It’s my Parting Shot for my reactions to the headlines from the last two days editions of the Star-Phoenix Sports Section…..

First headline from today…Saskatchewan skip Knapp is ready for rink’s second shot at the Brier, team is going into the Canadian Men’s Championship firing on all cylinders. My reaction…The Fearless Predictor will have his say on who will win, be the runner-up and who the dark-horse team will be in St. John’s, Newfoundland, when this year’s Montana’s Brier starts on Friday. I can tell you that Kelly Knapp’s Regina foursome won’t be any of those three picks. In fact, they’ll be hard-pressed to be 4-and-4 as they were in 2023!

Final headline from today…”Showtime” archietect Riley gets L-A statue. Reaction…since building statues to honour the greats from a team, or teams in this case, is a thing to do in Tinseltown, then a statue in honour of Pat Riley is long overdue. His is the eighth statue honouring a member of the L-A Lakers. From Magic Johnson to Jerry West to Elgin Baylor to Kobe Bryant to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal to broadcaster Chick Hearn. Wow, a legendary broadcaster got in before a coach and general manager?! I can sense a commentary coming about broadcasters one day that I have looked up to – and there will be an omission that will surprise many!!

Tuesday edition headline…Jarry up for the challenge as Oilers focus on defence, Goaltender says Olympic break should provide valuable reset for stretch drive. My reaction…does that focus on defence begin with Edmonton G-M Stan Bowman finally divesting the Oilers of Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse from the team’s blueline?! I’ll be shocked if those necessary moves, in my humble opinion, are made…mostly because no team wants to take on those ridiculous salaries for one player who is a one-way guy, and not defence, while the other is prone to brain cramps at the most inopportune times! Sorry to say Tristen Jarry and Edmonton Oilers’ fans, but as long as your team has those two guys playing the minutes they do, you aren’t winning a Stanley Cup!!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!