REBAGLIATI BLOWING SMOKE

Dear Ross Rebagliati:

I'm beginning to think you fibbed about that whole second -hand smoke thing.

Surrounded yesterday by a throng of media-types and cameras -- not to
mention the hundreds of squealing women and children standing in line for a
chance to meet you -- your judgment seemed a bit cloudy when asked how your
life had changed since finding the pot of gold in Nagano.

"I don't think my life has changed much at all," smiled our latest Canadian
hero.

C'mon, Ross.

You mean an afternoon at the ol' Whistler Plaza often meant having to hire
extra security so you weren't mobbed by 5,000 autograph seekers?

Are you trying to say the life of a boarder often entails having to hire
Wayne Gretzky's high-powered agent to juggle your interview schedule and
land you a lucrative part-time job at Roots?

Do 10 women typically propose to you every month?

Has the mere sight of you entering a mall been making women weep for a long
time?

Geez, I never realized you often took a private jet from Vancouver to
Aspen, Colo., as part of your sponsorship tours.

Wow.

Well, in light of the incredible spotlight you've been dealing with all
your snowboarding life, I must say I'm stoked about heading to the hills to
catch me some air and one of them big fat endorsement deals like yours.

Of course, over the years it must've been tiring having to constantly
appear on The Tonight Show, The Open Mike Show and then having to jet
across the country to be a presenter at the Junos.

But that's old hat to you.

Speaking of hats, that floppy little Roots number you and your Olympic
teammates wore caused quite a stir.

At one point, they tell me, there were over 100,000 on back order.

However, as you saw yesterday, dozens of people were able to buy the $40
cap or a $20 T-shirt with your photo on it at the TD Square Roots store,
where you signed autographs for two hours.

I guess you expected they had lined up long before you arrived.

With 5,000 fans of all ages showing up Saturday in Toronto and 3,000 in
Mont Tremblant, it's clear the majority of Canadians don't have a problem
with your admission to smoking dope in the recent past.

Neither do I.

In fact, I said from Day 1 of the controversy that Canadians should all be
proud of you.

Of course, some of your jealous teammates say you're selling out by signing
a four-year deal with Roots and making appearances based on your famed drug
involvement.

That's nonsense.

Truth is, you know the controversial stripping and justified return of the
gold in Nagano likely added to your teen idol status.

I admire the way you've made no excuses for your past and are careful not
to endorse or shun pot smoking.

You simply tell kids they need to be responsible for their own actions and
that what they do now will have an effect on their futures.

You're a perfect example that a drug-user can quit and be successful.

Ross, we cheered when you won, we agonized and debated during the appeal,
and we were relieved when you got to keep your gold. Canada is proud of
you.

But, please don't tell me your life hasn't changed. It makes it sound like
you're back on the weed.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It's unbelievable. I'm surrounded by crying girls, excited snowboarders
and proud parents ... everybody is getting into this." -- Ross Rebagliati
in Toronto Saturday

Copyright (c) 1998, Canoe Limited Partnership.