The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

I would like nothing more than to see the young, energetic Pittsburgh Penguins rebound from last year's disappointing finish and raise Lord Stanley about their heads as Marian Hossa thinks to himself, "Why did I pick the Red Wings?"

Really, I shouldn't be all that shocked.

But, the hype and marketing department taking care of the latest Terminator installment did its job too well that I was hoping for a solid movie. My expectations were realistic: I never expected it to surpass the quality of the best of the series, Terminator 2, but if it could at least keep in the spirit of the franchise, I would have walked away a happy customer.

The main problem with this movie is that it assumes the viewer knows the insides and outs of the previous Terminator trilogy. As a result, the director (McG, who should be fired) doesn't bother to get the audience involved with the characters sufficiently such as John Connor and Kyle Reese to really care what happens to them. Instead, most of the attention is on the character of Marcus (whom I didn't care for), and if a viewer hadn't seen any of the previous three movies, they might be wondering why John Connor is so special that he gets to stick around for future installments.   In addition, he creates some characters that don't really do anything or add to the story: the deaf 8 year old girl that accompanies Reese is an example.

It actually doesn't start off too bad. The first 1/2 of the movie gives us a good idea of what's going on post-judgement day 2018 with some decent action scenes (the "Human Harvester" 10 storey robot was pretty neat) but at the point were you discover Marcus' "secret" (which has been pretty much given away if you read up on movie news) it starts to all go downhill. It's one of those movies where you ask yourself, "Why did that character do this?" For example, the machines created underwater patrol robots. So while looking for a wanted fugitive, John Connor hovers above the water by about 10 feet, and all these water robots start attacking the helicopter, killing the pilot and the helicopter crashes. Did he forget they were swimming around or something?

And it was really puzzling to see the majority of the "resistance" be very quick to judge other humans and end their lives. I mean, if judgement day actually happened and billions of human lives were lost, you would think that there would be extra emphasis on making sure a few humans were still left standing. Most are quick to pull the trigger and ask questions later, which doesn't make any sense if they are supposed to be on the brink of extinction.

The ending is eye-rolling, involving a surgical procedure which you will figure out before it happens if you see it.. The final battle, involving John Connor fighting a CGI-faced T-800 series terminator of Arnold Schwarzenegger (which was actually very well done), is cliched and ignores past battles with these robots. I mean, the T-800 had everything thrown at him at suffered the equivalent of a knee scrape. I do not recall them being that tough to beat, which shows McG's laziness in respecting the story that was previously laid out and manipulating it to impose his own vision.  Fine details like this are missed: T-600s are supposed to have rubber skin, but they are just plain old robots with bandanas here.  

You know, the funny thing is, even though this film fell short of expectations, if they make a part five, I'll still go see it.  I guess I'm hoping they'll figure it out and deliver the goods we expect.  But they have to get rid of McG, he's a horrible director.  The original Terminator director, James Cameron, would have been a welcome addition to the production, but he's on to other things.  

Cell phone usage is so widespread to the point that, in industrialized nations anyway, people look at you funny if you explain you don't own a cell. At least that's what I experienced for a few years up until the point that I got one four months ago. Studies have indicated that there are no health risks associated with using them, but I came across an msn.ca article where a University professor has found otherwise.

I'm not a medical expert, so I'll try my best to simplify it. Dr. Martin Blank, a professor from Columbia University, said previous studies are flawed because studies focused only on thermal changes when using cell phones because it was easy to measure. There was no change in temperature when using these devices, so everyone thought it was a-ok.

But now scientists can measure biochemical changes, or changes in human conditions when interacting with these devices. He found that the body's cells created "stress proteins" when they come into contact with electromagnetic fields, such as those from power lines and cell phone usage. That's a signal the body feels something harmful is headed this way so these proteins are created.

Do you notice how everything is becoming wireless? Wireless X-box controllers, wireless internet, wireless headsets, satellite TV...topped with all that electromagnetic crap coming from things such as power lines.

It's so hard to avoid, I wonder if discontinuing cell phone use would make much of a difference in our lives regardless. In any case, definitely something to be made aware of, and something I'm sure Fido won't be advertising anytime soon.

My issue isn't so much with the hit that Martin Havlat endured in game 3 of the Western Conference final.

But you have to wonder just how smart the Chicago Blackhawks, and Havlat himself, have to be to even consider letting him play Wednesday night.

The brain is a very fragile organ. It doesn't take too well to being struck, shaken or stirred. And it's bad news when you rush somebody recovering from a concussion when they, well, haven't recovered yet.

The aftermath of the hit was a scary sight...Havlat laid motionless on the ice for over a minute with a glazed look on his face that clearly indicated he was out of it. During the NHL season, there is usually a process followed for a player to obtain clearance to play after being concussed, and it takes more than four days. First, a player has to be symptom free for 24 hours before they try any other physical exercises after being knocked out.

They they train on a stationary bike under observation to see if there is any dizziness or nausea.

24 hours after this exercise, they try light skating drills to see if any symptoms return.

24 hours after this they try full-out skating exercises to test, once again, if any signs of the concussion still linger. Days pass in between trying light contact and eventually full practices and scrimmages.

This is they way it should be done. Gradual steps until there is full certainty a player has healed from his injury. If you rush it...well, just ask the Lindros brothers if they feel their careers were cut short.

I think Martin Havlat's long term health is more important than a game. Can you imagine the implications of another head shot like the last one he experienced? He would become a vegetable.

I believe the NHL has an obligation to ensure its players are not put in harm's way when they are at a larger-than-normal risk to suffer long-term health problems, when something as simple as recovery away from the rink would have prevented them.

- I was at a wedding this past weekend where the groom proposed to his bride in the parking lot of the St Hubert's on St. Laurent blvd. You cannot make this stuff up! I predict a lifetime of bliss and high sodium.

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So when you're right 51% of the time, you're wrong 49% of the time! Or really, 2 for 4 for the 2nd round. 7 out of 8 for the 1st round so, you know, I'd be making money on even-odds bets so it could be worse!

We have been treated to some pretty decent action in this year's edition of the NHL's playoffs. Multiple game 7 finishes, high-scoring contests, and of course the Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry as the icing on the cake. It's unfortunate the Caps-Pens game 7 was a blowout for Pittsburgh but ultimately wasn't an overall reflection on the quality of the series. I'm sure we'll see these two teams duel during the post-season again in the future.

Two players that have caught my attention over the last month or so are Sidney Crosby and Eric Staal. It is amazing how much they have elevated their game, especially when questions about their overall competitiveness during the latter half of the regular season started to surface. Staal battled and out-fought the toughest shut-down d-man in Zdeno Chara, while Crosby's head-to-head battle with Ovechkin had him winning on points. The Hart Trophy nominations are all Russian: Ovechkin, Datsyuk and Malkin (all players welcome on my team any day of the week). But now the playoff MVP early favourites are Crosby and Staal at this point. Staal was especially low on everyone's radar, but it'd be hard now not to imagine him playing for Team Canada in 2010.

On to my predictions!

Pittsburgh - Carolina: Pittsburgh in 6. Cam Ward has played exceptionally well, but I believe the Penguins have a lot of offensive weapons up front that can overcome that, and the Canes don't have a defensive corps that's too scary for Crosby and Malkin.

Detroit - Chicago: Detroit in 6. Looks like a rematch is forthcoming this year. The Stanley Cup hangover is turning into a myth the way the Wings have been playing, especially the way they overcame horrible refereeing to beat the Ducks. Having said all that...I wouldn't mind seeing Chicago scrape by. Their youth and energy is fun to watch and quite frankly, the Wings have already had their day and I'm annoyed at the empty seats turning up at the Joe Louis arena (yes, I'm aware of the recesssion, but they have a population of about 5 million people. Not everyone there works for GM).

The more I listen to Gary Bettman, the more and more the idea of the Phoenix Coyotes actually moving north of the border is up there with a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup this year.

Bettman compares the scenario to what happened in Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Ottawa. Although of course, it's isn't the same thing. Because those markets were already hockey markets. Incompetent or corrupt ownership was usually to blame, or maybe a low Canadian dollar. But there were fans that deserved every effort for the NHL to make sure those teams didn't move anywhere.

Phoenix is the exact opposite. It has never been a popular hockey market. It has been there for about 13 years now, and no fans have shown up. They don't care. The team leaves, and their might be a write-up about it on page 48 of the Phoenix Tribune. You won't be upsetting anyone with that move.

You suggest to Bettman that, under his watch, Winnipeg and Quebec City have lost their teams. Where was he then? He'll say it was different because they buildings only seated 13,000 people. Well last time I checked, more fans have turned out in those buildings despite Phoenix's 20,000 or so capacity (and let's add Atlanta and Nashville to that mix).

Basillie's $212.5 million bid is about $80 million or so bigger than the nearest competitor who claims they'll keep the team in Phoenix, and Bettman is more attracted to that offer. Apparently it'll be good for USA TV ratings or something. But the only national TV deal they have is on some channel called Versus. No one watches that channel, because it's about channel 754 on your remote. They've been at it for years and they still can't get a decent TV deal.

To me it's too easy. Fans will turn up in Hamilton, or wherever "Southern Ontario" is. CBC would cut a larger cheque for TV, and TSN and Sportsnet would follow. Ticket buyers will turn up to see Doan, Mueller and Jovanovski in a heartbeat. Revenues would increase, the cap would go up...am I missing something?

Oh yeah, Bettman's logic. Forget it folks. Canada ends with six teams.

You know summer is around the corner when construction commences on Bank St...How old does it make me feel knowing Martin Havlat is 28?...If you have some extra dough, I recommend you buy shares in Glad.  Notice how they charge 5 cents for each grocery bag at the store now?  It's making people buy the reusable, environmentally-friendly bags.  I predict surges in the sale of kitchen catchers...Nothing like walking to the produce section to listen to a dude on a cell phone yell obscenities to his girlfriend threatening to break up with her, then ending the conversation with "So what are we going to do Sunday?"...I've experience about 5 surges of extreme pain since the stone started to act up.  The last two stones I had, there was only one pain surge each.  I'm still trying to figure out what I did to deserve this...Have you ever had dinner with someone who took a car, went up a grassy slope with it and slammed into another vehicle that was on display at a car dealership?  I did last night!...How about those Jays?...People are so desperate to discredit President Obama, they have to go after the type of mustard he puts on burgers.  Shudder the thought of using Grey Poupon...The dust-ups and skirmishes after the whistle is blown during a hockey game is becoming cliched and meaningless...Ovechkin's hit on Gonchar wasn't dirty; if Sergei didn't try to get out of the way, there wouldn't have been knee on knee contact...Of course, Happy Mother's Day for every mom out there!

As I write this, CBC quickly passed on this info to HNIC viewers just before the Blackhawks-Canucks game 3 was to start.

Every nerdlinger's dream!

As much as this year's NHL playoffs have provided some great moments and exciting series, there is still an alarming trend of nasty hits that, depending on the player, importance of the game, the severity of the injury and the cup of coffee NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell had in the morning, they may or may not get a suspension.

Donald Brashear blind-sided NY Ranger Blair Betts and got a five game suspension for it (plus an extra game for some pre-game shenanigans). I thought the idea was to send a message to the players that head hunting and dirty hits were going to be taken seriously and suspensions are forthcoming if you don't play by the rules.

So a little while later, Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks comes charging toward Jonathan Cheechoo with his elbow out like he's holding a shield and drills him in the head. There is no question Cheechoo was hurt: His posture showed he was in a daze. I don't think Perry even got a penalty on the play.

The other night Jiri Hudler of the Red Wings was making a pass when Mike Brown came out of nowhere and leveled him in the head. It was late, he made him bleed...Campbell didn't think it warranted anything.

Maybe if his orbital bone was broken like Blair Betts' the story would be different.

The hockey media, a majority of which are pro-fighting and love the "old-school" mentality, aren't too quick to criticize the hits. In actual fact, most feel that the NHL looking at the idea of eliminating head shots would take the a "physicality" of the game. They're reasoning seems to be if a player isn't free to hand someone else a concussion during a game, hockey becomes unwatchable.

All I know is this: I'm not a fan of stretchers. I'm not a fan of head hunting. I'm not a fan of no-talent bums getting a salary so they can "finish their checks." I'm not a fan of skilled players who don't need to resort to those dirty tactics to play the game but decide it's time to injure someone.

I just think that if the rules are broken, justice should quickly follow. But it appears it's not going to happen with any consistently in the NHL.