::::: FUNNY, never did figure out…

…what she was looking' at ~

THE RUNNER STUMBLES: Arnold and Maria…better times in Toronto—30 years ago

TAKEN IN REXDALE, sometime mid 1980, at Vic Tannys, in the very same plaza that William Shatner shot one of his famous commercials for Loblaws. And this plaza was across the street, and down the hill from the former secretive Briarcrest mansion—the last hold-out of the Arrow and Avro Canada.

The 80s. Weightlifting. Health food. Girls. Not enough, girls.

No matter.

Heady days indeed, even, for me.

But this piece is about Arnold—not me.

Even 30 years ago Arnold was no stranger to controversy. At this bodybuilding event, Arnold announced he could come back and beat anybody, anybody, in the highly competitive world of bodybuilding with only 6 weeks of training. Everyone, some very serious bodybuilders were in attendance, became instantly enraged! To Arnold's delight. Soon derogatory comments were hurled back at Arnold. Even more to Arnold's delight. Rarely have I seen Canadians act in such unison. Schwarzenegger had long retired from the barbell scene five years previous, when he had won his 5th, and final Mr Olympia.

Still, the rumors started.

Immediately.

Was Arnold coming back? Would he compete in the 1980 Mr Olympia? Arnie had been seen training but that was for one of his cheesy movies right? Right?!?!? And why was the Austrian Oak pumping iron all covered up—so no one could see what he looked like?

True to form Arnold did come back 12 weeks later—and he did win his sixth Olympia!

Everyone said the contest was rigged.

Mike Mentzer, who had won the Mr Universe contest, the previous year, with a perfect score of 300 (which has never been done since) swore he would never compete in bodybuilding again. There was no way Arnold should have beaten Mike. And although everyone tried to reason with Mike about the unfairness of life etc., true to his word he walked away from the sport, and never. Competed. Again.

The scandalosa would be re-visited through the years, but when Mike's brother Ray became quite sick and was near death, Arnold called the hospital and told Ray that if he needed anything— Arnold would get it for him. And for a while Ray's health stabilized.

The road to healing had begun—Arnold and Mike even talked on the phone a few times after Mike found out about Arnold's generous overture to his brother.

Life was good again.

Will Maria and Arnold make it back from the abyss? Can their marriage be saved?

One thing is sure—forgiveness is a direction.

And THAT is the hand that Maria will have to play out—it's all up to her now, and no one else—

And another thing is sure—Arnold's 'rendezvous days' are over—Maria can't go back to that, he'll be on a tight leash from here on in.

Arnold has to decide if he can actually do that~

(Here the happy couple is pictured together in Toronto…about five years before they married)

(photo taken, by me, with a horrendous Agfa 110!)

>:>:> HAPPY NEW YEAR .. 2011!!!!

Will LESLIE STEWART, here pictured as an Toronto Argonaut cheerleader (my illustrious capture), but now coaching the HAMILTON TIGER-CATS CHEERLEADERS be able to keep the Ti-Cats in Hamilton?

A new stadium has to be built BUT can Leslie convince city council members to consider the location wishes of the anchor business (the Hamilton Tiger-Cats) in their selection of a new site?

Hamilton City Council (the Commies) want to build at one location…but the Ti-Cat's owner (Bob Young) is saying he won't relocate there, so like true Commies who dictate and never listen…they're steamrolling ahead with their silly Council plans anyway. Who cares if you can't fill the stadium with a suitable tenant after it's built for the Commonwealth Games. Only anti-biz Council proclamations matter.

Good luck Leslie, with that—

If the answer is NO…can I change your mind?

the Killers - Hot Fuss

:::Miss Orenda Aerospace 2010 ::…

… well, not really.

But in a perfect world ~

(sigh)

Toronto Argonaut cheerleader, member of the BLUE THUNDER.

::::::::::::: The Key to Being…

… a CHEERLEADER is, having some cheer.

Call me crazy, but she doesn't seem to like having her picture taken. It can't be because she isn't attractive, 'cause she is…

MAYBE, MAYBE, she just found out about the Arrow! Yeah, that's it, that's gotta' be it!!

WAITING :::: for ::: the 380

THOUSANDS of people showed up for "the event". That being the COLOSSUS Emirates Airbus 380 coming as a regularly scheduled airliner to Toronto, for the first time.

One guy asks me, quite bewildered, what is everybody lining up on the hill to see?

So, I tell him about the A380. In the best kid's language, I can think of at the moment, as I'm hurrying to get into place.

Then he says, "That's neat. All these people coming out to see this."

And that's when I THREW ALL my camera equipment back on the ground!

THEN with a seriousness that bordered on severity, I said to him," That's nothing!"

"NOTHING!!"

"If that was the Avro Arrow arriving…the WHOLE, DAMN, COUNTRY. …would be here! All…35 million people!"

As I was making my way up the hill, "I could hear him yelling in the distance, "You're right, you're right…bless you…BLESS Y-O-U!!"

CHECK OUT this notable coverage of the event: torontoist.com/2009/06/a380_superjumbo.php

::: WIDOW and the Widowmaker ::

"Hush there, littl' darlin…"

Who she is remembering…we have no idea. Whomever…rest in peace—

The CF-105 Starfighter, of which 200 were made in Montreal.

While the CF-104, and its American version (F-104) were a favorite amongst pilots everywhere…they showed no mercy to those who flew her.

Make a mistake…you often didn't get a second chance.

Hence, the nickname "Widowmaker" given to her by pilots everywhere.

In fact 110 CF-104 were lost in operational accidents flying under the RCAF banner.

The first Canadair-constructed CF-104 (RCAF serial number 12701) was airlifted from Montreal to Palmdale, California in the spring of 1961, where it made its first flight on May 26. The second CF-104 (12702) also made its first flight at Palmdale. The first two CF-104s to fly at Montreal were Nos. 12703 and 12704, which both took to the air on August 14, 1961.

The CF-104 was powered by a Canadian-built J79-OEL-7, which was made at Orenda Aerospace in Malton.

AND REMEMBER while there was no money to finish and fly the already 37+ Avro Arrows, 17 complete, and the rest near completion…the Diefenbaker government found money to buy 200 of these!'

Diefenbaker…shot and pizzed on I say—

:: University of Connecticut WINS!

…the 2009 International Bowl held at the Rogers Centre in TORONTO on Saturday, January 3rd.

The Huskies STOMPED the Buffalo Bulls before a crowd of 40,184.

International Bowl Final: Buffalo Bulls 20 - Connecticut Huskies 38

And the way U CONN was playing…they coulda' smoked the Buffalo Bills also!

Hey, don't laugh!

Connecticut Running Back DONALD BROWN ran for 261 yards in the game, a career best, and became the 14th major-college player to hit the 2,000+ yard mark in a season.

He's got nothing left to prove at this level.

Don apologized after the game for reneging on his earlier promise to return for his senior year at U Conn. He's moving on to try-out for the NFL.

Hey, NFL tryouts start after…CFL try-outs, Donald…

You know, I'm just sayin'…

Here, U Conn Cheerleader Rachel Rutfield comes over, yet again, to ask me the time.



(kidding)

CFL Eastern Final 2007

… this photographer gets a kiss unexpectedly from a Toronto Blue Thunder cheerleader.

CFL Eastern Final… the ONLY bright spot… the cheerleaders.

HEY TORONTO where was your running game?

… that victor's week off… killed your momentum ~

BUT AT LEAST the babes came out to support the Argoooooooosssssss!

(hey give me back my zoom)


© 2007 Special Projects IR
© 2007 Paul Cardin