CMF's Sports Club

[Toronto.gal]

I would like to see Dylan Armstrong win a gold in shot put......that guy is built like a truck.

Indeed!

I wish him best of luck, especially that he came so close to winning it at the last Olympics.

"He is a bear of a man: 6-foot-4, 345 pounds of speed and muscle, as imposing a physical specimen as one can imagine."
http://www.thestar.com/sports/london...etre-at-a-time

KaeJS might be interested in his diet.

“I need anywhere from 6,500 to 9,000 calories [per day]. It’s up there. But it’s easy to eat a lot of calories. I like a lot of salmon. Obviously, beef and chicken. I’m on a high-protein, low-carb diet. I’ll eat five or six times a day. I’m more of a grazer. I try to eat healthy. It does help performance.”
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/...et-looks-like/

Continuing with Canadian content, I must say that I was disappointed that neither Felicien nor Lopes-Schliep qualified to race at the Olympics. Felicien was disqualified for a false start, hmmm, seems that new rules disqualify you at the 1st false start [no more 2nd chances???], and I don't agree with that at all; 4 years of intense training for nothing? These are trials after all, there are nerves involved, etc.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/artic...or-london.html

Donald: thanks for the explanation, I didn't know any of what you explained, so now it all makes more sense. I'm not familiar with the sport, but even if I don't play/watch the sport, it doesn't mean that I won't read, so keep your comments coming!

[Cal]

dogcom and donald - nhl - just like everything else, it is all about money. What would improve the game, is less teams, then only the best players would be playing. Yes, less games would prevent injury and ensure we see the best players play more. But that is the price you pay to get the big bucks. The owners and players always want more $. The owners love Bettman, he is not going anywhere. He has done alot to try to improve the american broadcast dollars.

I really can't see the sport gaining much more market share in the US though. Unless the NHL pays the networks to show more airtime on the sports news programs down there. I think the NHL could raise more $, by selling out on advertising though, I do think there is more potential in that regard.

[Sampson]

Not exactly sure why you guys are thinking the NHL is not entertaining.

Its much better than the early 2000's when the Trap was the predominant style of play. One only has to watch all the young stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, the trio/quadruple in Edmonton etc to have some really exciting hockey.

[Cal]

I read the other day, that malkin flew the Penguins trainer out to Russia for 4 weeks this summer (it was 2 weeks last summer) to help him train. No wonder he is league MVP with commitment like that.

[dogcom]

Sampson I agree with that, but I am thinking more of the 70's and 80's back then the best teams played in the later rounds and once in a while there would be upsets. There was such great series back then like the battle of Alberta, Bruins vs Canadiens, Toronto vs Philly in the 70's and so on. There is nothing even close to that today.

I should go on Basketball was much more exiting in the 70's and 80's, boxing was great in the 70's and so on.

[donald]

The battles of alberta were epic back in the (gretzky/coffey/fehr)-(mcdonald/vernon/hunter ect)era 100%(late 80's early 90's) better hockey!So many arch rivals like dogcom is saying:canadians-boston,philly-pitts,washington and both new jersey/ranger's(the old campbell/and off hand can't remember the other confrence?.....even the older barns like the forum(mtl)the old garden's in boston.(electric)That was hockey.

Remember when the leaf's were in the hunt?The days of wendal clark?eddy O.The player were'nt such pre madonna's.Growing up i was a habs fan.Stephen richer coming up the wing.roy in his hayday.Ryan walter's.Shayne corson(toughest all around player)ect....Maybe it's my youth,but hockey was better!

I live in the peg(winnipeg)so we were hit hard when bettman was big on expansion(we folded)huge hit to the city.There back now-but it ain't the same.

[Homerhomer]

Not exactly sure why you guys are thinking the NHL is not entertaining.

Its much better than the early 2000's when the Trap was the predominant style of play. One only has to watch all the young stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, the trio/quadruple in Edmonton etc to have some really exciting hockey.

I agree, I think the nhl is great to watch these days, I also think the old days of fantastic hockey is a bit of nostalgia for whoever grew up in the era, I have watched the tapes of some old games and it was pretty boring, Gretzky, Coffee and on and on and on were no doubt some of the greatest, but many of the goals they scored wouldn't go in now as some of the goaltending from 25 years ago looks pretty week, I also don't subscribe the theory of lots of goals equals to good hockey, some of the 1-0 games were superb and it has nothing to with goals but with flow and action, however please do not make me watch reruns of Devils Sabres games from 10 years ago ;-).

Two biggest issues with NHL are stupidity and concussions, although these two may be related.

I can't be bothered with watching how a bunch of multi millionaires who either play game for a living or own sport teams for entertainment are fighting how to divide the $$$$, and once they decide on the rules they cheat themselves on it (contracts).

Concussions - not sure why nobody considers soft pads, the technology is there to protect the player who wears them and to lessen the damage of the player who is hit.

[Sampson]

I suppose the days of the 'real' rivalries disappeared with the modern free agency and market cap regulations. A big component of those rivalries was the same players fighting in and out, the 'distaste' and competitiveness.

Somehow, the rivalries have not held in hockey, unlike in other sports - not exactly sure why. Dilution of talent and teams shouldn't have any impact on this.

In many ways, what people had been asking for, parity in the league has happened. Any team can win now, and there aren't teams that are as stacked and consistently strong. Is that an issue? perhaps, but remember during the mid-90's, low CAD$, 'small market' Canadian teams like Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City etc, were at very real risk of either losing their teams, or forever being plagued with under-performing teams.

Canadian teams may not have won a finals since 1993, but there have been plenty of Canadian teams playing for the Cup in the finals... well all except those leafs. I'm not old enough to remember when they were good, except that one year with Doug Gilmour.

[Cal]

That really doesn't say much, some on here could be retired, yet, not be old enough to remember the Leafs being a good team. lol.

[Cal]

Looking forward to the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.... I just hope it isn't too drawn out....