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VIEWPOINT: SCOTT OAKEQ
& A
Each week, Sports Online will turn the tables on Scott Oake,
who's used to peppering others with questions.
On Sunday, Canada lost to the Czech Republic in the gold medal match at the world hockey championship. More than half of Team Canada's roster did not play regularly this season, while the entire Czech squad saw action with European clubs. What could Team Canada have done to ice a sharper team?
The lockout was supposed to work to Team Canada's advantage. Ironically it probably hurt Canada's chances. Ultimately, with 3/4's of its players inactive for seven months Team Canada was inconsistent and, in the end, couldn't match the level of the Czech Republic.
Restricting the selections to players who were active would have been foolish as Team Canada would have been significantly less talented without players like Marty Brodeur and Ryan Smith. Given the circumstances I don't think there's anything Team Canada could have done to be sharper. Olympic gold, a couple of world championships and the World Cup comprise a pretty good run. A silver medal at these worlds, although a disappointment, is hardly a national emergency.
After British Columbia's Steve Nash was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, many pundits argued that Shaquille O'Neal was more deserving of the honour. Some even suggested that racism played a role in the MVP voting. What do you think of the selection of Nash?
Either Nash or O'Neal would have been a fitting MVP winner. Because 90 per cent of the players in the NBA are black, odds are a black player will win the award. In fact, only six white players have ever won it and Nash is the first white player in the last 20 years to win it.
But did he win it because he's white? Absolutely not. He won because he was the driving force behind a miraculous turnaround by the Suns. They were 29-53 last year and a league best 62-20 this year largely because of Nash. Nash is the NBA's MVP on merit, not race. That the race card would be played was entirely predictable but in this case it's regrettable and ridiculous.
A report surfaced last week that Wayne Gretzky will take over as head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes when the NHL resumes play. If Gretzky gets behind the bench in Phoenix, how will he fare?
Wayne Gretzky doesn't usually fail and I don't think he will in this case. He's an astute judge of talent and smart enough to realize not one of his players will be able to do on the ice what he did. Conventional hockey wisdom says journeymen players make better coaches than do superstars but I'd be very surprised if Gretzky couldn't get the best out of the Phoenix Coyotes. Also, in a league that's desperate for good news, having Gretzky behind the bench and in NHL buildings nightly can only be a good thing.
According to several recent reports, Bernie and Lonie Glieberman are nearing a deal to take majority control of the Ottawa Renegades. Given the chaos that surrounded the American brothers' previous ownership stint in Ottawa, how will the Gliebermans be received by Ottawa football fans?
The Gliebermans should be better received than shutting down the franchise would be. Last I heard there wasn't a bidding war for the organization. In fact, it appears the Gliebermans may be the Renegades' best and only hope. Lonnie has never denied things were chaotic during his and his father's previous ownership and it will be interesting to see if they can get it right second time around.
I'm not sure if going on the record with stories of a cheerleader putting her hand in his pants and when and where he lost his virginity is pure marketing genius but the Gliebermans are willing to write cheques. For an organization that claims to have lost 10 million dollars in 3 years this is the CFL equivalent of winning the lottery.
Lightning-round questions:
Your pick to win the Memorial Cup?
London Knights.
Better hockey tournament: Memorial Cup or World Cup?
Memorial Cup.
Better-looking cheerleaders: Laker Girls or Cowgirls?
I live my life in the cause of political correctness. Thus I abhor the term "girls". But, I will go on the record as saying the chicks on both cheerleading squads are really hot.
Everybody Loves Raymond: Thumbs up or down?
Never watched it as it was on opposite my favourite home decorating show.
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Trek because it's spawned a whole generation of really weird people.
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Scott began his career by volunteering at the university radio station during three years of pre-med. studies at Memorial University in St. John's, Nfld. After two summers working at CBC-St. John's in radio and television, he was hired full-time in 1974. Since then, Oake has covered the Olympic Winter and Summer Games and the Commonwealth Games as a commentator for wrestling, hockey, alpine skiing, swimming, rowing, diving, boxing and athletics.
FULL
BIO
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