32 — Sunday, November 22, 1998 — North Shore News Three pro athletes who deserve respect “ft is the heart that makes a man wealthy. He is rich accord- ing to what he is, not according to what he has.” — HW Beecher LAST week I penned a comment on the obscene amounts of money paid to some of today’s “athletes” in North American major league sport. It outlined how we seem -teehave lost all sense of per- spective when we offer indi- viduals (some of whom are as shallow as the conversation in a cocktail lounge) huge dollars and yet allow them to become the heroes of our kids. Well, the good news is that there are, of course, any num- ber of hugely-talented people involved in sport who do care abuut issues other than their own, and I would encourage all parents to identify some of these athletes as the real role models their kids should look up to. People like the outstanding hall of fame basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He is currently part way into a five month coaching commitment involving underprivileged American native children. This — isa full-time position for Abdul-Jabbar so he of course ‘has the right to an income for his efforts and has accepted one. For 20 weeks of advice on basketball skill develop- ment as well as character moulding and teaching life skills, he has negotiated the princely sum of one dollar (Payable in U.S. funds!). - Or, what about Doug Flutie, the much talked abour quarterback for this season's cinderella NFL team, the Buttalo Bills. He missed a day of practice fast month for what the ream called “person- al reasons.” In fact, his wife had just miscarried in her third month of pregnancy but he did ner want to make the issue public. He turned up the tollowing day to help his team prepare for their next contest. Failure is not about getting knocked down, rather it’s about not getting back up. Flutie embodies the antithesis of that spirit so well. Oh yeah, he also gave up half his signing bonus from his new NFL team and donat- ed the amount to a founda- tion established by former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife in the name of their infant son Hunter, who is living with a serious discase. There are many others out there as well like Wayne Gretzky, Lui Pasaglia and Sammy Sosa, all of whom give a rat’s arse about the lives of those around them and are making meaningiul differences in many people’s circum- stances. Parents with young daugh- ters have a hero right here on the North Shore by the name of Charmaine Crookes. Charmaine is a five-time Olympian and was a silver medallist in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She owns PP Canadian champi- onship tides and was the first Canadian wornan to go under nyo minutes in the 800m ftrack}. More importantly, she is involved in raising awareness for Breast Cancer research and wide prowram on the subject titled “No Laughing Matter.” Charmaine continues to spend time talking to kids about staying in school as well as helping them develop self- esteem. In recognition for her contribution to society she was awarded the 1993 Governor General's Award. Talk about getting things done! I don’t personally have any sporting heroes, burt a man who comes closer to that sta- tus than any in my mind is one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was the most ree- ognizable person on the plan- et in the 1970s and at the peak of his career was arguably the greatest beavyweight box- ing champion the world had ever seen. He would not go to war against che North Vietnamese and for that his government stripped him of his title, effec- tively costing him multiple millions of dollars. The problem with Muhammad Ali was that his principles and beliefs meant more to him-than money — what a strange concept to some in these so called “mod- ern times.” Ali went on to represent the U.S. government on vari- ous diplomatic missions to Grand Opening Designing Comfort Inc. help bring about peace berween warning nations because he teft he could make a difference (he could!) Today he is involved in chari- ties for underprivileged chil- dren and continues to give his ume and amazing presence for the benefit of everyone other than himself So vou see we do have ath- letes our youngsters can look up to with respeet, wonder and just maybe, hopefully, an honest desire to replicate then in some wav. Let's make Moody sure we vive them the right examples! A dosing thought: “You have not lived a perfect day, even though vou have earned money, unless vou have done something tor someone who will never be able to repay you.” — Ruth Smeltzer Shane Collins is a physical trainer and athletic coach as well as an aecomplisied ultra endurance ruaner and marathon oviniuer. OPEN HOUSE Regarding Westcoast Gas Services Inc.’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility to be located between Squamish and Gibsons (approximately 7.5 km inland from Kiowe Sound and 12 km northeast of Port Melion). Everyone Welcome to Attend ¢ Open House - 3:00-8:00 p.m. « November 24 - Gibsons Yacht Club, Gibsons: West Vancouver: Squamish: 473 Gower Point Rd. November 25 - Gleneagles Golf CLub, 6190 Marine Drive November 26 - Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company, 37801 Cleveland Ave. For more information, please contact: Westcoast Gas Services Inc. Doug Thomeycroit, Project Manager Tel: (604) 691-5520 Fax: (604) 691-5921 Westcoast Gas Services Inc. 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