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J Brad Kelly Green Gaels ain't what they used to be Call it a state of mind or maturity. You pick. As I sit to form the foundation for this column, an old kids' tune-keeps rolling through my head. " , 'The old gray mare just ain't:what she used to be, ain't what she used to be, ain't what she used to be. The old gray mare...' OK, enough already. You get the idea. Now, take the same song, insert Green Gaels for old gray mare, and you see where this is going. I know. I know. It isn't nice, and I'm likely to get a few unpleasant stares at my next visit to the Recreation Complex Complex to watch them play. But it's the truth. I said as much last week to a couple of regulars as we stood leaning against a rail watching the Green Gaels try to keep pace with the Barrie Tornado. And while they, are die-hard fans, the deadpanned look on their faces'and slow, deliberate nod of agreement said what everyone was thinking but didn't want to admit. It's easy to judge this year's crop against previous teams because the Green Gaels organization has spoiled lacrosse fans more often than not since landing in Clarington back in 1997. It took just one season to win a Founder's Founder's Cup Canadian championship, in 1998, and subsequent titles have followed followed every other year in 2000, 2002 and 2004. If the alternating pattern was to persist, this is supposed to be their year. Supposed to be. It just doesn't seem to be there this season. An 11-9 loss in Oakville on Friday night leaves the Green Gaels perilously close to being just a .500 team at 7-5. They have already eclipsed last year's loss total of just four (16-4 overall), and are closer to being in last place (four points ahead of Huntsville) in the Mid East than they are to being first (10 points back of Barrie). It's a position that is uncommon for the franchise franchise 12 games into a 20-game regular season. And speaking of uncommon. There is a loss to Huntsville earlier this season. And not just a loss, but a 10-1 drubbing that makes any former player cringe every time they hear it. It's a new coaching staff and management management team at the helm of the Jr. B club this season, but there is no finger pointing to assign blame. The talent on the floor is good, but not great. The team is competitive as evidenced by a pair of two goal setbacks to both Barrie and Oakville, who have a combined combined record of 24-1, but the losses signify that the Green Gaels just aren't good enough to be considered among the league's elite this season. It's a perch they have often occupied over the years, but have been knocked off this season, Brad Kelly's column appears every third Wednesday. E-mail: hkelly@durh(imregioiucom Celia Klemenz / Metroland Durham Region Media Group Bowmanville resident Doug Brown, recently elected into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, spends time with Personal Hanover, one of the horses in his stable, at William G. James Stables in Blackstock. place in the show Veteran harness driver elected to Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame BY BRAD KELLY Sports editor BOWMANVILLE - As a harness driver, Doug Brown has taken a back seat, so to speak, for much of his impressive impressive career. That will officially change on Aug. 24. The illustrious career of the Bowmanville Bowmanville resident will be front and centre on that date in Mississauga, when Brown will get his due by being elected into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The numbers are there to warrant such an honour, and so is the humble attitude. attitude. "They called and told me I was in, but asked me not to tell anyone until they made the announcement the next day," he says of getting the news. And did he keep his vow of secrecy? "I did, but my wife (Nancy) told some people," he adds with a chuckle. The 50-ycar-old has come a long way since entering the winner's circle for the first time as a 17-year-old driver at Kawartha Downs. Since that initial victory, victory, he has visited the winner's circle of race tracks throughout North America and the world, sitting in the sulky for more than 8,100 victories and surpassing $86-million in career driver earnings. Milestones that are both impressive and hard to fathom, requiring luck, good fortune, and skill along the way. "Holy cow. From cleaning stalls to this day seems like no time at all," says Brown in looking back over his career that is virtually unmatched in the; business. business. "Everything has gone by so fast, From that point in my life in the early days to getting into the Hall of Fame, it's incredible to find out." Every line you read in his bio lists another of his record setting performances performances that have become a common occurrence occurrence through the span of his career. Among the highlights: • Topping the Ontario Jockey Club's (OJC) drivers' charts for 10 consecutive years from 1988 through 1997; • Holding the record for most wins on the circuit in a year at 417 in 1997; • Canadian Driver of the Year eight times; • OJC Driver of the year 10 times'; • Represented Canada at the World Driving Championships held in Australia Australia and New Zealand; and • Elected to the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. He has been just as proficient off the track as on over the years. Some of the accolades include winning the Messenger Messenger Award for outstanding accomplishments accomplishments and meritorious service to the sport (1997), raising $50,000 for the Sheldon Kennedy Foundation (1998), and Service to Youth recipient for helping helping young adults get started in harness racing (1998). It has been a great ride, but some have been more memorable than others. For instance, a win aboard Town Pro in the early 1990's during a Breeder's Cup race ranks among the best. The worst? Well, that one may have been a few weeks back at Kawartha Downs when his horse fell to the track after hitting the wheel of the horse in front of him. "They thought it was a broken heel, but it turned out to be a broken ankle, foot and heel," he says of his injuries, which required doctors to insert plates and screws to fix the damage. Ordered to keep his weight off the leg for three months, he gets around in a wheelchair at the William G. James Stable in Black- stock, where he spends much of his time. He is more involved in the training aspect of the sport these days, noting it's, "Fun and not quite as pressure filled as driving." As for the remainder of his career, Brown is quick to point out that "it's not over" despite the Hall of Fame status. "There's still lots out there, especially with the training. For me, it's rewarding getting a yearling to the races, whether I drive it myself or just go to watch. It's a nice reward to get them to the races knowing you had a big hand in bringing them along since they were a baby." Another entry into the Hall of Fame with local connections is the late Steve Stavro, who is among the 11 inductees. Stavro, a former owner of the Toronto Toronto Maple Leafs and Knob Hill Farms grocery chain, will be inducted in the builder's category. Williams re-writes Redmen record book BY SHAW* CAYLEY Staff Writer PET ERBOROUGH --' The Brooklin Redmen may have come up short in their quest for a win on Saturday, but it was still a game to remember for sniper Shawn Williams. Almost 10 minutes into the contest, Williams fired home a power-play marker and in the process made a little history in, passing Redmen great Tom Wieggitt and setting a new club record for earner goals with 458. Williams would go on to add numlrcrs 459 and 460 in 9-8 road loss to the Peterborough Peterborough Lakers. "Shawn's accomplishment certainly would have been celebrated a little mom with a win," said Redmen GM Barry Johnson Johnson with a slight chuckle, "Even still, it's an amazing accomplishment for Shawn and 1 am sum he'll keep on adding to the list," As for the game itself, the Redmen did a great job just to slay close to the Lakers, who were last season's Mann Cup finalists, finalists, and won the title the season before, Missing eight regulars (Gavin Front, Gee Nash, Ashton McLean, Derek Suddons, Scott Campbell, Dave Campbell, Stephen Hoar and A.J. Shannon), on paper, perhaps the score should have favoured the Lakers a little more. However, despite having to fill a good portion of the roster with call-ups, Johnson wasn't making any excuses for the loss, which dropped his club's record to 1-3. Bowmanville resident Jason Crosbie had three points, including a goal for the Lakers, Lakers, who sit atop the Major Series standings standings at 4-0. Tomorrow night the Redmen ( 1 -3) are on the road to face the Barrie Lakeshoms. Warriors remain perfect Schedule expected to get tougher BY SHAW* CAYLEY Staff Writer BURLINGTON - Jeff McComb is- thrilled to see his Whitby Warriors off to a blazing start in the Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. A league. However, he isn't putting too much stock into the team's 7-0 record just yet. "Our schedule has been pretty light so far," he said Tuesday morning, a day after his club bested the winless Burlington Burlington Chiefs 17-10 to remain unblemished. "Things are going to pick up for us starting starting on Friday. We'll see where we are at in a couple weeks. "We're pretty sure we aren't going to go undefeated all season long," he adds. "That is pretty tough to do in Jr. A lacrosse." Their toughest test of the season awaits them this weekend. Friday they host the Peterborough Lakers at 8 p.m, then on Sunday, they head up Hwy. 115 for a return match with the club that eliminated eliminated them from the playoffs last year. "Peterborough and Whitby always have such a great rivalry no matter the sport," said McComb. "In particular we've always had some great games, they put us out last year, and we did the same to them a year earlier. We know this weekend is going to be a big test for us." . The Lakers will look to take a little fmstration out on the Warriors as they are coming off only their second loss of the season last weekend, an 8-5 setback to Brampton. Still without star offensive threat Zack Greer, the Warriors supporting cast stepped up in a big way on Monday, and McComb will need them to do the same this weekend. Nick Cotter potted four goals, Kyle O'Brien had three, while Alex Henderson Henderson and Phil Mcllhone each had pair. Nick Carson, Jay Winder, Marc Jackson, Shane Sargent, Matt Savoie and Justin Fox all added one tally. Mcllhone led the assist parade with four, while O'Brien, Joel Weber, Nick Carson and Brad Levick each had three. NOTES: Last Friday, the Warriors downed the Toronto Beaches 11-9 on the strength of a five point night from Shane Sargent (2g, 3a). Kyle O'Brien added two goals and two helpers, while Brad Levick also had four points, including including a goal. Scoring singles were Ian Crashley, Nick Carson, Nick Cotter, Phil Mcllhone, Matt Savpie and Justin Fox. Late blast buries Dodgers HAMILTON - The Oshawa Dodgers let a winnable game slip away on Sunday in Hamilton. It was a classic pitcher's duel through seven innings between the Dodgers and the Thundcrbirds, however, one massive swing off the bat of Geoff Allen changed the complexion very quickly. In the bottom of the eighth, with two men aboard, Allen hammered an offering from Dodgers starter Adam Gamer over the outfield fence, breaking open a 1-1 tic and sending the Thundcrbirds in flight, en route to a 4-1 victory. The loss sends the Dodgers (3-8) back towards the basement of the Intercounty Baseball League standings, with only the 0-9 Stratford Nationals in their way. Despite the game changing blast in the eighth, Gamer (1-2) put together a respectable respectable performance, tossing seven and two- thirds innings and allowing only tire four runs. Save for a pair of hits each from Ken Calway and Brad -McConnachie, the Dodgers bats were held rather silent by Thundcrbirds hurler Doug Chrysler (2-1), who allowed only seven hits and struck out six in a complete ganre. Oir Saturday, the Dodgers were slated to host the Kitchener Panthers, however, inclement weather and poor field conditions conditions caused the game to Ire postponed. It will be made up as part of it doublclrcadcr when the Panthers visit on June 17. Tonight, the Dodgers have a stiff test awaiting in the powerhouse Toronto Maple Leafs (7-2), First pitch at Kinsmen Stadium Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m,