IF you’ve been veading
my column in recent
weeks, you'll know
that I have a new job
on a CBC show called
In the Company of
Womes.

Onc of the best things
about my riew job is chat I
get to meet (and interview)
al kinds of interesting peo-

ie.

And they're not all
women. .

Some of thein are even
cute guys.

: Just last weekend I had
* the great thrill of interview-
‘ing one of Canada’s true

-vheroes, fy

_ Now, don’t ge jumping
_ to.conclusions alsiic who it
Neither Gordon. “vilson
nor: Glen Clark was available
when we needed them.

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ook in the book for a gui ito resta
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Nope, this was a real
hero. .

A guy with enormous
stature, although he’s not
tall.

A guy with tremendous
beauty, but without tradi-
tional good looks. .

This is a guy with guts
and passion and a firm belief
in himself.

Ladies and gentlemen, I
had the great honour of
interviewing the one, the
only, Elvis Szojko.

_In the firm and most def-

Da

urants, incl ud

initely fir flesh.

I must sound like [’m
gushing, and it’s really nor
like me to be such a groupie.

I'm not even a figure
skating fan; hell, I can barely
skate myself.

Not my fault, I grew up
in Prince Rupert at a time
where the only form of
recreation was 2 community
swimming pool, and yes, (’m
a very good swimmer.

But in our small north-
western town there was no
recreation centre and cer-
tainly no skating rink.

In fact, the only experi-

. ence I had on the ice was

when the local lake froze
over.

Oliver Lake was on the
smallish side (my snobby rel-
atives from the big city
called it Oliver Puddle)
about 10 miles from town,
out along Highway 15.

ing detailed menus and. a
source”

When it actually got cold
enough, mobs of Rupert
folks drove out to Oliver
Lake to flail aronnd on the
cracked and lumpy ice.

The ice never lasted long
enough for anyone to get
stcady on their skates.

But we had a heap of fun.

So I have no history with
the sport of figure skating.

But I've watched the tele-
vision coverage of major
championships, and I know

that it’s a beautiful thing to’

see, and that the people who
perform are incredible ath-
letes.
OK, so I was mildly inter-
ested in interviewing Elvis °
Stojko. ;

‘The first thing I wanted
to know about him was why
he sports that lame hairdo.

You know, the one where
the hair is all long and Billy-
Ray-Cyrus-like at the back, .

ee OE ed

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but short on the top.

Pve never liked that style,
not on any man alive that s
worn it.

But you know what?
After talking to Elvis, I don’t
think it’s so bad.

The guy has been
pestered to death to change
it, to conform, not only with
his hairstyle but with his
skating style (which old-style
figure skating officials claim
is too macho, not ballet-like
cnough), and I totally relate
to his refusal to change who"
he is. ;

People have been telling
me for three years now that:
I should dye my gray hair, -
and if you think I’m going
to bow to their wishes, you

‘can just forget it. .

You know what else I like .
about Elvis? He loves and

respects his mom. .
She’s stood behind him -

from day one, driven him to *

and from the rink for al! his
practice sessions, hung ~

_around happily to watch —_.
him, (I go to Srarbucks after.

I’ve dropped my kids off for’

hockey), taught him to work . :
hard, to believe in himself, * .

and to follow his dreams.

Iu fect, Elvis’ mom still”.

sews all his costumes. :

-.. to, he’s bound to’

And he’s no sissy, our
Canadian Elvis.

In his spare time, he rides
dirt bikes, does martial arts,.
and just hangs out with his -
friends, .

So who is Elvis Stojko?

He’s a lovely young man
with tremendous drive and
abundant ralent. .

He’s a role mode! for kids ‘-
today, in that he has been’.
incredibly successful sticking -
to his guns in a sport that
didn’t always treat him fairly. ...

He’s thoughtful and...

_ articulate, amazingly mature :

for his 27 years, and clearly
comfortable with who he 1;

’ Thave no doubt that
whatever he puts his mind:*~. :
o excel at it.”
_ Just the. same, ‘you won’
catch me hurling flowers ‘and
my underwear (yes, it hap:

_pened to Elvis once) onto
- the ice in an-emotional fre

zy when his skating show.

' the hockey officials whe

have the thankless task'o
refereeing my kids’ hockey.

Mrs. Stojko stitches every . _

single thing Master Stojko
performs in, ‘with love and.

‘devotion and no. small

amount of effort: 0
If you heard:how Elvis"

cry.

* Sept 231d.$5:25 dro

talks about his mom, you'd: ~

“pened to have'a free’nigh
‘and a pair underwear .to.
: spare, well; you never know.

idaig