R.I.P.s

[Pogues to Niagara]

Eric Bristow, 5 time world darts champion. Only 60 (or treble 20)

[Pogues to Niagara]

It's a shame about Ray. One of the more likeable ex footballers.

[firehazard]

Eric Bristow, 5 time world darts champion. Only 60 (or treble 20)

We were watching the PDC Premier League last night when his death was announced during the final match of the evening. He'd apparently been at the venue, had a heart attack, and it all happened very suddenly. Everyone seemed a bit stunned... crowd started singing "walking in a Bristow wonderland". He more or less made darts what it's become today. With a bit of help from Barry Hearn.

Stand up if you love the darts. RIP Eric.

[Mike from Boston]

Members of the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Team

At least 15 dead, including the Coach, Captain in a tragic bus/truck collision. Mostly young men 17-20. In Saskatchewan, Western Canada.

[Low D]

Members of the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Team

At least 15 dead, including the Coach, Captain in a tragic bus/truck collision. Mostly young men 17-20. In Saskatchewan, Western Canada.

With today's death in hospital of a psychical therapist who was also on the bus, the total is now 16.

I know there are certain stereotypes about Canada & hockey, but here are three true things that are happening across this country right now:
- People have been putting hockey sticks & candles out on their porches
- Tim Hortons - a national chain of coffee & donut shop (founded by a retired hockey player) is selling Humboldt Broncos donuts as a tribute & fundraiser
- There is a nation-wide call to wear hockey jerseys to work tomorrow, as the funeral begin

[Mike from Boston]

Members of the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Team

At least 15 dead, including the Coach, Captain in a tragic bus/truck collision. Mostly young men 17-20. In Saskatchewan, Western Canada.

With today's death in hospital of a psychical therapist who was also on the bus, the total is now 16.

I know there are certain stereotypes about Canada & hockey, but here are three true things that are happening across this country right now:
- People have been putting hockey sticks & candles out on their porches
- Tim Hortons - a national chain of coffee & donut shop (founded by a retired hockey player) is selling Humboldt Broncos donuts as a tribute & fundraiser
- There is a nation-wide call to wear hockey jerseys to work tomorrow, as the funeral begin

People are reacting here in the US. A lot of local US college players played for Humboldt or in the same league. Read a story about a Merrimack College (North Andover, MA) player who texted his former roommate for two days and then found out he was one of the deceased. People are also putting out hockey sticks here and outside Boston Garden there is an impromptu memorial at the Bobby Orr Statue. Very sad.

http://www.eagletribune.com/news/merrim ... 208cc.html

[Pogues to Niagara]

Just saw my 17 yr old son leave on a bus full of teammates for a soccer tournament. Leaves a different emotion now. Been a sad week up here in Canuckistan.....

Hey Mike.......go Leafs! Should be another good series

[Low D]

Randy Scruggs - songwriter, guitarist and/or producer for just about everybody in country music at one point or another, middle child of Earl Scruggs; dead at 64.

[Mike from Boston]

Worth mentioning:

The Celebrity Reaper has been busy.

Actor/Marine R. Lee Ermey best known as Gunny Hartmann in Full Metal Jacket
Actor Verne Troyer-best known as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers movies
Gil Santos-Radio voice of the 5 Time NFL Champions NE Patriots
Earle Bruce-suceeded legendary coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State
Barbara Bush-Former First Lady and only second wife/mother of a President in US History
Harry Anderson-Actor best know for Night Court
Hal Greer-NBA Hall of fame
Milos Foreman-Director of Amadeus and One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

and finally possibly the greatest athlete of all time
Bruno Samartino-Wrestling Champion

[Low D]

Rock musician and jazz vocalist Bob Dorough, best known as the writer & singer of many "Schoolhouse Rocks" shorts, has died at age 94 - and he was gigging up until last week!

Among his most memorable hits were Conjunction Junction (What's Your Function?), I'm Just a Bill and Three is a Magic Number. Also in his long and varied career, he wrote, recorded and performed with Miles Davis.

[Mike from Boston]

No mention yet, but RIP to those unfortunate people in Toronto. Not a terrorist attack, but the feeling is the scumbag got rejected by women and couldn't handle it.

Guess his feelings were hurt...

[Low D]

No mention yet, but RIP to those unfortunate people in Toronto. Not a terrorist attack, but the feeling is the scumbag got rejected by women and couldn't handle it.

Guess his feelings were hurt...

It actually goes a little further than that. He was apparently part of an extremist misogynist online community called "Incel" (short for "involuntarily celibate). Let's be clear, if this attack was aimed at muslims, at the LGBTQ+ community, at people of colour, etc, etc, we would have no trouble calling it a hate crime. But it is still not considered "hate" if it's gender, at least under Canadian law.

Likewise, if this act was carried out by, say, a "radical Islamic terrorist" we would have no problem calling it a terrorist act. But targeting women in an act of mass murder doesn't qualify if it's only because you hate women, and not, say, the west.

Here's a good piece about Incel, which i admit i had never heard of. A horror show of a reactionary echo chamber, even in an age of reactionary echo chambers:
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/gyj3 ... isogynists

And here's a good opinion piece about the futility of trying to label these attacks as the result of terrorism, or mental illness, or hate, exclusively:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/toronto- ... -1.4633641

But look folks, the take away here is that misogyny is hate, as bad as white supremacy, homophobia, and all the rest. It is up to all of us to challenge it. And for us dudes, that absolutely means confronting our friends (and ourselves) when women are objectified. Enough is enough.

[Mike from Boston]

Wow.. never heard of that. Incel. Not to be a wise ass, but that is the bulk of the Male population! Have whatever fucked up beliefs you want, but leave everyone else alone.

I really feel bad for young people today. I have taken pilgrimages to Toronto, Las Vegas etc for fun and see my teams play in younger days-the thought of an attack of any nature ever crossed my mind. Just seems like this stuff is spiraling out of control..

[Low D]

James Brown Drummer John 'Jabo' Starks Dead at 79
Performed alongside Clyde Stubblefield on hits like The Payback," "Super Bad," "Sex Machine". he'd been in hospice for about a week and was battling leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
Starks played with Brown during the Sixties and Seventies, most notably as part of a percussion duo with Clyde Stubblefield, who died last year. Though Starks and Stubblefield had distinct playing styles, together they created a powerhouse rhythm section that defined funk, and later hip-hop. The duo are among the most sampled drummers of all time.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/list ... ks-w519744

[Mal Boden]

Graham Lovett, ex footballer,member of West Bromwich Albion FA Cup winning side,1968. RIP.