TSN: The Sidney Network

Ah, Pierre McGuire, we wish we hardly knew ye. I kind of like Pierre actually, his insight is pretty good and informative but PLEASE STOP SCREAMING AT ME. This is my HOME, my sanctuary and for last while, my workplace.

Sidney Crosby is in Edmonton tonight, and right now (during the pre-game anthem, nice ovation for Pisani when they showed him during the anthem) I'm predicting that Malkin will upstage Crosby and be the best player on the ice. Pierre is still giving Sidney huge props for being "spectacular" in handling all the attention, which I guess means he didn't intentionally spit on any children in wheelchairs. He does seem like a nice kid but really, do we really expect much from hockey players? If they're Canadian, thank your parents and teammates. If you're American, don't be any cockier than expected. If you're European, speak English (or French, if you're captain of the Montreal Canadiens). If you're Russian, speak English and be funny. We like to make it hard for the Russians.

TSN has also pointed out numerous times that there's "not a seat available in the house" for tonight's game, the translation of which is "This game is so important Edmontonians felt the need to leave their oilwells to watch this game! Please Greater Toronto Area, stay up a little later!" The Oilers, of course, sell out every game regardless of the opponent. Their rink is tiny, the unemployment rate is 3.8%, lowest in Canada (every one of that 3.8% lives in the six block route between where I park and where I work out) and the Eskimos, who barely overlap into hockey season (though not as much as they were supposed to!), just make people here mad, so there really isn't much else to do here in the winter.

Scores! Pitkanen makes a great pass and Nilssen one-times it. I've watched each game since Pitkanen came back from his injury and he has been terrific. As tired as I am of hearing the phrase "puck-moving defenseman," he really does it. Skates well, good passer in the offensive zone and big enough to make a difference in his own end. And isn't Smid suddenly the nasty bugger in front of his own net!

I remember after 9/11 reading reaction acticles by sports journalists, all of whom were attempting to lend some legitimacy and relevence to their job in the wake of ample evidence to the contrary. They talked about what role sports play in the aftermath, should various events still be played and how we can never use words like "heroic," "war" or "warrior" to describe athletes and their performance again. The last point is the one that interested me the most and I'd like to write more about it later, but for now I just want to put forward the assumption that Pierre McGuire did not read that particular article and does not subscribe to that line of thinking.

Enjoy the game, Greater Toronto Area!