[I’m re-posting this because it got eaten during the WordPress outage on Tuesday, and I think it’s important.]

Canada lost a sporting legend this week.

Joey Moss died on Monday, age 57, as a result of conditions brought on by early onset dementia & lingering effects from breaking his hip back in July.

He was the 12th of thirteen children born to Lloyd & Sophie Moss. They were a travelling band of musicians, who travelled the Canadian West playing concerts.

According to Canadian hockey lore, he became part of the Oilers equipment personnel in 1984 because Wayne Gretzky was dating Joey’s sister, Vikki. Gretzky had an aunt with Down Syndrome, so he had an immediate rapport with Joey. The kid had a job working at a bottle depot at the time, and Gretzky would often see him outside waiting for a bus to take him to work, even when it was 40 below. Gretzky figured a kid with that kind of drive shouldn’t be just sorting deposit refundables for his whole life, so he convinced Glen Sather to give the kid a chance.

According to Wikipedia & CBC Edmonton, after the season ended, Gretzky got Moss a job with the Edmonton Eskimos/Football Team so he could build on the progress he’d made & not lose anything over the summer. He even offered to pay Moss’ salary.

Gretzky eventually broke up with Vikki, but Joey Moss stayed with the Oilers for a total of 35 years. He worked almost every game in the locker room, and even sang the anthem a couple of times each year. He would divide his time between the Football Team – starting the season with them – and the Oilers – moving over once pre-season started – for most of his adult life.

He knew, I knew, everyone knew about the Down Syndrome. The thing was, the longer the kid was in the job, the less it came up. When he did something wrong, he got yelled at; when he couldn’t do something, he asked for help. The job he did was one that required him to be a hard worker, not be some hire they made to appease their star’s girlfriend. If that was the deal, he’d have been gone the minute Gretzky broke up with Vikki or Wayne fucked off to LA.

His impact & influence led to him receiving an NHL “Seventh Man” All-Star Award in 2003, a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012, and was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

He was an institution, not a charity case. He did work with a charity, the Winnifred Stewart Association, which is an Edmonton-based group working with the developmentally disabled, and named after a pioneer in education and schooling for the “mentally handicapped”.

You can find an extensive collection of tweets about him here. His was a big enough presence that even ESPN and NBCSports covered his passing. The Oilers have a complete history of Joey Moss’ life on their website, including the stories about Gretzky hiring Joey’s mom to handle his fan mail when the Moss family was destitute after the father died. His friendship with Wayne Gretzky is a hallmark of both their lives, and a testament to both of them that they kept it going long after one of them left town.

To close, I dare you to watch this story about him and deny someone’s cutting onions.

RIP, Sunshine.


Sunday broadcast maps (courtesy 506sports.com)

CBS SINGLE

 Anchorage
 Fairbanks
 Honolulu

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore – Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

New England @ Buffalo – Ian Eagle, Charles Davis

NY Jets @ Kansas City – Kevin Harlan, Trent Green

Indianapolis @ Detroit – Andrew Catalon, James Lofton

Tennessee @ Cincinnati – Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta

LA Chargers @ Denver (LATE) – Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon

 

FOX EARLY

 Anchorage
 Fairbanks
 Honolulu
Minnesota @ Green Bay – Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston
LA Rams @ Miami – Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma
Las Vegas @ Cleveland – Kevin Kugler, Chris Spielman

 

FOX LATE

 Anchorage
 Fairbanks
 Honolulu

New Orleans @ Chicago – Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

San Francisco @ Seattle – Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth


Tonight’s sports:

  • NCAA: selected matchups
    • Mississippi State at Alabama – 7:00PM | ESPN / TSN2
    • San Jose State at New Mexico – 7:00PM | FS1
    • Ohio State at Penn State – 7:30PM | ABC / TSN
    • Oklahoma at Texas Tech – 8:00PM | FOX
    • Western Kentucky at BYU – 10:15PM | ESPN
    • Nevada at UNLV – 10:30PM | FS1
  • Fútbol:
    • Liga MX:
      • UNAM vs. Guadalajara – 8:55PM | UNI
  • Fisticuffs:
    • UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva
      • Prelims – 5:00PM | TSN4 / ESPN+
      • Main card – 7:00PM | TSN4 / ESPN+
    • Top Rank Boxing:
      • Inoue vs. Moloney – 10:00PM | TSN5 / ESPN+

Plus, SNL has John Mulaney & The Strokes – 11:30PM/8:30PM – NBC / Global.

Enjoy your night. Me? I’m outside throwing candy at kids dressed like Frozen or Minions while WineWife drinks Pinot on the couch. THE PERFECT EVENING!

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Beerguyrob
A Canadian man-child of indeterminate age, he stays young by selling alcohol at sporting events and yelling at the patrons he serves. Their rage nourishes his soul, and their tips pay for his numerous trips to various sporting events.
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BrettFavresColonoscopy

Scotch night confirmed: Ardbeg in glass

Sharkbait

Excellent choice

Sharkbait

When I used to work overnights, falling back nights were the most depressing nights, by far. Watching the hour reset itself when you’re working is extremely disheartening.

Last edited 4 years ago by Sharkbait
BrettFavresColonoscopy

Which is why hibernation is the best option

TheRevanchist

I voted today. Not one damn Republican got my vote. Fuck those guys.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

WHY WAS I NOT TOLD THAT IT IS SCOTCH NIGHT?

Sharkbait

Scotch Nights are always nights that end with “Y”

BrettFavresColonoscopy

I’m drinking beer and feel like a sap.

litre_cola

I honestly last 10 seconds hearing the Cheeto talk, and I get agitated.

Sharkbait

Mrs Sharkbait wanted to watch the debates. I refused for that reason. He would just get me angry.

litre_cola

Like watching a Fulham match in the Premier League. At least I can stop watching fuckwit talk, I can nae quit the futbol.

litre_cola

Stoner me has 2 fucking bags of candy and chips in the house. I also just got 4 different strands from a buddy and I chose bourbon and weed. I ain’t got no munchies.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Isn’t that where Timmy Horton is supposed to come in?

ballsofsteelandfury

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litre_cola

Seriously it is embarrassing how many people drink and eat that garbage.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

The pockets of the East Coast that get SF-Seattle are mindboggling

Sharkbait

Broadcast maps are weird

ballsofsteelandfury

Miami getting Chargers-Denver makes no sense to me.

ballsofsteelandfury

Wait, I see the logic now. It’s because Fox has the home team in the morning. That’s why they’re stuck with the only afternoon game. Same with Green Bay/ Minnesota and Cleveland.

litre_cola

Are you Rupert Murcock?

ballsofsteelandfury

If I was a redhead, I’d name my cock Rupert after the guy in the Harry Potter movies.

herodotus450

New (to me at least) sideline reporter named Stormy Buonantony. Not sure if that’s a lot of stereotypes wrapped up into one name or only one.

Senor Weaselo

So I think I did too good of a job with Senorita Weaselo’s birthday present, being that she will not let go of the 27 inch Totoro I got her.

She’s in her 20s, I swear.

Sharkbait

Well done

herodotus450

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ballsofsteelandfury

I’m afraid to look up “27 inch Totoro”.

litre_cola

YOU ARE AFRAID????? I look to you for deviant guidance!

ballsofsteelandfury

The Japanese are into some weird shit that even I’d becomment image

BrettFavresColonoscopy

I presumed it is a magic wand variant

ballsofsteelandfury

EXACTLY! I’m just worried there will be pictures of it inserted somewhere.

Last edited 4 years ago by ballsofsteelandfury
Senor Weaselo

It’s just a large stuffed Totoro from the Ghibli store.

herodotus450

Clocks set back an hour? Time to stya up 3 hours later than usual and get wasted!

Sharkbait

Solid plan. I see no fault in this logic

Mr. Ayo

ONE OF US!

litre_cola

Another whisky it is.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Evening

Sharkbait

*raises Jura*

BrettFavresColonoscopy

I went with Corpse Reviver #1 for the first two cocktails, now onto stouts

Sharkbait

Nicely done.

blaxabbath

Lots of houses in the hood not participating in Halloween. Quite a few just had out candy to take. Kind of proud that we had about the darkest set up in our immediate area. Even some neighbors took photos in front of our little graveyard.

As was said before — little things.

herodotus450

Western Kentucky celebrating like they aren’t down 28-3

Sharkbait

High Spirits over. Now it’s Charlie Brown.

litre_cola

Went trick or treating with Deci.

  1. Every single homeowner had either a bucket, a tube contraption, lights off, or were wearing masks.
  2. Free rye is better than no rye.
  3. 3 houses had free shots for parents. Masked up, disposable dentist cups, Costco tequila, vodka, and tequila again.
  4. Covid has changed everything, but you could see people didn’t want kids to be fucked more by it.
  5. We are trying to trim down and we now have 3 grocery bags of candy.
  6. A lot of people had them garbage pickin claws, one of them Home Depot fire delaies and chilled in their yards.

I live downtown, we went to a buddies who has a wee man the same age who live in the suburbs. It was great escapism from bullshit seeing 3 year olds freaked the fuck out that they just get candy for dressing up.

My buddy just grew his 2nd season marijuana plants, and gave me an oz, and some gummies for free. So there is that, also provided the ditch rye but whatever.

Enjoy the small things.

blaxabbath

Took out blaxito way early and way late. I ran home after the second house. Not sure why I (1) didn’t realize a two year would need help at the door: and (2) that it’s probably inappropriate to knock on someone’s door and be in their business sans mask.

At the house, we had just shy of 100 trick or treaters. Was disappointed by the lack of CRACKHEAD HUNTER digs.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

We had a virtual halloween party. Not great yield on the invite list. I had a few cocktails and am now into the beer.

Unsurprised

Just don’t go Toobin

BeylesMuse

Do’t go full Toobin

-Kirk Lazurus

Unsurprised

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Sharkbait

Justifiable homicide.

Unsurprised

HOMICIDE, n. The slaying of one human being by another. There are

four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and

praiseworthy

— Ambrose Bierce

Viva La Tabula Raza

I’d just do symphonic accompaniment with armpit farts.

Unsurprised

Ahoy-hoy

Unsurprised

Spoiler
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ballsofsteelandfury

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BeylesMuse

You should have froze up some Wagon Wheels, grabbed the ol’ Koho or Titan and snapped a few top shelf or five-hole on the little SOBs.

Game Time Decision

We had a grand total of 4 kids tricker treating….lol

Viva La Tabula Raza

I live way out in the sticks and went years with out any trickertreaters in my previous domicile, which was unfenced/ungated. Then one year these two Hispanic kids from a family that had moved in recently showed up and I was completely unprepared. I ended up giving them each a few Hall’s Mentholyptus, and a dollar bill apiece so they didn’t come back later and soap my windows or burn down my house.
I hope their parents figured out to to take those kids into town where houses are close together not on one acre lots.

Game Time Decision

Haha. The farmers near us come to our subdivision. Lots of houses here

herodotus450

The USL final has been canceled; leading experts in the field are shocked to announce that there was a second American soccer league.

Unsurprised

On, no. Where am I going to get my Portland Timbers 2 – Sacramento Monarchs action now?

Sharkbait

Celebrating Halloween by drinking copious amounts of booze and watching ghost movies. Not all scary. Currently half hour into High Spirits. A meh move with a decent cast involving Beverly D’Angelo, Peter O’Toole and Steve Guttenberg

herodotus450

I’d give Beverly my O’Toole any day of the Guttenberg, if you know what I mean.

Brick Meathook

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Brick Meathook

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herodotus450

Full on brawl between Florrida and Missouri apparently. Missouri is the Florida of the South-Mid-West after all.

herodotus450

Home Clock in Happy Valley gives PSU an extra 3 points.

herodotus450

Hello friends I’d like to invite you all to join me in my campaign to bring grout before a war crimes tribunal in The Hague. We’ve all been brutalized by the concept and of grout and it’s cleaning and use in our lives. Thank you.

herodotus450

PSU substitution gaffe coming out of a timeout, you hate to see it.

King Hippo

Are Meeechigan Men Reacting Reasonably?

Apparently Gov. Whitmer called it “Spartans by 3” at a press conference this week.

Viva La Tabula Raza

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King Hippo

I think the local militia yahoos done tried smh

herodotus450

They tell me I have no reason to be afraid of Oklahoma punter Reeves Mundschau but I am anyway.

Redshirt

Free, oh sorry…Scholarship Football on FOX

Last edited 4 years ago by Redshirt
Redshirt

Well there was. OkSU forgot how to football.

Viva La Tabula Raza

Hope OSU QB now understands that wearing your hair like Mahomes does not, in fact, make you as good as Mahomes.

herodotus450

Screen pass on 4th and 2? That’s a paddlin

Redshirt

If you’re gonna do that, keep your receivers behind the line of scrimmage. If you got the play, throw it. If you don’t got the play, have the QB punt it.

blaxabbath

Excellente.

Redshirt

Damn, Buckeyes. I just stepped out to grab some pizza!

Mr. Ayo

JV VAR sponsored by Texas

rockingdog

found a funny:

Give me a treat boys and fill my bowl
I wanna dress up as a freakin ghoul
for milky ways

King Hippo

Easy to see why BDSM State never capitalizes on their opportunities for advancement.’

Also, why is “baby diarrhea orange” such a popular uniform coloUr choice in the Big Twaaaalve?

Sharkbait

Got a COVID test today. Been a week since the rehearsal dinner. I’ve felt normal and fine since. My scallops for dinner taste like they should, so hopefully that means solo quarantine ends soon

King Hippo

If not, I’d be proud to have you as #NuAIDS Eskimo Brother!

/except for that P*ts thing

Last edited 4 years ago by King Hippo
Viva La Tabula Raza

It would be nice if the Horns could defend the pass without interference calls.

King Hippo

JV NFL is really boring. There is NO WAY the no-longer-Condi Committee will have a Final Four other than tOSU, Clemson, Bama, and assdick Notre Dame.

With a side helping of ESPN saying “this is what fans REALLY want to see” on constant loop. BLECH.

herodotus450

The fact that even if those teams lose a game they’ll still probably make the playoff is hella lame

King Hippo

Son de Clem will lose (sans Trevor) in South Bend next week, then beat the Irish in ACC title game. Guaranteed that everyone in media goes ballistic about how “unfair” it would be to take one over the other.

It would probably take a plane crash for Bama or tOSU to lose in their conferences (based on what I’ve seen).

Redshirt

Never underestimate OSU’s ability to choke against an beatable opponent while looking ahead at the schedule.

Redshirt

If JV Cincy ends undefeated, they may give the Bearcats as a sacrificial offering to Bama.

King Hippo

Full slate of fixtures today, trouble is, they all been liquid ass.

NO, BALLS…I don’t mean that in a GOOD way.

ballsofsteelandfury

Lube is your friend

King Hippo

FOREVER UNCLEAN!!!!

herodotus450

Making Auburn look good: an even more impressive accomplishment for LSU than winning the national championship.

King Hippo

I see they got the 2-pointer, narrow that lead to 48-11!

King Hippo

I would hope to fuck nobody is actually trick-or-treating this year, but I left a tub full of candy on the porch, just in case.

Only another 77 or so hours left in Murrika’s fascist phase!

litre_cola

Deci is 3. We are going out, basically everyone is doing the same as you and it makes wee man happy so we all mask up and off we go.

King Hippo

I liked when the kids got old enough to say “here’s 20 bucks, go buy what you want, no costume and you can just eat the house leftovers” and not feel like a pariah.

herodotus450

At first I thought the “Seventh Man” award was some kind of second tier discount award before realizing there are technically six skaters on the ice at a time.