Stormin Norman Rumack

As is always the case in my weekly appearance on Sun TV’s the “Grill Room”, the program was focused on all the hot button topics of the day. Up first, the panel of Roger Lajoie, Chris Tessaro, along with host Gareth Wheeler, were asked to comment on the NHL’s messy contract situations, headlined by the Ilya Kovalchuk monstrosity ( 17 years, $102 million ), which led to a legal battle between the league and the players association, and this moved the issue into the hands of  Arbitrator Richard Bloch. He sided with the league, against the contract. The Devils have submitted a revised offer, rumored to be for $100 million over 15 years, according to ESPN.com, and a decision from the league is expected by Friday September 3 at 5pm.This was not the first time an NHL contract in the post lock-out era, had violated the spirit of the agreement between the players and the owners. The Red Wings and Blackhawks have also been in league commissioner Gary Bettman’s bad books, for signing players to contracts that were far beyond...

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Sometimes the games that are played off the field in professional sports,are more important than the ones played in-between the white lines. Of course that applies to almost all areas of life, in that quite often interpersonal dynamics can determine ones success or lack of the same, as much, or sometimes even more than pure skill or ability. Anytime you have more than two people in a room, political like games are being played in terms of domination and influence.

With that in mind, England coach Fabio Capello seems to have had a dramatic change of heart, when it comes to the possibility of playing former captain and global soccer icon, David Beckham. With the former Manchester United star unable to play for England in the recent World Cup because of a torn Achilles tendon, it was made clear after the Three Lions disappointing play in the tournament, where Beckham served as an assistant coach, that Capello intended to go with young players. It was also asserted by the head coach, that it was time for the...

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One of the most notorious tales to ever emerge from the recent World Cup Of Soccer in South Africa, or from any World Cup ever played, was the implosion and subsequent strike of the French soccer team, a few days before their final group game against the host nation, which they lost anyway. Originally, it was thought that Les Blues’ and Chelsea striker, Nicolas Anelka, was mostly to blame, after his verbal tirade against coach Raymond Domenech,led to his dismissal from the team, and the aforementioned strike by the rest of the roster against the coach a few days after that, in sympathy with their team-mate.

A much different interpretation of the France fiasco has emerged from a source within the team, who would know exactly what was going on. According to ESPNsoccernet, former France team doctor Jean-Pierre Paclet has removed the entire blame from Anelka, and placed some of it squarely on the shoulders of Arsenal’s Samir Nasri. Paclet contends that even though Nasri was not on the World Cup roster, “………the...

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Last week on the “Grill Room” on Sun TV, one of the topics that we debated extensively, was the announcement from the Canadian Medical Association, calling for all provincial governments to ban professional Mixed Martial Arts. The statement they issued about their concerns made perfect sense, from a medical point of view. I say that in spite of the fact that I trained in kick boxing and kung-fu as a teenager, at Twin Dragon Kick Boxing and Kung Fu, from 1973 through 1976, for the purposes of learning self defense, getting in better physical shape, and developing self confidence. My goals were achieved in all those areas, due to the superior instruction I received at Twin Dragon, which is still in operation, at several locations in the Toronto area.

 

I think that those who are old enough to make legal decisions that affect their daily lives, should have the right to decide if they want to put themselves at risk for possible brain damage, by participating in a professional sport where their heads...

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On Saturday night August 28, the UFC made its first trip to Massachusetts. Boston to be exact.for UFC 118 @ the TD Bank Garden.Homeof the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.Tom Brady and Shaq were in attendance.UFC 118 Card:Marcus Davis VS. Nate Diaz:Round 1: Left handed stance by both fighters.Even round.Both men are bloodied.Maybe Diaz work harder at the end of the round.Round 2: Davis Right eye is horrible, bleeding like crazy.Differently Nate Diaz's round.Round 3: After the first round it was all Nate Diaz.The bloodied right eye of Marcus Davis was a factor. Nate Diaz wins by submission.Winner: Nate Diaz @ 4:02 of round 3 via submission guilltine chokeGray Maynard VS. Kenny Florian:Round 1: Even round.Maynard probably for being more busy by round's end.Round 2: Exactly like the first round Gray Maynard get's the take down and works over Kenny Florian.Kenny left eye is bloodied.Another round to Gray Maynard.More dominating than the first round.Round 3: Gray Maynard wrestling is and was to much for Kenny to handle.Disappointing...

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This Saturday night August 28, the UFC makes its first trip to Massachusetts to put on there next Pay Per View UFC 118 in Boston.UFC 118 will feature a highly-anticipated bouts: Randy Couture vs. James ToneyUFC 118 will also have a championship bout:UFC Lightweight Championship fight featuring former champ BJ Penn against current champ Frankie Edgar for a second time.UFC 118 Card:Marcus Davis VS.Nate Diaz:Nate Diaz (12-5) is 25 years old.He is the winner of the The Ultimate Fighter 5. Diaz, had victories in his first five octagon fights.He did drop back-to-back bouts to Clay Guida.In his hast fight this past March he was victorious with a 1st round TKO over Rory Markham.Marcus Davis (17-6) is 36 years old. Davis,is a former The Ultimate Fighter 2 participant.Davis has split his last six, although did pick up a victory in his most recent fight this May over Jonathan Goulet.Pick: Nate Diaz just is too young a too fast for Davis to handle. Nate Diaz by 1st round submissionMario Miranda VS.Demian Maia: Demian Maia...

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I’ve mentioned many times over a number of years on the radio, and probably a time or two in this blog, that one of the nicer professional athletes to deal with from a media perspective, is Detroit Tigers DH, Johnny Damon. From the first time I met him, and that was probably was when he was still with Kansas City, he was always one of the more approachable baseball players, and would almost always find time for an interview. During the discussion, he would provide intelligent answers, and not rush through it, as though it was the last thing he wanted to do. As opposed to an arrogant athlete, Damon actually seems to be a sensitive individual, who does care about people. The former Yankee comes across, as though he can still relate to the average working man. He speaks as though he has an understanding, for the day to day struggles of the average person, to pay bills, and make it through life’s ups and downs. His personal wealth from being a star athlete, has not clouded his perspective on the real world. Maybe...

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It was so inspiring on Monday, to read that veteran broadcaster Vin Scully, will be returning to the broadcast booth in 2011. Now 82 years of age, Scully is one of the very few play by play voices that fans will go out of their way to listen to, even if they are not fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team whose games he has been calling since 1950, going back to when the team played in Brooklyn, New York.

 

There are some broadcast outlets,where the trend has become one of going with much less experienced journalists, regardless of the fact that in some cases, they have nowhere near the knowledge and perspective, of the more mature broadcasters. This does not occur everywhere in the industry, but it does happen in some places.

There is no “young” person anywhere, that could now or ever replace Vin Scully, but somewhere, there might be some poorly researched executive, who might be inclined to try and replace a legend like him. Their misguided and sure to fail rationale, would be that they...

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As a sports journalist, and one with around five thousand Facebook friends, I sometime end up in some lively debates about teams that I like and openly cheer for. There are some sports journalists who claim that they aren’t and never were fans of any team. Yeah, right………can you spell LIAR ? Anyone who believes that, is about as naive as can be. I have my biases, but I have always been very open about them. It would be great if everyone else in the business did the same.

One of those colorful chats on my Facebook page, revolved around my support for the Chelsea Blues of the English Premiership. Like many teams in professional sports, they have a few players who have had issues that created negative headlines. Fans of other teams in soccer, like to use that as part of their debate material, to put down my support of the team. Whether it is team captain John Terry, and his alleged involvement with a former girlfriend of former England teammate Wayne Bridge, or striker Nicolas Anelka, and his verbal tirade...

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