Prior to last Wednesday, if you had asked me who the most popular person in Yorkton was; chances are I'd come up with a few names but there wouldn't be any clear cut choice amongst them. After last Wednesday, I'd say that Donna Moore might be the most well known Yorkton resident. Donna passed away last week after falling and being admitted to hospital. She was one of the first people I met when I moved to Yorkton in 2001 and, quickly, gave me an education on all things involving sports in our city as well as how to and how not to turn in my recyclables at SARCAN. To say she was a Terrier and Cardinal fan is an understatement. She lived for those teams and was never shy about offering opinions, sometimes even changing my own. She was a delight to visit with and there will be an incredible void at the ticket door in September when the Terriers start up again. Donna would have been, incredibly, humbled if I had been able to show her my Facebook feed on Thursday. It blew up with Donna tributes and, justifiably, so. Rest in peace, Donna. There are a lot of people who are, already, missing you.
I think it's safe to say there was universal sadness when it became public knowledge that an RCMP officer took his own life last week. News reports said he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and hadn't worked since the night Vince Li decapitated Tim McLean. The story is very, very tragic and it seems like, yet another victim has been claimed as a result of this unfathomable crime. It's also remarkable, to me, that the individual who carried out the crime is now 'better' and not sick anymore; while someone who watched the crime was so affected that he ended committing suicide. There's something not right about that if you ask me.
Police have followed through and laid a number of charges against Mike Duffy in relation to his lofty expense accounts. It's interesting to note that a story was written by a PEI reporter back in 2008 when Duffy was appointed to the Senate about him not living on Prince Edward Island. To me, the article is a damning piece of evidence against Duffy as well as our, evidently, dishonest Prime Minister. "I didn't go looking for (the appointment). I didn't apply. The Prime Minister called me. That was his judgement. He knows I'm from the Island, I talk up the Island, I'm always proud to say where I'm from. I keep track of Island and Maritime issues. I have a place in Cavendish and I'm home several times a year," said Duffy at the time. I suppose 'several times a year' is open for discussion, but it sounds like everyone was well aware that Duffy didn't live on PEI as his primary residence even before he started his term. I, for one, hope he has to do some hard time. It will never happen, but I'd like to see a lawyer ask some hard questions of Stephen Harper too.
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin made the news last week after he posted a photograph of himself laying down at a golf course with a tee on his groin area and a friend all set to whack the golf ball. Seguin is also the same guy who the Boston Bruins traded a little more than a year ago because they were tired of his off-ice behaviour. There were reports they had to post a body guard outside his hotel room to make sure he didn't leave during the wee hours during their playoff run. He's a good player, but I think the Bruins did the right thing by moving him. It's tough to win when a guy like Seguin is your main player. As a support guy, sure; but don't look for the Stars to be in the Stanley Cup finals anytime soon if Seguin is their main guy. It's the same reason why, I suspect, the Cleveland Browns won't be Super Bowl contenders. Johnny Manziel will have to grow up a lot for that to happen.
I applaud LeBron James for going back to Cleveland. Yes, he's getting paid big dollars and yes it's only a two year deal; but when was the last time you saw an elite athlete go home to try and win a championship while in the prime of his career? Wayne Gretzky never played for the Leafs. Mario Lemieux was never a Hab. Magic Johnson never played for the Pistons, and Joe Montana never played for the Steelers or Eagles. We can debate LeBron's reasons all day long, but if he can lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to, even, one NBA title then I think he goes down in history as being the absolute greatest athlete ever. Remember, he was in the NBA finals all four years he was with the Heat and his teams won twice. I'm a big Michael Jordan guy; but Jordan's support cast was far better than anything LeBron had in Miami. I'm super intrigued by the upcoming NBA season.
Nice person mentions to Brad Lewthwaite, Michele Dekker, Candyce Melnechenko, Allan Mitchell, Trent Cey, and Jeff Bahrey.
