The King of Schmooze with a 'real' competitor, Toronto Raptor's Jalen Rose. A heart as big as his smile.
Loyal Subjects! I do apologize for my lack of blogging over the past 2 weeks. The KOS has had a rather eventful time since my last post on Feb. 2.
My royal archiving device crashed (much more eloquent than 'hard-drive' n'est pas?). Luckily we were able to save all the important Royal Archives but I was without a computer for about a week.
During that time there have been several things that came to my attention that I wanted to wax eloquently about, but due to time and space restraints I've decided that I will do this post in point form. So here goes:
1. Ashes to Ashes ......
It is with a sad heart that I found out this week that the mother of a close friend passed away last week. My prayers go out to Derek, the Major, and the rest of the family. Your mom was a unique woman and those who knew her were blessed.
2. Tom Cruise, John Travolta ......... S. Gibson??
Yes, it would appear that no sooner than my friend 'Scibson' lands in Hollywierd that he has joined the Church of Scientology (not that there's anything wrong with that!). This has not been confirmed in this week's edition of 'Variety' but how else could you explain someone who is a certified "Boddvivant" (as in Boddington's, the beer) not having a drink in Tinsletown yet? So really Scibson, are you down there to act or did you just check into Betty Ford?
3. Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux........ King of Schmooze??
Yes, the rumours are true. KOS did become involved with the hockey negotiations last week. I convened a special meeting with T. Linden, B. Goodenow, and B. Guerin at Hemingways to discuss the next move. It was actually me, the King of Schmooze, who suggested the idea of having Gretzky and Lemieux get involved. Unfortunately, even that last ditch effort didn't work. Sorry, no pictures to back this up, but KOS did get both Mr. Linden's and Mr. Goodenow's autographs. Nice on them!
4. Governor General Suggests giving Stanley Cup to Women's hockey .......
KOS has to be careful how to approach this one.
Let me be emphatic here, KOS is not a misogynist.
I have no problems with women's hockey, female governor general's, or my Mother .... (Hi Mom!).
I do roll my eyes when people though who think they need to comment on something, when they really don't need to. Sure the Stanley Cup was originally donated by Lord Stanley who was at the time the GG of Canada. But that changed in 1947 when the NHL was awarded the rights to use it as their 'trophy' exclusively.
The fact of the matter GG, Canadians might have somewhat of a passing notion that it's too bad the Stanley Cup won't be awarded this year. But for the most part, based on my in-depth, bar based polling, most people don't really care and have gotten on with their lives "sans 'ock-ay". To even think that there would be any interest in such a thing south of the border is even a dumber insight. NO ONE CARES ABOUT 'ock-ay' IN THE US except Joey and Chandler ...... and they are off the air now!
Let's just get on with our lives and get excited about the Blue Jays!
5. Spend $15,000 and get $150 worth of free coffee or a flight to New York ..... ??
So have you seen this new c/c from RBC and Starbucks called 'duetto'. It pays you 1% of your purchases in Starbucks dollars. So, you spend $100, you get $1. With a RBC Avion card you 1 "Air mile" for every $1 you spend ........ that means you'd have to spend $15,000 for a trip to Manhattan as you'd need 15,000 Aeroplan points to get a flight that would normally cost about $250-$300 cash. Take that same $15,000 and buy stuff and you'll get $150 worth of Starbucks bucks for coffee, a coffee maker, or a stainless steel 'travel mug'.
I think my loyal subjects are smart enough to see the big picture. Unless you're hopelessly hooked on the coffee or your no-fat, half-caff, vanilla machiatto this deal sorta makes no consumer sense. Besides, a coffee is 99% water anyway (reg. coffee, not the 'fancies'), which is probably why they are only giving you 1% on your purchases. "H'mmmm, 1% on purchases you say ....... I'll take it! Woo - Hooo! So long, suckers!" D'oh!
6. April 15, 2005 ............ the day 'Wince Cart-air' returns to T.O.
Mark this date in your calendars folks. The New Jersey Nets come to Toronto to take on our Raptors with their new 'superstar' Wince Cart-air. If you're going to the game have fun and don't forget to boo ......... loudly.
Sidebar #1:
In case you can't get tickets to the game (it is mostly sold-out):
1. Call or email me and i'll see if my friends at Time 4 You or Toronto Concierge can help out.
2. If you need a place to watch the game instead of at home on your 19" 'big screen" here are a couple of options:
Westend -
The Office Sports Bar & Grill, 3313 Bloor St. E. (just east of the Islington subway stop), 416.2369.9484: Probably the best wings in Toronto. Get the 'Florida' style ones. The chicken fingers are very tasty as well, and juicy! Cheaper beer than downtown and half the ambiance....meaning more like Cheers, less like Lobby. But Friday's are wing nights so I'll take the cheap wings to cover. You might want to bring your binoculars though as the TV's are spread around the room. Which brings me to another point ....... Terre, Nic, and Glen - now that we've got the outdoor 'patio heater' happening, maybe it's time for a couple of big, flat screen HD TV's. Just an observation. Maybe if we took down a couple of Glen's 'award bats' from the Blue Jays we could fit one over the shuffle board table.
Downtown -
Victory Sports Bar & Grill, 244 Adelaide St. W. (duncan & adelaide - across from the now deceased Vinnie's Social Hall), 416.642.0105: The great thing about this place besides the downtown location, the great staff, and good food are the big, flat screen HD TV's. If you go, ask for Andrew and tell him Graham from Time 4 You sent you. That way I'll be sure to get my "beer commission".
Hemingways, Cumberland across from the park in Yorkville, 416.968.2828: Great place to go on a Friday night, after work. Good place to network if you're into that kind of stuff. This is where KOS and the NHLPA hold our meetings. Good place for sports, but they too (or is it ,too,?) need a couple of big, flat screen HD TV's.
Beer is almost as cheap as The Office (the best Value in Yorkville!), but alas no 'wing-night'. They do make excellent wings though, and give out free samples on Sundays!
One of the few places left in Toronto where you can smoke AND watch the game.
Take the 'smoking room' to cover.
Back to 'wince-sanity':
This guy took us for $US 90 Million and said that he 'just wasn't having fun anymore' and that he was 'tired of playing for a losing team, and needed a change'. Was he breaking up with us or what? Basketball players, what a bunch of spoiled whiners. I can hear Karl Malone rolling his eyes over this 'whiner'. What happened to players who stuck with a team through thick and thin? Now, I can understand wanting out if say the team was the LA Clippers where one has to wonder "What is with this franchise? Aren't they the ones who used to play the Harlem Globetrotters? I can understand wanting the opportunity to win a championship near the end of your career like Malone, Gary Payton or in hockey Ray Borque, but Wince is no where near the end of his career.
I'm glad that the Raptors spanked the Nets last night. I'm glad that Wince played a pathetic game. I'm glad that a player with heart, Jalen Rose, was the leading scorer for both teams while at the same time shutting down Wince and holding him to 22 points (4 points below his season average of 26 ppg). I hope that the Raptors don't trade Jalen Rose. He is the type of player that this franchise needs and has needed since Charles Oakley was traded. We need players that are mentally tough, could care less about all the 'hugging, and kissin' and glad-handing' that goes on before tip-off at an NBA game. We also need players that are team players and a leaders for the younger players on the Raptors. Did Jalen demand a trade after Coach Mitchell took him out of the starting 5? No, he proceeded to become the first player off the bench and the most dominant player in most games despite the fact he was playing fewer minutes. That's what leaders do.
Speaking of leaders, and future leaders:
Chris Bosh became the 3rd youngest player in NBA history to record 1000 rebounds. The others were: Kevin Garnett and Tracie McGrady. It took Garnett 143 games to get to 1,000, it took McGrady 186 and Bosh just 130.
This kid is going to be a superstar, and he is going to be much bigger than Wince. Why you ask? For the simple reason that he is a player, not a showboat, and has a heart. Couple that with humility, a willingness to learn, incredible athletic ability and you've got 'superstar' material.
Sidebar - is it any coincidence that they are selling 'selected' Vince Carter items for 60% off the original value at the ACC? Maybe they are basing the new pricing on his previous efforts.
Anyway, Rob B., in case you are listening ....... don't trade Jalen!
Well, that's all for now. It's time for the royal midday nap.
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