Firstly, yours truly and now the great one. Both undone by associates - in mu case my predecessor's reckless Adscam and in Wayne's case his wife's desire to play home, away or anywhere

To be honest, I used to find sports a bore. Apart from the obligatory nod to hockey and my early coup of meeting the provincial premiers at a Grey Cup encounter, I find its level of chance too great. I prefer the control of politics

But watching yet another of our Olympic hopefuls wipeout, I see an association between both decaying institutions. Amateur sportsmen/women are like most aspiring politicians. Unable to compete at the highest level (the former in professional sports, the latter in business, law or banking), they live off the state hoping for fame and the ability to turn whatever success they achieve into a sinecure. Not too worried about how it is achieved either, whether via white powders or brown envelopes.

There is also the commonality of a four year cycle, or thereabouts, of Games and Elections

And both sets continually disappoint. The proud boast of 25 trips to the podium is looking out of reach, unless they count all memners of the women's hockey team, and I can already see the plea for extra funding so that we don't revisit Montreal ( Only time the host nation did not win a single gold. Ed. ) when the games are held in Vancouver four years hence.

Of course, it is far too late to pour money in now but hey, that's your problem, Stephen

Paulie,

Don't write after 5 scotches

Don't be bitter

Everyone thinks you'd be a great uncle - just a not so great "Chretien"

Your leadership acceptance speech & its corresponding pamphlet were great

Too bad you didn't form a soul-brother-hood with the writer of that thing (or the guy who did the Grey & Purple Books in 1995?6)

You were unstoppable then ... when you followed those guys

Just relax.

Collect your thoughts.

Write a book ... maybe about the true purpose of the Privy Council and GovGen as checks against the 'democratic element'

It would have prevented Adscam and you'd be PM for 2-3 terms.

This provinces-first RE-Form v3 party will blow up soon

Walk in the snow

Too bad this yr doesn't have Feb 29th

Love to all in the Dithers'hood

Rce