to move up and down
Infographic: The fight for the Stanley Cup
Much angst, and ink, has been spilled in recent years over fighting in hockey. Progressives say ban fighting. Traditionalists say ‘over our dead bodies.’ A moral debate rages. Yet what seldom gets asked is: How does fighting affect a team’s performance? Does toughness win games? Is meting out an ugly black eye as valuable as scoring a pretty goal? Let’s drop the gloves, shall we, and look at the numbers. (Illustration by Mike Faille)
Bruce Arthur: Jason Collins coming out a new beginning for sports
Nobody expected Jason Collins. Everybody knew that the day was coming, that one of the four major North American sports would see an openly gay player come out before his career was over, and consciously or subconsciously, everybody had an idea of what that person might be like. A star, probably. Good-looking. Articulate. A hero.
But Jason Collins? Thirty-four years old, a journeyman centre, a guy who spent a career being invisible, or being mistaken for his twin brother Jarron? He faced off with Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA Finals, the hardest job there was; he gave Chris Bosh fits in a first-round series once, too. But he was faceless a player as you can find, setting screens, being in position, fouling when necessary. Smart guy, admired for his toughness, a favourite of his teammates. But he was an extra in the play.
Monday, with the help of Sports Illustrated‘s Franz Lidz, Collins wrote an honest, charming story about himself, and who he really was. He’s the first openly gay professional athlete in the four major sports in North America.
NBA veteran centre Jason Collins has become the first male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins wrote a first-person account posted Monday on Sports Illustrated’s website.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he wrote in the magazine.
“I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.” (Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Since it has been awhile since the Leafs have been made the playoffs has a refresher on the protocols.
(via nationalpostsports)
HOPE YOU HAD LUNCH ALREADY: Subway made a statue out of sandwich materials of Georgia linebacker (and potential top NFL draft pick) Jarvis Jones. It is mildly terrifying. Maybe because we aren’t raisin people — his dreadlocks are made of 1,000 of them. (Photos: Diane Bondareff/Invision for SUBWAY/AP Images; Bebeto Matthews/The Associated Press)
Should he stay or should he go? A debate could be brewing over the fate of a statue of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky that stands outside Edmonton’s Northlands Coliseum.
The city has struck a deal with the Katz Group, owner of the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL, to build a new arena in the downtown area.
A clause in the master agreement says if there are no objections, the statue of the former Oiler would be moved to the new arena. According to the Edmonton Journal, the statue has been in its current location since 1989 — a year after Gretzky was traded to the Kings.
The race was in London, but the thoughts of many were with another city.
Thousands of runners who took part in the London Marathon on Sunday paid tribute to those killed and injured in the Boston Marathon six days earlier. Participants paused for a moment of silence in the beginning, many wore black ribbons on their chests as a sign of solidarity, and two runners finished carrying a banner that read “For Boston.”
The mood was festive, defiant — and the surging crowds who turned out on the glorious spring day to line the route roared enthusiastically.
“It means that runners are stronger than bombers,” said Valerie Bloomfield, a 40-year-old participant from France. (Photos: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images, Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images, Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The organizing committee for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games has narrowed its search for the tournament’s mascot to six finalists … and this is what they came up with.
Not sure why two of them have masks (vigilante mascots?) or why that moose is so darn happy. And don’t even talk to us about the raccoon.
The winner will be chosen by Canadians through an online vote. Because that ended well last time.
In the first sporting event since the Boston Marathon bombings, Bruins fans showed their support for the victims with an emotional rendition of the national anthem.
“It was extremely emotional. I was definitely fighting back tears,” Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. “It’s something that we’ll never forget. For everyone to show their respect and obviously give their thoughts and prayers for everyone, it’s great that everyone is kind of coming together at this time and helping each other out.” (Photos: Jim Rogash/Getty Images; Jimmy Golen/The Associated Press)
MLB came together for Boston on Tuesday night — this little boy made a sign for the Red Sox when they played in Cleveland. The team loved it so much, they put it up in their dugout.
In New York, fans pushed the rivalry aside and paid tribute with a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” in the third inning. The popular sing-along song has been featured at Boston Red Sox home games since 2002. (Jason Miller/Elsa/Getty Images; MLB/Twitter/Indians)
A moment of silence: The sports world was rocked by the news from Boston, where twin blasts killed three people and injured more than a hundred during the city’s famed marathons. (Photos: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images; Marc Serota/Getty Images; Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press)
At least two dead, 64 injured as two bombs hit Boston Marathon finish line, more explosive devices found
Two bombs exploded near the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing at least two people, injuring at least 23 others and sending authorities rushing to aid wounded spectators, race organizers and police said.
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said the two explosions occurred about 50 to 100 metres apart “simultaneously” on Boylston Street and there was multiple casualties at each location.
One runner, a Rhode Island state trooper, said he saw at least two dozen people with very serious injuries, including missing limbs.
A third explosion occurred at the JFK Library at about 4:00 p.m. but no injuries were reported, Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said at a press conference Monday afternoon. Davis said numerous bags were left at the scene by runners and each is being treated as a possible threat.
‘There are a lot of people down’: Dozens injured as two ‘huge’ explosions rock Boston Marathon
Two explosions shattered the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry away the injured while stragglers in the 26.2-mile race were rerouted away from the smoking site.
Fox News is reporting that police say three are dead, as spectators said they saw people being carried off with lost limbs.
Police have not indicated what the source of the two explosions could be.
Competitors and race volunteers were crying as they fled the chaos. Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Two explosions at Boston Marathon finish line injure dozens: reports
Two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon have resulted in injuries.
Bloody spectators were being carried Monday to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners. Police wove through competitors as they ran back toward the course.
“There are a lot of people down,” said one man, whose bib No. 17528 identified him as Frank Deruyter of North Carolina. He was not injured, but marathon workers were carrying one woman, who did not appear to be a runner, to the medical area as blood gushed from her leg. A Boston police officer was wheeled from the course with a leg injury that was bleeding.
Bicycle pack rides tight — Cyclists ride during the 48th edition of the road bicycle race in Valkenburg on April 14, 2013. (BAS CZERWINSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
