My ESPN

Watching Some Soap Opera NBA and NFL Style

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

MONTREAL – Before I started writing this article, I spent 25 minutes in front of my computer screen asking myself this question:

Is it me, or has watching sports become more dramatic, in a soap opera kind of way, like my all-time favourite soap, The Young and The Restless?

Sometimes, I do dream that I am the equivalent of Victor Newman. Ok, back to Earth Sab!

Did I think the “taking a knee” situation during the national anthem at an NFL game would escalate to the point that now, even players will confront each other about taking a knee or not?

This is maybe the first time in my life that I have felt hopeless about the future of humanity. I don’t like this feeling at all. It’s pretty clear that the NFL is a religion for Americans, but this is getting way out of hand.

I was raised to respect everyone’s beliefs, religion, and philosophy and to be a pacific person. I would never disrespect someone singing the national anthem, just as I wouldnever disrespect someone not singing the national anthem, but 2016 brought the winds of change.

I can see, pretty clearly, a marriage between sports and politics, especially in the NFL.

Yesterday, things got out of hand in the field between Eric Reid of the Panthers and Malcolm Jenkins of the Eagles. It was almost like the catfight between Alexis and Krystle Carrington of Dynasty.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25043749/carolina-panthers-eric-reid-scraps-malcolm-jenkins-other-philadelphia-eagles

In terms of the knee up or down, here is a solution: No more national anthem. When I’m watching the Premier League (soccer aka European football), I don’t hear the national anthem. I hear chants from the fans.

Another catfight that happened this weekend was during the LA Lakers versus the Rockets. I wonder what Floyd Mayweather thought of the first punch thrown by Rajon Rondo. I can tell you what I was thinking – even me, while drunk (hmm, it doesn’t happen a lot, hihi!) would have punched beautifully like Apollo Creed instead of like Pauly (Rocky Balboa’s brother-in-law who was a terrible puncher… think Rocky III, in the parking lot) as was the case for Rondo.

But let’s get back to the main topic, another catfight like Alexis and Krystle’s.

Contrary to the NFL’s catfight, this one is more entertaining.

Grab your popcorn basket and let’s watch it together:

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/10/21/18004988/los-angeles-laker-houston-rockets-chris-paul-rajon-rondo-fight

Do I have something else to say about those fights?

Honestly, no. I will continue to grab my popcorn for the NBA ones and I will hope that peace and pacifism will come to the NFL.

Let’s all sing Kumbaya please!

 
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The Educated Fool week October 17th,​ 2018 (LeBron at LA, Jim Brown being Jim Brown and a little of Denzel)

Presented you by The Real Donnie Demos and her sidekick Sab

This week, Sab will tell her who is her new NBA favorite team or maybe not. The Educated Fool will talk about Jim Brown and his legacy and the duo will talk about some of their favorite Denzel’s moments in a film.

 

Sheldon

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

MONTREAL – Back in the winter of 2001, my brother came home from work and told me that he came face to face with Sheldon Souray. He was like in awe, literally! I was listening to every word he said – from him being one of the most dominating players of the Habs, to damn, the guy has that movie star ” it factor”.

I was still a Habs fan, but during that period, I was more into watching the Premiership League of Soccer over the NHL. So, I googled the name “Sheldon Souray” and I clearly saw what my brother had described to me. This guy is the absolute total package! He will rock this world on and off the ice.

Suddenly, I was back into watching hockey and when Saku Koivu came back from his cancer treatment, I was even more proud to be a Habs girl!

The years have passed and Sheldon continued to be a star in the NHL until a wrist injury ended his career.

The guy who seemed to have it all, a nice career, good looks, charisma, fame, money and two young children in awe of him, but no one prepares you for how to deal when the one thing that defines you (in his case, being a hockey player) is no longer part of your day to day life. The music has stopped and you are now a young retired athlete. Athletes work so hard to be the best of the best in their chosen field but are not prepared for the life after their athletic career.

They have to deal with the sudden sound of silence (no more autographs, no more practice, no more games). Boredom settles in and you have to redefine yourself. The struggle to find new meaning in your life is hard and can be a real challenge.

Sheldon’s life was becoming more chaotic and unfortunately, he became addicted to painkillers. Before it was too late, he looked up to his hero’s accomplishments, his father, Richard Souray.

His father made one of the best decisions of his life two decades ago when he decided to stop drinking and overcome alcoholism. Richard has always been a hero to Sheldon.

Two years ago, when Richard passed away, stricken with grief, Sheldon was at his lowest. His addictions almost got the best of him, but he remembered his hero’s determination to be sober for his son and his family and to enjoy life.

Richard saved Sheldon life.

There is a really nice interview that Sheldon did with Stu Cowan in The Gazette and I will gladly put the link below. What I admire most about Sheldon is he desire to be an authentic human being. He never pretended to be perfect, but he wanted to be a good man. I remember when John Kennedy Jr said he wanted to be remembered too for being a good man, instead of a great man.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/sheldon-sourays-life-might-have-looked-perfect-but-it-wasnt/amp

 

Sheldon shared his brave story and he is on a mission with the help of his family and his friends.

The sky will be the limit for Sheldon. I’m pretty sure the best is yet to come.

 

Sheldon Souray Twitter

Don Ton Opinion (Semaine du 24 septembre de la NFL)

Ah, le Fou Éduqué et son boubou (le petit ours et compagnon de Yogi l’Ours dans l’émission Yogi l’Ours).

Yogi et Booboo

Vu des petits problèmes techniques, cet épisode vient d’être en ondes. Mais le sujet est toujours d’actualité.

Au menu:

Les Patriotes, Les Steelers, Le Fou Éduqué qu’il parle de mes finances et Maroon 5.

Quel menu!

 

Partons à l’aventure, il faut écouter Le Fou Éduqué. Parler de la NFL et prenons le temps de rire un peu.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Tous les fans de football américain ont chanté au moins une fois cette chanson durant le début de la saison de la NFL qui est un grand classique de Monsieur Crosby.

On commence cette nouvelle en force avec les chroniques de notre cher Fou Éduqué, monsieur Donald Démosthènes.

Il a déjà beaucoup de choses à nous dire.

Écoutons-le avec attention.

Les Chroniques de la NFL avec Le Fou Éduqué

Is it the start of a new era for Nike?

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

Montreal – What I will write in the next few sentences won’t be pleasing, but I’m always up for starting a controversial conversation that may shed light on a different perspective on a particular subject.
Recently, Nike has been back in the PR game with a bang. We saw the ad with Serena Williams and her father. It was so beautiful.

Serena Nike
Strength, courage, determination, and humility were showcased in this ad. For me, the ad was a success!
Serena Just Do It

This weekend, Colin Kaepernick was chosen to be part of Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ Anniversary campaign. I must admit, I like the ad. The black and white picture is marvelous! I do respect Colin for his beliefs and what he is standing for, but I would respect him more if he truly wanted to play some football-to at least have a season in the Canadian league, even if his salary wouldn’t be comparable to the NFL.

But, that’s another story.

I have a little problem with Nike. And damn, I love their apparel and shoes. I’m happy that this company is standing behind a social cause,but this is the same company that contributes to poor quality of life by making young boys or girls work in a sweatshop when they should be in school getting the best education they can or playing outside with friends, wearing their own decent pair of Nikes. Even Patrick J. Adams (a fellow Canuck) tweeted about the fact that Nike shouldn’t really be seen as an activist company when they still use non-unionized sweatshop labor.

I know I will get a shit load of comments, but I thinkifNike truly wanted to make a change, maybe they should put the same amount of money on a campaign to end the horrific conditions of sweatshop labor for any human being. This is not a place for a child to work. A child needs to be in school. Maybe, make a better work environment for the parents, with the possibilities of a scholarship for the children of those workers can go to school abroad or in their country. One thing for sure, Nike can Do It!

As for Colin, with all the money and the sponsorship he gets, I hope he will continue to stand up for what he believes in, just play some football elsewhere (Canada is a beautiful country and the CFL is not THAT bad). He can still fight the good fight and play some fine football in the CFL. Is it more appealing to be a glitzy activist?

Is it truly about activism, or is it about the money after all?

Nike, Just Do It.
colin-kaepernick-nike

P.S. Some people are damn stupid to burn their Nike’s items. Seriously… Damn fools.

Les Fous du Foot volume 1!

J’adore écouter Les Fous du Foot. Je les trouve si drôle et si intéressant.

Quelle chimie entre le Professeur du Foot et le Fou Éduqué.

Ils parleront de l’excentricité de l’entraineur Maurizio Sarri, du milieu de terrain Jorgihno, de Naby Keita et de José Mourinho.

Regardons leur analyse!