570News - Gary Doyle

And I won’t be there to see the next game….. it’s not that I don’t want to be in my usual space at Jack Couch Park on wednesday night. (back row of the bleachers, directly behind first base) I went to the opening game of the Panthers play-off round with Hamilton and saw them lose. For the record, I have not seen the Panthers win this year. When I pointed this out to Darryl Rutherford, the Panthers President, he pointed to the gate. I can take a hint. I want to see the Panthers succeed, but I’ll have to rely on my buddies filling in the blanks. I’m not superstitous, but I don’t want them glaring at me if they’re not successful.

Getting to host the Jeff Allan Show this week helps give me perspective. Usually, I get to be non-combative and talk about issues and health concerns that I hope, are informational and educational. Jeffs’ gig is different. I enjoy sharing my opinions (or I would be an accountant), and I certainly enjoy hearing from the callers to the show on how they view situations and issues. When you think something is cut and dried, toss it around your kitchen table and see how many varying opinions there are. Never discount others points of view, because without them, you won’t be able to form your own opinions. Perception is reality, and mine is always shifting. As a friend of mine says, “if you don’t like my position, I have others.”

Just back after a two week respite and day one is always the hardest. You can’t even get back into the swing until you find your desk. That took about a half hour…then whittling down eleven pages of e-mail to one took about an hour and the voice mail that was outdated…and…you get the picture. The rush takes over and you’re back in the race in no time. That’s why it’s so important to take time off. Studies show a lot of Canadians don’t take all the holidays they have coming to them. To those people I have a suggestion. Mail them to me.

The 30 owners of the 30 teams in the NHL should get in a circle and slap the guy to the left! Didn’t we lose an entire NHL season because the owners were going broke? How does that explain the spending spree the drunken sailors are on? If the players had only known that agreeing to a salary cap would lead to riches, they wouldn’t have balked in the first place. Even the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to spend millions. Albeit, on one player who will likely never have another like last year. Pity the Nashville Predators. While they await the list of suitors to take them to the prom, most of the talent is slipping out the back door. If Jim Balsillie is ever successful in buying the team (or another), his deep pockets will be tested by the “system.” I’m still not sure what the NHL system is, but there is an old saying in business that comes to mind. “The system is designed to produce the results you deserve.”