I Would Not Have Watch the Debate

That is if it wasn't moved to Wednesday. The French debate was originally scheduled for Thursday, but it just so happens that Game 1 between Montreal and Boston would be at the same time. It's obvious who would win. Gilles Duceppe took the initiative to propose a change to the date. Good for him. It's a win for our democracy when this happens as more people will watch the debate.

Personally, I would have probably watched the series between Montreal and Boston if the debate wasn't moved. Playoffs time has come and all Montreal fans will want to see their beloved Canadiens battle the Bruins, me included. The rescheduling of the debate makes sure that everyone wins and hopefully the Habs too.

Politics and hockey went head to head Sunday and, in the end, the nation's winter pastime held the bigger stick. 

The parties and the broadcast consortium producing this week's televised leaders debates have agreed to move the French-language debate — originally scheduled for Thursday — up a day after a conflict arose with the NHL playoffs.

Read more at CBC. 

Related articles

• French election debate switched to Wednesday because of Habs (thestar.com)

Don't Fund the Arena!

Ignatieff said yesterday that he would fund an arena for Quebec City and anywhere else for that matter as long as its purpose is to "present the culture, to present the economic success of the region." That's great, except that this arena will not be for this purpose. It's no secret: the goal is to lure an NHL team to Quebec City.

But don't get me wrong. I'm all for the government contributing to the new Colisée, except not substantially. It's not in the interest of the government to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a pro-sports venue. That money would be better spent on local sports facilities, to provide health benefits to all Canadians. The Quebec arena project could provide benefits to the region including an NHL team. But, the money spent on this project by the federal government should be reasonable and relatively little.

A Liberal government would support infrastructure projects including hockey arenas, party leader Michael Ignatieff said Monday. 

Speaking in Quebec City, the Liberal leader says he supports funding for a new arena if it's a multifunctional public space, and that he's said so for more than a year. He admits he hasn't seen the business plan but says there are a number of options and he's open to all of them.

Read more at CBC.

Related articles

• Liberals would fund Quebec arena, Ignatieff says (ctv.ca)
• Feds black out Quebec arena document (theglobeandmail.com)

Pacioretty Makes News in New York

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, left, hit the Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty into a glass stanchion during the second period of Tuesday night’s game in Montreal.

On Tuesday's game pitting the Habs against the Bruins, Max Pacioretty was violently the boards and his head into a glass stanchion by Zdeno Chara, captain of Boston. The result: a concussion and a fractured vertebra. Chara's punishment: a major penalty and a game misconduct. In my opinion, this was a completely vicious hit and should have been punished more. During the replay, you can see that Chara pushed Pacioretty's head into the stanchion. The hit was so bad, that even the New York Times reported on it.

Zdeno Chara, the Boston Bruins player who shouldered Max Pacioretty of Montreal into a stanchion at the end of the players’ bench and seriously injured him, was not suspended by league disciplinary officials in the aftermath of the incident, and their decision was supported by N.H.L. Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Read more at the New York Times. 

Related articles

• Habs' Pacioretty leaves on stretcher after Chara hit (reuters.com)
• Quebec prosecutor asks police to investigate Chara hit on Pacioretty (theglobeandmail.com)

Quebec Arena: Harper Loses

No matter what his decision is on funding a Quebec City arena for a rebirth of the Quebec Nordiques, Harper will lose. If he funds the hockey arena, he will be accused of using this funding as a fake campaign for his party. He would also be prompted to fund many other pro sports lieus across the country. But, Harper is looking only to gain votes in Quebec. However, if he refuses the other cities' proposals, he risks being seen as buying votes in Quebec. But, if he doesn't fund the project, he will lose a lot of votes in Quebec and would be hard for him on his goal of getting a majority. Pork-barrel politics has put the Harper government in another dilemma from which they will lose either way.

The notion of federal funding for a state-of-the-art hockey arena in Quebec City is a textbook case of desperate politics and bad policy. By flirting aggressively with the idea of forking out tens of millions of public dollars to finance the project, Stephen Harper and his Conservatives have manoeuvred themselves into a lose-lose position.

Read more at the Toronto Star.

Leave Lebron James alone!

As I am sure you have all heard Lebron James is going to Miami .In Cleavland fans were throwing Lebron James jersey's and pictures into fires. This is absolutely crazy ! People are angry at Lebron James for going to another team.With all there protest and youtube posts. I think if the city of Cleavland really likes him they should have just let him go (I don't mean all cleavlanders). "If you love something, set it free" as Richard Bach would put it. I mean whatever his reason for it he doesn't have to explain. It is his decision. Lebron James has done nothing wrong , and for all those people hating him for it. I say those people never deserved Lebron James in the first place.

Canadiens win!

The Montreal Canadiens have won game 7 against Pittsburgh! That means we're either going to face Boston or Philadelphia next. We have a great chance to win the Stanley Cup this year. All Canadians should root for the Canadiens so we can bring the Cup back to CANADA!

Tiger returns to golf

As we all may know Tiger is now back, and playing in the Masters. Now many people are now are forgiving of Tiger, but it is shown that men have been more forgiving then women. Tiger's sponsers have come back, but none have actually said they were "pround sponser of Tiger" . This might not happend in a while, but i think we should leave Tiger alone now. If any of you think he should not play ever then do not watch him play, and if you think he should be with his wife instead of playing. It is his life not your's so i say let us move on, and leave Tiger alone to do whatever he wants with life.

Integration

Integrating the Winter Olympics and Paralympics so that they take place at the same time could be tricky. But it’s worth it. With events happening at the same time, Canadians and the world’s population would be aware of Paralympics happening. We could and should be as excited as we are for the Olympics. I guess we don’t because the initial excitement has worn off after the Olympics. Integration would make sure that TV stations would show more events and therefore, Canadians would watch more events. For our athletes, it means more support and a better feeling. So let’s all get behind our athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics and cheer them on!

Robert Steadward thinks it's time to start seriously discussing integrating the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
The founder of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said as much in Vancouver recently and reinforced that view in a telephone interview on Saturday.
"I'm sure we'll see in the future that more world championships will incorporate both of them (able-bodied and disabled athletes) together concurrently," Steadward said. "I think you'll see, as well, more regional games that will include both disabled and able-bodied athletes.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/2010wintergames/call+integrating+Games/2711646/story.html

Tiger: right words wrong person.

As all of you probably know that Tiger has had an affair, and you all probably know that Tiger has apologized to his family at a private conference with his family. The media was there to tape the apology. I do not know why he wants the world to know how sorry he is because last time I checked he did not cheat on me. Many people may think that he has to apologize because he is a role model to children, and I agree that he has to just apologized for that, but he should not air it on national television on how sorry he is to his family. The only person he really needs to say sorry to is his family, and we as drama seekers should leave him alone, because what if  our family has it's own problems would we want to be investigated by people that of which have no business doing. I say let leave him alone, and i think we should use him as a example on how no matter how famous you may be you can not just do whatever you want.