Just a week or so ago was the 10th anniversary of the final game the Expos played in Montreal. There are many reasons the team wound up leaving town for Washington, starting with the strike/lockout of 1994 when the Expos had the best record in the Majors only to see the season shut down in mid-August and the World Series cancelled. You can throw in lack of post-season appearances (one) and a relatively fan unfriendly stadium in the wrong part of town and an ownership at the end that wasnt committed or couldnt afford to keep a very good team together. But I discovered something over the weekend that might have profoundly changed the history, and ultimately the future, of the Expos franchise: the 1971 draft. In 1971, the Chicago White Sox lead off the draft by selecting catcher Danny Goodwin, who never really panned out at the Big League level. The Expos, picking fourth overall, chose a short stop out of Tennessee by the name of Condredge Holloway. Condredge was not only an outstanding baseball player, a sport he actually preferred, but also an excellent quarterback. His parents were committed to seeing him get an education and his mother refused to sign his contract with the Expos. Condredge went on to play baseball and football at the University of Tennessee, where he excelled at both sports. He was actually the first African American to play quarterback in the Southeast Conference. Holloway ultimately chose football for his pro career and after being drafted by New England as a defencive back, opted for the CFL and landed in Ottawa. Later on, he was named Most Outstanding Player in the CFL with the Argos in 1982 and along with Joe Barnes, helped the Argos to a drought-ending Grey Cup victory in that 82 season. In 1999, he was named to the CFL Hall of Fame. On more than one occasion, Holloway spoke of what might have happened if he had chosen baseball and favourably compared himself to Brewers Hall of Fame shortstop, Robin Yount. The Expos would never know, but to compound their problems with that first round in 1971, fire-balling lefty Frank Tanana went 13th overall to the Angels and left field slugger and future Hall of Famer Jim Rice went 15th to the Boston Red Sox. So, Montreal effectively struck out in the first round. But that wasnt the end of it. In the second round of the 1971 draft, the Expos chose left hand starting pitcher Dan Warthen. His career flamed out pretty quickly. Warthen went 12-21 with a 4.31 ERA and his days in the Majors were over at 25, though he has gone on to be a successful pitching coach and his currently with the New York Mets, who may have the best flock of young arms in the business. But back to the matter at hand. Kansas City had the number five pick in that second round in 71 and chose a young shortstop who would later become a Hall of Fame 3B in George Brett, one of the greatest pure hitters the game has ever seen. Right after that selection, the Phillies chose another shortstop, who like Brett would become a Hall of Fame third baseman and Expos Killer Mike Schmidt, who had tremendous power and played gold glove defence at the hot corner. So lets recap. The Expos ended up with little or nothing in Holloway and Warthen, and could have had two of the following four; Frank Tanana, Jim Rice, George Brett or Mike Schmidt. Three of those four turned into Hall of Famers. Schmidt won a World Series over Brett and the Royals in 1980 and Brett and company beat St. Louis in the 1985 Fall Classic. You cant tell me with Rice and Brett or Rice and Schmidt, the Expos wouldnt have won at least one World Series and that could have changed the course of history for Canadas first Major League team. When you look at the current Kansas City Royals who are just two victories away from going to their second World Series, you can pinpoint a three year span of drafting as being instrumental to their success. In 2005, they took 3B Alex Gordon, now their left fielder number two overall. In 2007, 3B Mike Moustakas went number two and in 2008 1B Eric Hosmer went number three overall. Rising prospect Christian Colon went number four in Round 1 in 2010 and lefty reliever Brandon Finnegan, whos in their pen right now, was taken at number 14 this year. The Philadelphia Inquirer made an interesting point the other day. A Major League all-star game hasnt been played in a multipurpose stadium since it was held at the old Veterans Stadium in 1996. So you can basically count out Rogers Centre at least until the Argos are gone and natural grass is finally installed. This season, former Blue Jays utility outfielder Rajai Davis stole 35 bases for the Tigers. Thats more than they stole as an entire team in 2013. John Vander Wal Jersey . -- The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Graham Harrell to the active roster from the practice squad and placed tight end Andrew Quarless on injured reserve. Charlie Blackmon Jersey . LeBron James leads the Miami Heat in a quest for three consecutive championship titles, while Tim Duncan looks to add his fifth ring with the San Antonio Spurs when the series tips off with Game 1: Miami @ San Antonio on Thursday, June 5 at 9 p. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/314t-matt-holliday-jersey-rockies.html . According to bodog.ca, Cleveland moved up to grab the best odds to win the Larry OBrian trophy at 4-1 on Friday. By comparison, the Miami Heats odds plummeted from 3-1 favourites before LeBron left, to 50-1. David Dahl Jersey . Mohamed Diame put West Ham ahead in the 47th minute before goals by substitutes Carlton Cole and Joe Cole condemned Fulham to a fifth straight defeat, keeping the visitors in the bottom three. Colorado Rockies Shirts . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest.The Vancouver Canucks (21-12-3) finish off their two-game season series with the Detroit Red Wings (20-9-9) tonight at Rogers Arena. The Wings defeated the Canucks 5-3 on November 30th at Joe Louis Arena. The Canucks welcome Zack Kassian back to the line-up. The big winger has missed 14 games with a finger injury suffered November 25th against New Jersey. Kassian scored a goal on the opening night of the season in Calgary, but has managed just one goal since then and has gone 12 without a goal. Hell play on a line with Brad Richardson and Shawn Matthias. Former Michigan State Spartan and East Lansing, Michigan native Ryan Miller has started five straight (3-1-1) giving up 9 goals and stopping 161/170 shots in that span (94.7%). The three goals he allowed in Thursdays 3-2 loss to Los Angeles were the most hed surrendered since a 5-1 setback to the NY Rangers on December 13th. The Canucks are 2-3 in their past five home games and will look to even that record as they play the second game of a five game homestand. They are in the midst of a portion of their schedule where they are playing nine of 11 games on home ice. Radim Vrbata has scored in back to back games and with 15 goals on the season is tied for 15th in the NHL in goal-scoring. Alex Burrows has points in four of his past five games (3+2=5). Tom Sestito cleared NHL waivers and was assigned to AHL Utica this morning.dddddddddddd Detroit has been idle since a 3-1 New Years Eve win over New Jersey. The game was tied 1-1 going to the third period where the Wings scored the only two goals of the final frame and outshot the Devils 11-1. The Wings have won three of their last four games and are 3-1-1 in their last five. They have just four outright losses in their past 18 games (10-4-4). The Red Wings have the 3rd best power play in the NHL are 2nd in the league on the penalty kill. Detroit was the last team to score more than one PPG against the Canucks going 2 for 4 when they last met. Pavel Datsyuk had one of those PPG and had two goals in that game. He rides a five-game point streak into action tonight (1+4=5). The Wings are starting a six-game road trip here in Vancouver and between now and the end of February, Detroit plays 17 of its next 23 games away from home. Both the Canucks and Wings have opened the scoring 20 times this season. Vancouver is 15-3-2 while Detroit is 10-4-6. The Canucks have opened the scoring in five straight games and the only time they have trailed in that span is the final 1:14 against Los Angeles on Thursday. Detroit has won three straight and is 6-0-2 in its past eight games against the Canucks. Jimmy Howard gets his fourth straight start in goal for the Wings. ' ' '