BeyondRobson | Posts by Karl

BeyondRobson | Posts by Karl http://www.beyondrobson.com/ Vancouver blog Copyright 2008 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:49:04 PDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Remembering Bob Ackles

It was a mixed bag of emotions for the July 18, 2008 CFL game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the B.C. Lions.

Echoing a number of callers who phoned into the postgame show on the TEAM 1040, I was disheartened to find out only 37,000 and change showed up to the game that also served as a public memorial to late-Prez and CEO Bob Ackles. (Pics inside)

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/remembering_bob_ackles http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/remembering_bob_ackles Sports Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:48:07 PDT Sports Karl 2008-07-19T02:48:07 You can do it, for "The Waterboy"

Photo courtesy of the B.C. Lions.

I remember back in the nineties when we used to go to B.C. Lions games; we would buy nosebleed seats and sneak down to the lower section.

B.C. Place was so empty back then the security guards didn't really care.

When I caught the Western Final back in 1999, the announced attendance was only around 29,000 if memory serves me correctly.

Under 30,000 for a West Final? Numbers unheard of considering the last few Western Finals under the Dome have been near capacity (but not sold out).

We've come a long way baby.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/you_can_do_it_for_the_waterboy http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/you_can_do_it_for_the_waterboy Sports Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:32:45 PDT Sports Karl 2008-07-15T02:32:45 Scenes from the Rollerderby

Like I mentioned earlier, I caught my second Terminal City Rollerderby bout and it was wild to say the least; even more so than my first bout. Here is a sample of the action.

* Denotes photos from Flickr user Bob Ayers.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/scenes_from_the_rollerderby http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/scenes_from_the_rollerderby Sports Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:16:50 PDT Sports Karl 2008-07-09T17:16:50 How to Prep for a Terminal City Rollerderby Bout

Lorenagade #5000 (left) and Cinder Hella #86 'er (right).

I had the pleasure of catching my second ever Terminal City Rollergirl Flat Track bout between the Faster Pussycats and the Bad Reputations--mind you, the Reputations also were in the first bout I caught.

This time around there was a lot more mayhem; more bodies flying and a lot more carnage.

How does one prepare for something like Flat Track Rollerderby and how does one cool down?

I decided to ask a member from each team; "Cinder Hella #86" from the Bad Reps and "Lorenagade #5000" from the Faster Pussycats.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/how_to_prep_for_a_terminal_city_rollerderby_bout http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/how_to_prep_for_a_terminal_city_rollerderby_bout Sports Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:35:06 PDT Sports Karl 2008-07-06T15:35:06 R.I.P. Bobby Ackles

It's always difficult when someone passes away and even more so when it's unexpected.

Bob Ackles, the man single-handedly responsible for the renaissance of the B.C. Lions, passed away early this morning of a heart attack according to TSN.

He was 69-years old.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/rip_bobby_ackles http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/07/rip_bobby_ackles Sports Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:53:55 PDT Sports Karl 2008-07-06T13:53:55 B.C. Provides Maximum Protection for CFL

One of the many things that can get my blood boiling is the self centeredness of Toronto when it relates to sports.

Having the Canucks play a game vs. Toronto at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday a few years ago to appease the fans in the East.

Seeing the Leafs' pursuit of Eric Lindros as the lead story on Sportsdesk (remember Sportsdesk?) for a month straight even after it was clear there would be no deal.

The examples are seemingly endless.

Fans of three down football also have a reason to get their hate on for T.O. as a group of Torontonian businessmen (including Ted Rogers) are attempting to bring a National Football League team to the "Center of the Universe" and that has people around here irked.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/bc_provides_maximum_protection_for_cfl http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/bc_provides_maximum_protection_for_cfl Sports Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:16:21 PDT Sports Karl 2008-06-20T03:16:21 Euro 2008: A Reason to Skip Work

I know soccer players dive more than Greg Louganis; I know 2-0 is considered a blowout and 0-0 draws happen more often than not, but I still think soccer is a fantastic sport.

Last year I caught a couple of games for the U-20 World Cup at Swangard and again, I was in awe of the "Beautiful Game".

On the world stage there are two major soccer tournaments, the World Cup being one and the 2008 Union of European Football Associations' (UEFA) European Football Championship (Euro 2008) being the other.

Since the tournament is based in Europe -- Austria and Switzerland to be exact -- the time difference means that games that are in prime time there are in the early and late mornings here.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/euro_2008_a_reason_to_skip_work http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/euro_2008_a_reason_to_skip_work Sports Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:43:21 PDT Sports Karl 2008-06-11T00:43:21 Action Shots: B.C. Lions Training Camp '08

Although you couldn't tell from the chilly Abbie afternoon, the summer is near and so is the start of the C.F.L. season.

B.C. Lions have had a little over a week of training camp and are prepping for the first exhibition game in Saskatchewan.

Here are some pics from Saturday's noon session.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/action_shots_bc_lions_training_camp_08 http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/action_shots_bc_lions_training_camp_08 Sports Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:09:01 PDT Sports Karl 2008-06-08T15:09:01 Terminal City Girls on a Roll

I'll have to be honest, I had never attended a Roller Derby event and didn't know what to expect.

The Terminal City Rollergirls, Vancouver's first female roller derby league, were holding a bout between the Riot Girls and the Bad Reps and judging from the long lineup to get in, they had a cult following.

Played on a flat track, two teams place five players aside consisting of:

A Jammer, who lines up 20 feet behind the other players and is the only one who can score--Jammers' helmets are adorned with a star.

A Pivot, who wears a striped helmet and is the last line of defense against an advancing Jammer.

Three Blockers who essentially lead block for the Jammer while hindering the opposition.

Once the Jammer laps the pack once, points are awarded for every enemy player passed and the opposition can prevent the Jammer from passing by hip or shoulder checking--no chop blocking or hitting from behind is allowed.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/terminal_city_girls_on_a_roll http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/06/terminal_city_girls_on_a_roll Sports Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:06:58 PDT Sports Karl 2008-06-04T02:06:58 A Quick Chat With Jim Van Horne

As a youngster, my after school routine would consist of running home to catch TSN Sportsdesk--that's what it was called before it became SportsCentre.

Although Teresa Hergert (now known as Teresa Kruze) would sometimes host, Jim Van Horne was behind the desk the majority of the time.

Two things were noticeable about Van Horne, his moustache and his professionalism.

These days Jim Van Horne busies himself training others in the art of media as well as some freelance broadcasting work--including a stint doing commentary for the World Poker Tour Canada.

I recently had a chance to talk to him about a number of different things, including the Canucks.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/05/a_quick_chat_with_jim_van_horne http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/05/a_quick_chat_with_jim_van_horne Sports Fri, 23 May 2008 02:21:00 PDT Sports Karl 2008-05-23T02:21:00 Yukon Brad is a Good Ole B.C. Boy

Photo courtesy The BCLC

When you think of great poker players, the names Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson are names that come up and there are some good Canadians too like Daniel Negreanu.

But just like Steve Nash to the NBA, British Columbia has made a contribution to the game of poker.

Brad "Yukon" Booth is a regular on television poker appearing on the Game Show Network's High Stakes and NBC Poker After Dark's second season.

Currently, Booth is taking part in the Coast to Coast Poker Championship at the River Rock Casino.

Here is an abridged version of Booth's poker origins:

Beyond Robson: "How did you get started playing poker?"

Brad Booth: "When I was a kid my father used to take me to my grandpa's, who was a barber. He said, 'Play on your own,' so they'd give me some cards and chips and I'd be off in the corner when my grandpa had customers."

"I learned how to shuffle and chip tricks and I learned the basic probability of poker."

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/05/yukon_brad_is_a_good_ole_bc_boy http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/05/yukon_brad_is_a_good_ole_bc_boy Sports Sat, 10 May 2008 03:01:38 PDT Sports Karl 2008-05-10T03:01:38 Happy Belated Seventh Birthday TEAM 1040

Photo courtesy of Arne Gulstene.

I remember how excited I was when I learned that sports talk radio was coming to Vancouver.

It's hard to believe that the TEAM 1040 has been on the air for seven years.

Before that, the only form of sports talk radio came on CKNW 980 and it happened in the evenings, when I was away from the radio.

But with the all new TEAM 1040 taking over the station once known as 1040 Kicks CKXY, it was 24/7 and I was in Heaven.

Thanks for breaking the silence of my office during the day.

Thanks for showing me that Jim Rome was more than just the guy that pissed off Jim Everett back in the nineties--he was actually a good host.

Thank you Sherminator and B-Mac for talking more than just local sports. I love hearing about my Lions, Giants and Canucks, but I also like hearing about things like March Madness as well.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/05/happy_belated_seventh_birthday_team_1040 http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/05/happy_belated_seventh_birthday_team_1040 Sports Thu, 08 May 2008 02:12:25 PDT Sports Karl 2008-05-08T02:12:25 Vancouver, B.C. Becoming A Parkour Place

The first time I saw something Parkour-related was when I watched Casino Royale and Daniel Craig (James Bond) chased a villain through a construction site, up a frame of a building and across steel girders.

But just what is Parkour? A discipline that originates from France says Parkour instructor Rene Scavington.

Derived from the French term for obstacle course, "parcours du combatant", Parkour was pretty much started by a man named David Belle.

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/health_fitness/2008/04/vancouver_bc_becoming_a_parkour_place http://www.beyondrobson.com/health_fitness/2008/04/vancouver_bc_becoming_a_parkour_place Health & Fitness Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:08:52 PDT Health & Fitness Karl 2008-04-17T01:08:52 Was it Wise for the Canucks to Fire Dave Nonis?

One of the benefits of listening to sports talk radio is that you hear about breaking news shortly after it breaks.

Although what I heard today shocked me and compares with the Roberto Luongo trade, it wasn't as uplifting -- Vancouver Canucks GM Dave Nonis was fired.

Hearing calls for Nonis' head is nothing new; the same degenerates who call in with "Fire Dave Nonis" takes think that Luongo's wife doesn't like it here and that we should trade old Louie.

Makes perfect sense, why would a woman endure a difficult pregnancy amongst her family in Florida when she can be by her lonesome in Vancouver? But I digress.

The Vancouver Canucks didn't really give reasons besides the standard, "It's not acceptable to our fans or to us as owners that our team isn't in the playoffs, yadda, yadda, yadda."

Yes, Nonis was not owner Francesco Aquilini's man and he (with hindsight being 20/20) hamstrung the team with long-term deals to Naslund and Morrison but the thinking was he was going to make a splash this offseason.

The firing also raises more questions:

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/04/was_it_wise_for_the_canucks_to_fire_dave_nonis http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/04/was_it_wise_for_the_canucks_to_fire_dave_nonis Sports Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:18:46 PDT Sports Karl 2008-04-14T20:18:46 Top Five Vancouver Canuck Playoff Games

I really hate it when my teams lose and although I have a side to cheer for in almost every sport, few compare to my hometown Canucks.

Forget the late season collapse, it's worse when you see other Canadian cities enjoying NHL playoff fever whilst we drown in our sorrows.

Believe it or not, I even saw a chalkboard at a local restaurant that said, "Go Flames Go!"

Correct me if I'm wrong but fans in the Bronx don't cheer for the Red Sox if the Yankees don't make the postseason do they?

When, where and why the Canucks missed the playoffs has been analyzed already and we are a few games into the playoffs so why not reminisce about better times?

]]> http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/04/top_five_vancouver_canuck_playoff_games http://www.beyondrobson.com/sports/2008/04/top_five_vancouver_canuck_playoff_games Sports Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:04:03 PDT Sports Karl 2008-04-11T03:04:03