Sidelines

An appreciation for community

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Remember sitting in history class wondering how what you were learning was ever going to mean anything to you?

Well, without history we have no point of reference. It's what helps shape the present and future.

Paul DiPasquale appreciates as much as anyone the importance of history, specifically how a community is formed and the role sport plays in it.

It didn't hurt that he grew up playing sports in Trail, generally accepted as the mecca for athletics in B.C. He quickly realized the value of sport, passing those values on to his three children who also became keen and successful athletes in their own right in Richmond.

Executive vice-president of Canaccord Capital, DiPasquale continues to give back to local sport because he believes strongly in it.

"To me it's a foundation," he says. "Kids who are involved in sport, particularly at the high level learn about commitment and dedication and become better citizens in the long run because they learn to get along with others."

DiPasquale is proud of the fact Canaccord Capital is a partner of the Richmond Sockeyes, the local Junior B hockey club that has put Lulu Island on the national map the last few years after second- and third-place finishes at the last two western Canadian championships. He's equally proud the company supports the Sockeyes alumni because, as he says, it's the oldtimers who create the history and tradition that provides the desire on the part of today's youth to be part of the team.

While some people may question what role sport plays in our society, DiPasquale knows its value. He says we just have to give our youth a platform.

That's one of the goals of the Sockeye Alumni. Dormant until two years ago when the team's first captain Doug Paterson felt it was important to revive it, the alumni has successfully held two hockey games (featuring ex-players against the current squad) and on Monday attracted 95 players to its first-ever golf tournament. Funds raised at the hockey games and golf tournament are going toward scholarships for current Sockeye players.

"We still have a passion for the game and this is an opportunity to show that as well as share with the players the successes we had," Paterson says. "Tradition is the essence of life; it's history."

Johns passing up worlds

A sore shoulder that slowed Brian Johns at the Athens Olympics will keep the Richmond swimmer out of action for at least the upcoming world short course championships.

According to the Swim Canada web site, Johns, 21, has opted to pass on the worlds Oct. 7 to 11 in Indianapolis, but hopes to be fully recovered for the 2005 world championships in Montreal.

Johns displayed tremendous grit in Athens, fighting off the injury to place 15th in the men's 400-metre individual medley in a time of four minutes, 21.10 seconds. He was 28th in the 200 individual medley and joined forces with Brent Hayden, Andrew Hurd and Rick Say to help Canada to a fifth-place finish in the four by 200-metre relay. The team's time of 7:13.33 broke the old mark (of which Johns and Say were part of) set at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Johns holds the world short course record in the 400 metre individual medley of 4:02.72 at the Canadian university championships in Victoria in February 2003.

*Richmond rower Darcy Marquardt narrowly missed reaching the podium in Athens. She and partner Buffy Williams placed fourth in the women's coxless pairs final.

After helping Canada qualify for the Olympics as a member of the men's heavyweight eight boat that won the world championship in 2003, Richmond's Kyle Hamilton and his teammates finished a dsiappointing fifth in Athens.

Local softball players Erin White and Kristy Odamura helped Canada's women's team to a fifth-place finish in Athens, matching the best result ever by a Canadian team at the Olympics since their fifth-place finish at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

Walter Wu (swimming) and Ian Chan (wheelchair rugby) are heading to Athens for the Paralympic Games Sept. 18 to Oct. 3.

Slamjam to aid orphanage

Weekend hoops tourney part of Nibbles and Bites

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

He's not a basketball player himself, but Adrian Khoo certainly appreciates the popularity of the hoops game locally.

It's why he and colleagues from the Richmond Interact Club, a community youth group sponsored by Rotary International, are organizing Slamjam. Held in conjunction with the Thompson community centre's annual Nibbles and Bites festival next weekend (Sept. 11 and 12), the outdoor 5-on-5 basketball tournament is a fundraiser for the El Hogar de Amour y Esperanza orphanage in Honduras.

"We're expecting about 16 teams, made up of local (boys) high school players," said Khoo, a Grade 12 student at Richmond High. "The entry fee is $70 per team and we hope to raise about $1,000."

President of the Richmond Interact Club for the past year, Khoo said the basketball tournament is the club's first major fundraiser other than a few food drives. He said he's excited about the opportunity to give something back to the community at large.

"I like helping people and organizing stuff," he said.

Khoo said participants in the tournament, to be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, don't have to be currently playing on a high school team but they should be at least competent in the sport.

To sign up or for more information, check out the website: interact 5040.org/slamjam.

Richmond soccer player climbs up the Canadian ranks

Jodie-Anne Robinson makes her mark

Nick Greenizan, MetroValley News

While she's only 15, Richmond's Jodie-Anne Robinson has been climbing the soccer ranks at a lightning pace.

Six months ago, the Richmond native was tagged to play for Canada's Under-16 squad, but her impressive play also allowed her to suit up for Under-17, Under-19 and senior teams-which hasn't left her much free time. Her senior squad returned earlier this month from Japan, where they played a pair of friendly games against Japanese national sides.

Robinson also plays for B.C.'s provincial team, which played in Saskatchewan and Oregon this summer.

"It's always soccer, soccer, soccer," Robinson, who plays forward and midfield, said. "Even when I get free time I've got to use it to recover and get ready to play soccer again."

She's not complaining.

"It's been really good. I get to travel the world and play different teams," she said. "Japan was definitely my favourite place. It's just so different from home. There are a lot of people there and the environment is just really good. It was really fun to see a different team from the other side of the world."

Ajit Braich, her coach with Team B.C. and the Semiahmoo Spirit, has seen Robinson develop rapidly over the last year.

"She's mentally stronger and she's a lot more mature. She's improved immensely," he said. "The tough part for her is the travelling and still trying to be a 15-year-old."

Hard work is something Robinson knows a lot about.

"If you want something really bad you have to practice hard every day, and do a lot of little things to make yourself better," she says. "It takes a lot of work."

One of the national program's youngest players, Robinson will have plenty of time and opportunity to achieve her goals.

"I want to be a starting player on the senior team and score some goals for my country," Robinson said.