Columnists

Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Ezequiel Carrera makes a diving catch to rob Minnesota Twins’ Trevor Plouffe of a hit in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 20, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Ezequiel Carrera makes a diving catch to rob Minnesota Twins’ Trevor Plouffe of a hit in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 20, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

THE MOJ: Friday nights at the Marpole Flying Club and the joys of fantasy baseball

Fantasy sports have changed over the years, but there’s nothing like trash talking your buddies

Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Ezequiel Carrera makes a diving catch to rob Minnesota Twins’ Trevor Plouffe of a hit in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 20, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Ezequiel Carrera makes a diving catch to rob Minnesota Twins’ Trevor Plouffe of a hit in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 20, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, front left, and general manager Patrik Allvin listen during a news conference after the NHL hockey team announced Tocchet’s hiring, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

THE MOJ: Of course, the worst has (predictably) happened, the Canucks are good again

Is management going to buy into this late-season resurgence, or is major surgery still on the way?

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, front left, and general manager Patrik Allvin listen during a news conference after the NHL hockey team announced Tocchet’s hiring, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Seattle Mariners’s Julio Rodriguez reacts after stealing second base during the 13th inning in Game 3 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

THE MOJ: The hunter about to become the hunted for the Seattle Mariners

After breaking a long post-season drought, what’s next for B.C.’s other favourite baseball team?

Seattle Mariners’s Julio Rodriguez reacts after stealing second base during the 13th inning in Game 3 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Toronto Blue Jays announcer Ben Wagner sits in the broadcast booth in Toronto, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Sportsnet, the Blue Jays’ radio rightsholder, will not resume on-site radio broadcasts for the 2023 regular season and will instead use remote coverage from its downtown Toronto studio for road games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

THE MOJ: Leaving the broadcasters at home a sad and baffling decision

Radio crew not joining the team on the road leads to an inferior product without much of a saving

Toronto Blue Jays announcer Ben Wagner sits in the broadcast booth in Toronto, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Sportsnet, the Blue Jays’ radio rightsholder, will not resume on-site radio broadcasts for the 2023 regular season and will instead use remote coverage from its downtown Toronto studio for road games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
B.C. Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian speaks to reporters after an end of season meeting at the CFL football team’s practice facility, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday November 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

THE MOJ: Saluting the wisdom — and the resolve — of Solomon Elimimian

Hall of Fame induction is the crowning achievement of an examplary B.C. Lions career

B.C. Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian speaks to reporters after an end of season meeting at the CFL football team’s practice facility, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday November 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser tosses a stick into the crowd after being named the first star of the game after Vancouver defeated the Dallas Stars during an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser tosses a stick into the crowd after being named the first star of the game after Vancouver defeated the Dallas Stars during an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A Greater Victoria renter wants to risk a fire in order to stay in a below-market rental. (Black Press Media file photo)

Opinion: Victoria renter would rather live in a deadly fire trap than get evicted

A local tenant is facing eviction due to fire code violations but wants to stay

A Greater Victoria renter wants to risk a fire in order to stay in a below-market rental. (Black Press Media file photo)
Oakland Athletics’ Conner Capel (21) watches a ground rule double hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Vargas bounce over the fence during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

THE MOJ: Good reasons to be stuck on Cactus League baseball

Arizona spring baseball offers a chance to soak up the sport in its purest form

Oakland Athletics’ Conner Capel (21) watches a ground rule double hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Vargas bounce over the fence during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Vancouver Canucks’ JT Miller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

THE MOJ: For Canucks to dig themselves out of this mess, sacrifices have to be made

Big, long-term contracts need to be offloaded, even if you have to pay to do it

Vancouver Canucks’ JT Miller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
FILE – The Ocean Cleanup project’s latest iteration of plastic-collecting technology, the System 002, will leave Victoria and heads to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Cleanup/ Twitter)

OPINION: Court case could kill progress on plastic pollution in Canada

‘The world is beginning to act to reduce the plastic crisis’

  • Mar 6, 2023
FILE – The Ocean Cleanup project’s latest iteration of plastic-collecting technology, the System 002, will leave Victoria and heads to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Cleanup/ Twitter)
A Victoria tenant says her landlord plied her with liquor to get her to sign an eviction notice. (Pexels photo)

Opinion: ’Greedy’ Victoria landlord got concussed tenant drunk to get her to sign eviction

With rent hikes capped, some landlords are trying to get rid of tenants

A Victoria tenant says her landlord plied her with liquor to get her to sign an eviction notice. (Pexels photo)
Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, back right, listens as general manager Patrik Allvin responds to a question during an end of NHL hockey season news conference, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

THE MOJ: Trade deadline once again dashes the hopes of Canuck fans

Jim Rutherford and his team did what they said they’d do: retool, not rebuild

Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, back right, listens as general manager Patrik Allvin responds to a question during an end of NHL hockey season news conference, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The jerseys and logos worn by the Vancouver Canucks — and, consequently, their fans — have seen several drastic changes in the four decades since the team entered the NHL, and pretty much all of those iterations can be spotted in the throngs of people out celebrating the playoffs in recent weeks. In this April 29, 2007 file photo, Vancouver Canucks' Markus Naslund celebrates after scoring against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL playoff hockey game in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Lam

THE MOJ: Revisiting a snap deadline trade done in minutes that changed Canucks history

Franchise legend Markus Naslund was picked up with no advance warning after a last-minute phone call

The jerseys and logos worn by the Vancouver Canucks — and, consequently, their fans — have seen several drastic changes in the four decades since the team entered the NHL, and pretty much all of those iterations can be spotted in the throngs of people out celebrating the playoffs in recent weeks. In this April 29, 2007 file photo, Vancouver Canucks' Markus Naslund celebrates after scoring against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL playoff hockey game in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Lam
A RapidBus route will replace the Langford/Downtown Route 50 on April 10. (Courtesy of BC Transit)

Opinion: The Victoria ‘war on cars’ wouldn’t sting so much if BC Transit didn’t ‘suck’

You need amazing transit to get people out of cars - not just higher parking fees

A RapidBus route will replace the Langford/Downtown Route 50 on April 10. (Courtesy of BC Transit)
The listing has been on the market for more than 40 days at 860 Carrie St. (Realtor.ca photo)

Opinion: Victoria-area property a ‘goldmine’ if you just kick out the tenants

Listing for apartment building sale says money to be made with ‘tenant turnover’

The listing has been on the market for more than 40 days at 860 Carrie St. (Realtor.ca photo)
As the cost of food continues to rise, grocery chains in Canada are reportedly making record profits. It’s time for the CEOs of these companies to explain themselves, says the federal New Democratic Party. (Unsplash photo)

OFF TOPIC: Bread or cake, the rising cost of food is giving me indigestion

How do grocery chain CEOs square skyrocketing prices with massive profits?

As the cost of food continues to rise, grocery chains in Canada are reportedly making record profits. It’s time for the CEOs of these companies to explain themselves, says the federal New Democratic Party. (Unsplash photo)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans (9) makes a pass during second quarter CFL Eastern semi-final football action against the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday, November 6, 2022 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

THE MOJ: Dane Evans move shows the Lions commited to winning in 2023

Former Hamilton starter to back up Vernon Adams Jr. giving the Leos an intriguing option

Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans (9) makes a pass during second quarter CFL Eastern semi-final football action against the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday, November 6, 2022 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addresses the media during an NFL football news conference at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo. Bieniemy has become the cause celebre when it comes to minority assistants who have been denied the opportunity to become head coaches in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

THE MOJ: Case of Eric Bieniemy drawing eyes to the NFL’s lack of black head coaches

In a league where more than 60% of players are black less than 10% of teams have black head coaches

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addresses the media during an NFL football news conference at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo. Bieniemy has become the cause celebre when it comes to minority assistants who have been denied the opportunity to become head coaches in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
A Victoria landlord got stuck with paying to fix holes in his suite’s walls. (Pexels photo)

Opinion: ‘Toxic tenant’ punched holes in Victoria home’s walls and infested it with bugs

Slow complaint process makes it difficult to get rid of destructive renters

A Victoria landlord got stuck with paying to fix holes in his suite’s walls. (Pexels photo)
Hundreds of people march along Yale Road near Hodgins Avenue during a so-called Fraser Valley Freedom Rally on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

OPINION: The staggering socioeconomic costs of COVID anti-vaxxer behaviour

COVID-is-a-hoax crowd caused thousands more deaths, hundreds of millions in hospital costs: report

Hundreds of people march along Yale Road near Hodgins Avenue during a so-called Fraser Valley Freedom Rally on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)