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ô - The Canadian Champion, Fiday, March 29, 2002 *COMMENT THE CANADIAN CMïMIPoN Box 248, 191 Main St. E., The Canadien Champion. published every Tuesday and Friday at 191 Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Main St. E. Milton. Ont., L9T 4N9) (Box 248), s one of The Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd group af suhurbar companies shicti cuSes: Aîax/Picisering News Advertiser, Alliston Herail/Cnurier, Barrie (905) 878-234 1 Aduance, Batry's Bay Thiîs Week. Boften Enterptîsr, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, City of Yorka Guardian. CollingwoodlWasaga Connectian, East Vora Mirror, tnin Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advocate/Country Routes, Etotticoke Guardian, Flamborough Post, Fartant Advetiig Fa: 90-8762364 Ytiung, Geotgetown IndependeotActon Free Press, Hultan Business Times, Advetisig Fa: 95-87-236 Htotia Business Times, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Week. Marliham Clasifed 90-87-300 Economist & Sun, MrdiandlPenetanguishene Mîtrr. Miton Shopping News, Clasifie: 95-87-33 Mississauga Business Times, Misîssauga News. Napanue Guide. Circulation: 905-878-5947 NartsYokgawep a kvleBevr wkil Sopn Nothmesad ties Ian Oliver Publisher Hockeyv Nes, Stilia Todlay. OshawulWhdtty/Ciarington/Port Penny This Wteis, Petenbotoagh Ohis Werk, Piaton Csuotp Guide. Richmond Neil Oliver Associate Publisher HlslTharnhiitNaughan Liberai, Saarborough Mirrot, Stoaftuilie/Uuhnîidgt lit avi Edtor-n-CiefTtibune. Jil ai deri-he Adueotisîng is aaaptrd on the condition Chat, in the ruent ot a typa- Karen Smith Edigor graphicai ertor, ttoat portion ut the aduetislng space ocaupird bp tht enta- " McNab *ons item. togthtt wîth a reasonuble aitureance ton signature, wiii not be n.enay Mcab Adsertotng Manager ahatgtd ton, but tht balance ut tht aituertiorment wiii be paid lot ut the appli- Sieve Crozier Circulahion Manager cable rate. Tht publisher reservrs tht tight to nategorize aduertisemeots or r Teri Casas Office Manager deurie. Tlm Coles Produacion Manager Thre BMon Coaredm Champion ai a Recprabie Prdote Hay,.vdar and midgets COMMOM SENSE Ç R>EVOLUTION do community proud p7OR RADES WIT Just a month ago, hockey fans from coast to coast rejoiced in Team Canada's Olympic triumph over thse Amnericans. Now Milton's sporting community is buzzmng about the recent feats of NCAA star Dan-en (Mini) Haydar and the AA midgets - who've bth earned major-league distinction. Haydar is a leading candidate for thse Hobey Baker award, given each year to America's top university hockey player, and bas propelled his New Hampshire University Wildcats into next weekend's national Frozen Four. The Merchants' all-timne scoring leader has becomne one of the best clutch performers UNH bas ever seen and this season's accomplish- ments - which may not be done quite yet - serve as vindication for the hard-working sniper most feit was simply too small to succeed at a high-profile level. Meanwhile, Milton's AA midgets - led by well-respected head coach Amie Parcels - reached the top of the OMHA mountain in Barrie Tuesday night with an inspiring 3-1 victory. Their OMHA title win highlighted an overall much-improved season for the local rep hockey programr. Haydar and the midgets have offered two success stories for local fans to revel in - and for that, we thank themn. Way to go, guys! Local historian responds toi recent column Dear Editor: Richard Vivian'o column which suggests "sometianes an nid build- ing is just an old building" reflects a frighteningly shailow perspective from neyeraI points. The building now being demol- ished is much more than old. It's an imoportant part of the streetscape that gives Milton's downtown core some of the charm that municipal policy is busy promoting. Originally, as wao pointed out by Mr. Vivian, plans included keeping the front and one side wall. This wnuld have maintained the streestscape, which gives the down- tnwn its uniquenens. lB doesn't seem unusual that weaknesses emerged after gutting and leaving the building open to the elements for mnonths. It's true the building waan't a designated struc- tutre on the roster of LACAC. But then, by my count, there are oniy two buildings on the street that bear such a designation. From Mr. Vtvian's perspective, 1 assume ail the other old buildings may face a similar fate at the whim of the nwners. This of course will fly in the face of Town policy, which 1 understood was inclined 80 see the downtown core and its uniquenens as worthy of preserva- tion. Mr. Vivian's failure Bn sec any need for the Milton Historical Society to be involved with this sit- uation will be evident as he walks out of his Main Street office and secs Blhc ugly haie punched in the fabnic of the stireetocape. But then, "sometimes an nId building is just an nId building," he says. Gond luck Bn dhe church in ils project, which wiil attempt to build back in some of the workmanship of former generations. Perhaps a cosmetic effort is the besi we can hope for. And if the nid building has been an eycsore in downtown Milton for a year, as Mr. Vivian suggests, 1 seem Bn remember it bcing okay until the gutting started. 1 urge readers that the next tiane they walk along Main Street Bn look around at the fabric of thc strcet that makes it unique. lB may not survive much more progress. JIm Difis Milton There's more local splorts to pickfrom this summer Miltnn's summer sports scene is about to get interesting. With Jr. B lacrosse set Bn be revived and men's football ready to be started up, local fans now have thtree high profile tesams - counting already established juninr baseball - to fnllow through thc warm-weathcr months. Sn unlike the Jr. A Merchants - who pretty much have a monnpoly on ynur local sports entertainanent buck from September Bn March - the fight for fan support may be as great as Uic weckly harles with league opponents. Summer sports generally haven't enjoyed much fanfare in recent years, but with the recent population boom that migot just change. In fact, Milton's ncwcomers may now play a signilicant mIle in deciding which tcamn becomes the flagship of die summuer. Afterall, a club's suc- cess can be judged as much by its spectator sup- port as its number of wins. And while some sports cnthusiasts may foilow ail three teams, most will support only one. So juot which sport will be the top dog in 2002? That's difficult 80 say right now - given the nature of each teamn. Rc-established by John Arnold, Milton's Jr. B tacrosse tesam has the early start, wiUi the regular- season getting underway in late April. And wiUi games being moved from Fniday 80 Thursday nights, the club may have minimized their chances of missing thc wcekend-getaway crowd. That's something junior baseball and men's football will have Bn contend wiUi - since the majority of games are expected Bn be played Satarday and Sunday aftemoons. However, basebai and football are still among the 'big four' sports and tend to draw larger crowds Uian lacrosse - which despite being our Arnold will have Uic minor league ranks from which Bn draw on as weil, which should help. But in Uic end, simple success will be a huge factor in just who pulls in the fans. That's cer- tainly evident wiUi Uic AA midgcts - who's OMH-A championship nan has helpcd thena pack UP Memorial Arena on more Uian occasion Uiis sea- Front son, something the Merchants did just a adu of times despite Uieir higher profile status. Both new teamns - football and lacrosse have an uphill climb ahead of thcm in tcnns of national sport, bas not really caught on in most cstabiishing Uiemselves as league contenders. Ontario consmunitics. But both have strong managements, 50 white nci- Evcn during the Mavcricks' Founder's Cup Uier will likely bc powcrhouscs, thcy shouldn'i season of 1999, John Tonelli Sporth Centre sat at be pushovers either. least half cmpty on most nights. As for your local sports scribe, he'l be follow- Hopefully a greater contingent of local players ing alI thrce teamo and is quite interested 80 sec Uiis season will go toward puuing more bodies in which club cati tuna some heads. the stands. So let the games begmn. 1 y.