GOD, I love Canada!!!!

I LOVE my country. I was UNBELIEVABLY PROUD to carry the torch, and that makes today all the more special fo me. Rarely has there been a prouder day to be a Canadian!

Joannie Rochette scored the greatest Third Place in HISTORY last night, taking Bronze in a heart-wrenching, passionate and brave performance, just days after losing her mother suddenly to a heart attack. Your mother is as proud as we are, Joannie!

The same night, our Canadian Women's Hockey team took their third Olympic gold in a row, beating the U-S 2-0. Although the young- guard stole the spotlight, with a shutout from Shannon Szabados (who was considered a third-stringer just a few months ago) and both goals from 18-year old scoring phenom Marie-Philip Poulin, for me, the pride peaked when the cameras focused on Hayley Wickenheiser, the greatest women's hockey player in history, and Team Canada's elder statesperson. To me, Hayley represents everything a Canadian should be... tough, straight forward, not afraid to tell it like it is, and quietly but fiercely patriotic! Her tears of joy brought on mine. Hayley, you are a true Canadian hero!

Tonight, our men play for the right to go for the gold on Sunday, most likely against the Americans. I thought I'd pass along the Olympic Hockey Prayer... I read it on the air this morning after getting it from loyal listener Joe Dionne, who got it from loyal listener Paula Ranson...

Our Father, who art in GM Place, hockey be thy name. Thy will be done, GOLD to be WON on ICE as it is IN THE STANDS. Give us this day, our hockey sticks, and forgive us our penalties, as we forgive those who crosscheck against us. Lead us not into elimination, but deliver us to victory, in the name of the fans, CANADA, and the HOLY PUCK. AMEN...

A Completely DIFFERENT kind of "Bucket List"...

I love broadcasting... but it can be stressful. Every day, every show, every hour is basically a series of judgement calls with regard to what to talk about, what is worthy of airtime, and how to handle particular bits of information. Well, British broadcasters now have some NEW guidelines to follow with regard to how to handle certain breaking news...

The British channel BBC recently re-evaluated whose death would be considered such important news, that they'd immediately interrupt regular programming. They decided that there are only four people who should have that 'honor' . . . The QUEEN . . . her husband, PRINCE PHILIP . . . her son, PRINCE CHARLES . . . and her grandson, PRINCE WILLIAM. If any of them kick the bucket, they'll interrupt "Coronation Street" to let you know.

But the rest of the royal family has been demoted, including Prince Charles's wife CAMILLA, and Prince Charles and Diana's younger son, PRINCE HARRY. Obviously if any of THEM died, the BBC would still consider it breaking news. They just wouldn't automatically interrupt regular programming.

Other people who are no longer worthy of automatic interruption include the British Prime Minister, the President of the United States, the Dalai Lama, NELSON MANDELA MUHAMMAD ALI, and.... BOB DYLAN (?!?!?!)

Take a lesson, Lindsey Vonn...

I personally cannot STAND people who take themselves too seriously. With their whining, crying, excuses and in-fighting, the U-S Women's Downhill skiing team could take a lesson or two from The Norwegian Alpine Ski Team, who paid tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON by dancing to "Beat It" on top of a mountain. The dancers are AKSEL LUND SVINDAL (who's won a Gold, Silver and Bronze so far), KJETIL JANSRUD (who has a Silver), and LARS ELTON MYHRE (whose best finish so far is 18th.) The fourth guy is their coach, TRON MOGER. A round of applause for those of us who are willing to have a sense of humour about ourselves!!

The 'Legends' are BACK!!!

It could be said that I am not above a little shameless self-promotion in much the same way that the ocean is not above the sky. So in that spirit, I'd like to pass along what I feel to be exciting news in the world of "me"...

As you may know, I was a professional musician long before I ever got involved in radio, and last year, after a nearly two-decade hiatus from the Saint John music scene, I got a band together. "The Accidental Legends" played a couple of dozen gigs last year at various venues, including playing for the 10,000 folks who showed up at the New River Beach Sand Sculpture Competition, and a set at Big John's "TrailerStock '09" during our Food Drive before Christmas. We made lots of friends, and even a couple of fans! Unfortunately, late last year we had some personnel issues and had to take a break to work in a new member.

Well, now, we're BACK! The Accidental Legends play their comeback gig at KV Billiards Saturday, March 13th, with brand new guitarist Jeff Scott!! You may have seen Jeff playing with "Class of '85" at various venues, including a set at "TrailerStock" (Class of '85 will still be playing, btw!) You may also remember Jeff as the Runner-Up in our Halloween costume contest a couple of years back, with an AMAZING Gene Simmons costume!

You can check out "The Accidental Legends" on our facebook page HERE! HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL OUT to catch the new lineup, with a few new tunes and all the old favourites!!

Meantime, here's a little video of the LAST time we were at the Billiards with the OLD lineup... our VERY FIRST public appearance...

You thought SNOWBOARDCROSS was bad...?!?!

If you're one of those people who have a problem with all these new extreme sports being included in the Olympics, you're gonna LOOOOVE this one...

Something called the International Pole Dancing Fitness Association is hoping to get Pole Dancing recognized as an Olympic sport!!

According to the founder of the IPDFA, "There will be a day when the Olympics sees pole dancing as a sport. An organization called Vertical Dance is trying to get the International Olympic Committee to recognize pole dancing as a sport, test it in 2012, then give medals in 2016. And what better place to debut pole dancing than Rio?

Obviously, these guys haven't researched this very well, or they'd know that the deadline for new sports for the 2012 London Summer Games passed a LOOONG time ago!

Vertical Dance calls the pole ''a physically demanding form of gymnastics, dance, and fitness'' and compares it to other underground sports like snowboarding that have gotten the nod from the I.O.C.

They have about 4,000 signatures for their online petition "Get Pole Dancing in the Olympics". If you'd like, you can add your name HERE.

Guys, you have to admit, it'd be more entertaining to watch than ICE DANCE...or WOULD it (see right)?

Three BIG Hockey "STFU'S"...

Three quick observations on last night's hockey game, directed at three different people...

#1- To Marty Brodeur... Marty, it's not at all cool to throw your teammates under the bus after the game... ESPECIALLY considering that YOU lost us the game!! Your bonehead rookie moves COST US TWO GOALS, plus the empty-netter which wouldn't have happened if we were WINNING by a goal, like we should have been, instead of LOSING by a goal, like we were, thanks to YOU! To say to the media after the game that you thought you made a "couple of saves" that should have "turned things around" but your teammates blew it by taking penalties is RIDICULOUS... and would be even if it wasn't YOUR fault, not theirs!! The fact is, Ryan Miller outplayed you! Roberto Luongo should play the rest of the tournament, Marc-Andre Fleury should back him up, and YOU should SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLE!!!

#2- To American Sportscasters and sports-talk radio anchors... your team did NOT "outplay" our team... your team is not "better" than our team... ONE PLAYER... your GOALIE... was better than our goalie. Have a look at the stats... shots-on-goal, scoring chances... we outplayed you TWO-TO-ONE... and if your goalie continues to steal games for you and you manage to make it back to meet us again, we will OUTPLAY YOU AGAIN!! Hopefully THIS time, Roberto Luongo will be in net and we will BEAT YOU... it's STILL OUR GAME... GET OVER IT!!

#3- To Gary Bettman... PLEASE give up your futile and destructive mission to make hockey relevant in the United States and step down as NHL Commissioner. Last night's game was arguably the biggest sports story on the PLANET on the weekend and CERTAINLY the HIGHLIGHT of the Olympics. Yet HERE is how important hockey is to Americans... their Olympic network, NBC, decided that ICE DANCING was more important to show on the main network, relegating the hockey game to their cable network, msNBC, which not everyone even HAS in the States! It would be like showing it on TSN2 here in Canada instead of CTV! Bettman, you've RUINED hockey with your America-centric decision-making throughout your tenure. You've OVER-STAYED your welcome, and it's clear your efforts to bring hockey up to the popularity level of the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball in the States have not worked, and, indeed, are FUTILE!! If LAST NIGHT'S epic matchup wasn't worthy of network coverage, the Americans will NEVER hold hockey in any kind of esteem. Watch how much NETWORK coverage Tiger Woods' first tourney back receives... if you can't best GOLF (arguably the most BORING television sport in HISTORY), then you've lost... now SHUT UP and GO AWAY so we can get our Canadian teams back from the half-assed mid-sized American markets you WHORED THEM OUT TO!!!!

...stay tuned... some day I may tell you how I REALLY feel...

Bored at the Office...?

Here's a little something I got in an email that I just HAD to pass along... gotta love those Aussies...

What to do when you are bored at work ...

1. Kill a few Flies
2. Put them in the sun to dry for one hour.
3. Once they are dry, pick a pencil and paper... Let your imagination flow.

Here are a few examples...