A Basket Of Bon Bons

OLYMPIC ATHLETES
"Imagine working four years for one moment. This is their Super Bowl. Bigger, even. Such a good lesson for all of us. They work hard for hours a day, day after day, with no one watching. There's no result right away. You can't see the benefit of what you are doing right away.... It's tedious, tiring, regimented. But if you don't do the tedious stuff, you'll never win. That's one of the things the Olympics can teach us all." Lovie Smith, Chicago Bear's Coach

CANADIAN JUNIORS IN KELOWNA -  From Terry Ryan

Here is a link to the junior championship draw starting tomorrow( Aug, 7th ). Looks like they will be posting real-time scores, so you can follow along as the games are played. Looks like all the Peterborough boys are in the same group. One of them should be meeting Cameron Lefrense in the next round, but they have to get by Grant Wilkie, last year's champ, first. The second group also has Robbie Law, the young giant killer, who beat all 3 Ontario boys last year in Montreal.

Other than the Ontario girls, I don't recognize any of the players on the female side. With the gold and silver girls from last year not in attendance, it should be a wide open competition.

http://www.canadianjuniors2012.com/draw

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Canada/ USA Olympic Soccer August 6
• I saw something for the first time tonight. Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen made a game-changing call that incensed the Canadians when they were up 3-2 late in the second half. I have never seen a team in an elite-level game given an indirect free kick in the box for the opposing goalie being deemed to have held onto the ball longer than the six-second time limit. But that's exactly the call Pedersen made against Canadian keeper Erin McLeod. On the ensuing free kick, Rapinoe's blast hit Lauren Sesselmann in the hand, which seemed like a fairly straightforward penalty (though Canadian fans would probably disagree). Wambach nailed the spot kick, but there will be plenty of talk about that eyebrow-raising free kick call. If the referee had warned McLeod before, it might be a bit more understandable. If not, the U.S. most definitely caught a break. Grant Wahl

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/writers/grant_wahl/08/06/olympics-usa-canada/index.html#ixzz22oSB96v2

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 London Olympics: All That Glitters Isn't Necessarily Gold, by Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times.How much is a gold medal worth? Try $708.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics

SPRING CLEANING

Outstanding tournament at Burlington Friday June 25th. Big Bucks in Ontario terms for the winner and I intend to fill my satchel and drag those $500 dollar bills right back to Dresden.

It is the

 VSM Abrasives Canada

122nd O.B.A. Open Singles

Burlington L.B.C.

Double Draw

My nemesis Dave Burrows will suffer the indignity of losing on his home green this year to me. We always play even with the approximate 64 players and an equitable opening game draw. He just gently smiles, tells me good shot even when it isn't and helps me put my bowls in my bag after another defeat.

Not this time, no, not him nor even Ryan Bester. This Bester heard of the big payoff and flew back from Australia thinking I was tied up at another event and wouldn't be on site to 'make my day.'

Well I hope you brought your straight bowls Ryan because you are going to be playing on real greens for a change. I trust you are practicing daily, adhering to your 10 PM curfew and reading the Ontario players scouting reports hoping for a favourable draw. 

Enough of this banter. I'll do my talking with my royal purple bowls fit for a king for the day.

If you love the game of one on one, the make no excuses and take no guff event ,this is where you should locate near the end of June.

An amazing history, well organized, a good pace of play, great open competition and on a surface that plays with the best in the country.

Contact Julia Farrell to register  She'll take your name now and beat you later.

Check: http://burlingtonlbc.org/blbc_yearly_schedule.htm

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Made the Huron/Perth Tour stop on Wednesday in Exeter. Nine greens, 18 men's teams and no result.

Had to get to the announced 1 game and  at least 7 ends of game two to constitute a tournament. We made it to 1 game and 17 teams completing 7 ends before the predicted thunderstorm made its entrance. True to his word , draw master Peter McFalls had to refund all the bowls entry fee minus a small payment for a big lunch.

I will again recommend the 'Wright ( Wayne ) Way' of handling partial tournament days.

Usually, if the tournament gets underway , one game will be completed. Take the allotted total prize money and divide it equally ( the sample is too small to rank the teams ) and give to all the winners of the first game. 

The host club does receive their tournament share after planning and preparing for the event.  Otherwise, in most cases, it is lost revenue for the club since the the tournament can't be rescheduled.

There is some return for the effort of players to attend.

It reminds us to get off to a good start.

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It is always a tough call for tournament directors or umpires to decide when to call teams off the green during threatening weather. You want to try and complete the event but you certainly don't want to put anyone in harms way.

Bowls Canada have "An Action Advisory" on "Electrical Storms - When Should we Clear The Green?" . It is found in the Conditions of Play for the Canadian National Championships (Majors), Appendix 'C'.

Some excerpts:

With the storm at the limit of audible range it will take approximately 28 seconds for the sound of thunder to follow the flash of lightning.

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  Count the number of seconds between seeing the second flash of lightning and hearing the associated thunder. If the interval is less than that for the first incident then the storm is headed your way.

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  When the time interval between “sight” and “sound” is 12 seconds the storm will be about 5 km (3 miles) away. All play should be terminated immediately and the players instructed to leave the green.

When multiple lightning flashes are detected, the situation should be treated as one requiring the exercise of extreme caution. These are storms showing signs of being dangerous and they should be given greater consideration, even if still distant.

1. 
   
   
   
   On leaving the green, the players should move inside a safe structure. A safe structure is one consisting of four walls and a roof and which is electrically grounded. Do not seek shelter in a work shed - such structures do not usually meet these criteria. An enclosed vehicle such as a car, van or bus with the windows rolled up is an excellent alternative.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   NOTE: One important qualification to the foregoing - Any player who feels uncomfortable being outside with lightning present should feel free to leave the green without fear of penalty or repercussions.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Vigilance is required even as the storm leaves the area. Environment Canada’s standard for the end of a thunderstorm is 15 minutes after the last roll of thunder.
   
   
   I recommend you read the entire advisory.