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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1999-08-04, Page 66 Exeter Times—Advocate A921# Editorial&Opinioil Wednesday, August 4, 1999 Asoacr cYl► TIMEsADvocATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Don Smith Deb Lord General Manager Production Manager Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL The Porky's dilemma Amovie about six adolescent boys try- ing to lose their virginity doesn't should like the most original,. inspir- E ing or thought-provoking film. Yet the 1981 film Porky's continues to be the top gross- ing made -in -Canada movie of all time.'-- -1/4 3_ Should we consider Porky's and its inane depiction of teenage boys chasing scantily dressed girls a sad reflection of the state of our appreciation for our own country's culture or as a symbol of pride in the great Canadian comic tradition? Porky's and its vacuous content of raging hor- mones and goofy adolescent antics reflects little, of Canada's, place in the universe. But the average Canadian movie-goer is likely more familiar with this film title than award- winning. and critically acclaimed made -in - Canada movies like The Red Violin, The Sweet Hereafter, Jesus of Montreal and Why Shoot The Teacher. Essentially, the Porky's dilemma reflects our lack of knowledge and appreciation for our own culture. Canadian film, literature,theatre and music does not rank as high -on our lists of domestic pleasures as Disney movies, any book written by Danielle Steele or Stephen King and Broadway musicals. Time magazine garners more attention than 'Saturday Night and CNN is pressed more frequently on the channel con- troller than CBC or CTV. Canadian television viewers are more glued to the endless repeats of Friends than- the realistic and ,educational themes of Ready or Not. In addition to Canadian lack of awareness -and interest in Canadian culture, there isn't a ` stronger argument for government support and regulation of Canadian -culture than the vast tidal wave of media entertainment that washes our countryfrom south of the border. Canada needs its own vision and voice through film, radio, music, theatre, television, etc. And if it takes government support and spending to guarantee that voice - it's worth It. Canadian culture reflects more of who, what and why we are than any American -produced film, television show, plastic toy, or T-shirt that bombard our senses day in and day out. While Porky's has yet to be overthrown as the top -grossing Canadian -made film of .all time, its 1981 $11 million profit has helped produce some more original and inspiring works of Canadian film. The plus side of the Porky's dilemma is that the film's producer, Astral Communications, has invested money in better Canadian -made movies, thus guaranteeing a small but distant Canadian voicein the mass media wilderness. From the Fergus -Flora News Express as some ma Professional sports have taken quite a beating by so- called fans, pundits and critics in recent years. Nauseatingly huge salaries, spoiled players, barroom brawls, hotel peccadillos -- the list of things we can hate our professional athletes for seems endless. But one event last month restored, at least for a night, this sports scribe's faith in the pro ath- lete. The event was the Major League Baseball All- Star Game, the last of the millennium and the last to be played at Boston's Fenway Park. The game was a pitching duel between the best hurlers in the game. No home runs fronn Big Mac., Sammy or Junior. But the game wasn't the moving part. Before the game, the league honoured its 'players of the century'. Living legends like Reggie Jackson, Brooks Robinson, Hank Aaron, Bob Feller, Rollie Fingers, George Brett and even today's arguably best pitcher, Roger 'Rocket' Clemens, were introduced as they walked out onto the field. The piece de resistance came when the final former player hit the field: The Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams. The long-time Bosox pillar at the plate, the last man to hit .400, was driven to the Held in a golf cart in what looked like a kind of victory lap. teams • then did the one thing he never did while suited up at Fenway: he doffed his cap for the crowd. The often ornery and now ailing Williams was all smiles as he. waved to the gathered throng. The cart stopped in the infield and yesterday's and today's greatest players gathered around Williams. Players like Ken Griffey Jr., Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire were grinning ear to ear to be among their heroes. Players were slapping each other 'on the back, hugging each other,, exchanging quick stories with their elders. In the middle of it all was a joyful Williams who hit McGuire lightly on the. shoulder to ask him about how it felt to hold a record that held up for such a long time. Williams knows what it feels like and goes through the grinder each time a •player flirts with the .400 mark like Toronto's Tony Fernandez did earlier this season. The players, both young and old, looked like kids in a candy store. They became the boys or girls inside each man or woman who dreams about playing pro sports in front of a cheering crowd. It almost made me totally forget today's players are making $10 million or more a year to do something for a living we all did for fun as kids or we still do today between our adult responsibilities: hit, throw and catch a small cork -cored, twine and rawhide covered ball and run around sacks called bases. Almost. ;AIG BRADFO MISSILES MUSING RD AND S About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. 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