Wide world of sports without fans in stands
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Doug Ford doesn’t think he can do very much about the American technical crew handling the NHL broadcasts in Toronto while Canadians produce the games in Edmonton. The two hockey hub cities have defined their bubbles in preparation for the season, resuming on August 1, although the potential partying fans may require restraint.
A ghost town’s play-by-play
Rogers Centre was supposed to host a Guns N’ Roses concert on a day when the Toronto Blue Jays instead played another intrasquad game in a quiet stadium ahead of two evening contests being broadcast. But the team still doesn’t know if it will be allowed to play real games in the dome, as the clock ticks toward a home opener on July 29.
Toronto is trying to make drive-in events a communal experience. The latest city initiative will involve concerts, movies and sports broadcasts designed for viewing through a windshield, at locations like Ontario Place. Concurrently, the all-night Nuit Blanche is the latest to be struck from the schedule in favour of a digital simulation.
All in the family of Liberals
Justin Trudeau said he’s sorry for not recusing himself from discussions about the now-cancelled sole-source grant administration contract to We Charity. Bill Morneau also apologized for taking part despite his daughters working with We. Opposition parties are seeking an ethics committee review about perceived nepotism:
New questions about the media’s use of mug shots, or lack thereof. The mother of Toronto shooting victim Mohamed Sow says she was asked for a photo of him but found the timing inappropriate, and police released what they had on file. But its use in news stories drew wide criticism in light of outlets having an inconsistent editorial standard.
The new gangs of social media
Talk about defunding police is detached from reality according to Jamil Jivani, who lamented “e-drama” escalating in lockdown. He blames it for the latest rash of deadly shootings in Toronto. Due to his Queen’s Park advisory role, the tweet sparked its own criticism, but Jivani thinks the backlash doesn’t address what he sees happening:
Lorne Miller dead at 73. After running his own gallery on Queen Street West, the Toronto commercial artist moved to Paris and London, where one painting in his portfolio caught the attention of Bob Geldof. As a result, The Fine Art of Surfacing provided the cover and the title of the 1979 breakthrough LP by the Boomtown Rats.
Finally, two cancelled solitudes
Maripier Morin, the Quebec star accused of sexual harassment and racism by singer-songwriter Safia Nolin, has now been dropped by all her recent sponsors. Bell Media cancelling Morin’s talk show was followed by the removal of appearances on other networks. The social media past of her accuser has also been subject to scrutiny:
