.



Tom & Gisele - these pretty pretty people get an extra big picture



Tom and baby mama #1 Bridget Moynahan



In between Tara and Gisele, Tom had time to date and impregnate Bridget Moynahan, best known as Carrie Bradshaw’s romantic rival and Mr. Big’s wife on Sex and the City. The two broke up about the same time she got pregnant with their son, Edward, who was born in August 2007 (by which time Gisele was already in the picture). Gisele has said some pretty annoying things about Edward being her child too, which I’m sure doesn’t sit too well with Ms. Moynahan.

Romo & Underwood

Another player you may remember from his association with celebrity women is Tony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. In 2006 and 2007 Romo had an on-again off-again relationship with Carrie Underwood (whose summer wedding to NHL star Mike Fisher we talked about here).



Simpson & Romo



Simpson & Johnson



Romo then moved on to Jessica Simpson. They started dating in Novemebr 2007, and shortly thereafter she showed up to a game wearing a pink version of his jersey. Romo had a terrible game that day, and Jessica earned the ire of Dallas fans. After a rocky few years Romo dumped Jessica on the eve of her 29th birthday. Apparently Papa Joe Simpson was trying to become his agent, so I can’t say I blame him. Still, the timing was a little rough. You may have recently read that Simpson is now dating former football player Eric Johnson. Any bets on how long that will last?



Kendra & Hank



Our last couple of the day has also been in the news lately. Former playmate and girlfriend of Hugh Hefner, Kendra Wilkinson, married football player Hank Baskett in June 2007 at the Playboy mansion. Their life together and the birth of their son in December 2009 have been featured on their reality show Kendra. But last May a sex tape starring Kendra and an unidentified man was leaked, and apparently Hank was not too happy about it. Then last week, he was released from his team the Philadelphia Eagles. He has just been picked up by the Minnesota Vikings though, and they won today, so maybe things are looking up for him.

Tomorrow our Monday Man will feature another NFL/celebrity couple, and this is one relationship that I personally am rooting for to last. Stay tuned!

Back in the game

After a longer than anticipated hiatus, In the game is back! As the summer and all its distractions wind down, I will now be posting fairly regularly, so check back often.

Football season is now underway and I recently had a request for some posts to help make sense of this sport. I will warn you now: football can be very confusing. It is not your basic “put ball in net” game, and there are a ridiculous amount of rules and positions and plays etcetera, etcetera. The good news is, I will not bore you to death trying to explain the nuances of the game. Rather, I’ll give you some general explanations, keep you updated on any big events, and introduce you to some fine looking athletes along the way. Deal?

I’ll start us off today with some basic information. American football is the second most popular sport in the United States (behind baseball) and has millions of fans around the world. College football is huge, but we’ll mostly be talking about professional football here – the NFL, or National Football League.

Each team plays once a week, almost always on Sunday or Monday. This is just one of the unique things about football – unlike other sports like baseball (162) or hockey (82), each football team plays only 16 games a year. So while the NFL season may seem interminable to those of you who have a football-addicted spouse, it actually only runs from September to February.

So how does football work? Though I previously said this was not a “put ball in net” kind of game, in a way it is. Imagine that the net is a big section at the end of the field (called the end zone). To score points, a team has to get the football into that area. The difference is that someone on that team has to be holding the ball while it’s in the end zone; you can’t just shoot it or kick it in.

Another difference? In football the teams take turns trying to score. First one side tries to get to the end zone while the other team tries to stop them. After a certain number of tries, they switch.

At the end of 60 minutes (though with stoppages in play and timeouts games usually take 2 ½ hours to play), the team with the most points wins. Simple, right?

I think that’s enough football for today. I promise you that the next football post will be a little less informational and a little more colourful. And I should also let you know that American football stars seem to like to get naked even more than their counterparts in European football, so look forward to Monday!