Some Tuesday morning musings on some of the things that amuse, confuse and even amaze a fellow in the wonderful world of fun and games.
ALS, LIONS DESERVE IT
The two best teams in the CFL during the season should meet in the Grey Cup.
But as a guy who roots for the underdog, Ol' Hunt gives both the Argos and Saskatchewan Roughriders a shot at pulling off the upset. I hope the officiating is an awful lot better than it was Friday night in the Argos-Hamilton Tiger-Cats game. The officials called so many penalties -- some were deserved -- that they took the momentum out of the game.
I hope commissioner Tom Wright calls his officials together before Sunday's game in Montreal between the Alouettes and Argos and tells them to cool it.
I don't think the commissioner believed me when I told him that in 1952 the Argos played Hamilton in a sudden-death playoff game and not a single penalty was called. Just to make sure my ancient memory wasn't playing tricks, I checked it with Nick Volpe, who played in the game.
They'll have a fine group of players on the field Sunday. They deserve officiating that is of the same high standard.
LUKEWARM RECEPTION
The Raptors have won their first three games of the season for the first time in franchise history. They beat the Detroit Pistons, the defending NBA champions; the Houston Rockets, who are rated a top contender; and on Sunday the Portland Trail Blazers.
It sure hasn't been reflected at the gate. The Detroit game went against the Argos playoff game. The hijacked parking prices may have scared a lot of people away, although it wasn't reflected in the football attendance.
But how do you explain Sunday when the Raptors drew only 13,263, the smallest crowd in franchise history. I guess the fans still aren't convinced the Raptors are that good.
The Raptors now head for the road, playing some tough Western teams, starting tonight in Sacramento. If the Raptors win a few on the trip, the fans may realize they are for real.
Everyone presumed that with the Maple Leafs not playing, the Raptors would be selling out every game. I'm beginning to wonder if this is a real basketball town.
NOBBY JUNIOR
The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to play the role of giant-killer in the NFL. First they knock off the unbeaten New England Patriots.Then Sunday they handed the Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the season.
The new star of the Steelers is rookie Ben Roethlisberger. He was drafted after the big-name quarterbacks but has proved to be the best of the lot. He comes from Miami of Ohio, the same school Nobby Wirkowski played college football at. In case you've forgotten, Wirkowski guided Argos to the 1952 Grey Cup. They didn't win another for more than 30 years.
TOUGH TOWN
Last night Larry Murphy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Could this be the same defenceman who was booed out of town by big-mouths at the Gardens? He went to Detroit where he got two more Stanley Cup rings.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
Now that we have both Mike Weir and Stephen Ames among the elite of golf, it would be great see the Presidents Cup come to Canada. But if the PGA Tour expects Canadian taxpayers to come up with $10 million, I say who needs it ... My 12-year old grandson, Billie, plays for the Alouettes in the Oakville minor football league. Last year he played for the Eskimos who won the Grey Cup. If the Als beat the Argos on Sunday, I'll know whom to blame.
