So, Ken Griffey Jr.-who last year hit the least-noticed 56 home runs in history, thanks to Messrs, McGwire and Sosa-is back on top in the Major League Baseball home run race. By going yard twice against the Colorado Rockies in June 8’s interleague game, Griffey tied Jose Canseco (yes, old Jose Canseco) with 22 on the year. Junior’s long balls also gave him at least one homer in every ballpark he has played in with the Mariners. Compare that to Wayne Gretzky (as in apples vs. oranges) who played NHL hockey in five or six arenas in which he failed to score a goal. I’d say goals are slightly easier to come by than home runs, but that’s just me.
Another reason to love interleague ball: Kenny Rogers (not the Gambler) had his first big league hit last week after only 11 years in the majors.
Buffalo, Texas made the bold move of renaming itself “Green Star” in honour of the Dallas Stars Stanley Cup final berth.
While I’m on the subject of the Stanley Cup, I have to ask: where would the Sabres be without Jason Woolley, Stu Barnes and Rhett Warrener? Sure, Satan, Peca and Hasek get all the glory, but Woolley, Barnes and Warrener, who went to the finals with Florida in ’96, are valuable cogs in the machine. Woolley and Barnes, who were acquired in separate deals by the Sabres, were also part of one of the stupidest trades not made by a Flames General Manager. The Panthers shipped the pair to Pittsburgh in ’97 for Chris Wells. Barnes became a first-line player with the Pens while Woolley developed into a valuable offensive defenseman. Wells is…still playing for the Panthers. ‘Nuff said.
In the underappreciated (at least in Canada) sport of auto racing, three Canadians are tearing it up, which comes as little surprise. Paul Tracy (first), Greg Moore (second) and Patrick Carpentier (ninth) are all doing well on the CART tour. In the meantime, what is Scott Goodyear is proving that the Indy Racing League (where he’s ranked second) really doesn’t mean anything except during that one milky weekend in May. And Jacques Villeneuve, whatever became of you? With the Canadian Grand Prix coming up, it’d be nice if you did something.
Latrell Sprewell. Less than two years ago, few knew his name. Those who did usually pronounced it wrong (Sprool?). Then he strangled his coach, got kicked out of the sport (that would be basketball) for a while and is now the best-known sixth-man around. And his team (the Knicks) might be on their way to the NBA championship out of the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed. Does anyone remember Michael Jordan?
I propose that Canada stops laying claim to inventing basketball until either the Vancouver Grizzlies or Toronto Raptors make the playoffs. Yes, I appreciate that Vince Carter won rookie of the year, joining Damon Stoudamire as two Raptors to have done so in the team’s four-year existence, but it’s really not that hard to make the playoffs. Basketball’s creator, James Naismith, is considering changing his citizenship from beyond the grave.
Congratulations to former University of Calgary field hockey player Michaela Walter, who coached the William Aberhart High School field hockey team to second place in the city.
The U of C is currently recruiting for a pod-racing team, which will probably make its debut this fall in a league with the univerisities of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Endor. Harrison Ford has already been tabbed as coach. Gungans need not apply.