Photo credit: Matthew Pearce/Getty Images

MIAMI: This is obviously the big deal of the day. Unless there is a big surprise, the Canadian will be picked fifth overall today.

This is an important selection for the CH, as Geoff Molson is committed to ensuring the Canadian will be in the playoffs next season.

In other words, if your idols end up improving, and that’s the NHL’s logic, you improve by being bad, then that’s the last top-five the Canadian will be aiming for in the next seven or eight years.

Hopefully it will be a quality selection, not a Galchenyuk or Kotkaniemi. With his squad of talented young guys and another potential top prospect, the Canadian will be in a good position. The Oilers have McDavid, the Glorieux will have depth.

Now we just have to teach them the hatred of defeat and the true will to win.

THE GRANDSON OF MUHAMMAD ALI

I felt a little ridiculous. Acting like a teenager on his first date. When I heard Nico Ali Walsh talking about his grandfather, how he beat Sonny Liston not far from the hotel we were staying at, how he went to New York, was reminded that his grandfather had faced Joe Frazier there, and how weird he felt when he visited the Muhammad Ali Center a few blocks away the day before, it was too much for me.

Photo credit: Instagram

When Nico Ali left the stage, I chatted with him a little. I told him that I had gone to his camp at Deer Lake in Pennsylvania, that I had entered the house, that his Aunt Layla was on Ali’s lap, that his mother was probably one of the other two little girls playing in the kitchen…

And that in 1984 we spent a whole day with Roland Mailhot in James Bay …

Ali with Roland Mailhot in James Bay in 1984

He was polite, he was extremely smart, he never showed for a second that he might find me boring. He even smiled when he told me that stories like this one are told to him every day by many experienced journalists and coaches: “I live in his legend, I can’t do anything about it,” he said.

It’s great to work long hours. You covered for the grandfather, the aunt and the grandson…

TEOFINO LOPEZ TO CLAGGETT: “I DON’T UNDERESTIMATE YOU”

A world championship boxing match is magical. When I arrived at the Hyatt in downtown Miami, Bob Arum was sitting in the cafeteria overlooking the huge lobby with a cup of tea.

The Eye of The Tiger Management folks spent the last half hour before the press conference talking about everything… and especially nothing about Saturday night’s fight.

The conference was normal. The moderator from Top Rank asked the right questions with a friendly face. He lived in Montreal for years, studied at McGill, speaks French and is the moderator at the Vegas Golden Knights games. He doubts that Jonathan Marchessault can continue his career in Vegas. Because of the salary cap.

When the small talk was over, Teofimo Lopez and Steve Claggett stood up for faceoff. Claggett said he had dreamed of this moment his whole life. The two men shook hands. And when he came back to face the crowd, Lopez turned his face to Claggett and said, “I will not make the mistake your last opponents made.” “I do not underestimate you,” he told her.

Photo credit: Virginie Assaly

It was all in that sentence. Somewhere, someone analyzed Steve Claggett’s last fights. Nothing says the Dragon has the talent and power of Lopez, a true phenomenon. But the champion has been warned. Steve Claggett will only stop trying if he is down on the count.

“I don’t underestimate you.” That’s both a compliment and a warning.

A BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD BOOK

I read the book in PDF format, as it is not coming out until July 17. But Jean-Pierre Girard delighted himself and the readers by telling not the story of the international crossing of Lake St. Jean, but the stories of the event.

Fortunately, not all stories from Alma’s big night are there, we can sleep soundly.

And Jean-Pierre Girard, who writes very well, has discussed the important role that Ronald Corey played in popularising crossing. But that is a personal choice of the author.

I found everything I wanted on these pages. Régent Lacoursière, Abou Heif, Herman Willemse, but not many anecdotes about Sultan Kigab of Sudan, who gave himself the flattering nickname of “Black Torpedo”. You can guess which torpedo!

And of course Christine Cossette.

The crossing continues and the highlight of the celebrations is now the big dinner in the streets of Roberval.

There was a time when Plume Latraverse was much louder.

A beautiful book.