B4 - Wednesday, December 17, 1980 - North Shore News

EEE sport

them.

The most recent piece of
‘wonderlandism’ involves the
Ottawa Rough Riders and
their attempts to light the
fuse of their self-destruct
bomb.

Once again the Riders are
going to get md of Frank
Clair, the vice president and
director of player personnel.

Perhaps the Ottawa of-
ficials are taking their lead
from the those _ political
wizards who work in the
building with the pointed
roof in that city, but
regardiess, dumping Clair
makes about as much sense
as self-amputation with a
rusty saw.

Frank Clair has probably
done more for football in
Canada than any other per-
son since the early 50’s.

This man was the last
coach to lead the broken-
oared Toronto Argonauts to
the Grey Cup three years in
a row way back at the mid-
way point of the century.

After. that somewhat
magical event he went to the
Rough Riders were he serv-
ed as coach from 1956 to ‘69
and then took over the
general manager's role until
a partial butcher job took
him out of that role into the
vice-presidency and director
of player development two
years ago.

It was two years ago that
Jake Dunlop. a_ former
mediocre player from the
late 40's who 1s a lawyer and
an after dinner speaker on
the sports rubber chicken
carcuit decided he wanted to
be the man who pulled the
strings

Since he and his cromes
held control of the Riders.
Clair was
dumped

unceremomeously
and Dunlop, who
had not been involved to any

side-lines

by Andy Fraser

The death wish boys

It’s been said before, but recent events
make it bear repeating: Pro Sport exists in
spite of the people at the top, not because of

degree in dealings with
players, took over asG.M.

There was great hue and
cry from football people
which allowed Clair, who
was 61 at the time, to remain
in the background = ap
parently to do most of the
Dunlop's work.

And now the grand finale
chop. “He didn’t give any
reasons,” said Clair of team
owner Alan Waters who ts
dumping the football expert,
“but I'm disappointed =!

wasn't retained with the
club.”

Clair knows more about
football, both at the top

levels and on the field than
any of the current crop of
hatchet men in the capital,
or in the rest of the country
for that matter.

His talents have been
tested over the years in all
posiions, and he has not
been found wanting.

An Amenican citizen who
came to Canada and stayed,
Clau was one of the few peo-
ple left in the Canadian game
who gave i any respectabili-
ty whatsoever.

Since Clair was dumped as
G.M. the fortunes of the
Riders have been dismal! al
best with only the Argos in
the East and the Roughnders
in the West to keep them
from total obscunty The
final blow from team owners
will not help the game al any
level

This type of action ts not
unheard of ino the Cl
There seems to be this wish
by the purveyors of
medhocnmty to pet md of any
around them who
more knowledgeable

It has happened at the ex
ccutive level, Che managerial
level, and at the officiating
level,

may be

and there can be neo

CLASSIFIED ANSWERING
SERVICE

Youte busy Youre away trom the office a hot You css
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What intonation the caller is after Where he on ste
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BECAUSE
REALTORS CAN'T BE
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ONCE

question about the quality of
football in Canada today.
Mind you, football does
not stand alone. There are
the wizards of the NASL who
wanted to widen the posts
and make them thicker for

adidas =4-

new balance

more scomng and better re-
bounds.

And, lord help us, they
were serious.

Professional sport is not in
good health. And the sad
part is that the fault ts not
with the players, but with
Management and owners.

SKATING FANS and
those who love grace and
beauty will be saddened to
hear that Irma Rodnina and
Alexander Zaitsev are hang-
ing up their blades after one
of the most illustrious
careers in the history of the
sport.

The Soviet pair were vir-

15

Liberator, Racquette, Daybreak, Bruin,
Franchise, Yankee, All Courts

TRX Trainer, Marathon Trainer

420, 620

tually unbeatable in pairs
competition throughout the

world.

After reigning supreme for
a number of years, Rodnina
split with her former partner
after a failed romance, and
teamed up with Zaitsev,
whom she eventually mar-
ned.

Over the years, the pair
added new dimensions of
grace and consistency to the
sport.

It will be a long time
before a pair of this calibre
can again capture ghe
skating world and hold it a
willing captive for as many
years as did Rodnina and
Zaitsev.

ratt

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