It’s my Parting Shot for my reactions to the headlines in today’s Star-Phoenix Sports Section…..
First headline…These respected N-H-L vets have yet to hoist the Cup. My reaction…There are plenty of those guys that currently exist – after all only one team per season out of 32 gets to taste champagne from Lord Stanley’s mug! That being said, the two poster children for the headline are the two widely-acclaimed best hockey players on the planet – Connor McDavid (pictured at left) and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers! Tomorrow and Friday, The Fearless Predictor will be along to offer up his Cup playoff preview and pick a champion!
Next headline…Buffalo fires coach Granato. Reaction…the Sabres’ franchise is cursed, plain and simple. That never used to be the case. I remember when Buffalo and the Vancouver Canucks came to be into the N-H-L for the 1970-71 season. The Sabres won the right to pick first overall in the Draft and took Gilbert Perreault while Vancouver selected Dale Tallon second. Buffalo made it to the Cup final in six years and it took the Canucks five more to get there! Now, the tables are somewhat reversed. Vancouver seems to have their act together, having finished first in the Pacific Division while the Sabres missed the playoffs for a 13th consecutive season! There has been an ownership change, multiple G-Ms and even more head coaches in Buffalo during the last 13 seasons – along with a myriad of high draft picks and supposed can’t miss prospects – yet the Sabres can’t find their way into the post-season dance! Incredible and impossible are two adjectives that come to mind to describe Buffalo’s plight, but cursed works the best in my humble opinion!
Last headline…Herzog guided Cardinals to World Series win. My reaction…that was back in 1982 and St. Louis played “Whiteyball.” It wasn’t anything special, but Whitey Herzog was a character among the many that were managers in baseball back in the day, along with guys like Tommy LaSorda and Earl Weaver. He got the most out of his players and won because his guys would run through the proverbial brick wall for him and that’s the kind of respect you need to have to be successful as a coach or manager in sports, even today! Rest in peace, Whitey Herzog!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk in Red Deer…and it turned out nice again!…..