Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”
Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in sports –
Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Toronto Raptors, all curlers from Manitoba, and all Canadian athletes competing on the international stage.
I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula. I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned.
1. Jets: I don’t know why I am surprised but there is nothing but crickets coming from TNSE these days. At times it can be really exhausting and frustrating being a Winnipeg Jets fan.
You can vote on more than one option.
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2. Jets: According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freidman, Patrik Laine (RFA) didn’t leave Winnipeg very happy at the end of last season and he is looking for a bridge deal.
From Elliotte Freidman’s “31 Thoughts”
He didn’t leave happy last year and we’ve talked about this, some of that was his own fault, he wasn’t as good as he could be and I think he chafed under some of the leadership there. The guys at the top of that food chain are hard driving guys. They expect you to buy into the program and I think that they felt he didn’t buy in enough and I think he felt that some of the things that they wanted were ridiculous.
Is this a huge red flag ? Should we be concerned with Patrik Laine or the leadership group?
3. Blue Bombers: Winnipeg 48 vs Toronto 21 … The Blue Bombers improved their record to 4-0 with the TSN Turning Point coming early when Lucky Whitehead went 104 yards for a TD on the opening kick-off. Game over.
The Good:
- The Bombers’ kick return game set the tone early with two monster returns leading to 14 points early in the game.
- Andrew Harris was his old self again running for 116 yards om 14 carries.
- Matt Nichols went 18 for 24 for 209 yards and 3 TDs.
The Bad:
- The Bombers secondary.
- Bombers safety Jeff Hecht getting injured. Lets hope its not serious.
The Ugly:
- Watching Chandler Fenner and Brandon Alexander trying to play defence.
4. NHL: It looks like none of the top RFAs like Rantanen, Point, Tkachuk, Conner, Marner, Laine want to be the first to sign and set the market. As they say on Letterkenny, pitter-patter!
5. MLB: Do you get the feeling that the Yankees and Red Sox think the rest of the teams in the American League are their farm teams. The MLB trade deadline is in two weeks and I’m curious to see what happens. I hope teams make the contenders PAY for a change.
6. Jets: I think Connor Hellebuyck is going to have a big bounce-back season this year, not that he was bad last year but he definately wasn’t the same goalie as he was in his Vezina Trophy nomimated season.
7. Blue Jays: Mark Shiparo sure has been awfully quiet. Maybe he is at the cottage with Chevy?
8. Blue Bombers: Should we be concerned that the vaunted Argos offence put up 453 yards on the Bombers’ defense.
9. Question for Chevy: Are the fish biting?
10. Important Dates:
July 19: Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Ottawa Redblacks.
July 21: Andrew Copp arbitration hearing.
July 24: Neal Pionk arbitration hearing.
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Thanks, Mitch
