Time to wrap it up around here with a Sports around town note.
Saturday morning High Park will be buzzing with the annual Harry's Spring Run-Off, Harry Rosen having taken over the sponsorship of this annual in its 28th year -- actually, it's two races, the 8K sold out and the 5K, as of Friday, still open.
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| RICHARD LAUTENS/TORONTO STAR |
| Harry's Spring Run-Off: Beware the Spring Road hill. |
Breaking news. Still on the roads, local distance runner Michal Kapral will be contesting the Boston Marathon in a couple of weeks -- while juggling. He's actually going up against Zach Warren, who broke the "joggling" record Kapral set at last year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, both raising money for children's charities: A Run for Liane, raising money for a new childhood cancer care centre at the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Afghan Mobile Mini-Circus for Children. Running a sub 3:10 marathon and juggling at the same time and raising money for a worthy cause -- go for it, fellas.
One last look. Greg Norman, mentioned in numerous Masters previews and posts because it's the 10th anniversary of his Sunday collapse for the ages, has a $70 million yacht (thanks, Norris). (UPDATE: Norman sold the yacht in 2004 to Florida millionaire and sports owner Wayne Huizenga -- thanks to Victor for the e-mail and the link).
One last read. Weedy McSmokey, a great web handle from the SportsFilter crowd, has a dead-on essay on the Leafs, as we count down to the moment where they finally stop not conceding anything (thanks, Sean):
There is a constant paradox to this team. Technically, the Leafs are the second most successful team in the history of the sport -- yet so comically and legitimately unsuccessful that people who have never seen a victory speak of them in songs despite the fact that they occurred decades before they existed (the primary reason why The Tragically Hip will never attain true coolness. Being a Leaf fan is not cool. It is fun, but never cool. Mike Myers is a Leaf fan. Enough said.). It is a franchise that has been so buoyed by national radio and TV coverage for the better part of a century that it has bullied its way into being the favourite son of the land of hockey, boasting legions of fans from coast to coast -- fans who are unquestionably loyal, despite having been given every reason to question that loyalty. Self-loathing and celebrating unite every Saturday.
And this wicked bit:
The Leafs are principally owned by the Ontario School Teachers Pension Fund. So, that asshole math teacher that tormented you fifteen years ago is profiting from your yearly misery. That's the kind of attention to detail that you have to respect. The extra, almost unnoticed, Marquis de Sade-esque, exquisite nipple-twist cherry on the crotch-kick sundae.
Watching. The Masters (final round), Sunday, 2:30 p.m., CBS, Global. I promise, this is the last time I put golf in this spot.
Not watching. Canada Russia '72, Sunday and Monday, 8 p.m., CBC. I've seen enough and heard enough about this series to last me several lifetimes, and the blathering shows no signs of letting up. Now I'm supposed to sit down and watch the TV-movie version? Please, make it stop.
I was plesantly surprised by the movie and felt they did a decent job. It wasn't perfect, but, hey, I watch the Leafs. I like my cliches.
Posted by: Brian Quinn | April 11, 2006 at 06:25 PM
I've heard that, Brian. What I like about this is that we in Canada don't tell our own stories enough -- and in terms of sports, even less, with Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in a state of sad neglect in recent years. And I'm looking forward muchly to Rocket, the upcoming movie on Rocket Richard, and plan to blog some on that. It's just that, personally, I've OD'd on the Summit Series long time ago. (and for an interesting discussion, check out Tom Benjamin's weblog at http://www.canuckscorner.com/weblog/nhllog/archives/2006/04/thrilling_and_c.html
Posted by: cy | April 11, 2006 at 06:44 PM