Buzzer Beater - Cheers and Jeers

Buzzer Beater

Cheers and jeers

By RYAN COOKE

Another weekend in the sporting world is in the books, and all the buzz is around Tiger Woods.

The 36-year-old golf pro is back on track, grabbing his first PGA Tour victory since 2009, just before news of his now-famous indiscretions leaked to the entire world. Sports media and fans alike are singing the praises of a man who has apparently returned to form despite having his career torn apart by the wolves of the tabloids.

However, it begs the question, at what point do we get over the scandal? Are we supposed to forgive and forget? Or is it even relevant whatsoever that he cheated on his wife with numerous other women?

In 2009, Tiger Woods went from being one of the most beloved and admired athletes on the planet, to being the butt of everyone’s jokes. Thirteen years of professional golf, 71 PGA Tour victories and 14 Majors all became one big joke.

Was it fair? Probably not. I mean, I’m not his wife, and neither are you. We are consumers, simple sports fans. That’s all. It is none of our business what he does at home.

And that would be all well and good if we were robots, but we aren’t.

The reason that certain athletes get thrust into superstardom is that they have a certain quality about them that all of us aspire to have. As children, we look up to them. As adults, we admire them. People like Tiger Woods simply shine.

And that’s the beauty of sports. The pace and motion of a game keeps our attention for a few minutes, but the emotional attachments keep us hooked for life.

And so when an athlete like Tiger Woods falls, a piece of every fan falls too. Was I severely damaged when I found out he had over a dozen girlfriends on the side? No. But it’s always at least slightly disappointing to see the reputation of someone you respected being tarnished.

When I was a kid, I idolized Boston Red Sox left-fielder Manny Ramirez. He was careless, funny, and charismatic. He seemed like a genuine and goofy guy, on and off the field. And boy, could he ever hit a baseball.

Realistically, he was a cheater. Ramirez was often suspected of using steroids, and was later caught…twice. As a fan of the guy for so many years, it was disappointing to hear the rumours were true. I watched him attempt his comeback to baseball only to be busted again. It was hard to watch something so pathetic.

For Tiger Woods, the last couple of years have been similar. His return to the golfing world has been anything but smooth, and at times, has bordered on the same level of pathetic as Man-Ram.

So when do we forgive and forget?

I don’t think fans of Woods will ever truly forgive him. If you grew up idolizing him as an elite athlete and a stand-up guy, you’ll probably never see him the same way again.

But when it comes to forgetting, that’s where success comes in. If the wins keep coming, people will fall back into the old excitement that surrounded Woods in his heyday. He’s a thrilling athlete to watch, and that’s why everyone fell in love with him in the first place (except his mistresses; that was probably for another reason).

Society’s support for Tiger seems to have been subconsciously growing since he made his return to the game. Even those who were morally outraged by his actions secretly want to see that old thrill in his game again. When the topic comes up, people are quick to call Woods down to the dirt, but as they watch him approach the tee, the same people secretly want to see him make an impossible shot to steal the show.

I don’t think we’ll ever see Tiger on the cover of a Wheaties box again, but the day is coming when we cheer for Tiger Woods the golfer, rather than jeer at Tiger Woods the liar.

Repeat performance: Eagles capture 4A title, keep successful season rolling

Repeat performance: Eagles capture 4A title, keep successful season rolling

By RYAN COOKE

The Exploits Valley High Eagles locked up their second consecutive Don Cherry’s 4A championship this past weekend, furthering their dominance over high school hockey in the province.

The Eagles went into the tournament 21-1 overall on the year, having won all 10 regular season games, plus the annual Donnini’s tournament and an impressive sweep of the CANLAN Ice Sports tournament in York, Ontario.

The road to the 4A finals was not an easy one however, as EVH went up against several of the biggest schools in the province, including Gonzaga High, Corner Brook Regional High and Ascension Collegiate.

They would eventually face O’Donel High of Mount Pearl in the championship game, and found themselves down 5-3 midway through the second period. However, a late goal in the second would help mount a comeback that would be completed in the third, when Shawn Loveridge scored the winner with three minutes remaining.

Team manager Roger Budgell points to the team’s speed and power play prowess as reasons for their success all season long, as well as their familiarity with one another.

“We rely on speed and the systems the coaches have put in place to be effective. Most of these boys have been together since they were seven-years-old, so they know each other pretty well.”

Budgell says that even more impressive than the team’s record this year has been the way they conduct themselves on and off the ice. He points to several games against weaker opponents this year where the team chose not to run up the score, or celebrate after goals late in games.

“It’s a credit to the coaches for the discipline. We teach our boys to win and lose with class,” Budgell said.

However, losing isn’t something they’ve done much of this season.

Heading into game three of the Central High School Hockey League semi-finals, the Eagles have lost just two games this year.

The first loss came in game one of the on-going semi-final series against Lewisporte, and the second against Gonzaga this past weekend. Gonzaga, a perennial powerhouse, went into the game against EVH with a 26-2 record on the year, but only narrowly beat the Eagles.

Being the first team outside the Avalon Peninsula to win back-to-back 4A titles, Budgell says he believes high school hockey in the central region is at a level it hasn’t seen in a long time. He credits minor hockey’s involvement for the high calibre of play.

“The talent is getting better and better, as is hockey in general. Minor hockey has improved remarkably with coaching seminars and more ice time.”

With the season winding down, Budgell looks back proudly on a year that has seen his team dominate both on and off the island.

“The boys have had a fantastic year playing, winning and having fun.

“They truly are excellent ambassadors for EVH and for Grand Falls-Windsor.”

Calm waters, rugged hearts: Botwood rebounding three years later

Cutline: Two cargo ships sit in Botwood harbour for repairs, a reminder of the traffic the port used to see on a daily basis. Ryan Cooke photo.


Calm waters, rugged hearts: Botwood rebounding three years later

By RYAN COOKE

It’s been three years since AbitibiBowater packed up and left the port of Botwood, stranding over 70 men without jobs in the small town.

The resilient bay side town has mostly seen calm waters since then, no longer frequented with the sights of ships from all parts of the world, coming and going weekly.

Mayor Jerry Dean recalls the atmosphere of the town in December of 2009, when news broke that the pulp and paper giant would be leaving the Exploits region.

“There was certainly a feeling of despair amongst the town at the time.”

He pauses.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s been three years.”

Dean, a former employee of the company himself, was mayor throughout the ordeal. His close ties to the company and the men he worked with saw him thrust into a role he was not necessarily elected for.

“Having worked there, other men in the company seemed to look to me throughout the ordeal. Sometimes instead of mayor, I felt like a pastor,” he said.

Carrying the weight of the crisis on his shoulders, the stress took a toll on Dean. He suffered a major heart attack last year, and spent much of the summer recovering from surgery. He said that while the departure of AbitibiBowater wasn’t the only factor, it certainly didn’t help his health, or the health of many other men who went through stressful times following the closure of the waterfront.

The move saw many men forced to retrain or move away to find work. Some fell just short of receiving full pensions. Families were strained with financial worries, and some couldn’t hold together.

“I’ve seen too many marriages break up in the past two or three years,” said Dean. “And to a large degree, that’s been a direct result of the closure of the newsprint mill in Grand Falls, and the port here in Botwood.”

Historically, Botwood has been a town of lost opportunities. Shipbuilding stations, a Royal Canadian Air Force base, a railway, and even an international airport have all been left by the wayside. But through difficult times, the town has survived for over 150 years.

“I think it speaks well of the townspeople, and our previous generations. We always bounce back.”

While the mayor admits he isn’t sure if Botwood’s waterfront will ever return to what it used to be, he remains hopeful and asserts that the port is the best in Newfoundland, and one of the best in Atlantic Canada.

“In some ways it will never be the same, but it will always be an important part of our history.”