Remember the Heritage Classic? On November 22, 2003, the Edmonton Oilers faced off outdoors against the Mongtreal Canadiens in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, in what became the largest attended game in NHL history. What was not expected was the bitter cold temperatures, with wind chills approaching -22F.

Apparently the NHL is set to do it all over again next season, with details yet to be announced. Rumors have it that an American based team will be involved, and the game will be telecast on NBC as part of its game schedule. Teams, venue and date will be released at a later date.

So I am thinking… Buffalo v Toronto at the Ralph? Would this not be an epic event? Would all of Buffalo and all of Toronto not turn out for such a spectacle? Chime in with your thoughts…

In Beijing they are busy building and prepping Wikesong Baseball Field, which will be the host venue for baseball in the 2008 Olympic Games.

Then incredibly, as this article in the Globe and Mail points out, they will be demolishing this perfectly fine and beautiful baseball park once the Games are over, to build a shopping mall no less. While the NBA has Chinese folks rabidly excited, apparently one can’t say the same about baseball over there.

Gotta interview Bisons Manager Torey Lovullo for this week’s “Play Ball” column. He’s doing his thing with Bisons play by play announcer Ben Wagner right now. Then I’m next.

Just so cool being down here at this time of day… the grounds crew and maintenance people are scrubbing and cleaning and getting the place ready; players jogging around the warning track or hitting balls in the batting cage. All is good… except?

Well, seems like a sewage pipe right behind the Bisons dugout busted last night. “Smelled like s**t the whole game”, Torey groused. They were still pumping and disinfecting as I left the dugout.

I never take for granted how lucky I am to be able to do this job and experience the game from this perspective. Yeah..even the sewage part.

Last night was a big night for me…got the dish hooked up to my brand new flatscreen HDTV at the new casa, and with that the premier showing for the evening would be Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

Fast forward to about 10 PM…I’m fading, eyes drooping, losing consciousness, and decided to push the power button while the game was late in the third quarter.

Dumb move Petey, biggest damned mistake since Wade Phillips said “let’s kick it now with 16 seconds left”…..apparently I missed a clutch performance for the ages from Lebron James.

He what??? Scored the final 25 points for the Cavs?? 29 of the last 30??

Huh!!!!

And in doing so brought the Cavs to within a game of their first NBA Finals appearance in their 37 year history??

Wait a minute….

Ain’t this the same person that was being torn to shreds in the media after passing up a game tying shot in Game 1 to pass to a wide open* Donyell Marshall for the win? The guy who supposedly didn’t want the ball in the clutch with the game on the line.

Same media with this opinion is very quiet now…and can probably be found hiding in some underground bunker in North Buffalo as we speak.

*(defined as: able to take pass, put ball in hand, grab a handful of popcorn/swig some beer from guy in front row and still have plenty of time to get said shot off.)

Seeing the highlights brought back the memories of other great NBA performances on this stage. Jordan’s 63 in ‘86 against the Celtics in the Gahhhhden….Isiah’s courageous performance in ‘87 on a twisted ankle putting in 25 4th quarter tallies….Bird and Dominique going mano y mano in Game 7 of the ‘88 Conference semis.

This one ranks right up there. I can’t say best ever, but if I have to go back nearly two decades to find a performance that matches James from last night I’d say close enough.

Two big games Saturday night: Stanley Cup Finals/NBA ECF Game 6.

Watch the Senators if you wish.

I’ll be watching the King.