rr

 

  

 

SPORTS

 

Gilbert Brule fading fast », coisscm

F.. anyone who follows the Vancouver Giants, the name Gilbert Brule means something.
He’s the best player in the junior hockey franchise’s history. He was rightly anointed as the
Giant’s saviour. He scored 185 points in 165 games with Vancouver and was named the
WHL rookie of the year. He was the driving force behind the Giant’s WHL championship
effort in 2006, leading the Memorial Cup and WHL playoffs in scoring and being named the
WHL playoffs MVP.

Things only looked bright when Brule was drafted sixth overall by the Columbus
Blue Jackets at the 2005 NHL entry draft. They were a rising team with talented young
players that Brule could mesh with. However, things didn’t exactly turn out the way
everyone thought they would.

The Blue Jackets still haven’t made the playoffs and Brule never seemed to
find his place with the team. When head coach Ken Hitchcock (whose strict defense-first
coaching philosophy runs in stark contrast to Brule’s run-and-gun game) was brought in,
Brule’s play tanked even further.

In 146 NHL games, all with the Blue Jackets, Brule has potted only 12 goals.

He has added just 20 assists for a meager 32 points. That lackluster play has put him in the
dangerous territory of being a forgotten prospect, a draft day bust who could never live up to
the hype or fulfill expectations.

With management in Ohio having lost interest in him, Brule was shipped out to
the Edmonton Oilers in hopes of resurrecting his fading career. He was traded straight-up for
winger Raffi Torres, another player who will benefit greatly from a change of scenery.

Now is the chance for Brule to finally prove all those draft scouts right and all
those pro scouts wrong. Just like his initial situation in Columbus, Brule is going to a young
team that isn’t entrenched in any set way of playing yet. He’ll have the opportunity to crack

the team’s top six forwards and play with
franchise cornerstone Shawn Horcoff.
While the Oilers might struggle in the
standings this year, they are clearly a
team that has potential.

Brule, who’s still only 21,
does have size issues despite his talent.
He stands only 5°10 and weighs in
at a slight—for professional hockey
standards— 180 pounds. However, if he
can find a coach who will let him utilize
his offensive ability, he can put serious
points on the board. His skating is buttery
smooth, he’s got a good shot and he’s
proven that he has clutch skills after all
the playoff wars he went through with the
Giants.

Edmonton is a new beginning
for Gilbert Brule. Hopefully, he can live
up to all the promise he’s shown at every
level he’s played.

 

 

 
   

 

 

Floyd Landis

After Lance Armstrong retired in 2005,
Landis became the first man to win the
Tour De France title since him in a long,
long time. However, his 2006 victory
in cycling’s most prestigious race was
stricken from the record and his win
was revoked after it was discovered
that Landis tested positive for steroids.
After numerous appeals and claims of
innocence, Landis was suspended from
professional cycling until 2009.

While on suspension, Landis
remained in the game as an advisor to the
Rock Racing team. He has stated that he
fully intends to resume his career as soon
as his suspension is lifted. Lately, Landis
has been linked to the team Health Net-
Maxxis, and it is presumed that they will
be his official sponsor in January of 2009,
which is when he becomes eligible to
compete again.

Mick Foley

One of the craziest, most popular
professional wrestlers of all time, Mick

off ladders and cages.

Despite common perception, Foley
is a very smart individual. He’s authored
two autobiographies and a book about the
inner workings of WWE, all written by
longhand. He has also become a notable
children’s author; he’s written three short
books for kids and two others for older
audiences.

Foley is considered semi-retired
from wrestling. After a lengthy absence
from WWE, Foley returned to serve as
a commentator on WWE’s Smackdown

McMahon, Foley left WWE shortly after
his contract expired. He then signed with
WWE’s chief competition, Total Non-

Stop Action Wrestling (TNA). Foley had
stated several times that he has wanted to
become involved in TNA’s business for a

a whole.

 

 

 

WwW iL e re a re th ey Nn Ow By * McLennan, Sports Editor

 

Foley, is a long way from his days of flying

brand. After a series of disputes with Vince

while, as he believes having competition to
WWE will increase wrestling’s product as

 

Tank Abbott
A popular former UFC fighter who never

Abbott has been on a bit of a losing streak
lately in terms of his mixed martial arts
career.

He’s only fought nine times since
1998, and hasn’t won a fight since 2005.
However, it’s his other exploits that make
him notable. Abbott signed with the now-

WCW in 1999, and worked there until
2001. His wrestling career never really

special edition Tank Abbott action figure.
Abbott has also dabbled in acting.
He made a single guest appearance on the

on Kenan and Kei.

was February 16", when he was knocked
out in the first round by Kimbo Slice.

 

 

  

won the UFC championship, David “Tank”

collapsed professional wrestling promotion

took off, but in late 2007, WWE released a

television show Friends, and also appeared

Abbott’s most recent UFC appearance

 

 

 

Tito Ortiz

Easily one of the most identifiable mixed
martial arts stars in the world, former UFC
champion Tito Ortiz, 33, has now officially
ended his tenure with UFC.

Ortiz, who has taken time off from
ultimate fighting before, is the CEO of
Punishment Athletics clothing, his own
company. He has also hosted, along with
another former UFC star, Ken Shamrock,
the successful reality television show
Ultimate Fighter. He has competed several
times against the winners of each season.

Ortiz’s contract with UFC expired in
May of this year and he opted not to sign a
new one. Ortiz cited the president of UFC,
Dana White, as a key reason for his UFC
departure. Since that time, Ortiz has been
courted by a number of other mixed martial
arts companies in the hopes of him joining
their promotions.

Today, Ortiz remains busy with his
CEO and hosting duties. His clothing
company is known for producing T-shirts
that related to his upcoming fights.

 

20

20