4- Wednesday, September 16, 1987 - North Shore News Bob Hunter @ strictly personal ®@ { WAS broken-hearted when Hulk Hogan failed to show up for his match in Vancouver. The big fella tore a mus- cle during training and couldn't make it. Just one torn muscle? Stopp- I ing Hulk? Wait a minute! Why didn't Hulk just reach for ‘something deep inside him” like the wrestling commentators are always talking about? After seeing the video of the big match between Hulk and Andre the Giant earlier this summer, I can’t believe thay my hero could be stopped by anything short of a nuclear strike, let alone one tiny torn muscle. Why, within seconds of the opening round, Hulk collapsed under the entire 900 pounds, or whatever it was, of Andre the Giant, and came within half a count of losing the match. He managed to throw Andre off at the last second, but poor Hulk was twitching like a shot buffalo, skinned alive. From the way he was grimacing and clut- ching his Jower spine, you could tell he was hurt real pad. Andre just Jumbered around, applying one awful punishing hold after another, things like a Japanese arm lock, a double Nelson hammerlock and finally the deadly bear hug from which no man has ever escaped. Andre the Giant, you may not tealize, has a fave exactly [ike Dave Barrett's. The difference is that he only allows himself a thin, cruel smile, never an actual laugh, even when stomping Hulk Hogan’s brains out. Hulk Hogan, in case you're not a close follower of the wrestl- ing genre, is the first wrestler to have his own kiddies’ cartoon series. In fact, Andre the Giant is even in it. What was really tragic about all this was that Andre had been on Hulk's team up until the day he fell under the influence of a Houses may replace WV. Van park meadows HOUSING MAY replace the green meadows of south Mosquito Park if a preliminary report by city engineers is approved by North Vancouver City Council. City engineer Alan Phillips recommended Monday the city allow housing construction on the park meadows, and reestablish the fields on city-owned land at 19th Street and Fell Avenue. Phillips said his original concept for the park’s development, which would have enhanced the existing park land, is flawed because it would encourage park users to cross Fell at uncontrolled intersec- tions jeopardizing safety. According to Phillips, Concept B (his latest proposal) would shift the park’s focus north to 19th, where a pedestrian signal could be installed without hindering traffic flow. But several aldermen disagreed with the recommendation. Ald. John Braithwaite said the city has ample housing and should not be considering parkland for that pur- pose. “I am not too concerned about the safety aspect,’’ Braithwaite added. ‘‘I think that can be resolved very well by the engineering department.” Braithwaite said both ends of the park should be developed as parkland. Ald. Elko Kroon said he thinks the meadows draw people into the park. ‘‘If we want pedestrians to cross at 19th we’re going to have to have something there to cross for,’” said Kroon. ‘With the visibility of the meadows it seems a more natural access to the park and we would not be spending thousands and thousands to develop something else.” A signalled intersection would cost $25,000 to install, said Phillips. Both proposals recommend upgrading the park to provide ten- nis courts, bike, walking and joge- ing trails, an informal skateboard area, and fields for team sports or casual games. Water and adven- ture playgrounds are also sug- gested. A public meeting at which the contents of the report will be displayed for comment is sched- uled for Sept. 24. Learn Italian! Evening courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced students Fall session: October 22 to December 17, 1987 Tuesday and Thursdays 7:30 te 9:00 p.m. For information and registration call 430-3337 ay & Regular $45 § with this coupon ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE SOCIETY 3075 Slocan Street Vancouver, B.C. V5M 3E4 Ul Set of Sculptured Nails ru of ptu a $30 ECIAL 922-1234 se. 610m. 30 L 1361 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, B.C. wicked promoter who whispered into Andre’s ear, no doubt while standing on a chair: ‘You could be the champ. You can bear Hulk.” There came a critical point in this ultimate battle between the Uitans when Andre was crushing the fife out of ffufk, whose eves closed and head savged and his arms went so limp. that when ihe referee litied one. a Hopped uselessty. When he tried the third and tinal time, Hulk's fingers trembl- ed with le. A triumph of fuman wilh over brute nature, Hulk Hegun stirred. Rebirth! Resur- rection! Asthem music. He managed to wiggle an arm loose from Andre's invincible hold. Once he had a fist up in the air he could signal for the fans to help him out by cheering mighti- ly. Psychic energy poured in from every direction. So mightily did they cheer, something like 400,000 of them, that the stadium) shook and trembled. This was the catalyst for Hulk to somehow find some- thing inside him that makes him the great American athlete that he is, as the commentators put it again. Miraculously, Hulk broke An- dre’s grip. In a flash, forgetting entirely his bad back, Hulk fired off a series of lightning-quick punches and = executed several dazzling ieaps. Whamo, Andre was down, like an avalanche. Hulk was on him. 4” pot Flowering Heather Plants res. si99 Save $5 IVY, PERIWINKLE, ST. JOHNS WORT COTONEASTER DAMERI — Reg. $1.89 : Ground Cover The count. all possible cdds, Cap? It was over! Against Hulk Hoan had held his title as the World Wrestling Federation champion, Andre was taken away ina cart, the fans pelting him with garbage. The crowd went mad. A rood time was had by afl. Millions upon millions of bucks changed hands, All of whieh is good. fam glad to be able to report that wrestling is better than ever. The sub-plots involving the various good guys and bad guys are More twisted and bizarre than you can tmugine. 1 find the use of chains and kKnuckledusters to strangle and pound each other cruelty to animals, pick? I hadn't watched wrestling for several years. | loved it as a kid, of course. It gave me my first stirrings of pubescent patriotism to watch Whipper Billy Watson apply The Sleeper to some bad guy or other. A chap | know in his 60s recalls being on the wrestling cir- cuit on the West Coust as a young man. He tells me that the fights were rigged even then so that the local guy would win in his home tows — always. It kept the customers happy. Made them come back again io cheer the local guy on. Some scripts never change. And why should they? You don’t mess with a winning formula. but why nit- ano Childrens ; S 9 99 : Our Reg Price #169 ’ Comparable to others at $2500 8 Suoe Facrory Outtet § Main & Mountain Huy. : North Van. 986-6566 NURSERIES & FLORIST un. YOUR NORTH SHORE Nuarseryland STORE Winter Pansies Bskt. of 6 Huge plants Daffodil dulbs — blooming size each, only Tulip Bulbs — Imported, top quality, each, only 10 314” 10 ;14” 3°9 12¢ 14¢ en more instore specials — while quantities last :. CORNER « KEITH « BEWICKE * MARINE Eo NORTH VAN 988-8082 * 988-6535 A MEMBER OF CANADA NURSERYLAND a STORE HOURS: Mon. thru Fri. 9am-6pm Sat. 9am-6pm Sundays & Holidays 9am-S5pm