The SRC’s General Elections are coming up pretty soon. Nominations for the positions of President and the Vice-Presidents (Social, Academic, and Student Affairs) all open today, January 30, beginning at 9am.

Interested in running, but not sure what it entails? Have a look over the SRC’s job descriptions, and pick up your nomination form in the SUB building’s SRC office.

President

Department: Students’ Representative Council
Term of Employment: May2012 – April 2013
Salary: $11,000 annually, paid in bimonthly installments.

Job Summary:The SRC President is the elected chief executive officer of the Students’ Representative Council of Bishop’s University – overseeing the general management of the four major SRC departments (Social, Student Affairs, Academics, and Operations/Finance), all sub-departments. The SRC President represents the student body on the Board of Governors of Bishop’s University. The President oversees all SRC operations, events, and student representation. The President sits as chair of the Executive Cabinet (President, Director of Finance & Operations, VP Social, VP Academic, VP Student Affairs) of the SRC and is responsible (in consultation with other SRC members) for setting meeting dates, and all broad-scale organizational duties. The SRC President will also act as the general liaison between the student body and BU Admin and Faculty.

Requirements:

- Must be a full-time or part-time degree student at Bishop’s University, enrolled for 2012-13
- Must be present at Bishop’s University from May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013

Nature of Duties and Responsibilities

- Providing both overall and departmental vision throughout the SRC, in consultation with the SRC General Assembly.
- Hiring of Orientation week and Winterfest Coordinators (Committee)
- Oversight and management of all SRC events, including Frosh and Winterfest
- Hiring of SRC Director of Finance & Operations (Committee)
- Chair of weekly Executive Cabinet meetings
- Chair of Frosh, Frost and Winterfest Organization Committees
- Ex-officio chair of Committee on Life at the University (Standing Board Committee)
- Management and oversight of all student representative positions at the university
- Management of four SRC departments and staff – Social, Student Affairs, Academic, and Finance/Ops
- Liaison between Bishop’s University administration and student body
- Ensuring adherence with SRC Constitution in all practices
- Acting as media representative between BUSRC and outside parties

Recommended Skills and Abilities

- Communication – English language verbal and written, French communication skills an asset
- Interpersonal and teamwork skills
- Highly organized and self-motivated
- Strong multi-tasking capabilities
- Experience in event management an asset

Vice President Student Affairs

Department: Students’ Representative Council
Term of Employment: May 2012 – Apri l2013
Salary: $8,000 paid in bimonthly installments beginning in May, plus other benefits.

Job Summary: As an electedmember of the SRC Executive Cabinet, the Vice-President Student Affairs (VPSA) is chiefly responsible for protecting and advocating for therights and interests of the student bodyon a variety of university committees and within the community at large. The VPSA is responsible for addressing all non-academic complaints to the SRC, gathering data about students’ interests, organizing the Exam Care package drive, and organizing the annual Student Forum. The VPSA also manages a team of four student affairs representatives (SARs)manages the Clean Community Team (CCT) and acts as the generalliaison between the SRC and the Directors of Student Services, as well as the office of the Dean of Student Affairs.
Requirements:

- Must be a full-time or part-time degree student at Bishop’s University, enrolled for 2012-13
- Must be present at Bishop’s University from May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013

Nature of Duties and Responsibilities:
- Advocate for students’ rights and interests in committee meetings with administration, faculty, and other student group stakeholders
- Coordinate and manage four student affairs representatives (two on-campus, two off-campus), who assist the VPSA primarily in protecting and advocating for students’ interests on university committees, and assist in the gathering of data about student interests.
Committee list: – Committee for Life at the University (CLU) (bi-monthly)
- Student Services Directors Committee (bi-monthly)
- Buildings Committee (monthly)
- Dining Committee (monthly)
- Parking Committee (monthly)
- Joint Health and Safety Committee (monthly)
- Sustainable Development and Land Use Committee (monthly)
- Residence Assistant (R.A.) Hiring Committee (annually)
- Other various hiring committees (as needed)
- Gather information and data from the student body to help the SRC properly advocate students’ interests in all SRC departments.
- Coordinate and manage the Clean Community Team.
- Inform the SRC General Assembly of developments in committee work as necessary.
- Formulate SRC policiesin collaboration with other members of Executive Cabinet.
- Support all other SRC executive members, as needed, in the planning and management of their departments.
- Attendmeetings with SRC stakeholders (university administrators, city councillors, landlords, and other members of the Bishop’s community) as required to represent students interests.
- Organize initiatives to deal with unmet student needs, example: September Bus trip to the mall to help new students.
- Keeping written notice of policy changes/ developments throughout the year.
Recommended Skills:
- Ability to assume the leadership role when required
- Good interpersonal skills
- English language – oral and written
- French communication skills are an asset
- Ability to work in groups and individually
- Self-motivated and organized

Vice President of Social Affairs

Department: Students’ Representative Council
Term of Employment: May 2012 – April 2013
Salary: $8,000 paid in bimonthly installments beginning in May, plus other benefits.

Job Summary: The Vice-President Social Affairs (VPS) is an elected positionwhoseresponsibilities focus on meeting the socialneeds of the student body. The VPS is responsible for supervising the activities andbudgets of social clubs and their club heads. The VPS reviews social club reports to access the financial needs of the Social department. The VPS organizes and execute various events that appeal to the entire Student body, and is involved in the organization of all social events related to the SRC.
Requirements:

- Must be a full-time or part-time degree student at Bishop’s University, enrolled for 2012-13
- Must be present at Bishop’s University from May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013

Nature of Duties
- The VPS shall be responsible for overseeing all non-academic SRC events both on campus and off campus, that are not expressly under the jurisdiction of another VP
- The VPS shall be a member and chair the Graduation Committee and the Winterfestcommittee.
- The VPS is responsible for the organization of volunteers in SRC Social Events such as, Orientation Weeks, Winterfest, bus trips, fundraisers, grad formal and other events.
- The VPS is a member of the Committee for Life at the University (CLU)
- The VPS, with assistance from the executive cabinet, is responsible for organizing activitieswhich will improve the reputation of Bishop’s students within the wider Sherbrooke community.
- The VPS shall act as manager of the Student Events Coordinators and shall report to the executive cabinet and general assembly on their progress.
- The VPS shall chair the Student Events advisory committee, which shall consist of the four (4) Student Events Coordinators with the express purpose of ensuring that the SRC organizes and offers a wide range of socially stimulating activities, having both entertainment and cultural value, to the student body
- The VPS is responsible for overseeing all SRC clubs and working with the SRC Director of Finance & Operations to allocate funding to each club during each semester and administer the club bylaws.
- The VPS shall chair the SRC Clubs Committee, consisting of all SRC clubheads, which shall meet at least once a semester, with the express purpose of ensuring communication, coordination, and supporting clubs.
- The VPS shall be responsible for recruiting student volunteers to assist with SRC activities and shall maintain the SRC’s volunteer database and will also administer the SRC volunteer passport program.
- The VPS will organize at least three (3) club days, (one in the fall for first yearstudents, one in the fall for all students and one in the winter for all students), for clubs to showcase their activities and recruit members.
- The VPS shall act as an advisor to the Orientation Board during the planning of Orientation Week and will act as a coordinator at the activities throughout the week.
- The VPS must submit an end-of-year report to the newly-elected VPS at the final executive cabinet meeting of the year.
Useful Experience
- Formal leadership experience
- Event planning
Recommended Skills
- High level of self-efficacy
- Exceptional Interpersonal skills
- Highly developed organizational skills
- English language – oral and written
- Basic math skills
- French communication skills are an asset
- Photoshop skills are a useful but not crucial asset

Vice President Academic Affairs

Department: Students’ Representative Council
Term of Employment: May 2012 – April 2013
Salary: $8,000, paid in bimonthly instalments beginning in May, plus other benefits.

Job Summary: As an elected member of the SRC Executive Cabinet, the VP Academic is a voting member of the General Assembly and the Executive Cabinet of the SRC. The VP Academic oversees the operations of the Academic Affairs team, which is comprised of six Student Senators representing the five departments and schools in the university, as well as part-time students. The Academic Affairs team, including the VP Academic are all voting member on the Bishop’s University Senate, and the various senate committees. The VP Academic shall also sit on the Admissions Policy and Academic Standing Committee, as well as the Senate Planning Committee. The VP Academic shall chair the William and Nancy Turner Teaching Award committee.
Requirements:

- Must be a full-time or part-time degree student at Bishop’s University, enrolled for 2012-13
- Must be present at Bishop’s University from May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013

Nature of Duties and Responsibilities:
- Management of six senators and the day-to-day functions of the Academic Affairs office.
- Organize and chair a meeting with the six student senators to discuss agenda items and develop the position of the team prior to the SRC General Assembly meeting.
- Organize and chair a meeting with the six student senators to discuss agenda items and discuss how to best represent students prior to senate meetings.
- Report to the SRC any actions, decisions and discussions of senate.
- Consult with the members of the SRC Executive Cabinet on the direction and policies of the SRC
- Raise awareness of academic initiative occurring on campus.
- Organize and facilitate academic events occurring on campus, including academic debates.
- Manage the budget for all SRC academic clubs, and communicate with the respective club heads.
- Manage the SRC academic grant budget.
- Support all other SRC members in planning, management, and execution of their operations.
- Collaborate with the Orientation Week coordinators and academic administration to plan and execute academic events during Orientation Week, including Academic Orientation.
- Support the Orientation Week Coordinators with the planning, preparation, and execution of social events.
- Meet regularly with key members of administration and maintain a general understanding of university policies and current initiatives.
Recommended Skills:
- Ability to assume the leadership role when required.
- Good interpersonal skills
- English Language – oral and written
- French communication skills are an asset.
- Ability to work in groups and individually

Director of Finance & Operations

Department: Students’ Representative Council
Term of Employment: May 2012 – April 2013
Salary: $11,000 annually, paid in bimonthly installments.

Job Summary: As a hired member of the SRC Executive Cabinet, the Director of Finance & Operations (DFO) is chiefly responsible for the organization of all the SRC’s financials, and the top level supervision of all SRC operations, which include the Doolittle’s General Store, The Gait (campus bar), The Quad (yearbook) ,both Orientation weeks, BU Winterfest, and any other financial investment made by the SRC. The DFO also acts a student representative on various university committees, as delegated by the SRC President,to promot eand protect student interests.
Requirements:

- Must be a full-time or part-time degree student at Bishop’s University, enrolled for 2012-13
- Must be present at Bishop’s University from May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013

Nature of Duties and Responsibilities:
- Creation ofthe SRC annual budget, in collaboration with the SRC Executive Cabinet(President, VP Academic, VP Social, VP Student Affairs), and the SRC General Manager
- Create, respect,and implement all financial policies with the collaboration of the SRC Executive Cabinet and General Manager.
- Hire all managers for SRC operations, and oversee the hiring process of their staff.
- Revise contracts for all management positions of the SRC’s operations.
- In collaboration with the SRC Executive Cabinet,the General Manager and the managers of each SRC operation respectively, lead the development of short and long term strategies for each operation.
- Support all other SRC executive members, as needed, in the planning and management of their respective departments.
- Provide overall direction, feedback, and support to the managers of each individual SRC operation.
- Supervise the activities of the managers of each individual SRC operation to ensure decisions are being made that are congruent with the SRC’s overall mission and values.
- Assist the SRC General Manager with the day-to-day accounting duties.
- Provide financial advice and feedback to the SRC Executive Cabinet and General Assembly.
- Provide financial updates and operation reports at the SRC General Assembly meetings.
- Attendmeetings with SRC stakeholders (university administrators, city councillors, landlords, and other members of the Bishop’s community) as required to represent students interests.
Minimum Educational Requirements:
- 2nd year business student (Concentrations in accounting, finance, human resources and/or general business management are an asset)
Experience Required:
- Background in bartending, retail sales, and/or the service industry is an asset.
- Experience working with financial statements is an asset
- Management experience is a highly valued asset.
- Experience in event management and/or coordination is an asset.
- Involvement in various extra-curricular activities at Bishop’s is an asset
Knowledge required:
- Financial literacy in budgeting, basic accounting, and forecasting.
- Knowledge of Word and Excel.
- Knowledge of POS systems is an asset.
Skills Required:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- English Language – verbal and written
- Excellent math skills
- French communication skills are an asset
NOTE: This position is not an elected position that will be hired during SRC Elections. Applications will be accepted the week of February 27 – March 2. Required Cover Letter, CV and one reference letter from a Bishop’s staff or faculty member and two other references who will be contacted upon selection for an interview.
Knowledge required:
- Financial literacy in budgeting, basic accounting, and forecasting.
- Knowledge of Word and Excel.
- Knowledge of POS systems is an asset.
Skills Required:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- English Language – verbal and written
- Excellent math skills
- French communication skills are an asset

Bishop’s Student Representative Council has heavily invested in this year’s welcome weekend, proven from the marketing and name change.  “Carnival seems more associated with what’s just outside,” explained the SRC’s Director of Finance and Operations, Nick Venditti. “We wanted the name to reflect better the spirit of the event.”

There is a strong reflection of an inside and outside mix to the weekend this year, notably with a concert by Toronto electronic duo Zeds Dead, who are booked to play at the Gait on Sat., Jan. 21.  Following a talented performance by Classified last year, Venditti and the team of student organizers stumbled across Zeds Dead by word-of-mouth from the students.  Venditti describes their pitch to the band as “a shot in the dark,” though a successful one nonetheless. At press time 200 tickets to the concert were sold, with an increase in the last few days.

Other highlights of the four days include a day trip for skiing and/or water sliding at Jay’s Peak in Vermont, a rock tribute band, a traditional Quebecois breakfast, and the return of the highly anticipated Rail Jam.

This year some serious upgrading –and a serious boost from the SRC- has expanded the Rail Jam of yesteryear from “kind of a big deal” to “one hell of a big deal”.  This year’s set-up moved from student-constructed to professionally-built.  While the liability is down, the costs are up – from $4000 last year to over $9000- the SRC hopes with a new campaign and a ton of activities, it’ll be just the way to savour the snow this weekend.

Medical marijuana has been used on hospital patients in order to improve chronic symptoms, stimulate appetite and offer an improved state of mind, but what long term effects does pot have on your average stoner?

A research conducted by the American Medical Association, studying more than 5, 000 pot users over the course of 20 years, reveals that marijuana may not be as damaging to the average individual as it is represented to be.

The sample of individuals studied that participated in marijuana consumption about 2-3 times per month showed no significant decrease in lung function, in fact it appears to have had the opposite effect. As pot smokers usually hold the inhaled smoke in their lungs to increase the “high”, the study also demonstrated an increase in lung capacity and a strengthening in lung tissue if practiced over a long period of time.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC, the active substance in marijuana, may also be to blame for this seemingly positive outcome. THC has anti-inflammatory characteristics and is known to combat lung irritants. Past studies have failed to confirm a link between marijuana use and the development of fatal diseases.

These findings did although reveal that while occasional pot smokers do not show any signs of pulmonary damage, frequent marijuana users of up to 20 times or more per month did show a decrease in lung function. Although these results were nothing in comparison to the adverse lung damage and fatal cardiac and pulmonary diseases caused by smoking tobacco products.

Stefan Kertesz, a professor at the University of Alabama, states that while the risks of smoking the occasional joint may seem low, users should take into account the possibility of addiction and remain aware of the dangers of driving under the influence.

However, for many Canadians the tournament was a major disappointment. It was the first time since 2001 thatCanadadid not participate in the gold medal game, and as it was in a tournament that supposedly only matters to Canadians, this is not a good thing.

What hurt the Canadians early on was the loss of big power-forward Devante Smith-Pelly, who had to take an early exit from the tournament after suffering a fractured foot in the first game of the tournament. However, the team’s overall indiscipline throughout the tournament is what really cost the junior team a chance for gold.

TeamCanadaaveraged just below six minor penalties per game and had the highest total of penalty minutes of the tournament with 115. This lack of discipline was especially obvious during the game of the tournament:CanadaagainstRussia. During that game, the Canadian club dug themselves into a 6-1 hole going into the third period, two of those Russian goals coming off the powerplay.Canadadid mount a miracle comeback, scoring four goals in the third period, but it was too little too late. During that game,Canadaaccumulated a whopping 45 minutes of penalties, highlighted by Oshawa Generals forward Boone Jenner’s ejection for spearing an opponent in the second period.

Sweden avenges Canada

In the gold medal game, which pittedSwedenagainstRussia, the Swedes made millions of Canadians happy by beating the Russians in thrilling fashion, with Ottawa Senators prospect Mika Zibanejad scoring the game’s only goal in overtime.

Swedendominated the game, managing 58 shots on net while allowing only 17 on their own goaltender. Russian goaltender Andrei Makarov was the only reason that his team had a chance to win, asRussiaonly managed a grand total of four shots on net after the first two periods of play.

Summary of the Tournament

Despite the disappointment of not winning gold, our Canadian team performed admirably in the tournament; and let’s face it, 14 straight years with a medal is still an impressive streak. All that’s left to do now is either drink in celebration of the bronze, or drink until we forget that we didn’t get the gold…

Marianne Aya-Omac has been captivating audiences with her unique musical mélange for years. She will be bringing her blend of French, English, Spanish and Gypsy-infused beats to Centennial Theater next in what is sure to be an exhilarating show.

Aya- Omac has been busily honing her musical skills since she was nine years old. Originally a student of the piano, things changed when she first heard the inimitable stylings of Joan Baez. Discovering Baez compelled Aya-Omac to pick up a guitar, and she has never looked back.

In 1992 Aya-Omac started performing for passersby on the streets of Montpellier, France. 300 days a year, Aya-Omac could be found playing for those who would listen, while consequently developing her singing voice. It was at this time that she also started to explore gospel music through her involvement in the “Gospelize it Mass Choir.” Extensive travelling in Latin America, along with immersing herself in the sound and culture of the Gypsy neighborhood in Montpellier, gave rise to the rich and soulful sound that Aya-Omac is known for today.

As a singer, songwriter and guitarist, Aya-Omac has carved out a successful career for herself. This includes a strong fan base in France and two self-produced LPs, which have sold more than 20,000 copies. Currently living in Montreal, Aya-Omac has released her second full length album, Solo. In a full circle career moment, Aya-Omac met Baez in 2009 at the International Guitar Festival. They have since developed a strong relationship, with Baez performing alongside Aya-Oman on the track “Duele.” Solo was also released, in part, with the help of Baez and her son, Gabriel Harris.

With her stand out voice and folksy undertones accompanying her world sound, Aya-Omac has transcended the constraints of genres and made them her own. Adding her vocals and lyrics to reflect a humanist message, it is easy to feel the passion and love for the craft of creating music that lie behind each song.

Riding high off her second solo release and a career affirming collaboration with the woman who inadvertently inspired it all, 2012 is sure to be full of great things for Aya-Omac.

Marrianne Aya-Omac

Friday, January 27, 8pm

www.centennialtheatre.ca

Mr. Tebow as a quarterback is really not impressive. As an athlete he is extremely impressive considering his strength, size and agility, but those are not key attributes to being a successful quarterback in the NFL. His regular season rating falls at 75.1, which for those who don’t know much about ratings are very low. He rarely finishes a game above 50% in completions, which is quite sad considering he’s not even throwing nearly as much as many QB’s around the league.

The one fact that even Tim Tebow’s biggest haters cannot deny is that Tim Tebow finds ways to win. The term “Tebow Time” was not created for any reason. When there is a close game on the line with little time left he often finds ways to score. This weekly occurrence became so familiar for the Broncos after a couple of his last minute wins that the team started to game plan around keeping the games close until the end so Tebow could go to work and make the opponents nervous. Even though I am not a very big Tim Tebow fan, even I can’t deny his ability to win games.

The final area for criticism about this religious man is his self. We all know he has “the pose” which has become his sign of recognition amongst the public. Some may dislike him because he is extremely religious, compared to the average person, but some may like him because he introduces a new genre of athlete in the NFL. He was recently votedAmerica’s favourite athlete, which is not a huge surprise, considering the amount of publicity he has been receiving over this season.

The most discussed athlete this season has been Tim Tebow, without a doubt. The reason is still a mystery to me, because there are many rookie quarterbacks putting up better stats and ratings and many veteran quarterbacks breaking records. This being said, Tebow is now viewed asAmerica’s golden boy and he has become the ideal role model. The fact that he does not possess great quarterback skills is practically invisible to many people because the big stat (wins/loses) is getting him a lot of publicity and recognition. Whether you are a fan of him or not, there is most definitely one thing everyone can agree upon; Tim Tebow knows how to win, and is the most prominent reason the Broncos have made it pass the first round in the playoffs.

The Bishop’s Men’s Hockey club took to the ice on Saturday night in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the W.B. Scott Arena. The men did not disappoint, putting on a great show for the fans, putting up 7 goals to beat McMaster with a final score of 7-3.

Before hitting home ice on Saturday, the team traveled to Brockville to compete in the Ninth Annual St. Lawrence College River Dogs Men’s Hockey Tournament on Thursday and Friday.

Led by head coach Kevin Gagnon, assistant coaches Tim Steele Moore, Andrew Manouk, and Matt Purdy, as well as trainer Roberto Menezes, the men faced off against Sudbury’s College Boreal for their first game on Thursday. The men finished the first period with a 1-1 tie. Gagnon stepped in with a new game plan for the team, leading Bishop’s to a huge recovery, outshooting Boreal 35-10 and finishing with a 6-1 win.

Bishop’s went on to play McMaster in their second game of the tournament. Leading 1-0 until the final minutes of the game, McMaster put away a bouncing puck in front of the BU net to tie the score.

The game went to a four-man shootout to determine the win. Gagnon had Justin Taylor shoot first with Chris Mathews, Mike Dube and Luke Armstrong following. A goal from Mathews and a game winning five-hole shot from Armstrong secured the win for BU.

In the deciding game for first place in their division, Bishop’s went up against Humber College on Friday afternoon. Despite outshooting them 22-10, the Gaiters ended their tournament with a 2-1 loss.

“The boys played defensively stellar; all the guys were definitely on board with the game plan”, said Gagnon.

Upon their return to Lennoxville, the Gaiters matched up for the second time against the tournament winner, McMaster, at the W.B. Scott Arena.

The Gaiters produced a great turnout thanks to the efforts of Devin Maule who organized the event for the team.

“The fans were awesome. I was surprised by the great turnout and extremely happy with the enthusiasm for hockey shown by the school.”

Bishop’s dominated the game with two goals from Squire and Mathews, and singles from Armstrong and Fendler, leading the team to a healthy 6-1 score. McMaster showed with a valiant final effort in the last minutes with two fast goals but was unable to make any real comeback. Bishop’s sealed the win with first-year Sean Bacon’s goal, making the final score 7-3.

“All in all it was a huge success, I was nervous going into it. We went into Brockville not knowing what the others teams were going to be like. For playing together for the first time, they adapted quickly and gelled well as a team while sticking to the game plan. I’m proud of what we accomplished this past weekend”, said Gagnon about the team’s overall weekend performance.

Along with Saturday’s game, Maule also put together an opportunity for local elementary school children to come out Sunday morning for a skate with the BU players after a third match up against McMaster.

After a 5-2 win on Sunday morning, the Gaiters stayed on the ice for a skate with the local children. Even the BU mascot participated in the event.

Gagnon noted, “The kids were really excited; they were even asking the guys for autographs.”

After an exciting debut, the team will be working hard to pose as an even bigger threat in February’s tournament taking place in Brantford, Ont.

During the holidays the Gaiters had a few games as well as a tournament hosted by the Citadins de Montreal. Unfortunately for the Gaiters they were unable to get any wins over the break and return to the floor with a 0-4 record.

Two games into the New Year and their record has still not improved. The Gaiters are now in a dire situation. They are at the bottom of the rankings with a 0-6 record. If they want a shot at the playoffs this year a lot of work has to be done, not to mention what will have to be a near perfect second-half of the season.

Before Christmas the men had a tough few games against McGill, UQAM, Laval and Concordia which all resulted in a loss. Their toughest competitor this year has been Laval being one of two teams to achieve victory with a spread of more than twenty points. Otherwise their games have ended with scores that are very often no higher than a fifteen point deficit.

The ladies have fared a little better than the men but not by much. Their record is 2-4 putting them in the fourth spot above UQAM. The past two games ended up in losses against UQAM and McGill. They did, however, manage to get one win during the Windsor Holiday classic tournament against Ryerson.

This Friday will be a double header starting at 6pm for the girls and 8pm for the guys. They will be facing the Citadins of UQAM. Both the guys and the girls have suffered a recent loss to the Citadins and are looking for retribution. Come show your support for your Gaiters Basketball teams this Friday night.

Caron was considered by many who knew him to be one of the most eccentric managers in league history. He absolutely despised the Maple Leafs, as they would always beat his Blues in the playoffs. During one game in the formerMapleLeafGardens, Caron was in the press box, supporting his Blues, when he was asked to calm down by the public relations chief, Bob Stellick, after he threw a chair. The 5-foot-7 Caron promptly challenged Stellick to a fist-fight.

In a 1990 interview with the Globe & Mail’s David Shoalts, Caron said “I’m intense, but I’m not tense. You can’t wind yourself too tightly. I let my emotions out. I’m not going to get ulcers. I’m going to give them.”

And give them he did, especially toMontrealfans. Indeed, he will always be remembered in Habs lore as the guy who dropped the ball on Denis Savard. During the 1980 NHL draft, Caron pulled the trigger on drafting Doug Wickenheiser, touted as the best junior player in Canada, with the first overall pick, missing out on French-speaking Savard (yes, that was important even in the 80’s), who went on to have a stellar career in Chicago, accumulating 1,338 points in his NHL career. Wickenheiser had 276 points.

Then again, the Habs should have seen this coming. While Caron was the head scout for the St-Flanel in 1977, he convinced GM Sam Pollock to draft Mark Napier with the 10^th overall pick despite the pleadings of the head scout forQuebec for them to draft Mike Bossy, who eventually landed with the Islanders. Apparently Caron’s argument was that Bossy “can’t play in Sherbrooke,” which turned out to be a good thing, since Sherbrooke doesn’t have an NHL franchise… yet.

Despite these shortcomings inMontreal, Caron did make it into the history books, although not as glamorously as one could hope. During his tenure as general manager for the St. Louis Blues in the early 1990’s, Caron became the first GM to sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet (the free agent being Scott Stevens), giving up five first round picks as compensation and shocking the hockey world. The next year, he signed Brendan Shanahan, another restricted free agent, from the New Jersey Devils, and Stevens was awarded toNew Jerseyin compensation.

But what “The Professor” will truly be remembered for is his incredible knowledge of hockey, his press box antics, and, most importantly, the passion he brought to the game. The hockey community lost a great member whose flamboyant personality will be missed by many.

When dividing the league into both conferences, in my opinion the Eastern Conference is once again proving to be full of talent. Many of the strong teams are expected to do well, and are proving the public right, such as Chicago andMiamiwho seem unstoppable.  MVP Derrick Rose is not putting up dominant scores every night, but is still proving to be unstoppable when he desires to be.Miamientered the season with last year’s devastating loss in the finals to the Dallas Mavericks still present in their minds, and demonstrated the talent of the team which got them to the finals in the first place, rather than the team who played there. Following those two teams are thePhiladelphia76ers, Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magics.

As far as the western Conference goes, there is one team which seem more dominant in comparison to the others, and that is the young and exceptionally talented Oklahoma City Thunder. With the NBA’s two year leading scorer Kevin Durant still improving and many other young talented players in his supporting cast, the team is looking like a possible candidate to go the whole way. The next in line are the L.A Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs each with impressive records so far.

Although the NBA season has been shortened, there will be plenty of games to watch. In the upcoming months with the hectic schedules the NBA has prepared, there will be games every night of the week for those true fanatics. Even though the season was late to begin I am glad it did and I must admit it was one of the better Christmas days I’ve had in years. Now I just need the Celtics to pick their game up and all will be well…. LET’S GO BOSTON