Due to popular demand, we present a second edition of top pictures and stories of the week.  (Okay, I’m lying. I just wanted an excuse to share some more photos with you.)

1) Two games into the NBA pre-season, it appears that Raptors head coach Dwane Casey is already feeling the weight of heightened expectations:

Maybe someone should help lower Casey’s high blood pressure by advising him that no one is expecting too much from his team this year.

2) Hot off the press, Paulina Gretzky has been spending some time in Toronto this week:

This is only newsworthy due to the fact she was actually photographed with her clothes on for a change.  But what does this mean?  Is hell about to freeze over?  Maybe the Mayans’ are right after all…………………

3) A Pittsburgh Steelers fan was lucky enough to have his photo taken with the Blue Jays Jose Bautista before last Sunday’s home game versus the Philadelphia Eagles:

I guess after the season he suffered through, Bautista just wanted to be associated with a winning team for once.

(Hold on……………….aren’t the Steelers now 2-3 after last night’s shock defeat by the Tennessee Titans?  Never mind Jose.)

4) Sticking with the Blue Jays, watching the MLB playoffs during this week, (especially the continued success of the Baltimore Orioles) has only served to remind us of what could have been.

As such, let’s end their campaign on a high by signing off with a more aesthetically pleasing image of the Blue Jays 2012 season:

5) Due to the fact they play a regular season game every year at the Rogers Centre, the Buffalo Bills are the closest Toronto currently comes to having a team in the NFL.  In that respect, the Bills fit right in with the current sentiment Torontonians have about most of their professional teams:

6) The Maple Leafs are suffering more that most during the ongoing NHL lockout.  However, while I can understand their efforts to continue finding ways to make money, this is getting a little ridiculous now:

7) With the regular season nearly here, the Miami Heat are excited about defending their championship.  Trust Chris Bosh to ruin the moment.

I’m not sure what Bosh has trodden in, but Lebron James and Dwyane Wade appear to be telling him what he’s just done, while Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis examine the evidence.

(All I can say is they are better people than me. I wouldn’t have said anything.)

8 )  Finally, I’m not particularly into politics (something tells me this doesn’t surprise you) and I know this has absolutely nothing to do with sports.  However, with the US Presidential election fast approaching, I couldn’t resist sharing the following image with you:

If ever any photo fit the phrase ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’, this is it.

• By paul.taylor
• October 12, 2012
• Comment

For anyone who missed yesterday’s amusing photo of Steve Nash’s new hairstyle, here it is again:

Due to attending the Toronto FC and Argonauts training facilities this week (more on this in the coming days), together with flying overnight, I’ve not had an opportunity to prepare a decent column.  (Obviously some of you would say this is a daily occurrence anyway.)

In any event, this is my lame attempt at an apology for today’s blog, where I’ve basically decided to use Nash’s new hairstyle as an excuse to look at some other disastrous sporting dos.  Enjoy.

1) We start off with one of Toronto sports great underachievers…..Oh, hold on, there’s quite a few of them isn’t there?  I guess we better narrow it down.

Basically, it’s former Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett who inexplicably decided to attempt a ‘Dennis the Menace’ haircut during his stint with the Yankees:

2) Staying with former Toronto athletes but definitely more of an overachiever rather than an underachiever, here’s Chris Bosh:

To be honest, this has nothing in particular to do with Bosh’s chosen hairstyle and everything to do with my continued sports-hate for the ex-Raptor.  Regardless, he still looks ridiculous.

3) Next, not that we ever need any excuse, but here’s the much-adored Gary Bettman, circa. 1994:

Suave, sophisticated and trendy.  None of these are words you’d associate with the above picture.  Instead, try clueless, ridiculous and smug.  (And let’s be honest, he may as well be holding his middle finger up at us all.)

4) It’s a well-known un-factual fact that virtually every black/African American man has more style than the average white male.  This includes their ability to sport afros better than, say, David Hasselhoff.

But I have to draw the line at this:

Seriously, is it Coco Crisp or Coco the Clown?

5) Further to the previous point, David Beckham is often perceived as one of the few white guys who can pull off most styles.  However, even he is susceptible to making bad decisions:

6) I thought we’d end with one of the most polarising mullets of all time.  You either love it or hate it, but I have to give kudos to Jarmoir Jagr for even attempting this:

It actually make’s Kelly Gruber’s mullet from his Blue Jays playing days almost look acceptable.

Enjoy your weekend and keep an eye out for blogs over the coming days in relation to my visit this week to the Toronto FC and Argonauts training facilities.

• By paul.taylor
• October 5, 2012
• Comment

Good morning Toronto! How are you coping with your hangover, otherwise known as the Blue Jays three-game sweep by the Seattle Mariners? To paraphrase the great Eric Cartman, it really sucks balls doesn’t it?

I’ve finally accepted the Jays won’t be making the post-season in 2012…..unless they can somehow incorporate a huge slice of good fortune akin to a combination of ‘the immaculate reception’, ‘the fumble’ and ‘the helmet catch.’

Anyway, I assume you’re all familiar by now with my sports-hate for Chris Bosh (and if not, where have you been?) so you can imagine how much it grinds my gears to see the words ‘coolest dude alive’ attached to his Twitter profile.

Now, the Toronto Raptors former ‘main man’ has decided to turn it up a notch in my entirely reasonable and rational theory that it’s his quest to wind Torontonians’ up whenever possible. How else can you possibly explain the following tweet? Due to proprietary rights, we can’t show the photo here, but click on the link and you’ll see what I mean:

Just finished dinner. I think I have something in my teeth.say.ly/prO3Ryv

— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) July 29, 2012

What a total and utter git right?

Moving on, I was really hoping to keep this blog an Olympics-free zone, but I finally feel compelled to throw in my two cents worth after eight badminton players were disqualified for attempted match-throwing.

Now admittedly the players were clearly trying to position themselves for an easier route through the knock-out stages. But, just to play devil’s advocate, how is this any different from other sports?

It may not always be as obvious, but, for example, didn’t we just experience an unofficial ‘suck for Luck’ campaign during the last NFL season? Am I the only one who thought several teams were doing their ‘best’ to get the first draft pick so they could sign Andrew Luck?

South Korean head coach Sung Han-Kook came up with the best quote when talking about his team’s disqualification: “The Chinese started it.” Having always had the mentality that two wrongs DO make a right, I love that attitude.

Okay, this was fun. Let’s talk again tomorrow.

PHOTO CREDIT: CBS SPORTS & FLICKR - CHAMPASAURUS

• By paul.taylor
• August 2, 2012
• Comment

Okay, I give up, let’s talk sports. As you get older, you become more irritable, it’s a fact. As long as you can deal with the random observations of a grumpy git approaching middle-age, we’re good to go:

Every time I listen to Roger Lajoie’s regular rants on the Fan590, it feels like I’ve mistakenly tuned into someone on the verge of having a nervous breakdown live on air. Not that I can relate or anything………

Sticking with the Fan590, I previously disliked Mike Wilner, perceiving him as too arrogant for his own good. However, over time I’ve grown to appreciate his almost belligerent attitude towards callers, realising the majority of them deserve his contempt, a contempt only surpassed by my girlfriend’s hostility when I stumble home at 2:00am after previously saying I was only going out ‘for a couple’.

Talking of hostility, while I’d never wish this on anyone, I’m not concerned like most people about Noel Prefontaine’s potential career-ending injury. In terms of my sports-hating, the kicker doesn’t come anywhere near Chris Bosh, but I’ve still always felt he’s overrated.  Whenever I’ve watched him play, he always seems to be screwing up a vital field- goal attempt. In fact, I’m convinced his misses were directly responsible for the Argonauts starting this season 1-2 rather than 3-0.

I see Toronto FC striker Danny Koevermans is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.  Apparently there’s no truth to rumours he’s been using the same massage ‘therapist’ as the Blue Jays pitching staff. However, just in case, I’d consider asking for a refund because none of them seem to be having happy endings at the moment.

Right, I’ve got to stop now, because my lawyer just emailed, asking me to call him urgently for some reason.

• By paul.taylor
• July 20, 2012
• Comment