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 Ice, 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 realize that three games isn’t a very big sample size but I have to say the return from the Jacob Trouba trade doesn’t look half bad.
2. Jets: Takes after four games. (2-1-1)
- Ville Heinola is much better than advertised and I don’t think he is far away from being a regular. Once again I believe the Jets will reassign him just because they can.
- Jack Roslovic, Kristian Vesalainen, and Mason Appleton better get their heads out of their asses because Andrei Chibisov and Joona Luoto are sniffing around their jobs.
- Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers is an elite talent.
- Tucker Poolman is ready.
- Logan Stanley isn’t ready.
- After 4 pre-season games, my top six defencemen are – in no particular order – Josh, Poolman, Heinola, Niku, Pionk, Kully.
3. Jets: It is amazing how ignorant some Jets fans can be. Crapping on Neal Pionk is beyond ridiculous. Is it his fault he was the player that came back in the Jacob Trouba trade? GRAB A BRAIN YOU F’N LOSERS.
4. Blue Bombers: Winnipeg 37 at Montreal 38 – I have seen some monumental choke jobs in my day BUT this might be the worst. ANOTHER QB LIGHTS UP THE BLUE BOMBER SECONDARY FOR CAREER NUMBERS! (254 yds in the 4th quarter alone) It is the same thing every week. How does Richie Hall still have a job?
The Good:
- The first half until Streveler’s late interception.
The Bad:
- The second half.
The Ugly:
- The fourth quarter was a repeat of the ineptness of Richie Hall and his secondary.
5. Jets: Andrew Copp is making a bid to be the Jets new swiss army knife. Copp has a very versatile skill set.
6. MLB: I think it is time to put umpire Joe West out to pasture.
7. Jets: Based on what I’ve seen during the Jets pre-season the Manitoba Moose are going to have a pretty good team.
8. Pet Peeve: Stop calling pre-season games EXHIBITION GAMES.
9. Blue Bombers: Was this Bombers loss the one that costs them first place and home field in the West Final? I hate to say it but I think so. I don’t see Calgary shitting the bed down the stretch. I’m still hoping that a split in their home and home with the Stamps is good enough to get first place. This means beating Hamilton and Montreal at home AND probably needing a road win at Mosaik. This team never makes it easy on themselves or their long-suffering fans.
10. Jets: The Dustin Byfuglien watch.
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11. Blue Jays: Jays rookie Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle last week. He is only the third Blue Jay to accomplish this feat and he did it in his rookie season. WOW!
12. Blue Bombers and Jets: After over 55 years of watching sports (I’m 63) and being continually disappointed I’ve actually become numb to my team’s failures and losses like the one on Saturday in Montreal. With the exception of the Jets WHA years and a couple of Blue Bomber Grey Cups, my fandom has been repeatedly kicked in the nuts. Is it too late to find new teams? I couldn’t imagine cheering for anybody else, so I guess they’re stuck with me or should I say I’m stuck with them?
13. Blue Bombers: There is no way I would even consider saying that Justin Medlock cost the Blue Bombers a win on Saturday BUT who would have thought a missed convert and/or a hit upright on a FG attempt would have been the difference?
14. NFL: Antonio Brown sure has pissed away millions of dollars in the past few weeks.
15. Important Dates:
Sept. 27: Winnipeg Blue Bombers host Hamilton.
Oct. 3: Winnipeg Jets regular-season opener at the New York Rangers. (TSN 3)
Oct. 10: Winnipeg Jets regular-season home opener vs the Minnesota Wild. (TSN 3)
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Thanks, Mitch
