SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Skating
SLAM! Stojko
COLUMNS
REVIEW
INTERACTIVE
ALSO ON SLAM!
Moira North? Who's that?
That seems to be the word according to International Figure Skating magazine.
The U.S.-based publication has presented its list of the 25 most influential people in skating and -- surprise! -- Stojko didn't make it.
Never mind that the Richmond Hill skater already is a legend in the sport and continually pushes the limitations of figure skating while forcing the competition to do the same. But no matter what skating's Terminator accomplishes -- such as the first quadruple-triple jump combination -- he rarely gets the respect he deserves, at least outside of Canada.
So who are some of IFS's most influential people? How about Moira North, Steve Disson and Oliver Honer. Who? Exactly.
BIATHLON BLUES: Olympic biathlon star Myriam Bedard made a surprise appearance this week.
Long considered a closet separatist, the Quebec City native and double Olympic gold medallist has demonstrated an elevated sense of pride for the Maple Leaf in recent years -- much to the surprise of a few jaded writers from English Canada.
When Bedard first exploded on to the international scene by winning a bronze medal at the 1992 Albertville Olympics,she repeatedly deflected questions about her alleged separatist leanings.
"I cannot pronounce myself," Bedard said at the time, when asked if her desire was to compete for Quebec at future Olympics. "I don't have that feeling of Canada and the flag, and all of those things."
The times obviously have changed. Bedard still hates to talk politics -- an intelligent strategy for any Quebecois celebrity -- but she isn't afraid to wave the flag any more, and we're not talking the Fleur-de-lis.
Bedard shocked a number of observers at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics when she wept on the medal podium during the playing of O Canada and sang along to the anthem. Her appearance as a host at the Canada Day festivities on Wednesday demonstrated once and for all she's no blatant separatist.
But it's the same old story. Anyone in Bedard's shoes pretty well has to keep mum on the issue. If she "pronounces" herself as a proud Canadian, she'll get crucified by a large segment of the Quebec media. But by appearing on Parliament Hill, Bedard quietly made a firm statement.
GLOVE GAB: Last weekend's Ontario senior boxing championship was rocked by a series of controversies and protests, including complaints about unfair judging, preferential treatment, questionable stoppages -- all in all, a typical boxing tournament ... Mike Strange of Niagara Falls captured the light-welterweight gold at the Multi-Nations Cup in Liverpool last weekend. In four bouts, the 27-year-old gave up only five points and actually posted a 3-0 points shutout win over Vilmas Balogh of Hungary in the final. Windsor bantamweight Andrew Kooner also won a gold.