Sometimes lost in the October hoopla of the baseball playoffs, a thrilling NFL season, and an idiotic NBA lockout is Canada’s favourite of sports. The NHL dropped the puck for its regular season on October 6th, giving us Canadians are crucial fix of the sport on ice. Although it’s early, there are a few things I may or may not have learned. Beginning with…

Two New Contenders

Philadelphia Flyers

The new look Flyers addressed their most important issue heading into the offseason: goaltending. They snatched up veteran Ilya Bryzgalov who looks steady as a rock, and with the departures of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, will rely on youth to carry the torch. Oh, and an old wiry veteran named Jaromir Jagr, who still looks pretty darn good on the ice at the age of 39.

Buffalo Sabres

I’m jumping on the Sabres bandwagon for their excellent depth across the board and a goalie by the name of Ryan Miller, who nearly broke our Canadian hearts in a classic Gold medal game (thank God he didn’t). Watch for a big season from Jason Pominville.

The Favourite

Vancouver Canucks

Reaching the finals last season, there’s no reason we won’t have to watch out for the Canucks again. If Luongo has fought off nightmares of his series loss to Boston, he should be a perennial goaltender, and there’s no reason to think the Sedin brothers have lost a step. I just hope that if they do win the cup, the city of Vancouver remains in one piece.

The Guys Who Are Just Always There

Detroit Red Wings

They’re a year older, but doesn’t everybody mention that every single time? And, oh yeah, they’ve been to the playoffs for 20 straight seasons. Datsyuk and Zetterberg will take care of business on offense, Lidstrom is still an elite defenseman, and their goaltending (Jimmy Howard) is solid enough.

San Jose Sharks

It’s tragic these Sharks still haven’t managed to win a Cup, and I could be so bold to say they’re running out of time. No excuses anymore for San Jose, who has all the pieces for a deep postseason run, led by Joe Thornton.

The Wait Til Next Season Crew (or five years)

Toronto Maple Leafs

They’re so close… just so close… to being a playoff team. Hey, what do I know, maybe they are! A lot is riding on the shoulders of young goaltender James Reimer. If Phil Kessel can compile a monster year (he’s off to a terrific start), don’t be shocked if they sweep up the #8 spot. Then again, don’t count on a playoff run either.

Winnipeg Jets

I personally think it’s lovely to have a hockey team back in Winnipeg. Frankly, I don’t know anybody personally who seems broken hearted by the Atlanta T-something… what was it again? Oh right, Thrashers. Meh, it’s just a name. The Jets are very young, with plenty of upside (i.e. Evander Kane and Mark Scheifele) but they’ll get there, you Jets fans just stay patient.

The One Thing Missing from the NHL

We’re just short one thing this year and it’s Sid the Kid. 2011′s NHL season will be complete with the return of Sydney Crosby to his Pittsburgh Penguins. Finally, his recovery from post concussion syndrome went without symptoms and he has been skating and looks nearly ready to go. Canada will have their golden boy back this season, and I expect him to pick up exactly where he left off.

Convincing a student to come to a school of just over 2000 students can sometimes be difficult. Convincing an athlete is a completely different task altogether. As alluring as Bishop’s is, recruiting for athletics proves exceedingly difficult when an athlete is faced with a countering prospect of competing at a large school, feeling more equipped to make a name for themselves.

That is precisely where the student athlete can be misinformed. The athletics department continues to make strides in recruiting efforts, and the success has shown, especially within football where Bishop’s alumni continue to make names for themselves in the CFL as well as receiving NFL opportunities. As for basketball, our team is a former winner of the National Championship in 1998. The lacrosse squad has delivered countless winning seasons in their bids to win a title, falling just short in the semi-finals this past year.

One of the faces of recruiting is Ed Pomykala, who also was the former men’s basketball coach of the Gaiters.

That being said, the predominant message Pomykala passes in efforts of recruiting is instilling a care and pride within the athlete, or individual for that matter, that looks to attend Bishop’s.

“We want Bishop’s to shape people into caring, successful individuals.”

Our football program is continuing further recruiting success, as they attracted 50 athletes to their Purple and Silver Weekend in February, and signed on four strong players to join the team for this upcoming season.

Despite certain struggles of teams over this past season from men’s basketball and women’s rugby, for example, there’s always upside.

“Our programs can be very cyclical in that regard,” says Pomykala.

Recruiting has been getting visibly better, as the basketball teams are reshaping themselves with strong athletes, and even sports like soccer are earning more opportunities.

The efforts put into the athletic department in the offseason is almost just as time consuming as that of the hours put towards the team during the year.

Of course a crucial selling point for the student athlete, which will arrive at this school in some time, is a new sports center. Developing the $30 million project has been on hold as the school needed to secure the government funding. Once construction is underway, it will be clearer what Bishop’s intends to offer in way of future of facilities.

“There’s going to be a completely new center, new arena, and more space within our gyms. We just need to get the project started,” said Director of Athletics, Tony Addona.

The expansion of a new building can do wonders for an already successful Athletics program at our small school. Not only will it provide the regular Bishop’s student with better facilities, a better equipped gym could bring further positives to Athletics altogether.

“We just want to get it in place as soon as possible,” insists Addona.

“Not only will it be better for students, but just to be able to show new recruits looking to come to our school, and say to them ‘these are our facilities, and they’re impressive’ would be very helpful.”

Pomykala acknowledges that, while some athletes have had chances to turn professional in certain sports, especially football as of late, it is not always the goal.

“We’re not necessarily trying to develop professional athletes… we’re preparing them for life after university so that they can be successful with whatever they decide to do.”

Based on future plans on the new sports center and the latest efforts of hard working individuals within recruitment, The Athletics Department has nothing but promise and excellent to expect down the road.

Football

The Bishop’s Gaiters football program had a very successful season, before dropping in the playoffs to the eventual Vanier Cup winner, Laval.

All Star Players:

Harrison Maloney: Maloney enjoyed a breakout season in his third year as a Gaiter. As a defensive back, he finished with 31.5 tackles on the season, and scored a 22-yard interception return touchdown, the first of his career. He also had four knocked down passes on the campaign.

Nick Poloniato: The fifth year cornerback reached the All Star team for a second straight year in 2010, forcing one fumble, snagging an interception, and making 25 tackles. His 15 interceptions over the course of his career stands one shy of the all time Bishop’s record.

Lacrosse

Keegan Durovick: Durovick, a fourth year goalkeeper for Bishop’s, was named the Saskatchewan lacrosse athlete of the year, just the second Gaiter to win the prestigious award since Chris Lesanko won in 2000.

Mike Dube: Along with picking up major hardware such as the Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Attackman, Dube was named to the CUFLA East Division All-Star team.

Greg Harnett: Harnett won the award as Most Valuable Defensive Player on the season, and also received All-Star honours to the CUFLA East Division Team.

Women’s Basketball

Jessy Roy: Coming off of a 2009 which was plagued by injuries, Roy had an outstanding season for the Gaiters women’s team, playing tenacious defense and running the offense at the point guard position. She was named to the second All-Star team.

Bailey Trafford: A first year, Trafford was named to the QUBL All-Rookie team scoring 8.4 points per game at the center position and leading the Gaiters with a 51.1% field goal shooting percentage.

Gabrielle Chamberland: Chamberland had an excellent season playing forward for BU, netting 7.6 points per game, and having a monster 20 points against Laval in November. She also tied for the team lead in blocked shots with six.

Men’s Rugby

Andrew Jamieson: In his rookie season, Jamieson turned heads with his stellar play at the full back position, and reaching the All Star team.

Ryan Lethbridge: Lethbridge, from Ottawa, Ontario, had another terrific season for the Gaiters, leading the team with 20 points in six games which was strong enough for fourth overall in the league. He reached his second straight All Star game this past season.

Stefan Lemieux: A veteran flanker on the squad, the native from Vancouver, B.C. enjoyed another terrific season to reach a second straight All Star game.

Men’s Basketball

Mike Andrews: 19 year old Mike Andrews made his presence felt inside all season long, collecting a league-high four double doubles, and averaging 9.8 points per game. The 6’10 Oakville native was named to the QUBL All-Rookie team.

Women’s Soccer

Samantha Juraschka: The third year midfield for the Gaiters was named a nominee for the CIS women’s soccer Student-Athlete Community Service back in November. Juraschka founded the Gaiter Walk for ALS in 2009, an event that raised nearly $7,000 at this past year’s event.

It feels like such a distant memory now: the days when Tiger Woods was given roughly the same odds as the entire field of opponents to win a major tournament. That time when the signature fist pump showed up on the Sunday night highlight reel at the close of every golf weekend.

Now, we are entering a new era. The sport of golf is evolving. There is no single name that holds a stranglehold on the golfing world. No one golf stroke which epitomizes the perfect reflection of the precise battle one faces against a course such as Augusta National. Instead, we have 92 names. 92 players with a chance to win this tournament. There may have been that many five years ago, but none of them had the opportunity.

Now it’s different. When did deciding a winner become so challenging? Was it when Tiger Woods wrecked his car and his life in November of 2009? Quite frankly, no. Golf has been waiting to erupt with the stellar of play of what we now behold. The young are beginning to outshine the veterans, making it that much more challenging to even take a wild guess as to who will win this year’s Masters.

So, I give you a list of five names I expect to compete for the title. Therefore, if one of them comes through, I can claim to say I told you so.

My Five Contenders + The Other

Hunter Mahan:

When selecting a contender for The Masters, it doesn’t need to be someone who has won a tournament on the year, or even recently. In fact, sometimes I like to elect just the opposite system. If they have already won once or twice this season, they’re not as likely to win again. Hunter Mahan, has been the product of consistency for 2011. He’s made 9 cuts so far, and has four Top 10 finishes on the season, including a 2nd place showing at Pebble Beach in February. Why to bet against him however? He’s never won a major.

Matt Kuchar:

Kuchar has been lights out all season long. Five Top 10 finishes, he’s made the cut in every event he’s played, and his scoring average is a sexy 68.9 per 18 holes. He’s currently ranked #9 in the World Rankings. He’s never entirely contended for a major, however 2010 he showed lots of promise, cracking two top 10s at the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship.

Phil Mickelson:

Last year’s winner and a three time green jacket recipient, Mickelson loves playing at The Masters. He tied the course record this past weekend at the Shell Houston Open with a 63 in his third round, and is getting hot at the right time.

KJ Choi:

Choi has been one of those players who have looked ready to win a major and several points in his career. Frankly, he looked ready just last year at The Masters when he placed fourth. He’s been playing fairly well to start the season, and has two Top 10 finishes already. Augusta National feels like a good place for his game. He’s not an exceptionally long hitter, but is excellent at getting up and down from bunkers, and putts very well.

Vijay Singh:

A former Masters winner, Singh found himself in a terrible rut for a couple of seasons before finally beginning his rebound, and working back up the rankings. This season, he’s had a 2nd and 3rd place finish, and made 7 cuts, proving to naysayers that age (he’s 48) is just a number. His last two outings have been poor; however Singh is one of those streaky players who can simply get into a zone. He hits a lot of greens, so if he can get his putter working, I’d watch out.

The Other:

A golf column wouldn’t be complete without a prediction on Tiger Woods. I’ll admit to this: his game is progressing. The Masters might be his favourite tournament setting, and he placed 4th last year (give me credit as well, I picked him to finish 6th then). Some are saying this will be the major that shows him regain the throne. I just don’t see it yet, and have him finishing, let’s say… 15th place.

A successful season for the Bishop’s Polar Bears came to a close March 20th at the Maritime Intercollegiate Hockey Challenge Cup in New Brunswick. The Polar Bears competed against four schools over the course of the weekend: University of New Brunswick, Acadia University, Cape Breton, and Sainte Anne.

Game 1 vs. Cape Breton

With a small, bruised up team making the trip, the Polar Bears knew they had to overcome adversity. “With a few of our starters out with injuries or school obligations, I was only able to take thirteen girls,” explained Coach, Maryse Richard.

Despite this, they played Cape Breton right down to the wire. In a back and forth first period contest, Cape Breton netted the only goal to pull ahead 1-0. The Polar Bears responded with strong play through the course of the game, eventually knotting the game at 1-1 with four minutes to play. Unfortunately, in the final minute, they could not keep the puck out of their zone, and Cape Breton scored with just 12 seconds left in regulation, winning the dramatic contest 2-1 in their opener of the tournament.

Game 2 vs. Sainte Anne

If their first contest was a defensive nail biter, this one was the exact opposite. The Polar Bears came flying out of the gate, throwing the pressure on and netting the first goal just three minutes in. Saint Anne quickly responded however, burying two goals of their own before the end of the period. The second period saw the Polar Bears break out to a 5-3 lead, capped by a beautiful goal by Sara Lariviere, who scored two in the game. The Polar Bears went on to win the affair 6-3.

Game 3 vs. Acadia

With only a one-hour turnover before the next game against Acadia, the Polar Bears knew they faced a great challenge. However, they stayed neck and neck with the speedy Acadia squad right up until the third period when fatigue set in. Acadia scored the tiebreaker late in the third period, and despite outstanding play in net from Alysha McLeod, Bishop’s could not find the equalizer. With the net empty, Acadia found a loose puck and iced the game, winning 2-0.

Game 4 vs. New Brunswick

Once again, the Polar Bears had just a one-hour break before the next game, and were simply overmatched against UNB’s dangerous squad. With a fatigued team, they dropped the contest 7-0. “It was a disappointing loss because we knew we were much better than the score indicated,” said Coach Richard.

Indeed, she was right. Bishop’s had a rematch against UNB the following morning in an exhibition game, and, with more energy and Coach Richard’s tactical adjustments, played them to a 0-0 tie. Bianca Letarte was the player of the game, making some outstanding saves in net for the Polar Bears, keeping a shutout intact.

The Polar Bears placed 4th out of 5 in the tournament, while UNB would go on to win the Cup over Cape Breton, 4-3 in the final. Coach Maryse Richard viewed the tournament as a terrific accomplishment.

“I am very proud of how my team conducted themselves. They played with class and never gave up. It was a great weekend overall and a wonderful learning experience for everyone involved.”

The Collective Bargaining Agreement is a mess; the owners are unhappy, and the players are infuriated. I’m not sure the magnitude of these events has completely sunken in with every fan though. But with the 2011 season currently locked out indefinitely, you might want to ask yourself these 25 questions, and begin to wonder what it really will be like…

1. What will it really be like this year when September rolls around and there is no “Week 1”?

2. What will it be like when you are asked to do a fantasy game on the reality show Survivor instead of a football season and you have no choice but to agree?

3. What will it be like when you go to turn on Fox at Noon on a Sunday and your pregame show has been replaced by a film starring Nicolas Cage?

4. What will it be like when the 1 PM time slot from CBS has arrived and instead of hearing Phil Simms’ voice calling the Buffalo Bills game, its Brandon Beemer’s (although much more soothing, I concede) from the Bold and the Beautiful?

5. What will it be like when 2:30 PM strikes, and instead of halftime analysis you are succumbed to a Price is Right re-run with Drew Carey?

6. What will it be like to stomach your 4 o’clock hour, where instead of recapping the highlights of seven football games, you’ll be asked who you think is getting kicked off American Idol that night?

7. What will it be like when you need to cope with watching American Idol instead of Sunday Night Football between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots?

8. What will it be like late Sunday night when you look at your losing pro line ticket, realizing you missed every pick because you don’t know squat about horse racing?

9. What will it be like Monday morning when, instead of seeing Peyton Manning’s face gracing ESPNs front page with a look of disappoint, it’s Stephen Harper’s droopy eyed expression on the front of The Globe and Mail? (Because it turns out that yeah, he’s still the Prime Minister)

10. What will it be like the following morning when you’re finding yourself waking up early to follow Manchester United games because, over there, they call it football and it seems like a legitimate replacement?

11. What will it be like when during the week, instead of breaking down your favourite football team’s players, you’ve decided to put all your stock into the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff and telling yourself they will make the playoffs within the next two years?

12. What will it be like come the end of the month when your friend asks you if you want to play football, and you’re so delirious that you grab your soccer ball?

13. What will it be like in October when you go to grab the real football this time and notice you don’t even own one anymore?

14. What will it be like in November when you find yourself tweeting every football player you can track down on twitter, asking them if they’re hanging in there?

15. What will it be like during your Christmas holidays when you win your Survivor pool, but you’re not getting any money because the other members of the pool think that gambling is wrong?

16. What will it be like in January when Budweiser has replaced their NFL beer cap promotion with a “Your Favourite Golfer” bottle cooler, and you have Phil Mickelson’s goofy smile eyeing you while you drink?

17. What will it be like when you start dreaming of John Madden’s voice and you always wake up with a warm feeling afterwards?

18. What will it be like when you gather together all the money you saved up over the year and spend it on a trip to Pittsburgh just to break into Heinz Field and get a taste of the grass to make sure it is still real?

19. What will it be like in the beginning of February, when you are holding a party for the “Tostitos Bowl” for college football, insisting to your friends that it’s “pretty much as important” as the Super Bowl?

20. What will it be like on Valentine’s Day of 2012, when all you want as a gift is for Brett Favre to return to the sport, because when he was there everything just felt right?

21. What will it be like when your Madden 2011 game stops working because you ACTUALLY overplayed it?

22. What will it be like when you decide to drop out of school and travel to see NFL commissioner Roger Goodell because you have discovered how to fix the current Collective Bargaining Agreement?

23. What will it be like when you need to be checked into a psychiatric clinic for a few days because you can’t remember what a spiral looks like?

24. What will it be like when you begin a ventriloquism act with a Tom Brady dummy for September 2012 because there is still no football?

25. What will it be like getting sentenced to life for the murder of Bill Belichick, because he was behind all of this?

Well… Maybe it’s best not to reach that point… I miss you, NFL.

Love/Hate the column? Let him know how you feel at thecampus.sports@gmail.com or follow his blog at “sportsventer.tumblr.com”

The Lady Gaiters basketball season can best be described as a rocky road. They had tremendous results early, rough patches of losses mid-season, and a finish to the year which left them on the brink of winning crucial games.  Missing the playoffs by one game is not the ideal way to close a season; but the Gaiters showed growth throughout the process.

Completing CIS play with a record of 8-18, it should not be overlooked how outstanding the team performed early on. They strung together four straight wins in exhibition play, beating the likes of Winnipeg, Laurentian, Memorial, and Carleton.

Quebec League Play proved to be a different challenge all on its own. With top competitors such as McGill and UQAM leading the way, the young team sometimes found themselves overmatched in way of rebounds and discipline.

“We’re the smallest team in the country,” said coach Alex Perno. Perno acknowledged the team’s dubious struggles with rebounds all season long while also pointing out that the Gaiters have “one of the nation’s best defences.”

Perno talked about the Gaiters’ quickness as its strong suit, citing three one point losses through the course of the season as testament to how competitive the squad truly is.

Not only is the women’s basketball team the smallest size wise, they were also the youngest women’s squad in all of Canada. Although youth and inexperience are factors in success, it would be too easy to blame losses on those factors.

Perno discussed how they were addressing size on the team with the upcoming recruits expecting to join the crew in the 2011/2012 season. Although they fell just shy of the playoffs this season, Perno remains hopeful.

“We’re aiming to win the provincials next year,” he said.

Best Win of the Season:

Bishop’s over Carleton, 59-54

A defeat over Carleton exemplifies how talented skill wise and gritty defensively the Lady Gaiters are. Carleton dominated their conference in regular season play with a stifling 18-4 record. That didn’t stop the Gaiters from knocking them off in an early CIS exhibition contest, winning on the road no less.

Toughest Loss of the Season:

Laval over Bishop’s 69-68

Their Winter Homecoming game against Laval had all the makings of a storybook ending to the season. Unfortunately, the Gaiters could not hold on to a 12 point lead in the final quarter of the game, and could not connect with an inbounds pass on their final play of regulation.

Best Newcomer of the Season:

Perno made it quite clear: “All of our newcomers brought something this year, and are committed to being a student athlete.”

If you could name one as the biggest contributor however, it would be hard to overlook Bailey Trafford, who as a rookie scored nearly 7 points a game, and shot over 50% from the field all season long.

Where are you from and when did you first start playing basketball?

I am from Val-d’Or. Quebec and I first started to play basketball at the age of 12 in grade 7.

As the team’s season is now over, how would you evaluate the Gaiters basketball team and how your group fared this season?

We unfortunately started to play our style of basketball a little too late in the season which is aggressive, fast, and disciplined. We also became a sound unit as a team towards the end and I believe that if all these elements would have been put together earlier in the season, we would have had a lot of success. Our basketball team has so much talent and playing with these girls is just amazing. I hate saying this but I think that we were also unlucky at times.

You’ve just earned your third straight All-star honors, reaching the second All-star team of the QUBL. What does it mean to you to receive this honor?

Good question. I have never thought about it! I am obviously very happy to receive the honor and in recognition of all my teammates who assist in my success and help me to achieve the things I have.

After struggling with injuries for much of last season, how were you able to come back and compete so strongly this year, both offensively and defensively?

I put a lot of effort in the off-season to get healthier and stronger. Last summer was crucial for me since I missed so much at the end of last year. Being injured was one of the worst experiences for me. Even though I learned a lot from it, I wanted to put all the chances on my side and make sure it would not happen again. Injuries can happen at any point of the year and to any player. Training and lifting I think helped me to avoid injuries in the future.

Describe your style of play on the court.

Running is beautiful basketball, so as a point guard I’m trying as much as possible to push the ball to get easy baskets on the other side of the court. Also, I’m always looking to be as aggressive as possible on whoever I’m guarding on defense. I love analyzing the game, either in my defense or offense and my position allows me to do so. The biggest change in my style of play this year is that I was able to shoot the ball more than previous years since driving was becoming hard for me because the other teams know what older players like myself like to do.

You are currently a nominee for the Tracy Mcleod Award, given to the CIS basketball athlete that shows excellent determination, spirit, and perseverance. What would it mean to you if you were to win such an award?

I would be really happy obviously if I was able to win. I was not even aware of the award until getting nominated, so I would be really excited if something like that happened for me.

The team had many highs and lows this past season. Where do you think the Gaiters team most needs to improve to compete at a high level?

Since our team does not have one player who can do everything on the court, we have to play well together as a team at all times. If one of us was not focused or forgot a detail, the other team was making us pay. So details were really crucial for our team (defensively and offensively). Rebounds also hurt us really badly, while other games it was turnovers or defense. So as I said before, there is a lot of talent in this team and when we are focused and we do the things we do best we are one of the best teams in the country. We proved it earlier in the season. So basically, details make a huge difference in our game.

Lastly, what are your plans after Bishop’s? Do you plan to continue playing basketball?

Another good question. I am really not sure. I would absolutely love to play in Europe since I never get tired of playing basketball. However, I will also be done my degree in teaching so I could also see myself starting my life as a real adult with responsibilities and hopefully making some money. So I have some plans in mind and I will go with the best one when the moment comes.

As college basketball’s NCAA tournament approaches, I can’t help but feel reminded of the three weeks of the year that madness comes in the form of sport.

While the college basketball regular season plays out for a few months before this prestigious event, some fail to understand the magnitude of such an occasion: this year, a 68 team draw of teams filled with hundreds of athletes, our age, competing for glory, without the incentive of pay. It is sport in its most genuine limelight.

What many do not realize is the difficulty, not just to succeed in this tournament, but to even reach it to begin with. While 68 teams are to be included, close to 300 are turned away on a selection day where some of the best basketball analysts in the world decide who is in, and who is out.

Then it all begins. And believe me, EVERY year something extraordinary happens. I can vividly remember sitting idly in front of the TV back in March of 2007, my bracket filled out in my hand, as I viewed the spectacle that was a Drake and Western Kentucky first round score-fest. As three ball after three ball meshed through the nets, I pumped my fists in joy, or thumped the couch in anger. Then came the dramatic finish.

As the second overtime neared a close, Drake (my pick) was clinging to a 99-98 lead with mere seconds on the clock. Western Kentucky in-bounded the ball to a young guard named Ty Rogers. He raced down the right side of the court, fired a three point prayer from 26 feet out, and buried it. I buried my hands in my face.

But it could have been worse. After all, what had I just witnessed? A record breaking game as it turned out, with a bewildering 30 three pointers produced from both teams. It seemed fitting it should end on another one. Even more important to witness was the greatest moment in this young basketball player’s life, as I watched him get ambushed by his teammates on the court.

This is the beauty of the March Madness. Three weeks of hectic, improbable, sensational games with unpredictable, sometimes unbelievable results.

As analysts on sports stations examine each and every team, trying to decipher who should win which game, where the upsets should occur, who’s the perennial favourite, it sometimes makes me chuckle. They don’t have an easy job.

After all, who is to predict that a team such as Western Kentucky, who had missed the NCAA tournament the previous four years, would beat Drake University, a team who had an extraordinary 18 game winning streak during the regular season, and earned a #5 seed in the tournament?

Well, it was no shock to me that it happened. After all, it’s no secret to those who follow the bracket religiously that #5 seeds lose roughly 30% of first round games. But hey, maybe the stats don’t matter. I guess it was just bad luck that my two #12 seeds failed to produce upsets that year.

The real allure of the March Madness tournament lies in quantity of choice each basketball day. Not to rip on playoff hockey, baseball, or basketball (3 of my favourite sports to watch), but isn’t everything just a bit more exciting when it’s one-game sudden death? Although overwhelming at times, following 16 games in one day can be quite the thrill.

Players can’t afford to come out having a “bad day”, play lacklustre defence and get away with it, or miss free throws at opportune times and just hope it doesn’t cost them. One basket is often the difference between a celebratory ambush at half court for one team, and tears of disbelief on the bench of the other.

To keep myself from rambling for another 20 pages about my favourite tournament, let me leave you with some words of advice. When you’re watching the tournament this month, and the guard on your team misses that free throw to tie the game, and your bracket is wrecked for the rest of the tournament, put yourself in his shoes. We’ve all messed up before. He’s just doing it in front of millions of people. And after all, he’s just another university student like you.

Barry Bonds has always been a man trapped within his own skin; no one else around him matters. The outside world is simply full of decoys and people standing in his way. If your name is not Barry Bonds, you don’t matter. And cheating doesn’t matter. Steroids don’t matter. Lying to federal officials doesn’t matter. Because he’s Barry Bonds.

Bonds’ federal case of perjury is set to go to trial March 21st. He faces five felony charges including making false statements regarding steroid use to federal officials.

But what does Bonds care? He has an excellent attorney, all the money in the world, and is the all-time homerun king. These other matters are trivial. Because he’s Barry Bonds.

Barry Bonds was never well liked. Playing among a field of happy-go-lucky personalities like Ken Griffey Jr., American story boys like Mark McGwire, or even the Dominican sensation Sammy Sosa left Bonds forgettable. He couldn’t form a relationship with the media, he didn’t have friends, and he gave short, uninteresting responses in press conferences. If the conversation subject swayed away from the topic of him, he left the room.

But Bonds was quietly the best baseball player of the 1990s. He hit homeruns in flurries, routinely stole bases, and showed off prowess in the outfield with his speed and arm. He transformed the usually brooding Pittsburgh Pirates fan base into an ecstatic, enthused baseball city.

Yet, when there was conflict, there was Barry Bonds. Locker room turmoil, frustrated ball players, and the puzzled media could often be found around the man who needed to be the center of attention.

Nothing changed when Bonds left in 1993 for the San Francisco Giants. He was the same egomaniac. He was the same miserable, spoiled child playing a man’s game. And he was still as great as ever. Bonds promptly won his second MVP with the Giants in 1993, cracking 43 homers and 123 RBIs for the year. In 1996 he went into unprecedented territory by hitting over 40 homeruns and stealing 40 bases in the same season. By 1998, he became the first athlete in baseball to hit 400 homers and steal 400 bases in a career.

But it wasn’t enough for Bonds. While he played incredible baseball for an average ball club, others stole the spotlight. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both mesmerized crowds from game to game, hitting homerun bombs and both shattering the single season record of 61. McGwire would set the record with an unheard of 70 homeruns in 1998.

In secret, Bonds fumed with jealousy. He knew their secret: steroids. Some were over-the-counter drugs, others were obtained illegally. Regardless, the performance enhancers had baseballs travelling an extraordinary distance, and the muscles of players bulging from the veins.

The Barry Bonds everyone knew would undergo a transformation that offseason; one that changed the face of the game forever.

Bonds returned after the offseason for the 1999 season having trained harder than ever before. The change was evident. Bonds was jacked. But it wasn’t just the muscle mass; his entire appearance and demeanour were different. His head had grown a full helmet size larger, his back was covered in acne, and off the field he had a short temper. Steroids were in full effect. The dividends were about to come.

Bonds began to dominate offensively. 2001 was his breakout season. His homerun production was through the roof. He hit 17 in May alone, drew 177 walks for the season and by the end of the season, he had broken McGwire’s single-season record set just three years earlier. Bonds finished with 73.

The extraordinary numbers, records, and MVPs would continue to pile up. Bonds was defying the odds. As he aged, he got stronger and more powerful. Pitchers cringed at the thought of facing him in crucial situations. He was issued walks relentlessly.

By 2007, Bonds was in sight of Hank Aaron’s all time homerun record.  On August 7th of that year, Bonds broke the infamous 755, hitting a homerun off pitcher Mike Bacsik. He was the new King. He closed the season with 762, the number which still stands today.

Everything came crashing down for Bonds just a few months later. He was indicted on four counts of perjury for lying about steroids to federal officials.

Quickly, Bonds was pushed out of the spotlight. A forgotten enigma.

Now, a case that has waited three and a half years to commence, will finally begin.

But it’s too late. Bonds has broken Hank Aaron’s record. He holds countless others. He has accomplished everything imaginable as a hitter.

Can justice be served? No. Sure, Bonds may see prison for six months. But it’s not likely. He may feel remorse but you’d never know it.

There is only one just ruling that can change the life and career of Bonds: a face to face apology to Hank Aaron.

And that will never happen. Why? Because he’s Barry Bonds.