The Fan's Fanatic

Until Next Year Jets Fans.

Well Flames Fans, we are for the third year in a row out of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Even though our childish cousins to the north, the Edmonton Oilers, did not make it again for the FIFTH ear in a row and the Jets are still flying high on just having their team back, the Flames need to make some sort of move to get back to the playoffs.

Now Jay Feaster (as pictured above possibly after eating a bad pocket dawg) did not give much of a hint to what he will be doing over the off-season if he still is the GM.

Here are five things that I think should happen if the Flames want to move forward.

1. Get rid of JayBo, Sarich, and Stajan (and more of the crappy players if we can)

Just saying, these guys sucked this year. Sarich and JayBo can't defend a Timbits hockey team and show it in how many times they are beat in their own zone. Matt Stajan is a good fourth liner, but not good enough to be paid 4 MILLION a season!

All three of these guys are irrelevant with the emergence of Sven Baertschi, T.J. Brodie, and Akim Aliu among others. If Feaster resigns Sarich and does not move either JayBo or Stajan, then you can practically throw out next season. Maybe we can start send guys down to the minors to get rid of the cap hit, a la Wade Redden style with the Rangers.

2. Keep Brent

Although we have not made the playoffs under his tenure, we need to keep Brent Sutter regardless. His proven track record of molding young players and keeping veterans in check is something that this team needs. If plays do not want to follow his structured, defensive style of coaching, then move them. Chances are they are the players that cause the Flames to suck.

This leads me to number 3.

3. Sign Zach Parise

You want a player that can take over for Iggy? Get Parise.

He is a solid player that is worth every penny.

He can hit, he can score, he can be a leader. For me that sounds like a guy that you want to take over from Iggy.

The bonus side with Parise is that Sutter has coached him before and they appeared to connect. Time to rekindle the magic.

4. Trade Either Kipper or Iggy

I know it is hard to hear, but we have to get rid of one of them. Right now their trade value is too good to pass up.

If the Flames do manage to get Parise, then Iggy becomes expendable. However, he has a no movement clause and in my opinion it is his choice and his choice only as to whether he leaves. Not ownership's, not management's. Jarome deserves to make this decision on his own accord just because of the vast amount that he has given to the Flames and to Calgary.

My preference would be to trade Kipper though. He doesn't have an NMC and is probably worth more to a team that is just missing that one piece that is goaltending.

I don't want to see either leave, but it is for the best of the franchise. The last thing that is best for the franchise is number 5.

5. Fire Ken King

Through all of the GMs, coaches, players, and other parts of the Flames organization that have been changed, one person has stayed the same. That person is Ken King, the presdient of the Flames.

Its time that he gets replaced.

All King cares about is filling the Dome and making more money. He doesn't care if we field a winning team or even compete, he just cares about selling seats and slinging beer to make a quick buck.

In fact, when Feaster addressed the media on Tuesday, he said he will be making recommendations to King. Really? Recommendations?

If you hire a general manager, he should be able to manage. I can see King holding a veto on decisions, but if Feaster hasn't done anything insane yet, then why make him come to you for approval.

King either needs to release the reigns on this team or GTFO. Maybe the Flames can make him more involved with the Stampeders and less involved with the hockey team.

These are the five things I think should be done with the Flames in order for them to move forward.

Do you have any other ideas? Drop me a line and I'll post some of the best ones.

Until next time,

Its that time of year again.

Starting tonight when the new Miami Marlins take on the defending World Champions, the St. Louis Cardinals, baseball is finally back in full swing.

Although many teams including my Toronto Blue Jays do not start their season until tomorrow, Opening Day still means a ton to baseball fans. Here are five of the reasons I think Opening Day is so important.

1. Every Team Is At Par For The Only Time of The Season

There is only one time during the entire baseball season where everyone is equal, everyone has the same record, everyone has the same chance to win the division. That time is Opening Day.

Every team has the chance to be undefeated or reversely not win a game. It obviously extremely improbable with a 162 game season, but on opening day it is still possible for the Blue Jays to go undefeated and the Yankees to lose all 162 games (I wish).

2. It Is Practically A National Holiday

For baseball fans, Opening Day is a de-facto holiday for us. We skip work, we skip class, or if that is impossible, we sneak in a device to listen to or watch the game (Thank You MLB.tv on an IPad). We don't care if we get in trouble its Opening Day and it is time to have some fun.

3. Summer Has Officially Begun

Except for diamonds with a dome, baseball is played mostly in the Spring and Summer. Baseball fans call Spring and Summer ball season. Enough said.

4. March Madness is Over.

Finally everyone can stop complaining about screwing their bracket up and watching basketball like they actually care. Nobody likes basketball anyways (Well, except for looking at college cheerleaders).

5. Hot Dogs, Cracker Jack, and Beer are now considered acceptable for dinner.

People tend to think I am weird when I am picky when it comes to hot dogs. Being a baseball fan, my choice of hot dog along with an ice cold beer is key to my enjoyment of a game. During the baseball season it is considered a key stable to my survival because it is usually dinner at the ballpark.

These are just five of many reasons why Opening Day is so important to baseball fans. If you have any other things that make Opening Day so important, Drop Me A Line and I'll post some of the other opinions.

Until next time.

What a fucking joke. Graham James get only two years for raping many innocent hockey players while he was in a position of trust with these now men.

I told myself that I would take a week to calm down before displaying my thoughts regarding the joke of a sentence that was handed down to this disgusting waste of skin. I found that as I waited longer, I became even more mad and frustrated with this complete fail of justice.

Graham James raped many boys during his time as a hockey coach/consultant. He raped Theo Fleury, Sheldon Kennedy, Todd Holt, and many others, yet he only gets two years in prison with chance of half day parole in June?

This makes me sick to be a sports fan and even more so as a Canadian.

How can we let a man who took the innocence and childhood from many people that trusted him in making their dreams come true walk after two years when he took basically their entire lives away.

If you don't believe me, then I suggest that you read Theo Fleury's book, "Playing With Fire", and tell me that Graham James did not destroy Theo's life.

Or, if that doesn't convince you, look at the article posted above and see that his own brother wants him put away for good. It speaks volumes when your own family is disgusted with your actions and see you as a menace to society.

To the lawyers that defended Mr. James, I know you have a job to do, but give me a break when you think this joke of a man has suffered from this and deserved less time in jail. This man has no remorse and if you have children, I hope for your sake they never meet a man even half as bad as the man you "defended" as someone who has been hurt immensely.

I along with most Canadians are pissed off. This decision regardless of any political affiliation is a complete slap in the face to our justice system. I bet that anyone that sees Mr. James in public after he is released will be more than happy to punch this joke of a man in the face. I know I would and I am happy to pay the bail money for anyone else.

I close with posting a photo of James that was leaked to the media from his booking into prison to show the rest of the world what a joke to society looks like.

Feel free to throw darts or defile the photo anyway you see fit. James didn't care what he did when he defiled many. It appears our justice system doesn't either.

RANT OVER!

Embarassment. Disgraced our country. Made Canadians look bad.

These are all things that are written in the comments section of the article mentioned regarding the play and the way that Team Canada, led by skip Heather Nedohin, were seen to be acting according to various curling fans.

Yes Team Nedohin was different. They swore when they screwed up, they were mad when they didn't get to compete for a gold medal which is the only goal for any curling team from Canada, and they joked around with each other. You could say that they were not your typical curling team.

I say it is about damn time.

Whenever I used to watch curling, it was just the same types of curlers. Although curlers yelled, they rarely showed much emotion, they rarely displayed their frustration, and it was a cardinal sin to even think of swearing. Nedohin's team changed this immensely.

Heather's team was a team full of passion. They showed their excitement when they won and they were mad at themselves when they lost or screwed up. Heather herself could have a photo album made for herself for all of the different faces that she had while expressing certain emotions.

Some people see this as childish, but I see this as a breath of fresh air. Nedohin and her team are becomming that new era of curlers that are not afraid to combine family, emotion, fun, and even good looks all into one package. Heck, ten years ago we would not have even thought of the idea of women's curlers having a "racy" calendar or even wearing yoga pants to curl in.

Now curling for many males under 35 is seen as the beach volleyball of winter, meaning that we have our "curling hotties" that we adore (Bonus points if you can figure out who mine is). This is the way the sport is changing and if the sport is to survive and thrive with younger audiences, this is the way it needs to go.

Just like sponsorship and the World Curling Tour that makes curling a profession was a big change for curling, so is the actions of Team Nedohin.

Is it common? No.

Is it going to offend some? Yes.

Is it the future? I think so.

I had the opportunity to watch Nedohin's team play this past week in Lethbridge. They were a breath of fresh air to what can be seen by some as a boring sport. I liked how they showed general emotion when they did good or bad. I loved how they had fun with each other and did not take their emotions personally out on another team. I also like how Heather dances to the music between ends.

All in all, I was impressed by Team Nedohin at the Worlds. I am disappointed in how they finished, but I am proud that they actually showed that they are normal people with with genuine emotions. My belief is that this is the way curling is going, so we best get ready for it.

Way to go Team Nedohin!

What did you think of Team Nedohin respresentation of Canada at the Worlds? Drop Me A Line and I will post some of the best responses.

Hurry Hard