By George Gross

In the words of Zsa Zsa Gabor’s last few husbands, “We need a new approach to make this interesting and enjoyable”.

Thus thought Master Bill Hersh and Madame Sheila Bresalier (vaunted head haunchos of this outpouring of amateur athletic domain news items). They, of course, were concerned about their new publication Champion.

But who to get to create this interest?

‘‘Well, obviously an athlete-writer” offered Master Hersh, practical as ever.

‘‘Yes, someone able to make the pages sing with his or her writing; someone whose physical stature and involvement in sports seethe with the epitome of fitness and achievement,” said Madame Bresalier, known to fantasize on occasion.

Sounded to me like their person was Dolly Parton, who can certainly sing and whose physical stature certainly seethes … uh . . . achievement.

Nevertheless, the task was bequeathed to me. By some strange machinations of logical reasoning, they deduced that because of a certain sports writing connection of mine, great things could be set down now and hoped for in the future, by me. Well, at least there’s still the hope . . .

I suppose if I were to try and categorize this column, I would say that it was a column ‘”for the athletes from the athletes via an athlete’”. Now if you’ve figured the idea out from that you’re a better man than I — I just thought it sounded good so I put it down.

I don’t think the head haunchos realized what they were letting themselves in for when they give me free rein with this feature. What I feel we have is a personal form of communication between athletes (which can also include the myriad of coaches, administrators, and other professional and volunteer sport enthusiasts).

Often at international Games, Canadian athletes have provided themselves with opportunities to play with each other while seldom playing FOR each other. It’s difficult, I know, to take time to attend other teams’ competitions, but perhaps if we had more personal bonds in addition to our national bond, time could be made to support each other just once during the course of a meet.

Has this view caused a reaction in you? Then let me know! Space is being provided for this in the column. “Gross Tid Bits and Replies” is intended to help us gain an identity — hopefully. It can only work as well as all of you athletes, coaches and officials want to assist in making it work.

“Tid Bits” will focus on what athletes are currently doing outside the competitive sphere. If you’d like to know about another athlete, this will be the place to find out—providing information is sent in so that a sort of “class notes” can be established. “Replies” will answer information requests and air viewpoints on contentious issues. Crude, ignorant, flippant and otherwise silly letters are guaranteed not to be printed, unlikely to be responded to, but probably whole-heartedly enjoyed by yours truly and the editorial staff.

I am acquainted with many of you, a circumstance I hope you won’t hold against the aim of this article which is to try something to help us create a Canadian inter-athlete identity. It can be done with a little effort — let’s try!

GROSS TID BITS . . .

Our star pentathlete, Diane Jones (sixth in Montreal, 1976) was married last year. It appears she was looking for a good tight end when she chose Edmonton Eskimos’ John Konihowski . . . Retired swimmer Bruce Robertson (silver and bronze medallist in Munich 1972, world champion 1973, and member of ’76 team) is working in the Ottawa office of Price, Waterhouse & Co., a large international chartered accountancy firm. While working, Bruce is studying for his C.A. exams . . . Ian Gordon (long-time national rowing team member including ’76 Olympics) will be married in June in Thunder Bay to Kim Brown (a spare for the ’77 rowing team). Seems they met and started going out only four days into the first joint training camp last summer . . . Canoeist John Wood (silver medallist in Montreal, ’76) is working as a promotions co-ordinator for Labatt’s Ontario Breweries. Still in hard training, I wonder if he’s using ‘50’ repeats as part of his program . . .

. . . and REPLIES

Dear Sir: Where can I write or phone to: (1) obtain information on (a) programs in sport and, (b) athletes? (2) express my opinion on happenings around the amateur sporting world? (3) inform others of what I am doing?

Joe and Jane Athlete, Official, Coach, Volunteer etc.

Send correspondence to:

George A. Gross, c/o “CHAMPION” — 10th floor,

25 McArthur Road, Vanier, Ontario K1L 8B9.

(613) 741-7672.