PONDERABLES
How can any sports fan be against the concept of wild cards after MLB’s most exciting day ever took place wrapping up the wild card races on October 3rd?
Is Toronto Star sports columnist Damien Cox right in his suggestion that hockey teams no longer need a captain?
Can the federal Green Party survive?
Can Erin O’Toole survive as Conservative leader??
Is Peter MacKay considering a comeback?
Whatever possessed newly elected Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek to think it was a good idea to take a thinly disguised shot at the oil and gas industry in one of her first interviews?
Did Justin Trudeau approve the PMO’s decision to lie about his whereabouts on September 30th?
Who knew there were so many idiots in the Republican Party?
THINGS I FIRMLY BELIEVE
If the Blue Jays have any hope of resigning Marcus Semien they’ll have to move Bo Bichette to second base and return Semien to his preferred position of shortstop.
It’s away past time to stop singing national anthems at sporting events. The only interest most fans have in the anthem performances is how badly the singers will butcher them.
Donald Trump calling his new social media platform “Truth” is the greatest oxymoron of all time.
JOHN TORY’S ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
I’ve lived in Toronto during the terms of sixteen mayors, and incumbent John Tory is the best of the three who were truly outstanding leaders; the other two being Nathan Phillips and David Crombie. But this week, by becoming involved in mediating the high-profile Rogers family dispute, Tory found himself, as the saying goes, between a rock and a hard place. As a close friend and trusted advisor of the Rogers family, and a former CEO of the company, he undoubtedly brings a unique and valuable perspective to the situation. But considering the Rogers conglomerate’s ownership of Toronto media outlets, the Blue Jays baseball team and stadium, and its stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, many Torontonians consider his involvement to be a conflict of interest. I have no doubt that Mayor Tory, as is his wont, did what he thought was the right thing to do. As a person who was once involved in a similar high-profile public company family dispute, I fully appreciate and understand why the Rogers family (and the independent directors) wanted Tory involved. In the circumstances, I think his decision to accommodate them was the right one.
GET BACK TO THE OFFICE!
As enjoyable as many people find working at home, it’s time to get back to the office, at least on a hybrid basis. Leadership can’t be learned via Zoom calls, nor is mentoring anywhere near as effective virtually as it is in person. Inter-personal skills can’t be developed in basement offices, and are very apt to deteriorate there. There’s also far greater danger of falling into lazy work habits at home than at the office. In addition, face-to-face conversations generate and advance many ideas over cups of coffee and during casual conversations..
But only fully vaccinated people should be allowed back.
NO LIMIT TO JUSTIN TRUDEAU’S DISINGENUOUSNESS
Justin Trudeau put us through a completely unnecessary and costly election during a pandemic because, even in the face of all evidence to the contrary, he insisted he needed a clear mandate to get anything accomplished in parliament. He even ridiculously insisted it was the most important election since 1945! Yet he’s delayed the recall of MPs to the House of Commons for two full months. This man’s disingenuousness knows no limit, and his hypocrisy is exceeded only by his ego. Bring his ethics violations and poor judgement (especially when it comes to vacations) into the equation and he’s easily the most-flawed prime minister in the history of Canada.
AND NO END TO HARJIT SAJJAN’S INCOMPETENCE
That the seemingly never-ending parade of senior military commanding officers being accused of sexual misconduct continues to be ignored by the minister of national defence, Harjit Sajjan, is more than ample proof that he’s the worst minister to ever hold the post. The mystery remains as to why Prime Minister Trudeau has allowed him to hold the portfolio for six years. Might it have something to do with Trudeau’s lack of judgement referred to above?
TWO UNBEATABLE HOCKEY RECORDS
At our Thursday luncheon group this week the subject of hockey records that will likely never be broken was raised. It was unanimously agreed that goalie Glenn Hall’s 502 consecutive games and the New York Islanders’ 19 consecutive playoff series wins will probably never even be approached, let alone broken.