My family and I have been overwhelmed, in a positive way, with all the caring messages and comments from people concerning our 7-year-old daughter Mallory, who suffered two broken wrists while playing at Canora Beach on July 2nd. We are pleased to report her toughness is way beyond that of either parent and her drive has taught us a thing or two as well. It sounds like we will have a real concrete idea as to when the casts come off following her August 3rd appointment. It's possible she may have full use of her left (wrong) hand at that time.
I want to say a special public thank you to Dede and Shane Gordey of Edmonton. They were the couple that brought Mallory back to our campsite that day. Don Rae was able to track them down and that allowed us to say 'thanks' they way it should be done. I also stand corrected on the doctor that treated her in Canora. I didn't hear him correctly when he introduced himself. I believe the proper spelling is Dr. Van Der Merwe. He was fantastic.
There is one part of this ordeal I would like to make public that I wasn't too happy with. I'm hesitant to do so because her care that day was beyond expectation. But, on the way into Canora I called 9-1-1 to make sure the E-R was open. The dispatcher couldn't tell me if it was or not. I'm just about airborne in my truck down a dirt road, so I asked the lady to call for me and I'd hold the line. She wouldn't (or couldn't) do that. Instead, she gave me the number and I had to do it while driving (fast I might add) a screaming child to the nearest hospital. I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to equip 9-1-1 operators with a daily list of what hospitals are open on specific days.
Broken wrists are also a minor thing to deal with this summer when I look and see the tragedy that occured in Preeceville last Saturday. Who would ever think of going to a parade with your kids and then leaving that parade without one of them? Makes me sick.
The biggest reason for the drastic positive changes with the Saskatchewan Roughriders this season has been the lack of meddling from the suits in the front office. Players are allowed to play, coaches are allowed to coach, managers are allowed to manage, and the suits...well they do whatever it is that suits do. Count money, organize sponsorship, etc.
General Manager Brendan Taman deserves high praise for his hiring of Corey Chamblin as head coach (Chamblin was Taman's choice last year too, but was overruled by Ken Miller). He also deserves credit for the free agent signings on the offensive line and unearthing some other gems along the way in the form of running back Kory Sheets, linebacker Abraham Kromah, and defensive backs Eddie Russ, Terrell Maze, and Woodny Turenne.
Details of the NHL's initial proposal to the NHLPA in their collective bargaining talks emerged late last week and, if accurate, really show the league's true side to put the screws to the players at every turning corner possible. I think I have been on the record in the past as saying players should be able to get everything they can. Their careers are not long, the owners seem willing to pay the salaries, and there is a long, storied history of owners taking players to the cleaners to further line their already deep pockets. One NHL newspaper reporter says an owner told him in 2004-05 that he could not sustain his team on a $35-million dollar salary cap. In 2012, that owner is still in business with a cap approaching $70-million. So, you will excuse me if I don't believe a single word that comes from the mouths of the owners. Remember that after the last collective agreement was signed, the owners referred to the players as 'partners'. That, clearly, couldn't be further from the truth.
While I say I hope the players do get everything they want, I do hope the league gets what it wants as far as short-term contracts go. This would mean teams like the Edmonton Oilers, who have been rebuilding since 1990, will have to come up with a different excuse when they play poorly every year. A five year limit on contracts would mean a different strategy for clubs like the Oilers. With Nail Yakupov entering year one of a maximum five-year contract in 2012-13, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle will already be on year three and two years from being out the door. So, these teams that like to use the 'rebuilding' excuse for ten or twelve straight years will have to come up with some other lame explanation to keep their fans. And, Oiler fans are the most gullible I've seen, so using Oiler fans as a gauge on excuses isn't a true scientific way of doing it.
Nice person mentions this week to Tammy Ruf, Dennis Botterill, Matt Dominguez, Brady Harland, and Kelsey Greene.
