DG's Quick Hits- November 10, 2007

YOU MEAN, RONALD McDONALD WAS NEVER PM?

A new joint survey conducted by the Dominion Institute and Ipsos-Reid indicates that only 21% of people between the ages of 18-24 have a passing knowledge of Canadian history, two percent less than the results of the survey conducted in 1997. Among the results was a 26% clip for those who knew the year of Confederation (1867), down ten percent from 1997, 45% who knew John A. MacDonald was our first prime minister (down from 54% in 1997) and only 37% who knew that Vimy Ridge was fought in World War I and Remembrance Day ended that very war (though both findings are up from 1997, which saw 31% and 33% rates respectively). The findings were described as “disappointing” by the DI’s Rudyard Griffiths, who had hoped for higher percentages after millions were spent on initiatives such as the “Heritage Minutes” and war museums. According to the DI release (http://www.dominion.ca/YoungAdultHistory3.pdf), 1,004 adults were randomly phoned between the period of September 6 to October 27, 2007, with the results accurate to within ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had this entire population been polled. You can take the quiz yourself at CityNews (http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16598.aspx#1) and see how well you’d do (I scored 28/30).

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The DI’s answers themselves contain a small error- in the answer for the question “name two countries Canada fought in World War I” one answer is missing. The DI lists three- Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey (technically an anachronism since it was still the Ottoman Empire then)- but does not list Bulgaria, which did fight alongside the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans) in World War I.
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There are two ways to look at the findings. The first is to agree with the feelings of disappointment, as everyone should have a basic knowledge of their country’s history in order to build a sense of culture and national pride- one only need look across the border at how the Americans approach history to see why this is necessary. On the other hand, considering that the “Heritage Minutes” are unequivocally *not* history but idealism (one of my old History professors used the term “heritage myth” and he couldn’t be more on the mark on that one) and one has to wonder what kind of “past” the DI really wants us to know about. History isn’t about cherry picking the events you want people to know about and disregard the rest- history is about knowing everything and seeing how it built our present. Canadian history isn’t just the Underground Railway and Lester B. Pearson’s Nobel Prize- it’s a nation that once forbid immigrants from its World War I enemies from voting in the 1917 elections (http://www.parl.gc.ca/Infoparl/english/issue.htm?param=59&art=22) and it’s a nation that once turned away a boat of Jewish emigrants fleeing from Nazi Germany shortly after Kristallnacht in 1938 (http://history.cbc.ca/history/?MIval=EpisContent.html&series_id=1&episode_id=13&chapter_id=4&page_id=2&lang=E). Canadian history isn’t just learning what we did right and being proud of it- it’s also learning, to paraphrase the great George Santayana, what we did wrong so that we do not repeat it.

EIGHT FOR LIVERPOOL

So, was I watching the UEFA Champions’ League or playing FIFA 08? On Tuesday, Turkish club Beşiktaş J.K. was smacked 8-0 by Liverpool F.C. in a game that saw Israeli international Yossi Benayoun score a hat trick and braces from Peter Crouch (who opened and closed the scoring) and Ryan Babel. It was Babel’s second goal that encapsulated the night for Beşiktaş, where, in the 78th minute, Babel attempted to control a cross with his foot and, in doing so, managed to bounce the ball off the chest of his marker in such a manner that it caromed over the befuddled goalkeeper and into the net. It was that kind of night for Beşiktaş, where everything went in on them no matter what they did. Liverpool never did score on a direct free kick it should be noted, but that’s small solace for a club that was beaten by a Champions’ League record scoreline (the previous high was Juventus’ 7-0 thrashing of Olympiacos in 2003). The funny part about that game is that it didn’t appear to be a blowout in much the same manner that the Manchester United-Roma contest from last season did. In that game, United were up 4-0 at the break and just continued their streak in the second half (while failing to keep Daniele De Rossi off the scoresheet). Liverpool, on the other hand, were *only* up 2-0 at halftime and, while in control of the game, didn’t exhibit any signs of the onslaught they would bring in the second half.

The result will no doubt bring questions regarding the quality of European soccer at the highest stage, as Beşiktaş were nowhere close to being in Liverpool’s class on Tuesday night. It was almost like watching a hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs, where the fast, skilful Senators ran rings around the lumbering, slow Maple Leafs (much like Liverpool did to Beşiktaş), although the Leafs have more shooting ability than Beşiktaş do. Despite the result, I’m not quite sure I’d go as saying that there’s a huge disparity of talent at the group stage, because it’s not like every year a team loses 8-0 in every game (for the record, Liverpool did *only* beat Beşiktaş 2-1 when the two teams played in Istanbul, and Beşiktaş has *only* allowed four other goals in its previous three games). However, if there could be a change coming out of this game, it could be splitting the Champions League into “Western” and “Eastern” conferences, because Western Europe (more specifically, England, Italy and Spain, who are very much now a “Big Three”) is clearly dominating the competition. 32 champions (out of 52) have been won by the Big Three, including 11 of the last 16 (when the Group Stage was introduced). Maybe if 16 teams were taken from the Big Three (plus Germany, France and Portugal, the “next three” that do produce quality sides from time to time) to form one “conference” and 16 from the rest of Europe to form another (with inter-conference play used to maximize exposure for all teams)- with the conference champions playing off for the title- we’d see a more diverse competition that will increase fan interest for clubs in smaller confederations, since they’d have a real chance at *competing* in the competition. Michel Platini wanted to reform the Champions League to benefit the “smaller clubs”- this is the way to do it.

THIS AND THAT

• Reason #1 why televised poker just doesn’t work- the game itself requires its players to wear faceless expressions at all times. It’s great for strategy but stinks as entertainment, because the players all come across as utterly lifeless; and no one wants to watch a parade of drones. Yes, millions are at stake, but I have no reason to care about them if they display all the emotion of the common housefly.
• After witnessing the Buffalo Sabres getting shut out for the third time this season (after only being shut out once last year- in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against Ottawa) because the Sabres have an inability to finish (boy do they miss Daniel Briérè badly), I’m wondering if Buffalo would be better suited to employing the New Jersey Devils-style trap. It’s clear Buffalo doesn’t quite have the same punch it had last season where every chance seemed to result in a goal, but they are speedy and they are positionally sound, better suiting them to a defensive, counter-attack style that’s worked for so long in the Swamp. Otherwise, this could be a longer season than most in Buffalo expected- or even wanted.
• Yeah I know- I’m suggesting Buffalo use the dreaded trap (although this trap is an offensive one, much like the Devils’ version), but let’s be honest- there *still* isn’t a NHL team capable of rolling more than a single line of even decent scorers. The media like to crow about “defensive systems ruining the game” but let’s be honest- there really isn’t enough skill to go around. When players are praised in the media simply because they can make a short outlet pass from their own zone to an uncovered player that’s not that much further up ice (as was the case with Andrei Markov just a few weeks ago)- basic plays that should be fundamental to hockey players- then you know the NHL has a severe talent shortage.
• I don’t care how much Don Cherry crows about Sam Gagner’s skills- from what I’m seeing in the NHL not enough players (particularly from English Canada) are developing the kind of fundamental, basic skills that should be second knowledge at the NHL level. I’m sounding like a broken record here, but the amount of players who simply cannot perform a basic, straightforward tape-to-tape pass to a nearby uncovered player is just mind boggling; and now I know why. Canadian hockey players- particularly in the Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League- are taught more to be hitters above all else, rendering them second rate in terms of stickhandling, shooting and passing. I mean, think about it- most of the “pure skill” players are those raised in Europe or the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (as is the case with Sidney Crosby)- and most of the “character guys” (re: “hitters”) are WHL or OHL alums. Now, I’m not suggesting that there aren’t any English Canadian skill players- Joe Sakic throws a wet blanket on that- or physical QMJHL/European players (e.g. Tomas Holmstrom), but since a lot of the players who seemingly can’t do anything except hit (who are the majority in the NHL) are mostly trained in English Canada, I’m led to believe that Canadian hockey isn’t properly developing its players. Of course, I don’t really blame them- as long as NHL coaches heap more praise on guys who can hit than guys who can score then that’s the player Canadian hockey will produce, because the bottom line is Canadian hockey players dream of being NHLers. Only once coaches realize there’s more to hockey than a big hit will there be a change for the better in offence, because as long as coaches aren’t looking for skill there won’t be any skill- no matter how many rules the NHL puts in.
• “The Game of the Century” between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots produced the result we thought it would- a hard-fought, drama filled 24-20 New England victory that was every bit as intense and well played as we thought it would be (okay, save for Peyton Manning’s late interception, but the occasional mistake is allowed). Makes you wish the Colts and Patriots could hook up for the Super Bowl and not the AFC Championship game but, sadly, the AFC title game will have to suffice.
• My dream Super Bowl (other than the Buffalo Bills finally making it) would feature an 18-0 New England against the Green Bay Packers. Hey, wouldn’t you want to see Brett Favre have one last shot at glory? Favre may be 38, but he’s again found his enthusiasm and- after seeing him link with Greg Jennings for two consecutive game-winning bombs- his arm, and that’s reason enough to root for him and the Packers to add one last ring to his already filled trophy cabinet.
• Make sense of this: in successive weeks, basketball powerhouses Michigan State Spartans fell to the Division II Grand Valley State Lakers 85-82 in double overtime, the Kentucky Wildcats were demolished by Atlantic Sun minnows Gardner-Webb Bulldogs 84-68 and- the biggest shocker of them all- the Illinois Fighting Illini fell 86-82 to the Concordia Stingers, one of the top teams in Canadian college basketball (but still not a team that anyone thought could beat Illinois- witness the Brock Badgers’ demolition at the hands of the Florida Gators last year). Granted, only one of those games “counted”- the Bulldogs-Wildcats game was a regular season game for the 2K Sports Hoops Classic- but the results are still eye-openers nonetheless. It’s upsets like those that make sports the entertainment that it is, because everyone loves an underdog no matter who they beat.
• Get this: Adriano, after under-performing for well over two years, has been left off the Inter Milan bench. Not surprisingly, the Brazilian is sulking. Also not surprisingly, his effort hasn’t risen to even merit a second chance. Adriano states the reason for his lacklustre performance is due to a slew of problems that includes alcoholism and depression but (and I hate to sound mean) Adri, if your mind isn’t on soccer, then don’t play. Otherwise, don’t whine when the teamsheets don’t go your way, because Inter Milan are a soccer team- not a therapy session.
• So São Paulo won the Brazilian title for the fifth time, which the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is recognizing as the first-ever occurrence, earning São Paulo the right to keep the Brazilian championship trophy. This isn’t even the meat of the story- in 1987, the top sides of Brazilian soccer threatened to breakaway forcing a hastily drawn year-end tournament that featured a “Green Module” (recognized to be “the” first division) and a “Yellow Module” (the “second” division). Flamengo won the Green Module and thus claimed the Brazilian title, but the CBF insisted they play against Sport, the Yellow Module winners. Flamengo, backed by the other big clubs, refused, claiming it legitimately won a recognized “first division” and thus should have a title. The CBF however, left the title “shared” with Sport, meaning in 1992, when Flamengo won the title it was only “officially” its fourth. Now that São Paulo have won a recognized fifth title, Flamengo supporters are up in arms, claiming they should receive the trophy that was won this year and not São Paulo, even though they didn’t bring up the issue until now. The irony? The trophy São Paulo won this year isn’t even the same trophy Flamengo would have won in 1992, as the club stowed away that trophy and forcing the introduction of the one São Paulo is now the holders of. The story is endemic of Brazilian soccer, of which the description “organized chaos” would be kind, but saner heads do exist- Flamengo manager Joel Santana stated the obvious in stating the solution is to hand a trophy to both teams- but, Brazilian soccer being what it is, it’ll be a tall order for those saner heads to prevail.
• Last, but not least is a report that a Boston area priest stalked late night comedian Conan O’Brien for well over a year, insisting for a “public confession” so that the priest may give O’Brien “absolution”. It’s believed the priest- who said in one of his letters that he was also seeking a confession from John McEnroe who apparently assaulted the priest while he was in seventh grade- went to Harvard University at the same time as O’Brien, who graduated in 1985, and O’Brien is also involved in charitable work for the Boston archdiocese. If convicted, the priest faces a year in prison. Not surprisingly, the priest was barred entry to a taping of “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” (to which he snarled, “is this how you treat your most dangerous fans?”), and, also not surprisingly, the priest has been relieved of his duties as a public minister. The motive? The priest wanted to be famous (at least that’s what documents obtained by The Smoking Gun reports). Therefore, you shall remain anonymous, and here’s hoping it’s you who’ll discover you’re the one who needs “confessing”, not O’Brien.
  
  -DG