The world of pro sport takes the heeadlines once again. Alleged doping in the Tour de France, a basketball official who is alleged to have bet on the game that he makes his living from, and a football player who is said to quarterback a dog fighting enterprise.
There's so much more going on in sport! The Pan Am Games in Rio, track and field World Champinships coming up, Asian Games.....
Just feed the newspapers this cheating stuff, and they pick it up.
The last part of the PAG are well underway. Reports of bad food and poor transportation continue to dog the organizers. Rio's hopes for hosting the 2016 Olympic Games are dimmed somewhat by these organizatioonal snafus. And there are lots of them.
Diving and synchro are underway now. Canada's National Synchro Team and Duet can qualify for Beijing by winning the Gold medals...Silver won't do.
The Women's Water Polo has the long road to Beijing, not having done well. Swimming athletes have shown that they "have the right stuff." It's amazing what good, clear, positive leadership can do! We wish them well as they train for the Olympic Trials here in Canada. And congratulations to SNC for its determination and commitment to excellence.
More later on Canada's duet that starts today, and how the field shapes up. It will be...it SHOULD be....a nailbiter for the medals, if officiating is well done.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
Lots of Agreement Here!
Copied in total froom The Star.
Broadcasters cut down on amateur hours
TheStar.com - Sports - Broadcasters cut down on amateur hours
July 20, 2007 Chris Zelkovich
Members of Canada's Pan Am Games gymnastics team were talking with some TV production people in Rio de Janeiro this week and were thrilled to learn that many of them were Canadians.
But their excitement didn't last long when they learned that none of their work, and none of the athletes' performances, would be seen back home.
Not only is there no event coverage here, highlights on the nightly sports shows have been almost non-existent.
This comes on the heels of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, which received two 30-minute highlight packages a day after years of blanket coverage on CBC.
It's a trend that has amateur athletes and fans of amateur sports more than a little concerned. And so they should be.
The issue with the Pan Ams is a matter of economics combined with a poor selling job by Games officials.
CBC points to the low ratings the Games mustered last time around (121,000 during the day and 94,000 at 11:30 p.m.) combined with the fact that only two of this year's Pan Am events are Olympic qualifiers.
``We support amateur sport as much as we can and try to give it as much exposure as possible, but when you couple the costs of rights production with those kind of ratings it doesn't make much economic sense," says CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore.
Moore said CBC tried to get rights to some of the women's soccer games, since that tournament is an Olympic qualifier, it was told that partial packages weren't available. It was all or nothing.
The highlights situation is a strange one. The Score and Rogers Sportsnet say they haven't seen any on their services. Thanks to its relationship with ESPN, TSN has aired some but that's been rather limited since only a handful have featured Canadians.
The Pan Ams don't have a great TV history; there was no coverage available in 1991 and '95. But they fared quite well when Canada hosted them in 1999 and CBC paired with TSN to show 88 hours of competition.
But that, along with extensive Commonwealth Games coverage, appears to be a thing of the past.
The main culprit is a huge increase in rights fees for big-time sports. When CBC pays almost double the previous price for its NHL deal, something's got to give.
``Rights for major sports have gone up so much in the past decade, there's very little left for amateur sports," says TSN president Phil King.
But isn't that where the CBC should be stepping in, airing sports that lose money but boost our amateur athletes? Isn't this part of the CBC's mandate?
Apparently not. With all the government funding cuts, the CBC has turned to big-time sports as its lone cash cow. If it doesn't make money, odds are it's not going to get much camera time.
There is some hope for the future. Moore says the CBC is interested in providing more coverage from the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which makes sense considering it won't have the Olympics then.
But there's little doubt that the days of mass coverage for amateur sports are probably gone.
NO BECKHAM: If you want to see how David Beckham fares in his L.A. debut tomorrow night, you'll have to wait for the late-night highlights. The game's on ESPN2 in the U.S., but no Canadian network decided to pick it up. ... While there's less amateur sports coverage, there's never a shortage of hockey games on TV. Now there will be more. TSN, Sportsnet and RDS have teamed up to make sure nobody misses a game of the Canada-Russia junior hockey challenge Aug. 27 to Sept. 9.
czelkov@thestar.ca
Comment: One would think that the sports/teams that can qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics might get some attention from the COC. After all, if Canada is trying to get more athletes to the podium, then the Olympic Committee needs to get behind them when they have a first-chance to qualify. After all, those that don't qualify at the PAG will have a long, rocky and trying road to Beijing.
Come on, COC, help these athletes get some of the spotlight!
Broadcasters cut down on amateur hours
TheStar.com - Sports - Broadcasters cut down on amateur hours
July 20, 2007 Chris Zelkovich
Members of Canada's Pan Am Games gymnastics team were talking with some TV production people in Rio de Janeiro this week and were thrilled to learn that many of them were Canadians.
But their excitement didn't last long when they learned that none of their work, and none of the athletes' performances, would be seen back home.
Not only is there no event coverage here, highlights on the nightly sports shows have been almost non-existent.
This comes on the heels of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, which received two 30-minute highlight packages a day after years of blanket coverage on CBC.
It's a trend that has amateur athletes and fans of amateur sports more than a little concerned. And so they should be.
The issue with the Pan Ams is a matter of economics combined with a poor selling job by Games officials.
CBC points to the low ratings the Games mustered last time around (121,000 during the day and 94,000 at 11:30 p.m.) combined with the fact that only two of this year's Pan Am events are Olympic qualifiers.
``We support amateur sport as much as we can and try to give it as much exposure as possible, but when you couple the costs of rights production with those kind of ratings it doesn't make much economic sense," says CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore.
Moore said CBC tried to get rights to some of the women's soccer games, since that tournament is an Olympic qualifier, it was told that partial packages weren't available. It was all or nothing.
The highlights situation is a strange one. The Score and Rogers Sportsnet say they haven't seen any on their services. Thanks to its relationship with ESPN, TSN has aired some but that's been rather limited since only a handful have featured Canadians.
The Pan Ams don't have a great TV history; there was no coverage available in 1991 and '95. But they fared quite well when Canada hosted them in 1999 and CBC paired with TSN to show 88 hours of competition.
But that, along with extensive Commonwealth Games coverage, appears to be a thing of the past.
The main culprit is a huge increase in rights fees for big-time sports. When CBC pays almost double the previous price for its NHL deal, something's got to give.
``Rights for major sports have gone up so much in the past decade, there's very little left for amateur sports," says TSN president Phil King.
But isn't that where the CBC should be stepping in, airing sports that lose money but boost our amateur athletes? Isn't this part of the CBC's mandate?
Apparently not. With all the government funding cuts, the CBC has turned to big-time sports as its lone cash cow. If it doesn't make money, odds are it's not going to get much camera time.
There is some hope for the future. Moore says the CBC is interested in providing more coverage from the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which makes sense considering it won't have the Olympics then.
But there's little doubt that the days of mass coverage for amateur sports are probably gone.
NO BECKHAM: If you want to see how David Beckham fares in his L.A. debut tomorrow night, you'll have to wait for the late-night highlights. The game's on ESPN2 in the U.S., but no Canadian network decided to pick it up. ... While there's less amateur sports coverage, there's never a shortage of hockey games on TV. Now there will be more. TSN, Sportsnet and RDS have teamed up to make sure nobody misses a game of the Canada-Russia junior hockey challenge Aug. 27 to Sept. 9.
czelkov@thestar.ca
Comment: One would think that the sports/teams that can qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics might get some attention from the COC. After all, if Canada is trying to get more athletes to the podium, then the Olympic Committee needs to get behind them when they have a first-chance to qualify. After all, those that don't qualify at the PAG will have a long, rocky and trying road to Beijing.
Come on, COC, help these athletes get some of the spotlight!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Very Busy Days in Sport!
Tonight is the first of two semi-finals of the U-20 FIFA Soccer Cup. The other game is tomorrow night and the final on Sunday at the new Soccer Stadium in Toronto. Great TV, and congratulations to the CBC for carrying so many games on the main network.
The Pan American Games are on in Brasil. And not one minute of TV for Canadian fans. Very unfortunate that Canadians can't see our own amateur athletees competing in a multi-sport environment. Not even the teams/athletes who can qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. That includes the Synchro Team and Duet. Both must win Gold Medals to get to the 2008 Olympics, as the best in the Americas. If they don't win Gold Medals, they will have to participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (what is called a "test match" in Olympic lingo, which means "testing" the facility for that particular event). The OQT for synchro is in Beijing April 16, 2008. We wish them well in Rio starting July 25th!!!
The PAG are a big test for Rio's hopes to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Reports to date aren't very encouraging, as there have been snafus at the venues (lighting), in transportation, in village operations. The PAG seldom are a well-oiled multi-sport event. The ONLY exception to this was the 1999 PAG held in Winnipeg. Going back to 1979, host cities don't really put the time, effort, and thought to making these games as good as an Olympic Games. They don't have to have as many bells and whistles as OG, but there is no excuse for not getting athletes to venues, for bad food, for not providing media with the tools they need to do a good job of reporting and/or recording events. Canadians always speak well of PAG organizers, but the reality is that the PAG experience is often one to be endured, not savoured.
It's quiet on the local LVEC front. Construction appears to be at least 2 months behind schedule at this point; the insiders say it is one month, but that's hard to believe, when one looks at the timeline that went to City Council before they even started the thing. Doubtful that ANY Frontenacs games will be held in the LVEC in the 2007-2008 season, even if the Fronts make it into the first round of the play-offs.
We are hopeful that Kingston will be the proud owner of a new aquatic complex in the foreseeable future. That's not tomorrow, but we sure hope it is on the horizon. Our councillors are considering what they hope to accomplish in the next 3.5 years. I hope that they will demonstrate a new approach to the city, one of "Yes, we can do that" rather than "oh, we can't do that." And let's hope that some of them turn into cheerleaders for the city and all it has to offer, and will offer in the future.
Smiles, and speaking well and positively, will go a long way in telling the province and country that Kingston IS a great place. Just look at the Canadian cities that are MOVING, and you'll see some great cheerleaders for their communities at the front of the pack.
The Pan American Games are on in Brasil. And not one minute of TV for Canadian fans. Very unfortunate that Canadians can't see our own amateur athletees competing in a multi-sport environment. Not even the teams/athletes who can qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. That includes the Synchro Team and Duet. Both must win Gold Medals to get to the 2008 Olympics, as the best in the Americas. If they don't win Gold Medals, they will have to participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (what is called a "test match" in Olympic lingo, which means "testing" the facility for that particular event). The OQT for synchro is in Beijing April 16, 2008. We wish them well in Rio starting July 25th!!!
The PAG are a big test for Rio's hopes to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Reports to date aren't very encouraging, as there have been snafus at the venues (lighting), in transportation, in village operations. The PAG seldom are a well-oiled multi-sport event. The ONLY exception to this was the 1999 PAG held in Winnipeg. Going back to 1979, host cities don't really put the time, effort, and thought to making these games as good as an Olympic Games. They don't have to have as many bells and whistles as OG, but there is no excuse for not getting athletes to venues, for bad food, for not providing media with the tools they need to do a good job of reporting and/or recording events. Canadians always speak well of PAG organizers, but the reality is that the PAG experience is often one to be endured, not savoured.
It's quiet on the local LVEC front. Construction appears to be at least 2 months behind schedule at this point; the insiders say it is one month, but that's hard to believe, when one looks at the timeline that went to City Council before they even started the thing. Doubtful that ANY Frontenacs games will be held in the LVEC in the 2007-2008 season, even if the Fronts make it into the first round of the play-offs.
We are hopeful that Kingston will be the proud owner of a new aquatic complex in the foreseeable future. That's not tomorrow, but we sure hope it is on the horizon. Our councillors are considering what they hope to accomplish in the next 3.5 years. I hope that they will demonstrate a new approach to the city, one of "Yes, we can do that" rather than "oh, we can't do that." And let's hope that some of them turn into cheerleaders for the city and all it has to offer, and will offer in the future.
Smiles, and speaking well and positively, will go a long way in telling the province and country that Kingston IS a great place. Just look at the Canadian cities that are MOVING, and you'll see some great cheerleaders for their communities at the front of the pack.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Is He Still On The Deck?
Since Randy Starkman, The Toront Star, wrote in his column that a coach who had been forbidden to coach in Canada has returned to the pool deck to coach, the silence has been amazing.
Do the parents of the children he is coaching KNOW his past? If so, how disappointing that they still employ him to be with their children.
What about the values that Canadians say they espouse in sport: honour, integrity, fairness.
Should we add "medals" to the list?
Medals at any cost? Never.
Do the parents of the children he is coaching KNOW his past? If so, how disappointing that they still employ him to be with their children.
What about the values that Canadians say they espouse in sport: honour, integrity, fairness.
Should we add "medals" to the list?
Medals at any cost? Never.
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