| Last updated at 12:50 AM on 01/11/08 |
Oh Canada! 
Matt Stairs first Canadian in modern era to win a World Series
FRED MACDONALD 
The Guardian
Philadelphia Phillies’ Matt Stairs did not see a whole lot of action against Tampa Bay Rays, but the Fredericton, N.B., native became the first Canadian in the modern era to play on a World Series champion Thursday night.
Although Stairs only appeared in pinch-hitting duties, few will dispute that his massive tide-turning blast at a crucial point in the National League championship round may have been the key hit of the playoffs.
Stairs has brought recognition to the Maritimes and baseball fans in particular, and sports fans in general from this region should applaud this almost unbelievable accomplishment.
This past World Series was not a great one from an artistic or financial viewpoint and the weather did not help matters either.
Commissioner Bud Selig’s decision to play game five in a downpour showed how little common sense this man has. Granted he may be educated, but as we’ve seen so many times in this little province that’s doesn’t necessarily mean he’s smart.
Selig showed absolutely no leadership whatsoever and the fact the World Series’ deciding game turned out to be a 3 1/2 inning affair is an embarrassment.
I will always remember the 2008 World Series and the thrill of seeing Stairs in action, but unfortunately Selig’s performance may overshadow the accomplishments of Stairs and the Phillies.
Prophet’s picks
The National Football League heads into Week 9 and whether you are wagering straight up or against the spread, this week offers a number of attractive games.
The Buffalo Bills are at home and five-point favourites over the visiting New York Jets and veteran quarterback Brett Favre. The 4-3 Jets are in tough against the 5-2 Bills and Favre has tossed a league-leading 13 interceptions.
Brett should have stayed retired and this game will do nothing for his legacy.
Take the Bills by seven points or more.
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) travel to Cleveland (3-4) to meet the Browns, which have beaten Jacksonville and the New York Giants in recent weeks.
The Browns are for real and I’m not sold on the Ravens’ defence, especially after the way the Colts and Peyton Manning riddled Ray Lewis and company two weeks ago.
Take the Browns by a touchdown.
Dallas Cowboys visit the New York Giants and the Cowboys will have their hands full with Eli Manning and a powerful Giants running attack. The Giants are Super Bowl contenders and right now the Cowboys are not.
The Las Vegas point spread is 9.5 with the Cowboys and, in my view, that’s too much. The Cowboys will lose but not by nine points.
Straight up take the Giants to win by seven points or less.
There are a couple of sure game on the menu aside from the Bills’ laugher versus the Jets. The Eagles, with a healthy Brian Westbrook, are too much for the hometown Seattle Seahawks, which came to life last week with a home victory.
The Seahawks still do not have quarterback Matt Hasselback, so take the Eagles by at least seven points.
Tampa Bay Bucs and quarterback Jeff Garcia lost a tough one last Sunday at Dallas in large part due to a couple of questionable and what I would call “hometown calls” and this Sunday they are in Kansas City.
You don’t need me to help you with this one, take Garcia and the Bucs by at least a touchdown.
As always, pay the mortgage first, as the picks are for fun.
Around the tracks
Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre afternoon harness racing is finally upon us, and the live 15-dash card gets underway at 1 p.m.
The Islanders Breeders Series championships, with purses in the $8,000-$13,000 range, highlight the card.
Phil Pinkney’s two-year-old sensation Deep Finesse is the favourite in the two-year-old colt division, while Thane Mann’s Dunmore Laird and driver Earl Smith are favoured in the two-year-old trot.
Anthony MacDonald’s two-year-old trotter Mopey Corey, the winner of $149,000 already this season, sells today at the sale in Flamboro.
In Woodbine action tonight Marymatt Hanover, co-owned by Ron Matheson, Tom Clarke and Hal Bevan, trained by Gord Ford and driven by Mark MacDonald, goes in an overnight event for $21,000.
Mark also has the drive on the Pat Morris-owned Mighty and Strong for trainer Ford and he goes for $17,000.
The two-year-old trotter Play Right, co-owned by Bevan, Friday Dean and MacDonald, goes in the $40,000 gold elimination in a division versus Mopey Corey.
Brian and Kevin Ladner’s BackfromthePast, a winner of more than $85,000 for this campaign, also starts tonight on the Woodbine card.
Augustine Cove’s Hughie Murphy, who owned and trained the CDPEC track trot record-holder Kin O Classic, may not know too much about football, and at five-foot five and 150 pounds, the gridiron was not his game.
His son, Mitch Murphy, was spotted in an Island Tackle Football League game and the young quarterback is now headed for a tryout up-country with a chance for a university scholarship.
Young Mitch must have learned football from his uncle, Pat.
Dr. Ian Moore, Ron MacLennan and Serge Savard’s Shadow Play goes tonight in a $300,000 stake at Balmoral Park in Chicago, and has drawn post position five against a tough field, including Mucho Sleazy (PP1) and the race can be seen tonight at the CDPEC via simulcast.
See you at the track.
(Fred MacDonald writes a column every Saturday for The Guardian)
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