My favorite Nintendo games

Nintendo recently announced it is discontinuing its classic console. I have always been a huge video gamer. My grandma owned a Nintendo and growing up I spent hours playing games on it. My favorite thing to do with her was going to the mall. She sometimes bought me a video game or she would let me spend ten bucks at the video arcade. I will list my favorite games below.

1. Bases Loaded

This was the first of four in the series. I loved this game because the graphics were pretty advanced for that era. Control of the players left a lot to be desired however. I have been watching a playback of this game of YouTube. I didn't realize how long it takes to beat the game. I guess I never fully beat it. Typically a single game takes roughly half an hour. To win the pennant you have to win 80 games. The playback is split into 5 parts and totals 36+ hours. Another glitch in this game is that you can use the same pitchers game after game with no real consequences. The strike zone is pretty unrealistic with a pitch thrown on one side of the plate called a strike but a ball if thrown the other side of the plate . I don't know if this is the case just with the team that is featured on YouTube, but after the sixth inning you can switch pitchers and threw opposing team will not saying the rest of the game. This is also unrealistic to the real game. Anyway I miss this game.


2. Bases Loaded 2

Similar to the first Bases Loaded game but with slight improvement in how well one could control the player. It is harder to bat in this game. There are more options to choose from in terms of lineup. In Bases Loaded 1, you were stuck with the lineup the computer set. Bases Loaded II also has more pitchers who have designated roles (starter/reliever). NY is the strongest team in this game, I like how the game transitions much faster between batters.  The ball moves faster off the bat. For the time, this game is advanced in terms of graphics. The music in this game is better than Bases Loaded I.

3. Bad News Baseball




















Developed by Tecmo, a Japanese video game developer, Bad News Baseball is a little leaguer's dream. There are 12 teams who wear the same colors as Major League counterparts. Every player has different strengths and characteristics that define them. To beat the game, one must defeat every team in any order. Graphics and music are great. Some players are prone to errors. Controlling players was easy. Players could dive for balls or jump up to catch a ball. One downside to the game is players will freeze once they control a ball and the only option is to throw it. Another game that was above average for its time.

4. Super Mario III

The third of three games in this series is the most dynamic in terms of how super hero Mario can transform. Much like the other two games in the series, the goal is to save the princess while defeating various levels and monsters trying to stop Mario. Mario has the ability to fly. throw spitballs and hop like a frog among other things. Like Mario I there is a time limit of 3 minutes (easily achievable for the most part) Music is catchy.

5. Super Mario I

In the first game of the series, Mario must save the princess by conquering 8 worlds and various enemies that can kill Mario. The player starts with three lives and can increase that number during the game, There is a 300 second time limit (plenty of time to finish a level). At the end of each world, Mario must defeat a boss only to be told the princess is not in the castle. I think this is the easiest of the three games.  It is also the least dynamic in terms of weapons and character possibilities

6. Super Mario II


The second of three in the series, Super Mario II is the hardest and most diverse of the trilogy of Nintendo games. Players could play with one of four characters: Mario, Luigi, the princess or toad. Each character had its own strengths/weaknesses/characteristics. To win the game the player must defeat 20 levels and seven worlds. I had a lot of fun with the game and primarily played as Mario, Luigi or the princess.

I played many other games but these are my top 6.. It is possible to play classic Nintendo games online by googling it.

24 Reasons Why I’m Pumped for the NHL Playoffs

The 2017 NHL playoffs start in just three sleeps! It’s been 24 years since a Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup. Here are 24 reasons why I’m excited for this year’s playoffs

1. Five Canadian teams will be in the playoffs (unfortunately my Vancouver Canucks will not be one of them). Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton will all be in the playoffs. There will be at least one all-canafian match-up with the Leafs taking on the Senators. If Edmonton wins the Pacific division they will face their Alberta rivals, the Flames, in round 1

2. Eating breakfast while watching a marathon multi-OT game. For fans on the east coast, games can start as late as 10:30EST and end as late as 3AM. It’s a time-honoured tradition to be watching hockey and drinking a Tim Horton’s coffee

3. Getting to see some great hockey rivalries. In some respects, hockey rivals develop in the playoffs as the same teams meet for up to 7 games in a row. Whereas in the regular season, teams meet as little as twice a season. This year’s first round could feature the battle of Alberta and the battle of Ontario depending on how teams finish in the standings. Montreal could face Ottawa or Toronto.

4. Listening to Don Cherry’s commentary on Coach’s Corner. Love him or hate him, Don Cherry always provides commentary to keep fans talking.

5. Watching 4 games simultaneously. The first round always has up to four games going at once as there is limited time to get each round completed.

6. Getting to wear my jersey to work. Many places of employment bend the dress code during the playoffs, allowing it’s workers to wear team jerseys on game days.

7. Wearing my jersey everyday without washing it. I don’t have a lot of superstitions but one I do have is not washing my jersey until my team loses. During the Canucks 2011 Stanley Cup run, I proudly wore my jersey every day on game days to/from school or volunteering. It definitely got stinky after a while, especially since Vancouver had a heat wave in May/June that year.

8. Waving the white towel. Roger Nielsen’s 1982 Canucks team started this tradition during game 2 of the 1982 Campbell Conference finals during a game which the Canucks felt was poorly reffed. Today, every team hands towels for the fans to wave on every seat. You can also purchase towels at participating realtors

9. Car flags. During the playoffs, it is common to see car flags attached to local vehicles. These flags can also be purchased at participating realtors.

10. Horn honking after your favorite team wins. Vancouver is a pretty fun hockey town when the Canucks win. During the playoffs, after a win you can hear people honking their horns downtown. Generally this increases as the Canucks advance deeper in the playoffs

11. playoff pools. I love participating in hockey pools. Personally, I join in on the free ones and just play for fun. However, fans can also pay a fee and win money if they have the winning team. I recommend Yahoo or Sportsnet if you want to play for free. You can even start one at work/school.

12. Playoff brackets. Another great way to enjoy games is signing up for a playoff bracket where you pick the winners of each series and how long the series will go. I’m not as good at these games but I still enjoy playing nonetheless. NHL.com and sportsnet.ca both offer bracket challenges

13. watching the games in a bar/restaurant. Occasionally, I go to Boston Pizza and watch a hockey game. I love cheering loud with the other restaurant patrons when the Habs score a big goal. You’ll want to get there early because bars/restaurants will have limited seating and if it’s full when you get there, you’re kind of out of luck. Smaller bars may not be offering the games due to a new policy by Roger’s and Bell, (Roger’s owns Sportsnet which provides hockey coverage).

14. High fiving random strangers I see walking down the street after a big win. The best place to be the day after a big win is right downtown. Especially as the home team goes deeper in the playoffs, it will seem like every other person is wearing a jersey. 2011 was a blast for me as a Vancouverite.

15. Watching games on downtown screens. Many municipalities in Canada install outdoor screens where fans can watch outside. Unfortunately, this may never happen in Vancouver again because our fans rioted after the Canucks lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals

16. Getting to leave work early to go watch the game. Some employers will allow workers to leave early to watch the local team win, especially if it is game 7 of the Stanley cup finals. For those who don’t have a generous employer, you can always take a sick day on game day. Of course, you may not have a job to go back too.

17. Playing street hockey ahead of the game. A great way to get ready for the game is to actually play a game of street hockey. All you need are a bunch of buddies, a couple of nets and a nice sunny day. Although you can technically play in the rain, street hockey is much more fun in the sun.

18. Game day parties. Don’t want to go out to a bar or can’t afford tickets? No problem, you can be the host of a game day party. I recommend making it a potluck where everyone brings a dish. Just make sure you keep track of who’s bringing what or you might have only chips and salsa.

19. Not having to see teams that are clearly inferior play. While there is good parity in the NHL, there are a few teams that are clearly over-matched most nights. For example, the Vancouver Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche are both in rebuilds and won’t be expected to be competitive for a couple of seasons. The playoffs features teams which are more evenly matched for the most part. This makes the games more exciting as you don’t know who will come out on top until the end.

20. Participating on social media platforms. FaceBook and Twitter are both great avenues for talking hockey. During games, fans can post and comment on virtually anything from the crazy tie Don Cherry is wearing to a controversial call in the game. I like to scroll through my Twitter and Facebook feeds just to see what my friends are commenting about during games.

21. Sports talk radio. After the game is over, I love to turn on the radio or go online and tune into sports talk radio. The radio hosts will have analysis on the game, comments from the players and coach’s and injury updates. You can even participate and call in with your thoughts on the game.

22. Hockey blogs. I like both reading and writing blog posts on hockey. You can get so many perspectives on the game from average Joe fans like myself and experts and former players alike. Personal favorite blogs of mine are Rabidhabs.com, habseyesontheprize.com and awinninghabit.com.

23. Winning the Stanley Cup while playing NHL ‘17 as the Vancouver Canucks. I am a huge fan of playing video games. Video games have evolved so much over the years that playing one is like being on the ice for real. The players in the game look very similar to the real players. You can play by yourself or against other gamers. I recommend trying a game to kill time.

24. Seeing the Montreal Canadiens win the 2017 Stanley Cup. Will this year be the year the Habs break the streak of consecutive years not winning the Stanley Cup? On paper, they have a pretty solid chance. When it happens, I’ll be the first one waving my towel loud and proud in downtown Vancouver.  

My top ten favorite Canucks

The 2016-17 NHL season is winding down. Lots of changes have been made this season with new and younger players being introduced to the Canucks lineup. I thought I would do a post of my top ten all time favorite Canucks. Note: I was born in 1984 and started watching hockey in the 90's so my picks will be players who played in the early 90's and to the present. In no particular order, here are my top ten all-time favorite Canucks

1. Pavel Bure. The Russian Rocket spent 8 seasons with the Canucks. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 1991 NHL entry draft by the Canucks. Bure was a prolific goal scorer notching 60 goals two seasons in a row. Perhaps his most memorable goal was the series ender in the 1st round of the 1994 Playoffs vs. the Flames. He deked Flames goalie Mike Vernon on a breakaway in the 2OT. The thing I loved most about Bure was he was entertaining. He scored many of his goals by being flashy and deking out the goalie. Unfortunately Bure's career was cut short due to major knee injuries.

2. Gino Odjick Best known as the Algonquin Assassin, Odjick's primary role with the Canucks was a 4th line enforcer. He was a character guy both on and off the ice. I remember one particular moment when I was on the same flight as him going to a War Amps seminar in Ontario. Odjick was kind enough to chat and sign autographs with me and the other kids who were also going to the same seminar. A few years back Odkick was diagnosed with a rare heart condition and was thought to have only a year or two left to live. He beat the odds and his condition is currently in remission. 

3. Alex Burrows. Recently traded to Ottawa at the trade deadline, Burrows overcame long odds to make it to the NHL. He was an elite ball hockey player and played in the ECHL. Very few players make it to the NHL after playing in the ECHL. He has proven to be a versatile player. Burrows can be a pest, he can score and he can defend. The Canucks will surely miss him in the long run.

4. The Sedin Twins. I can't pick one brother over the other. Both Daniel and Henrik are equally my favorite players. Drafted 2nd and 3rd overall in the 1999 draft, the Sedins were a major part of the success the Canucks enjoyed 2010-2012. Henrik reached 1000 points this season and barring a major injury Daniel should hit the milestone next season. The Sedins strength is puck control. They have the ability to wear down the opponent by cycling the puck, either leading to a goal or drawing a penalty. This year was a bit of a bad year as both twins had their worst production since their rookie years. No doubt the Sedins will be future hall of famers.

5. Trevor Linden.  Linden was arguably the best Canucks captain in its history. Trevor was drafted 2nd overall in the 1988 entry draft by the Canucks He should have been a lifetime Canuck but for Mike Keenan trading him to the Islanders February 6, 1998. Linden would be traded back to the Canucks November 10, 2001. Linden was a key cog in the Canucks 1994 Stanley cup run. He led by example by being physical and playing the game the right way. Linden is also very involved in the community and various charities, including Canucks place. Trevor Linden even started his own fitness club franchise which has several locations in the Lower Mainland. Currently Linden is actively playing a role in this Canucks rebuild as president of hockey operations. I have strong hope that Linden will build a great hockey team over the coming years.

6. Kirk McLean Captain Kirk led the Canucks to it's 2nd Stanley Cup finals in 1994. He saved the Canucks season in the 1st round with a remarkable save on the Flames Robert Reichel going post to post to rob Reichel on a one-timer on a Flames 3-on-1 chance. The save allowed Bure to score the game winner a period later. McLean made 2 all-star appearances as a Canuck (1990 and 1992). McLean had a classic butterfly style that was popular during that era.

7. Roberto Luongo Bobby Lu was arguable the best goalie in Canucks history. Luongo was acquired at the 2006 NHL draft in a trade with Florida in a deal that sent Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alex Auld the other way. Luongo initially signed a four year deal. When he arrived the Canucks were just about to enter their competitive window with the Sedins just entering their prime years. While Luongo looked great in the regular season, his playoff numbers were a different story. Chicago turned out to be Luongo's Achilles heel. The Canucks lost to the Blackhawks 2 years in a row in the second round before finally getting past them in the 2011 Stanley Cup run. Roberto Luongo was a fan favorite and wrote some gems on his Twitter account. Luongo signed the best and worst contract in Canucks history on September 2, 2009. The Canucks handed him a 12 year deal that the team is still paying for while Luongo is playing for the Panthers. At one point the Canucks were the envy of the league with three goalies who looked like future stars (Luongo, Cory Schneider and Eddie Lack). Ironically all three goalies were eventually traded away and are enjoying various success with their current teams. Luongo's tenure with the Canucks came to an end when Lack was given the start over him in the Heritage Classic. Luongo was traded 4 days after that game.

8. Jannick Hansen Like Alex Burrows, Hansen was traded at the trade deadline in an effort to get younger. Honey badger spent a decade with the Canucks. He was a jack of all trades player. He played in all situations, PP, even strength and PK. Hansen used his speed to his advantage, often beating the opponent to loose pucks. Jannick played on all 4 lines in his Canucks career and spent large stints on the Sedins line. Hansen was one of the Sedins most effective linemates. Hansen's claim to fame is being the 1st Danish born player to compete and register a point in the NHL Playoffs. I will miss Hansen because I felt he still could have helped the Canucks as a role model for the younger players

9. Todd Bertuzzi The big hulking winger formed one of the most formidable lines in Canucks history along with center Brendan Morrison and Markus Naslund. Bertuzzi was a polarizing figure. He was a prolific scorer but also walked a fine line with the NHL disciplinary commissioner. Bertuzzi missed 10 games in the first month of the 2001-02 season after being automatically suspended for leaving the bench to help in a fight vs. the Avalanche. Just 3 years later Bertuzzi got himself in even bigger trouble by blindsiding Steve Moore who had blindsided Naslund 5 days prior. Bertuzzi missed the remainder of that season and was prohibited from playing 2004-05 (the NHL season was wiped out due to a labor dispute but International leagues recognized the suspension). When Bertuzzi was reinstated he was a changed player. Bertuzzi was also polarizing in other ways. For example, he heckled Minnesota Wild fans, telling them not to purchase tickets to game 6 (played in Minnesota) as the series would be over by then and in game 7 he told Wild players to get out their golf clubs when the Canucks were ahead 2-0 at that point. Minnesota used both snipes as rallying points and would win that series. Bertuzzi was a loyal player, not afraid to stand up for teammates as exemplified in the two incidents above.

10. Markus Naslund The left wing cog of the West Coast Express line with Bertuzzi and Morrison, Nslund was acquired from Pittsburgh in one of the most lopsided deals in league history as journeyman Alex Stojanov, a career minor leaguer. Not only did Naslund perform statistically, he was instrumental in convincing the Sedins to stick with it when the Twins wanted to quit and return to Sweden. Naslund's numbers steadily improved  until they peaked in 2002-03 when hen notched 104 points, including 48 goals. Naslund would win the Lester Pearson Award for best player as voted by his colleagues in the NHL and would finish runner-up for the Hart trophy as league MVP. He holds the Canucks team record for All-time hat-tricks: 10 (tied with Tony Tanti), All-time powerplay goals, Longest tenured captain: 8 years (2000–08), Single-season points by a left wing: 104 (2002–03), Single-season goals by a left wing: 48 (2002–03) and Single-game goals: 4 (twice; 14 December 2002 vs. Edmonton Oilers; 9 December 2003 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; tied with 10 others). Naslund set the bar high for future Canucks to aim for. 

If I were the MLB commissioner for a day

Baseball is a sport where you either love it or you hate it. For fans who hate it, a big problem is the length of the games. For a viewer on the east coast, west coast games start at 10:05 EDT and can end as late as 2AM  or even 3AM. The MLB has tried tinkering with the rules by putting a time limit on mound visits. In the minor leagues this season if the game goes to extra innings, a runner will automatically start at second base. The thinking is that with three outs to play with and a runner in scoring position, odds are the hitting team will be able to get that run across before they make three outs. If I were commissioner for a day, I would drastically improve the speed of games. This would be accomplished in three ways: limiting the length of mound visits, limiting the time to throw a pitch, and limiting the amount of time a batter can step out of the box.

For the first part of my master plan, the pitcher can only be visited twice per 9 innings. If the game goes into extra innings, each team gets an extra mound visit. It can get ridiculous the number of times a catcher visits the mound in a single inning. If a pitcher is struggling to find the plate, give him a chance to work out of it. Further, every pitcher should not require a mound visit. If a team chooses to visit the mound a third time in regulation, they will lose a replay challenge, If a team has no replay challenge, the mound visit cannot take place. Scouting on batters should occur in the dugout between innings or in the bullpen as he pitcher is warming up,

The second part of my plan is to have a 30 second clock start running the moment the catcher leaves his squat after calling time. If a team exceeds the time limit, the penalty is an automatic ball. If the batter already has three balls against him, he receives a walk, Similarly, batters should have a 15 second clock the moment they call time (shorter time given because the batter doesn't walk to the pitcher's mound and back). Exceeding the allowable time results in a strike or strikeout if the batter is already down three strikes. In terms of time to throw a pitch, I will allot 20 seconds. Period. There will be no added time if a runner is on base. The clock starts the moment the pitcher gets ball in glove. Penalty for not throwing in the allotted time is a ball to the batter.

Finally, I would limit the number of times a batter can call time to once an AB. Some batters are notorious for stepping out constantly to adjust their batting gloves or fiddle with their bat. Just get in the batters box ready to swing!

There were three lengthy extra inning games today that went over 4 hours. One was from the AL West and that game ended after midnight in the east.

Big day Monday

I have a big day coming up on Monday. I meet with the nurse and anesthesiologist  @ Burnaby Hospital in the pre-op clinic ahead of my April 19 surgery to remove polyps from my uterus. Been feeling very anxious about the surgery given that my last one in 2013 I got an infection and wound up in hospital 5 weeks (home just one day in those 5 weeks). Will post more later on the subject

The Players should be going to the 2018 Olympics

On Monday, the NHL announced that it will not be going to the 2018 Olympics. Undoubtedly, many players will go to the Games despite the NHL being against it. Frankly, the NHL is making a huge mistake. On the one hand, it is trying to promote the game by playing a couple of preseason games in China next season. On the other hand, it is telling fans and players alike the opposite by refusing to let the players play in the Olympics.

After the Stanley Cup, the second biggest pride for an NHL player is getting to represent your country at the Olympics. It’s not the same representing your country at the World Championships in April because the players available then are from teams who missed the playoffs or were knocked out in the 1^st round. Some of hockey’s greatest moments were produced at the Olympics by NHLers. Case in point, Sidney Crosby’s golden goal is still talked about today from the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Also in the same Olympics, Finnish flash Teemu Selanne broke the record for most points in a single Olympics games by scoring 37 points. Pavel Bure scored 5 times in the 1995 Olympics and Dominik Hasek carried the Czech Republics to the gold medal with outstanding goaltending.

One big reason the NHL chose to skip the Olympics this time is the IOC not covering insurance costs and travel costs. The NHL makes billions of dollars in revenue each year. For them to say that they can’t cover travel costs and insurance costs is a cop out. Every year the NHL lets players go to the World Championship and those games are always held in Europe. What’s the difference between those games and the Olympics. For GM’s worried about players getting injured during the Olympics, players can get hurt anytime. Perhaps the NHL should prohibit players from playing in the World Championship too.

Whether the NHL has truly reached a final decision on this matter remains to be seen. Certainly the reaction to this announcement has been negative. For the sake of the players, fans and games, I hope the NHL reconsiders and lets the players go to Pyongchang for the 2018 Olympics.