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Boxing fans were left reeling this morning with the news that the incomparable Alexis Arguello had committed suicide. The ring legend held three belts, at featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight, and is probably best remembered for his breath taking 1982 fight with Aaron Pryor. Easily one of the greatest fighters in history, Arguello first won over American audience’s with a nationally televised drubbing of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. After the fight Alexis was so unassuming and quiet spoken, even offering to help Mancini in the future, that television viewers were smitten. The Nicaraguan was always a picture of class and grace, and his presence in boxing was a blessing for the often sleazy and sordid sport. After his career Alexis was known to have battled some serious personal demons but recent reports from Managua had the 57 year old in fine fettle, reportedly serving as the mayor of his hometown. Take a moment to say a prayer for the great Alexis Arguello…the Houston Chronicle is scathing on the subject of the Toronto Raptors this morning. The paper questions why GM Bryan Colangelo is slow to grasp what is common knowledge throughout the sporting world; namely that Chris Bosh is set to leave Toronto at the end of the following season. If Bosh is traded this summer, the paper notes, the Dinos will at least receive something in return…as I watched the Montreal Canadiens flounder through an embarrassing 100^th anniversary season, here’s what I was not thinking; “this team could really use Scotty Gomez”…Bob Gainey was fleeced by the New York Rangers. Gomez as a top line centre is an absurdity. The Rangers freed up over 5 million in cap space by dumping a player that had proved to be both a deadweight and one incapable of providing meaningful leadership. I’m puzzled by the move and, combined with Gainey’s decision to give away Cristobal Huet in 2008, wonder if the Habs GM is a capable horse trader. Guess this squelches the Vinny to Montreal talk…Allan Muir of Sports Illustrated advises the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign Ty Conklin. No, I’m serious, you can look it up…the silver lining to the Sedin’s decision to remain in Vancouver? The Leafs can retain ample cap room for a run at a much more significant prize; Rick Nash in the summer of 2010…there is so much excitement percolating out of Buffalo these days as the Bills look to Terrell Owens for inspiration and big stats. The thrill is not going to last long. The Bills open the season against the New England Patriots and the coaching ineptitude of Dick Jauron will, again, be front and centre…Lance Armstrong has announced he is fit and ready for Saturday’s start of the Tour de France. Armstrong will be attempting to win the race for the eighth time…apparently Real Madrid, in Toronto in August for a game against the FC, have a contractual obligation to play Kaka and Ronaldo for at least 45 minutes. This will be a very big moment in the T Dot summer, I only hope we’re not all festering under a pile of garbage by that point…NASCAR, this morning, conclusively stated that suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamines. It’s going to be fascinating to watch the impact this revelation has on the sport. Is Mayfield alone in his abuse of drugs? Did he use the substance while racing? Many disturbing questions will be posed as Mayfield moves to have his suspension revoked on the usual grounds of improper testing procedure…what has happened to Toronto handicapper Jennifer Morrison’s site? In the past the blog was full of insight and opinion, but now Jen just seems to cut and paste crappy articles about West Coast racing. She’s just mailing it in for now, I hope this turns around as the site used to be a daily favourite…just finished Raymond Chandlers, “The Big Sleep”. Brilliant read. The book made Time Magazine’s 100 best books of the 21^st century and is very deserving of its spot…