Paul Wiecek

Pop goes the sports bubble?

Quick — what has been the single-best performing asset class of the last two decades?

Stocks? It’s been a great run, for sure. But no. Real estate? Ditto. Bonds, commodities, money markets? No, no and no.

The most consistent-performing asset class for the last 20 years has been the rarest one of all — owning a pro sports franchise.

Owners in three of the four major professional sports leagues in North America — the NFL, the NBA and Major League Baseball — have all achieved double-digit compound annualized growth rates since 2000.

Say What?! Sports guys travel to new destination

Say What?! is an email conversation between sports editor Steve Lyons and sports columnist Paul Wiecek. Look for us regularly but intermittently on the Free Press website.

Steve Lyons: Heya. How you doing? How’s 2020 treating you so far?

Few things to get us started:

O’Shea has earned new deal… but will he stay or will he go?

Say What?! is an email conversation between sports editor Steve Lyons and retired sports columnist Paul Wiecek. Look for us regularly but intermittently on the Free Press website.

Steve Lyons: Hello there, how are you? No shortage of sports news in River City these days — you keeping up?

Fresh storylines make my job a whole lot easier!

The Bombers beat the Stamps in Calgary in a playoff game — that my friend is a very new storyline.

Say what?! Jets fans deserve better explanation on Buff's decision to bail on team

| Say What?! is an email conversation between sports editor Steve Lyons and retired sports columnist Paul Wiecek. Look for us regularly — but intermittently — on the Free Press website.

Steve Lyons: Hello there. How are things? I know we’ve both been away, so plenty to catch up on. I wanna hear about your trip to the coast, but let’s get some of this sports stuff out of the way first.

I hate to sound all negative today — it’s my birthday, so lasting another year has me feeling grateful. Plus, I usually leave the Mr. Negative stuff to you.. ask anyone haha. But gotta say two things right off the hop — there’s no way the current roster of the Winnipeg Jets gets them to the playoffs let alone a Stanley Cup victory, and I’m afraid to say this but the Bombers Grey Cup drought will continue at least one more season.

Say What?! Is Laine looking to get out of Winnipeg... and is Streveler the second coming of Dunigan?

Say What?! is an email conversation between sports editor Steve Lyons and retired sports columnist Paul Wiecek. Look for us regularly — but intermittently — on the Free Press website.

Steve Lyons: Heya... how are things? Hope you’re having a great summer at the cottage — less chance to annoy anyone out there anyways haha

Lots of news these days on the home front. Patrick Laine casts a shadow over his future in Winnipeg; Matt Nichols goes down with an injury; and did you hear there’s an NFL game in town tonight?

Say what?! Has Chevy mis-managed Jets' window to win Cup?

Steve Lyons: Hello there. How are you doing? I know you’re having a dream summer, finally spending the whole season at the lake — how’s that going?

I imagine every once in awhile you’re following what’s going on in the real world because you’re like that.

So...

The Jets lost another roster player this morning when Ben Chiarot signed with the Canadiens.

Say What??! Controversy continues to be a challenge for video review

| Say What?! is an email conversation between sports editor Steve Lyons and retired sports columnist Paul Wiecek. Look for us regularly but intermittently on the Free Press website.

Steve Lyons: Heya, how’s it going? I hear you have now migrated to the cottage for the summer — waiting for it to arrive no doubt.

Say What?! Jets problems begin with Wheeler

Say What?! is an email conversation between sports editor Steve Lyons and retired sports columnist Paul Wiecek. Look for us regularly -- but intermittently -- on the Free Press website.

Steve Lyons: Heya —how’s it going there? Definitely spring like the last week here — I imagine there is still ice on the lake, right?

An early spring vacation for the local hockey team — lots of hand wringing going on here in River City. Was out with friends on Saturday after they lost and one grown man was having a tantrum. Geez.

There were huge expectations for the Jets this season — frankly, they never seemed to get it in gear with any consistency all year, so the inconsistency in losing to the Blues should not have been unexpected.

Say What?! It's time for Jets to flip the switch

Steve Lyons: Hello there, how’s it going? The last time we chatted like this, you were on a Caribbean island of some sort; you’re home now in balmy Manitoba — how’s that going?

Was the month away long enough? I imagine being away for a few months — or years lol — is I was living the life of retirement.

Same old here — gorgeous blue skies and freezing temperatures. So, half like Nevis right?

What’s not the same is the play of the local NHL team. Yikes! They’ve lost twice in the last 10 days to the worst team in the league (Ottawa) and once to a team that broke a seven-game losing streak (Colorado). Patrik Laine hasn’t scored since — well maybe since you went to Nevis and came back — and despite still leading the Central Division standings, this team looks terrible right now. I’m gonna guess you have a thought or two?

Say What?! Jets take back seat to the Blue Bombers this week

Steve Lyons: Hello there. How’s it going? Hope the retirement thing is going well. Sorry I don’t get right back to you on those mid-day texts — I’m like working.

Apparently you have plenty of time now to lie around and watch sports — is it different watching now that you don’t have to be thinking about what you’re going to write? I’m still getting paid to watch it by the way (*sticks out tongue*).

Some big games coming up this weekend and obviously the Bombers playoff match against the Riders in Regina being the most notable. The Jets have a couple of games as well and need to get things going in the right direction, but the Blue and Gold once again have a chance to win a playoff game — they haven’t done that since 2011 when they won the East Final — and I’m wondering how we judge this season if they fall short in Saskatchewan.

Paul Wiecek: Those afternoon Jets broadcasts from Helsinki were perfect for a retired guy like me. I watched the first period, napped during the second period and then woke up sometime in the third when things really got interesting. Every NHL game should be held on a weekday afternoon.

Say What?! Jets winning this season despite themselves

Steve Lyons: Hello there. Miss me? Should we call you Mr. Retirement now?

So, it’s been a couple of weeks since you hung up the quill — how’s it going?

I’m curious about a few things, but I’ll start with this: I watched a lot of sports as a fan the first 25 years of my life and I’ve watched a lot of sports as a journalist over the last 33 years of working in the biz — so, my thought has always been I’m going to detox from sports for at least 12 months after I retire.

I guess you’ve watched a bit though, because you were texting me the other day about your baseball team (*rolls eyes*). Spending some time in front of the tube still, are ya?