By Rob Ficiur
Though the 2014 Winter Olympics are more than two years away Canadians lost a Gold Medal this week with the death of Free Style Skier Sarah Burke. The 29-year old Burke was injured in a training accident nine days earlier.
Burke was a pioneer in the sport of Snowboard half-pipe. Since I do not follow the alpine sports that closely, I had to look up what this sport was.  Wikipedia gives the following explanation: “Snowboard half-pipe is a snowboard competition in which the competitors starts individually from the top of a half-pipe. The half-pipe is a semi-circular ditch or purpose built ramp (that is usually on a downward slope), between 8 and 22 feet (6.7 m) deep. Competitors perform tricks while going from one side to the other and while in the air above the sides of the pipe.” (Wikipedia.com).  Watching video of some of these events over recent days, I was amazed at how agile athletes can be as they jump and twist on those boards. (I would just get sea sick and land on my head the first time.)
As a teenager Burke would sneak off the mogul ski run on to the snowboard half-pipe at the end of the day. In 2001 she won the US Free-skiing Open in the half-pipe event. When half-pipe made its debut at the 2005 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships, Burke was the first world champion. Over the last decade, she became a four-time Winter X Games gold medalist in freestyle skiing. Sarah Burke won ESPN's 2001 Award for female skier of the year. In 2007 she was voted Best Female Action Sports Athlete at the ESPY awards.
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Sarah’s native British Columbia did not find Burke as a participant. Sarah had lobbied the International Olympic Committee to have the super-pipe added as an Olympic event. Approval did not come in time for the Vancouver Games, but it was given so that Sarah’s sport would be an event at the 2014 Games in Russia.
Sarah’s fatal injury occurred doing a routine jump.  Even after she landed awkwardly on her head, the injury did not appear to be serious.  However a few minutes later she went into cardiac arrest. By the time she died 10 days later the family was faced with over $200,000 of medical bills, not covered by insurance because the injury was at a non sanctioned event.
The kindness of people should never be underestimated. Within two days of her death, fund raising efforts had raised more than the $200,000 required for her medical bills. The remaining money will be used to create a foundation to promote the sports she loved.
The Sarah Burke story this week has a happy ending. Sarah Burke had let her husband and other family members and friends know that she wanted to be an organ donor.  After her death, Sarah’s organs were donated. A website I found said 18 Americans die each day because they did not get the organ donation they needed. Another website said that over 4000 Canadians are awaiting organs.
Sarah Burke will be known and remembered for giving to her sport. However to those families who's loved one received the organs she has saved the life of a family member. Sarah died in a simple accident doing what she loved. As many already know tragedy can strike a family at any time. Talking about organ donation with your family is a simple thing we can all do.
If and when it is our family members waiting for an organ donation we will be grateful for the thoughtful people who took the time to let their loved ones know that they want to be an organ donor.  For more information on organ donation in Canada go to:  www.transplant.ca

By Rob Ficiur
Last week Calgary Flames captain Jerome Iginla became the 42nd player in NHL history to score 500 goals. While the Flames flounder and could miss the playoffs for a third straight season, fans take for granted what Iginla has accomplished. Another look at the stats and the history suggests that Jerome is the best hockey player of our era.
1. Five hundred - 500 Goals a Major Accomplishment in Our Day - Back in the high scoring 1980s there were often five or more players scoring 50 goals a season. In the six seasons since the lockout there have been 15 players scoring 50 goals in one season. In contrast in the six seasons between 1981-1986 there were 48 players with 50 goal seasons. With less than half as many players scoring fifty goals a season, it is twice as difficult to score 500 goals.
2. Iginla scored meaningful goals – Iginla’s 500th goal was the game winner.  That goal was the 80th game winning goal of his career. In contrast Wayne Gretzy, who has 894 total goals, has only 91 game winning goals. However as a percentage of total goals scored more of Jerome Iginla’s goals were game winners:  Iginla 16%  Gretzky 10%. (Jaromir Jagr, whose 113 game winning goals are the most ever, 17% of those were game winners.)
3. Jerome Iginla played with no Hall of Famers - Flames fan can you name a future or current Hall of Famer that played on a line with Jerome? Fact is Jerome has not played with another elite NHL forward in his entire career.  The hockey greats of history all had teammates to complement their skills:  Gretzky had Kurri (and Coffey and Messier), Bossy had Trottier, Lemieux had Jagr, Sedin had Sedin, Esposito had Orr; Sidney Crosby had Malkin.
This week the Flames reaquired Mike Cammalerri from the Montreal Canadiens. Cammalerri scored 39 goals playing with Iginla three years ago.  Nine of the last ten years Iginla led the Flames in goals usually by a very wide margin. The year the Flames went to the Stanley Cup final Iginla had 41 goals. The second most on the team was 18 by Shawn Donovan.
4. Jerome Iginla has been consistent - Iginla has scored 30 goals in ten straight NHL seasons; this year will be his 11th consecutive year. The two years prior to the streak he had 28 and 27 goals. For the last 13 seasons Jerome Iginla has been battled through injuries, slumps and getting older – and yet continued to score at a steady rate.
5. Iginla is a complete player - The game after Jerome scored his 500th goal, he scored his 501st goal and his tenth career Gordie Howe hat trick. A Gordie Howe hat trick is a goal, an assist and a fight. Unlike superstars, Gretzky, Jagr and Lemieux, Iginla has been a physical player. All players take hits, but Iginla gives them as well. Iginla’s 10th Gordie Howe Hat Trick puts him about five behind Rick Tocket who holds the unofficial record of 15.
6. Iginla has been a star in the International Hockey - Iginla scored a goal in the Gold Medal game at the 2002 Olympics. Iginla assisted on Crosby’s overtime Gold Medal goal in the 2010 Olympics. When the stakes were high, Jerome was there.
7. Iginla has been the Flames Offense - Since the lockout Jerome Iginla has been the Flames offense. He has now scored 251 goals since the lockout.  Daymond Lankow is second in Flames goal scoring since the lockout with 123.  Iginla has more than doubled any Flame player.
Who set up Iginla’s 500 goals? Craig Conroy had 85, Lankow 52 and Alex Tanguay 52. Those numbers make it clear that Iginla got the goals no matter who he played with.
Jerome Iginla’s numbers look impressive. As we look deeper and see how much Jerome has done surrounded by average players, you realize that on a team sport, Jerome Iginla has been the best player of our era.

By Rob Ficiur
As our family planned a Christmas vacation in California  my son Jared (age 26) said he would borrow a GPS for me. I have cheered for the LA Kings, the LA Dodgers, the LA Lakers and the LA Rams for the decades why did I need a GPS to drive around the roads of this city? 
Before I could drive the rental car out of the lot, Jared showed his brother Brett (age 24) how to operate the GPS.  Was I left out of the instruction process on purpose?  (If Brett had been 25 he would have been driving but rental car rules don't like drivers under 25).  Who needed a GPS - I had a map - and a Trip Tick which is a personalized map showing me where I was going.  However to keep family peace, I let the adult children tell me how things were done these days.
My first trip driving with the GPS had positives and negatives. I liked it when the GPS Lady told me when to change lanes.  Knowing what lane to be in is the hardest part of driving in a new city - one never knows when a lane will end or become an instant exit.   After minutes of silence from the GPS I was sure the machine had self destructed and we were driving aimlessly straight.  However, eventually Ms. GPS told us how to reach our first destination.
Eventually I got used to the language of the GPS Lady.  (Is there some subtle meaning why the GPS has a woman's voice?).  Her instructions were simple and I understood them.  "Keep left" meant keep left before there was a right.   "Turn left" (or right) meant turn here not the next exit.   My co-pilot always had the screen on in front of him and they knew how far we were going on that road before a turn was made. 
My sons were so willing to share the opportunity to co-pilot their father that everyone over the age of 18 was given the "opportunity" to help Dad drive.  Why did Brian (age 23) refuse to co-pilot for Dad?  When offered the co-pilot's chair he shook his head and said "Papa, I love you. But no I will not do this."  Did he think co-piloting with a GPS would ruin our relationship?
Somehow Spencer (age 20) ended up as my regular co-pilot. "Be firm with, Dad," brother Brett instructed him. "Don't let Dad do anything but follow
these instructions."  Spencer did as he was told - being firm but gentle as
he told me where to drive. 
This new GPS we got worked pretty good. Instead of becoming a race car or
crash car driver heading for a missed exit, I could carefully find my way to the proper lane.  When we went to visit my cousin in Cypress, California, I found the GPS directions were faster because we were on the main road not the side road the locals apparently prefer. 
I certainly impressed my sons with my great driving ability in the big city. Not once did we get lost and end up in some dark dangerous street. The GPS worked so well that when I made a mistake the Ms. GPS nicely gave me new directions.  Rarely did anyone know I had goofed because we just kept on driving.  I became so reliant on the GPS that I often thanked Ms. GPS for giving me the right directions.  Each of my co-pilots rolled their eyes at me and said "You don't have to thank the GPS - it is a machine not a person."  I am in the habit of saying thank you - so I did.
The GPS was not perfect.  As one long, tiring (but fun) vacation day came to an end were driving back to our home away from home hotel.  Spencer and I looked to our right and saw we were driving right past the exit to our hotel.  We looked at each other and then said "This GPS is not always right.
After confidence we often become over confident.  On our last night in California we got back on to Interstate 5 heading south.  As a six day veteran of driving this highway I knew where I was going.  Once I was sure we were headed south on I-5 I told co-pilot Spencer "You can turn the machine off now.  I know exactly where I am driving."  Spencer did not fully trust me and left the GPS on.  A few minutes later all my four passengers had nodded off to sleep and I cruised down the highway brimming with over confidence. 
Overconfidence is a dangerous thing.  As I cruised on past the hotel exit
that I "knew" so well, I was relieved to see the passengers were unaware of
my driving error.  I missed the next instruction from the GPS and we soon found ourselves in a new area of California.  Thanks to GPS we got back in
no time at all, without my passengers even thinking I had lost my way at
all.
My sons were right this new technology might have its place.  My wife is so
convinced that she thinks I need my own GPS for Father's Day!  However in
the months to come my adult children might continue to try and teach me
about other new technology.  Why do I need a PVR when I know how to program my VHS?  Why do I need a CD player in my truck when the cassette player works just fine? 

By Rob Ficiur
Last week I reported that 55% of my predictions for 2011 turned out as predicted / guessed. Based on that past history, know that about half of what you read below will (might) happen in 2012. Then again I could be completely wrong on all predictions.
1. NHL teams will set a new record for the most coaches fired during one season. Up until this season the most NHL coaches fired during the season was eight, during the 2002-2003 season. That year the first coach fired was Daryl Sutter (San Jose) who was replaced after 24 games. The last coach fired during the season was Robbie Ftorek fired by the New Jersey Devils after 73 games.
So far this season there have been six NHL coaches fired. Oddly enough the last place Columbus Blue Jackets have not fired their coach. After a week of coaching the Montreal Canadiens, new coach Randy Cunnyworth is already feeling the pressure because he has not instantly turned the Canadiens into Stanley Cup contenders and because he can’t speak French. Will Canadiens fire two coaches during one season?
Good News: Back in 2003, when the New Jersey Devils fired Robbie Ftorek with only eight games left the Devils went on to win the Stanley Cup.
2. Sidney Crosby will score 50 points this year. As I write this Sidney Crosby is out for the second time this year with a concussion. Though my brain is telling me Crosby won’t play much if at all this season, my heart wants to predict that he will contribute to the Penguins playoff run.   
3. Blue Jays will make the playoffs. The Toronto Blue Jays have not made the playoffs since 1993. For 2012, I predict there are two reasons the Jays will end that streak. First they have assembled a balance of young players and veterans. All they need is for the right balance of that to work and they will do what Tampa Bay did a few years ago – make the playoffs when no one thought they would. The biggest reason that the Jays will make the playoffs is that two more teams will be in the post season for each league – increasing their chances considerably.
4. The Stanley Cup final will be between the Vancouver Canucks and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Both teams can score and both can play solid defense. For the Canucks to have a successful season they must win the Stanley Cup after losing in the final in 2011. The Penguins have been a solid team the last twelve months, even with key injuries. With or without Crosby playing, the Penguins will be a tough team to eliminate.
5. Canadian Football League - The CFL will see a major restructuring in the Eastern Conference. The Alouettes have made the playoffs sixteen straight years. For these years the Montreal Alouettes have been the only consistently competitive team in the East. In 2012, age will finally catch up to the Alouettes and they will miss the playoffs for the time in seventeen years.
6. Steroid/Human Growth Hormone-Drugs - In 2011 we saw drug abuse lead at least indirectly to death of several NHL players. In 2012, more issues will come up in the hockey world regarding the use of steroids, human growth hormones and /or drug abuse.
Optimistically I hope that some new policy will “solve” the problem that saw four NHL players die during the summer. Realistically it is more likely that more tragedies occur before a change to policy and hockey culture will take place. (See prediction #2 concussions the NHL for example of how policies and culture change).
7. By December 2012, another NHL team be relocated. Fans already know that teams in Phoenix, Florida and Long Island could be in financial trouble due to attendance and poor revenue sources. The NHL has owned and operated the Phoenix Coyotes for three seasons. By the end of 2012, one NHL team will be on the way to relocation. The most likely scenario I see is that someone will buy the Phoenix Coyotes with the intention of relocating them to Quebec City once a new arena is built. In 2011 there has been a great deal of talk about a new arena for Quebec City. It will be easier to find corporate sponsors for a new arena if you have already bought a team and are just waiting to build the arena.
8. In the 2012 Summer Olympics Canada will earn at least 16 medals. In the last four summer Olympic games Canada has averaged 16.5 medals. Our highest win total was 22 in the 1996 Atlanta games and our lowest was 12 medals in Athens 2000 games. The names of the Canadian medalists who will be household names after the Olympics are relatively unknown to Canadians as we enter 2012.
Fifty two weeks from now, I will report back to you how accurate or inaccurate my 2012 predictions were.