Runner Dies In Montreal's 21st Marathon

The race began from the Jacques Cartier bridge at around 8:30 a.m. Sunday. (Photo courtesy race ambassador Bruny Surin, from his Twitter feed.)

Runner's Death Casts Shadow Over 21st Montreal Marathon -- CTV

MONTREAL — Tragedy struck the Montreal Marathon Sunday morning as a 30-year-old male participant collapsed during the race and died following the subsequent ambulance ride. Officials have not yet revealed further information.

The man fell to the ground at Rosemont and Pie IX, according to Urgences Sante spokesman Guy St-Pierre who said the man was likely killed by heart attack.

Many other racers were treated for various malaises, according to St-Pierre, who said it could be due to unseasonably humid weather.

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My Comment: it was hot and humid yesterday .... something that probably did not help.

Quebec Boxing Gains Attention In United States

Lucian Bute celebrtaes his win over Librado Andrade during the IBF Super Middleweight Championship fight in Montreal Oct. 24, 2008. Boxing promoters in Canada focus on attendance more than TV deals, the opposite of the situation in the United States. Photograph by: Allen McInnis, The Gazette

From The Montreal Gazette:

If 2009 was a halcyon year for professional boxing in Quebec, one of Montreal's most-influential promoters predicted 2010 will be even bigger and better.

"I'm very excited. It's going to be an exceptionally good year," said Yvon Michel, who staged Saturday night's Montreal Casino card topped by the 12-round main event between former World Boxing Association super-welterweight champion Joachim Alcine and French challenger Christophe Canclaux, a former European champ.

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My Comment: My ticket broker friends (scalpers) tell me that boxing tickets are hot.

Who Says the CFL Is Dying

Montreal Alouettes running back Avon Cobourn (C) celebrates amongst teammates with the Grey Cup after defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the 97th CFL Grey Cup football game in Calgary, Alberta, November 29, 2009. Photograph by: Shaun Best, Reuters

Grey Cup Draws Record Viewership -- Canada.com

The Montreal Alouettes’ win for the ages Sunday night was also the most-watched Grey Cup game in history.

When Damon Duval’s 33-yard final-second field goal produced a stunning 28-27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 8.35 million viewers were watching on TSN and RDS.

The overall audience was a Grey Cup-record 6.1 million, which also made it the most-watched telecast of the year in Canada, surpassing both the 81st Annual Academy Awards and Super Bowl XLIII.

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My Comment: 8.35 million .... that is a big audience. I know that the streets of Montreal were dad that night (until after the game that is).

Montreal Boxer Bute Wows Crowd With KO

Photo: Challenger Librado Andrade collapses in agony after taking a left to the midriff from Quebec champ Lucian Bute on Saturday night. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

From The CBC:

Montreal boxer Lucian Bute answered any critics he might have had with an emphatic fourth-round knockout in a rematch over Librado Andrade to retain his super middleweight title on Saturday night.

Bute and Andrade engaged in one of the more exciting fights of the year, but the end was sudden at Pepsi Colisee in Quebec City.

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My Comment: Boxing is becoming very popular in Quebec. 16,000 fans showing up on a hockey night .... that says volumes.

Leon Fires 60 For Montreal Open Lead

From The Sports Network:

Ile Bizard, QC (Sports Network) - Hugo Leon fired a sparkling 11-under 60 on Friday to take a three-shot lead at the Canadian Tour's Montreal Open.

Leon, who collected nine birdies and an eagle, would have shot a 59 if not for a missed tap-in at No. 8 -- his 17th hole -- which would have given him his second eagle of the round.

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Update: Hugo Leon fires stellar round of 11 under, takes lead at Desjardins -- Canadian Press

Canadian Niemeyer Advances With First Round Upset At Rogers Cup

Canada's Frederic Niemeyer reacts during his first round match against Igor Kunitsyn of Russia, at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Montreal, Monday Aug. 10, 2009.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

From CTV:

Frederic Niemeyer of Deauville, Que., scored a 7-5, 6-1 victory over world No. 39 Igor Kunitsyn in the first round of the US$3 million Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium on Monday.

Niemeyer, ranked 487th in the world, earned a standing ovation from a healthy court one crowd with the victory.

Niemeyer's serve was exceptional, scoring seven aces and hitting on 66 per cent of his first serves.

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Michael Phelps Wins In Montreal

Michael Phelps at Montreal City Hall, June 19, 2009

From CTV:

14-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps is competing in Montreal this weekend at the Canada Cup.

Saturday morning he posted a time of under 52 seconds in a qualifying heat for the 100 metre Butterfly.

He did much better in the actual race, with a career best time of 50.48 seconds, improving his previous best of 50.58, and just missing the world record by 8/100ths of a second.

The next race for Phelps is Sunday, where he will compete in the 100 metre freestyle.

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Update: U.S. star Phelps swims career-best in butterfly at Canada Cup -- Canadian Press