Fepruary 1, 2005

THE CADRE @ 7

The Guardian Shows No Class in Attack on

Nick Stewart News Editor

In today’s world of a cruel media, many Islanders regard The Guardian to be a refreshing break from an insensitive and harsh central

Canadian media. However, last Tuesday’s editorial showed that nothing could be further from the truth.

The editorial ripped into 17 year old hockey sensation Sidney Crosby for not playing in Rimouski’s game in Charlottetown two weeks ago despite playing extremely well a few days later. It questioned whether Crosby was in fact injured despite the fact that he pulled out of one of the most high profile hockey showcases of the year, the CHL Top Prospects Game, due to his back injury. Perhaps the author of the editorial should learn the definition ofa day-to-day sports injury. Then the editorial said if he was injured he still should have showed up so fans could see him in the flesh and get his autograph.

All the accusations made in the editorial, that Crosby did not play because he wanted rest, he was promised time off, or was upset at how the Rocket played him - all of these are unproven theories with no basis of truth. The author accused Crosby of putting himself before his team, but how would he have helped his team if he played hurt and aggravated his injury in a relatively meaningless game, leaving his team without their star player for the playoffs?

Regarding the demand that Crosby he was hurt he should show up anyway, The Guardian should remember one thing. Crosby is still just a kid, and this kid is always under extraordinary pressure. He is a 17 years old, and unlike most every person

Crosby

his age, he is constantly away from his family and friends. He was injured and had a chance to spend some quality time with these friends and family he seldom ever sees. Most would sympathize with the kid, but not the Guardian, which demands he leave his home to come to Charlottetown to attend a game he is not even

- participating in. Even more audaciously,

the Guardian demands this after he played a game in Charlottetown in November following the death of his grandfather, for which he was reportedly taunted by some of the PEI Rocket. The Guardian only mentions this noble gesture in a classless attack as it claims Crosby has now destroyed the respect he earned in November by playing through personal tragedy. Ifthe Guardian wants to practice

- this type of ruthless attack journalism, -

fine - but it could at least be consistent with it. It is interesting to note that the Guardian would rip a teenager for not showing up for all fans to see him the flesh and to sign autographs while it would defend a grown man, Brad Richards, from media attacks against his decision not to sign autographs during his Stanley Cup celebrations in

Continued on page 16

The Unbelievable Adventures of City Council

Matt Campbell Reporter

Welcome to the first installment of the Unbelievable Adventures of City Council. Just three weeks ago Charlottetown City Council put forward a resolution to bring both the NHL owners and players together to end the NHL lockout. You know the league is just waiting for an announcement from Charlottetown’s city council. That’ ll just scare them back into talks. Idiots.

Now, I don’t want to make the entire council seem like they’re not taking their jobs seriously. In fact, some are working quite hard including District councillor Mitch Tweel who brought forward the resolution.

As reported in the Journal Pioneer, Tweel had noted that PEI, the smallest province in Canada, was the site for the birth of the nation, so by his logic, should it not also be where the nation’s sport gets its inspiration to get back on the ice? This logic also somehow draws a similarity between an 1867 conference of our founding fathers and 2005 labour discussions of the National Hockey League and NHLPA.

Iemailed Councillor Tweel, but he must have been swamped with work on bringing the NHL back because he had not replied in four days. Kim Devine, however, managed to reply within only hours of my initial questions.

Devine was the only councillor who voted against the resolution. Yes,

the only councillor who deemed it an inappropriate issue for Charlottetown City Council to deal with. And I thought she was just a left-wing activist. It’s clear that sitting on a board of city councillors even Mr. Binns himself would look like a Commie next to these jokers. Rumours have spread that it was because Devine enjoyed “Movie Night in Canada” with Ron McLean or she was expressing her enjoyment at being able to watch the CBC News at its regular Saturday night timeslot causing her to vote against the resolution, but upon contact with Devine she had something different, and perhaps more relevant to say,”I voted against it because it had nothing to do with City business and I don’t think we should be spending time on issues not related to Charlottetown.”

There you have it. So, if your councillor is Mitch Tweel, and you aren’t infactuated with his mullet, I suggest voicing your opinion in the next ~ election. Yes, I’m talking to you Ward 4.

Tweel’s leisure time is spent enjoying weight training, football, and music. Go figure.