This week I'm wearing a dirty beard and moustache. I had poutine yesterday and I've been craving smoke in my lungs. With all these undesirable traits of my small French heritage coming to the forefront I figured I'd better throw up a brief commentary on the brewing situation on the wrong side of the border.

I woke up early and in a daze on Saturday (being in a daze might be a French thing too) to find that TSN was running a short piece on the politicians interfering with the affairs of our national game. Do I follow Canadian politics, not really, who does? Have I heard of Jean Charest? Only in passing. So why should I care what he thinks?

I hear all kinds of nonsense flowing from the mouthes of idiots all days. Garbage comes out of the mouthes of cabbies like water from a tap. (One asked me if I was interested in helping him lobby for an elevator to the moon!) My point is, why do politicians think it is alright for them to step on their soap box and try to cram some trash in our ears. The league should be responsible for dealing with their own as they have done with what are probably fair suspensions. The politicians over there represent the people. In reality it is my opinion that they only represent those that voted for them or at the least those that are able to vote. A large portion of the kids playing junior hockey aren't even old enough to vote. So how can politicians speak for them.

Maybe I'm just venting because I loathe the idea of ridding our game of fighting at any level. I used to officiate minor hockey for a number of years when I was a bit younger. There was the odd fight, maybe one every 200 games or so, which is pretty high considering I refereed a lot of small local towns where the kids absolutely hated each other and each other's town. The fights were usually brief and deserved. Did I let the kids go at it? Sort of, for a short time. It's how I would want it if I was involved.

Our beloved national wind bag Donald S made a very good point on Saturday during the Leaf's thrashing of the allegedly top team in the East. He said that we need fighting in junior hockey to protect the smaller and younger players. I whole heartedly agree and as a bigger player in my day I was called upon many times to defend our smaller star players. It is part of the responsibility of being a big guy. Without the occasional fight to settle the tempers of two teams there would be more stick work and more cheap shots which lead to more injuries than fights. Sure fights almost always guarantee pain for someone, it is rare that anyone gets truly injured.

Was the incident with the Roy boys a good thing for the game. No way! That is why they got punished. If you think that they won't think twice about doing it again, you're wrong. Although Patrick has been almost non-stop pushing the envelope since he started coaching. He's a fiery competitive guy and if he didn't habitually step over the line he probably wouldn't be as effective. He just needs to adjust to coaching and realize that he can't be acting the fool as much since he is representing the players, organization and city. I think if settles down he could have a bright future in coaching.

Anyways, that is all I can muster right now. Didn't end up going the direction I had planned but I guess that's what happens when you rant. I better go smoke a cigarette and a croissant or something.