Selistday, ‘February 1, 1992 It has to rank right up there with the strangest conversations I’ve ever had. The man in Seattle answers the phone: “Hello?” Can I speak to Stan Carey?” I say. “No, Stan’s not here, can I take a message?” “Yeah, my name is Ed Mills, blah blah, blah, and can you get him to call me when he gets in?” “Hold,” he says. About a half minute later, I swear the same guy gets on the line. “This is Stan Carey ,” he says. “Um, uh, what?’ I say, resisting the — to ask him just what his game "Instead I go ahead and ask him the question I had in mind when making - the call in the first place. And Stan Carey proceeds, in a southern drawl which I placed from CEL in Spokane? - — No way! - there has been no decision on the team’s fate yet — Carey said his group will look to Spokane as the sight for their CFL team. And in fact, I saw a clip on a Spokane television news program of a group of people — I’m not sure who they were but Carey assures me he knows them all — talking about get- ting a franchise. It was that clip that got me started on the topic in the first place. Carey said he wasn’t at liberty to release the names of any of the Spokane people involved in the plan, Free Agent and was evasive about crucial details. All of which just added more to my sense that I was involved in some kind of James Bond movie here. But Mr. Carey and his unique phone manner aside, what I really wanted to find out was what the ch are of Spokane getting a the TV clip. down Alabama way, to explain to me how he is going to bring a Canadian Football League franchise to the Pa- cific Northwest. ~ “We're very serious about this,” Carey said. “In fact we’re waiting on and seeing what the situation of the outcome of the (Major League Base- ball’s Seattle) Mariners are going to be first. And secondly, we’re in negotia- tion with David Brayley, the owner of the (Hamilton) Tiger Cats of possibly purchasing the Tiger Cats and mov- ing them to Seattle.” If the Mariners stay in Seattle — team. I mean, there is little question the league vil expand to the U.S within the next five years, what with its past and current bleak financial picture and the likes of Bruce McNall and Murray Pezim pulling weight (no pun intended) in the league’s “The idea of getting a division, aay, in the States, is a television market there for us to tap and also looking on expansion as growth,” said B.C. Lions marketing man Jim Young. Portland was the one site I’d heard the league was looking at, then I saw lieve it. Before making inquiries I was pretty sure there was no way the CFL was going to drop a team in the Spoke. Afterwards, that mindset changed to Tll eat my socks if the CFL drops a team in the Spoke. Even people in that city don’t be- “Without mincing words, if I was going to sink a lot of money into some- thing of this nature, I don’t know that I would come here first,” Weaver, sports columnist at the Spokane Spokesman Review. “Espe- cially given the track record of what this town supports.” The track record Weaver (who, by the way, had never heard of Carey or his group’s plans) is one that has saw three AAA baseball teams wither and die on the vine as citizens stayed away pand. said Dan in droves. Joe Albi Stadium, which would be! the Spokane home of a CFL team, is another problem,Weaver said. The problem is that it would cost millions) of dollars to revamp the stadium, in: cluding almost doubling the seating! capacity and altering the dimensions of the playing field, so it can accom- modate the Canadian game. Basically, I guess what it comes down to is'this — the Canadian Foot- ball League already has enough prob- lem teams, it doesn’t need any more in new markets. Young said the league isn’t likely to | make any rash decisions, considering its fate in this country may be on the line as well when it comes ae to ex- “I think they’re going to re avery good look at it before jumping, to make sure that they are really solid fran- chises that we got if we do indeed ex-: ,pand,” said the CFL hall of famer. The big question for Carey and his cohorts in Seattle and Spokane is sim- “ple — if those cities can’t even support protkesional baseball, what makes them think a foreign football league has any chance of surviving in them? - I’m sure the CFL will ask itself the a question before it rejects Carey’s id. : Then again, this is the CFL we’re talking about here. If there’s any group that could make me eat my words, and my socks, it’s this one. NEW ADDITION News photo by Ed Milis Laying back and listening intently to his coach’s words, Randall Popoff is one of the newest ad- ditions to the Selkirk Saints men’s volleyball team, which is vying for a fourth straight provincial * championship this season. Popoff joined the team this month. Pressure Wash back in the CRHL saddle l@ Simonen leads the way with five points, including winner, in 8-6 win over Banjo’s News Staff They’re back. For the first time in 1992, Castlegar Pressure Wash is on top of the Castlegar Recre- ational Hockey League stand- ings. Thanks to a four-goal, one assist performance from Steve Simonen, Pressure Wash beat Banjo’s Pub 8-6 Tuesday night at the Community Complex. The win marked the return to preeminence for Pressure Wash, which had held first place for much of the season prior to the new year. Simonen scored two straight goals in the first peri- od to stake Pressure Wash to a 4-1 lead entering the second. Simonen completed his nat- ural hat trick just over a minute into the second period when he converted passes - from George Roberts and Gord Walker. Banjo’s fought back with three goals in the third to tie CASTLEGAR RECREATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Stats to Jan. 30, 92 WLTP Cast. Pressure Wash 14 13 1 29 Cast. Sports Centre 13 112 28 “‘Banjo’s Pub 13: 14 1 27 Wood. Park Shell 12 12 3 27 Koot. Computers 10 12 5 24 the game at six, but Simonen’s fourth of the night, from Wayne Kinakin and Doug Knowler, iced it with two min- utes left in the period. With a goal and two assists it was a relatively quiet night for Walker, who leads the CRHL in scoring. Ross Berkey had two goals for Pressure Wash; while Roger Junker added another ; and Don Soroke set up three. Banjo’s got two goals from Clay Martini and Larry Price, while Frank Costa scored once and set up two. Wayne Salekin also scored for Banjo’s, while Adrian Markin picked up two assists. Banjo’s remains tied for third with Woodland Park Shell, just two points behind Pressure Wash. Just two minor penalties were called in the game, both in the first period on Banjo’s. @ Saturday, February 1, 1992 Realty remains perfect WA tender McCarthy still sinks 24 points to lead Realty to its ninth . Straight win in the Kootenay West Men’s Basketball League Ed Mills SPORTS EDITOR Opposing players must be wondering what Wayne Mc- Carthy could do if he was healthy. Cowan Office Supplies got a taste of what he can do when he’s hurting Tuesday night as they met Castlegar Realty at Selkirk College in one of two games in the Kootenay West Men’s Basketball League. Still nursing a tender side as a result of a broken rib he suffered in a game two weeks ago, McCarthy returned to the Realty lineup to score 24 points and lead them to a 66- 61 win over Cowan. The win keeps Realty un- beaten in nine starts and in first place in the five-team league. John Ritchie had 18 points for Realty, which led 33-31 at the half. In what has to be consid- ered an off night for him, Chad Coupland had 17 for Cowan. Jodi White, who was also making a return to the court KOOTENAY WEST MEN'S BASKET- BALL LEAGUE STANDINGS TO JAN. 29 w L Pts Castlegar Realty 9 fe} 18 Selkirk College 0, 2 14 Cowan Offices. 3 5 6 Winlaw Pistons 3 6 6 RHC Realty 02 6 - 0 Wayne McCarthy after an injury, had 15 in a los- ing cause. In the other game, Stan Soukeroff and Mike Shaw both scored 21 points and Joe Chernoff had 19 as the Win- law Pistons beat the hapless RHC Realty squad 85-75. Veteran rugby coach given top honor Sport B.C. disclosed this week the winner of the coach’s category from the 26th Annu- al Sport B.C. Athlete of the Year Awards. Canada’s elite rugby coach, Ian Birtwell, topped a list of 19 nominees to win the 1991 Sport B.C. Coach of the Year Award. Birtwell took over as Cana- dian Rugby Coach in 1990 and has amassed an international coaching record of 7-3, the best ever achieved by a national team coach. Birtwell coached Canada to first place in the America’s Qualifying Zone for the 1991 World Cup. In addition, he was at the helm when the team made the semifinals in the 24-team International tourney in Hong Kong. Birtwell was selected by a panel of B.C. sports media. Among the other nominees were: John Burrows, Softball B.C.; Doug Clement, B&. Ath- letics; Timothy Findlay, B.C. Blind Sports and Recreation; Tim Frick, Canadian Wheel- chair Sports; John Haar, B.C. Amateur Baseball; Elaine Jackson, Curling Council of B.C.; Ed Johnstone, B.C. Am- ateur Hockey Association; Jerzy Kajrenius, B.C. Fencing; Margaret (Peg) Maass, Bicy- cling Association of B.C., and Dorothy Macey of the B.C. Lawn Bowling Association. ‘2 CAST 713-17th St Genuine Mazda Parts & Accessories ocekred da Service WE Si DY WITH SATISFACTION EGAR Emazpa Castlegar DL. 7956 CALL NOW COLLECT 365-7241 MAZDA -1T JUST FEELS RIGHT! Yzerman continued from page 17 when the Red Wings were RHCs Eli Chernenkoffled Bryan Murray (former thetoast ofthe NHL, and one all scorers, and established a Washington Capitals bench = man, Gordon Howe was its league record, with 38 points, _ hogs), the emphasis on of- ruler while Joe Sofonoff had 20. fense has been shifted solely “I haven't accomplished The loss leaves RHC still searching for its first win in nine starts, while Winlaw goes to 3-6. In last week’s action in the KWMBL, Castlegar beat RHC 82-66, while Winlaw lost 67-64 to Selkirk College, which had from Yzerman’s shoulders and spread throughout the the team. Sophomore Soviet player Sergei Federov has hit full stride with his NHL team, and along with home-grown hockey product Jimmy Car- what Gordie did,” said Yzer- man, of the great No. 9, the player they call Elbows. “We haven’t won a Stanley Cup yet.” a bye Tuesday. son and New Jersey castoff : . : ne peedewiary tay ier sone Paul Ysebaert, Detroit can To Advertise in rest his body this luesday now boast three solid scoring j i, as Castlegar gets a bye. lines. this Secti on, A Tuesday’s matchups have “I think it’s relatively sim- Call us today! Cowan meeting Winlaw at ple,”. Yzerman said of his Mount Sentinel High School at 7 p.m., while RHC plays _ cugade at the college at 8:30 365-5210 — The News team’s success this year. “We haven't had the depth that we do this year at the for- ward position. Cheveldae (Detroit netminder . Tim Cheveldae), has also played Meanwhile, Castlegar won its second game in a row in the Trail Men’s Basketball League _ exceptional for us.” at the Cominco Gym Wednes- As for the likelihood of a day night. Vancouver-Detroit Campbell The 57-53 win over Rock Is- land Tape Centre moves Castlegar’s record to 4-6 and keeps them in third place in Conference playoff final, Yz- erman isn’t making any pre- dictions, but then he’s deal- ing with realities these days. the four-team league. “Vancouver always plays Victoria Place, which beat ys hard when we come in The Flying Steamshovelinthe here. They’re a very good other game Wednesday night, team, but I’ve got to be more sits in first place with a record of 8-2, while Rock Island is in second at 7-3. concerned with what the De- troit Red Wings do to prepare for the playoffs,” he said. The teams will switch part- To many Detroit hockey ners and do it again at the _fans, Yzerman has rekindled gym Wednesday. fond memories of an era COURSES IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. For Safety Committec bers, Supervisors And Managers. Courses in Castlegar. nT an ON OCCUPATIONAL Registration is limited. For more information SAFETY & HEALTH and to register please call: 276-3099 or toll-free This hie addresses the specific in B.C. 1-800-972-9972, Local 5545. Or write: it work beers Sidolne pe mewn The Education and Training Section, : Occupational Safety and Health Division, .* Castlegar, March 3 (1 DAY- $50) Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C., SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBER SEMINAR Box 5350, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5L5. This seminar is for people who are on, or work with, a Safety Committee. Topics covered include roles and duties, how to use WCB regulations, worksite inspections, a en accident investigations and others. q Onn NSATION * Castlegar, March 4 (1 DAY-$40) BOARD Sian All these courses are offered in other centres on different dates. Please call for more information. Course fees are subject to change.