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MeClelland - THE KORDIC LEGACY ' As August qui gives way 10 September, one of the rites of autumn is the retum t0 school for millions of Canadian youngsters. Another time honoured rite at this time of disc around arenas from St. John's to the tip of Vancouver Island. For many of those kids who are four, five and six years of age, it will be their first introduc- tion 10 organized hockey. And we are not stretching the truth one bit in saying that for more than a few parents, their vision for that little guy with the wobbly ankles and hockey jersey below the knees is 10 someday see him go down the wing at the Gardens and rifle a slap shot 10 win game seven for the Stanley Such is the nature of this national obsession that Canada has with this sport. There are very few "hockey parents" who have not at least once harboured a wish to see "Johnny" play in the NHL. 'This thread continues with those who are con- nected with hockey: league execs, coaches, managers, scouts and so on. What coach doesn't beam with pride when a kid he men- tored as a nine-year old grows up and makes the big time. "Taught him the basics, I did, and look where he isnow." But while all this hockey activity kicks into gear at this time of year, parents, coaches, convenors and so on ought to take some time 10 reflect on the legacy that John Kordic left behind. John Kardic, hardly a household name in the more than a houschold name in the hockey by every team in the NHL to settle matters with his fists rather than his skating, passing or goal scoring ability. On August 8 he checked into a Quebec City "motel room, caused a distarbance, and had 0 be subdued by police. Three hours later, Kordic, 27 years of age, was dead of heat and lung failure. His is a tragic story of a troubled young man unable to handle the pressure of winning and keeping a job in the NHL, or the pressure of the relative wealth that comes with it. His is a story that everyone connected with hockey must take notice; from NHL board rooms 10 those teaching the four and five-year olds who will lace on skates for this first time ever in a week or two. The night John Kordic died, he weighed 248 pounds, about 30 pounds over his normal playing weight. His arms were so large, the police were unable to get cuffs on him. Reports say he was 50 desperate to get back into big time hockey, he was taking large doses of steroids to bulk up with muscle, making his fists more lethal and adding to his "marketability" as an enforcer. The combina tn of steroids, booze and coke, was his igh to the morgue. i's dest i playithey san enforcer was the direct cause of his death is open for debate. Bu obviously there is a con- nection. This is more than a story of a young man who couldn't handle fortune and pressure and tumed to booze and drugs for escape. The Kordic legacy cuts to the very heart of the sport: if there was no need for "enforcers," would John Kordic still be alive? Chances are yes. But chances are even greater that he never would have seen a moment in the NHL. Wayne Gretzky, who is to skills what Kordic world. was 10 enforcement, wants fighting banned Buton August 8, the name John Kordic from hockey. There are many who dis-agree. jumped from being a foot-note in the sports But the demise of John Kordic is reason section to front page news. enough why the sport must shed fighting and * Sadly, he attracted much more attention with ~~ enforcing at all levels. his death than he did with his brief but colour- How many more desperate John Kordics are © ful tenure with scveral teams in the National ~~ out there, prepared to "do what it takes" to Hockey League. fight their way to the NHL? His penalty minutes always ran to three dig- ~~ How many are just five years old today? its, while his seasonal points production could Can fighting be banned from hockey? Of be counted on one's fingers. He was traded ~~ course it can. Any rule can be made and any i llegedly throw rule can be enforced. Will this eliminate the once afer alleg ng an ash tray at the head of Pat Bums, * s coach in Montreal. In the last couple of years, when his name did come up it was in connection 'with has battle with alcohol and cocaine, or as need for enforcers? Surely, it will. Will the sport be better off? I think so. And as parents. coaches, managers, convenors and NHL owners go about the time honoured rite of getting ready for a new season, they ought to be thinking of how and why John Kordic died. Reader upset over poor response to by-law enforcement To the Editor: I would like all of Scugog Township to know that if you are a good guy and abide by all the by-laws, you can figure on get- ting shafted when the bad guy comes Two ago, a house was put up at View Lake without any permits. We d this to the building i who in turn put a stop work order on 1 the house. This lasted just long enough until the inspector was out of sight. A septic system was also put in the grousd and the health inspector was called. Not only was this done, there was not enough land for a rear He applied for a variance which we d but the paid no attention to the neighbours and gave him the variance even though they new the house had been erected without any permits. We, the neighbours, appealed their decision to the Ontario Municipal Board, which also cost us money. We received the decision August 17, and guess what- the variance was granted. Both families on each side of this house are planning to sell and I ask you, why should we lose good neighbours who have lived here 20 years and have done nothing wrong, and we have 10 set- tle for a person like this? I have been very upset with the sys- tem from the outset as to why this was allowed to go so far. This house should have been torn down and the builder made to get all the proper permits before starting to build. We pay such high taxes and get these kinds of results. Yours truly, Dianne Wilson, View Lake Banker? Scholar? Gentleman farmer? Chairman? Tailor? Gambler? Pieman? Doctor? Vet? Do you know who this gentle- men might be? If you can identify this picture, please call the Scugog Shores Museum at 985-3589. Sherlyn Ih Metcalf. She was born and raised in Port Perry and lived here til her husband "dragged" her off to a stone farm house on 99 Acres outside of Bethany. Port Perry is "home" though, and worth the daily drive to work. Sherilyn is an AN and has worked at the medical centre for 18 years. She is the mother of 4 daugh- ters ranging from 10 to 18 1/2. (You'd never know itl) Sewing and folk art keep Sherilyn busy when home renova- tions do not. Small town Friendliness and family ties are values Sherllyn treasures. ham it up with the best of them! Naomi and Chad, beastly and the beefcake! Twins, Naomi and Chad of Seagrave, at their photogenic best. They prove they can