How Stupid is the NHL??

Checking some sports headlines I have seen that the NHL is going to try to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes franchise in order to keep it in Glendale, AZ. Do they really think that just because they have some immediate interest there right now they can keep it profitable when they can't make the playoffs. What is going to happen when there is another two or three losing seasons? Are they going to try to find a buyer who will keep it there then? Who would want to keep a losing team in a losing city?

Even when Balsillie was going after the Penguins and Predators, the NHL had the same stance. You cannot move the team they have to stay put. They were however open to putting a team in some other useless city in the South were because of profit sharing they would never be too far out of pocket. So when our Canadian teams bring in millions in revenue for the six teams we have and they have to support the lesser teams, someone has to shake Bettmans head. Is he not a business man, would it not be better for the NHL if they had another team which would sell out game after game and have huge merchandise profits like that of the Habs or Leafs?

If you ask me, Bettman is the wrong guy to be leading the NHL in these troubled times. So, Mr Balsillie has gone the wrong way to get a team, but is $212 million not better than a team which will lose money year after year for the NHL? I guess the NHL as a corporation is doing well, they seem to have lots of dollars sunk in legal fees to keep the sale from going through and to be able to purchase a team (sounds like conflict of interest to me). What would happen if (and that is a strong if) Phoenix was to win the cup would Bettman get his name on it? would Mr Daley? Who do you put as the owner in that situation. Are they going to buy at a high price to entice the judge to allow it and then sell lower to someone who will keep it in Phoenix?

I would like to see what other organizations have to say about this transactions, and how ethical this is.

WhY I hate unemployment

This may come as a shock to some, but I hate being unemployed! We are finishing up 4 months now which is a third of a year. I like everyone else probably thought I would quickly jump back on my feet and into a new job. But, instead I am checking job boards daily hoping to find anything now that I think I can do. Which has got me second guessing myself because I have applied for about 50 jobs and had 2 interviews no other real responses. So I have a high school diploma, two years of college and some experience in Customer Service, Retail, Sales and Hotel, along with many years experience as a Framer.



My children are beginning to wear on me as the stress of being unemployed and a stay at home dad. Also, this lovely weather which keeps kids trapped indoors for extended periods of time does not help at all. From summers when I grew up playing outdoors everyday, to this summer where they are lucky to get to play in a wet backyard twice a week. It is hardly warm enough to go swimming.



Now I appreciate the help everyone is trying to give me when it comes to job searches, and those helping me keep busy with little side projects. But, at the end I feel as if they are just as frustrating, I have had to find a temporary person to watch the kids or wait until my wife has a day off, which for those who know hasn't been too many. If that happens that on a day off I am giving up some of the little time I get to spend with her to go help people.



I am beginning to wonder what is going to happen first, finding a job or being sent to place where the walls are padded.

Creating false Idols

How easy it is to do this, even when you don't think you do!

This has been spoken into me the last week as I spent one night in Mississauga at the Leadership Training time through our church. We all think this would be easy to follow as there is only one god and should not idolize others. We do however do it in our everyday life and may not realize it until it is brought to our own attention both intentionally or not. The message Wednesday night was not made for me, but was obviously given to Chris to speak about because someone there needed to hear it.

The Victoria day long weekend, I participated in the Canadian National Championships in ten pin bowling. I realized that those there were there because they are some of the best in Canada, but what I did was put them above myself even though I deserved to be there as well. Yes some of these guys have been seen on TV which may have helped me think they were more deserving of the attention, but my dreams that I see have me winning tournaments against some great bowlers. I believe that by allowing my self to think that these bowlers were more important that myself, I went against the plan of god. Then as I was unable to clearly think I made many mistakes on the lanes which caused me to miss the cut and ultimately the National team.

We are given dreams by god, he wants us to have to dreams to see what is possible through him, if we try to make our own dreams based on others successes we are trying to do things on our own strength not his strength. We are worshipping what others have or have done not what we have or can do ourselves with faith. This could be something as simple as a friend who has a better house, you want to be as good or better than them instead of finding what gods has for us. I now know that my dreams are his dreams for me, he knows what I am capable of and instead of looking at what others have done and accomplished, I need to only remind myself that what I am going to do will be far better than that.

If athletes are thinking, I want kids to say I want to be just like so and so, they need to see that yes they have a great talent, but people need to see themselves as themselves, that is they way god created them and that is how he will see them. He will not give Pro Athletes a better version of heaven as there is only one. He will not give them more attention because of status on earth, he loves all his children.

Bowling an Olympic Sport

With an upcoming Olympic games, I always have wondered why bowling never stayed in the Olympics. With a sport that has seen a decline in participation in recent years, getting into the next summer games would be a huge increase in exposure for the game. With coverage getting so expensive for even the PBA tour to show live finals they have decided to tape delay a few tournaments and show mid week or a lower cost times.
I believe that the level of competition and the ability to dress all lanes the same with the use of new conditioning machines and lane care technology that lanes cannot be "baked" to suit a certain bowler. Therefore, there is no advantage to south paws other than there are fewer than righties.
After participating, which I say loosely, in the Canadian National Championships this past weekend there is definately a lot of talent in the game which needs to be shown more across the globe. Also, watching the Weber cup you see that there is talent world wide as the PBA pros had to work to handle the european pros. It was fun to watch as there was a lot of strikes and great bowling which also can make it very entertaining.
If the Olympic commitee needs some help deciding if it is worth it to put such a great game in the Olympics I believe that there would be more than enough support worldwide for this. For those who would like to help find a way to get the message through to the IOC, My writing will continue to support this in the future and hope that one day I will be there to watch or participate in the event as it returns to the Olympics.
Best of luck and good bowling.

What happens when SPORTS cross seasons

This has got to be the most exciting May I have had in a long time. Not only am I preparing to dominate the Lanes in Burlington later this month but also is the start of Baseball season. I just went out to the cages tonight, and I know the people who have been helping me may not be impressed that I would be taking time away from the lanes, But it felt great swinging again.

Not only will I be playing in the KFL again this year but I will also be in a recreational 3 pitch league with our church group and looking to rack up a some wins(although we are there for fun). I look forward to playing for my third year in the KFL and if the cages were any indication of what is to come I should hit plenty of balls. But, that intensity will come after the Canadian National on the long weekend.

I cannot beleive they are only a week and a bit away, it seems like I have been working out for a while and learning many new things but thought I could still change more before we begin. My coaching has been excellent, using a former Olympian and Canadian team Member has been a great influence on how I prepare for this. She in my mind is still one of Canada's best and most achieved bowler. Many thanks go to her and the time she has spent breaking my bad habits from when we started 5 years ago to today, the slaps on the wrist are greatly appreciated. With only good news to come.

Thanks for everyone's supports

Getting ready to move sucks!!

This may just be me procrastinating, because to be honest I hate packing for moving. But, I have been reassured by others I am not the only one who feels like this. I had to promise a friend though that after the last time we moved I would be more prepared. Last time we moved people showed up on the day and half our stuff was still unpacked, I guess that was well under prepared. So this time we have already started (Ok by we I mean me, since I get to sit at home all day anyway). Not only were we getting ready to move our house, but our church had potentially bought a new building which would have been more preparing and moving. Although for the time being the deal has been put on hold.

Now, since this move is a temporary move 6-8 mos max. that would mean I have to do everything all over again. Sounds like fun! But, for the most part our stuff will be kept in storage so when we do find a house it will be easier to move. I cannot wait, as we continue to look at MLS and all other sorts of options for the future we are so excited about the possibility of owning our own house. As we see prices remain for the first time in many years the potential of getting a steal at the end of summer is awesome. Although we want to stay in our current area for school reasons as the D-man already has said he is going to miss his friends.

We have this verse posted on our fridge and I think that it applies to our situation as well as our church's. It also came to me Tuesday after we heard about the deal falling through. It is Philippians 4 6:7 Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience Gods peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard you hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

We know he has plans for us and he will reveal them to us all as we continue to look to him for guidance.

How to get 20 people to watch Hockey game

There are many ways to get a big group together for a hockey game. First, start with a great rivalry (montreal v. Toronto works best), unfortunately you have to let the Habs fans into your house. They frown upon having to sit on driveway and listen to radio. Second, trash talk the last time your team won( 6-3 in Montreal, poor habs fans had to watch that live). Third, allow your in-laws to store a 62" Television in your living room, May take some time to set up and pre watch dozens of games to ensure you have the best quality picture and sound levels (I was so tired after watching all those games and putting in the hard work for people to enjoy the game). Fourth, Stake out a good spot get in a bathroom break before game and don't move, because when that many people arrive, you loose your seat second you get up.

All in all, Toronto losing to Montreal Saturday was no big deal, it was fun to have that many people in the house, although after second period most leaf fans migrated to play cards. We can't be upset, as leaf fans, Ron Wilson predicted this a beginning of season, and although there seemed a glimmer of hope, it is what we all should have thought. A very young team who will grow over next year to finally end 5 years without postseason hockey in Toronto(marlies don't count).

Since, up in Canada land bowling, is a third rate sport, I have to wait until this afternoon to see who won the US Open, if only we had ESPN I could have watched yesterday. Or if there were less Nascar fans which seems to dominate Sunday afternoon TV, its not that exciting they drive around an oval, not one knows what a right turn is. I would hate to see what there paths are for normal driving, everywhere they go they have to make left turns to get there. The only part worth watching is for a good wreck.

Does anyone know what else is going on tonight, I have been waiting for six months for this to come back, time for Major league Baseball to return with the Jays hosting the Tigers. Does anyone remember opening day at Exibition Stadium, now I am not old enough but there is some grainy video that shows a lot of snow. They should have kept the dome open to go retro back to those days and have the jays wear the old blue's. I guess we will see if they take my idea tonight. Likely not because when you make half a trillion dollars a season, you cannot play in the snow.

Tune up or Tune Out

I was not going write anything today, but something has been on my mind for most of the night and throughout the day. As anyone who knows me knows, I am an avid bowler and with plans to bowl at the end of May in the Canadian National Championships and join the Canadian National team. I don't just plan on showing up that day and expecting to win. I am going to head over to the lanes tonight to work out some things I have been having issues with lately. I will continue to work at this as often as possible until I feel I have made the right corrections and preparations for when the time comes.

This also had me thinking that I need to spend more time preparing mentally and emotionally to face the challenge of 36 games of bowling over 4 days. I thought of many ways I have heard or used in the past for preparing, but that voice in my head told me to read the bible and I found a good scripture to encourage and remind that I can do all things through him. In Isaiah 40:29-31 he says that he will give power to the weak and strength to the powerless but also that the young become exhausted. but those who trust in the lord will find new strength and soar high like eagles. Also, since this month we have been doing a study on Philippians I remembered 4:13 for I can do everything through Christ, he gives me strength.

So in the end not only do I have to tune up physically and be prepared for this potentially life changing tournament, but I also have to tune up spiritually to become the leader of many in what will determine Men from boys in Canadian Bowling.

Men's Weekend away

Most of my recent trips away from home never had me longing to get back to my own bed, as i was usually staying in Hotels with decent and comfortable beds. This weekend I attended a Men's retreat at Muskoka Woods Camp and had a great time playing sports and fellowship with the Men from our church. Unfortunately, we probably over sported ourselves and as a group have more sore muscles and joints than the average Pro sports team. Not to mention we slept on Bunk beds which had about 2" thick mattresses (nothing like the Hilton). I am sure for everyone there were different highlights of the weekend, but for me seeing someone choose to give their heart to the Lord tops all, especially when that person is soon joining your family. Although some who I would really like to see have to same change of heart were distracted I know that some of the message got through.

When you think of all the games and activities that were played, amazing not one serious injury. From volleyball to Basketball and Hockey to Murder Ball not one injury that required first aid, with the guys we had I thought someone would have been hurt Friday. The food was great from Breakfast to Dinner and snack. I look forward to next years trip.

But now back to home life and being sore and tired and having two children who have missed you for two night jumping all over you is a good feeling if you weren't so sore. I am sure many other fathers who were there this weekend experienced the same thing. I now put the fun and games of the weekend behind me to prepare for upcoming bowling tournaments. People may think they are pipe dreams but these dreams were put in my head by God so I know that they are possible.

Welcome

Good day to all who come to find out what is going on in the world of Greg. I hope to give great updates as we continue on our journey through the year and beyond. I am a married father of two great children who as I have been told are quite cute. My wife and I met way back in the day, back when i was a budding sports super star at our senior public school(grade 7 & 8). Although we did not start dating until I was finished highschool and heading on to college, we fell in love and the rest is History. Since, I was just a wee lad or even before I was born, I was hanging out in the bowling center and is a passion in my life to constantley improve my game physically and mentally. I am heading for the Canadian National Championships at the end of May with the plans of joining the Canadian Mens team. I am off for the weekend and will update after I spend the weekend over eating and over sporting myself.