By JIMMY D / Jimmy's signature sunglasses are destroyed! | Jimmy's archive

Jimmy was a jumble of emotions after a wacky week.

First, he was depressed and frustrated by his late fade in the baseball fantasy league. After leading almost the whole season, he faltered late with poor pitching and injured stolen-base dudes to finish second. He rallied five points in the final week to finish a half point behind (one more pitching victory would have meant a victory).

This fact made Jimmy nauseous from “I hate John Maine Syndrome” which began as a cough last week when Maine bombed twice while on Jimmy’s roster. It developed into a near-death experience Saturday after Jimmy dropped him and Maine pitched a one-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts. Ooh, nasty.

When Ubaldo Jimenez threw a gem Sunday with 10 Ks (Jimmy ditched him last week too), Jimmy felt sick (since he needed wins and strikeouts to catch up).

So the inaugural Greg MacRae Memorial Fantasy Cup will not be won by Jimmy D. The prized chalice, along with a compete set of the 1992 World Series Champion Blue Jays baseball cards (that Candy Maldonado card must be worth at least 12 cents by now), will go to the Ancaster Baseball Club.

Second, he was stunned and euphoric as the Philadelphia Phillies won the NL East. Jimmy’s long-suffering Phillies were, for once, on the other side of a historic collapse as Maine’s Mets choked away the division. It’s been 14 years since Jimmy watched baseball playoffs, when Mitch Williams and Lenny Dykstra were leading the Phils to the World Series where they, you guessed it, choked against the Blue Jays (we still stick pins in a Joe Carter voodoo doll at least once a month).

Third, he was distraught over the loss of his famous Jimmy sunglasses. The signature specs have been abandoned in Toronto, lost in Las Vegas, washed away in the surf in Cuba and always managed – by divine intervention we suppose – to find their way back to Jimmy.

Not this time.

With his arms full and about to get into his ultra-cool 1972 Pinto, Jimmy placed the glasses on the roof before driving off. The Jimmy glasses (at least the gnarled frames and shattered lens) were discovered the next day on the street by a neighbourhood kid who whipped the remains into the ditch with his street hockey stick. At least they got last rites with a sports theme.

Fourth, he was relieved and grateful to have Mrs. Jimmy purchase a new signature set of Prada sunglasses in New York. So if you see Jimmy with a new pair of glasses, that is the reason. The Devil Wears Prada, starring Meryl Streep. The Jimmy Wears Prada, starring Jimmy D.

NHL rookies to watch

Several emails landed last week seeking NHL rookie advice. Some opined that Jonathan Toews and Pat Kane in Chicago would be two top considerations for both NHL Calder Trophy and fantasy production honours.

Jimmy doesn’t disagree that smurf-like Kane could have an impact, but doubts it will be a great one since he is 160 pounds sopping wet and only 18 years old.
Jimmy’s opinion for the rookie in the best situation is Nicklas Backstrom in Washington. Last year’s No. 4 overall draft pick lands on an improved roster of like-minded offensive Euros like Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Michael Nylander and others.

You also have Johnson & Johnson to consider. No, not the company that makes baby powder and shampoo. The top pick from 2004 is finally ready for NHL prime time. Erik Johnson of St. Louis has played well in preseason, but the Blues are not contenders and defense is not the easiest position to learn.

Over in Los Angeles, Jack Johnson is ready for duty on the Kings blue line. Both American youngsters have tremendous talent. They are keeper-pool musts, but track their early successes and failures this year before investing heavily in them in your league or pool.

Bobby Ryan is another Jimmy favourite to excel this season. A power forward with scoring touch, he has already scored for the Ducks and is in a great position to be groomed slowly without pressure.

Ditto Peter Mueller in Phoenix, another of the recent batch of excellent Yankee talent. Center is a thin position in Phoenix, with Wayne Gretzky still probably No. 2 on the depth chart if he laced up, and Mueller could play with a sniping winger such as Shane Doan. The Desert Dogs look bad this year.

NFL fantasy
Another week of NFL upsets and injuries to your fantasy studs. Jimmy grimaced watching the pregame list of inactives to see Eagle Brian Westbrook. Watching Matt Leinart flail pointlessly was also painful.

Although his decision to add the Tampa Bay defense was semi-clever as the Bucs won at Carolina. Hockey gets going in earnest this week, ditto baseball playoffs. Stay busy, stay lucky and never leave your prized glasses atop your relic automobile.

Jimmy D