December is finally here which means the holiday spirit is finally supposed to be upon us, but this weekend lacked any of the holiday cheer we should have been accustomed to as tragedy struck the sports world with an unfortunate tragedy that hit Kansas City and the Chiefs over the weekend.
Linebacker Jovan Belcher took the life of his girlfriend and ultimately himself on Saturday at the Chiefs facility in front of head coach Romeo Crennel and other staff in one of the biggest tragedies of the 2012 sports year. Domestic/gun violence is an epidemic that effects far too many people in North America and I personally wanted to take the time out to send condolences to all those affected by domestic or gun violence before getting into this weeks column. Many felt the need to share their opinion on what caused this tragedy and place blame on a laundry list of people, but in a moment like this a reaction or opinion sometimes is not fitting and we are all better off thinking about the victims and those affected by tragedy rather than the source or cause of it. More information is sure to be learned in the coming days as to what caused this young man to make such a drastic and dark choice that will affect the lives of so many, but the focus now should be on the victims. Thoughts go out to all those in Kansas City and to whoever has been a victim of similar circumstances in their lives.
In other football news the Washington Redskins won a nailbiter on Monday Night Football over NFC East rivals in the New York Giants to create a final month race between the Cowboys, Giants, and Redskins for the division title. The Giants should be able to lock up the division and continue to defend their Super Bowl crown, but after all hope was lost in Washington halfway through the season it is nice to see rookie Robert Griffin III bring a feel good story to Washington as the games get bigger and bigger.
The World Junior selection camp invites were handed out Monday as a star studded cast makes its way to camp vying to make what might be the best World Junior squad since the last lockout. Team Canada will return most of its bronze medal team in addition to NHL star Ryan Nugent Hopkins in an attempt to avenge their loss in last years semifinal in Russia. Once again the focus will be on goaltending as Malcom Subban will likely head to Russia on Boxing Day as Canada's number one goalie. The Belleville Bulls netminder had solid performances against Russia in the summer and the OHL/Russian fall meetings and will be counted on to handle the pressure that the Canadian goaltending is always given in this tournament.
It remains to be seen that the Boston Bruins prospect will be able to rise to the occasion as summer/fall exhibition games against the Russians might be big games, but do not compare to the spotlight of the WJHC and the expectations Canadians have for their juniors in the tournament. If Canada is going to win gold off of the host Russians it will need steady goaltending and barring a curveball after camp, it will likely fall onto the shoulders of Subban.
In off ice hockey news the NHL owners and players are meeting this week in a last ditch attempt to save what is looking like a lost season. At this point any NHL season is going to be a joke and it is a shame that both parties have been too stubborn to show this kind of urgency until what is likely the final hour. A saved season would be an excellent Christmas present for hockey fans across North America, but expect a lump of coal from Bettman and company come Christmas time.
Even worse for Canadian sports fans: The Raptors keep on losing and still have four more games left on a Western Conference swing. At 4-14 and a lottery pick that can potentially land in the hands of the Houston Rockets it might be panic time in Toronto. Close games are great, but moral victories have no turned into frustration and animosity at a team that just can't put together four full quarters of basketball.
In other NBA news the San Antonio Spurs were reprimanded for sending four players home for a final roadtrip game against the Miami Heat in an attempt to save veteran players legs during a jam packed road schedule. David Stern clearly wants to ensure that all of his league's star players play for his national televised games, but isn't the whole point of sports to win when the games actually matter? David Stern is losing his touch at the end of his tenure as NBA commissioner.
Canadian Olympic hero Christine Sinclair was snubbed off the final shortlist for FIFA Women's Player of the Year as well as head coach John Herdman for Women's Coach of the Year in a very controversial decision. This might not come as a shock as Herdman and sinclair made no friends with FIFA after their very vocal displeasure from being screwed out of a gold medal appearance from dubious officiating in their semifinal against the US, but the omission of two very deserving candidates ahead of Canada's 2015 Women's World Cup hosting is an absolute disgrace. Sinclair is one of the best women's players of the modern game and finally put her country on the top of the world stage, and to punish her for showing her displeasure with the American bias that FIFA displays in the women's game with even more pro American bias is disgusting and gives our country a sour taste in our mouths heading into an event FIFA fully expects us to embrace and support. Moves like this will garner no good vibes with Canadian soccer fans who already were hostile towards FIFA after the Olympics. Sinclair is my women's player of the year, and probably the Canadian athlete of the year when it comes down to it at the end of the day and recognized or not recognized her achievements in London should be honored one last time in 2012.
That is it for this week once again you can follow myself and The News Review 24/7 at @TNRSports or at @chase ruttig on twitter for more opinions, rants, articles, and local up to the minute local and national sports news wherever you are at your fingertips. Thanks for reading.
