The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-11-03, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, November 3, 2004 zkxna =CNA TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager Published by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Iletroland i 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIALS Pit bull ban a strong move 0 ntario's proposed pit bull ban, introduced last week by Attorney General Michael Bryant and expected to pass by the end of the year, has its problems. At first blush, the ban seems like a generally positive thing, a move by the province to protect its citizens from what Bryan calls "ticking time bombs" and "inherently dangerous animals." Should the legislation pass, it would be the first province -wide or state-wide ban in North America. Under the proposal, current pit bull owners will be allowed to keep their dogs, but the dogs will have to be muzzled and leashed in public.Pit bulls will also have to be spayed or neutered. It will also be illegal for anyone else to acquire a pit bull. Pit bulls will not be able to be bred, sold or imported into the province. The fine for having dangerous dogs that bite or attack will be doubled to $10,000 and the owner could face a six-month jail sentence. Bryant's legislation sounds good on paper, but there are concerns. First, pit bull owners natu- rally defend their animals as having gotten a bad rap from the media. Headlines, pictures and reports of vicious pit bull attacks on young chil- dren have increased the public's fear of pit bulls. Pit bull owners describe their dogs as cuddly and friendly. There's also the claim the dogs aren't at fault, it's the owners who train their pit bulls to be aggressive. If this is true, then it's possible these irresponsible pet owners will simply turn to anoth- er breed of dogs and train those dogs to be vicious. If that happens, will other dog breeds be banned? And can this pit bull ban be effectively enforced? Also to be determined is what exactly a pit bull is, as there are countless varieties and types of dogs that could be considered pit bulls. Let's face it, pit bulls and their owners haven't done themselves any favours in the public rela- tions department. First of all, the dogs aren't that cute. Secondly, the fact pit bull owners like to dress up their dogs in menacing steel -studded collars doesn't give them the look of an approachable, friendly dog. These dogs have been bred to be aggressive in the past. Ontario's move to ban pit bulls is bold. Whether or not it works remains to be seen. But the sooner these vicious dog attacks become a thing of the past, the better. Editorial Opinion e n = MIZIM 9,04 0,11,19,4,1699006,44400 594104e. Roger Neilson and me It might seem hard disliking someone who upon his death, with hundreds of friends at his funeral, was described as "the most caring, generous man in the world" and one of the ... "most remarkable guys in hockey" as well as being a member of the Order of Canada and a pioneer of innovations in the sport, but then again liking George W Bush seems strange to many people. So I'll admit it, I hate Roger Neilson. It wasn't something that happened overnight, but a long process over the entire course of Neilson's career of watching him trying to drag hockey down to its lowest common denominator. When asked once how the game of hockey could be improved, a com- mentator replied "shoot Roger Neilson." The commentator was reflecting the view that Neilson's was a pioneer of the clutch and grab, defensive trap style that has sucked the life and creativity out of today's game. With his early roots in baseball and its onfield strategy, Neilson wasn't content with throwing his troops over the boards and let- ting them use their creativity, but instead was deter- mined to micromanage all energy and passion out of the game, both on and off the ice. And he went many places, starting his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1977-79, being fired twice and rehired once before moving on to the Sabres, Canucks, Kings, Panthers, Flyers and Senators. He became a fixture on the NHL coaching circuit, the guy whose name was mentioned every time a coach was fired, even before the carcass was cold. Leaf fans have long memories (we have to, it's the only way we can remember a Stanley Cup), and Neilson's time in Toronto began what would eventually descend into the freak show of the 1980s, starting with his firing then rehiring, although he turned down Harold Ballard's request to reappear behind the bench wearing a paper bag over his head. Despite having three future hall of fame players at their prime on the roster, Neilson was unable to lead the team to any success. Neilson coached the New York Rangers from 1989 until 1993, one year before their Stanley Cup win, then moved on to the Florida Panthers for 1993 until he was fired in 1995, one year before the Panthers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. One of Neilson's shining moments was the 1982 playoffs when he coached the Vancouver Canucks to the finals where they were rolled over in four straight by the New York Islanders, but not before Neilson introduced what has become the most annoying tradition in sports, the towel wave. Victim of what he considered to be poor refereeing calls, Neilson raised a white towel on a hockey stick in a gesture of surrender, which became a rallying cry for the team and spread through the league like a bad rash. At the end of his life and career, Neilson was mourned by millions across the country and in hockey everywhere. A nice guy? Of course. An innovater? Certainly. But good for the game? Never. PAT BO BACK 40 VIEW LEN About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales ....(519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $37+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $68+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $104 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $10.00 for 20 words, 20ir for each addition- al word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15.00 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4 m. -mail Us Web site: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Michelle Sereda ext. 110 Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Mary Simmons ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Carol Powe ext 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young, Diana Hardy ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 Marg Pertschy ext. 208