Another look around the world of sports, including a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs first game, the awful pitchers being trotted out in the post-season, and, bizarrely, the Liberal Leadership convention.

Oh, yeah, and Ringalos, don't forget the Ringalos.

Let's get started…

ONE: The season is one game old by the time I write this and I already miss Aki Berg.

And, no, I'm not being facetious. When the Leafs signed Hal Gill this off-season, I said fans would be pinning for the much maligned Finn by Christmas.

Well, for me, it took one game.

In Gill's defense, he is not AWFUL in own-zone coverage. But, the big blue-liner has already justified my greatest fears over his signing.

He can't skate.

Ottawa's Chris Neil (Chris Neil?) blew by him on one play for a goal on Wednesday. And, any good shoot-in on Gill's side caused havoc because he couldn't get back in time to make a clean play.

There were also a number of times when he was on the ice where the Sens had excellent opportunities because Gill couldn't cover the outside.

(Including one memorable play when Gill wandered across the slot to help Ian White, who had his man covered, leaving his flank completely open – where, of course, the puck made its way for a point blank scoring opportunity).

None of this should be a shock of course. When the Montreal Canadians upset the then first place Bruins in the playoffs three seasons ago Gill was regularly abused.

But, between Gill, Wade Belak and Andy Wozniewski -- well two of those three have to be gone if the Leafs are going to make the playoffs. It's just too much of a lack of speed.

(Belak is already gone with Pavel Kubina coming back, but Kubina's also a mobility question mark)

Sadly for the Leafs, Gill will surely stay, and he'll also likely skate as a top-4 defender -- an untenable situation.

Beyond that, I generally liked the Leafs' performance Wednesday night against Ottawa, but it was very clear this team is not overly gifted with the puck on their sticks.

TWO: Interesting trade by the Carolina Hurricanes.

With injuries, and losing Aaron Ward to free agency, the Canes were up against the wall. They needed another blue-liner.

So they turned to Jack Johnson (not the acoustic singer-songwriter), the No. 32 pick in the draft last year. And, the kid, considered one of the real blue-chippers, refused to turn pro.

Again.

So, the Canes dealt him and Oleg Tverdovsky to the LA Kings for two players you probably never heard of (this, of course, assumes that Jack Johnson (not the acoustic singer-songwriter) and Oleg Tverdovsky are household names in your world).

Bu, it's not a bad deal. The defending champs got Tim Gleason, who is also a former first rounder, and Eric Belanger.

Belanger is coming of a career year, albeit, one of modest totals. He'll fit in beautifully with the "Adams" family (Craig and Kevyn -- no relation) on an excellent checking line.

Gleason is the real find here -- big, mobile and mean he really blossomed as a defenseman in La-La land last year. However, because he's not of an overly offensive mindset, he likely escaped the notice of all but a few hardcore hockey fans in Southern California.

Make no mistake though, Gleason has the ability to eat up major minutes, maybe even more than Johnson would have been able to had he turned pro.

The Canes have been ravaged by free agency losses up front, but they are still a solid defensive team. And, if Carolina makes it deep into the playoffs again, don't be surprised if Gleason is out there in key situations.

TWO AND A HALF: Anyone else waiting for the first ad that features Sidney Crosby behind the net with a Blackberry, e-mailing a Pearl carrying Evengi Malkin the message “Slot?"

ONE: Am I the only one whose noticed Ringalos have disappeared?

I've been going through grocery store, after grocery store, and nothing. Were they discontinued, and I missed a notice? (this would not be the first time, somehow I never heard that Kryptonite was recalling a bunch of their old "ring" style locks. That little oversight is directly related to the fact that I had to buy a new $600 bike last week).

But, that doesn't make sense, because you can still GET Ringalos in those mixed snack packs. I mean, I SEE them in there through the little window in the packaging, taunting me, all nestled up with the cheezies, and pretzels, and generic Sun-Chips.

More frustratingly, Frito-Lay has released these Ringalo knock-offs called Hoops.

Yeah, not the same thing. Not the same thing at all.

So, seriously, little help?

TWO: And keeping away from the world of sports. Is anyone else enjoying the "Michael Ignatieff as rock-star," snow-job the Liberal Leader candidate's people are trying to pull off?

That Andy Warhol inspired advertisement killed me.

It's the Liberal Party people -- you're not supposed to be hip, or attract the youth vote -- that's what not showing up at the polls is for.

Can you imagine if Ignatieff wins the nomination and than takes this kind of show on the campaign trail.

It'd be just like that Simpson's episode with the Catholic Church.

"The Liberal Party -- we've made a few  changes"

The other thing I don't get is this bias against Bob Rae.

Sure some Red voters may go Blue because they think Rae is the same tax and spend guy he was as Ontario's Premier.

However, those losses will be made up, at least in Toronto, by a growing tide of Orange voters who might not see Rae as "the lesser of two evils," but an actual positive alternative.

And, really, when push comes to shove out West -- the intellectual and unapproachable Ignatieff (yeah, his lack of face time in this country over the past decade will go over REAL well in the patriotic West) or the intellectual but eminently relatable (for a politician) Rae?

Rae may not be the right choice, but the Liberals likely stand a better chance with him in the drivers seat (or Stephane Dion for that matter) than Mr. Ignatieff.

ONE: Look, I know there are several reasons why the Blue Jays aren't in the post-season. But, man, I am just killing myself thinking about how the birds could have done in the National League.

If the Jays were there I think they might be favourites to make the World Series,

Look at the pitching. John Maine started a Game 1 for the Mets.

Jeff Weaver and David Wells are a playoff match-up? That would have been great -- in 2004

Mark Hendrickson -- Mark – frikking -- Hendrickson is pitching at key points for the Dodgers? Not to mention Hong Chiu Kuo--Who?

Sure, when you look at Nate Robertson starting for the Tigers in Game 1, and Boof Bosner (who will one day be a legit Game 2 starter) getting the nod the other day for the Twins one sees it's not JUST an NL issue -- but still…

This is the least impressive set of names - especially on the mound -- that I can remember. I mean how many of the eight playoff teams would have taken Ted Lilly if he was offered to start Game 1 or 2?  Three? Four?

Scary stuff.

UPDATE: I just watched Jeff Weaver strike out Dave Roberts to get out of a 2-on, 2-out jam in the fifth. And through five, the San Diego Padres have TWO hits against Weaver.

Two!

There is NO WAY the Jays offence would only have two hits against Weaver. Not even if the Jays were in St. Louis, and didn't have the DH, not even if John MacDonald was hitting 8th.

Jeff Weaver is awful – there is no other way I can put that.

(Yes there is, in caps.)

JEFF WEAVER IS AWFUL.

Yeah, Toronto would have problems with the Mets hitting – but you're telling me that Roy Halladay, AJ Burnett and Lilly don't trump John Maine, a "so far over the hill, he's come down a mountain" Tom Glavine, and Steve Trachsel.

(Here, I actually had to go on-line to check who the third starter was, my first though was Trachsel, but then I thought it couldn't be, because the guy hasn't thrown for like two weeks, so I went to look up who the other options could possibly be. Which is why the Mets can't win. No World Series champion in HISTORY has needed someone to conduct an exhaustive search to find their No. 3 starter. It just can't happen)

Couldn't we flip Washington with the Jays? The Nats are a tailor made match-up for Baltimore, creating a great rivalry, and Washington can actually spend money.
And wouldn't a DC-New York series have all sorts of interesting political subtext?

On the other side, the Jays already beat the Braves for a title -- so that works -- and Toronto-New York always generates some fission – give it time. Plus, I KNOW people in Toronto hate Philly -- because of the Flyers – I'm sure we can learn to hate the Shane Victorino's of the world right quick.

As for the Marlins… Well, they're owned by the ^&%$ who stole the Expos from Canada --so yeah, I think there is some distaste.

I'm serious about this – doesn't the move make sense for everybody?

TWO: Speaking of Satan's team... How do the Florida Marlins let Brian Moehler make 20 starts this year?

Moehler is arguably the biggest reason the Florida Marlins weren't the most improbable playoff teams since the 1969 Mets.

On the surface Moehler's 7-10 record seems adequate for a number five guy.

Forget the record. Look at the rest of his numbers.

Opponents hit .322 off Moehler. .322! They're also slugged .524 off the guy.

To put the numbers into perspective, when Moehler was on the hill every hitter he faced becomes a slightly worse Justin Morneau.

And its not like this was out of character for Moehler -- he's been bad his entire career, with a lifetime ERA of just under 5.00.

I know the Fish had some injury issues, and I know it was a young staff. But, when Florida was making their push after the All-Star break -- management couldn't find ONE even slightly less awful veteran?

Would the Yankees not have moved Aaron Small? The Nationals, Pedro Astacio? Even a Shawn Chacon type from the Pirates would have done. 

It's just more evidence that owner Jeffrey Loria wants to make money, not win.

TWO AND A HALF: I just realized, Scott Erickson actually pitched in the major-leagues this year. He made nine appearances for the Yankees. This shocked me. A team that is the odds-on favourite to win the Series at one point was so desperate for  arms it allowed Scott Erickson to take the hill NINE times?

And, you know what really kills me? Because it was the Yankees there's like a 50-50 chance it would have worked. Erickson would have found some veteran guile -- even though his ERA for the past five years is like 50 - won 9 games in the second half -- and made a gutsy Game 3 start where he really should have been hammered -- but instead bobbed and weaved through six innings of 8 hit, 5 walk, 2 run ball…

Did I mention I used to hate Scott Erickson as a kid? His baseball card annoyed me.

Ahhh... the things that stick with you.