Sports Column
Sports Grab Bag
By Edward Zawadzki
Friday, June 17, 2005
With names like Vitali Klitschko, John Ruiz and Chris Byrd dominating the ranks of the sweet science, I never thought that I would start to pray for a Lennox Lewis comeback. Its hard to believe that the promoters are actually selling these corpses as viable pugilistic world champions. Real champions like Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis must be spinning in their respective crypts at the state of heavyweight boxing today. Speaking of the current W.B.A champion dont you think that the division would be more exciting with Rosie Ruiz as champ instead of big BAD John.
Speaking of boxing, is there anyone who can label great pet names on fighters better than the Toronto Sun's Steve Buffery? From Billy "The Goat" Irwin to David "The Bear" Teteh and the current Art "The Big" Binkowski, Buffery has certainly given yours truly many a chuckle at his imaginative nicknames.
I wanted to personally thank the world of professional tennis on behalf of the many thousands of men out there for giving us a viable alternative to the wonder drug Viagra. It goes by the name of Maria Sharapova.
With negotiations in the busy mode between the N.H.P.L.A and the team owners it is almost pathetic on how the players association has gone from one of the strongest, most militant unions in the world of sports to an organization that has lost its standing as one of pro sports elite to a bunch of greedy bumblers, whose leaders mistakes will cost the players millions of dollars once the negotiations are concluded.
No matter what changes that the N.H.L will try to impose to speed up the game and make it more entertaining to the fan they have to know that its going to take the league a long time to bounce back from the damage done to the game by this labour action. In a strong market, like Toronto, Boston or Montreal, the fans will come but the damage in such non- traditional hockey cities as Nashville, Atlanta and Carolina, will take years to heal, if ever.
I will always love the C.F.L and especially the Toronto Argos and applaud all the great changes made to the team by the recent ownership tandem of David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski, but putting the double blue back into that concrete barn formerly known as the Sky Dome is just breaking my heart. From Edmontons Commonwealth Stadium to Hamiltons Ivor Wynne, Canadian football belongs outdoors supported by its crazy die-hard fans in touques, wrapped in blankets, carrying those trusty little flasks at their sides. To me that is just as important to the look and feel of Canadian football as three downs and the wider playing field.
Getting back to the sweet science briefly, you would be hard pressed to find anyone involved locally in the sport not to agree that local Toronto boxing coaches Michael and Anthony DiFlorio are probably the hottest up-and-coming boxing trainers in the country today. The trainers of several provincial and national junior and intermediate national champions the twin brothers are sure to make the same splash when they enter the world of professional boxing in the not too distant future.
Good guy or jerk
After the hotel fiasco that landed Cinderella Man star and Hollywood bad-boy Russell Crowe in handcuffs recently it sure sounds like the Aussie mega-star definitely has his share of anger issues. Many people just dont know what to make of the guy. Some really close friends of mine who worked with Crowe on the Toronto filmed big budget boxing flick told me that he was an absolute great bloke to work and hang out with.
I bet that I wasnt the only one who was pulled out of the doldrums of the reality of no N.H.L hockey by the excitement garnered by our actual national sport of Lacrosse. Congratulations to the Toronto Rock who again have proved themselves to be the most dominant team in the sport.
The Blue Jays are playing respectable ball, the Argos have won another Grey Cup and the Rock are the champions of the Lacrosse world. Not a bad year for Toronto sports!
The N.H.L should go out on strike more often. With the loss of the Leafs this towns other sports franchises [with the exemption of the Raptors] have risen to the occasion and made Toronto sports fans proud.
Sorry to hear about my old friend Allan Stewart leaving his position as curator of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Through the good and bad times Allan distinguished himself as a selfless and honourable gentleman whose love of Canadian sports history was second to none. All the best to this classy individual in all his future endeavors. I will definitely miss him at his post at the Hall.
Speaking of the Hall, please remember to support this museum honouring the many Canadian sports heroes and our very rich sports history. Whether its by donation or just by visiting the great old building on the Canadian Exibition grounds, honour those great Canadian athletes who gave us so much to be proud of.
If anyone is interested in coming out, you are cordially invited to join me on Saturday June 18th at the Coles Bookstore at Sherway Gardens for a special book signing session especially for Fathers Day. Ill be there starting at noon signing my latest book The Ultimate Canadian Sports Trivia Book volume 2 and talking sports with all. Hope to see you there.
Just wanted everyone to know how great it is to be back on board here at the Canada Free Press. The way it has grown in its new internet format and the respect it garners from both its readers and the industry itself makes me proud to once again be part of the writing team for CFP.
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