Hawkstock and Two Smoking Barrels II

Back to back barrels? The Writer’s Guild strike, the NBA, Hallowe’en? There must be lots on my mind…

When presented with the timeless question, ‘Which would you rather hear?’ I always go for the good stuff.  So here it is: the Writer’s Guild strike looks like it will halt production of ‘The View.’ 

Is Mike Myers thinking, ‘It worked for the Red Sox, maybe it’ll work for the Maple Leafs?’  I’m referring to the timeless 2005 sports classic ‘Fever Pitch,’ starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore and its story of the cursed Boston baseballers.  Now Myers has penned and is starring in ‘The Love Guru,’ a story about how the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup because their star player finds lost love.  If nothing else, at least it stars ‘Mini Me’ (Vern Troyer) as the Leafs’ coach.  It is believed that the villain in the film is ‘actual hockey talent.’

Last week, fireball throwing pitcher Joel Zumaya hurt his shoulder moving a box.  Would it be bizarre if this week a boxer hurt himself while playing with fire?

Homemade Hallowe’en costumes just seem a little bit cooler than store bought ones.

Random job you don’t hear much about these days: cobbler.

So the Saskatchewan Party, led by premier Brad Wall won the provincial election.  That’s two provinces with nontraditional parties in charge (Quebec).  My bet is Alberta is next to follow suit, then the Maritimes. 

The turn of the century was the first time in recent memory that the WGA went on strike and since then, it seems to me that Hollywood has mostly made biopics, animated movies, and a load of brutal remakes.  Chaplin, Great Balls of Fire, and Private Parts used to pop up on the moviegoers landscape once in a while.  Now it seems as if one or two ‘lifestories’ anchor the awards season (Hurricane, Man on the Moon, Walk the Line, Ray, The Queen, for instance).  Was this because the less imaginative writers finally got hired? Do actor’s just love starring roles?

A tale of two actor/basketball players.  As of this morning, 5 teams from the NBA’s Eastern Conference’s 2007 play-offs are out of contention and the lot sits at 4-17.  Pull up your socks Shaq, and enjoy your new teammates Ray Allen.

When I think of all the beautiful looking Dutch people in the world, for some reason, the VanGundy’s don’t come to mind.

This is the last time that I mention the WGA.  I promise.  To me, it seems that because of good writers we get shows like Arrested Development, The Office, 30 Rock and some excellent late night talk shows.  Without them, I foresee more World According to Jim clones.

I’m not in favour of New England showing poor sportsmanship by running up the score, but I am glad that they are exposing two problems that plague pro sports.  The Patriots are showing how expansion dilutes the talent pool and they are showing how making the right personnel moves rewards a team.  Give Brady weapons and voila!

Karma? CBC broadcast a Raptors’ game for the first time on Sunday, November 4th.  It was blacked out down east and instead a movie was shown.  Later, a fire broke out at CBC Halifax.  No boxers were involved.