Ontario Community Newspapers

Port Perry Star, 29 Jul 1986, p. 17

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Fl WETTER ERENT SRR, PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, July 29, 1986 -- 17 Take a Look Back Reflections he This week's photograph is proof positive that lacrosse has been an institution in Brooklin for many, many years. It shows the 1957 Ontario il Championship Brooklin Meadowcrests team in | the Intermediate "C" league, the, division in which Brooklin participated at that time. There are many familiar names on the team, several of whom are no longer with us. The Champion team consisted of: Front row: Irvin Reazon, Bill Short, Bill Biggs, Bob Fry, Ken Ross, John Campbh.ll ® A i) a os PER fd baie AR FRE: . EE ERE | SER SA a and Don Vipond. Centre row: John Vipond (ex- ecutive), John McKinney, Doug Vipond, Bob Carnegie, Charlie Grandy, Gord Holiday, Alvin Puckrin, Keith Sutherland, Les Moore, and Al Rudkin (executive). Back row: Gord Cooke (co- manager), Eimo Gibson, Bruce Mitchell (coach), George Richardson, Norm Alexander, Robby Robinson, Ken Greer (co-manager), Garnet War- nier and Luther Vipond (executive). Absent from the photograph were Earl Ormiston (executive), and Grant Mowbray. Viewpoint I'm a sap when it comes to pageantry and exhibitionism .... I admit it .... I love parades, marching bands, firework displays and the sound of the bagpipes never fails to bring a lump to my throat. So what's wrong with that? I'have been more than a little perturbed over the past few weeks with all the jibes and - snide remarks made in the Canadian press _concerning both the American "Liberty" bash 'and the hoopla gover the Royal Wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. You know what it all boils down to .... +» jealousy .... that deep green type of envy that "gets to the point where it can consume you. I mean the U.S. are a bunch of flag wavers from way hack, as are the British, I'm the first to admit that, but again, I asked the ques- tion, "what the heck is wrong with that?"' You know, when you get right down to the nitty-gritty of the whole thing, the average Canadian doesn't know who their heros are and what's more shameful, they don't seem to give a fig anyway. Without consulting a book or playing twenty questions, right at this moment, name me one thing in Canada that is renown throughout the world, and don't count Niagara Falls because it is only half ours, and anyway, it was brought to interna- tional fame via the Americans in song and film. But, come on now, say it out loud. What is super famous about Canada? For that matter what or for whom can we raise the flag and cheer about. Can t think of anything at the moment. I mean there was the Olympics, and Expo '67 was good and Expo '68 should be good too, but they will be forgotten years down : the line anyway. | Now the Yanks have their Statue of-Liber- ty and the Brits have their Royal Family com- plete with castles and prices and 'they lived happily ever after' atmosphere, and we have nothing. And that's why there is all the mock- ing and scoffing and tittering and funny 'here we go again" faces. It's because deep down, by ROXANNE REVELER all ours; something that could unite us together, be we French, English, Easterners or from (perish the thought) the west coast. But we haven't and so we snicker. I admit I watched all the rigamarole, or as much as I could, of the July 4th ceremonies wrapped around Lady Liberty and it was just great. Sure beat the wishy-washy, hodge- podge of events celebrating Canada Day all to hell. And the wedding. Ah, the wedding. Words just don't describe how lovely that was. Must admit I did not turn out of my bed at the ridiculous hour of the morning it started on the telly, but thanks to the good old VCR I didn't miss a darn thing. All the commentary and trips associated with broadcasting the event I could have done well without, but you have to take the bad with the good. But the pomp and circumstance of the horses, carriages and trumpets and pro- tocol were worth it. The royal family was humanized .... the Queen's tears during the ceremony; the an- tics of young Prince William; the shots of his mother hauling him around on her hip, his dad, Prince Charles pointing an admonishing finger and one of those 'looks' that only parents can give was refreshing. They were all things we do regularly and it brought greater understanding of what makes the royal family tick. It musn't be easy to con- stantly be in the public eye and under scrutiny, but they do it, apparently willingly and most importantly, with grace. How often do the wives and children of Canada's Prime Ministers go out and about save at election time? Tell you the truth, I wouldn't know one of the Mulroney children if they walked through the door and sat on my lap, and I bet most of you are the same. What are their names anyway? Bet not too many of you know. But you sure know who the royal family are don't you .... admit it now. Even Turn to page 19 we Canadians wished we had something we | could point to with pride; something that was Y ll of a golden age + h : by Mabel M. McCabe | Will return in September Editorial Comments It's A Crying Shame There are many who advocate the number 13 to be unlucky, and they might be permitted to say "I told you so' on this occasion. The Xllith Com- monwealth Games opened last Thursday in Edin- burgh, Scotland with less than half the number of teams invited participating. When the athletes from around the world mar- ched into Meadowbank Stadium, there were 32 teams missing. Their governments had deemed it correct to pull their members from the event as a form of protest over the apartheid situation in South Africa. Although this still left teams from 26 coun- tries, including Canada, it was obvious things would not be the same, and some even felt it would mark the beginning of the end for the Commonwealth. Canada has sent its largest contingent ever to this year's Games, a total of 396 athletes and officials, and it would not be too presumptuous to state they should walk away with the majority of medals. But there has been no rejoicing within the Canadian ranks. According to various reports, they are upset over the withdrawal of many of their com- petitiors. They feel there is no benefit of such ac- tions and they are right. The loss of so many athletes from the competition is a loss of quality -- not necessarily athletic quality -- but of human feeling. The Commonwealth games have been dubb- ed the 'Friendship Games,' and although it is true that thé rivalry is intense, those competing are one big family. That is what made it so sad to watch nation after nation leaving the Games village. The Games have obviously lost something, but they have not suffered a crippling injury because of the boycott. The Commonwealth will undoubtedly pull itself together before the next games in four years time, when some other news item pushes the question of apartheid onto the back burner. But what about the athletes themselves? Has anyone stopped to think about them? It is a shame that these young peaple, most of whom have trained for a lifetime, should be for- bidden by their governments to go for the gold ring. Most of the sports offered in- the Com- monwealth Games are rigorous and demanding. There is a fine line between not being quite ready and being past it. A narrow margin where one is at their peak ---- when it is possible to be the best at any given time. Many were not ready at the last games, and will be past it in four-years-time. This" was their big chance and they were unable to com- pete because of the interference of their governments. And what do politics and sports have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing. And what will the boycott of the games mean to the Bothna govern- ment in South Africa? Absolutely nothing. So what will these countries have proved by ordering their athletes to withdraw from competition? Absolute- ly nothing. So what is the point? . Turn to page 19 d

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