Before we jump into the fun and frolic of Sports Talk this week, a few words about Sept. 30 and Orange Shirt Day.
The history of residential schools is our apartheid. There is no question about that and I won’t listen to anyone who wants to tell me differently. A lot of us didn’t live through it but we have to deal with it. I’ve heard from many people who survived it and those are the people who we need to listen to. The discovery of the graves on school sites only makes what was already a terrible stain on our history even worse. The searching needs to continue because we know there are many more who didn’t make it home and we need to make sure that they do get home, wherever home may be. We owe those children that much.
Now on to less important stuff:
Ohtani is the man
I saw a rather humorous discussion on Facebook between some folks in Yellowknife regarding who should be the most valuable player in the American League. One chap suggested Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Guerrero has made a very strong case. Others came back with Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, another fine choice.
You’ve all been wondering what I think so here goes: Shohei Ohtani should get it.
Nothing against Vladdy Jr. because he’s had a helluva season in Toronto. He’s going for the Triple Crown, not accomplished since Miguel Cabrera did it in 2012, and that’s what makes you the best hitter in a league. But Ohtani gets the nod because not only has he been ripping the ball at the plate, he’s been doing on the pitcher’s mound as well.
If you’re not aware, Ohtani has been part of the Angels’ starting rotation this season and has gone 120-plus innings with an earned run average of 3.28 as of press time. Vladdy Jr. doesn’t pitch. Ohtani has also stolen 23 bases compared to Vladdy Jr.’s four (as of Sept. 23).
Vladdy Jr. will win an MVP one year. Just not this year. Ohtani should win it.
Stick to MMA, dude
Remember that time 50 Cent threw out the first pitch at a New York Mets game? The worst first pitch you’ve ever seen? Welp, we have a new winner and it comes courtesy of Conor McGregor.
Yes, the Irish mixed-martial artist/boxer was given the chance to try his luck at the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sept. 21 and he managed to throw it absolutely nowhere near home plate. Now, I’ll give McGregor this — he was wearing a suit with no give to it whatsoever and fired the ball from the mound. Still, it was a terrible toss.
But I can guarantee you Angel Hernandez would have still called it a strike.
And finally …
Good Idea: Offering to buy a round for some friends.
Bad Idea: Offering to buy a round for students in college.
Humans have done some really stupid things in recent times, like vote for Justin Trudeau in that waste of a federal election earlier this month but at least he isn’t Bruce Barnum.
Barnum is head coach of Portland State University’s football team and he came up with a grand idea: he would buy fans a beer if they showed up for the team’s game against Western Oregon on Sept. 18. What did Barnum think was going to happen?
Anyway, several hundred students took him up on the offer and proceeded to order 1,260 Coors Lights (morons) and 786 Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPAs (sounds fruity) to the tune of $14,448 by the time the tab was settled and yes, Barnum did pay up. All I hope is he gave a good tip. Anyone who had to serve that many Coors Lights needs something to make up for the pain of that.