Hockey 2, Cancer 0

Desperate Disease Turns To Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Mario Lemiuex. Saku Koivu. Now, Jason Blake.

In the aftermath of learning the news today, I was taken back to what now seems like a very bizarre conversation I had with Greener on Thursday. Following the first two Ottawa games, I said to him, "Blake didn't look very good out there." He said, "In what way?" To which I had no real substantive response. "I don't know, he just seems a little off - not like himself. Maybe he's nervous." To which Greener said, "Or maybe he has Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia."

In all seriousness, I only make jokes because Cancer has affected me and my life very deeply (as it has Greener). Sometimes, being light hearted is a remedy no doctor can provide. It's likely that Cancer has been a part of your life in some way too. Whether it's a loved one, a friend, or just someone you admire, the disease has probably affected you or someone you know. If it hasn't, it will. It's just an unfortunate reality of living on this planet. Blame it on our toxified environment, the industrial revolution, Howard Berger, whomever you like. But take a few moments and devote a thought, not just to Jason Blake, but to all your fellow human beings who face this disease - and do something good for the planet today.

Good luck, Jason.

Keeping Things in Perspective

Writing a hockey blog is fun, and it's great to be able to directly insinuate that the Montreal Canadiens have a collective Napoleon Complex or that the female division of the Gillette family of products really needs to do some test marketing in the Ottawa area.

It's awesome to rave about a great performance or goal, and rant about overpaid defense or slow glove hand. But the reality of the situation is that Jason Blake has leukemia, and that is extraordinarily bad. I don't mean it's bad for me, Leafs fanatic. I don't mean it's bad for the team, who need his goal scoring. It's just goddamn bad for a guy and his family. It's a rare form of it called Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, which apparently is not as malicious as other forms of the disease, so that's a plus. Also it was caught early, so there is that.

When you first hear about it, the Leafs fan in you rises to your throat and you are tempted to consider the long term ramifications of this situation. But then thank God, reality takes over and you do away with with such small minded thinking like a hockey team is the most important thing in the world. At any other time I'd fight to tell you that. Now though, whatever.

I wrote about Fernando Pisani getting sick a month or two ago, and now Jason Blake. Take a second to give a thought about those two guys, who work like dogs to give us some pleasure from our respective teams. Put some good energy out there, don't yell at someone today, and, I don't know, send $5 to the Canadian Cancer Society or something.

Toronto Maple Leafs (Greener) continue to get bad news

I am not a heartless man, and this is not a comedy post. I don't have the balls for that just now. I saw this as I checked my morning Edmonton papers online and thought I'd for sure see something about it on HSHS but as there isn't, I'll just report it.

Jason Blake has been diagnosed with leukemia.

Now according to him and his specialists there is no reason to expect he won't be able to play and continue to for a long time to come. It is a highly treatable form of the disease and as such doesn't seem to be worrying him altogether.

One would think THAT would give me free reign to scat and beepop all up and down Greener's face about the man games missed and the IR curse that seems to hover over the leafs like the pre-pubescent star of an elementary school production of Peter Pan, just crying and wetting itself. Thankully, I have more respect for humanity than that.

In all honesty, I'm sure everyone here at HSHS is sending their well wishes and positive thoughts to Jason and his family. And to a lesser degree, to Greener and Norte.