The Secrets Of Vancouver BC, Canada

The 2010 Olympic Joint

I’m not the only one thinking that our Olympic committee was smoking something…

Suzanne Reeves, the Vancouver organizing committee’s director of communications for the Olympic torch relay, dismissed the claims of the resemblance.

“It’s quite magical. Most people’s reactions are emotional,” she said.

Hmmm, Hmmm…

Seattle Times:

About that reefer-bished Vancouver Oly torch

We hate to delve into smut and cheap innuendo — leaping into it is more fun and profitable these days — but the subject can be avoided no longer.

More and more people seem to be agreeing with select Canadian potheads (pardon the redundancy) that the Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch, lying on its side, looks suspiciously like a big, fat doobie. As in, joint. Marijuana cigarette. Fill in your own nickname here.

Toronto Star:

Does Vancouver torch look like a joint?

Composed of stainless steel, aluminum and sheet moulding, the torch was designed to evoke snow, ice, skiing and skating, but to many, the metre-long white torch looks suspiciously like a marijuana joint, especially when lit.

The observation has become so common in this city that it’s hard to know who was the first to say, “Hey, doesn’t that look like …”

But the torch’s resemblance to British Columbia’s biggest cash crop was evident right away to Jodie Emery, editor of Cannabis Culture magazine.

“A lot of people come to Vancouver because it’s marijuana-friendly, so I think people who already enjoy a joint themselves will feel a little more kinship to the Olympics,” said Emery, who ran as a Green party candidate in the provincial election this month.

“I’m sure the organizers didn’t intend for it to look like a joint, but that’s what a lot of people are seeing.”

And of course, the CBC misses it completely:

2010 Olympic torch unveiled

The swooping design of the nearly one-metre long torch is meant to reflect the lines of a skier’s turns carved in the snow and the undulating beauty of Canada’s winter landscape, Olympic officials said.

The torch was engineered and designed by Olympic sponsor Bombardier to withstand the challenging conditions it will encounter along the 45,000-kilometre relay route through 1,000 communities, they said.

And our Vancouver Sun is always last to the party:

2010 Olympic torch unveiled

If every Olympic torch is supposed to say something about the country in which its Games are being held, then the torch for the Vancouver 2010 Games says cold, bright, expansive and snowy.

With a flourish befitting the unveiling of an art sculpture or a long-lost master, the organizers of the Vancouver Games revealed Thursday their concept of what an Olympic torch should be.

Inspired, Vanoc says, “by both the lines carved into the snow by skiers shushing down mountains and the undulating beauty of the snowy Canadian landscape“, the Vancouver torch is a long white and chrome staff utterly different from the racy blue curve of Turin, the red scroll of Beijing, and even the squat wood chrome cauldron of Calgary.

Me? I think it is perfectly fitting. Shut up and pass it along…

Canadian WWE Champ Test Found Dead

Andrew “Test” Martin, 33, has died at his Tampa home.

The former World Wrestling Entertainment champion was found dead at his apartment Friday night. Police say a neighbor reported that she could see into his apartment through a window and that Martin had appeared motionless for several hours.

Police say Martin was dead when they arrived, but there was no indication of foul play. A cause of death won’t be determined until after an autopsy.

From PW Torch

Jim Ross, who was formerly WWE’s VP of Talent Relations and hired Andrew “Test” Martin in the 1990s, said today that Martin was recovering from personal health issues prior to his death on Friday night.

Martin completed WWE’s rehab treatment after starting in August 2008 and he was in constant contact with WWE to follow-up on whether he was remaining healthy. Friday was a scheduled check-in date for Martin, Ross said.

“Since being released from the facility after successfully completing the program, Andrew had been doing well in his 12 Step AA program and was in contact with WWE with regular phone calls,” Ross said on jrsbarbq.com. “Ironically, Friday was the day for his regularly scheduled ‘touching base’ but when called his voice mail box was full.”

Ross said he spoke to Martin extensively at last year’s WrestleMania  in Florida and he did not see any outward signs of personal problems. Martin, who died at age 33, told Ross that he didn’t want to wrestle much longer and he was only taking dates on his terms.

“Andrew had always told me that he never wanted to wrestle past the age of 35 which was why he ‘listened to the lectures,” Ross said. “I honestly had never seen him happier.”

More on his personal challenges here.

Condolences here.

Is it me, or does it seem that Canadian WWE wrestlers seem to die tragic and young deaths…

In memory...

photo credit: debstarr913

That Other Tiger Woods Guy

Thankfully the real Great One is returning. And not a moment too soon.

I think it’s awesome,” Kenny Perry said Wednesday. “The economy is down. We need something to boost us up.”

Woods downplayed his role as “a stimulus package” for golf.

“This was the time to get back and play again.”

Woods, who is scheduled to play Australian Brendan Jones on Wednesday, cited not only recovery from knee surgery but also family concerns for the timing of his return.

I wanted to make sure the family was all good,” he said while admitting he might have come back earlier if not for the birth Feb. 8 of Charlie Axel Woods, the second child for him and wife Elin.

Welcome back Tiger…

photo credit: stevenjude

Now Hockey Fights Are Racist?

Of all the hockey fights I’ve watched, been in, or read of, this is a first:

Racism not a factor in Muslim hockey riot: official

BURNABY, B.C. — The president of the B.C. Muslim Sports Association has denied accusations that a recent riot at a ball-hockey tournament was sparked by racism.

“He played last year and nothing happened. You know how (rough) hockey can be – that is normal in hockey. The majority of the players were Sunni but there were a few non-Muslims and non-Sunnis.”

“It was just disgusting. They believe we are non-Muslim. At the end of the day, that is the cause.”

Why this would even be a press item is confusing… replace Muslim with Catholic and see how ridiculous it reads.

I knew when they allowed moms in the dressing room, hockey wouldn’t be the same. Imagine what religion will do to the game.

What Happens When The Ski Hill Goes Broke?

photo credit: Andre Charland

Seems like Intrawest, the owner of Whistler Blackcomb and 10 other ski resorts, is being hit hard as it struggles with $1.68 Billion in debt that comes due October 23rd.

The London-based Financial Times broke the story.

How this could impact the Olympics is unknown. Maybe we’ll end up owning the hills?

Why Didn’t We Get To Vote?

Is it just me or does the new HNC theme really suck?

Bagpipes? Why not a fiddle too…

I’ll be watching TSN from here on in (Except when Cherry is on).

Can You Say “Fore”?

photo credit: jalalspages

If you want to join the Vancouver Golf Club, you’ll need to speak English.

A few years ago they instituted the policy after prospective members – in particular East Asian immigrants – started applying with the help of translators.

“We ask them to go away and take language courses and reapply,” says the club’s general manager, Brent Gough.

The LPGA Tour plans also institute a policy that would suspend players who aren’t fluent in English.

The LPGA policy, which will sanction women golfers for not speaking English in pro-ams, trophy presentations and media interviews.

Human rights and legal experts agreed the Coquitlam golf club is likely within its legal rights to limit membership.

What next?

Requiring people to speak English as a requirement to immigrate to Canada?

I’m anxiously awaiting the response from French-Canadians…

Whew! Canada Gets a Couple of Medals

photo credit: Shutterhack

I was getting tired of email coming in each day…

email like:

Mongolians rejoice at first-ever Olympic gold

Then Canada finally snagged 1 of each today… vaulting us to 29th spot.

A couple more and we’ll pass Georgia if they are still a country by the end of next week.

Something is wrong with Canada’s Olympic program – at least from a return on investment basis.

I’ve heard that we are more of a Winter Olympic country – so why is Norway, Switzerland and even the Netherlands blowing us away.

Lets go Canada…