B3 - Sunday, March 7, 1982 - North Shore News

You can’t buy truth

side-lines

by Andy Fraser

If the great Victor Notaro caper proves one
point, it’s that old newspaper adage that you can't
buy truth for a quarter — or 35 cents or 50 cents

Notaro, the young soccer
player con. artist’ from
Welland, Ontario sucked in
much of the media with his
tales of glory and excitement
from the imaginary soccer
mad world of Sydney,
Australia.

The media comes out of it
looking just as they should at
umes: very human = and
prone to error just lke
people in the real world.

It's a good lesson both for
the media,

who at times
almost believe their own
delusions of grandeur, and
the public at large, who
should realize that this
business is not filled with

omnipotent star gazers.

And in a very obtuse way,
this story could serve as a bit
of a warning for anyone who
works with young kids in
minor sport.

Perhaps the imaginative
Mr. Notaro is nothing but an
effective con man. But
perhaps he is suffering from

what the unly
descmbes as “The
Gretsky Syndrome”.

lawyer
Great

It doesn't really matter
whether he ».. +. conning or
suffering, fact sull

remains that .
our society « number of
those who work with
youngsters have the sole
ambition of creating winners
foremost in their minds.

Our society seems ob
sessed with being number
one, and that winning is the
only way. Of course, if you
watch pro sport. its easy to

- too often in

see where that concept
comes from.
And that is the danger.

Professional sport ts a totally
different world from minor
programs. Sure the pro has
the ultimate skill, and much
can be learned from wat-
ching him in that regard, but
there the similarnty ends.
Both worlds have widely
divergent philosophies.
Minor sport is for the fun

and entertainment of the
child. Pernod. If he 1s given
the form in which to par-
tucipate that is sufficient and
enough.

Professional sport is) a
multimillion entertainment
business where the highest
profits go to the winners.
Therefore, to be a success,
the team must win.

Seen at that level, it's
obvious the two have little in
common, especially at the
coaching level.

And the players are
different. Of course the
quality and ievel of skill 1s
different, but so too is the
total approach to the game.

The average pro plays for
a lhvehhood and out of a
compulsive desire although
hke any good worker he
enjoys what he does. Invite a
pro athlete to a fnendly
game of marbles and he'll
put everything he’s got into
it. He’s a born competitor
who will dnve himself past
the point where the normal
athlete drops out.

Compare this to your son
or daughter who wants to
play baseball or soccer, or

now serving

Lunches
from 11:30 a.m.

SENATOR’S

60 Semisch at Esplanade in the Marbour Quay Building

North Vai-couver

phone 986-95 74

for reser, ations

the North Shore's
most unique and special
dining establishment
is NOW serving

SUNDAY BRUNCH

1Oa.m to 2 p.m.

whatever. They want to go
out with their fmends and
have fun. Oh sure, it’s great
if they win, but if not, it
doesn't take long before
they're over it and on to
something else.

And that’s good. Allow
them the fun of being kids.
The true competitor, the kid
who wants to succeed just a
htthe more and who will stay
behind to work on his skills
will mse to the surface in a
minor program by his drive
and ambition. He's the one
who will have the chance to
extend himself. Not very
many kids want that and not
many parents want to see
their kids in that position.

The key to minor sport is
participation and fun for the
kids. It's definitely nor the
winning and being number
one. Kids’ games shouldn't
be for awards, trophies,
pictures in the paper and
uniforms with their names
on the back.

The pro and the child use
the same equipment but
that’s about all. Don't force
him into feeling that he must
win in order to be a success.
Coaches have a big job in
making sure the kids realize
that the program is there for
fun.

For Victor Notaro winning
was either in this fantasy of
the mind or in conning
everyone so people would
recognize him.

For kids, winning is s0
much more than having
more points than the other
guy at the end of the game
And faced with the pressures

of society to be number one,
the coach of the minor
sports teams has, in many
ways, a more demanding
task than the pro coach.

THUNDERBIRD LANES
PUBLIC
BOWLING
DAILY

5 &10 PINS

r

Happy

St. Patrick’s open till 4 a.m
Day! 7 Days _

A WEEK

RESERVE
YOUR
LANE
985-6104
120 W. 16th off Lonsdale

eo

dd

PIANICIPACTION

SEE NORTH SHORE EE
SCHOOL or COMMERCE

Balmoral School,
3365 Mahon Ave , North Van

WORD PROCESSING

CLASSES START MARCH 8

MORNINGS

830 Noor

4 weeks $105 -
AFTERNOONS
Mon = Fri 1 00 - 3 30

4 weeks $90

EVENINGS
Mon & Wed 7 00
Tues & Thurs 7 00
8 weeks $120

10 00
10 00

For further intormation call 980-2713
North and West Vancouver School Districts

~You can call an
Executive Service

Cadillac

Cadillac Cabs Ltd.

Personalized Airport Service.
Personalized General Service.
Executive Drivers.

24 Hour Service.
Advance Booking Required

986-1111

Corporate Accounts Invited