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Thursday August 14, 2008

August 14, 2008 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday August 14, 2008 Why are we so bad at the Olympics? If we are, then here's something else you may have heard before: You get what you pay for at the Olympics. Ê Medals don't fallÊout of trees - not at the Summer Games. They come through sheer volume of legitimate medal chances, and the countries withÊmost darts come away with the most hardware. The early results? We're through five days of competition and our batting average is still .000. -- Togo has a medal. KyrgyzstanÊhas two. Azerbaijan has three. And Michael Phelps has five. We'll pass them all by the end, barring an absolute disaster, but still, as the calls from editors begin to roll into the press centresÊhere - all looking for the "What's going wrong?" angle that usually doesn't arrive for a few more days at these things - it isÊclear that Canadians are getting edgy. Don't forget. There are about a dozen countries in the world who are serious about hockey. Two - Canada and the U.S. - areÊgold medal threats in women's hockey. There are 200 countries that take track and field, boxing and swimming seriously. "I think [we're] disappointed because we had some dreams, or expectation, and it seemed that it was going to be easy. But youÊcan see, nothing's ever easy," said Pierre Lafontaine, the team leader for Canada's swimming team. His team has posted all kinds of personal bests, but zero results. "There's much more than just medals, but medals is whatÊshows on the books," he admits.(Source: National Post)Êhttp://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=606ca39f-a76d-47ae-ba90-f6d4c2c50d48&p=2 Letters: http://mackaycartoons.blogdrive.com/archive/210.html Canada, Olympic, Summer, games, sports, athletics, swimming, ranking, medals, results, Michael Phelps

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 14, 2008

Why are we so bad at the Olympics?

If we are, then here’s something else you may have heard before: You get what you pay for at the Olympics.

Medals don’t fall out of trees – not at the Summer Games. They come through sheer volume of legitimate medal chances, and the countries with most darts come away with the most hardware.

The early results? We’re through five days of competition and our batting average is still .000. — Togo has a medal. Kyrgyzstan has two. Azerbaijan has three. And Michael Phelps has five.

We’ll pass them all by the end, barring an absolute disaster, but still, as the calls from editors begin to roll into the press centres here – all looking for the “What’s going wrong?” angle that usually doesn’t arrive for a few more days at these things – it is clear that Canadians are getting edgy.

Don’t forget. There are about a dozen countries in the world who are serious about hockey. Two – Canada and the U.S. – are gold medal threats in women’s hockey.

There are 200 countries that take track and field, boxing and swimming seriously.

“I think [we’re] disappointed because we had some dreams, or expectation, and it seemed that it was going to be easy. But you can see, nothing’s ever easy,” said Pierre Lafontaine, the team leader for Canada’s swimming team.

His team has posted all kinds of personal bests, but zero results. “There’s much more than just medals, but medals is what shows on the books,” he admits.(Source: National Post)


Letters to the Editor:

I was totally offended by the tasteless cartoon in Thursday’s Spectator regarding our great Canadian athletes.

My wife and I have watched a lot of the television coverage and have been proud to see our athletes try their best and give it their all, against other athletes who are supported by their governments with large sums of money.

Maybe the cartoonist and some of our politicians should get out and support our athletes, or maybe even volunteer to coach or assist some of these fine examples of Canadian youth, instead of poking fun at them.

Good luck to all our athletes.

— P. Knapp, Hamilton

* * * * *

The editorial cartoon depicts a Canadian swimmer running along the edge of the pool — and still finishing well behind the pack. I find this cartoon totally offensive.

As the son of a man who competed in the first British Empire Games in Hamilton and later in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, I am aware of the dedication, hard work and many sacrifices made by athletes. There is also heartbreak endured by many along the journey.

I would have expected a major urban newspaper to show understanding and compassion in its coverage — be it print or “humour.” I challenge The Spectator to take a more constructive role in promoting future Olympic podium successes.

— J. Ravensdale, Puslinch

* * * * *

I would like to congratulate your witty and talented cartoonist Graeme MacKay. I read the criticism of his cartoon about the failure of the Canadian athletes the first week of the Olympic Games. Cartoon is satire and the one who doesn’t accept it lacks a sense of humour.

— Panos Andronidis, Hamilton

Posted in: Canada, International Tagged: athletics, Canada, Games, medals, Michael Phelps, Olympic, ranking, results, Sports, Summer, swimming

Thursday February 25, 1999

February 25, 1999 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday February 25, 1999 No food or drink in pool, breastfeeding mom told A mother breastfeeding while swimming at a city recreation centre was ordered to leave because "no food or drink is allowed in the pool."Shannon Wray, 25, was enjoying family swim time Friday morning at Huntington Park Recreation Centre on the East Mountain when her nine-month-old daughter Chyenne got hungry. "I was sitting in the hot pool with my daughter in front of me and I pulled down my bathing suit strap, " Wray said. "And I took my breast out and put her on it.Ó A moment later, Wray was approached by the pool's aquatic director, who advised the mother she would have to go into the change room to feed her child. Wray said she was told that it's the culture and recreation department's policy that there is no breastfeeding in the pool area. "I'm very sorry you're offended, " Wray told the woman. "But that's your problem. I'm nursing my baby and I'm not moving. You're going to have to deal with it.Ó Wray believes other swimmers complained. When Wray refused to leave, she was told by the aquatic director that she couldn't stay in the pool because of the state of "her attire." Then, she said, a male lifeguard told her she had to stop breastfeeding "because no food or drink is allowed in the pool.Ó Wray said she has breastfed her baby in public many times -- including at the Huntington Park pool -- but never had any complaints before now. "It's unfortunate that a natural act had to become some political brouhaha, " said Wray. "This was very inappropriate and very humiliating.Ó Alderman Mary Kiss, vice-chairperson of the city's parks and recreation committee, said she was "appalled" that breastfeeding in public was still an issue for some people. "It's great to have mothers breastfeeding their children. I'll definitely look into this.Ó The lifeguard and aquatic director were just plain wrong, said Gary Makins, manager of

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 25, 1999

No food or drink in pool, breastfeeding mom told

A mother breastfeeding while swimming at a city recreation centre was ordered to leave because “no food or drink is allowed in the pool.”Shannon Wray, 25, was enjoying family swim time Friday morning at Huntington Park Recreation Centre on the East Mountain when her nine-month-old daughter Chyenne got hungry.

“I was sitting in the hot pool with my daughter in front of me and I pulled down my bathing suit strap, ” Wray said. “And I took my breast out and put her on it.”

A moment later, Wray was approached by the pool’s aquatic director, who advised the mother she would have to go into the change room to feed her child. Wray said she was told that it’s the culture and recreation department’s policy that there is no breastfeeding in the pool area.

“I’m very sorry you’re offended, ” Wray told the woman. “But that’s your problem. I’m nursing my baby and I’m not moving. You’re going to have to deal with it.”

Wray believes other swimmers complained.

When Wray refused to leave, she was told by the aquatic director that she couldn’t stay in the pool because of the state of “her attire.” Then, she said, a male lifeguard told her she had to stop breastfeeding “because no food or drink is allowed in the pool.”

Wray said she has breastfed her baby in public many times — including at the Huntington Park pool — but never had any complaints before now.

“It’s unfortunate that a natural act had to become some political brouhaha, ” said Wray. “This was very inappropriate and very humiliating.”

Alderman Mary Kiss, vice-chairperson of the city’s parks and recreation committee, said she was “appalled” that breastfeeding in public was still an issue for some people.

“It’s great to have mothers breastfeeding their children. I’ll definitely look into this.”

The lifeguard and aquatic director were just plain wrong, said Gary Makins, manager of the city’s east recreation district.

As far as the culture and recreation department goes, said Makins, mothers can nurse “at the pool, in the pool or on the side of the pool.

“I think our lifeguard or aquatic supervisor shouldn’t have asked her to leave, ” he said. Makins will send a copy of the city’s breastfeeding policy to each of the pools he supervises and he will write Wray a letter of apology.

As for no food or drink in the pool? “That doesn’t apply here, ” he said. “But if she was eating a sandwich in the pool, that would be a problem.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: baby, breastfeeding, children, civility, hairy, Hamilton, health, motherhood, public, speedos, swimming, women
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