racingmeridian.com

When Washington Capital Goalie Simeon Varlamov was drafted in 2006 his first name was listed as Semen. Yeah, I would have gone even further with the name change deal, to like, Bob, or Ralph…the Carey Price playoff files; 0-3 win-loss, 4.12 Goals Against, .889 save percentage. The kicker? You Tube videos showing the young Habs goalie chortling and laughing it up after a loss to the Bruins. Nope, the lad is no Patrick Roy, hell he’s not even Bunny Laroque…Patrick Kane will play tonight for the Chicago Blackhawks. The young Hawks don’t want to give Jerome Iginla and his crew of vets the momentum engendered by two straight wins…Rotoworld speculates the best team in hockey right now is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Goalie Marc Andre Fleury has been lights out thus far in the Penguins series with the Philadelphia Flyers…the Vancouver Canucks could have 10 days rest before resuming their playoff run. Will the team be even able to locate Mats Seldom at that point? The Swede decided to see “The Fast and The Furious” last night and, thus, was unavailable as his Canucks swept the Blues. The ex Leaf was very enthusiastic about the movies special effects and moved by the dramatic stylings. However he quickly grew bored and left before the film ended. Go Vancouver…I’m still in a deep funk after Manchester United’s loss in the FA Cup semi-final Sunday at Wembley. The decision of Alex Ferguson to present a deeply flawed roster, minus Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo, was ostensibly to preserve the pair for critical matches down the road. The reasoning stinks to the heavens, especially for North Americans watching hockey players commit to the glorious grind of playoff violence three to four times a week. Ferguson had a momentous, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to seize five titles. He had a chance to demonstrate vision and grace, a chance to be larger than the universe and allow United to complete the greatest sweep in football history. Even a half from Ronaldo or Rooney, or even a complete game from Berbatov, could have made the difference and created the single goal necessary to advance. Instead the churlish actions of the manager resulted in eight changes to the starting line-up and a squad replete with teenagers. Unnecessary and a crude blow to followers of the scions of Old Trafford…the written decision of the Ontario Racing Commission to overturn Simon Husband’s one year suspension for his non-effort on Bug’s Boy November 30^th, 2008 (third race) is available on Jennifer Morrison’s website. It is fascinating reading, alternatively shocking and unintentionally hilarious. The rational reasoning of the stewards, who unanimously believe Husbands did not persevere with his mount, are countered by a lengthy series of interviews with racing insiders who all stump for the disgraced jock. The incestuous connections of the track are laid bare and their utter indifference to the betting public clearly delineated. To get the jock back in the saddle is their only motivation and to hell with the people who support the game through hard earned bucks. Take a moment to read the report - you’re blood will boil at the machinations undertaken to justify what was a disgraceful moment in Woodbine’s history. I’m left with a clear understanding that the denizens of the track will do, or say, anything to protect their own. As a gambler, you DO NOT belong to that squalid group. So, please, welcome the Cerin’s, the Asmussen’s, anyone who will at least jolt the sense of entitlement our little cabal of crooks currently enjoy…the current Sports Illustrated has a major piece on Roger Clemens and his mid 90’s drift to steroid use. An interesting portrait is created of a disillusioned Rocket, publicly humiliated by the Boston Red Sox, joining the Toronto Blue Jays and absolutely thirsting for a chance to get back at his former team. The flabby Rocket makes the choice to get as juiced as a D Wayne Lukas Derby entrant. The story reaches its current conclusion with a series of lies to a Congressional Inquiry. Based on the story, one would think the Rocket in jail looms a distinct possibility…Rickey Hatton has announced he intends to weigh between 150-154 lbs at fight time when he brawls with Manny Pacquiao on May 2^nd. Manny Pacquiao, surprisingly, intends to fight at 147, five lbs more than his weight against Oscar De La Hoya. Trainer Freddie Roach believes a bigger Pac Man will be able to manhandle the rugged Brit. Weight adjustments are often the hidden key to scores in the fight game. How much weight can Manny carry without impacting his vaunted speed?… …two stories have me captivated as the NASCAR season unfolds; 1) the emergence of firebrand driver Tony Stewart as a responsible and respectable team owner and, possibly, the 2009 Champion driver and 2) the sad and dismal efforts of Dale Earnhardt Jr and Tony Eury Jr to effectively marshal the impressive resources of the Hendricks team…