Carbonneau: "You can be much better"

"It was good start, but because of the last 10 games, we can not say we are satisfied." This is how head coach Guy Carbonneau called the first quarter of the season 2008-2009. A first quarter that raises more questions than it provides answers. Booted from hats wheel with eight victories and one loss in regulation time after 10 matches, quarter this season ended with three gains only in the last 10 meetings. Result: with 26 points in the Canadian was closer yesterday morning, the eighth and last place giving access to the series (there Carolina, with 24 points) in the Eastern Conference as the first place occupied by the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, who totaled 32 points each. "Nobody is happy with the final set, but I would rather there have been a series of such early in the season that in the playoff race," said Guillaume Latendresse philosophized, author of two goals and eight points during the first quarter of the season. In the race Latendresse was also a source of comfort by comparing the beginning of this year's last season. After 20 games, the Canadian is substantially the same level as this time last year. And it did not prevent him from climbing to the forefront of his association. Only difference, but it is size, productivity, or rather unproductive in attack. After 20 games last season, Canadian pride of place in the top of the NHL. He had scored 28 goals in 96 opportunities, for a performance of 29.2%. This year, the Canadian languishing in 23rd place with 15 goals scored in 100 opportunities (15%). "It's one thing to say that opportunities to score are there, but quite another to take advantage. Defensively, we played well but in attack, lack of confidence. And it is reflected in the digital benefits. Last year it was a goal every four or five occasions. This year marks on all nine occasions. We must improve, find synchroneity in our attack, "said Carbonneau. But the head coach was far from despair. "I do not think no one save with the championship in the East again this year. It will be tight until the end, hence the importance of staying in the race. " Christopher Higgins also found solace in the fact that the club is still at the height of the struggle. "We are in the middle of the front runners, even if we played hockey ordinary since the beginning of the year. Being here gives us flexibility that we will enjoy, I hope. " Tanguay wants to do more First marker of the Habs with eight goals and 17 points, Alex Tanguay outlined a pouting dissatisfaction when asked to described his first quarter-season with the Canadiens. "Collectively, I think there is too much talent in this team to be satisfied with the results of the first 20 games. It can be much better. Beginning with the attack to five, "said Tanguay. "Personally, I'm regular. The points are there, but I know I can be more consistent. I had some good matches, but other less pretty good. I should be more regular. After 20 games, adaptation is made and it is time to find our cruising speed, "said the attacker Quebecois. While the first quarter of Tanguay season was marked by ups and downs, it was especially marked down to the first trio of last year, he piloted by Tomas Plekanec and supplemented by Alex Kovalev and Andrei Kostitsyn. Despite his 15 points, Kovalev seems to have slowed down and seems to slow down his fellow Thursday Despite the fact that sells the final year of his contract, his game looks more than two years ago at an electrifying performance of last year. But Kovalev like all his teammates, there is still much time and many games to correct the fire and revive the team.

Calgary celebrates its champions

Thousands of supporters Stampeders responded to the invitation of Mayor Dave Bronconnier and celebrated winning the Cup Gray Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary, Tuesday noon. The Stampeders beat the Alouettes 22-14 on Sunday at Olympic Stadium in Montreal to win the sixth Gray Cup in their history, the first since 2001. The event show drew about 10 000 supporters. They gave a welcome to watch Henry Burris, player par excellence of the final, and kicker Sandro DeAngelis, better Canadian game. They were also able to get autographs of their favorite players. The victory Stampeders creates a lot of enthusiasm for the presentation of the Gray Cup in Calgary in 2009. The clerks at the counters are overworked because the Stampeders supporters want to buy their tickets immediately.

Michael Vick pleads guilty in the court of the State of Virginia

The old quarter Michael Vick pleaded guilty to a charge of organized dog fighting in the courts of the State of Virginia, Tuesday, a move that could lead to an early release from prison and possibly accelerate its efforts to return to professional football. Aged 28 years, Vick has also submitted a plea of not guilty to a charge of animal cruelty, but that count was abandoned in the wake of his admission into another folder. The former star of the Atlanta Falcons was sentenced suspended sentence of three years - far less than the prison sentence of 10 years to which he was liable. "I want to offer my apologies to the court, my family and all young people who made me their idol," said Vick to the judge. Brenda Boddie, Vick's mother, his brother Marcus and the girlfriend of former quarter Kijafa Frink, arrived and were seated together in the first row of the classroom with other family members and 'friends. Vick's mother refused to answer questions from the media but Marcus acknowledged that the family was relieved that this ordeal was drawing to a close. Vick has remained stoic during the hearing, which lasted nearly 20 minutes. Thereafter, he turned to his young daughter and sent her a glance. After the hearing, Gerald Poindexter, Prosecutor of the State of Virginia, approached the mother of Vick, it was the hug and dragged him: "Finally, part of this case is over." Vick is currently serving a sentence less than 23 in Leavenworth, Kansas, with respect to federal charges to finance operations around fighting dogs at his residence south-east of Richmond, Virginia. He also confessed to having participated in the execution of several dogs that were deemed ineffective. Vick is about to release on 20 July 2009 and it will then be subject to a probationary period of three years. His most recent advocacy is vital because it allows to classify the latest charges against against him, an essential condition to be transferred to a transition house, according to U.S. federal laws. Present at the hearing Joel Segal, the agent Vick did not want to elaborate on the chances that his client returns to the NFL. "Mike assumes full responsibility for his actions. It is ready to move forward and let his actions speak on his behalf," he merely said. Once the highest paid player in the league, Vick also appeared slim Tuesday that during his imprisonment a year ago. Billy Martin, his lawyer, said that he and his colleagues are working to allow Vick to renew ties with his family and had participated in any effort to revive his career. "We absolutely want to save Michael, the human being. Later, someone may wish to give a chance for Michael, the football player." Encore will be an organization wants to take such a risk. Vick is still under contract with the Falcons, but the owner Arthur Blank made it clear last month that it will become ever more uniform of the team. "I hope they are ready to face all dog lovers of America", launched Carl Peterson, president and CEO of Kansas City Chiefs, referring to the leaders of the team that will grant contract Vick. "There will be problems. People love their pets, especially dogs," said Peterson. There will be protests and people will give their opinions - even if he spent time behind bars. " Nine activists from PETA, a group that sees the ethical treatment of animals, remained outside the court room before the hearing, calmly waving placards and photographs of bloody dogs. According to Dan Shannon, assistant director at PETA, Vick must denounce the organization of fighting dogs in recalling his participation in the holding of such events and seen how it made him lose his reputation and his fortune all the respect he had acquired ". "This is his only way to restore its reputation and being seen, again, positively by the general public."

Six new members inducted

The six new members in the company of Gerry Frappier. (Photo RDS.ca) MONTREAL - More than 400 guests were given appointments at the Cabaret du Casino de Montreal on Monday night as part of the 18th Gala Induction of Hall of Fame Hall of Fame sports Quebec. On this occasion, six new members have entered in this select group of sporting excellence Quebec: Lucille Goyette-Lemay (archery), Graham Cooke (golf), Otis Grant (boxing), Annie Pelletier (Diving ), Guy Lapointe (hockey) and Marcel Aubut (builder). The honorary chairmanship of the gala was provided by Gerry Frappier, president and CEO of Sports Network. A dozen members of the Hall of Fame were also present at the event Sylvie Bernier, chef de mission of the Canadian Olympic team for Beijing Games, and Nathalie Lambert, who occupy that role in Vancouver in 2010. Théorêt Edgar, president of Sports Hall of Fame in Quebec, reiterated the relevance to see become a veritable museum of sports in Quebec to the sporting history that continues to inspire younger generations. "The place is chosen, and I would like this happen in the next year," he said. The success of the Pavilion Hall of Fame sports in Quebec last week in the village of Gray Cup speaks for itself. More than 14 000 people visited the pavilion set up in collaboration with the Montreal Alouettes and the Ministry of Education, recreation and sport by the Government of Quebec. Here are the new members of the Hall of Fame Hall of Fame sports in Quebec: Lucille Goyette-Lemay (athlete, archery) Fifth Olympic Games in Montreal to test 30 m, which is always the best Canadian Olympic history, Lucille Goyette-Lemay also participated in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles (1984). It would probably have been those of Moscow (1980) had it not been for the Canadian boycott. Today administrative assistant for recreation in the city of Boisbriand, she wished to thank his family. "I'm back and I pampered in a beautiful period of my life. When I was an athlete, my husband (also athlete archery) and I brought our little girl in competition. It was the perfect baby for two sporting parents. And today I am a grandma spoiled, "to indicate that was also bonze medalist at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 1982. Graham Cooke (athlete, golf) The golfer Graham Cooke won over fifty amateur championships including four tournaments Alexander of Tunis and five Duke of Kent. Although it is still active playing in the national amateur senior circuit, he continued to make his mark in another facet of his sport. Architect of more than one hundred golf courses since 1973, he designed the land around the world, including that of The Beast, in Mont-Tremblant. "I respect and comradeship in sport. On the ground, we are fighting against each other, but once completed, we are colleagues, "said Graham Cooke at the time of his enthronement. "Today, building land has become a fairytale for me. I feel that I have a huge responsibility when people m'accordent their confidence. I want them to be proud to invite their friends to come and play on a ground that I imagined. " Otis Grant (athlete, boxing) Otis "Magic" Grant has marked the history of boxing in Quebec, both in the ring and outside. Double world champion, he has accumulated 89 victories in the amateur ranks and a silver medal at the Pan American Games. Among professionals, he signed 38 victories - 17 by KO - and a tie in 42 presences. The pugiliste suffered a serious road accident in 1999. Doctors told him he never boxerait. Grant has been lying and went up in the ring five years later. Otis Grant owns a boxing gym with his brother Howard, in addition to working with youth in high school and the community, always in connection with his foundation. Let's also working within the Group Yvon Michel, a boxing promoter. "I never thought such an honor to receive the first time I walked into a boxing gym, when I was only 11 years," said Grant, particularly pleased to receive its appreciation to the Cabaret du Casino. "The Casino is like my second home, because I often boxing here. I am recognized by the world of boxing, this is normal. But as I am by all the sports community is very special. It is one of the greatest honors of my life. " Annie Pelletier (athlete, diving) The highlight of the career of Annie Pelletier is undoubtedly its deserved bronze medal in 3m springboard Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. More than this medal is worth mentioning how the Montrealer was mounted on the podium. Ranked 17th after the preliminaries and 12th at the end of the semi-finals, Pelletier continued his incredible rise to the third level in its latest dive. The new member of the Hall of Fame Hall of Fame sports of Quebec was presented by Sylvie Bernier, Olympic gold medalist on 3M Olympics in Los Angeles. "Annie opened the way for young divers here as evidenced by the very high proportion of Quebec athletes in the Canadian Olympic teams of recent Games," said the former Olympic champion. The winner then reported to reciprocate Sylvie Bernier. "Sylvie is the one that allowed us to believe it was possible to win an Olympic medal in diving. " Annie Pelletier is now communications coordinator for the Foundation for Athletic Excellence Quebec. His past athlete allows him to provide sensible advice to the notes, including the preparation of the post-sports career. Guy Lapointe (athlete, hockey) Member of the famous "Big Three" with Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe helped the Canadiens to earn six victories from the Stanley Cup in the 1970s. Inducted into the Hall of Fame NHL in 1993, he participated in 1 017 matches in 16 regular season and playoffs, totaling 197 goals and 692 points. "It's the greatest honor that I receive from my induction to the Hall of Fame in the NHL," says one who wanted to become a policeman before a career in hockey. "Receiving this recognition, it makes me reflect on the meaning of my career. With hindsight, I see that I was very lucky. My parents always encouraged me without me putting too much pressure as is unfortunately the case for many young people today, "said one father of three children and scout for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL . Marcel Aubut (builder) A lawyer by training, Marcel Aubut is the founding president of the Quebec Nordiques and project management of Rendez-Vous'87, a tournament where the best players competed in the NHL against those of the USSR. Member of the Hall of Fame sports in Canada, it is also an Officer of the Order of Canada and the Ordre national du Quebec. Marcel Aubut also made its mark in the Olympic sport as President of the Nordic Foundation, which distributes thousands of dollars to amateur athletes. It is also a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of the Canadian Olympic Committee. Always full of ideas in mind, it would now work on a possible bid from Quebec City to host the Winter Olympics. "I am proud to leave a legacy to the sporting history of Quebec," he said with the passion that he knows. "Sport is a symbol of our identity and it is important to preserve our sporting history. In sports as in business, there is competition and we need boldness. Sport and a formidable tool for promoting health and an extraordinary platform of visibility and profitability. "

Garber and Ecclestone even fight!

The exclusions of the calendar Montreal Grand Prix Formula 1 race and to obtain a concession in the next expansion of the MLS have a very big thing in common: Commissioner Don Garber is the Bernie Ecclestone soccer north America. Joey Saputo think without doubt, but merely to say that he found the commissioner of the MLS "too greedy" with an entry price set at U.S. $ 40M for the 2011 season. "I want to make explanations as clear as possible about the release of our dossier by Commissioner Garber, but at the same time, I must be careful not to cut the bridges," said the chairman of Impact and Stadium Saputo. Caution is required because the group Saputo-Gillett remains interested in following the expansion could take place in 2013. "Commissioner Garber said that Montreal does not disappear and the portrait could try his luck later, Saputo said. We are always interested in what impact playing at the highest level, but as we have said repeatedly, not at any price. " From $ 10M to $ 40M in three years! The greed of the MLS is obvious. Toronto has paid U.S. $ 10M to its entry in 2007. Seattle is paying U.S. $ 20M to join MLS in 2009 and Philadelphia will pay U.S. $ 30M for its entry in 2010. These figures do not place the MLS in the same league as the Formula 1 of Bernie Ecclestone who demanded a guarantee of $ 175M for the next five Grands Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. However, the principle is the same. "We have perhaps made a mistake by offering an entry price of U.S. $ 20 million and a total of $ 45 million if one includes the cost to bring the stadium capacity of 20 000 places, but we were ready to negotiate , Said Joey Saputo. However, there has never been any calls from the MLS after the filing of our project in October. To me it shows a lack of professionalism on the part of Commissioner Garber. " Prudence Update In an economic and financial landscape very uncertain where incomes of the subsidiary marketing for the MLS would be required to significantly reduce its costs and increase, among others, because the players' collective agreement expires at the end of the season 2009, caution is doubly appropriate. "Agreeing to pay the price demanded by the MLS seriously jeopardize the viability of the impact and future of professional soccer in Montreal," said Joey Saputo. "We would be able to pay $ 40M, but our business plan would no longer make sense. It would greatly increase ticket prices and revenues from corporate sponsorships while accumulating losses for four years and reaching break even only in the fifth year. We should then ten years to eliminate the debt ... " If there is a lesson that Joey Saputo has drawn from its fifteen years of involvement in professional soccer with the Impact, is that "we need a realistic business plan and credible to be able to support long-term concession in good financial health. " Message from Saputo and Gillett In developing any scenario imaginable and possible financial assistance to representatives of the Gillett family, who have a tremendous expertise in all operations of a concession professional sports, it was not possible to find a solution that is "Both financially responsible and guaranteeing a long-term stability." Of course, Montreal file was the only one that did not contain any public financial involvement. With levels of government to take charge of the erection of a stage, it is easier for private developers to put $ 40M on the table to acquire a license. "But this is not the path we have chosen," said Joey Saputo. The shelving of the Montreal bid for a concession on the MLS for the 2011 season is not the end of the world. "We will continue to improve as a team and as an organization even if it is outside the scope of the MLS," promised Joey Saputo. Impact may have lost a battle but the war is not over!

Leafs sink

The arrival of Brian Burke in Toronto fall point. In what was possibly their last match before the hiring of new general manager, the Maple Leafs lost 6-3 to face the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday at the Air Canada Center. In his third start of the season, the guardian of the Leafs, Curtis Joseph, has sold only once in 13 shots in the first period, before granting three goals in the second commitment. The athlete 41 years, substitute Vesa Toskala, allowed 15 goals in 3 starts this season. The attackers Todd White (two goals) and Slava Kozlov (two grants) were the most productive for the winners. Ilya Kovalchuk took the opportunity to register his seventh goal of the season. In the loser clan, the attacker Nik Antropov recorded his eighth net. Defenseman Jeff Finger has managed his first goal in uniform to the maple leaf. Johan Hedberg stopped 32 shots for the victory sign. He helped the Thrashers to slow slide of three defeats. Blues 1 - Predators 0 (F) The city of the country smiled Blues. The St. Louis Blues won 1-0 on the Predators in Nashville. Chris Mason will not steal the victory. The guard was defiant face his former teammates during the 65 minutes of the meeting by blocking 47 shots. By extension, the Predators have riddled the guardian visitor washers during a power play, become even more advantageous when one of three Blues players broke his stick. In shooting, David Perron and Brad Boyes have rewarded their goaltender for his efforts by scoring blow on blow against Dan Ellis, reached only 17 shots in regulation time. The Blues sign a third victory in a row.

Mike Sullivan back in Tampa

Mike Sullivan is back behind the bench of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sullivan was appointed assistant coach of the Lightning, a position he held last season. "He knows the players and it will add quality to our coaching staff in place," said Director General of training Brian Lawton said in a statement. "Mike is respected throughout the NHL and has enjoyed success as head coach in the NHL, AHL and internationally."