It’s been a tough year for the sports crowd, both locally and up-country, but I’m certain that Santa has taken all things into consideration and will spread gifts around for the naughty and nice.
The New Brunswick Senior Baseball League did not get off the ground in 2020, so Santa has a big bag packed with bats, balls and gloves for coach Doug Hines, who plans indoor training if – and when – he gets the green light from P.E.I. Health.
UPEI women’s hockey coach Bruce Donaldson had his Panthers primed and ready for the national tournament here in April. All the teams were here in the province and the opening game was completed when the national body pulled the plug due to COVID-19. Santa is leaving the national body, a few lumps of coal, and for Bruce the names and addresses of up-and-coming young stars destined for the UPEI campus.
Santa is very pleased with ageless Nora Henry’s tennis game and she’ll find a new tennis racket under her tree. The old fella with the red face has a new racket for Brodie Lantz, too, and new shoes to dazzle Wes MacAleer and the Spa tennis crowd.
Ex-rugby star Gord Tweedy has dodged more bullets than Jessie James. Santa loves his attitude and has dropped off a gift certificate for any restaurant of his choice. But there’s one condition attached – he can’t invite Ray Murphy.
Ian (Tex) MacDonald has taken up golf, and his new hero is Avondale pro Saul Lanigan. Santa has wrapped up a new 8-iron to make up for the three he “misplaced” during the summer. This one has a special grip.
Santa enjoys sports and likes to see our Island boys and his favourite teams excel at playoff time.
He dropped of a basketball book to Morell’s Scotty Morrison. It’s all about the L.A. Lakers and LeBron James. Santa thinks Scotty’s Boston Celtics will win the East this year, and he wants the Celtics assistant coach to be ready for the NBA finals against LeBron.
Santa is a Montreal Canadiens fan at heart and since the Habs parted company with Serge Savard Sr. 25 years ago, the Habs have drifted into oblivion. Jeff Molson gets a bag of coal and another “wait til next year” Christmas card.
Toronto Maple Leafs fans will like what Santa left under their big tree. It’s a first-place banner for the Canadian division of the re-aligned NHL. Santa likes older players, and he thinks Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds will help.
Summerside’s Gerard (Turk) Gallant is also one of Santa’s favourites, and he left him a card that says, “You’ll be coaching in the Stanley Cup final within 36 months” but it doesn’t say with which team? Coaches get replaced when teams do not meet expectations, but with no teams playing, all coaches are safe.
Naturally, Santa loves four-legged animals and since harness racing is a huge spectator sport on P.E.I., he did not want to forget the horse crowd.
Buddies Joey Farrell and Jody Hennessey haven’t had much luck with their recent horse purchases. Santa guarantees the next one will get the duo to the winner’s circle with one condition, Jody must train and drive. Santa suggests that before the new purchase, they must get advice from Stanhope’s Wade MacDonald, the hotshot of the fractional ownership groups.
Gerard Ellsworth and Moe MacCabe will be receiving a special record with Ellsworth singing, “We’re Gold and Saucer Bound” with a picture of Cowboy Logic on the front label.
Walter Cheverie, a talented veteran driver, will love the clean bill of health guarantee throughout the 2021 season. I think Santa loves the crafty driver.
Trainer Jamie Smith has been taking it on the chin with his recent football picks. He is getting a new book under the tree, Handicapping Football. Let’s hope it helps.
Harness racing
The P.E.I. horses that shipped to Ontario recently raced in the Valedictory Stakes Dec. 11 at Mohawk and, although they did not win, they didn’t look out of place. Woodmere Frank was fourth in 1:51:2, charted in 1:53 and home in 28:4 and in the same race Harry G was sixth, home in 28:3 as part of his 1:53:3 mile. In a later leg of the $17,000 Valedictory series, Mr Kelly was fifth by six lengths, home in a quick 26:3, mile in 1:53:2.
Lord and Legend was eighth in 1:55 versus $16,000 overnight conditioned horses. Just My Shadow, owned by Islanders Allan and Andrew Moore, Tom Godfrey and Charles Farrell was second by a neck in 1:53 in a $20,000 class.
On Saturday, Bettor at Hightide, owned by the Schooner 11 Stable, was an easy winner in 1:53 for Paul Macdonell. So Much More, bred here by Tom and Doug MacPhee, trounced the $28,000 class again for James MacDonald.
At Flamboro on Sunday, Silver Beast was a 1:55 winner in a $5,000 conditioned pace for driver Brett Macdonald and trainer Mitch Tierney. On the same card, popular invitational star Rose Run Quest was ninth in 1:55 and change in a $6,500 pace.
At London’s Western Fair, Woodmere Chella was an easy 2:06 winner, purse $5,700, for driver Austin Sorrie and trainer Mitch Tierney. At Mohawk tonight, So Much More is handicapped on the outside in the $30,000 open mares. James MacDonald continued his torrid hot streak with hat tricks on Monday at the Hawk and Tuesday at Flamboro, taking the $11,500 trot feature with The Stable.Ca’s Yes. Windemere Frank and Mr Kelly drew Posts 1 and 2 in last night’s second leg of the Valedictory series.
Condolences
The P.E.I. harness racing community lost another veteran owner and former Summerside track announcer Eric Johnston this past week. Eric owned horses that raced here in the Maritimes and in the New York sire stakes. This past summer, Eric campaigned the trotter Summer City Nate who won in 2:00 at SRW.
Also, Norma Kennedy, wife of the late breeder and P.E.I. race official Glen Kennedy. A wonderful lady.
Condolences to all connected.
Pigskin picks
The NFL heads into Week 15, and there are games with crucial playoff implications. Let’s take a look.
- Buffalo Bills (10-3) at Denver Broncos (5-8): The Bills are for real, and QB Josh Allen has matured into a top young play caller. Broncos are tough at home, and rookie Drew Lock is back. This is no hand-me-over game, a possible upset. The spread is 6.5 points and I’d be willing to take the points and Denver on Saturday.
- Chicago Bears (6-7) at Minnesota Vikings (6-7) – This is a lose and you’re out of the playoffs game. Bears QB Matt Trubisky has come to life and is starting to play like a No. 1 pick. The Vikings outplayed Tampa Bay Sunday night and deserved a better fate. The kicker missed three makeable field goals and a point after, while Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins has been terrific. I like the Vikes, who are 3.5-point home favourites, ouch.
- New England Patriots (6-7) at Miami Dolphins (8-5) – The Fish at home in December versus an East Coast team should be an easy win for Miami. QB Tua Tagovailoa has impressed and it’s a chance to sideline the Patriots. It will not be easy, as Bill Belichick’s Pats never quit, and the Vegas bookies peg this game as an even-money venture. I love the Fish here.
- San Francisco 49ers (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (4-9) – The 49ers are a solid, good club as shown when they handled a very good L.A. Rams club a few weeks ago. 49ers QB Nick Mullens is underrated and he should eat up a porous Cowboys defence, who are three-point home dogs.
- Seattle Seahawks (9-4) at Washington Football Team (6-7) – Seattle rebounded after that dismal showing at home versus the New York Giants. Washington has as good a defence as any NFL club, and has five first round picks from the last two drafts on defence. They have been terrific with QB Alex Smith and have a host of young up-and-coming backs. Unfortunately, Smith got hurt and his replacement, Dwayne Haskins, is too reckless with the passing game. If Smith plays, Washington, which is first in the East, can win. If he doesn’t, keep your money in your pocket.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
RELATED:
"Sporty" - Google News
December 19, 2020 at 02:12AM
https://ift.tt/3p7qzDj
FIDDLER'S FACTS: Santa has plenty of gifts for the sporty crowd - The Journal Pioneer
"Sporty" - Google News
https://ift.tt/39Axe1U
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "FIDDLER'S FACTS: Santa has plenty of gifts for the sporty crowd - The Journal Pioneer"
Posting Komentar