First up is a location in Riversdale, south of the farmers’ market. While aesthetically pleasing, the site is the wrong one. Among other things, it is too far from the heart of downtown, especially given our winter weather. The city recently chose First Avenue as the final destination of a rapid bus system, which isn’t all that rapid given it is going down Broadway Avenue. It makes sense that the arena be close to First Avenue. There is no link between 19th Street and 20th Street via First Avenue. It will look like a monstrosity, but I am pretty much convinced a new arena should be built on the north side of Midtown Plaza. The bus system will be at its doors, there are two hotels, the expandable TCU Place and the Midtown Plaza’s underground parking lot. Parking and getting out of the area will be problematic — as it will be anywhere — until we start using the transit system. That said, vehicles could disperse in all four directions, including two freeway entrances to the south.

Last year I was at a downtown stadium in Phoenix, and was surprised and encouraged by how quickly 30,000 people could get out the area quickly and efficiently. To recap, the River Landing location is wrong, and the city yards, if it is listed as an option, would be horrible. The north lot at Midtown Plaza is better than the south lot. Let’s keep discussing this until you see it my way.

• I was scanning the Internet the other day, looking at older cars. I was interested in learning more about one and opened the file for more information. Among the options on the vehicle is a cassette player. How cool is that?

• Remember the old days when people would advertise their vehicles for sale as “lady driven?” Yikes.

• Why are there sports columnist and commentators who tell people in a condescending manner that the Washington Nationals are not the Montreal Expos and to get over it? For some people they are, so mind your own business.

• From TSN commentator Gord Miller: “I’ve worked in war zones, covered natural disasters, riots and some of the biggest sporting events in the world. None of that — none of it — prepared me to be the father of a 14-year-old girl.” (When I spell checked this item, it suggested I change Gord to Gird, Gordy, Gored,
Gourd or Gard. Hmm.)

• I was happy to read that TSN has signed Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie to a five-year contract extension. Not only is McKenzie a great reporter, he is, by all accounts, one heck of a nice guy.

• From columnist Patti Dawn Swansson: “News item: The NHL tells Valentin Zykov of the Las Vegas Golden Knights to get lost for 20 games because he either stuck a needle in his butt or swallowed a PED. Imagine that, a Russian using illegal drugs. Who would have thought that?”

• Did you know the Boston Bruins pay its top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak $19.65 million a season? The Oilers pay Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl a combined $21 million. And, get this, the Leafs have invested $22.5 million annually in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The numbers do
the talking on this one.

• Has someone told Matthews that his moustache looks good?

• Why don’t commentators do us all a favour and shut up when it comes to discussing Zach Collaros’ health. He’s a big boy and can make
his own decisions.

• Speaking of commentators, why do some use immature, condescending fake voices to diminish people like “social justice warriors” and labour leaders and even our prime mister? It’s plain weird coming from a 60-year-old’s mouth.

• I sat down on a recent evening to watch a couple of NHL games. Lo and behold, the Habs and Leafs games were both blacked out. I went back to watching the latest news on Donald Trump.

• From 1969 Hockey Tweets: “LA Kings forward Ross Lonsberry was fined $50 in Vancouver after being convicted of committing an indecent act. Lonsberry apparently mooned a car carrying a group of young women. No word on what, if any, action Kings new coach Hal Laycoe might take.” (Note: Lonsberry, who was born in Humboldt, died in 2014 at the age of 67.)

• From broadcaster Dave Hodge: “The world is so crazy that Rudy Giuliani and Don Cherry could switch places and it wouldn’t get any crazier.”

• I have said it before and will say it again: I can’t stand Aaron Rodgers, or the Green Bay Packers for that matter.

• From Stephen Colbert: “Trump said he’s obliterated Turkey before, and I believe him. He’s a dangerous man at a Thanksgiving buffet.”

-Cam Hutchinson