Not ready for prime time: Stuff that didn't make it to the dead trees

As always, the bosses stifled my creativity wisely restricted me to 150 words on the good, bad and ugly commentary, so a lot of good stuff didn't make the paper. Being an environmentalist, I try to recycle whenever possible while avoiding re-using.

HOCKEY ACCORDING TO DON: Hockey Night In Canada fashion consultant Don Cherry has actually been making more sense than usual during the playoffs, which is when he does his best work. But even when he's avoiding slagging an entire continent and promoting his violent videos, he still can't bring himself to praise the people who are making the playoffs so watchable. After Saturday's Pittsburgh-Carolina game, Cherry avoided all mention of the players who dominated the game: Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Instead, he gave us a tribute to losing goaltender Cam Ward that included highlights from two seasons ago and a teary-eyed paen to plugger Chris Kunitz. It took analyst Greg Millen to pay proper tribute to Malkin: ``The Hurricanes have no answer for his speed. He's a big guy and he can play physical, too." Okay, but is he as good as Kunitz? ... One HNIC decision that pays off is broadcasting the anthems. It's the perfect set-up to the game.  ... How do you like those post-game press conferences where you usually can't even hear the questions? Yeah, me neither. ... As HNIC's Scott Morrison pointed out Saturday, the NHL is trying to move up the June 5 start of the final if both conference finals end this week. Let's hope they succeed. An eight or nine-day layoff is the last thing the league needs.

GOOD AND BAD: CBC soccer analyst Jason de Vos did what good analysts are supposed to do during Saturday's Toronto FC game. Commenting on Dwayne De Rosario's complaints about the artificial turf at BMO Field, de Vos said, ``Part of being a professional footballer is dealing with adversity and Dwayne and his teammates need to get on with it."  ... When Terrell Owens showed up for that workout in Buffalo last week, several TV stations actually ran footage of quarterback Trent Edwards describing the pass he threw the clubhouse cancer star receiver. What's next, a telestrator showing how T.O. got from the locker room to the field?

AN INDY PROJECT: ABC's Marty Reid on Marco Andretti and Mario Moraes being knocked out on the first lap of the Indy 500: ``The national anthem lasted longer than those two did." ... ABC (or is it ESPN or is it ESPN on ABC?) came up with a great solution to an event without schedules ad breaks, other than the frequent cautions. It simply squeeze the ads on to the screen next to video from the race. ... No sports gets better coverage than auto racing, but sometimes the coverage provides way too much information. When the pit reporters are talking about wing adjustments, downforce, fuel position 3 vs. fuel position 4 and a whole lot of other gearhead stuff, millions of eyes are glazing over across North America. ad squeeze.

BOSH BLOWS IT: And speaking of bad, how did Chris Bosh get himself involved with this cheesy commercial? The guy's a media star -- his turn as a weatherman on CFTO was brilliant and that all-star push was brilliant. This gum commercial, which is getting way too much airtime during the NBA playoffs, blows big time -- and we're not talking bubbles.

Comments

[Mike S]

I hope the NHL ends up getting an 8 or 9 day layoff...........it will show everyone how incompetent they really are

[Josh O'Donnell]

I also loved Marty Reid's comment on the crash on the first lap of the Indy 500 yesterday, it was brilliant.

[Cory]

Come on, Chris. Have you been listening to Damien's "spin" too much, or do you actually think showing two or three fights on average per Rock Em, Sock Em video is "violent"? They take up two minutes, and the rest is filled with great goals, saves, hits, bloopers and spotlights on great playoff series. Have you ever watched one of them? Quit sensationalizing when it comes to slagging Cherry.