February 2, 2005

Page 11

Missing Simpler Times in Sports

norts fans

3

“Now when 33

turn on one of the Spe
cialty channels to
watch a game, we are
inundated with images
of men in suits growl-
ing at each other; of
overpaid, narrow-
minded athletes telling
us that they have to
think of their families;
or of players climbing
into the stands to fight
with fans.”

stolencarshow.ca —

SEE TRASHED AND STRIPPED CARS.

BY ZURICK SCHERGER
THE PROJECTOR (RED RIVER COLLEGE)

WINNIPEG (CUP) -- Lately, I have
found myself wondering why I contin-
ue to be a sports fan.

Now when sports fans turn on one
of the specialty channels to watch a
game or highlights we are inundated
with images of men in suits growling
at each other; of overpaid, narrow-
minded athletes telling us that they
have to think of their families; or of
players climbing into the stands to
fight with fans.

Who is there left to cheer for?

Do you want to believe that Barry
Bonds has doubled his weight in the

last 20 years without science? How can
a guy like Kobe Bryant go trom pinna-
cle to doghouse in such a short time?
Haye Todd Bertuzzi and Dany
Heatley learned from their mistakes?
It's not as if sports haven't had their
fill of controversy in the past. Kermit

Washington broke Rudy
Tomjanovich's face in 1977. Bobby
Clarke chopped down Valery

Kharlamov like a large Russian fir tree
in '72. Both Wade Boggs and Steve
Garvey had to own up to extramarital
affairs during their illustrious baseball
careers. And don't forget about OJ.
When we used to hear the word
court, we thought of basketball. Now

the word conjures up images oF Kobe,
Ron .\rtest, Dany Heatley and Todd
Bertuzzi standing in front of a judge.

It was easy to get excited about the
games. Now we spend our time won-
dering about collective bargaining
agreements, rule changes, poor olfici-
ating and contract holdouts.

Maybe it's too easy to transport
‘vourself back to a time when sports
were simpler. Tune into TSN or
Sportsnet most nights now and you
can watch a vintage game, with the
timeless jerseys, wacky hairstyles and
good, hard-lought action.

With the media scrutiny and intense
pressure applied to athletes toclay, it ts

‘S

easy to understand why some athletes
feel they need to take extra measures
to succeed.

We put them on a pedestal from the
time they are very young, For most of
them, it's all they know. How many
times do you have to be told that you
are great before vou start believing the
hype, requiring more adulation?

Moments of violence are forgotten
over time, at least until somebody else
does something stupid. Mistakes often
fade away. In the end, lite goes on. I'll
keep watching,

IMMOBILIZERS™