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FIStrIC IS A FOCK sy cesssicremm

t 2004, the Dallas Stars selected Vancouver Giants defenseman Mark Fistric in the first round of the NHL entry draft. It was a landmark day for both Fistric and the Giants, as it was the first time in Vancouver’s short WHL history that they had had a player chosen in the first round.

Fistric, who is now 22, had been the Giant’s backbone. He was their captain and best defenseman. While he never put up Bobby Orr like numbers, he was always the most reliable player on the ice. He could fight, and he could hit like a truck.

Fistric, who stands at an imposing 6’2 and weighs in at a solid 232 pounds, played four full seasons with the Giants. Over 214 Western Hockey League games, all with the Giants, Fistric put up pedestrian offensive numbers. He only scored 11 goals, but what he was truly valuable for was his leadership qualities and his fierce physical game.

During his four seasons here, Fistric had penalty minute totals of 81, 192, 32 and 148. The reason for his dip to 32 wasn’t due to any calming down on the ice. He shattered his jaw twice in the 2004-05 season and was restricted to only 15 games.

After he graduated from the Giants and the WHL, Fistric moved to the Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate, the lowa Stars. He played a complete campaign with them in the 2006-07 season before splitting last year between Iowa and Dallas. He suited up for the Stars 37 times last year and while he didn’t score, he established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the blue line and a future fixture in Texas. Dallas even kept him around for the playoffs, where he played nine games.

Currently, Fistric is ranked as the organization’s third best prospect, behind only fellow defenseman Ivan Vishnevskly and center James Neal. Fistric has attained that spot due to never ending hard work. He is a phenom in the weight and conditioning rooms, and it is perhaps for this reason that his hits have become more powerful and destructive. Dallas considers him, correctly, to be a future leader. Fistric has also worked hard to improve his once questioned skating abilities. He now has a smooth stride to combine with his powerful shot and crisp passing skills.

While Fistric isn’t projected to be a future Norris Trophy winner, he is expected

to become the type of player anyone would want on their team. He can more than fulfill the rough-and-tumble, physical style defender’s role Dallas has set out for him.

From a defensive standpoint, Mark Fistric is the best player in Vancouver Giants’ history. It’s pretty cool to see another local junior hockey graduate step up his game and make it to the NHL. Whichever team he spends the bulk of his career with will be more than happy with the investment they’ve made in him. Every team could use a Mark Fistric.

Lance Armstrong returns

H.. one of the most dedicated and inspiring figures in the history of any sport, and he’s coming out of retirement to make history again.

Lance Armstrong, 37, announced his retirement at a tearful ceremony not long after winning his seventh consecutive Tour De France championship in 2005. However, it now appears that retirement doesn’t suit the tough Texan who hasn’t ever listened when other people have told him to quit.

Armstrong is the survivor of brain, lung and testicular cancer. Aside from victories on the bike in the Tour De France, Armstrong has picked up numerous awards from a variety of media outlets and organizations throughout his remarkable career.

After beating cancer, Armstrong made a dramatic comeback. Doctors had once given him less than a ten percent chance of survival, but that wasn’t stopping him. Armstrong began his legendary assent to the history books in 1998, when he stunned the world and captured his first Tour De France title.

Every year following that one, experts, analysts and pundits anticipated his downfall and predicted his failure. However, they were all wrong. Lance Armstrong just kept winning...and winning, and winning.

In 2005, at 34 years old, Armstrong decided to end his storied career. He had won cycling’s most grueling and intense race a record seven times straight, breaking a mark that many thought would stand the test of time.

The reasons for Armstrong’s otherworldly success are many. He has raced with a very strong U.S. Postal team, and he trains religiously. Unlike many professional riders, Armstrong’s sole focus is the Tour De France. He rarely takes part in other races, no matter how big or prolific they are. That allows him to train and prepare for months before the actual race ever begins.

Before stage one ever begins, Armstrong has navigated the course more times than any other rider. He knows the terrain inside and out, every twist and every turn. He knows when to ride hard and when to take it easy.

After retiring, Armstrong kept busy. He devoted his time to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which is a benefit to survivors of cancer. He has talked about getting involved in Texas politics and has revealed an eventual desire to become governor of the Longhorn state. One major achievement Armstrong had during his retirement was the creation of another charitable foundation. Athletes for Hope, which is devoted to getting professional athletes involved in charitable work, was founded by an all-star’s whose-who list of athletes. Besides Armstrong, the group also included Muhammad Ali, Tony Hawk, Mario Lemieux, Mia

By Garth McLennan

Hamm, Andre Agassi, Cal Ripken Jr. and many others.

Earlier this month, Armstrong made the public announcement that he would be making his return to the Tour De France in 2009. He has stated that his goal for his return is to raise more awareness of the effects of cancer.