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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-09-02, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1987 Rick Leach, a part-time outfielder and pinch hitter with the Toronto Blue Jays, had an argument with his wife last week and missed a ball game. In fact, he not only missed the ball game in Seattle against he Mariners, he missed the team's flight back to Toronto. Rick missed everything. The Jays missed Rick. They phoned the authorities. It almost became an interna- tional incident filled with mystery, in- trigue and guys in trench coats standing along the wharfs on a cold, damp, and nasty Seattle evening. There was speculation of subtrefuge and kidnapping. Was Leach mistaken for the vital cog in the Blue Jay wheel as they drive for the American League East pennant and subsequently snatched to deny the club its destiny in baseball/ Certainly the possibility existed Regardless, his disappearance was pro- mptly cleared up the next morning after DAVE - (S it was reported Leach was safe and sound in a motel near the Seattle airport. Rick phoned his dad. And his wife, of course. The following day, Leach and his wife held a press conference to announce to the world that they had had an argument which led Rick to shirk his duty as a pro- fessional ball player. It was a personal matter, they suggested, that needed no further clarification. Simply, Rick Leach had a fight with his wife, missed a ball game and was forced to explain himself to the world. It's a novel idea, really, and one that I think has possibilities. Why shouldn't anyone hold a press conference after a fight with their life partner/ If this column was missing from your favorite weekly because I had mysteriously disappeared after a fight with the life partner, wouldn't you want to be privy to all the details. Holding a press conference after a marital spat is the least any self- respecting professional could do. Scene: Signal -Star front office jammed with newsmen. Signal -Star management personnel appear before the microphones with the Sykes family. "Okay, ladies and gentlemen of the press, if you'll just keep it down we have some statements for you. Now, Dave here missed a column last week and fail- ed to report for work. We had feared that intelligent readers had simply trad enough, and had the little jerk snuffed. But he resurfaced and apparently it was something about a little spat with his wife. We feel the matter is between the Sykes and unless Dave has something to add, the matter will be closed as far as we're concerned." - "Davc, tell us, do you have anything to add to that. Is it impossible for you to write a column after a fight/" the press demands. "Like the gentleman said. We had a fight and I missed work and the column didn't appear. We think that should be the end of it. Really,it's personal and not a matter of public record," I offer. "Allright, so it was over wallpapering the kitchen. Geez, you guys never let go, do you. She liked the light flowered print and I Was more partial to the earth tones. So we raised our voices a iittie.,Then try and put that stuff on the wall with your wife. Have you ever wallpapered with your wife. So we raised our voices a lit- tle more. So what. It's happened before once or twice," I offer wiping my brow and reaching for a glass of water. "And the time she put mustard on my hamburger, and she knows I don't want mustard on the thing, well I couldn't write a council story fur a week after that argument," I explain. "Quit grabb- ing the microphone, this is my press conference." Then there was that thing with the tuna. I told her countless times not to buy that damn cheap tuna, so what hap- pens....hey guys, where you going/ THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Gthe •p BEAT ALL DDUND COMMUNfTY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA �eiCuwivum Close 3500-4500) CCNA Better Newspaper Compeuum 1984 SIGNAL -STAR P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH, ONT. N7A 4B6 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscrip- tions payable in advance $22.00, (Senior, Citizens $19.00 privilege card number required) in Canada, 860.00 to U.S.A., 860.00 to all other countries, Single copies 60`- Display, National and Classified advertising rates available on re - .quest. Please ask for Rate Card No. 16 effective October 1, 1985. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal - Star is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicitedmanuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduc- ing purposes. General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICE...please phone (519)524-2614 Second class mail registration Member: number 0716 +C A Prevention is the cure Major League Baseball runs a successful advertising campaign on network telelvision in which baseball stars admonish youngsters about the dangers of drugs. When the likes of hitting star Reggie Jackson strongly tell young people about the dangers of drugs, the message carries more weight and meaning. People like Jackson, 'who may serve as idols and role models for youngsters, are the best medium for the message. When they speak candidly and frankly about drugs, young kids are more apt to take note. While the words from parents may be the same, they are more likely to fall on deaf ears Since the beginning of the year, the Ontario Provincial Police have been cracking down on drug traffickers across the province and a record number of charges have been laid. More drug-related charges have peen made so far this year than in all of 1986. Much of it is a result of "field initiative" ordered by OPP Commissioner Archie Ferguson in the spring. The effectiveness of several raids across Ontario has been the result of co- operation between the provincial force's undercover officers and investigators from city and regional forces. - Recently, the Council on Drug Abuse announced that hockey great Wayne Gretzky would act as its new national spokesman. A non-profit organization that educates children and parents on the dangers of drugs, the council says the average age for beginning use of alcohol has fallen to 12 and marijuana use begins at age 14. Gretzky has taped radio and ,.elevision commercials for the council's use. Perhaps sports personalities are believable because they are often in the news after declaring they use drugs or after they seek help and rehabilitation. Young people might think it's cool to emulate the sports star who admits to drug use and a drug problem. And, hopefully, the converse is true. When a sports celebrity points out the idiocy of taking drugs, young people will listen and recognize the relative merits of what was said. Beginning Sept. 12, the Goderich Sailors Junior C Hockey team will be holding a hockey school at the Goderich Arena. Open to hockey players of all ages, the school is free. The team executive was seeking corporate sponsorship for the event on the basis of $50 per player. Bill Wilkinson, a native of Goderich and coach of the Western Michigan University Bron- cos, will be the head instructor at the school, which will stress "fundamentals such as skating, shooting and passing. Many of the coaches with the Goderich Minor Hockey Association will assist with the clinics. The Goderich Police Department and members of the Goderich detachment of the OPP will also conduct a drug -awareness program at the school. An internationally -acclaimed film will be shown to all minor hockey players, to help educate the youngsters about the dangers of drugs. It will also help coaches to identify and help young players with drug problems. The Junior C Hockey School will be open to all players registered with the Goderich Minor Hdckey Association and the Goderich Ringette Association. Hopefully young people will take advanatage of the opportunity presented by the Sailors to hone their hockey skills and to gain some valuable experience. The Junior C hockey club and the local police departments should be commended for their approach and hopefully, their message about drugs will impact on the young players. D.S. t Goderich sailing fraternity staging Open Invitation Regatta at harbour 25 YEARS AGO September 6, 1962 Sailing enthusiasts and marine -minded spectators alike are in for a treat, Sunday, September 9, when the Goderich sailing fraternity will stage their Open Invitation Regatta at Goderich Harbour. All sailing craft in the district are invited to par- ticipate. Seven Goderich sailboats and four from Bayfield will be joined by entries from Kincardine, Stratford, Seaforth, Grand Bend and other points. A sizeable fleet of the canvas powered craft is ex- pected for the races. Triangular shaped site of the newBritish Mortgage Goderich branch office demand- ed unique construction architect Fred Rounthwaite of Toronto explained when describing original plans for the modern glass structure. The building was not only tailored a triangular shape to fit the lot, but its three walls were also curved. Remarkable feature of this entirely new' concept in design is that no portion of these Indiana while limestone walls is supported from the ground–they appear to float over a continribus double -glazed window wall from ground level to 7' 6" high. The benign unchartered days of summer abruptly ended Tuesday morning as un- precedented thousands of school students taxed educational facilities throughout the county with their massed entry into the old rise and shine routine. Goderich District Collegiate Institute shows the most pro- nounced increase among the local schools. Reported late Wednesday afternoon was LOOKING BACK an expected total of 700 enrolments, an in- crease of 70 over last year. The new "Robarts Plan" providing courses for . almost every grade of students may be partly responsible for the GDCI increase. 50 YEARS AGO September 1, 1937 Owing to the increasing spread of infan- tile paralysis in the province, the Boy Scout jamboree scheduled to be held at Goderich on Labor Day has been postpon- ed. It was expected about 200 Scouts would attend from Wingham, Exeter, Hensall, Seaforth, Clinton, Lucknow, and Goderich in the Huron County district, also a group from Stratford. It is said that Clinton and Seaforth medical authorities asked that the rally be postponed, intimating there ' are several youngsters ill and in danger of developing paralysis. It is expected the jamboree will be held at the end of this month or early in October. Liberals of South Huron meet today at Hensall to select a candidate for the com- ing Provincial election. James Ballantyne has represented the riding at Toronto since the last election in 1934. A meeting to ap- point delegates from the Town of Goderich to the Hensall convention was held at MacKay Hall on Monday evening. At this meeting, Miss Josie Saunders of town an- nounced that she would be a candidate for While Canadian runner Ben Johnson was flashing, at world record pace of 9.83 seconds, to victory in the 100 metre dash at the world track and field champion- ships in Rome, Sunday, forty less- hearalded athletes took slightly longer to complete a run of considerably "larger" proportions in Terrebonne, Oregon. While Johnson's run was admittedly an amaiing feat, I'm sure all the com- petitors in the first ever Short, Fat Guys' Road Race will undoubtably resent that Big Ben is getting more attention than any of them. After all, Johnston, 'at 5 -foot -10, 172 pounds of lean running machine, would. not even have made the more stringent weigh-in requirements at the short, fat guys' race. The Terrebonne race was, after all, limited to men under seven feet tall, with waist size at least 4.5 inches greater than their inseam measurements. Word has it contestants ranged in dimen- sions from 5 -foot -4 and 140 pounds to,6-2 and "somewhere between 430 and 460 pounds." The media is calling Johnson's race a close one because he finished only one- tenth of a second ahead of second place finisher Carl Lewis. The Short, Fat Guys' Race was even closer, as all the com- petitors sportingly waited at a "stop - short line," 30 metres from the finish of the 1.2 mile downhill course, so they could all finish together. A 40 -way tie for first place. (Considering the reported girth of the contestants, that must have been one wide road). While all Johnson, as an amateur athlete, will receive for his accomplish- ment is world-wide acclaim (and perhaps a rich endorsement contract), the 40 "winners" of the "Big" race were hand- somely rewarded with a beer and a twinkie. A fair enough exchange. Events such as the Short, Fat Guys' Road Race, and the proposed new basket- ball league for men under 6 -foot -4, are a welcome change in the world of sports as far as this armchair athlete is concerned. For too long, we've been subjected to visions of superbly -shaped sinew, with their balanced diets and impossible ex- cersise regimens. Why should we be confined by anatomical dimensions when selecting our favorite forms of phyaical activity ? Perhaps now the way will open up for athletes of all shapes and sizes to par- ticipate in the activity of their choice. Size discrimination in sport has not been limited to holding back the short the Liberal nomination. A pigeon owned by J.E. Miltch won the Toronto–Goderich flight on Saturday, when thousands of pigeons from all over the province were released at the Toronto Exhibition. 70 YEARS AGO September 6, 1917 . Official word has been received from the Department of Militia that the mounted troops from Carling's Heights will be in Goderich- for the Exhibition Days, September 26, 27 and 28. In addition to ex- hibitions of mounted drill at the fair grounds, these troops will give street parades and their presence will impact a military flavour to the Exhibition. A horse belonging to Mr. Fred Cook of the Bayfield road created some excite- ment on the square last Saturday evening. The animal was tied on one of the side streets and becoming frightened of -a delivery wagon, it broke away and ran up to the square and around it. In some way, it managed to avoid hitting anything until it collided with Mr. Frank Humber's car, doing only slight damage. It got loose from the buggy and was then -captured before it got much further. The Collegiate Institute opened on Tues- day for the fall term with a good atten- dance. Mr. C. McKinnon, appointed as classical master, was not on hand, having been unable to secure his release from the board at Saskatoon. Dr. Strang will con- tinue in charge of the department of classics until another appointment is made. from this angle Patrick Raftis and the stout, it goes both ways. I'm sure there has been many a seven -foot teenager over the years, who has taken up basketball with a tear in his eye only after learning that he would never make it as a horse -racing jockey. Or, what about the many 250 pound specimens that have been forced to turn to football, or wrestling, after failing miserably to make it in the tiny mans' world of doubles table tennis? They should be given another chance as well. How about an ice -hockey league for the terminally weak-ankled (I'll play! ), or a game called Stationary Soccer, for those over 350 pounds? The possibilities for exciting new sports are endless. Personally, I'm already embarking on my body-building program for next year's Short, Fat Guys Road Race. That should give plenty of time to develop the additional 2.5 inches of belly overhang I will require. Unfortunately, I can't think of a completely painless way to get any shorter, so they'll just have to accept all 5 -foot -8 of me. 6