A HODGEPODGE CANESSA COMMENTARY: FROM GUNS TO THE NHL

The Canessa Commentary

By KEVIN CANESSA Jr.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —

It’s been a pretty slow news cycle this week, so here’s one of those hodgepodge editions of The Canessa Commentary.

• Former Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who resigned after an affair, is planning on running for Congress — for a seat he once held. Looks pretty clear the GOP hasn’t really learned from the election of 2012.

• U.S. Rep Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., said recently the comments made by Todd Akin, that a woman rarely gets pregnant from “legitimate rape,” were “partly true.” Gingery is a former OB-GYN. Let’s just say I wouldn’t want my daughter — if I had one — going to this OB-GYN.

Isn’t it bad enough one person believes this? And now there are two?

Hell, what I am thinking — there are probably thousands of RWNJs (Right Wing Nut Jobs) who believe it.

• Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., gave one of the most lackluster State of the State addresses I’ve ever heard. He recapped exactly what we already knew — that New Jersey was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, and that the federal government continues to be slow in coming through with aid.

What Christie didn’t say was what he’d do to get the funds quicker, how the state would aid cities and people affected by the storm — or anything else for that matter, like lowering one of the nation’s largest unemployment rates.

He’s been great on the national scene. He’s been wonderful standing up for the people who were hurt most by the storm. And quite frankly, I’ve never seen a Republican more willing to stand up to the establishment — John Boehner, that is — than Christie.

But his address was meatless. He offered no specifics. And in a state where people are hurting from the storm and so much more, he truly failed when he had a tremendous opportunity to lead and comfort.

• The NRA recently met with Vice-President Joe Biden, and the NRA says the meeting was “useless.”

I will never understand how, in this nation, an organization that has 4 million members could have as much clout and power as it does. Perhaps I am just naïve here. But in general elections, if every NRA member voted Republican — and let’s face it, they probably do — it still wouldn’t matter.

And yet they’re still seen as all-powerful and almighty.

And it’s not just the NRA. There are tons of special-interested organizations in this country with smaller memberships — the ACLU comes to mind — that just have way too much clout and influence over policy.

Not holding my breath this will change anytime soon.

• I’m a big fan of older TV programs — started watching 1994 “ER” episodes in 2009. So it won’t come as much of a surprise that I just started to watch the old NBC show “Third Watch.” I never realized it back in the day — I did watch the show from time to time when it was new — but the show (some of the same production team) is basically “ER” on the streets. Similar background music. Similar themes. Similar terminology.

Regardless, the show is tremendous — and if you’re ever looking to catch up on old shows, this is one, for sure, to give a try.

• Speaking of TV shows, “The Good Wife,” CBS Sundays, gets better each week. Julianna Margulies is incredible in the lead. But this season has been made even better by guest appearances. First, it was Maura Tierney, who briefly worked with Margulies on “ER.” On-going, Michael J. Fox defies the odds with his Parkinson’s by playing an amazing role on the show. And Nathan “Joe” Lane, who went to the same high school as I did — St. Peter’s Prep (he the class of ’74, I the class of ’92, and yes, his birth name is Joseph — has been nothing short of stellar, as he often is in any role he plays.

Nathan Lane, left, with Christine Baranski, in 'The Good Wife.'

• As much as I was/am angry with the NHL, its players and its owners, I must admit to being excited for the start of the season. Though the schedule isn’t yet out, I’ve read the NJ Devils open on the “road” on Long Island against the Islanders on Jan. 19, and open at home on Jan. 22 against the despised Philadelphia Flyers.

After the first lockout, I was at the first Devils game of the 1994-95 season — in Hartford, Conn., against the Whalers. But it’ll take free tickets for me to step into an NHL arena this year after the third lockout in 17 years.

I’ll watch the games online or on TV for sure — but no in-person games.

I’ll be very curious to see what the attendance numbers are like across the league.

• Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Should be a good Sunday of NFL football. Let me know who wins, eh?

The return of “The Canessa Corner”

Well, it's surely been a while since I last wrote a “Canessa Corner,” yet here we are. It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since the first one — back in The Observer days. 

With that said, we’ll go with a hodgepodge-style edition for the return.

• I’m so often late to the game when it comes to great television shows. With “ER,” it wasn’t until the very last year of the show that I found interest in it. And now, I can say the same for Canadian cop-drama show “Flashpoint.” 

The original cast of “Flashpoint.”

The show follows the fictional Strategic Response Unit of the Metro Toronto, Ontario Police Department. The “SRU,” as it’s known, is responsible for tending to serious situations that usually involved a hostage. The show gets its name from the idea that they’re there at the flashpoint – or the moment that’s about to explode.

The cast is remarkable, the story lines are phenomenally written – and unfortunately, after five seasons (the fifth of which is likely to debut this summer), the show’s been cancelled.

The show originates on CTV Canada, and was once on CBS in America. It’s now on the iON network. 

Check it out.

• Marty Brodeur has hired an agent. Zach Parise says he’ll likely test free agency come July 1. And yet, we’re still being told there isn’t cause for concern over the New Jersey Devils’ financial woes. 

Let’s get real here, folks. This team is in dire financial difficulty right now. And sadly, there’s no reason to feel good right now about this team. As hard as it is to envision, it’s looking more and more like the Devils will be without both Parise and Brodeur in October – and that, my friends, is nauseating.

• On the other side, envision this: Were I to have told you in March that on June 30, the Phillies would be 10.5 games out of first place in the National League East, and the Mets would be just 3.5 games behind, you and I both would have laughed it off to the bank. But it’s a reality – and this Mets team is for real. R.A. (Robert Allen) Dickey is 12 and 2! He’s 12 and 2!

And if the season were to end today, the Mets would play in the play-in game for the Wild Card.

Stranger things have happened.

And here I thought the Mets would win 39 games all year long.

• A friend of mine, whose name I won’t mention, today got a parking ticket in Kearny, my old hometown. He was in the car, parking it, and hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet to put money in the parking meter. 

He’d better fight that one in court.

• Found another Canadian drama I like – a summer show – called “Saving Hope.” Since I like it, it’ll likely end after one season.

• Boy did the Mets ever make it to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers at the right time.

• Now that Obamacare has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, I’m still trying to figure out what it all means for me. Do you have any idea?

• Earlier today, I was watching some prelims for the Olympics in gymnastics. I’ve not been a big fan of the sport, but man are those athletes something. What they’re able to do on parallel bars, ropes, etc., is nothing short of remarkable.

• Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., says he’ll defy the federal ban on sports wagering to ensure there’s legal sports betting in this state – yet he won’t do the same for trace amounts of marijuana. He says everyone bets on sports already.

Hey, gov, don’t ya think the same could likely be said for most and marijuana smoking? (Not that I do – but let’s be realistic – most do).

Stay cool, everyone – hope the heat doesn’t get to you too much.

Yours Truly Covering the NJ Devils for SportsPolice.com

Well, I've hardly kept it a secret that my favourite Mets blog out there is Mets Police. It's run by Shannon Shark who, like me, hates the notion that the Mets wear black uniforms — if even on the rare occasion these days. 

His site has morphed into a look at the Mets from  the eyes of cynics, sort of. And I love every second of it.

Now, Shannon has started a new site, NY Sports Police, which will look at all of the tri-state area's 9 sports teams, and I am honoured to announce I'll be the site's official New Jersey Devils writer/cynic. Click the links above to see the site — bookmark it — and come back often. It's not just because I'm part of the Sports Police that I say you're going to love it, as well as Mets Police. 

Go ahead! Give it a try.

Devils open season at home Oct. 10

The New Jersey Devils open the 2008-2009 at home Friday, Oct. 10 against the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. The Devils then go on the road for four-consecutive games before returning home. Last year, the Devils played their first nine games on the road before opening at home at the end of October.

From newjerseydevils.com:

More than half of the team's home schedule – 23 of 41 games – will take place on the weekend: Eleven Fridays, seven Saturdays, and five Sundays. Other highlights on the home slate include five 1 p.m. matinees: Sun., Dec. 21 vs. Philadelphia; Sun., Feb 15 vs. San Jose; Sat., Feb. 28 vs. Florida; Sun., March 1 vs. Philadelphia, and the regular season-finale on Sat., April 11 vs. Carolina. The Wed., Oct. 29 contest vs. Toronto will feature a 7:30 p.m. faceoff, while the Sun., Jan. 4 game vs. Ottawa will start at 5 p.m. All remaining games are set for 7 p.m.

The Devils will host a season-high, five-game homestand from Feb. 7-15: Sat., Feb. 7 vs. Los Angeles; Mon., Feb. 9 vs the Rangers; Wed., Feb. 11 vs. the Islanders; Fri., Feb. 13 vs. Boston; and Sun., Feb. 15 vs. San Jose. New Jersey will play a season-high six-game road trip January 10-19, visiting Los Angeles, Anaheim, Vancouver, Columbus, Long Island, and Nashville.

Under the league's new scheduling matrix, each club will play every other club a minimum of once per season. Each team will play the teams in its division six times (three home, three road) for a total of 24 games. Each club will continue to play 40 games inside its conference, but outside its division, twice at home and twice on the road. The remaining 18 games will involve each team playing every team in the other conference at least once, home or away, with the three remaining games being devoted to interconference "at-large" scheduling.

New Jersey's three "at-large" opponents for 2008-09 are Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles.

The Devils will play five of nine October contests within the Atlantic Division, including two at home and three on the road. Following the season/home opener against the Islanders, New Jersey next hosts a divisional showdown against Philadelphia on Fri., Oct. 24. The team visits Pittsburgh for a 7:30 p.m. start on Sat., Oct. 11; the Rangers on Mon., Oct. 13; and Philadelphia on Sat., Oct. 25.

Seven of New Jersey's 13 games in November will pit the club against the Southeast, including four match-ups at Prudential Center. The Devils host Atlanta on Sat., Nov. 1; Tampa Bay on Wed., Nov. 5; Washington on Sat., Nov. 15; and Florida on Thurs., Nov. 20.

In December, the Devils hit the ice for a total of 14 games, including six against the Atlantic and six against the Northeast. After beginning the month on the road in Philadelphia and Montreal, New Jersey returns for a three-game homestand that features Pittsburgh on Wed., Dec. 10; the Rangers on Fri., Dec. 12; and Buffalo on Sat., Dec. 13.

A four-game homestand from Dec. 19-26 will bring Ottawa on Fri., Dec. 19; Philadelphia on Sun., Dec. 21; Boston on Tue., Dec. 23; and Pittsburgh on Fri., Dec. 26. The Devils will play a season-high four back-to-backs in December.

Of 26 total games in January and February, the Devils skate a combined eight games against clubs from the Central, Northwest, and Pacific Divisions. New Jersey plays just two divisional games in January: at Long Island on Sat., Jan. 17; and against Pittsburgh on Fri., Jan. 30. Three more divisional opponents follow in February: Mon., Feb. 9 against the Rangers; Wed., Feb. 11 against the Islanders; and Sat., Feb. 21 at Long Island.

Western clubs making visits to New Jersey this season also include Dallas on Wed., Oct. 22; Edmonton on Sun., Nov. 9; Colorado on Thurs., Feb. 26; Calgary on Tue., March 10; Phoenix on Thurs., March 12; Chicago on Tue., March 17; and Minnesota on Fri., March 20.

March provides five Atlantic Division contests, with the Devils battling Philadelphia on Sun., March 1; at the Islanders on Sat., March 7; at Philadelphia on Mon., March 23; and at the Rangers on Mon., March 30. The Devils face their final divisional foe on Wed., April 1 at Pittsburgh, and conclude the regular season on Sat., April 11 against Carolina.

Devils bring Holik, Rolston back

Bobby Holik and Brian Rolston, two members of the 1995 Stanley Cup Championship Devils' team, are coming back to Jersey, Devils' GM Lou Lamoriello announced today. Holik has played for the Rangers and Atlanta in his time away from the Devils. Rolston played in Colorado, Boston and Minnesota. Holik was also a member of the Devils' 2003 Stanley Cup Championship team.