570News - Gary Doyle

One decade ago Princess Diana died in a tragic car crash in a Paris tunnel. A lot has happened since then, but that one moment is frozen in our collective memory. Add it to my personal list. When Diana died I was home with my wife and we were glued to CNN. I was on my way to work when the first of the Twin Towers was struck and was in the newsroom when the second plane went in. I was a disc jockey when Elvis died. I was in Grade One when JFK was killed. I remember when Bobby Kennedy was killed and when Martin Luther King Jr was killed. It was my birthday when David Koresh and the Branch Davidians met their maker and it was also my birthday when the Oklahoma City bombings took place. Which brings me to my point, and I do have one. I read a book while on holidays and I’ll paraphrase. A golf instructor took his student to the tenth tee and said “what do you see?” He said, water on the left, trees to the right and a bunker right in front of the green. The instructor then said “you completely missed the beauty.” “Don’t you see the lush fairway, the beautiful lake and all the flowers?” While we pause to remember tragedies that we’ve been witness to, don’t forget to enjoy all the good stuff that was created for our pleasure.

For me hockey season arrived yesterday. I look forward to playing in the annual Rangers Charity Golf Tournament at Whistlebear because it’s usually the last casual encounter I get with the players before the game faces arrive. I had a great chat wtih David Clarkson. It’s incredible how much he hasn’t changed. We met some of the new kids on the block, including European draft pick Mikkel Bodker and big Brandon Mashinter. The competition begins today at the Aud when the players hit the ice. Make no mistake, the competition will be fierce with the Rangers hosting the Memorial Cup in May. They also want to hoist it. So, with mixed emotions I bid adieu to the summer of ‘07, one of the best I’ve had. I look forward to a long season of great hockey and another season of sharing the mike with Don Cameron one of the most professional men I’ve ever worked with. It helps that he’s also a close friend, a golfing buddy and a fine judge of good scotch.

What am I missing. Michael Vick, who has admitted killing dogs deemed “not worthy” of the dog fighting pit has agreed to take a plea and a penalty of 18 months in jail and a reported quarter million dollar fine. Keep in mind, nothing is final, but that’s the deal. Tim Donaghy, the NBA referee who admitted manipulating games that he had placed bets on is sentenced to 25 years. What is wrong with this picture? Vick, a former sports hero in Atlanta is probably finished in the NFL..but wait there’s more. Teams are already rumoured to be interested in his services when his sentence and league suspension are over. He’ll likely be back making millions in five years. Donaghy, who “tarnished the image of sport” will be on old man before he’s free and he never killed any dogs and buried them in his yard. What Donaghy did was dishonest and hurt the image of referees, which is already not god. What Vick did was disgusting, reprehensible and sickening. It seems we value Pro-Line more than dogs.

It has Long been my only stop for fresh corn and in-season veggies, Herrles Market has been named Farm Marketer of the Year. Not sure what that entails, but it is recognition for a family business that continues to grow. (pun intended) We started buying corn from Herrles before there was a market. You went next door to their house and bought it out of the garage. To see what they’ve built is pleasing. I remember talking with James Herrle about the booming business earlier this year and he told me “it better be, the parking lot is empty in November.” Reading the story about his irrigation system and dwindling pond supply was a worry, but I’ll wager James, and his wife Michelle, never stopped with the smiles. It seems to be one of the few things they are incapable of. Congrats on the recognation and good luck tomorrow with the BBQ fundraiser for the FoodBank…. just more proof that the more you give away, the more you receive…

I’d like to say I passed lifes’ latest test, but instead I received another lesson. I stopped at my neighbourhood Hortons for a mid-day cup of decaf while my wife hit the grocery store. On my way in, I noticed a scraggly looking young man with hat in hand asking for spare change. All I had in my pocket was a five dollar bill and I made a mental note to give him my change on the way out. After getting my beverages (without tray) I negotiated the double doors and had my hands full. I saw this guy and thought “if I stop, I’ll drop my coffee” and started across the parking lot. At that point, a man about my age got out of his car and starting screaming at this guy to get a f@*ing job and stop asking honest people for their hard earned cash. He didn’t let up. It was embarrassing. There were women and children in the parking lot witnessing this idiot vent. I stopped, put down my coffee, fished out my change and put it in his cup. Loud mouth refused to make eye contact with me and wandered inside. At that point, two of the women in the parking lot gave this guy some change. I’d like to say I stepped up because another human being was in need. The fact is, I should have. Instead I stepped up to shut up an ignorant boor who should have known better. The end result is, the young man proabably got something to eat yesterday, but I still feel like I let him down.

It’s been two very long weeks. The Kitchener Panthers (mockingly) barred me from home games, because they had not one a single game when I showed up at Jack Couch Park this year. That changed last night when the Panthers beat Brantford with a dramatic bottom of the ninth walk off homer. The problem now is with the Panthers P.R./P.A./Official Scorer/music at the park master Sean Furfaro. He referred to me last night as the “rally monkey.” Maybe being banned wasn’t so bad after all……

When the Kitchener Rangers were awarded this years Memorial Cup, coach and general manager Peter DeBoer suggested it would be a good recruting tool. No kidding. Telling a young hockey player with “NHL Eyes” that coming to Kitchener will mean you’ll be seen by every NHL General Manager on Junior Hockeys biggest stage should be more than enough incentive. So far, so good. The Rangers will haven’t signed their top two draft picks this year (both Americans), but they have dipped into Yankee waters and netted at least one big fish. Goalie Josh Unice, who played with the USA Hockey National Development U-17 team last year and was verablly committed to Bowling Green has agreed to come to Kitchener. Bowling Green is not happy, but that’s another story. Unice will help the Rangers, whether or not John Murray returns to the team. Murray, the 20-year old American, who was the Rangers team MVP last year may turn pro. Nobody knows but John. DeBoer can’t just wait by the phone. By getting Unice, who was the 3rd round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, not only does he have insurance, he has someone who will wrestle with Murray for the starters job. There is also a story out of Michigan that says the Rangers have signed another college recruit in winger Spencer Anderson. The Rangers drafted Anderson a couple of seasons ago and continue to reap the harvest. Now, about those two draft picks…..

Earlier this week on the show we talked about cottage life and how it isn’t for everyone. When my wife and I moved here 22 years ago, the plan was to get a small house and buy a cottage where we would eventually retire. We got the small house, then the kids arrived and we got a bigger house. Then the kids got bigger and we got a bigger house and two decades later..VOILA! no cottage. That dream is done. We do have great friends who let us use their cottage on Lake Huron occassionally and it’s really the best of both worlds. We get to enjoy their investment and don’t have any of the bills associated. I don’t think I could retire to the lake. I’ve spent my entire adult life being social, and I think my wife would hit me after about two days of 24/7 attention.

I admit it, I watered my lawns (front and back) this week on the day I was allowed to. It was the first time this year I had done so and now my yard is a softer shade of brown. I won’t let it happen again.