What’s up, Vancouver? Thanks for checking out the first of many columns I’ll be penning for Metro Vancouver. Some of you know me from my TV work on Sportsnet and as co-host of the morning show on the TEAM 1040 with Barry Macdonald. For those who don’t, those are the Coles Notes of my six years of covering sports in this market. Enough about me, let’s get to the sports.
• Some fans might be alarmed by the fact the B.C. Lions haven’t won a game since July 28. Don’t be. For starters, the Lions haven’t had many breaks. The injury bug has spread through this team like an epidemic. B.C.’s top two quarterbacks — Dave Dickenson and Buck Pierce — are both on the shelf. All three starting linebackers have missed at least a game apiece. In fact, only 13 of the Lions’ 24 starters have been able to play all eight games from start to finish. Those numbers make B.C.’s 5-2-1 record look like a misprint. Throw in the fact this team’s offence is finally starting to click, and B.C. should be taking another serious run at the Grey Cup provided a few healthy bodies start returning to the lineup after this week’s bye.
• Trevor Linden will sign with the Canucks this week. Linden is OK with the reduced regular-season role the Canucks have proposed. Good decision by both sides as Linden was invaluable in the playoffs last year and needs to be fresh for the post-season.
• Think David Beckham isn’t having any impact? Think again. More than 66,000 just watched him play in New York. That’s 55,000 more than the average crowd the Red Bulls draw. More than 40,000 have already secured seats for his Oct. 3 appearance at B.C. Place. Selling that game out doesn’t look like the pipe dream some thought it was originally.
• Got a beef? E-mail me your thoughts at scott.rintoul@metronews.ca. See ya Thursday!
