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Sunday, April 10, 2011
Hockey and Politics. Good Times in Canada.
As I'm sure that most of our American and other foreign friends are aware, we are entering the silly season here in Canada...the NHL playoff for the Stanley Cup. In fact it's really doubly silly this year because we have entered into yet another federal election (to be held on May 2). Hockey will be vying for TV airtime with all of those nasty political commercials with the leaders telling you LESS about what they will do for our country and MORE about the negative attributes of their opponent. *Le Sigh*
Anyway, the election will be done before we we can say "ANOTHER friggin' minority government" and then we can devote all of our time and energy to hockey. Some of you may recall my talking about entering the office hockey pool last fall when we picked our players, hoping to win a crap load of money to win the bragging rights at the office. At this time last year I was probably gloating and doing a happy dance (so much so that my fez may have flown off). However this year my players appear to be collecting their big old paychecks, getting fat on coffee and Tim bits. I'm back in 8th place or so. Coincidentally, leading the pack this year is...my mother. Yep, the old Scottish dear herself. With only one night of hockey left in the regular season she holds a 16 point lead with little hope of being caught. I was talking with her this morning. Even though her computer is on the fritz, she is going to spend her prize winnings on other necessities. Items such as a vat of hair dye, orthopedic stockings and a six-pack of Drambuie are high on her must-have list. I know some of you are saying, "What a cheeky young lad, talking about his mum like that." I suppose that if she read these comments on my blog (she doesn't know of its existence) she'd give me a 'skelp aboot the ears'. That was a popular expression around our house when I was a kid. Above is a recent photo of the 'auld yin' in celebration of her windfall.
I saw a video this week to illustrate how weird it gets in Canada around playoff time. Below is a clip from Thursday's game with Minnesota at Vancouver. A fan apparently threw a salmon on the ice. What a waste of a good fish! Yahoo! sports writer Greg Wyshinski made a good point, "So this is symbolic of … what, exactly? The Canucks always swimming upstream in the playoffs and eventually getting smoked?" Sounds to me like the 'trash talk' has begun.
I would follow that up with something political, but I wouldn't want to spoil your day. Or your appetite. Instead I offer you a hilarious clip from the web site Funny or Die (you may remember these are the folks that brought us the fine Charlie Sheen cooking video). I first saw a link to this video at Huffington Post and thought, "Cool, they're doing a remake of the movie "When Harry Met Sally." However, upon closer inspection I discovered that this is a mock video about what a sequel might look like. I won't say another word, just watch and Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren and enjoy for yourself. On a side note, the video was directed by Lindsay Crystal, daughter of Billy...
I saw that salmon. I don't understand the significance; but whatever it is, it's growing, because someone threw another one onto the ice when Vancouver beat Calgary yesterday. The election bores me to tears and it is a a sound and fury signifying nothing. You're absolutely right, we'll have another friggin' minority government.
Way to go, you mum!! It seems politics is the same the world over. I've decided not to get involved with it anymore cos I just start winding myself up!
Salmon - squids - what's next, a tuna? Love, love, love that video with Helen Mirren and Billy Crystal. Hilarious! Love to see that as a real movie! And is that really your mom? Where's her fez?
Remember the days when the Canadian political ads were all about what they could do for the country? Who started this mudslinging thing anyway? I'm just delighted that I don't have to stress about it this time around. :)
Maybe you should be extra nice to your Mum. She might toss a few of her winnings your way. Or toss a salmon at you...
Elspeth- I think the salmon thing was just a rip-off of the throwing squid on the ice in Detroit. Hope the Canucks do well. Remember the year ('82?) when they went to the finals against NYI? Yikes!
David- Yeah, I've seen some of the rants at your blog...then again, we all need a hobby, right?
Cathy- It's a good thing we don't have a hockey team here any more or they'd be throwing Jigs Dinners all over the ice. Har! No. That's not my mum (she's about 40 years younger than that old dear.
Gigi- I suppose you folks in the southern states don't hear much about what goes on in Canada. Let me paraphrase...the snow melts in April, we come out from hibernation and then we elect a new government.
Michael- Hockey, beer and seafood are the trinity of evil up here...
Laurita- It's funny, isn't it? Now with more social media we're getting less information about what the party leaders want TO DO for our country. I've heard way too much about why a certain party leader voted in the British elections.
If my mum throws a salmon at me, I sure hope it's cooked and has a bit of pepper and lemon it it!
Lou- Thank you, kindly. And I didn't even have to wear a fez.
Pearl- A nice photo of mother (though her meds had wore off). Hey, as long as the fans keep showing up to see the team...look at Toronto, they've sucked for years and yet the fans still keep packing the arena.
Alan was born in Greenock, Scotland and came to Canada with his parents in '65. He grew up in Victoria, B.C. but spent most of his adult years in London, Ontario.
Alan studied sciences at the University of Victoria (Geology) but eventually came to the conclusion that there was far too much science involved. He finished up with a civil engineering technician diploma (a fancy term for draftsman) from Fanshawe College in London.
Alan moved with his wife and son to St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador in 2006 for a change of scenery.
He has taken a number of creative writing classes over the years and returned to writing in 2007. He is a member of the Writer's Alliance of Newfoundland & Labrador and his online fiction has appeared in MicroHorror, Static Movement, FlashShot and 52 Stitches.
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11 comments:
I saw that salmon. I don't understand the significance; but whatever it is, it's growing, because someone threw another one onto the ice when Vancouver beat Calgary yesterday. The election bores me to tears and it is a a sound and fury signifying nothing. You're absolutely right, we'll have another friggin' minority government.
Way to go, you mum!! It seems politics is the same the world over. I've decided not to get involved with it anymore cos I just start winding myself up!
That was a great video clip too!
Salmon - squids - what's next, a tuna?
Love, love, love that video with Helen Mirren and Billy Crystal. Hilarious! Love to see that as a real movie!
And is that really your mom?
Where's her fez?
As an American friend I can honestly say that, no I had no idea about the hockey or the politics....but then I live under a rock, so.....
Loved the Grampire video! Have been meaning to look around for it as I've heard so much about it. Thanks for putting it right under my nose!
and they say canucks don't know how to have a good time..
and they say canucks don't know how to have a good time..
Remember the days when the Canadian political ads were all about what they could do for the country? Who started this mudslinging thing anyway? I'm just delighted that I don't have to stress about it this time around. :)
Maybe you should be extra nice to your Mum. She might toss a few of her winnings your way. Or toss a salmon at you...
Elspeth- I think the salmon thing was just a rip-off of the throwing squid on the ice in Detroit. Hope the Canucks do well. Remember the year ('82?) when they went to the finals against NYI? Yikes!
David- Yeah, I've seen some of the rants at your blog...then again, we all need a hobby, right?
Cathy- It's a good thing we don't have a hockey team here any more or they'd be throwing Jigs Dinners all over the ice. Har! No. That's not my mum (she's about 40 years younger than that old dear.
Gigi- I suppose you folks in the southern states don't hear much about what goes on in Canada. Let me paraphrase...the snow melts in April, we come out from hibernation and then we elect a new government.
Michael- Hockey, beer and seafood are the trinity of evil up here...
Laurita- It's funny, isn't it? Now with more social media we're getting less information about what the party leaders want TO DO for our country. I've heard way too much about why a certain party leader voted in the British elections.
If my mum throws a salmon at me, I sure hope it's cooked and has a bit of pepper and lemon it it!
My friend, you have made my day.
Your mother is quite adorable, isn't she?
And GREETINGS from Minneapolis, where, despite the Wild's pathetic performance three years running, we still love our hockey.
:-)
Pearl
Lou- Thank you, kindly. And I didn't even have to wear a fez.
Pearl- A nice photo of mother (though her meds had wore off). Hey, as long as the fans keep showing up to see the team...look at Toronto, they've sucked for years and yet the fans still keep packing the arena.
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