Sports Roundtable
The year Bettman killed hockey, again
Braden Dupuis, Paige Kreutzwieser, Colton Hordichuk, Kris Klein, Britton Gray
How many U of R sports games did you attend in 2012? And do you think this number will increase or decrease in 2013?
Dupuis: I don’t know exactly how many, but I made it to quite a few – more than any other year by far. For the most part, the action was great and the beer cold, and that’s about as much as I can ask for. With playoffs coming up, chances are you’ll find me drunkenly cheering (or cursing) at a home game near you.
Kreutzwieser: I think I only attended 3 football games and one basketball game. So hopefully the number goes up, especially since I’m a broke student and games are free so I might as well take advantage of that.
Hordichuk: I haven’t attended a whole lot of U of R sports games in 2012. I’ve just been way too busy, hence my departure from the sports roundtable for quite some time. As always, I’m hoping I can get to a few U of R sports games this upcoming year.
Klein: I think the number will stay the same at zero. I’m sorry, I have school pride or what ever the hell it is but I find that my time is going to be entirely taken up by watching a lot of NHL when it comes back on TV. Oh, and also killing Gary Bettman so this never happens again.
Gray: I only attended one Rams game to show my school support but that was the extent of it. I could just never find the time to get out to it. I would like to increase that number in 2013 but I can’t promise that it will
What was your favourite sports moment of 2012?
Dupuis: I tried to think of a moment that could be designated my “favourite” but drew a blank. All-in-all, this was not sports’ best year. Lance Armstrong is a fraud, Gary Bettman is a vampire and all my hockey heroes are overstuffed pigs. Also, all of my favourite teams suck. I am one disillusioned sports fan, friends. Here’s to hoping for a better year in 2013.
Kreutzwieser: Two moments that are tied, both of which just recently happened – Dickey to the Blue Jays and Bills finally firing Gailey. Thank you to the sports gods for doing some good for my teams.
Hordichuk: My favorite sports moment of 2012 was when Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to defeat the San Diego Chargers 35-24. I remember seeing the 24-0 score when leaving my house to go on-air at the radio station I work for and coming home to a Broncos victory.
Klein: It would have to be when Crosby got knocked out a second time. No that’s my second favourite. My favourite memory would have to be the Sept. 29 Rider game against the BC Loins. It was a Saturday night game, the crowd was absolutely off the chain, prairie sodas were flowing like water and the night ended with me running down Albert Street looking for my ride and then I crashed a wedding. Scratch that off the bucket list.
Gray: My favourite sports moment of 2012 would have to be watching the LA kings go on their incredible Cup run. It was a thing of beauty watching them defeat team after team and then seeing Dustin Brown raise the Cup.
What is your New Year’s resolution for 2013?
Dupuis: Big half-hearted meh. I’m far too non-committal for that sort of long-term self-improvement. Also, it’s hard to improve on perfection, am I right ladies? No? OK. I’m really more of a “New Day’s” resolution guy anyway. I need results now, dammit. Tomorrow’s New Day’s Resolution? I haven’t thought about it yet. Too lazy.
Kreutzwieser: Watch every single episode of Dawson’s Creek.
Hordichuk: I hope I can gather up some free time to come back on the sports roundtable more often again. Also, I want to keep playing hockey. I came back last year for the first time in three years and I’ve had an absolute blast.
Klein: Probably to take my fat ass to the gym.
Gray: My new years resolution is to do better in my school work and maybe while I’m at it win a gold medal in something, cure the common cold and quit drinking. Should be interesting to see which ones I keep.
Team Canada’s 14-year medal streak at the World Juniors ended with a devastating 6-5 overtime loss to Russia. Canada has been held without a gold medal in the tournament since 2009. Do you think Canada’s dominance at the international level is slipping?
Dupuis: I wouldn’t go so far as to put Canada’s hockey reputation on the shoulders of a bunch of under-20s, especially considering we’re still the reigning Olympic champs and home to many of the best players in the world, but the pendulum is definitely not swinging in our favour at the moment.
Kreutzwieser: Their “poor” performance must be the times of their games. Like really, I wouldn’t want to play at 3 a.m. either. Kidding. I think Canada’s dominance is slipping in a lot of our winter sports, except figure skating. Aren’t we dominating in that right now?
Hordichuk: While Canada has stayed at the same skill level over the last few years, Sweden has risen up as one of the elites as the World Juniors. The United States are normally always great and so is Russia. Also, Finland is on the rise too. Slipping? No, I wouldn’t say so. I’d just say that other teams are finally matching Canada’s talent level.
Klein: Well it is tough to say. I think teams have finally caught up to Canada so Canada doesn’t look as dominant as they once did. That and Canada hasn’t had a legitimate starting goalie to carry them since Carey Price did it in 2007. Seriously, whenever it’s a big game, our goalies can’t stop a beach ball. Like what the fuck is wrong with that shit?!
Gray: Yeah I believe that Canada is no longer as far ahead in the development of players as people may think. Our team isn’t as good as it once was because the other countries have begun to develop their players as well as we do, if not better.
Who is your choice for this year’s NFL MVP?
Dupuis: There are two common storylines that sports fans can’t seem to get enough of: The comeback and the underdog. Peyton Manning had a little bit of both in 2012. At 36 years old and coming off an entire season on the bench, there were a lot of questions surrounding “The Sheriff” back in September. It was nice to see him put them to rest early and often throughout the season.
Kreutzwieser: I get all the talk about Adrian Peterson because he is an unbelievable athlete, had outstanding numbers, blah, blah, and laugh at me if you want but where would the Colts be without Andrew Luck? Ok, I’m kind of laughing at myself now.
Hordichuk: Andrew Luck. That’s it. I don’t even need to say anymore.
Klein: I don’t know, I’m going to guess AP. I really don’t care. Hockey's back! Finally I can stop watching 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Sharks and Ducks, which is the worst series to watch ever.
Gray: Adrian Peterson and there is no debate about it. The man came back from an ACL and MCL tear at the end of last year, got healthy for this year and went on to have the second greatest season a running back has ever had. The man is a Beast!
Photo courtesy of Layne Murdoch/Getty Images
