Dirty hits: what will it take to get them out of hockey?

This week, in lieu of completing a radio assignment, I did the sports news for 92.9 KICK-FM. One of the biggest stories of the week was New Jersey Devil's draft pick Patrice Cormier's suspension from the QMJHL for the nasty elbow he gave Mikael Tam of the Quebec Remparts.

Tam was left convulsing on the ice and was in the hospital for a few days with a bad concussion and missing teeth.

In case you haven't seen it, here's the hit (the announcer is French, but the video speaks for itself).



On Monday morning, it was announced that Cormier, who captained Team Canada at the World Juniors earlier this month, has been suspended for the rest of the QMJHL season, including playoffs.

Conflicting opinions flooded in following the suspension. Some think it was too severe, and that the league is using Cormier's high profile to send a message. Others think the league's tough penalty sends a good message to young players: no matter how good you are, you aren't above the law. Others have argued that Cormier should never play again.

Regardless of his intent (Cormier said the elbow was a reaction), it is an unfortunate situation for Cormier. The 19-year-old could miss up to 48 games, depending on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies' playoff run. Furthermore, he has developed the reputation of a goon (some will remember another elbow he threw at Swedish player Anton Rodin during World Junior round robin play), not a reputation that a skilled player needs heading into the NHL.

But seeing Tam convulsing on the ice leaves a pit in your stomach, and is a harsh reality check. These unnecessary injuries have no place in the game. We'll have to see whether Cormier's suspension sends a message, or whether junior hockey leagues need to find another way to tell players to play with respect.

"In the Chamber"

Review of TPM’s “In the Chamber”

January 14-16
Theatre Project’s Manitoba
Rachel Brown Theatre

Image from Theatre Projects Manitoba's facebook page.


Writing a monologue is not an easy feat. Neither is performing one. On Friday night at the Rachel Brown Theatre, Gordon Tanner and Steven Ratzlaff displayed their talent for both. The two men performed the two monologues they wrote on the same theme as part of Theatre Projects Manitoba’s “In the Chamber” series, the 2010 edition. “In the Chamber” was well-staged, well-acted, and well-written, but it fell flat in the end, mainly because of the length of the monologues.

The performance had a strange and disturbing start involving an older middle-aged man and a prostitute in a bedroom scene, but one can’t say it didn’t get peoples’ attention.

The scene then switched to Tanner’s monologue, "Last Man in Universe Alpha-11”. Tanner played an employee of a large farming corporation. His disillusioned character, in the midst of a breakdown, appeals to Warren Buffet, an omniscient presence, asking for help with a broken system. The situation that sets him off, a conflagration at a large factory pig farm on a Hutterite colony, provides a relevant (an politically motivated) example for his audience. His musings about how we need to break out of harmful capitalist systems turn existential at times as he attempts to deal with the angst he feels about the lack of control he has over his own life. He realizes, in the end, that he is the only one that can help himself and regain control.

After a brief intermission, the audience is introduced to Ratzlaff’s character in "Last Man in Puntarenas”. His scene takes place at a restaurant in celebration of his character’s birthday. He makes a very long speech to his invisible guests, and offends many with his uncensored comments that come out seemingly uncontrollably. The subject matter parallels Tanner’s monologue, as Ratzlaff’s character also attempts to escape a system that failed his family and has left him in emotional turmoil since. He also uses a local example, making his character the father of a child who died and whose case was investigated in Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre Pediatric Coronary Surgery Inquest. He also rebels against the system in the end, refusing to receive medical treatment for a suspicious lump on his body.

Both actors were fabulous in their monologues. One has to appreciate the talent it takes to, as one man, captivate the attention of an entire audience for over an hour with mainly just words. Without the energy of other actors to feed off of, and with the only conflict present on stage being internal, it would be difficult to maintain energy, focus, and purpose. But Tanner and Ratzlaff executed their roles very well.

The scripts themselves were also very well written. Tanner’s had a more economical use of words, however. Ratzlaff’s script did not have the same effect as it ended up being bogged down with too many details, no doubt a result of all the research he put into writing it. However, it took too long to get to the point of the monologue, and the ending suffered as a result, as the audience seemed to lose focus at the end of the nearly three-hour performance.

The staging was quite strong. The shabby motel setting of Tanner’s monologue was well-designed in its mute colors and simplicity. The staging of Ratzlaff’s monologue was done very artistically. His dinner guests were blank, white balloons tied to the chairs, and Tanner played the other physical character in the scene, the waiter, who removed the balloons as the dinner guests dissipated throughout the performance. It also allowed both actors to be onstage, sharing a drink. Having the physical presence of both actors onstage together tied the two monologues together well.

While I appreciated the concept of “In the Chamber”, the performances were too long. Because there was no physical interaction or external character conflict until the very end, the monologues needed to be shorter, as it is much more difficult to captivate an audience alone.

Cars, kindness, and CAA...

I got my car in April.

Honda had been calling over and over again, and I went in numerous times to look at used Civics, and my patience was wearing thin. Every single one I had looked at (a) had rust around the shocks because they came from down east, or (b) looked like a car only grandmothers want to drive.

But that one, fateful morning, I dragged myself out of bed before work, and there he was. My black, 4-door, automatic, Honda Civic with a sunroof and spoiler. I was in love.

I took him home the next day, and christened him Sid the Kid.

You see, he needed a name. My old car had a name, and it was a 1992 Honda Accord. But he was christened Prince William by a few of my friends and I when we took him on a 19-hour round trip to Flin Flon and back and he performed regally.

But my new car was young, sleek, and accelerated quickly. So I decided it was only fitting to name him after Sidney Crosby, my favorite hockey player.



Sid the Kid and I had a great nine months together. We made numerous trips between Killarney, Brandon, and Winnipeg. He is quick and agile and compact. I thought he could never let me down.

But this week, things went sour.

Monday night: I went to the school board meeting and came home to write my story for journalism, due at 8 am the next day.

Tuesday morning, 7am: I head out to my car to drive to school and hand in my story. I unlock the door. I put in the key and turn the engine.

Nothing. Well, not nothing. A bunch of weird, frightening noises, but no turn over.

That was our first fight.

Luckily, that night, a nice kind stranger stopped me in the parking lot and said he noticed I couldn't get my car started in the morning. Did I need a boost? I did, but I had no cables. So nice stranger from my building drove to his friend's house, picked up some cables, and came back and boosted my car.

I forgave Sid the Kid. It wasn't his fault. That happens to cars when lights get left on.

But then, the next night, I head to Sid the Kid to take him to the grocery store. I get in, turn on the engine, and nothing but the same weird, frightening noises.

But there were no lights on. Why Sid, why would you do this to me?

Luckily, my same neighbor was pulling into the parking lot at this time, and he boosted me again, but he told me he thought my battery was shot and I needed a new one.

Oh the betrayal I felt! But you know how it is. Cars are great. When they work. When they don't, they're a pain in the rear.



But last night, after I couldn't go for groceries, I turned on the TV and saw a commercial for CAA. If your battery died, they would come to your house and install a new one for you.

So today I called. And they did! Free of charge except for the price of the battery, which they gave me a discount on because I'm a CAA member. The whole thing was done in an hour.

And Sid the Kid is back up and running.

So thank you kind stranger from my building.

And thank you CAA.

You saved a very important relationship.


(Image from sportsillustrated.cnn.com)

Dove: Boosting self-esteem or branding with pseudo-event?

Our PR class has been discussing pseudo-events, or carefully constructed events or activities that exist for the sake of publicity for a brand. They are a clever PR tactic, because often the true purpose of the event is masked.

The past few years, Dove has hosted a "Sleepover for Self-Esteem" on a particular night of the year in which mom's were encouraged to host sleepovers for their daughters and their friends. The event has grown in popularity and scope each year.


Image from blog.canadianparents.com

The purpose of the annual sleepover, according to Dove, is to get young girls talking about self-esteem issues in a fun and comfortable environment. This past year, the W network and YTV even got involved, airing special programming for the event (with the Dove logo plastered all over it).

A special Dove website promoting the event suggests self-esteem building activities, party themes, and snack ideas. It also offers advice to mom's hosting the event (such as instituting a "No Put Down Zone") and tips for encouraging discussion about self-esteem issues.

Invitations could be downloaded from the website, free music could be downloaded by participants, and special pajama pants were given out with the purchase of Dove products.

News of the event spread quickly, as it seemed to stem naturally from Dove's extremely successful "Campaign for Real Beauty".

However, the event really did not occur spontaneously - it has been staged. And why would Dove go to all that work of developing the event, crafting its interactive website, and partnering with television networks?

Because it's great, cheap publicity for Dove. Even though it has no real merit, it gets media coverage. And the Dove brand shines like a beacon of hope for all girls and women with self-esteem and body issues.

Oh yeah, and they sell more product. The pseudo-event has been extremely popular for Dove. They reported that thousands of sleepovers took place across Canada at the 2009 event. And most of us have heard about it. Which is really all that matters because familiarity and positive brand image sells products!

So congratulations Dove. While women think you're campaigning for them, they end up campaigning for you because you campaign for them. Pretty clever.

If only we all had the option to prorogue...

Image from canada.com

Heading into the New Year, Stephen Harper decided it would be the best thing for Canada if he (and consequently, the rest of the federal government) took a time out to think about the economy (no doubt one of his resolutions). So he called up GG Michaelle Jean and asked if it would be OK for him to take a little time off work. She agreed, and parliament has been prorogued until after the Olympics.

What's that? No, of course I believe you, Stephen. You really need the time for reflection. You aren't trying to evade serious allegations of torture in Afghanistan. And you aren't giving yourself time to stack the Senate either. Yes, darn those slanderous and phony allegations!

But it got me thinking.

How convenient would it be if I had the ability to prorogue the daunting, pressing obligations of my own life.

(Cue flowy "what-if" music signaling a dream sequence...)

Flashback to Monday morning. It's the first day back to school. 6:45. My alarm goes off. I roll over and hit snooze.

But I can't fall back asleep. I had a great holiday. I'm not ready to go back to school. Not ready for the homework or the early mornings. I've had it good for the last three weeks. AND I haven't started thinking about my IPP project yet.

Oh, the challenges we CreComms face! The harsh scrutiny of our work. The criticism and accountability for our actions. Never mind the fact I wanted to be the program! Stephen Harper wanted to be prime minister!

And I'm sure Stephen Harper had a good holiday, too. Yes, I think he just felt the same way I did. He didn't feel like going back.

The more I think about it, the more justified I feel in what I am to do next.

I pick up the phone. Hello, Michaelle?

(Repeat of flowy "what-if" music, signaling the end of dream sequence...)

Well, I can dream, can't I?

Stephen Harper had a dream. But he had something I didn't. A direct line to the governor general.