The Rant: Sir John Franklin Grad
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and with Sir John Franklin’s Graduation ceremony just around the corner (Saturday), I thought it was probably time that I got some things off my chest.
First off, congratulations to the 140+ students graduating this year. You’ve all put in a ton of work, and deserve all the best from this town over the weekend. Enjoy every minute of it.
However (in my opinion), politics and overprotection are starting to ruin what is, for many students, the biggest event in their lives thus far (and, for many, one of the biggest in their lives, period).
Now, before I get into this, please let it be known that this is all my opinion, and no-one else’s. Feel free to agree or disagree (that’s what the comments function is for), and I certainly don’t propose that I have all the answers, or that those who disagree with me are wrong in any way.
This is just how I see things. And how I see things are that a lot of changes have been made to Sir John Franklin High School’s graduation ceremony for the wrong reasons in the last few years.
First, some background. I graduated in 2007 from Sir John Franklin High School as the student council president, and had a large hand in planning many of the “extracurricular” grad activities that took place during the week of the grad ceremony. Needless to say, graduation from Sir John Franklin is something I’ll never forget, and has a very special place in my heart (and always will).
However, now, with my brother and two of my cousins graduating this year, I’ve been privy to a bit more of the planning and discussion than I had been since my own graduation – to that end, I don’t know if some of these changes occurred in 2008 or 2009, or if they all took effect this year. I just noticed them this year.
First, and foremost, is the moving of the graduation ceremony from its traditional place in mid-May to the end of June. This change was presumably made in order to ensure that the “grad list,” or those permitted by the school to participate in the ceremony based on whether or not they’ve met (or are on track to meet) graduation requirements is as accurate as possible, that is, those participating in the ceremony are the ones who will actually be graduating. The change (I would assume) has also been made to help assure that the partying leading up to and the night of the grad ceremony is kept to a minimum, as there is still a diploma exam which takes place on the Monday following grad weekend.
I find both of these arguments very shallow and insignificant: basically, too much time is being spent on the wrong things. First, the “accurate grad list” argument: a graduation ceremony is about the students. That’s it. Not the school’s reputation or anything like that. By moving the grad ceremony later in the year, you exclude those who were on track to graduate and messed up in the last month: either by failing/dropping a class, not getting their community service hours finished, or for whatever other reason.
But let’s rewind for a second – don’t you think that having the grad ceremony in May might have prevented some of these mistakes?
For a lot of students in the Northwest Territories, a high school education is as far as they get. That’s a fact. We have a low percentage of students attending post-secondary education than in many other regions of Canada, and so, for this sizable group of students, a high school grad ceremony is the only academic ceremony they will ever experience in their life. These students (the ones unlikely to further their education) are also the most likely ones to slip up at some point in the last month of school and be taken off the grad list – their marks are likely not as high as students eying college or university.
Seeing as a high school graduation ceremony may be the pinnacle of some students’ academic careers, giving them a graduation ceremony before they enter the “home stretch” could very well inspire them to finish strong and complete their diplomas. It is hard to quantify how important it is to some people to go through all of the excitement that grad brings with those in their year, even if they will not graduate with them on time, and having an earlier ceremony is a simple way to do that. Even if they don’t graduate in the end, who cares? Again, it’s about the students, not the school’s reputation, and to be honest, I don’t think there are too many prudes out there who care if a few students who don’t graduate get to participate in a ceremony. It’s not hurting anyone.
Taking this important incentive away from those students who are “on the bubble” to graduate will most likely lower their chances of completing their education, in my opinion. It will also ensure that some students never get to participate in a ceremony, or are forced to take part in one with the year after theirs. Every student who has made it to grade 12 deserves recognition, even if they don’t end up graduating, and to take the ceremony away from some of them by putting it at the end of June is wrong.
The second argument for the moving of the date is the “party” argument, that is, that students are less likely to party if grad takes place during exams. While I do think that this is true for most: a lot of students have a lot riding on these exams, it is not for all, and it is here that this argument is counterproductive. Assuming that no partying will go on during grad week is ludicrous, ignorant, and naive, regardless of the week. The effects of this partying are tenfold when they occur during the exam period, where many students are doing their best to actually graduate, rather than during a nondescript week in mid-May. By moving grad week to the end of June, you are effectively lowering the grades of many students, something that could easily be avoided. Why make them worry about exams and grad? Do one, than the other. Simple.
The second point I would like to make is this: partying is a huge part of grad. It always has, and it always will be. Having the entire class come together for a week is one of the things that make graduation so special and memorable for many students. Sure, there will be problems; it’s a bunch of underage teens drinking (at least some of them are), but more the most part (at least in my experience) the students are civil and sane. Those who do stupid things during grad week would likely be doing them anyway.
I’m not saying the school should encourage underage partying, far from it. The students have a choice whether or not to consume alcohol, or to attend grad week events at all, and a high school certainly has no place encouraging or promoting events like this. However, by actively taking steps to discourage them, they are inadvertently making them potentially more dangerous and damaging – imagine the hit the school’s reputation would take if one of their students was caught doing something inappropriate during exam week. Or, the much more likely scenario: that students will have far lower grades than usual on final exams because they happened to coincide with grad week. Either of these scenarios is not an ideal one, and are easily prevented: if you know it’s going to happen, why not make it happen when it’s not as big a deal?
The same argument here extends to all those who are adamant defenders of dry grad and use this as another reason behind the ceremony’s movement to late June: dry grad sponsors don’t want to see students drinking during the week and then put money into a “dry grad” event. Again, it doesn’t matter what the sponsors think: whether they want to or not, some students will drink during grad week. That’s just what happens. By making these switches, the school is believing that it has control over something it doesn’t, and needs to come to grip with this, and proceed in making the effects of this as minimal as possible (read: NOT DURING EXAM WEEK).
Another element I found strange regarding grad this year was the omission of the “walk,” that is, when all the students come into the gym one by one, or in pairs, in their formal wear and walk up on stage. I would assume that this was removed for the same reasons there was talk of removing it when I was in grade 12: that some students are embarrassed that they can’t find a grad date, or shy, and do not wish to participate.
Unfortunately for those students, though, such is life. There are many things during grad week that some people would rather not participate in.
The solution?
They don’t participate.
Removing the walk because some students don’t wish to do it is like removing grad pumpkin carving because a few students are allergic to pumpkins, or not letting the students use the pool at dry grad because someone is embarrassed to be seen in a bathing suit. There are choices for a reason, and in this case, the school erred on the side of overprotection (something that is very prevalent in our society these days, but that’s a rant for another time).
The truth of the matter is that there are a sizeable amount of students who, given the choice, would do the “walk.” Why take that choice away from them? Using a more direct example, the school never before forced students who didn’t want to participate in the “walk” to participate, and the same logic holds true here. If it’s not that important to you/you don’t want to do it for whatever reason, then don’t. Simple.
As a high school student, I loved grad. The week leading up to the event, and the event itself, were major points in my life, and getting the chance to come together with the hundred-odd people in my grad class was an experience that was once-in-a-lifetime. I’ve spoken with many other members of my class who feel the same way. I just hope that the school (or the school board, or whoever makes these decisions) can remember that that once-in-a-lifetime feeling is what the event is all about.
It’s about the students. And that’s it.
Once again, congrats to the Sir John Franklin (and for that matter, the St. Pat’s) graduates. Enjoy every minute of it.
*Disclaimer: I apologize if I’ve screwed up any of the “facts” I have here. I don’t know all of the reasons behind the changes made to grad, nor do I pretend to: this is largely based on speculation. Please treat it as such.
As well, I apologize if I sound redundant/dumb making points, it is a rant, after all. If you have a comment, please post it below!
What I’ve Learned from Wikipedia
Prepare for a mini Wikipedia extravaganza.
I don’t know about you, but one website that consumes a lot of my free time is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a user-driven encyclopaedia which is updated by readers, meaning that a lot of information is either a) random or b) culturally relevant (both things that a traditional encyclopaedia is not). Because of this, Wikipedia is host to a large quantity both random and interesting facts, as well as occasionally poor grammar, making for quite an entertaining read at times. The following is a short list of a few of my better finds on the site; if you’ve got any to add, post them in the comments section! Enjoy!
- A script was written for a sequel to the film “Forrest Gump” in 2001. The idea was originally scrapped, but was re-opened by Paramount for another look in 2007.
- Speaking of “Forrest Gump”, both Ice Cube and Dave Chappelle were offered the role of Bubba Blue, and both turned it down. It states that Chappelle “regrets not taking the role.” You think?
- A young echidna is called a puggle.
- Also on the topic of echidnas, ever wondered about the male echidna’s reproductive system? You should have (quoted directly from Wikipedia):
“Male echidnas have a four-headed penis. During mating, the heads on one side “shut down” and do not grow in size; the other two are used to release semen into the female’s two-branched reproductive tract. The heads used are swapped each time the mammal copulates.” Sounds uncomfortable to me.
- The world record for ferret legging, a endurance sport in which contestants see how long they can last with two live ferrets inside their pants, is 5 hours and 30 minutes.
- Steven Seagal has his own brand of energy drink: “Steven Seagal’s Lightning Bolt.” It currently comes in two flavours: “Cherry Charge,” and “Asian Experience.” Feel free to speculate on what that tastes like.
Nothing gets me pumped like Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt.
- Some of the Yellowknifers with Wikipedia pages include: Godson, Gordon Van Tighem, Dustin Milligan, Kevin Koe, Alex Debogorski, and Max Ward. None for Michael Gilday yet, although I’m sure there’s one coming.
- The Gold Range Bar in Yellowknife has its own Wikipedia page as well. The photo of the bar has both a police car and ambulance visibly parked in front of it. A surprisingly accurate depiction for the internet.
- The characters of the “Monopoly” board game’s names:
The old man with the top hat is “Rich Uncle Pennybags.” You probably knew that, but did you know his first name was Milburn?
The guy in jail is named “Jake the Jailbird,” and the cop on the “Go to Jail” space is “Officer Edgar Mallory.”
- In 2004, a live-action Pac Man movie was announced. To this point, no new news has been reported. Thank god.
- Finally, my own experience with Wikipedia: in 2007, I inserted my name in the credits of the Adam Sandler film “Billy Madison” as Jack (Billy Madison’s fat friend).
Mark Beltzman, the actor who actually plays Jack.
To this day, my name is still there, unchanged. Incredibly, it has also made it onto multiple other websites as well; a quick google search of my name yields “Garrett Hinchey” in the credits of “Billy Madison” on reference.com, bebo.com, Amazon’s Askville, and myproducer.tv. The lesson here: don’t believe everything you read on the internet. The other lesson: editing Wikipedia can yield hilarious results.
Happy Friday! I’ll be back next week.
- Garrett
Flashbacks: The Vancouver Police
‘Afternoon!
First things first: I apologize for the unexplained break from writing – I took a week off, and was out of town for the weekend. That being said, I’m back! Let’s get to today’s entry, which I will classify as a “Flashback,” even though it was from just a few days ago. Enjoy!
This past weekend, I was in Vancouver for the UFC event being held there. As a huge fan of the sport of mixed martial arts, it was very exciting to see my first live event, and I’ll cover it more at length in a future post. However, I will share with you one story. It’s something that I think is an indicator of perhaps quite a serious problem in society, and something that I think carries a message with it (or, it’s just an entertaining story). Either way, enjoy:
After the event, myself and my friends Craig, Joe, and Justin were wandering through downtown Vancouver, looking to hail a cab to take us home (or in this case, back to Justin’s house). We ended up on a corner of Granville street next to a 7/11 store, and stopped to deliberate our next course of action (to call a cab, or to hail a cab, basically). Outside the store was a homeless man sitting in the doorway’s indent – not exactly a rare sight in Vancouver, and not something that any of us took particular notice of.
This, sadly, is a common sight in downtown Vancouver. Our guy was a bit more frisky than this guy, though.
However, while we were standing on the sidewalk, a couple of men walked by (I believe from out of the 7/11, but I am not certain). One of them, for reasons not apparent to us, seemed to irk the homeless man, who rose from his seat and began to accost the man walking. The pair immediately switched direction in order to avoid confrontation, but were followed by the homeless man. There was a bit of a back-and-forth banter between the homeless man and the pair as they walked past us, what exactly was said I don’t remember, however, the man being “beaked” by the homeless guy seemed quite annoyed and upset. The three disappeared around a corner, and we all chalked it up as just another one of those things you see late at night in Vancouver.
Just when we thought it was over, though, the three came back around the corner. The homeless man now had a beer in his hand, and was teetering quite noticeably (he was wearing a long trenchcoat, which is where I’m assuming the beer came from). The two other men picked up their pace, starting to distance themselves from the homeless man, who stumbled into a tree and dropped his beer, and then began to run after them. As he neared, he jumped onto a mailbox, knocking it over.
At this point, the four of us decided that it would most likely be in our best interests to distance ourselves from this confrontation, and so we walked across the street and continued to watch. The homeless man had caught up to the man he was yelling at (the other one had since disappeared) and grabbed him by the shoulder. What we saw next was obscured by a car driving across our line of vision, but over the roof of the car we were able to see the man rise up for an instant and then crumple, unconscious (presumably knocked out from an uppercut, at least that’s what it looked like to us).
The homeless man returned to his post in front of 7/11, now without his trenchcoat. The four of us, shocked, noticed a “ghost” police car and pulled it over, telling the officers what had happened. Immediately, the two officers ran out of the car and began to question the homeless man, while the other man lay unconscious about 30 feet away.
After about a minute, we realized that the police officers didn’t see the unconscious man, and we ran across the road to tell them where he was (he had been out cold for at least a couple minutes at this point). One of the police officers and the four of us went over to him, where he was laid on his back with his leg awkwardly bent beneath him, and his eyes rolled back in his head, completely motionless. The police officer attempted to rouse him by lightly slapping his face and calling to him, but he didn’t budge. I honestly thought he may be dead.
After a couple minutes, though, he began to stir, and a few minutes after that, he was able to sit up with his back on the storefront where he had fallen. The police officer attempted to question him (“how did you get on the ground? Do you know why you’re on the ground?”) but the man was so groggy/possibly concussed that he was unable to recall what had happened, he offered up a very weak “I fell.” It was at this point that Craig noticed the homeless man’s trenchcoat was lying on the still groggy man’s lap; I guess it must have slipped off during the scuffle.
The police officer called for an ambulance, and then talked to us for a bit; as none of us had seen exactly what had happened due to being across the street, we were unable to provide official statements. However, just as he was about to dismiss us, the second police officer, who had been with the homeless man the whole time, came over and tapped the other cop on the shoulder, saying “I’ve got the whole story. Apparently this guy (gesturing to the homeless man) was doing security at 7/11, and this guy (gesturing to the still-slumped over and completely unaware man who had just been knocked out) was stealing sandwiches.” We all laughed, as we thought it was a pretty funny joke – the homeless guy was clearly wasted, as was evident by his slumping into a tree, dropping his beer and knocking over a mailbox. He also didn’t notice that his trenchcoat was missing. However, the whole situation became a whole lot less funny when the other police officer turned to the still-slumped over man on the ground and said to him: “you’re under arrest for theft.” He then told us to leave.
We all walked away, thinking it was part of the joke, as the man on the ground could clearly not understand what the police were saying, he was still barely conscious. We went into a Subway across the road and watched as an ambulance pulled up, followed by another police car. However, the ambulance pulled away without the unconscious man, and the next time that we looked up, all the police cars had left (as had the unconscious man) and the homeless man was still sitting in front of 7/11. As we left Subway, it dawned on all of us that the police officer wasn’t joking when he arrested the unconscious man for theft.
How do we know our police our doing their job?
I guess the point of this story is that police officers have a responsibility to ensure the public’s safety, and a duty to enforce the law. However, a lot of times this responsibility comes into conflict with a person who is either indifferent or lazy, as in this case, and will instead take the path of least resistance (it would definitely be quite difficult to book a homeless man on an assault charge with nobody able to give a statement). I am in no way saying that all cops are like this, or even most of them, but I don’t believe this is an isolated incident, and it’s certainly something to think about: how can we ensure that the police are performing their duties properly? In today’s culture, everyone is searching for a shortcut; a way to make things easier, and it has both improved our quality of life and made us very conducive to taking the easiest road possible.
In some facets of life, even in some occupations, this is acceptable.
When ensuring our safety, it is not.
Suffice it to say that this shook me a little bit, and definitely hit hard (I never would have guessed that the first thing I wrote about coming back from UFC weekend wouldn’t be UFC). Do you have any stories about police looking the other way? Any thoughts? Is there a way to fix this problem? Post below in the comments section!
Cutten’s Corner – Year End Hoedown
Hello readers!
Guest blogger Joe Cutten returns with "Cutten's Corner."
For today’s edition of “Cutten’s Corner,” guest blogger Joe Cutten takes us away from the squash and to the other side of the Racquet Club’s annual Year End Tournament as his alter-ego Rip Roarin’ Randy Randleson. For some of Joe’s previous work, click here.
As well, click here for my Year End Tournament squash breakdown. Enjoy!
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Boooiiiiii Howdie! Today’s topic is about the Year End Tournament held at the Yellowknife Racquet Club. It spans the whole week and there are always barn burnin’, rootin’ tootin’ squash matches to watch. But I won’t be hollerin’ about the squash. Although the reason for the event is the sport, what really makes this week one of the best of the summer is all the fun activities you get to do while sipping your brew of choice.
From karaoke to steak and lobster, workin’ on my farmer tan in the hot tub and all you can eat sushi, the week is one I look forward to every summer.
Let’s get serious for a second: the reason I signed up the first year was the steak and lobster grilled up on Saturday night. You have your choice of either steak or lobster (or my choice: both), and it’s included in your registration fee, holy smokes that’s one good deal. With your choice of warm or cold lobster and the steak barbequed to your preference, Saturday night is always a rip roarin’ good time. There ain’t nothing better than sitting on the deck sippin’ dranks and enjoying lobster with good friends and hearing Al bust jokes about anyone around. What always tickles my fancy, the twenty pound bowls of pertater salad. Get ‘er in ya! If you don’t play squash, make sure to sign up next year for the din din.
Friday night is also one of my favourites. Bustin’ out the karaoke machine and the local “artists” are allowed to sing any song they’d like. With prizes for best singer and best group look for some real potential. In fact, you’re talkin’ to a regular karaoke star! I won best group last year belting out one of my personal favourites: One Last Breath by Creed! Nothing better than a night of singing like a fool, come on down and just let yourself go! Honestly, it’s not often that karaoke is taken seriously and the night is fun for everyone, unless somehow Al gets the mic.
Probably the best gosh darn part of the tournament is the location. The Racquet Club is a pretty gosh darn fine establishment. I’ve been there every day this week even though I’ve only played one match! Big screen TVs flipped to hockey, a licensed bar, deck, saunas, massage bed, a hot tub, and so much more seriously make The Racque Club a darn good place to hang out. Serving up burgers on most nights during the week and beers every night, why would you want to go anywhere else? Good times and good friends in a friendly and comfortable environment. It’s pretty golly gosh darn ol’ fashioned fun. The deck is littered with chairs and tables to hold your beerskis, overlooking the rocky side of a hill, the RC may have the nicest patio in town.
Come on down y’all, get yer tab started. Feel free to grab me a bottle of Canadian too. Anyway though, time to end this here rant for the week, my ol’ lady is callin me by my full name, I must be trouble! See y’all down at the Yellowknife Racquet Club!
Over and Out,
Rip Roarin’ Randy Randleson
Rip Roarin' Randy is dressed in his finest for the Year End.
The Racquet Club Year End Tournament Breakdown
The first week of June brings along with it the most underrated week in Yellowknife sports – The Racquet Club’s Year End squash tournament. The Northwest Territories premier tournament of the year is quickly becoming one of the more talked-about events in Canada, and this year promises to deliver, with well over 100 participants in 13 divisions, nationally ranked visiting pros, the return of karaoke, and the always popular steak-and-lobster dinner on Saturday night. While I could probably spend a full post talking about the week’s extracurricular events (free sushi on Thursday = WIN), the tournament is, at its core, about squash, and newcomers and veterans, hardcores and casual players alike will be contending to win the crown in various divisions. What follows is a breakdown of all the divisions in the tournament (except for the junior divisions), and a little prognostication on my part (though I will stay away from picking the winners outright). Enjoy! And enjoy the week at the Club (tournament draws are available here):
We be squashin'
Ladies D
Historically, ladies D has been more or less a crapshoot when it comes to the Year End – any one of these ladies could potentially win the tournament. I’ll stay away from picking potential winners because I haven’t seen any of these ladies play before, however, it is worth noting that there are two contestants from Iqaluit (Bonnie Osbourne and Natasha Stevens) who have likely not played against any of the other contestants in the draw. Perhaps the lack of scouting will give these ladies the advantage? Only time will tell. Last year’s winner Angela Pace has to be given strong consideration for the crown this year as well as she defends her title.
Mens D
Men’s D is a little easier for me to speak on, being that four good friends of mine are participating in this division and so I’ve personally played some of the competitors. As well, four juniors (Madison Hurst, Davis Elkin, Iain Brooks, and James Huvenaars) are participating in Men’s D this year, and one of them, Madison, started off his tournament last night with an impressive three game victory over Mark Siemens. One thing is certain about Madison: he doesn’t get tired, and being able to draw games out against the older, slower men may give him an advantage as the tournament progresses. As for the rest of the participants, Bill Maltus and Fritz Griffith certainly have good shots at victory, Obed Duru has historically been a tough out, and Tony Pace proved last year with his victory over potential champ Craig Taggart that he can hang with anyone in the draw.
The Favourite: Craig Taggart
Beginning his tourney by avenging last years’ loss against Tony Pace must have been key for his confidence going forward. Surprisingly strong cardio, makes reasonable choices with the ball, and dives like a seal. Sounds like the formula for a Men’s D champ to me.
The Dark Horse: Harji Sidhu
Got off to a good start last night with an impressive victory. A very well rounded player for Men’s D, just not as consistent as some of the top contenders; but when he’s on, he can beat anyone in this draw. A prelim match with Taggart Wednesday night looms large, the winner will likely have a chance to win the division while the loser will be eliminated.
The Sentimental Favourite: Mark Siemens
Former junior star Siemens returns to The Club to finish what he started. It seems like just yesterday that Mark was competing with last year’s Open champ Chad Hinchey in junior tournaments (quite competitively, I might add), but a long layoff from the game has started him from scratch. A loss to Hurst yesterday night will be difficult to recover from in a pool format, though.
Men’s C
The largest of this year’s divisions with 15 competitors, Men’s C features no shortage of intriguing storylines. Damien Healy’s quest for Year End glory certainly ranks right up there (word on the street is that if he wins, the occasion will be commemorated with the special edition “Aurora Damialis” racquet), as does last year’s consolation winner Chris Puglia’s shot at redemption, and Ryan Twissell’s attempt to make it two Year End’s in a row (he won men’s D last year). And, if that weren’t enough, there’s the possibility of a Redshaw/Redshaw matchup, as Walker returns to his old stomping ground to challenge his brother Braden, as well as Joe Cutten’s daring move from special plate runner up in D to becoming a potential contender in C. Certainly one of the more intriguing divisions, you can be sure that the final in C will have some sort of undertone to it. What that is, though, is yet to be determined.
The Favourite: Chris Puglia
A perennial contender in C, this year may finally be the time for Puglia to come over the top and take home the division. Looked impressive last night, winning his first round match against tough junior Dylan Short in four games.
The Dark Horse: Ryan Twissell
Had a difficult time with Walker Redshaw in the first round, a deceptively tough first-round opponent (Walker was one of the Club’s top juniors not too long ago). Potentially the most solid squash fundamentals in the draw give Twissell an advantage over all the other players in the draw, however, he could, like so many juniors before him, fall victim to the black hole that is “Old Man Squash.”
The Sentimental Favourite: Damien Healy
A recent victory over Club General Manager Kelli Hinchey has Healy riding high, and a tough five-game comeback in his first round match must have him feeling pretty good about his chances. Not so much a favourite as much as a “what if,” a tournament victory by Healy could mean trash talking like it’s never been seen before.
Ladies B
Although there are 9 competitors in the Ladies B draw, the real winner upon closer inspection is Club pro Allan Cook, who has three juniors in competition, a great sign for the girls program as they gear up for their first Canada Games this coming winter. Other notables include Club Manager Kelli Hinchey and Fitness Co-Ordinator Dana Britton, as well as the only competitor from Whitehorse in the tournament this year in Lara Lewis.
The Favourite: Magali Cormier
Always on the court, Magali certainly has the advantage in the draw as far as practice time goes. The only thing that may derail her run to the title is a mid-week excursion to Hay River for the Territorial Track Meet, but if she can return from the three day layoff in top form, she should be a tough draw for anyone.
The Dark Horse: Lara Lewis
With the Whitehorse contingent noticeably absent from the Year-End draw this year, the pressure for a strong showing from the Territory to the west falls squarely on Lewis’ shoulders. Again, it’s difficult to predict how she will finish given her lack of exposure in the NWT, but Whitehorse competitors are notoriously difficult outs in the Year End (sandbaggers? I kid, I kid.), and Lewis could be a threat to give Whitehorse a division win, even when they skip out on the tournament. Gah.
The Sentimental Favourite: Sarah Nesbitt
Nesbitt looks to prep for her Canada Games debut with a win at this year’s Year End, and she certainly has the game to do it. A strong squash base, a cardio advantage, and a tournament opening win are just three advantages Nesbitt takes into the weekend as she attempts to become just the second junior from Yellowknife to breach Ladies A in the last 10 years (at least).
Men’s B
This year’s Men’s B draw has a bit of an out-of-town feel to it, as three players from outside Yellowknife will contest for the crown along with 10 YK’ers. Francois Roussow has to be the clear favourite, as he was the runner-up last year and has the most experience against players at this level out of anyone in the draw (not a dig, just stating the facts). Personal Trainer Paul Shearme will hope to use his fitness to take him to the top, and last year’s Men’s C winner Jeff McPherson looks to make it two in a row with a win this year.
The Favorite: Francois Roussow
Last year’s runner-up returns to finally win the Men’s B title that’s eluded him for so long, and this year, he has a very real chance to do it. Consistency is the only thing that’s stopping Roussow from being an A level player, and it’s certainly possible that this is the week it all comes together.
The Dark Horse: Kevin O’Keefe
Deline’s favourite squash player returns again to contest the Year End. It is very difficult to peg down out-of-towners, but O’Keefe has had some good results at previous Year Ends and could be a tough out.
The Sentimental Favourite: Gary Kamitomo
How can you not root for Kamitomo? Certainly in the running for sweatiest player of the tournament, Kamitomo continues in his quest to catch his son Travis as he attempts to move up the Racquet Club’s squash ladder. Lots of matches against Men’s Open standout Travis can’t hurt, either.
Ladies A
Ladies A is one of the more intriguing draws in this year’s tournament. At the top of the draw appears to be a potential showdown between McMaster University Varsity squash player Katie Buck and Vancouver transfer Niki Radziminski, but standing in their way are a host of credible contenders from Yellowknife, including perennial top finishers Charmaine Wilson, Paula Harker, and Catherine Ardiles, as well as Iqaluit’s Aleta Marriott.
The Favourite: Katie Buck
Do you want to bet against a varsity squash player? I didn’t think so.
The Dark Horse: Charmaine Wilson
Perennially finishing in the top 5 in Ladies A, Wilson should be there at the end again this year. A consistent, solid all-round game can be trouble for anyone in any division on the right night.
The Sentimental Favourite: Crystal Saunders
Inuvik’s lone entry in the tournament is the first NWT woman outside of Yellowknife to compete in Ladies A in a very long time. Saunders is relatively green compared to the majority of her competitors when it comes to top tournament competition and may be a year away, but certainly has the tools and drive to surprise some people this year.
Mens A
Perhaps the year-after-year tournament leader when it comes to entertainment value, Men’s A is where the Year End’s intensity level really starts to heat up. This year’s draw is particularly interesting, as junior Steven Nesbitt attempts to join Travis Kamitomo and Chad and Devin Hinchey in Open with a strong performance, while perennial runner-up Brent Hinchey attempts to finally get over the hump. Greg Kinloch could also emerge as a strong contender based on his win over Devin Hinchey last year, and Harold Wilson has some experience in Open and certainly has the tools to win it all.
The Favourite: Brent Hinchey
Sorry Steven, and I promise I’m not doing this just because he’s my dad. Looking at past performances, Hinchey has to be in strong consideration for the victory every year at the Year End, even though it hasn’t happened yet. You could pencil him into the final based on the fact that he’s gotten there for the last few consecutive years. The only knock on Hinchey are his injury woes – a long tournament with multiple matches in a short period of time seems to be his downfall year after year. With a fairly manageable Thursday/Saturday/Sunday sked this time around, this could be the year it finally all comes together.
The Dark Horse: Harold Wilson
He’s won it before, and he can certainly win it again – Harold has spent some time in Open in the past, and although inactivity has brought him back to the A division, he has shown he can win against top competition.
The Sentimental Favourite: Uwe Naeher
A longtime Yellowknifer who recently made the move to Africa, it would be fun to see Uwe win just so The Club could say it had a champion from another continent.
Masters Division
The following three “exhibition” divisions are short on competitors but long on talent, and so I won’t be picking winners in them. The 50+ “Masters” division is always one of the more entertaining watches at the Year End, and this year should be no exception. Hugh Richardson returns to defend his title, and should be the favourite to do so, but will be challenged by Wayne Nesbitt and Don Bruce, from Prince George. Dave Macpherson possesses potentially the best hands in the Racquet Club and is an absolute treat to watch as well (plus he makes for some great trash talk).
Ladies Exhibition
Debuting this year, the Ladies Exhibition draw features a top-notch collection of Canadian squash talent. On paper, the favourite to win is clearly Calgary’s Susie King, the number 3 ranked woman in the nation, but she will be tested by Kelsey Souchereau, the number 11 ranked player in Canada. Juniors Kensie Balch, from Edmonton, who recently finished third at junior nationals, and local standout Pooja Chugh, the recently crowned Sport North athlete of the year, round out the field. Expect some face paced, incredible squash, the way it is meant to be played. The spectators are the real winners here, as I encourage everyone to come out and watch some squash at a level you don’t normally get to see north of 60.
Men’s Exhibition
As indicated above, the Exhibition draws are an incredible chance to see some world-class squash in Yellowknife. The Men’s exhibition draw features returning champ Thomas Brinkman from Prince George, British Columbia, who is currently ranked 13th in the nation. Looking to take his crown will be 9th ranked Matt Serediak from Toronto, who makes his Year End debut. Rounding out the field are local pro and standout Allan Cook and Jay Giachino, respectively, tournament mainstay Matt Grigg and a local qualifier from the Open division. Again, the wildly varying levels of play between participants here renders predictions unnecessary, but expect some incredible matches over the weekend that will leave the spectators buzzing.
Men’s Open
The final division in the tournament (as well as the one I will be participating in) is Men’s Open, where 12 participants will vie for the title this year. The field is more full than usual, and you can expect some great matches, family grudges, and the potential passing of the torch to the young guns. As I am participating in the tournament, I have chosen not to make predictions, however, view my breakdown of all the participants here.So there you have it! You are now sufficiently prepped for the squash portion of the Racquet Club Year End Tournament! I strongly suggest that you come out and check out the action, even if you aren’t playing, as The Club will be buzzing with activity all week. Check out more information here.See you there!
As part of my coverage of this week’s Year End Squash Tournament at the Racquet Club, I will be breaking down all of the division and offering up some predictions. My predictions for the other divisions can be found here, however, as I am participating in the Men’s Open draw, I have chosen not to make predictions. Instead, then, is a short breakdown of all the participants, as well as their “keys to victory” this week. As well, the tournament draws are available on The Racquet Club’s website:
Martin Deschenes (Squash NWT Rank: 9)
The “newest” non-junior to join the Men’s Open ranks, Martin has taken a very strong badminton base and an incredible work ethic and turned it into a meteoric rise up the ranks (even representing the NWT at the Men’s Teams this year). The key to victory for Martin this week is positional control: if he can keep himself in the center of the court and his opponent behind him, he will be able to utilize his extremely strong drop shot to maximum effectiveness.
Travis Kamitomo (Squash NWT Rank: 11)
Concurrently, Travis is the “newest” junior player to Men’s Open. The 17 year old Kamitomo, a Canada Games veteran (he went a very respectable 3-4) doesn’t have the flash of his likely 2011 Games teammates Chad and Devin Hinchey, however, solid fundamentals and patience are his two biggest weapons. Kamitomo has very good fitness and can dig into long rallies with any player in this draw, and his 5 game match with Chad Hinchey in the first round of the qualifier proves that he can beat any of them too. Travis’ key to victory is his patience: its when he starts going for crazy winners that he gets in trouble. It’s not flashy, but playing a bread and butter diagonal squash game will win the match for Kamitomo more often than not.
Spider Jones (Squash NWT Rank: 3)
The highest ranked player in the Open draw, as well as the player most likely (by rank) to end up in the Exhibition draw through the qualifier is former Club pro Spider Jones. Jones, a cerebral squash player, has a lot of tricks up his sleeve that do not appear in conventional squash games, and is able to fool most Yellowknife players with them, but what really sets him apart is his ability to read his opponent. The next time you watch Spider play, watch how he moves when his opponent is hitting the ball – it’s like he knows where it is before it even comes off their racquet. The key to the week for Jones, then, is to maximize his opportunities – his style of play ensures he will get some chances to put it away. Other key to victory: the “let” face.
Brooke Harker (Squash NWT Rank: 6)
I’ll have to admit that I was a little surprised to see Brooke ranked this low, but injuries as well as the surge of juniors have pushed him down the ladder a little bit. Brooke, though, as he is every year, is a threat to win the entire tournament for a _th time (I’ve lost count of how many he’s won thus far), and how well he’s recovered from his hurt back will likely determine how he finishes. Key to victory for Brooke is forcing his opponent to play down his forehand side – he has the best forehand in the draw (likely in the entire tournament), and a healthy dose of it can humble any opponent.
Kirk White (Squash NWT Rank: 13)
Relatively new to the Yellowknife squash scene, Kirk White will attempt to make a splash at his second year end tournament (I think it’s his second). Possessing a solid all-round game, what really sets Kirk apart from the field is his power, and therefore his key to victory is location: if he can find that spot on the wall to hit his full-speed dying length, then he will be very successful, if not, the ball will be coming out of the back and into his opponent’s wheelhouse. The charter court may hinder White more than any other player in the draw, as the extra heat in the room will put a bit more zip on the ball, something that may make it difficult for him to hit his best shots.
Chad Hinchey (Squash NWT Rank: 4)
My little brother Chad, the second highest ranked player in the tournament, is likely the most well-rounded as well, and his fitness in the draw will be second to none. A favourite to qualify for exhibition, as well as the Open defending champion, the keys to victory for Chad will be consistency: if he can keep his head in the game, nobody can hang with him, if not, all bets are off. He would also do well drawing matches out in order to take advantage of his less-fit counterparts (myself included). Make no mistake, though, if it is Spider who goes through to the Exhibition draw, Chad is a heavy favourite to win Open, as he doesn’t have any real holes in his game.
Devin Hinchey (Squash NWT Rank: 5)
My other little brother Devin, AKA the 14 year old who beat me yesterday, is the third highest ranked player in the draw, and is coming off of an incredible year on the Canadian circuit that saw his national ranking match his Squash NWT one (5th in his age category). Devin, like Chad, likely possesses a fitness advantage over most of his opponents, as well as a skills advantage, and the key to victory this week will be to keep his head in the game. He does have a tendency to lag every once in a while, but if he can consistently play strong squash rather than “smash and dash” or “old man squash,” he has a very real chance to become the youngest Men’s Open winner in Year End history.
Fred Talen (Squash NWT Rank: 12)
Last year’s third place finisher, Talen is one of the more well-rounded men in the draw, with every aspect of his game being solid, but not spectacular. Talen wins his matches by capitalizing on his opponents mistakes, and therefore his key to victory is to minimize the mistakes he makes himself. An error-free match from Talen usually equals a win, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t this week either.
Claudio Ardiles (Squash NWT Rank: 7)
Last year’s runner-up, Ardiles has improved his game by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. However, his bread and butter remains the same: stay in the match by retrieving and hitting solid length until his opponent makes a mistake. His fantastic cardio allows him to do this against most opponents, and players are forced to make winning shots in order to score points against Claudio, otherwise, he will simply retrieve them. His key to victory this weekend, then, is his shot selection – keeping players away from advantageous situations will give them less of a chance to put the ball away from him, lengthening the rallies and giving him the advantage.
John Buck and Jeremie Roy (Calgary and Edmonton)
The two out-of-town participants in Men’s Open, John and Jeremie are both young players who will be looking to take it to the men. While I don’t know much about their games, the key to victory for a junior squash player against someone who doesn’t play “fundamental” squash is to simply do that against them: sticking to a game plan when someone is smashing it at you is harder than you think, and if these guys can do it, they will be successful.
Garrett Hinchey (Squash NWT Rank: 14)
Finally, we come to me. And although I will tell you that my ranking is a bit low (I haven’t participated in a ranking tournament since last year’s Year End), my lack of playing time has made me somewhat of a wild-card this year. I won’t divulge my keys to victory as I don’t want the other players to know what to do against me. So HA.
Good luck solving this puzzle.
Anyway, there you have it! Hope you all have a great time this week, if you aren’t playing, stop by the Racquet Club on the weekend for some cheap beer and great squash! See you there!
UFC 114: Main Card Breakdown
As promised, below is my breakdown of the five main card fights for UFC 114, headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans. You can find my “quick picks” for the preliminary fights here.
Welterweight Bout: Diego Sanchez (21-3) vs John Hathaway (12-0)
The first fight of the Pay-Per-View portion of the card pits original Ultimate Fighter winner and recent lightweight title challenger Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez against undefeated, up-and-coming Englishman John “The Hitman” Hathaway. Sanchez, 10-3 in the UFC and 8-2 at welterweight, is returning to the division in which he made his mark in the promotion following an extremely one-sided beatdown at the hands of former lightweight champ B.J. Penn in December. This is Hathaway’s 4th fight with the UFC, and his first on U.S. soil, after besting Paul Taylor at UFC 105 in England, Rick Story at UFC 99 in Germany, and Tom Egan at UFC 93 in Ireland, and although he has proven himself to be a top-notch prospect at 170, Sanchez represents a significant step up in competition.
The "Yes" Cartwheel should help propel Sanchez to a successful return to 170.
As impressive or unimpressive as you thought Sanchez looked as a lightweight, the fact remains that the only fights he has lost as a welterweight are to former title contenders (and consensus top-4 welterweights) Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, both because Sanchez lacked the wrestling to stop the two AKA standouts from imposing their will and working top control. Simply put, Sanchez is not a strong submission artist from his back, and his ability to scramble and get back to his feet from underneath his opponent will be put to the test again against Hathaway, one of the few standout fighters from the U.K. that actually counts wrestling among their strengths.
However, Sanchez has time and again proven that he eats mediocre to mid-level wrestlers for breakfast. His strong power-striking, takedown ability, and dynamic top-control game mean that Diego Sanchez fights are rarely boring, and his ever-coming forward style should be enough against Hathaway, who is simply too green at this point in time to deal with a competitor as seasoned as Sanchez. At this point in his career, Sanchez should only be fighting top-10 welterweights, something that Hathaway is not at this point in time, though he certainly shows the potential to one day be one.
With great risk comes great reward, and a win over Sanchez will rocket the young “Hitman” up the welterweight ranks. However, this fight will be simply too much, too soon, for the young Brit. Look for this fight to closely mimic the recent Sanchez-Guida fight, as Hathaway’s rough striking, combined with his inability to keep Sanchez on his back for long periods of time create wild exchanges and scrambles that should make this a “fight of the night” contender. Unfortunately for Hathaway, though, Guida did not win that fight, and he is not seasoned enough to win this one either.
Sanchez – UD
Light Heavyweight Bout – Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3) vs Jason Brilz (18-2-1)
The biggest mismatch on paper that a UFC main card has seen in some time pits Antonio Rogerio “Minotoro” Nogueira against Jason Brilz, a late replacement for Co-Main Event headliner Forrest Griffin. Brilz is 3-1 in the UFC, with victories over Eric Schafer and Tim Boetsch and a loss to Ultimate Fighter vet Eliot Marshall dotting is resume, while Nogueira, brother to former UFC Interim Heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, is 1-0 inside the Octagon after a quick knockout of contender Luis Cane in his UFC debut. However, despite their similar records, Nogueira, a consensus top-3 light heavyweight, has fought far more difficult competition after spending the majority of his career in Pride Fighting Championships, where he defeated the likes of Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, and current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem (twice). Brilz has compiled his record largely in smaller regional promotions across the U.S. and Canada.
Don't sleep on Nogueira, who is a future title challenger.
This is a classic trap fight for Nogueira, who is at most two fights away from a title shot and potential rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Although most likely overmatched in every area, Brilz is a very tough, durable competitor, and suffering a flash knockout like he did at the hands of Sokodjou in Pride will pose a significant setback in Minotoro’s quest for UFC gold. However, with a talented camp at Black House that includes the likes of Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, and his brother Minotauro, don’t expect Nogueira to take this fight lightly, as his former experience with Sokoudjou will likely remind him of what happens when an obvious “easy win” is approached as one.
Stylistically speaking, this fight is problematic for Brilz no matter where it goes. Nogueira is both a high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a medalist in boxing at the Pan-Am games, and is one of the most well-rounded fighters not only in the light heavyweight division, but in the sport, period. Brilz’s only potential advantage in this fight lies in his wrestling, however, Nogueira was able to keep much more accomplished wrestlers like Vladimir Matyushenko and Sakuraba on the feet long enough to win fights (a knockout in the case of Matyushenko), and so Brilz should pose little challenge. Further, if Brilz is able to get Nogueira on his back, he possesses the best guard in the light-heavyweight division, and is a serious threat to submit anyone off his back.
No disrespect to Brilz, who has major cajones to take a fight with an opponent on the level of Nogueira on less than a month’s notice after more well-known contenders such as Jon Jones turned it down, but he is simply outmatched in every area. Expect a quick night, as Nogueira will not mess around and let Brilz pull a massive upset.
Nogueira – TKO – R1
Heavyweight Bout: Todd Duffee (6-0) vs Mike Russow (12-1)
The third Pay-Per-View fight of the night pits heavyweight golden boy and holder of the quickest knockout in UFC history Duffee against the tough veteran wrestler Mike Russow. This fight, first scheduled for UFC 102, should be a good gauge of what we can expect in the future from the inexperienced but incredibly talented Duffee, whose UFC career to this point has lasted all of 7 seconds. Russow, coming off a decision win over Justin McCully in his UFC debut, is a gritty veteran who will almost certainly show the world what exactly Duffee is capable of doing off of his back.
The answer to this question will likely decide the fight, as Russow’s game plan is no secret: take down Duffee and hold him there for as long as possible. Messing around with the obvious power of the 260 pound Duffee is a proposition that will likely leave all but the strongest of chins on the floor, as Tim Hague found out in less than 10 seconds in Duffee’s Octagon debut, and it is likely that as soon as the fight begins Russow will shoot for a takedown. Duffee’s chances to win will be based on his ability to land his power strikes before Russow is able to complete his shot, and his ability to get back up from off the ground when he is inevitably put there.
Want to beat Todd Duffee? Better not let him hit you.
Simply put, Duffee will win this fight as long as he can keep it on the fight for a reasonable period of time. Although Russow is tough and has a good chin, Duffee has power on the Shane Carwin/Brock Lesnar level, and it may be lights-out for Russow as soon as he’s touched by the massive prospect. Although Russow certainly has the skills to grind out a decision, it is unlikely that he will go 15 minutes without making a mistake and allowing Duffee to pounce at least once, likely all that he needs to get a stoppage victory.
Duffee – TKO – R2
Middleweight Bout: Michael Bisping (18-3) vs Dan Miller (11-3)
The night’s co-main event pits TUF winner and brash Brit Michael “The Count” Bisping against jersey boy Dan Miller. Bisping, 8-3 within the UFC, has had an up and down last few bouts, sandwiching a win against Denis Kang with losses against Pride standouts Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva. Miller is 3-2 within the promotion, losing his last two bouts to title challenger Demian Maia and current number one contender Chael Sonnen.
This fight is a fairly cut-and-dry striker vs grappler matchup, as Bisping will attempt to pick Miller apart with punches while Miller’s game plan will consist of driving Bisping to the mat and looking to secure a submission using his unique power jiu-jitsu game. Although Bisping is certainly the more accomplished of the two within the UFC, his style is one that an offensive grappler like Miller seems primed to exploit; he’s been susceptible to takedowns in his previous fights with accomplished grapplers like Rashad Evans and Matt Hamill, and does not possess the same submission acumen as the tough Miller. A two-fight losing streak usually means a fighter is likely looking at another loss when faced with a contender, however both Sonnen (one of the best wrestlers in MMA) and Maia (potentially the best submission grappler in MMA) were opponents uniquely prepared to deal with Miller on the mat. Bisping is not.
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The durable Miller is a threat to pull the upset.
However, reviewing the Maia fight makes the prediction for this one far less cut and dry. Miller, afraid to go to the ground and risk being submitted, was thoroughly outboxed by Maia, a fighter who until recently was known for having a sub-par stand-up game. Bisping’s striking is certainly more reformed than Maia’s, and he should be able to pick Miller apart on the feet as long as he maintains range; a clinch for Miller will mean a likely takedown and potential submission.
Miller is certainly not only the same level as wrestlers Evans and Hamill, however, his strategy should mirror that by those two when facing Bisping; close the distance as fast as possible and secure a takedown. Bisping, quick on his feet, should be able to circle away and pepper Miller with shots from range, and will likely not risk following him to the mat unless he connects with a big punch. From afar, this fight is a toss-up, with perhaps a slight edge being given to Bisping because of his previous experience. However, I’ll take Miller with the upset, as he finally manages to secure a strong position in a later round and wrenches Bisping’s neck with a vicious guillotine choke, leaving Bisping again looking for answers.
Miller – SUB – R3
Light Heavyweight Bout – Quinton Jackson (30-7) vs. Rashad Evans (14-1-1)
Finally!
In the night’s main event, one of the more vicious wars of words in recent memory comes to a head, as Jackson and Evans, former UFC light heavyweight champions and coaches of The Ultimate Fighter 10, finally square off. Besides the obvious pride and bragging rights at stake in this bout, the winner will be given the first shot at newly-minted light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua, giving the fight added significance.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, fresh off reprising Mr. T’s role as B.A. Baracus in the film re-make of “The A-Team,” is 5-1 in his UFC career, with his lone loss being a controversial decision to Forrest Griffin. Evans is 9-1-1 in the promotion, his one blemish coming in defence of the light heavyweight title to Lyoto Machida. Both fighters have staged a war of words which commenced during filming of The Ultimate Fighter and have continued for over a year now, creating a storm of anticipation for this bout that rivals most title fights.
Beyond the trash talking, though, lies a fight which is extremely intriguing in its own right. The final result of this bout hinges largely on how Rampage, who has not fought in 14 months, handles the long layoff brought on from the filming of “The A-Team.” Had the fight happened at UFC 107, as first scheduled, Rampage would likely be a heavy favourite; as it is now, what kind of shape he comes in is anybody’s guess.
Evans, though, has no such worries. Working with the all-star team at Jackson’s MMA means that Evans is always in the gym with top competition, whether training for a fight himself or helping his partners train for upcoming bouts, and he should arrive in top-notch shape. Instead, the question surrounding Evans is whether or not he will continue to rely on his questionable boxing, rather than use his strong wrestling base, an area which he should have an advantage over Jackson.
Although “Sugar” has recently produced a highlight reel knockout of Chuck Liddell, it is worth noting that the aging Liddell won the first round on the feet, as did Forrest Griffin (won the first 2 rounds) in their encounter. Neither of these strikers possess the combination of technicality and power that Jackson does in his hands, and if Rashad chooses to box, there is a very good chance that Rampage will finish the fight early. If Evans continuously attempts take downs and tries to drag the fight into the later rounds, though, Jackson’s (potentially) questionable cardio brought on by his long layoff will play a larger factor in the fight, giving Evans the clear advantage even if he is not always successful in bringing Jackson to the mat.
The major key to this fight, though, lies with Jackson. If he returns in the same shape that he was in when he left the UFC to act, he should be able to finish Evans, if not, he’s likely to lose in some way. Bet on either a Jackson TKO or an Evans decision win, but to be completely honest, the fight is a toss-up until we see how Jackson looks in the cage. The winner of this fight should be obvious within the first minute or so, however, for now, I’ll pick Jackson simply because I can’t stand Rashad.
Jackson – TKO – R1
UFC 114: Prelim Quick Picks
Happy Friday everyone!
Following my sub-par showing with my UFC 113 picks, I strongly considered hanging up my MMA prognostication hat for good. However, I certainly don’t consider myself a quitter, and so, following the advice of the film (as well as the title of the film) Never Back Down, I, too, will not back down. Following are my quick-picks for the preliminary fights of this weekend’s UFC 114 card, headlined by the grudge match between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and “Sugar” Rashad Evans. My more detailed breakdowns of all the main-card fights are up as well, you can find them here. Enjoy!
Middleweight Bout: Ryan Jensen (14-6) vs Jesse Forbes (10-4)
In a “loser leaves town” match, Ultimate Fighter 3 Finalist Forbes takes on Ryan Jensen for a spot in the UFC’s ever-improving middleweight division. Forbes, for all the time he’s spent in the UFC, is still largely a one-dimensional wrestler, while Jensen has a much more diverse arsenal of offensive weapons. By all accounts, Forbes should use his strength and wrestling ability to grind out a decision, however, he has proven reliant on his hands in the past and has nothing but TKO losses to show for it. Expect Jensen to take advantage of a stubborn Forbes and put him away, however, Forbes has the ability to easily win this fight if he uses his wrestling.
Jensen – TKO – R3
Lightweight Bout: Joe Brammer (7-1-1) vs Aaron Riley (28-11-1)
If you are a gatekeeper in the UFC, every once in a while, you will be given a “gimme” fight by the promotion, and Brammer is Riley’s Christmas present. A green striker who was thoroughly outboxed by Mark Bocek, who is known as a one-dimensional grappler, Brammer is simply not ready for the veteran Riley’s strong standup and clinch game. A stoppage for Riley is the pick here, and with it, a sentence to the minor leagues of MMA for Brammer.
Riley – TKO – R1
Light Heavyweight Bout: Luis Cane (10-2) vs Cyrille Diabate (16-6-1)
The twice-beaten Cane takes on French K1 striker Cyrille Diabate in an intruiging light heavyweight matchup in the third preliminary fight. Spectators will be expecting a stand-up bout full of fireworks when these two enter the cage, however, Cane is best suited to win by taking down Diabate and working his rarely-used, but still strong, ground game. Although I do not believe Cane is a top 10 light-heavyweight (when your best win is Sokoudjou, you shouldn’t be sniffing the top 10), as many suggest, he should have enough to get by Diabate as long as he can close the distance on the 6’6” kickboxer and bring him to the ground. Cane does not want to be on the preliminary card, and we will see that desperation in this fight as he locks up a neat-and-tidy submission win.
Contender Cane should return to form against Diabate.
Cane – SUB – R1
Lightweight Bout: Melvin Guillard (23-8-2) vs Waylon Lowe(8-2)
Originally scheduled to fight Thiago Tavares, the surging Guillard takes on short-notice UFC newcomer Waylon Lowe. In wrestling terms, this fight looks like a typical “squash match,” and Guillard’s newfound discipline gained in working with Greg Jackson should pay off again as he wins an easy decision over the out-of-his-league Lowe.
Guillard – UD
Lightweight Bout: Efrain Escudero (13-1) vs Dan Lauzon (12-3)
In the first of two fights scheduled to be shown live on Spike TV, Ultimate Fighter winner Escudero faces “The Upgrade” in a battle of two top lightweight prospects. Escudero, blessed with strong wrestling and KO power, is difficult to face on anybody’s best day, and Lauzon’s recent struggles with his training camp (including his brother Joe), resulting in him leaving his gym and not bringing cornermen with him to the fight, will only complicate things. Lauzon at his best would be hard pressed to compete with Escudero, and a distracted Lauzon will only mean one thing: Escudero is going to shut his lights off.
Escudero – KO – R1
Welterweight Bout: Amir Sadollah (3-1) vs Dong Hyun Kim (12-0-1)
The final preliminary fight of the night matches up Ultimate Fighter winner Sadollah with unbeaten Korean judoka Dong Hyun “Stun Gun” Kim. Although Amir is most certainly the more well known of the two fighters, Kim, a borderline top-10 welterweight, represents a huge step up in competition for the still-green fighter. If we learned anything from his performance on the show, though, it’s that Sadollah is nothing if not durable, and he will be able to hang in there with Kim’s relentless takedowns and ground attack. However, unlike his opponents on TUF, Kim is too well-versed on the ground to allow Sadollah to snatch a hail-mary submission, and should win a relatively easy decision. Chalk up another W for the toughest guy on the planet named “Dong.”
Kim – UD
So there you have it – my prelim picks for UFC 114. Check back soon for a detailed breakdown of the main card. ‘Till then!
Jass’s Nook: Hangovers
Hi everyone! “Cutten’s Corner” writer and regular contributor Joe Cutten has the week off, so in his place, we have a special guest: mysterious blogger “H. Jass,” with “Jass’s Nook.”
Guest blogger H. Jass is bringing the knowledge.
What up blog readers? Filling in for Joe Cutten this week, today’s feature will focus on the dreaded…hangover. Beer before liquor, never been sicker. We’ve all been there, where the morning can’t be done soon enough. The day is a write off and all you can manage to do is lie on the couch and watch a CSI marathon, even when it’s CSI Miami.
Instead of just ranting about how difficult it is to deal with a hangover, I’ll discuss some of the different types. Now, I’m no scientist, but it seems that different types of alcohol give you different effects the next morning. This article focuses on four common types of hangover and what it is that causes them:
“This Isn’t Bad, Then a Half-Hour Later it Feels Like You Got Hit By A Train.”
Cause: Light Beer
This one reminds me of the girl at the bar who seems like she may be into you, then right before it goes anywhere, you’re left disappointed… she’s a tease. This type of hang over is more or less the same thing: you wake up after a hard night, knowing that the day is likely going to suck, assess your situation (who you drunk dialled, how much you spent at the bar), and then you think to yourself: “Hey, I’m feeling pretty okay! Today is going to be a good day.” For a while, you just lay in bed, thinking about how the previous night was glorious or how dumb you feel, and then, finally, you get up. Miraculously, everything is still okay! Feeling like your body has given you a chance to do something with the day, you turn on the TV, flip through the channels (“Nice! Mantracker’s on!”), and then, all of a sudden, it hits you. Your head begins to hurt and your stomach starts to churn. You think to yourself: “Why is this happening now? Why couldn’t I just be like before?” but to be honest, it’s no surprise. You can’t dodge the inevitable. This hangover reminds me of the scene in the Matrix where the Agent dodges a barrage of bullets then Trinity walks up beside him, presses the gun to his head, and says “Dodge this.”
Just when you thought you were in the clear...
Rating: (1 being not bad and 10 being unbearable) I give this a 5. At least there were a few minutes of peace.
”I am Still Too Drunk to Drive”
Cause: Drink special of the night; cheap tequila shots
Just like Charlie Sheen can't run from Alan and bowling shirts, you can't run from being drunk.
Although this hardly ever happens, it does occur sometimes, and there’s nothing like it. You wake up, and the room is still spinning. You test the waters by taking a few steps before coming to the inevitable conclusion: “Yup. Still drunk.” This is usually the case when the last thing you remember is puking at the bar. The worst part of this “hangover” is that there is no cure for being drunk. Sadly, the best thing you can do in this situation is just hold on and ride it out. It’s like the brother that moves in for a little while and never leaves. The savage parting shot of this “hangover” is that once you finally feel like you’re back to normal, the real hangover begins.
Rating: 8. Being drunk in the middle of night is one thing, but being drunk in the afternoon the next day is never pleasant.
“I Can’t Even Hold Down Water”
Cause: Any sweet flavoured liquor: Butter Ripple Schnapps
Ah, you naive old man in pajamas. If only it were that simple.
Buying the bottle of Dr. Migillicuddy Lemon Drop Schnapps may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but it is not pleasant the next day. Waking up, you feel like your stomach is going to explode. You can feel the curdling, constant rumbling and unbearable nausea. An attempt to drink water is followed by… well, you get the idea. The thought of food isn’t even worth contemplating. Seemingly, there is no cure. It’s going to be a tough day. The proper way to deal with this situation is just to hope that it isn’t a two dayer, and refrain from physical activity, as this will only bring out the smell of alcohol, which, at this point, is the last thing you want to smell.
Rating: 10. Just be thankful it wasn’t Hot 100, burns on the way down and even worse one the way up. Hopefully none gets in your nose.
“It Sounds Like My Head is Keeping a Beat”
Cause: Cheap Wine: 3L box was a bad choice
Finally, we come to the dreaded hangover headache. This feels like you’ve been bonked on the head, and it just won’t stop throbbing, like in the cartoons. Light and loud noises are never pleasant, and it feels like every move only compounds the situation. However, thankfully, there are cures for a headache. A couple of extra strength Advil and the day suddenly goes from devastating to bearable. Some of the worst possible scenarios for the hangover headache: driving over speed bumps, running down stairs, flying, any sport that involves jumping and quick movements (volleyball, basketball, squash, hurdles), a complicated science lecture.
Rating: 6. Goes up to an 8 if any strenuous activity is required, goes down to a 3 if a nap is a possibility at any point during the morning or early afternoon.
Yep, it sucks that much.
The best cure for a hangover is to simply not drink the night before, but, as a wise man once said: “Let’s get serious.” Like Forrest Gump said: “sometimes life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Unfortunately, after a long night of drinking, you’ll be sitting on a bench waiting for the bus with one shitty box.
Over and Out,
H. Jass
DISCLAIMER: This article was written for entertainment purposes only. Neither H. Jass, nor Garretthinchey.com endorse or recommend large consumptions of alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Also, if your dealing with car keys, then you better leave yourself at the bar please. No Chances, don’t drink and drive.
Thanks for the Memories, Lost
Last Sunday was a landmark day in my life: sure, it marked the 20th anniversary of my birth, but, more importantly, it was also the setting for the series finale of Lost, the phenomenal science fiction series about a group of plane crash survivors marooned on a mysterious island. Now that the journey is finally over, I do have a few thoughts on the finale, as well as the series as a whole:
So long, guys. It's been fun.
Note. If you are not a fan of Lost, you will likely not be able to understand most of what I am saying. For this, I’m sorry. Also, if you are watching Lost and haven’t yet watched the finale, major, major SPOILER ALERT.
Now, on to Sunday’s finale, appropriately titled “The End.” Going into the episode, I was a tad sceptical that the writers of the show could possibly tie up all of the loose ends that they left throughout the show’s run, even with an extended 2 and a half hour time frame. It turns out I was correct, as those who entered the finale looking for answers to all the mysteries of Lost and The Island likely left disappointed. However, I did quite enjoy the episode, and commend the writers for not focusing on appeasing the fans by answering as many questions as possible during the time frame, instead choosing to bring the story full-circle and resolving the individual stories of each of the characters (well, most of them, but I’ll get to that later).
A lot of critics have expressed disappointment with the “flash sideways” universe being a type of purgatory that allows all the main characters to congregate before they go to Heaven, but I personally think that this is perhaps the only way to successfully wrap up the alternate-reality timeline without completely trivializing the entire story. Lost has, throughout its entire six season run, steadily increased the fantastic elements in the show without crossing into the realm of the ridiculous (though it has come close), and ending the story with the characters meeting dopplegangers of themselves or something like that would have been a bit much. I also liked how it allowed all the characters to reunite with those they loved, closing all the relationship arcs in the story while also allowing for some clip-show esque retrospective (which, admittedly, made me a little emotional). The show is essentially character driven, and all the main characters were so well-developed that viewers genuinely felt for them when something bad happened. In this way, seeing all the principal characters meet their own happy ending was a nice way to cap the series.
The final confrontation on The Island was good as well, although it did have some shortcomings (which I will discuss in a second). We saw the demise of the Man and Black, Jack and Hurley (and Ben) finally realizing their destinies, and resolution was JUST stretched out enough that we remained in suspense until the final moments. Jack’s death mirroring the beginning of the series was a nice touch as well.
Now, on to the lists for the finale:
Things I Wish Were Answered
As I said before, I’m actually alright with the producers choosing not to answer some of the lingering questions left by the series, and that is evident with this list, which is largely teeny details that don’t really pertain to the story as a whole, instead sticking out like teeny needles in a haystack.
- What happened to Michael and Walt?
- The two were conspicuously absent from the gathering of characters at the end of the episode. I know that Walt has aged considerably and this stopped the producers from using him in many of the last few episodes, however, I felt like the two of them were major characters (certainly more major than Boone and Shannon) and deserved a resolution as well.
Walt, where art thou?
- What was the deal with Richard?
- Are we really supposed to believe that Richard, suddenly aging, chose to leave The Island without a second thought? Richard had been on the island for hundreds of years according to his flashback episode. What is he going to do in the real world? I was actually hoping he would die in the finale (but it would be a happy death, an “I’m finally free” kind of thing), and just throwing him on the plane seemed a bit forced.
- Why did Jack have a son in the alternate timeline?
- I really wish they would have explained David a bit more. Jack does not have a son, yet does in the alternate purgatory universe, and this seemed a little strange to me. I wish this was explained more clearly (maybe he’s not Jack’s son?)
- What happened to Sun and Jin’s kid?
- It really disappointed me when the two of them died on the submarine together. Aside from being one of the saddest moments I’ve ever seen on TV (although the last episode of House season 4 still takes the cake), the fact that they both willingly chose to leave a child parentless was a selfish decision, and didn’t really fit with the characters.
- What was Widmore doing on The Island?
- Never learning what exactly Jacob told Widmore was a big letdown, although it would probably have ruined the mystery of the show’s mythology, something that I am glad the producers didn’t answer. In fact, that deserves it’s own list/bullet.
Things I’m Glad Weren’t Answered
- The mythology of The Island
- Throughout the entire run of the show, a common motif was the battle between logic and faith. Leaving the final goals of the characters, as well as the purpose of the island, ambiguous even through the finale was something that showed the writers executed this perfectly, and I, for one, have no desire to find out what exactly was happening. Watching Jack accept that he will never know the purpose of his destiny, but still know what his destiny is, was a telling moment for the series. Plus, isn’t one of the best parts of Lost arguing about it the next day? How boring would it be if they just gave us the answers?
Random Things I Really Liked
- Sawyer and Juliet (and Jack and Kate)
- I had always thought that Sawyer would end up with Juliet, and I was glad to see I was proven right. Kate and Jack professing their love to one another was a very sad moment, though one of clarity, as it finally cleared up the love triangle that viewers had debated for years in a satisfying way.
- Hurley ending up as the new Jacob
- Hell, I even liked Ben ending up as the new Richard. This was more of a personal thing for me, as I “called” Hurley earlier in the season and am happy to have been proven right. His reluctant acceptance and tearful goodbye to Jack was the standout moment of the episode for me, though, and it was nice to see Ben, forever wanting to be connected to The Island in a meaningful way, getting his chance to do so.
- Jack acknowledging Locke was right:
- Jack defending Locke to the Man in Black was great to see, as it demonstrated Jack finally accepting that he was wrong, and that people really do have a purpose, even if that purpose is unclear. By the end of the story, Jack had essentially replaced Locke in the storyline, a phenomenal job of acting by Matthew Fox, and it was satisfying to see him defend his once-rival so vehemently.
- Jack counting to five at the start of the episode:
- Immediately after being given the power of Jacob, Jack closes his eyes and counts to five. I just liked the reference to the earlier episodes, as well as showing that he is not sure of himself, and is actually terrified of what he had just done. It showed a real emotional, human side to the character that quickly disappears when he is pressed into action and counted on to lead.
Random Things I Didn’t Really Like
- Sayid ending up with Shannon:
- This just felt contrived and like a bit of a cop-out to me. Sayid was in love with Nadia for the entire show, and then we find that his fling with Shannon on The Island produced the love of his life? It just seemed like they were trying to hook up as many of the characters as possible with this one.
- Jack and the Man in Black’s fight:
- Admittedly epic, while it lasted. I think the fight scene could definitely have been a bit longer and more climactic; Kate ending it with a gunshot and a cheesy line left me feeling cheated of what could have been a great moment.
All in all, though, I thought the finale did a really good job of what Lost has done well for six years: storytelling and character development. Staying away with forcefully answering questions left the ending feeling real and (in the crazy Lost universe) plausible, and was a fitting end to a wonderful series. Grade: A.As another bonus, here are a few quick best/worsts of the series as a whole (again, SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t watched the entire series):
BEST
- Episode: Season 1, Episode 4: “Walkabout”
This episode, which revealed to us for the first time that Locke was a paraplegic before crashing on The Island, helped set up the character for the entire series and was the first major “Wow” moment of Lost. After this episode, we knew that anything was possible for the characters and the series. Terry O’Quinn gave a brilliant performance as Locke in this episode as well, potentially the best performance by an actor in a single episode over the entire run of the series. (Honourable mention: Season 6, Episode 9: “Ab Aeterno,” the “Richard Alpert episode”)
- Characters: John Locke, Ben Linus
In a sea of complicated characters, these two stood out to me the most. Locke, while he was still Locke, was the most interesting character among the survivors, and the one who seemed to understand the most of what was going on. However, his slightly-crazy mystique kept his extremely interesting, and kept fans guessing as to what it was he exactly knew. His flashback sequences were incredible as well, full of emotion and deceit, and it was the unbelievable acting of Terry O’Quinn which made this character the signature one of the series.
Misunderstood and superbly acted, Locke and Linus were the two best characters of the series.
On the other side of the coin stands Ben Linus. Most likely the most confusing character of the entire series, viewers were constantly guessing the motivations of Linus to the very end. It took an incredibly performance by Michael Emerson to keep a character this devious and conniving believable as both a hero and a villain, while making his devotion to an Island completely believable, and in the end, we felt for Ben, even after all of the bad things he did over the series. (Honorable mentions: Desmond Hume, Sawyer Ford).
- A quick couple of bullets on characters while we’re here:
- Most important: Jack Shephard
- Best Bro-mance: Charlie and Hurley
- Favourite couple: Rose and Bernard (hon. Mention: Sun and Jin)
- Most hated: Martin Keany (hon. Mention: Anthony Cooper)
- Most Misunderstood: Man in Black
- Character I Wanted to Care About But Couldn’t: Kate Austen
- Best Bit Player: Christian Shephard
- Character I’m Sure Lots of People Hated but I Really Liked: Daniel Faraday
God, I hate that guy.
- Season: 1
How can you not choose Season 1? Essentially a 25 episode character study, Season 1 opened up possibilities we didn’t realize were there for a series that, upon first glance, appeared to be a Survivor rip-off. Learning the character’s motivations and backstories was an incredible experience, and Season 1 of Lost has to rank among the best seasons of TV of all time (honourable mentions: 2, 6).
WORST
- Episode: Season 3, Episode 14: “Expose”
This episode focused on survivors Nikki and Paulo. It was the first, and last episode to do so, and their backstory seemed like an excuse to kill off unpopular characters. However, this certainly did not require a full episode, as that seemed to indicate that perhaps the two were principal characters in the show, which was simply not true; I didn’t even know their names before the episode. Largely the only miss in the episode library of Lost (honourable mention: Season 3, episode 3: “Further Instructions,” Locke’s “Vision Quest” episode).
Yep, Locke totally trips out in "Further Instructions"
- Characters: Nikki and Paulo
Granted, it’s a bit of a cop-out, but these two characters served largely no purpose. Luckily, they only tormented us for 11 episodes.
Never did I think I would enjoy seeing two characters buried alive.
Honourable mentions in this category go to Michael, Mr. Eko and Libby. Michael seemed unlikeable from the start of the series, whether it was due to the way he treated his son, or his abrasive demeanor, and his backstory was hopeless and very sad, without the possibility of improvement (granted, this may be perhaps because he was developed for less than half the time the other main characters were). Mr. Eko and Libby were just weird (though admittedly it was cute to see Hurley with a girlfriend).
- Season: 3
Besides containing the aforementioned two worst episodes of the series, season 3 was where Lost began to take on the realm of the fantastic, and the transition was slightly awkward for a time, making this season uncomfortable to watch for periods (honourable mention: 4).
Anyways, there you have it: my thoughts on one of the most entertaining, original series of all time. Although I may be glad it ended when it did, I’m certainly also sad to see it go, and will be looking for a new drama/science fiction show to replace it in my weekly TV repertoire. If you have any recommendations let me know!
Also, to all the non-Lost fanatics out there, I’m sorry none of this made sense. Look forward to a bit more inclusive post tomorrow 
So Long, Lost.
