ports sine Bob Mackin News Reporter SPONTANEITY is the magnet that attracts peuple to sports. When a game starts, vou never know how it will end. Thaz’s also the premise behind TSN’s popular Off The Record. Michael Landsberg mod- erates the daily 30-minute round table show which pits celebrity guests in spirited dis- cussion about the latest, most controversial sports headlines. Like ABC-TV’s fate night round table — Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Off The Record’s success or failure hinges on the willingness of guests to escape from their comfort zone, Landsberg * said. “We sit down and we tr’ to match up guests that will give us conflict,” Landsberg said last month after « taping in Vancouver. “Sometimes you think someone is going to be quite strong and militant, fighting for an athlete’s rights, but they come out! and don’t do that atall, -**-" “Our show works best when you get three different people that are never going to see each other again, never met each other and have very little in common except an interest in the topics.” Since the Toronto-based show debuted Sept. 8, 1997, guests have included sprinter Donovan Bailey, skater Elvis Stake, race car driver Greg Moore, actor Jackie Chan, CBC news anchor — Peter Mansbridge and film director David Cronenberg. “It used to be we spent all our time trying to get A-plus guests. ‘We've got to get (pitcher) Roger Clemens!” Then you get Clemens on the show and realize he doesn’t have that much to say. “Often our best shows are not with the highest profile people, because those people tend to be the most protective of their environment. They don’t want to piss anybody off, everybody our there is a potential sponsor or employ- er” Guests like CAW president Buzz Hargrove and WWF wrestler Val Venis were the ideal match because they’re from opposite ends of the political spectrum, Landsberg said. “You had two people that didn’t have any similar belicfs, they couldn’t agree on any- thing, but there was respect on that show.” Boxing's Mike Tyson and Don King and_basketball’s Larrell Sprewell are among Landsberg’s dream guests, because the controversial fig- ures already dominate discus- sion on the show. Prime Minister Jean Chretien is also on Landsberg’s wish list. “It would draw more Eat your way to new friendships Deana Lancaster News Reporter deana@nsnews.com FOR foodies looking to experience the most delicious dining Vancouver has to offer, finding a date can be 2 tedious process. A West Vancouver womait has. created a solution for the croblem:. The Vancouver Dinner Club. . Janice Haakons had lon: thought there shouid be a better way to meet people - than -hanging out: in bars, using the personal ads‘or try- ing to strike up.a conversation with a stranger in the super- market, et :So she came’ up with the concept of the dinner ‘club — _ members pay a- membership fee, then a. reservation fee, which guarantees them reser- dpes vations at ‘six club dinners, held every Saturday night at selected restaurants through- out the city. Locations are chosen from the list of restau- rants named in the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards — hot spots like Lumiere, Le Crocodile, Diva at the Met and Chartwell. After six dinners members will have had the opportunity to mect 42 new people. Haakons says the club is not meant to be a dating or matchmaking. service, but a social club with a love of excellent food as a common interest for its members. She adds that every effort is made to seat. compatible mixed groups of eight togethev. Until the end of June, the membership fee in The Vancouver Dinner Club is half-price, or $100. For information, call the Hotline at 913-2DiN (2346). Wi viewers, but Chretien may not live up te the hype, he con- cedes. “Having the PM on would be a chrill, but would it make tor good TV? Is he going to come out and say hockey players are overpaid? Probably not. If you want everyone to like you, don’t come on our show.” Off The Record airs daily at 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and midnight. It draws about a million view- ers a week and TSN claims it’s the most popular Canadian talk show with men. “In terms of the artitude, this is a wonderful leap by TSN inro somewhat contro- versial waters,” said Landsberg, who has been with TSN since its 1984 debut. “How many other broad- casters are willing to do it remains to be scen. This is not a boastful thing to say, but it’s an interpretation of what the viewer wants to see. And the viewer wants candid talk. “The viewer will accept biased, cliche driven talk when it comes to a live event, because the event is the thing, but when it comes to talk | think the viewer wants to cut through the crap and feel as though he or she’s not being taken. “Hopefully we do that and hopefully others will too. “Hey, wait a sec, why do] want others to do it? We don’t want them to!” 141 West [4th Street Phone: 983-7316 Friday, June 18, 1999 ~ North Shore News — 33 photo TSN MICHAEL Landsberg has been with TSN since its 1984 debut. He moderates the popular and sometimes controversial chat show Off The Record. District of West Vancouver 750 i7th Street Phone: 925-7032 District of North Vancouver 355 West Queens Road Phone: 990-2488/990-2280 PROPERTY TAXES DUE MONDAY, JULY 5, 1999 Notice of the current real property tax levies have now been mailed. Any property owner who has not received a tax statement should immediately contact their municipal tax office. : All owners are responsible for payment of the 1999 taxes regardless of whether or not a tax notice is received. New owners should ensure taxes are paid by themselves or the previous owner. If there is any doubt, check with your municipality. . PAYMENT . : ; Taxes may be paid at your Municipal Hall and also at most financial institutions. ¥ Post-dated cheques received in our offices prior to July 5, 1999 are acceptable and will be pracessed by the bank on the date that you have indicated. Taxpayers are encouraged to deliver or mail payments as soon as possible to ensure payment is received on time. If a cheque is returned by your bank, the payment will not be considered received and a $20 returned cheque charge will be levied in the District of North Vancouver, and a $15 charge in the City of North Vancouver and the District of West Vancouver. Application for the Provincia! Hon:e Owner Grant may be made whether or not the current taxes are paid. it is to your advantage to submit the “application” before the tax penalty date of July 5, 1999 to avoid penalty additions on the grant amount. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HOME OWNER GRANT APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL FOR EACH AND EVERY YEAR IN ‘WHICH YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT. PENALTIES A 5% penalty will be added to the current taxcs unpaid after Monday, July 5, 1999. A further 5% penalty will be added to the current taxes remaining vapaid after September 2, 1999. TAX DEFERMENT : A home owner 60 years or over, a widow or a widower, or persons with disabilities as defined in the Diszbility Benefits Programm Act, may be able to defer their taxes on their principal residence through a program whereby the Provincial Government makes payments on their behalf. Forms or further information may be obtained through your municipal tax office. ; This doesnt mean you can get into 20% more accidents. 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