Hallelujah! Gary Bettman and the owners, after previously advising they were not prepared to negotiate against themselves, have finally done something right.  Realising their initials proposals were borderline offensive, Bettman and company have at last tabled a more reasonable offer.

While information is limited at this stage (although more detailed than I can be bothered researching into*), the very basics of the offer are something that all fans can get on board with: A 50/50 revenue split and a full 82-game season.

Obviously, we don’t want to get too excited at this stage, but at least there’s finally reason for cautious optimism.  Having said that, you still wouldn’t put it past the NHL to screw things up.

Along those lines, it will be interesting to see how long the proposed deal is for.  NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr has said it is for “at least six years.”  However, with three lockouts since 1994, it would be good to see some much-needed labour harmony with a deal closer to 10 years.

Amazingly though, almost overshadowing this unexpected news is the stunning rumour that once a new CBA is agreed, deals for two new Canadian expansion teams will be announced in Quebec and Toronto.

On the surface at least, this is great news for the game, especially in Canada, with the league increasing to 32 teams and allowing for realignment to four eight-team divisions.

However, by delving a little deeper (i.e. actually thinking about it some more, admittedly a stretch for me), it doesn’t make quite so much sense.  For example, are the Maple Leafs really going to accept having a new regional neighbour to compete against?

(They were bad enough about Howard Balsillie potentially moving the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton if he had been successful in purchasing the franchise.  Although wouldn’t it be great imagining the panic as the Leafs realise they have to finally start putting a decent product on the ice.  This could actually turn out to be a win-win scenario for long-suffering Toronto hockey fans.)

Also, while 32 teams puts the NHL on a par with the NFL (figuratively speaking anyway) and offers a better symmetry, with exactly half of the teams making the playoffs, isn’t there the small matter of the numerous teams currently losing money, hence one of the major reasons we are actually in a lockout in the first place?!?!

While this potential expansion is just a rumour at the moment, if true, doesn’t it show yet another example of the NHL’s inability to do right for doing wrong?  Surely it makes more economic sense to stabilise the franchises that are currently struggling to survive, rather than add new teams.

Finally, given how uninspiring last season’s playoffs were, is it really such a good idea to further dilute the available talent?  By all means place new teams in Quebec and Toronto, but surely relocation is the better move.

Anyway, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  First things first, lets see if the NHL can actually reach an agreemment before November 2nd, to ensure a full slate of games.

* Click here to read Manny’s take on the proposal, which goes into more detail than I did, thus showing which of us is the slacker.

• By paul.taylor
• October 16, 2012
• Comment

Given that the majority of our readership is Canadian, I’m assuming a lot of you have at one time or another dreamed of playing in the NHL…………well at least until this year, when Gary Bettman and the owners decided to suck the life out of the game.

However, sometimes it just isn’t meant to be.  Here are six signs to help you work out if the closest you’ll ever get to an NHL career is skating on thin ice as you struggle to hold down a normal job in the real world.

1) You enjoy drinking, chasing women and eating poutine:

While there are rare examples of athletes who can have an active social life and still perform to a high level on the field (e.g. Joe Nameth, Lawrence Taylor, etc) this is not the norm.

In today’s sports world, athletes needed to be finely tuned machines, doing whatever it takes to stay in shape.  If you have no discipline and/or would rather be out getting drunk and chasing women, you’ll have to look elsewhere for a financially rewarding career.  I believe being a male escort pays quite well.

2) Your younger brother runs rings around you:

As the saying goes; “If you’re good enough you’re big enough.” Even as youngsters, the special ones will always stand out.

For example, from a young age, Sidney Crosby regularly played with and against teenagers who were both older and bigger, and yet managed to hold his own.

In other words, if your nine-year-old brother is regularly showing you up whenever you play hockey, give it up now.

3) You live in Phoenix:

I mean come on!  People don’t even go to watch hockey in Phoenix, never mind play it!  Isn’t that right Gary?  Gary?  Hello?  Anyone there……………..

4) You’re 6ft 10 and black:

If this is you and you’re thinking of a career in the NHL as opposed to the NBA I have to ask: “Are you crazy?!?!”

You have a chance to earn more money and have a longer career.  You have a higher probability of becoming a global star, adored by millions (and yes, maybe paying physical homage to some of them.)

And let’s be honest, no matter what people think of David Stern, you have to admit he’s still a better alternative than Mr. Bettman.

5) You’re gay

This is not a knock against homosexuals.  In fact, I hold nothing against them…..just as long as they hold nothing against me.

All I know is if I was a lesbian (basically another dream I should give up on, similar to playing in the NHL) and constantly in a locker-room filled with half naked women, I just wouldn’t be able to concentrate on my game.  Unless my game was bikini mud-wrestling.

In this respect, surely being a gay man in a NHL locker room must cause similar issues, right?  Wouldn’t it be hard (pun totally intended) to keep your mind on the game and eye on the puck?  What?  Oh, it’s called being professional?  Sorry, you’ve lost me now.

6) You’re a woman: 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter if adding you to a team helps make them nice and tight at the rear and capable of playing two big one’s up front. At the end of the day women are not allowed to play in the NHL no matter how good their stick-handling skills are.

I hope these tips haven’t put a damper of your dreams of becoming a professional hockey player.  Mind you, it’s best you realise now that it’s never going to happen before it’s too late.  Life sucks and the sooner you realise this, the better!

Photo credit: http://singletrackworld.com

• By paul.taylor
• October 16, 2012
• Comment

Despite the money they make, there’s no denying it’s tough being a professional athlete, especially in today’s socially interactive media world.  It’s pretty much on a par with living in the Big Brother house.

This must be especially hard if you’re someone who would rather just play the game and not have to deal with the media, general public, etc.

A prime example of this is the Maple Leafs Phil Kessel, who is renowned for being shy and not having much to say.  (Seriously, check out his Twitter account @PKessel81.)

He can’t even do a simple thing like go shopping without being photographed or having someone critcise him:

@mlse @felixpotvin I’ve seen Kessel full on deny being Phil Kessel to avoid a conversation at a bar. Everyone was like “erm…”

— first time slammer (@olhnso) October 9, 2012

However, despite the allegation (which, if true, I can actually understand on Kessel’s part if he doesn’t want to be bothered by someone) it’s not all bad as per the following comments made regarding the very same photo:

@erin_zuk I could absolutely help him in buying pants. Mostly because it would involve him taking them off.

— Caitlin H. (@criseyde) October 10, 2012

Maybe it’s time for Mr. Kessel to start interacting more with the general public.

• By paul.taylor
• October 10, 2012
• Comment

Good morning!  I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and more specifically, Thanksgiving Day.

As you may know (or more likely don’t care), there was no mailbag yesterday.  Rest assured it will return.  However, in light of the recent bad publicity surrounding Toronto FC, I felt compelled to share the experience of my visit last week to their training ground and academy centre at Downsview Park.

(As usual, I have far too much to say hence why this is the first of a two-part blog.)

With construction not quite completed*, the facility won’t be officially unveiled to the media until late October/early November.  As such, I understandably was not allowed to take any interior photographs at this stage.

*For example, one of the pitches will have a dome built around it so the team can train, whatever the weather conditions.

Regardless, to tell you the facilities are impressive is a major understatement on a par with saying Kate Beckinsale is nice looking or that NHL players dislike Gary Bettman.  They are first class.   Sorry Gary, but that means the facilities, (and Kate Beckinsale) not you.

In fact, it was commented on by a few people that they are superior to Manchester City’s training facilities.  Yes, you read that right; Toronto FC now has better training conditions than one of the richest football clubs in the world.

No matter what your job is, one of the best ways to make people want to go to work every day is to provide a pleasant environment for them.  Everything about the set up at TFC is designed to give the players and staff a chance to bond together and build camaraderie.

There is a cafeteria for the players to eat in and a chill-out room next-door, complete with a pool table and television.  (A PlayStation will be also be added soon, which, along with meeting the players, emphasised just how young they actually are.  Or maybe just how old I am.)

The training area is extensive and includes everything you would expect and more; weights, exercise bikes, a physio and massage room, swimming pool, and so on.  Even I (almost) felt like having a workout session.  And I’m more lethargic than Albert Haynesworth after 10 Big-Macs.

Of course no training facility would be complete without the film room, where you get to cringe while coaches highlight your mistakes from the previous game in front of everyone else (likely a regular occurrence this season.)  And trust me, there’s nowhere to hid in that room.

Even the media have been thought of in the grand scheme (design) of things.  There is a room specifically set up for them, complete with a work area and internet access for when any deadlines are approaching and there isn’t time to get back to the office.

(There’s even lockers for the media to store valuables in, proving once and for all that journalists can’t be trusted, even amongst themselves.)

Click here for part two.

• By paul.taylor
• October 9, 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

After yesterday’s meeting between the NHLPA and the NHL, it seems that the negotiations are at status quo and no improvements were made regarding the new CBA.

But can we really be surprised that talks are going nowhere when the leader of the NHL, Gary Bettman, is responsible for the only lock-out in history that lasted a full season? And on the other side, Donald Fehr created the first strike to ever prevent a World Series from being played.

Ask any Montreal baseball fan, and they will tell you how disgusted they were in 1994, when the strike prevailed and prevented the Expos, who had the best record in the MLB, to participate in the postseason for the first time since 1981.

The NHL won the last lockout by installing a salary cap and in 1994, the MLB players were the clear winners of that strike. Both representants obviously like to win, and this could very well be the last CBA negotiation for whoever loses.

It seems pretty clear to me that Donald Fehr or Gary Bettman will be fired if a second season in eight years is cancelled.

I said it a month ago and I will say it again. We all know that the new CBA will split the hockey revenues at about 50% each for the players and the owners, but both sides are stubborn and won’t get down to that number just yet.

The NHL has already lost $100 million just by cancelling the pre-season games. It is obvious that owners are slowly starting to lose money, but at what point will they agree on a fair CBA?

On the other hand, more than 100 players have now signed across the Atlantic with various teams throughout Europe, but not all of them are making the big bucks.

Tomas Plekanec and Tomas Kaberle are currently not paid to play for their hometown Czech Republic team, owned by Jaromir Jagr. The reason is simple; the team cannot afford to pay them a significant amount, and the two players simply declined any salary. Even more surprising, the two players bought their own plane tickets to fly to their home country and join that team.

Sure, the players are receiving some money from the NHLPA while the lockout is still in effect, but it is nowhere near their usual salaries. So, good for these 100 players who found another job, but what about the 600 other players (about 50 are in the AHL) who are currently at home, waiting for an agreement?

When do they stand up and strongly suggest that a deal gets done quickly?  I understand the whole concept of working for future generations, but at some point, when the mortgage bill come in and covers a good portion of what the NHLPA is giving you, you start thinking about your own family, and not so much the younger guys.

Once again,  it’s NHL fans who are paying the price for this dispute, and the beer leagues locker room talks are getting really boring. Last Sunday in my hockey team, there was a discussion about whether or not men should wax to look better!

Please NHL come back soon!

• By Manny Frag
• October 3, 2012
• Comment

Shocking developments in Raptor land, where it appears head coach Dwane Casey has been preparing for an alternative career, in the event that the team endures a poor campaign:

Now we’re not implying that Casey is worried about being sacked by the end of the season……………..actually, I guess we are really.

However, Just to be on the safe side he’s been putting in extra hours at a local call centre, learning how to cold call unsuspecting people and persuade them to claim back for PPI which they never took out in the first place.

Let’s hope the only people Casey has to harrass on a regular basis are the game officials.  (Although I wouldn’t be against him cold-calling Gary Bettman in the middle of the night.)

• By paul.taylor
• October 3, 2012
• Comment

With the exception of Toronto FC being dominated 4-1 in New York, this was a suprisingly good weekend for the local sports teams; the Jays managed to split their series with the Yankees and the Argonauts recovered from a two-game losing streak to beat Winnipeg 29-10 without Ricky Ray.

Combined with the NFL replacement officials now being just a fond memory and the Triumph putting up their best performance yet before narrowly losing 31-27 in BC, things are looking good in the sporting world………………oh yeah………..except for the NHL lockout.

Q. According to reports, Gary Bettman is planning to cancel the Winter Classic in November to take away any advantage the players may have at the bargaining table.  Is he going to go through with it?

John - Etobicoke

Q. Now the NFL has managed to negotiate an agreement with the officials, what are the chances that this will spark the NHL into action to end the lockout?

Danielle - Brampton

A. I thought it best to group these two questions together as they basically cover the same depressing subject.  In reality, anything I say has already been discussed to death in one form or another by virtually everyone in the media.

I’m not saying it’s getting boring, but the fact everyone is repeating themselves more than my 79-year old grandmother tells me this whole sorry situation has to end sooner rather than later for everyones sake.

As such, I’m going to consider something else;  the NHL has survived a lot over the years.  Even two World Wars couldn’t stop teams competing for the Stanley Cup.

And yet Bettman’s managed exactly this, making the NHL the only sports league in North America to ever cancel an entire season.  The only other time hockey’s ultimate prize wasn’t awarded?  Because of a Spanish Flu Epidemic in 1919.

That’s right. Despite presiding over record profits during his tenure, most people view Gary Bettman’s legacy on a par with a deadly disease.

And while sport can never compare to people dying, this still doesn’t change the fact that Gary’s locked out the players on three separate occasions since taking power in 1993.  Wasn’t he originally brought in as commissioner to end the NHL’s labour problems?!?!

In short, whenever the new NHL CBA is finalised it should come with one additional condition; Gary Bettman stands down as commissioner.

If numerous reports are to be believed, the owners are scared of him, the players hate him and absolutely everyone’s pissed off with his stubborn refusal to give up on the long-failed Phoenix experiment.  Sacking Bettman could conceivably unify both sides and potentially lead to less disruptive future negotiations.

Unfortunately, this scenario is less likely than Vince Carter receiving a standing ovation at the ACC or the Maple Leafs winning another Stanley Cup……………on second thoughts, let’s not get too carried away.

Q. I heard that something like 90 percent of the points scored in your beloved CFL this season are during the last quarter?  What do you have to say about that?

Tom – Toronto

A. Despite knowing there was virtually no chance of this being true, I still felt compelled to check it out.  I don’t know if I’m more annoyed at you for making me rise to the bait, or myself for wasting time on this.

In any event, I’m equally triumphant, relieved and disgusted at myself to reveal the results.  Without boring you with too much detail, 31% of the total points from this season have been scored during the last quarter, making you ever so slightly off the mark.

Assuming you’re not winding me up and genuinely believe in what you’re saying, I’m guessing you’re either Daryl Katz’s public relations officer, Jimmy Fallon’s joke writer or Gary Busey’s plastic surgeon.

If you have any questions for the mailbag, send them to: [email protected]

• By paul.taylor
• October 1, 2012
• Comment

Well it’s been another eventful week in sports, meaning we were spoilt for choice with photos and stories to pick from:

1) We start with one of the most iconic pictures you’re likely to see…well this week anyway.

It captured the farce surrounding the replacement referees perfectly, leading to numerous jokes such as how Seattle’s Russell Wilson was the first quarterback in NFL history to throw a game-winning interception.

Ironically, the resulting outrage surrounding the game actually provided the impetus for the NFL to finally get a deal done with the regular officials.

2) Unfortunately for the NHL, the focus of negative attention is now firmly on them.  No prizes for guessing who Blue Toro is putting the pressure on to get the lockout resolved:

3) On the lighter side of the NHL lockout (if it’s possible), this was my favourite image of the week:

Initial reports indicated that sales of the NHL 13 Lockout Limited edition were low, most likely because you only get to play as Gary Bettman.

4) Turning to baseball, the latest summary of a Blue Jays season that continues to lurch from one disaster to another came in the unlikely form of a Jose Bautista toy:

As per the label on the left, this is indeed an extremely rare version of the figure.  Actually, this would at least explain why the team has struggled offensively of late.

Maybe this is what the media means when they say the Jays have been running around like a bunch of headless chickens?  (I could go on all day, but I’ll spare you.)

5) With the NBA season just around the corner, the Raptors mascot accompanied new point guard Landry Fields to deliver season tickets to a couple of fans:

Is anyone else slightly pissed off by the lack of concern and indeed effort by the fans to try and get their tickets from Fields?  Are Raptors fans really that unmotivated for the coming season?

6) Sticking with Fields, the following photo of him and Alan Anderson was accompanied by the announcement that training camp is only six days away:

Judging by how drenched their t-shirts are, training camp obviously can’t come soon enough.  Let’s hope Dwane Casey can kick these guys into shape before the regular season begins.

7) Toronto FC has shown some improvement since Paul Mariner took over as coach.  However, after going 10 league games without a win, he’s decided to go back to basics with the team:

I trust going back to basics does not extend to Mariner having to explain to Luis Silva that the round object he’s looking at is in fact called a football.

8 ) And finally, it only seems fitting to end with hockey.  Despite being a Maple Leafs fan myself, the following cartoon still made me smile:

Unfortunately, when you consider that Leafs Nation will come flooding back to the ACC whenever the lockout ends and continue to pay for the most expensive tickets in the league, it’s hard to argue with the caption.  And yes, I include myself in that group (unfortunately my stupidity is not just limited to my passion for sports.)

NB. Look out for the next Blue Toro mailbag this coming Monday.  Any questions, send them to: [email protected]

• By paul.taylor
• September 28, 2012
• Comment

We appreciate that Gary Bettman is an easy target at the moment.  However, rather than taking the moral high ground, Blue Toro felt it was more important to follow the crowd and join in the fun.

As such, we present our top five images of the NHL commissioner:

While this appears like an obvious characterisation, Gary can only hope to ever be as funny as Doctor Evil.

For the benefit of anyone who might be a bit slow on the uptake,  The Hockey News didn’t really go to print with the above edition.

This one is particularly amusing.  However, we’re not sure how popular the NHL 13 Lockout Limited Edition will be, because you can only play as Gary Bettman.

Despite Bettman’s comments about the NHL having the greatest fans in the world, we think this picture perfectly captures his true feelings.

We felt it was important to end on a serious note. While acknowledging Mr. Bettman’s trendy hairstyle, we’ve been here before.

In 1994, despite coming off a season in which a team from the biggest market in North America won the Stanley Cup, Gary still decided a lockout was necessary, thus negating any possibility of building on the NHL’s momentum.

Now, Bettman is doing exactly the same again, after a season when a franchise from the second-biggest market in North America finally clinched it’s first Stanley Cup.

It makes you wonder how serious Bettman really is about improving the popularity of a sport that is perennially looking up at the NFL, MLB and NBA in the United States.

Photo credit: The Score

• By paul.taylor
• September 26, 2012
• Comment