Canadian Crossing

NHL the week in preview: March 29

The schedule is a bit light over the Easter weekend, but the upcoming NHL Center Ice free preview means a lot more hockey starting Monday.

We got a limited preview when the season started, but didn't get an "All-Star Break." So having this week (thanks to baseball) and hopefully, having a final week will come close to a normal season.

Unlike the real "All-Star Break," sharing channels with MLB Extra Innings means fewer options for Canadian feeds and fewer repeats.

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NHL Network

Saturday
New York Rangers @ Montréal, 7p (CBC simulcast)

Tape delayed
Friday Winnipeg @ Pittsburgh, 3p
Thursday Montréal @ Philadelphia, 1p

CBC

Saturday
Toronto @ Ottawa, 7p (nationwide except Quebec)
New York Rangers @ Montréal, 7p (Quebec)
Vancouver @ Edmonton, 10p

TSN

Wednesday
Montréal @ Philadelphia, 7:30p

NHL Center Ice free preview

Monday
Winnipeg @ New York Rangers, 7p
Carolina @ Montréal, 7:30p
Calgary @ Edmonton, 9:30p
Vancouver @ San Jose, 10:30p
Tuesday
Ottawa @ Boston, 7p
Winnipeg @ New York Islanders, 7p
Wednesday
Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p
Thursday
Philadelphia @ Toronto, 7p
Winnipeg @ Montréal, 7:30p
Edmonton @ Vancouver, 10:30p

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The NBC Sports Network games are national, but Ed Olczyk seemed particularly angry about Boston's start. Pierre McGuire wasn't happy either. They had every right to critically analyze that element of the game (also Montréal was playing well). But you shouldn't be rooting for anybody on a national game, even if that team doesn't play in your country.

In the 3rd period, Doc Emrick referred at one point to fans watching that aren't rooting for either team. Emrick made it clear that some fans watching the NBC Sports Network telecast were rooting for the Habs. Not as many as NBCSN wants, but a helluva lot more than NBCSN thinks are there.

The NHL Network has had a habit of rebroadcasting the NBCSN feed the following afternoon. From a perspective standpoint, it would be nice for NBCSN to show the TSN feed the next day, so audiences can compare and contrast the two national telecasts.

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Jarome Iginla is a great Canadian player who was playing on a Canadian team, the face of a franchise that was fairly invisible in Canada and literally invisible in the United States.

Now Iginla is in Pittsburgh, and the Flames, looking to the future, didn't get a whole lot in return. Two college players not high on the Penguins depth charts and a 1st-round pick that won't be that high. Jay Feaster had a better deal with Boston, and probably would have had an even better deal with a team not on Iginla's list. Vancouver would have been glad to give up what Pittsburgh gave up, but the Canucks had no chance.

The only winner in the deal is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Iginla goes to a crowded roster of talent, including newly acquired Brendan Morrow, but he won't get as much playing time as he is used to in Calgary. Plus, by dictating where he would go in a narrow time frame, Iginla hurt the Flames in what they could get back.

Jay Feaster may have done the best he could in this window, but the Flames needed to have a plan to trade Iginla, and this couldn't have been it. And while the Flames will eventually get some help, that help is years away, and without the optimism of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.

The NBC Sports Network spent both breaks Wednesday talking about Jarome Iginla. The sad part is they only mentioned him because of the upcoming trade. Iginla deserves better in a lot of ways. NBC, NBC Sports Network, and the NHL Network will have more reasons to mention him; too bad it took being traded to an American team for that to happen.

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Rick Ball was needed because CBC had a full list of games last weekend. Mark Lee and Greg Millen handled things in Winnipeg on Friday night.

Ron MacLean and Don Cherry were in Montreal for their tour of Canadian cities for the 60th anniversary of Hockey Night in Canada. Last stop, which will have to be soon, is Ottawa.

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Winnipeg is leading the Southeast Division, but had a good opportunity to add some daylight as the struggling Capitals came to Winnipeg for back-to-back nights. The Capitals outscored the Jets in the two games 10-1. Dustin Byfuglien scored 9:51 into the 3rd period Friday night for the Jets only goal.

The Friday night game was Winnipeg's second straight loss to the Caps at MTS Centre on a CBC national feed. Washington posted a 3-0 shutout on Winnipeg in that CBC Saturday matinee.

The Jets need to be better on the national stage, and should take better advantage of teams traveling far to get to Winnipeg.

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Too bad for Buffalo Sabres fans that they couldn't watch their team on the CBC Saturday night. Buffalo area residents can get CBLT Toronto via cable or antenna, but CBLT carried the Maple Leafs. Ironically, fans in Boston got to watch the Sabres-Canadiens, since the Bruins were blacked out.

The CBC should show its split hockey feeds over-the-air, so hockey fans could watch the Leafs on 5-1 and the Canadiens and Sabres on 5-2. And if your antenna is strong enough, invite a few friends over to watch the game on CBC.

Gord Miller, Pierre McGuire reunite on NBCSN minus Canadians

Gord Miller gets his 3rd NBC network appearance this season as he reunites with his former TSN partner Pierre McGuire tonight in Philadelphia when the Rangers come to town on the NBC Sports Network. TSN will simulcast that feed, making the reunion complete.

Miller worked with fellow TSN employee Brian Engblom on March 18 on the NBC Sports Network in Tampa for the Flyers-Lightning game. And Miller called one of the Hockey Day in America games in Buffalo on NBC.

The only thing really missing from Miller's appearances on NBC is a Canadian-based team.

Yes, Miller and Ray Ferraro called an American matchup on the last day of the season. But the highlight of last season was Miller reuniting with McGuire in Winnipeg.

Previous coverage:

Would NBCSN hire Gord Miller to call potential Ottawa clincher?

Gord Miller and Pierre McGuire reunite for lone NBCSN trip to Winnipeg

The Buffalo-Winnipeg game was exciting, and it was the first chance for a national audience to see what the crowd was like in Winnipeg. We've seen the lackluster fans in Phoenix, Miami, and Columbus, but showing the excited and loud Jets crowd really showed to an American audience why Winnipeg deserved a NHL team. And Miller and McGuire appreciated that more than typical U.S. announcers.

Last year, Versus/NBC Sports Network covered 4 of the 7 Canadian-based teams: Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, and Winnipeg. This year, only the Habs got to be on the NBC Sports Network.

The Canadiens' appearance tomorrow night will be the third and final scheduled appearance for the U.S. cable channel. Miller can't work on Wednesday since TSN is carrying that Habs-Bruins game in Boston as part of a doubleheader.

We love that NBC Sports Network has the good sense to use Gord Miller when it gets that opportunity. But Miller would sound even better with his old buddy, Pierre McGuire, and a team from Canada.

Blackberry Z10 on U.S. streets, still waiting on Q10

While consumers in Canada and the United Kingdom have been playing with the new Blackberry Z10 touchscreen phone since the Tuesday after the Super Bowl, U.S. consumers are only now getting sporadic opportunities to jump on the Blackberry bandwagon (still plenty of room available).

AT&T customers have had access to the Blackberry since Friday. T-Mobile business customers have had the phone since March 13, though regular customers will have to wait until Wednesday. Verizon customers can start buying it this coming Friday just in time for Easter. Sprint customers are out of luck; the phone company won't even carry the Z10.

Previous coverage:

Blackberry Super Bowl ad needed to tell us why we should buy the smartphone

Blackberry 10 makes debut today; who determines its success?

For those Blackberry enthusiasts and others fascinated with the classic BB keyboard, you'll have to wait for the Q10, due out in a global launch in April, but not until May and likely June for U.S. consumers.

This is a long way from the Super Bowl launch, though we did know then that everyone would have to wait for the Q10, some longer than others.

With talk of the Samsung Galaxy S IV floating in the cellphone universe, and a still very popular iPhone, the Blackberry phones have s sharp hill to climb. The fact that U.S. consumers can look at, touch, and buy a new Blackberry phone is a promising start, even if others have already left the starting gate.

NHL the week in preview: March 22

We have a nice variety pack in store this week. A Vancouver Saturday matinee, a Jets prime time gig on CBC, and the last NBC Sports Network scheduled regular season telecast once again featuring Montréal at Boston. The rivalry game will also air nationwide in Canada on TSN.

The NHL Network scheduled another game likely to roll into the start of Hockey Tonight, but for once a Canadian team is playing.

Washington at Winnipeg is on the schedule twice because they play in back-to-back nights at the MTS Centre. The Capitals and Jets play at 8p on Thursday, but 7p on Friday to fit in the CBC window. Winnipeg has the worst travel schedule of the Eastern teams, but also suffers because the city is so far away from the other Eastern teams that they insist on doubling up on a visit.

The NHL Network is airing the rebroadcast of the West Coast CBC game on Sunday afternoon, sans After Hours. Let's hope the CBC feed is used.

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NBC Sports Network

Wednesday
Montréal @ Boston, 7:30p

NHL Network

Saturday
Vancouver @ Los Angeles, 4p
Boston @ Toronto, 7p (CBC simulcast)

Tape delayed
Friday Washington @ Winnipeg, 3p
Sunday St. Louis @ Edmonton, 1p
Tuesday Toronto @ Boston, 3p
Wednesday Montréal @ Pittsburgh, 1p
Thursday Montréal @ Boston, 3p (NBCSN simulcast)

CBC

Friday
Washington @ Winnipeg, 7p

Saturday
Boston @ Toronto, 7p (nationwide except Quebec)
Buffalo @ Montréal, 7p (Quebec)
St. Louis @ Edmonton, 10p

TSN

Monday
Toronto @ Boston, 7p

Wednesday
Montréal @ Boston, 7:30p
Colorado @ Calgary, 10p

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Ron MacLean told us on Hockey Night in Canada that Kevin Weekes convinced the NHL Network to carry the Habs-Devils game. Thank you, Kevin. I thanked Weekes on Twitter and he favored my tweet. Thank you, Kevin.

Unless there is a compelling storyline in a Saturday night game, the NHL Network is better off carrying the Hockey Night in Canada game. Montréal is one of the top teams this year, so kudos to the channel for having enough sense to carry a more deserving game. But it shouldn't have to come down to Weekes telling you what you should already know.

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The CBC is supposed to be broadcasting to Canadians, even if Americans do peek in either along the border or through the NHL Network. But you had the feeling that the CBC had the U.S. in mind during one segment Saturday night.

The split had occurred so all but CBMT/Montréal was showing the military pre-game ceremony in Toronto. New Jersey had its own pre-game ceremony, honoring longtime goalie coach Jacques Caron, except the CBC didn't show that ceremony either. The Studio 42 crew proceeded to break down the New Jersey Devils team in a lengthy segment. They avoided the usual teasing seen in most segments. They were quiet yet focused, and did a great breakdown of this team.

But who was watching at this point? Anglophones in Montréal, but they likely didn't care about the Devils to this extent. Those who speak English in Quebec outside Montréal is a pretty small number, not to mention those in Vermont and New York state who can get the CBMT signal over-the-air or through cable.

But the CBC crew did know that Americans were watching via the NHL Network, and those Americans weren't watching the military ceremony in Toronto. If you were American, you certainly felt like the Studio 42 crew was talking to you.

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Two brief notes from the Habs-Devils contest. Cassie Campbell-Pascall served as a second colour analyst. She wasn't in between the benches, but was likely off to the side on ice level. Is this another experiment for the playoffs?

Also, kudos to the New Jersey anthem singer: sang the first two verses of O Canada in French and finished in English, the same way they do so in Montréal. Great respect for the uniqueness of Montréal on U.S. soil.

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Mark Lee is as cool an announcer under pressure as you will find. But his apparent Freudian slip is all the funnier because he normally isn't flustered. At the 17:39 mark in the first period, Lee said the Detroit net became dislodged. Well, Lee was in New Jersey for the Canadiens game. Detroit was playing later in Vancouver that night.

Lee filled in for Bob Cole working alongside Garry Galley. If Lee had been preparing for the Red Wings and the Canucks, his Detroit reference would have been more enlightening.

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We had a Rick Ball sighting. Ball worked with Kelly Hrudey on the Detroit-Vancouver West Coast game. He does a pretty good job, and even had some fun with Hrudey during the game. We know his day job is with the Canucks, but he should try and sound a little more impartial. Ball had too many references to Thursday's game against Nashville, and the feel was more of a Vancouver home game.

Detroit is an American team, though with many in Windsor cheering for the team across the river. But if Ball is going to be showcased for more national work, Ball should treat these assignmenta as national games.

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We talked last week about the silence breaks for the U.S. audience while Canadian CBC viewers get updates of the other game. At 9:07 of the second period, we got a couple of dancing female redheads instead of an update from Toronto. That was a better choice.

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The easiest way to get on Hockey Night in Canada is to play in Toronto on a Saturday night. David Amber pointed out that this was Winnipeg's first Saturday night game in Toronto since 1995 … with the original Jets. Winnipeg has had a few national telecasts in Canada, but weeknight games and Saturday matinees don't have the same feel as prime time in the East.

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Thanks to the NHL Network for carrying the second half of the HNIC doubleheader, we were able to see the Winnipeg-Toronto 10-round shootout. Normally, the channel would freak out about spending one more second on the CBC feed. Another advantage to carrying both halves of the doubleheader live.

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The NHL Network countdown box is beyond distraction. It is destroying the enjoyment of the afternoon rebroadcasts.

Besides the apparent need for a constant box, the countdown of time destroys the rhythm of the pace of the game. Having to watch games tape-delayed and not find out the score is bad enough, the countdown box feels like being spit on after being beat up.

My solution is to put something up to block that part of the screen. While that works, the paper is also distracting. But the paper is a lot more pleasant than the countdown box.

If the NHL Network is concerned about the ratings for the nighttime games, there are much better ways to get us to watch.

People joke that Gary Bettman knows nothing about hockey. The sadistic bully who came up with this programming decision knows nothing about sports.

We've seen some good things that have come from the NHL Network in this abbreviated lockout season. This is a huge negative. Make it stop.

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Another false commercial break: this time in the Detroit-Vancouver game. With 2:09 remaining in the 1st period in Vancouver, play stopped and no one spoke. So the NHL Network went to a commercial. In the middle of that ad, the channel went back to the game already in progress. You wouldn't normally see a break at that point, and the CBC didn't send the game to break.

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Alex Burrows scored the opening goal for Vancouver 6 seconds into the contest. The time was 1 second over the NHL mark, but the fastest opening goal in Canucks history. Since the team was wearing the throwback Millionaires jerseys, wouldn't that be a Millionaires record?

'Starbuck' gets limited U.S. run starting Friday

 

Before the United States gets its own version, the country gets a limited release of the original "Starbuck."

The French-Canadian film from writer and director Ken Scott starts Friday in New York City and Los Angeles; March 29 in other major cities (including Chicago). Check your local listings.

My original synopsis was "A ne'er do well finds out his previous sperm donations has led to 533 children." Patrick Huard of "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" stars in the leading role."Starbuck" was the closing night film for the 2011 Windsor International Film Festival.

Previous coverage:

'Seed' is spinoff of 'Starbuck' film, newest City entry to Monday nights

Vince Vaughn to star in U.S. remake of Quebec film 'Starbuck'

This fall's Canadian film crop: will they come to the United States?

Some cities are offering free screenings of the film before "Starbuck" opens in theatres. I attended a screening in Chicago last night; the audience members were handed cards to help promote the movie via social media either through its Web site or Facebook account.

I went 16 months in between screenings, and the film was even funnier the second time around. Unlike in some American films, the humor comes easy and not forced. You sincerely laugh at situations more than jokes.

The Montréal sightings were more obvious after the second viewing. A couple of key scenes take place at Lester's Deli. The deli is a bit north of St. Viateur. We also see a Fairmount bagel bag later in the film. And the lawyer is making lunches for his kids and putting in Jos. Louis snack cakes.

Whether the film is being promoted on its own merits or because of the American film tie-in, a publicity effort for a Canadian film in the United States is what we have been hoping to see.

Even if "Starbuck" generates moderate success in the U.S., its legacy may be tied to the American remake. That is too bad because I can't see the remake coming close to being as heartwarming as the original film, though Scott is making the American version.

We do have a name for the U.S. remake — "The Delivery Man" — and the opening date for that movie is October 4. As we've mentioned, Vince Vaughn takes over the Patrick Huard role. In a nod to Canada, and because she's talented, Cobie Smulders has a prominent role in the remake.

An actual release of "Starbuck" in the United States is rather late in the cycle. "Starbuck" has already been released in a number of countries (in chronological order): New Zealand, Spain, Belgium, France, Iceland, Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Taiwan, Russia, Hong Kong, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Japan. In all but Japan, the film was released in 2012.

The film did get into a couple of U.S. film festivals last fall: the Tallgrass Film Festival in October and the St. Louis International Film Festival in November.

Speaking of remakes, "Seed" is about midway through its 13-episode run on City TV in Canada. A U.S. remake of "Seed" is not likely, but a TV version of "The Delivery Man" — cable, at best.

"Starbuck" is a fun film in its own right, and if you live in a large enough city, you certainly should go to see it. If nothing else, go and see the film and impress your friends when they beg you to see Vince Vaughn and you tell them, "Yeah, I saw the original film. French-Canadian. That one was funnier."

PBS pledge drive ADD/ADHD specials made in Canada

"The Red Green Show" is a staple on a number of PBS stations over the years. The small-town antics had a slightly more warped version of "Prairie Home Companion" that suited the PBS audience quite well.

Well, two of the prominent forces behind "Red Green" have found their way to PBS in a completely different context, taking seriously and funny about ADD and ADHD.

"ADD & Loving It?!" and "ADD & Mastering It!" is the product of producer/director/actor Rick Green (no relation to Red) and actor Patrick McKenna. Green had been diagnosed years before the documentary, but Green noted that McKenna was diagnosed during the first documentary.

PBS stations have been running both documentaries during pledge drives.

McKenna and Green take an amusing approach to a serious subject, but the humor masks serious concerns about learning more and how to adapt in life. They are very clear that you can work to improve your lives once you understand what is off and how to function better knowing your limitations.

The two actors set up a Web site to help those outside the TV programs.

Clearly, the rapport that the two have make this project much easier. ADD and ADHD are really difficult topics that we are still learning about. McKenna and Green make this topics interesting and mix in the humor while the experts do more of the serious part. But McKenna and Green are also serious when they need to be.

photo credit: ADD & Loving It?!

NHL the week in preview: March 15

The lockout-shortened season has brought up something else unusual: no changes to the U.S. cable TV lineups. Well, that streak ends Saturday night … in a good way.

Almost two months in, and with more than half the games played, we have our first substitution. The NHL Network will show Montréal at New Jersey from the CBC instead of Carolina at Tampa Bay (so boring). The U.S. cable channel blew off Winnipeg-Toronto, as expected, but also sidestepped the Habs in New Jersey.

You can sit down for a full night of hockey as the NHL Network had already scheduled Detroit at Vancouver, the second half of the HNIC doubleheader. No "After Hours" again for either NHL Network or Center Ice viewers. Still, a full HNIC doubleheader on the NHL Network is better than what has passed for the norm.

Good thing we have two HNIC games this week since the weekday NHL Network cupboard will be bare after Friday for the rest of the week.

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NHL Network

Saturday
Montréal @ New Jersey, 7p (CBC simulcast)
Detroit @ Vancouver, 10p (CBC simulcast)

Tape delayed
Friday Pittsburgh @ Toronto, 3p

CBC

Saturday
Winnipeg @ Toronto, 7p (nationwide except Quebec)
Montréal @ New Jersey, 7p (Quebec)
Detroit @ Vancouver, 10p

TSN

Tuesday
Buffalo @ Montréal, 7:30p
St. Louis @ Vancouver, 10p

Wednesday
Tampa Bay @ Toronto, 7p
San Jose @ Edmonton, 9:30p

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Stompin' Tom Connors passed away last week and you knew the CBC would pay grand tribute. Known best for "The Hockey Song," Connors had a spirit of Canada in his songs that rang true no matter what part of Canada you were from.

If you missed the video tribute, you can check it out here.

Don Cherry devoted part of his limited time to a tribute to Connors.

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Most of us have had our share of nightmarish commutes in trying to get to the office on time. Chris Cuthbert and Ray Ferraro had one for the ages, and a lot of people noticed.

Cuthbert and Ferraro worked the March 7 Leafs-Bruins game in Boston and needed to be in New York on March 8 for the Senators-Rangers contest at Madison Square Garden. They were to fly out Friday monring, not out of the norm.

Gord Miller and Aaron Ward ended up calling most of the 1st period from Toronto off monitors because Cuthbert and Ferraro had a Steve Martin/John Candy type adventure.

A winter storm had delayed and then cancelled flights to New York City. LaGuardia Airport had shut down for four hours. They decided to drive to New Haven, Connecticut and take the train to NYC. However, the trains were sold out. The drive continued and once in the NYC area, the driver (apparently not Cuthbert or Ferraro) made a wrong turn to end up in New Jersey (insert punchline here).

Even when they got to the booth at MSG, Cuthbert and Ferraro were in street clothes, not their normal suits, and Ferraro was in the booth, not at his usual ice level vantage point.

Really too bad the NHL Network didn't replay that game. Just the first period would have been fun to watch.

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The distance from the Air Canada Centre to CBC's Studio 42 is approximately 1 kilometre. Just go north on Bay Street until you get to Front St. and turn west until you get to 250 Front Street West.

Glenn Healy could describe every nuance of that journey, or at least have plenty of taxi receipts for submission.

Healy was a part of Hockey Tonight for the first 15-18 minutes, then went to the ACC to be in between the benches, came back to Studio 42 for the Hot Stove, and back to the ACC for the 3rd period.

In the past, Healy has done the Hot Stove segment from ice level. But the segment does go smoother if everyone is on set. If they tried this with Studio 42 and the old Maple Leaf Gardens, the taxi rides would have been considerable in time and money.

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We haven't had too may Saturdays with more than 1 game in the early slot on Hockey Night in Canada. But we still aren't getting updates from the other game. With 11:43 remaining in the 2nd period, the feed come back to a shot of the crowd and silence. CBC viewers were getting an update from the Canadiens-Lightning game in Tampa. This would have been far more entertaining than nothing.

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We only missed 8 minutes of Hockey Tonight, thanks to the overrun from the NHL Network game. You can find the whole pregame online at cbcsports.ca, but unlike the other segments, I personally haven't jumped on to watch the missing minutes. The network needs to find a balanced solution.

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Marc-Andre Fleury has had a rough time in goal, but especially in his home country of Canada. The Pittsburgh goalie gave up 6 goals at Montréal and 4 goals at Toronto, both on Hockey Night in Canada. However, Fleury got the last laugh since the Penguins beat the Habs in overtime and the Maple Leafs in a shootout. Victory is the best revenge.

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We don't have much to report from the free TV preview of the first two weeks of MLS action. The commercials, limited in soccer matches, didn't produce anything significant or eye-catching.

The soccer itself was more exciting, well, at least as exciting as soccer gets.

Toronto and Vancouver kicked off their seasons together at B.C. Place and MLS Direct Kick picked up the TSN feed. The Whitecaps pulled out a 1-0 win. Vancouver won its second game of the season 2-1 over Columbus, also at B.C. Place.

MLS Direct Kick had the Rogers Sportsnet feed. You got a great glimpse of the beauty of the open roof in daytime even in March. Most of the events I've seen on TV with the open roof have been at night. The Whitecaps' first goal from Daigo Kobayashi was from quite far away, like a Kevin Bieksa one-timer from way downtown. Vancouver, the only Canadian team that has made the MLS playoffs, starts 2-0.

Toronto FC won its home opener, snapping a 15-game winless streak, at Rogers Centre edging out Sporting KC 2-1. We got the Kansas City feed, which was a bit disappointing.

The Montréal Impact had a potentially rough start to its season, playing two games on the West Coast. However, the Impact rose to the challenge, shutting out the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the opener and just getting past the Portland Timbers 2-1 last week. The Impact's first goal in Portland was scored on a bicycle kick, something you don't see every day.

No surprise, unfortunately, that the West Coast feeds were used. Still, the Impact, now in its second MLS season, has as many road wins (2) as all last season. And the Impact welcome Toronto FC to its home opener at Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Chris Hadfield, Canada's cool astronaut, now leads International Space Station

Chris Hadfield is the first Canadian to walk in space and today becomes the first Canadian to lead the International Space Station.

Yet Hadfield's coolness level extends well beyond being in space.

Hadfield had an exchange with another famous Canadian in space, though William Shatner only did that on television. Their conversation went so well that Hadfield invited Shatner to meet him face-to-face at his Ontario cottage, once he's back on Earth.

Hadfield has sung with Ed Robertson and the Barenaked Ladies while in space. And he has had a Twitter chat with the actors who played Kirk, Spock, Sulu, and Wesley Crusher as well as a real-life astronaut, Buzz Aldrin.

In fact, Hadfield is serious about working on the first album to be recorded in space. The first track, Jewel in the Night, came out late in 2012. Hadfield and Robertson premiered their song, I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing), last month.

Hadfield has even inspired a comic based on his quotes.

Stephen Colbert showed Hadfield making a peanut butter and honey sandwich on a tortilla in space. Showing how everyday activities happen in space is a great way to humanize the space program. And Hadfield feels really at ease doing so.

As for the future, Hadfield was asked if he would consider a one-way journey to Mars, "I would be honoured to be given the opportunity."

In a world where fewer people are going to space, the most well-known and coolest current astronaut on or around the planet Earth is Canadian.

Hadfield has been in space since December 19; the shuttle is expected back on Earth on May 14.

Photo credit: NASA/Canadian Press/Reuters

Could Marc Cardinal Ouellet be the first Canadian pope?

If Marc Cardinal Ouellet does become the new pope of the Catholic Church, he would be the first non-European pope since Gregory III, whose reign ended in 741. But every non-European pope has come from a place that borders the Mediterranean Sea, so Ouellet would be the first non lots of things pope.

The Catholic cardinals conclave starts today, and if recent activity is a sign, we should know really soon whether Ouellet or another cardinal is the new pope and head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Ouellet at 68 is at a good age for the job, experienced but not too old. And oddsmakers, for a variety of reasons, like Ouellet's chances of becoming pope.

Ouellet served as a parish priest in La Motte, Quebec, archibishop of Quebec City, and later a cardinal. Ouellet has seen a transformation of church and society in his years in Quebec. Becoming a priest as the Quiet Revolution started, he has seen the church's power and impact dramatically fall within his home province.

He also has a connection to Latin America, having served as a missionary and professor in Colombia in the 1970s and 1980s. Knowing Spanish well doesn't hurt his chances.

The consensus in reaching out beyond the traditional realms is that Rome wouldn't elect an "American" pope. But a French-Canadian who has worked in Latin America would be a lot harder to resist.

The logic of a pope from North America leading to a more liberal pope won't be the case if Ouellet is elevated to the top spot. Ouellet is similar in thought to Pope Benedict XVI, though Ouellet has shown more sense in approaching the sexual abuse scandals that have plagued the church.

In watching Peter Mansbridge interview Ouellet, you got the sense that Ouellet is a very thoughtful person, very shy about himself, and trying to show that he would be ready without seeming too ready. Even if French is his primary language and he knows Spanish, having a pontiff who can conduct himself so freely in English would be significant change indeed.

In 1978, when Pope John Paul II took over for the very short-termed Pope John Paul I, the hype was over electing a non-Italian pope, the first since Pope Adrian VI in 1523. Pope John Paul II had the second-longest stint as pope and certainly changed minds over the requirement that the pope be Italian. Pope Benedict XVI being German was more of a novelty than a "scandal" for being another non-Italian pope. And only one of the frontrunners this time around is Italian.

Electing a non-European pope who is North American would still be a huge step for a church where progress comes slow, if at all. But electing a pope from a different part of the world is becoming less shocking over the years.

What this means for Canada? It was fun watching the Canadian media freak out when Stephen Colbert had a bit of fun with the idea of a Canadian pope saying "sorry" and replacing the staff with a hockey stick. Maybe they were worried that the world would perceive a Canadian pope in that manner.

Then again, the French Canadian stereotypes would be more prevalent since Ouellet is a Francophone from Quebec. Such as using maple syrup instead of wine and wearing beaver pelts (only jokes).

Still, having a Canadian pope would put Canada on the world stage in an area previously thought not possible. And even if Ouellet doesn't get the top job, the fact that a Canadian is being seriously considered for pope is a sign of how far Canada and the rest of the world has come in the Catholic Church.

photo credit: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
video credit: CBC/The National

Canada wins with punches and words in World Baseball Classic brawl

"Can't hurt us Canadians"

If you take anything out of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Ernie Whitt's words summed up the brawl, the team's attitude in the tournament, and a slice of Canada in general.

"It's Saturday night. It's 'Hockey Night in Canada.' Don Cherry can't wait to get on the air."

No matter where Canadians are, even in the valley of the desert that is Phoenix, hockey brings them back to Canada. Larry Walker uttered those words after Saturday's brawl. Canada didn't start the battle, but they weren't going to back down.

MLB Network play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian noted during the Canada-Italy game of the significant size advantage Canada would have over Team Italy if there was a a fight. Catcher Chris Robinson (5'11") was the only starter below 6 feet, and he proved his toughness in the tournament.

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Don Cherry couldn't resists mentioning the Canada-Mexico brawl during Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada (also seen as a NHL Network simulcast in the United States).

Cherry explained the idea of the run differential to Ron MacLean. Cherry heralded Jay Johnson's takedown of Mexico's Eduardo Arredondo after Arredondo threw a couple of punches and then ran off.

Ron MacLean had Walker saying, "Hey, it's Saturday night. We're just trying to get on Hockey Night in Canada. Don Cherry can't wait to show these highlights." I couldn't find that exact quote, but perhaps MacLean was paraphrasing Walker. In that vein, MacLean got it right.

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While the run differential was a part of some conversations, left out of most of the discussion was that the run differential cost Canada advancement to the second round in 2006. The United States, Canada, and Mexico all were 2-1 (poor South Africa was 0-3). Mexico beat Canada 9-1 in its only loss and the -8 run differential meant Mexico advanced and Canada didn't.

After the Italy mercy rule game Friday night, Canada needed as many run as it could score. Canada had every reason to be angry over 2006 and 2013, yet the Canadian players kept their cool. After all, Canada lost worse to Italy than Mexico lost to Canada, and the Canadian team kept it together.

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Canada had a feeling that someone was going to get hit by a pitch in the 9th inning. Chris Robinson beat that to the punch by bunting for a hit. If Arnold Leon had hit Rene Tosoni with the first pitch, Tosoni wouldn't have been happy but he would have quietly taken his base.

Everyone in the park knew what Leon was trying to do with pitch #1, pitch #2, and pitch #3. Leon's aim couldn't have been that bad. Maybe the first two pitches were existential, reflecting Robinson taking a base in the 7th inning by pretending the pitch had hit his toe.

If Leon had hit Tosoni on the first pitch, there would not have been a brawl.

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The World Baseball Classic was smart in not handing out suspensions. Mexico started the brawl and their run ended after the game (officially eliminated later that night).

The biggest fear was a suspension for Cale Iorg, who threw a bottle into the crowd after that bottle hit pitching coach Denis Boucher. Iorg's reaction was somewhat understandable, but throwing something back into the stands didn't look professional.

As bad as Iorg had done at the plate, Jonathan Malo was Canada's only other option at a crucial defensive position.

Walker was another target of a ball thrown from the stands. Good thing he was wearing a helmet. Those fans that threw items at Canadians on the field should draw lifetime suspensions from ballparks.

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When Vancouver had the riots after Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, some noted that the rioters wrecked Canada's image of peace-loving people. This brawl probably does the same thing. Though Canadians fight plenty on the ice in hockey; the fact that they defended themselves on Saturday shows that they aren't looking for a fight, but are ready if a fight happens.

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photo credit: World Baseball Classic/MLB Network