Trivia: “Who had the first recorded hole-in-one? A) ‘Old’ Tom Morris B) ‘Young’ Tom Morris C) Willie Park D) Allan Robertson” Answer below.
Last week Josh Brown of the Waterloo Region Record published his list of Waterloo Region’s 25 most influential people in sport. There were only two golf mentions: Keith Baulk, who watches over the City of Kitchener’s two golf courses, and Al Kavanagh, the boss at GolfNorth.
We look forward to having Parmasters KW mentioned in next year and beyond!
You can find the article here. It’s also included, verbatim, below.
Power players
Meet the top 25 movers and shakers of the Waterloo Region sports world; they make things happen -- on the home front, across Canada and abroad
January 24, 2009
Josh Brown
RECORD STAFF
There is no shortage of talented sports minds in Waterloo Region. Today, The Record recognizes the Top 25.
They're Waterloo Region's power players in sport. Athletes, coaches, managers, behind-the-scenes folks and movers and shakers. People who have influence and create positive change. People who make a difference because of who they are and what they've accomplished.
About 50 names made our short list. Whittling it down was no easy job. The Record's sports team -- myself, Christine Rivet, Jeff Hicks, sports editor Al Coates and web editor Karlo Berkovich -- debated the merits of each candidate and the ranking order. Disagreements ensued. The conversations were lively and spirited.
To make the cut, finalists had to have clear ties to Waterloo Region. They had to be currently active in sport in some capacity and have legitimate influence in the sporting world. So, founding fathers and former greats were not considered. Neither were dedicated volunteers, which this area has in abundance.
In three cases, families or groups were lumped together because nominating one member did not seem fair to the rest of their clan.
Choosing top spot was the easiest task. After that, it was really challenging. But we feel this year's list is a great representation of the brightest, most active minds in local sport. And we look forward to seeing who might crack this stellar crop in years to come.
1. Jim Balsillie, co-CEO Research In Motion
It's no secret that the Waterloo billionaire has long coveted a National Hockey League team.
He has tried unsuccessfully to buy at least two -- the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators. And his name keeps popping up as a potential owner whenever news about a struggling club south of the border rears its head.
Balsillie's love for the game goes back to his childhood. He plays pickup hockey and follows the game closely. His reach goes far beyond that of a rich jock who wants to own an NHL team as a hobby. If, or more likely when, he succeeds, the purchase could mean a new arena for one lucky city in southern Ontario. Whether that's Toronto, Hamilton or Waterloo Region is anyone's guess.
One thing is clear: nobody has shaken up the hockey world more than Balsillie in recent years. His interest in owning a team has ruffled some feathers within the NHL's board of governors, inspired city councils to consider upgrading their facilities and excited hockey fans around the country.
Balsillie likes to win. He's a competitor. So don't expect this saga to end any time soon. And if you think he's got power now, wait until he actually owns a franchise.
2. Lennox Lewis, retired professional boxer
He's Waterloo Region's most famous athlete. Perhaps its most recognizable citizen, too.
And while he has been retired for five years, the former heavyweight champion of the world still packs a big punch in boxing circles.
Witness his efforts -- and those of former NHLer Scott Stevens -- to help boost the profile of the Hanson Avenue Athletics Complex in Kitchener. Lending his name to the new twin ice pad and boxing facility helped secure major funding for the project.
His legacy is so strong that his name continues to prop up a struggling pro boxing market. Talk of his comeback regularly surfaces as the sport still has not found a way to rekindle much excitement in its heavyweight division.
Despite stepping out of the ring, he still maintains a rabid following as evident by his appearance on the reality show The Apprentice, where he proved to be one of the most popular celebrities when contestants mingled with the public.
3. William Thompson, Skate Canada chief executive
The former Kitchener lawyer is head of Skate Canada after a long and distinguished career in the sport.
Thompson, a former teenage figure skater, went on to judge international competitions in his 20s and now runs the show. His duties include running major skating competitions, certifying coaches, developing Canada's top skaters, finding sponsors, securing television deals and delivering the CanSkate program to about 100,000 kids nationwide.
He is a true driving force in the sport and is generally credited with helping Canada get figure skating back to the popularity level it enjoyed during the Kurt Browning/Elvis Stojko era.
4. Steve Bienkowski, chief operating officer, Kitchener Rangers
The Waterloo resident is the brains behind the business side of the Rangers franchise.
There is no arguing the success of the team. On the ice, it's a regular force, save for the odd off-year, such as this one. Either way, the club finds ways to keep interest strong.
In 2007, the Rangers posted a franchise-record $1.057 million profit. Games are well attended, if not sold out, and the Rangers brand could be the strongest in the Ontario Hockey League, or the entire Canadian junior loop for that matter.
Bienkowski served as chair at last year's Memorial Cup and was instrumental in making the event a major success.
5. Barry MacLean, chief executive officer, First Wave Sports Marketing
If you're a professional Canadian soccer player, chances are you're represented by MacLean.
As Canada's first licensed soccer agent, he has worked his way up from a handful of clients to about 75 worldwide. His Waterloo-based First Wave Sports Marketing is growing rapidly and now has a full roster of players.
MacLean's connections are far-reaching and his company is responsible for hosting the Toronto FC public tryouts and luring top clubs -- such as Aston Villa -- to Toronto for friendly soccer matches.
A former player, MacLean coaches Laurier's women's team and is an assistant with the men's side. He has also lent his expertise to national and provincial soccer programs.
6. Steve Spott, Rangers GM and coach
He took over from longtime bench boss Peter DeBoer after last season and is now the main hockey man for Waterloo Region's top sports team.
And his resume isn't thin. He knows the game from his playing days at Colgate University and has spent almost 15 years coaching in the Ontario Hockey League, eight with the Rangers.
Spott is known as a solid recruiter and has played a key role in player development during his time in Kitchener. He has strong contacts throughout the league and has already begun the process of rebuilding the club.
He is on Hockey Canada's radar and helped coach the country's Under-18 team to a gold medal last year.
7. Jonathan Weatherdon, manager of media relations, National Hockey League Players' Association
As spokesperson for the National Hockey League Players' Association, Weatherdon was the union spokesperson during the last lockout.
The Grand River Collegiate graduate joined the association in 2000 and continues to be at the forefront of issues involving policy, suspensions and the collective bargaining agreement.
And while he may not be the head decision-maker, he certainly plays a role on how sensitive information will be released to the public. And in today's NHL, that's no easy task.
8. The Edgars, soccer player, coach
David Edgar is a defender for Newcastle United and one of three Canadians suiting up in the English Premier League. He was captain of Canada's Under-20 World Cup squad and is pegged as part of the future in the backfield for the national team's senior side.
Dad Ed, himself a former United keeper, quietly continues to be a major player on local soccer fields. He's helped countless players gain exposure by showcasing his travel teams abroad. Several of his former players are scattered around the world playing various levels of pro soccer.
9. Dean Boles, swim coach
He has been associated with the Region of Waterloo Swim Club for almost 30 years, first as a swimmer who trained alongside the legendary Victor Davis, and now as head coach.
During his reign, eight ROW swimmers have gone on to compete at the Olympics, including Keith Beavers and Jessica Tuomela, who raced in Beijing this past summer.
Boles also coaches Laurier's swim team and is well connected with Swim Ontario and Swimming Canada.
10. Rob Ducey, baseball scout and coach
The former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder is crafting quite a career on the diamond now that his playing days are over.
Ducey, who grew up in Cambridge, scouts teams affiliated with the American League's Central Division for the Jays and has been consulted regarding the feasibility of a Pacific Rim scouting department for the club.
He has also become a mainstay with the national program, going from the field to the bench, and was the hitting coach for Canada at the Beijing Olympics this past summer. He'll rejoin Canada in a coaching role for the World Baseball Classic in March.
11. Scott Walker, NHL hockey player
Walker is one of a handful of locals suiting up in the NHL. The veteran winger has forged a successful 14-year career with three different teams.
But it's his work within the NHLPA that makes the Cambridge native stand out. As a player rep for the Nashville Predators, he was right in the mix during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, attending meetings and acting as a liaison between the union and his club.
The 35-year-old, now in his third year with the Carolina Hurricanes, remains influential and his views are respected by those in the game.
12. Keith Baulk, director of enterprises, City of Kitchener
He oversees the Aud and Kitchener's other arenas and golf courses.
As director of enterprises, he's involved in landing and operating big sporting events such as the Memorial Cup and the women's hockey Four Nations Cup.
He's currently on a secondment out west, helping Vancouver prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He has been recruited as general manager of the UBC Thunderbird Arena -- the secondary hockey rink for the Games and the host arena for the sledge hockey competition in the Paralympics.
13. Ian McGough, assistant coach, Edmonton Rush
Nobody has their finger on the pulse when it comes to local lacrosse more than McGough.
The Kitchener coach has worked his way up from the grassroots level to the National Lacrosse League, where he currently holds a post as assistant skipper with the Edmonton Rush.
He has had stops with the K-W Braves and at the senior and major level in Ontario, developing countless stars along the way. It's only a matter of time before he's behind the bench as the main man with a NLL franchise.
14. Graham Snyder, hockey ambassador
Anything Snyder attaches his name to seems to end in success -- from his association as a player and general manager with the Elmira Sugar Kings to lending his expertise to Woolwich Township's bid to be the CBC's Hockeyville.
The entire family continues to be great ambassadors of the game as they keep the memory of son Dan alive. Last year, Snyder and wife LuAnn toured all 30 NHL cities to raise money for Elmira's new Dan Snyder Memorial Fund.
After Walter Gretzky, Snyder could be Canada's best-known hockey dad.
15. Scott Cherrey, NHL linesman
The Kitchener resident made the leap from working games in the Ontario and American Hockey Leagues to the big show about a year and a half ago and hasn't looked back.
At just 32 years old, the Drayton native is considered one of the rising stars in officiating. He went from calling Junior D games to the NHL in just five years.
16. John Fitzpatrick, owner Fitzpatrick Motorsports Inc.
A former stock car driver, Fitzpatrick is the most successful team owner on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (formerly CASCAR).
His impressive stable includes son J.R. -- the youngest-ever national champion -- and Don Thomson Jr., a multiple national champion. His Ayr-based team is fully equipped with a shop, trailers and several cars.
The successful businessman, who owns Cambridge Rigging among other companies, carries a lot of influence within the racing world nationwide.
17. Roman Hatashita, owner Hatashita International
He hails from one of Canada's most respected judo families and is a former Olympian and national team member.
His Hatashita International includes a martial arts facility and is also a worldwide supplier of mixed-martial-arts equipment.
His clients include the U.S. Army, Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency and his business generates over a million dollars annually.
The Hatashita International, named in honour of his family and held in Canada, is one of the world's largest annual judo tournaments.
18. Kelly VanderBeek, national skier
Raised in Kitchener, VanderBeek cut her teeth at Chicopee before racing on hills around the world. She has been a key part of the recent revival of Canada's ski program, winning two medals at World Cup events since late 2007.
At 26 years old, she's one of Canada's good bets to hit the podium at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next year.
VanderBeek, along with her women's alpine ski teammates, are active with Right to Play, an international charity that helps kids from disadvantaged areas in the world.
19. Martha Deacon, national mission team member
The Doon Public School principal has become one of Canada's go-to people for international sporting events.
The 50-year-old was named chef de mission for Canada's 2010 Commonwealth Games team in India and was in charge of transportation and logistics for the Canadian Olympic Committee this past summer in Beijing. She has been an apprentice coach at three Commonwealth Games and a mission team member at the 2007 Pan Am Games.
Deacon also carries weight in the badminton world, having been former president of Badminton Canada and a current board member for the Badminton World Federation.
20. The Vanderpools, boxing coaches
They're one of Kitchener's most famous boxing families. The Vanderpools helped put the area on the map in the ring and continue to develop Waterloo Region's reputation as a boxing hotbed by developing and training up-and-coming pugilists.
Though brothers Syd and Fitz are retired, they both wield much respect in boxing circles. Syd runs Vanderpool Training out of Game Day Fitness in Kitchener and has a roster of professional athletes on his client list. Fitz continues to mentor youngsters through his Whip Boxing Academy.
21. Al Kavanagh, president-CEO GolfNorth Properties Inc.
The Conestogo company owns and/or runs 18 golf courses. Most are in the area, but the company's profile is beginning to spread around Ontario, making it one of the big provincial players on the links.
The outfit is financially backed partly by RIM mogul Jim Balsillie, but Kavanagh runs the day-to-day duties. The company recently took over operations at Waterloo's Grey Silo course.
22. Don McCrae, former basketball coach
The longtime local hoops legend was recently named to Canada Basketball's new council of excellence, a nine-person group formed to help guide Canada's men's and women's national programs.
The council is full of heavy-hitters, including NBA guard Steve Nash and Raptors coach Jay Triano.
23. The Pavans, volleyball players, coach
Mom Cindy is a former national volleyball team player, while dad Paul is responsible for developing countless local players through the K-W Predators club program. His Forest Heights Collegiate Trojans are annual threats at the provincial high school level.
But the power of this clan lies in kids Sarah and Becky, perhaps the top sister act on the court in the world.
Sarah currently plays pro volleyball in northern Italy while Becky is on scholarship at the University of Kentucky. Teamed together, they have the power to help get the national women's team back on track, should they wish to go that route.
24. Peter Baxter, athletics director, Wilfrid Laurier University
He's the man at the helm of the sports program at one of Ontario's smallest universities. Laurier has built a strong athletic reputation despite its size and is a regular contender in hockey and football.
Baxter oversees the athletic department and is a key contributor to the national university sports scene. Next month, Baxter will lead Canada's university contingent as chef de mission at the Winter Universiade in China.
25. John Carson, Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile organizer
Five years ago, Carson launched the Cambridge Classic Mile and it's still going strong today. The annual event runs on the outdoor track at Galt Collegiate and pits athletes of all ages in a series of races.
The main events attract some of the top milers in the world, making the meet an increasingly popular draw on the late-summer circuit.
Carson is also the program director at Run For Life, a local non-profit body that encourages fitness through activities such as running.
Ten on the cusp: Ron Dias (college football scout), Gary Jeffries (Wilfrid Laurier football coach), Colin Doyle (professional lacrosse player), Chris Johnson (boxing trainer), Dave Smallwood (junior golf instructor), Peter Brill (GM Waterloo Siskins), Scott Stevens (retired NHL player), Rick Osborne (WLU hockey coach), Kim Kugler (manager at the Aud), Stephen Dietrich (professional lacrosse player and GM of the K-W Kodiaks).
jbrown@therecord.com
And the answer: “B) ‘Young’ Tom Morris, who aced the 145-yard eighth hole at Prestwick at the 1866 British [sic] Open.”
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment