I sometimes shake my head wondering how on Earth is it possible for certain bird brains to secure such lofty positions of power. In Calgary a couple of weeks ago, for example, a junior high school decided it was doing away with academic achievement awards because it hurts the self esteem of those who don't get them. Have you ever heard of something so ridiculous? What's next? Allowing anybody who wants to be a doctor into medical school because it may hurt that individual's self esteem? You don't see many stories anymore about high academic achievers getting an added opportunity to maximize their potential. No, instead it's best to depress those capabilities and foster a learning environment of mediocrity.
When I see a story like that in Calgary, I am left to wonder if the Saskatchewan media has it all wrong. The first sentence after reporting that Saskatchewan teachers have rejected a contract offer is that the agreement would have paid them six and a half percent more over four years. To me, the major issue should be (whether it is or not, I have no idea of knowing) the growing diversity of the students in each classroom. In a day and age where everybody seems to pass because, heaven forbid, Little Johnny could feel like a failure (as opposed to accepting failure as a means to be motivated to do better) I have to think it's increasingly difficult for a teacher to stand in front of 30 kids when you have about 5 different tiers of students working at various speeds and achievement.
I've seen one parent say it's not good to offer kids rewards for doing well because a child needs to understand the benefit of doing a good job shouldn't revolve around a carrot being dangled in front of them. I couldn't disagree more. Is an athlete going to perform at the highest level if not enticed by a larger contract or the emotion of winning? Is a sales person going to work the same if he/she doesn't have the incentive to earn more money? Is an employee going to put in more hours if the lure of added vacation time isn't in the mix? Is a student going to work more if knowing that it takes a 90% average to get into Law School? Rewards and satisfaction are what life is about.
Just when I was about to throw in the towel on Darian Durant and say his best days are behind him, he goes out and has the game of his life against the BC Lions. If Durant has two more games like that in him, the Riders will win the Grey Cup. If he doesn't, I am going to suggest they won't. I see Kent Austin, Henry Burris, and the Hamilton Ti-Cats also won over the weekend and are one win away from playing for the Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium.
The so-called Greatest Fans In The CFL put an awful lot of tickets up for sale on Facebook, not wanting to brave the -20 windchill on Sunday. Had they donned a toque, mitts, and parka; they could have gone and cheered in what was the best game I've seen in a few years.
Some of the fans in attendance were so intoxicated I'm sure the elements weren't a factor. It's those drunken morons that wreck it for basic sports fans like me. By the fourth quarter, the only part of my body that was cold were my feet and that was only because the drunks spilled their drinks and the concrete beneath me had become sheer ice, contributing the cold on my piggies. Seeing these people makes me re-iterate to anyone who hasn't gone to a Rider game that this is not family entertainment. It's for adults and mature young teenagers, at best.
Tampa forward Steven Stamkos broke his leg on Monday and is, likely, going to miss the Olympics. This should hardly register as a blip for Canada's chances at gold. I watched a commentary over the weekend and the consensus was that Ryan Getzlaf wasn't going to make it because the rest of the Canadian hockey players were just that much better than him. I was stunned, so I looked at the scoring leaders and notice Getzlaf is one point behind the league leader. Maybe now they will take him? I know coaches love their checkers and grinders (see Rob Zamuner 1998) but how can you ignore someone who is one point behind Sidney Crosby? The fact is Canada could put four teams in the Olympics and two of them could very well play for gold. Yes, the other countries can all put out really high end A teams. But only Canada can ice B, C, and D and still have a chance to win with the spares.
Nice person mentions this week to: Trinity Pelletier, Roman Hrabowych, Val Ruf, Doug Jonassen, Aaron Chipelski, and Matt Dominguez.
