Shih thbue: (Y Dim weekend, brighter future (Y The (foot)ball’s in our court (Y Extreme sports that are a little too extreme And more! Sport Shorts » A hole in one, more football felonies, and sexist soccer Natalie Serafini m. Editor-in-Chief ! © editor B, @theotherpress.ca Someuimes sports news requires tidbits and brief bytes, rather than lengthy in-depth articles. For those times, we suit up in our Sports Shorts and delve into the curious occurrences of athletics. Whitecaps and white T’s A Vancouver Whitecaps’ advertisement has been taken down after allegations that it was sexist and misogynistic. It was part ofa series in which the team’s advertisements features real ticket-holders at the game reacting to the intensity of the matches. The ads are set in slow motion, with classical music setting a dramatic tone to their reac- tion. The advertisement in question featured three young women in white tank tops and T-shirts. As they react to the game, they briefly jump up and down and cheer along with the rest of the crowd. Know the score? Contact: Sports Editor M sports@theotherpress. ca www theotherpress.ca Raindrops on roses and golf balls in pockets In an astounding tee-off turn, pro golfer Rory McIlroy shot a long drive that landed in the pocket of an unsuspecting spectator. The watcher had been trying to get out of the way when the ball tumbled through some trees and plopped into his pocket. The spectator was asked if he had budged at all from where he was standing at the time of the fateful golf dunk and, as he hadn't moved at all, they marked where he was standing with a tee, retrieved the ball from the depths of his pocket, and continued with play. While it wasn’t technically a hole in one, I think we can agree it’s a once-in-a-lifetime shot. Felonious football More domestic abuse charges have arisen in the NEL, this time in the State of Arizona. Running back Jonathan Dwyer was charged with aggravated assault against a woman and their baby. The two were in an argument which escalated to violence, prompting neighbours : to call the police; when police arrived, Dwyer stayed hidden in the home while the woman told officials no one else was inside. The next day another argument arose: this time the argument resulted in Dwyer’s to prevent her from contacting : to have thrown a shoe in the : direction of the young child. : Inresponse to the charges, the : Arizona Cardinals released : astatement that “Given the seri- : ous nature of these allegations taking the woman’s phone away, : : step to deactivate Jonathan the police. Dwyer is also alleged : we have taken the immediate from all team activities.” New-look: Canucks can do no worse » Expectations are low to open 2014-15 season i Elliot Chan E.. Opinions Editor | opinions » @theotherpress.ca Wee no time for reminiscing, the Vancouver Canucks are looking : optimistically to the future and hoping to regain some prowess within the Western Conference. : It was easy to cheer for Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, and John Tortorella when things were going well, but ultimately they—as key leaders within the team—were to blame for the 2013-14 farce of a hockey season. For once ina long while, fans and ownership agreed that change was the only route going forward. Bringing back Trevor Linden was undoubtedly a morale boost that will change: : The man has won at every : level except for the NHL, and the characteristics of the whole organization. The hiring : of Jim Benning as general : manager officially marked the : next era for the Canucks, and : after the abusive relationship : with former GM Mike Gillis : the players can breathe a sigh : of relief, knowing that their : requests wouldn't turn into : a melodramatic affair. And : finally, Willie Desjardins will take over behind the bench. : although that doesn’t mean : much in the short-term, it’s : better than acquiring another : has-been head coach. As disappointing as the : Canucks’ season was last year, : the same can be said about : Ryan Miller’s whole career. : The 34-year-old American : goaltender’s highlights : include backstopping the : underachieving Buffalo Sabres : for more than a decade and : losing the gold medal in the : blockbuster 2010 Olympics. : However, the St. Louis Blues : expected him to be the saviour : in the playoffs last year. He was : not. It seems fitting that Miller : has found his way to the goalie : graveyard at the latter part of : his career. But it might not be : the end yet! He is a terrific, : outspoken goalie. Perhaps now, : : it’s Miller time in Vancouver. While the core—the Sedin : twins, Kevin Bieksa, and Dan : Hamhuis—will maintain some : stability within the team, the : microscope will be on wily : sniper, Radim Vrbata, resident : tough guy, Derek Dorsett, : and skillful, yet unproven : centre, Nick Bonino. All three : of them were brought in fora : specific reason, and if they can’t : : perform the task, it’ll bea bust : for sure. For the past decade or so, : the Canucks’ image within : the league is that the team is : full of whiners, incapable of : standing up for themselves. : They are highly skilled but are : always pleading to the referees : for favours. Benning has made : the necessary moves to change : the attitude, and only time will : tell whether Desjardins’ game : plan will measure up to the : competition. The juggernauts from : California continue to be : Vancouver’s most challenging : oppositions, while Chicago : games will no doubt gather a : crowd. But the most important : thing for Canucks to do this : season is to win the games : within the Canadian border. : Beating down the Oilers, : Flames, and Jets will goa long : way to winning the Stanley Cup, but at the moment those : are the only freebies. They need : to take it. The Canucks, at best, : area bubble team, destined : to finish between 10th and : seventh within the conference. : They could either have another : valiant run in the playoffs or : be incredibly disappointed. : Fans are excited to see the : new look, but they aren't : getting their hopes up. After : such a humbling season, the : organization will benefit from : anything positive. We must : remember that the Canucks : are ina rebuild. The slogan : “Change is coming” speaks : volumes, but it doesn’t inspire ? much optimism.