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VIEWPOINT: SCOTT OAKEQ
& A
Each
week, Sports Online will turn the tables on Scott Oake, who's used
to peppering others with questions.
In light of the U.S. House Reform congressional hearing on steroids in baseball … how do you feel about governments getting involved in sports issues such as these? Does a government have a right or place to get involved?
The use of performance enhancing drugs in sports will never be completely eliminated but any weight that can be brought to bear on those who use them should be welcomed – even if it comes from government.
Canada has been through this with the Dubin Inquiry that followed
the Ben Johnson scandal in 1988. I think most people would agree the
inquiry served a purpose in that more stringent drug testing and harsher
penalties, at least in this country, followed.
Sport, baseball included,
was never intended to be a contest between rival pharmacists. But,
the drug factor has turned many of us into cynics. We're suspicious
of anyone who overachieves. And, sadly, the great home run chase of
'98 between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa stands a chance of being soiled.
But, Americans deserve to know if the records of their national pastime
are legitimate.
To an extent baseball has addressed the issue with its new drug testing policy. While the penalties seem almost insignificant, at least there's been an acknowledgement of a problem. But, is it enough? Probably not. And if it takes the government to help fix what is a bigger problem than most fans realize, then so be it.
Does Winnipeg's chances of getting an NHL franchise improve the longer the lockout continues?
As a Winnipegger, of course I believe the city – one of the cradles of hockey – deserves a franchise in the best league in the world.
But, we can't forget that emotional fans don't get pro sports franchises. Wealthy business people, who think they have a chance of a return on their investment do.
The city lost the Jets in '96 because there was no one willing to own the team. So, the question now is: will the new CBA make Winnipeg any more attractive to a prospective owner? Whatever deal emerges at the end of this battle, the NHL in Winnipeg would be an expensive proposition. We don't know what the salary cap will be or even if there will be one. But, I can't imagine a team paying much less than $30 or 31 million in salaries to ice a competitive product fans will commit to watching.
That means the average ticket price at the new MTS Centre would have to be anywhere from $60 to $70 and the building would have to be full every night. Could it work? In the short-term, yes. Over a longer period of time, it would be a harder sell. And this supposes there will be, at some point, an existing franchise willing to move here.
I do know this and here I'm probably speaking for the emotional fans: the game matters in Winnipeg and regardless of the business of the NHL, it's a travesty of hockey justice that this city doesn't have a franchise.
The alpine skiing season came to a close last weekend. On the whole, how do you feel the Canadian alpine team performed this season? Are they in good position to win a medal (medals?) at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics?
I can't recall, off the top of my head, how many podium finishes there were for Canadian skiers this season but I know there were enough to make me feel Canada has a shot at a few medals in Turin.
If Thomas Grandi had a better day at the World Cup finals, he could have won the overall World Cup giant slalom title this season. He's an obvious medal prospect.
I also wouldn't discount the prospects of Genevieve Simard or Allison Forsythe. Two or three medals at the world championships in Bormio this year would have been nice, but overall, less than a year out from the Olympics I like the direction in which Alpine Canada is heading.
Lightning-round questions:
Favourite sport to play?
Hockey
Favourite sport to watch?
Boxing
NCAA March Madness - basketball's Final Four? Or hockey's Frozen Four?
Basketball's Final Four
Which Canadian curling championship is tougher to win? Tournament of Hearts or the Brier?
Relatively speaking, they're equally tough to win.
If you were performing a free skate at the world figure skating championships, what song would you skate to?
"Living On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi and I would do it dressed in leather.
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Scott began his career by volunteering at the university radio station during three years of pre-med. studies at Memorial University in St. John's, Nfld. After two summers working at CBC-St. John's in radio and television, he was hired full-time in 1974. Since then, Oake has covered the Olympic Winter and Summer Games and the Commonwealth Games as a commentator for wrestling, hockey, alpine skiing, swimming, rowing, diving, boxing and athletics.
FULL
BIO
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