Can we speculate on who the olympic flame lighter will be?

The Game Room
1

So, we’ve invited Arnold Schwarzenegger to be one of the final torch-bearers on Friday. Why? I don’t know of any other reason than publicity, and ratings, but there you have it.

Also included in the final leg are Walter Gretzky (Wayne’s father), astronaut Julie Payette, singer Jann Arden and former hockey player Richard Brodeur.

Guesses?

I don’t think it will be Wayne Gretzky, although he was the GM of Canada’s 2002 gold medal team at Salt Lake.

It won’t be a politician.

What about home town boy (well, from close by) Michael J Fox? Would we do that?

2

Well, Wayne Gretzky is certainly the GREATEST Canadian athlete ever, but I don’t know that people tend to associate him with the Olympics. Yes, I know he has genuine Olympic ties and experience, but when you think of Gretzky, you DON’T think of the Olympics first, any more than we in the USA associate Larry Bird or Michael Jordan with the Olympics (though both WERE Olympians).

My feeling is, if you’re going to pick an NHL star, it ought to be Gordie Howe (even Gretzky could get behind that).

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a great Olympian, I’d pick Cindy Klassen, who’s Canada’s top Winter Olympian ever.

But those are just opinions. I have no idea who WILL light the torch. But if it’s Gretzky, I certainly can’t object to that.

3

Gretsky makes sense. He’s the closest analog to Muhammad Ali that Canada can muster.

4

I really hope it’s Alan Thicke, I loved him on Animal Crackups.

5

Bob and Doug McKenzie. Bob pulls Doug’s finger, and the flame lights.

6

Terrence and Phillip could do a better job of that.

7

Kanye West.

“Yo, Gretzky, I’ma let you finish, but Muhammad Ali was the greatest torch lighter of all time. OF ALL TIME!”

8

Bryan Adams?

9

Let Red Green come up with some jack-eyed Rube Goldberg device to get the party started proper.

10

Mel Lastman. He’s such a gasbag, all he has to do is breathe on the torch and the flame will be ignited.

11

Oooh, how about Don Cherry? His suit will cause the flame to spontaneously ignite.

Edited to add a few illustrative photos:

http://blogs.watoday.com.au/executive-style/allmenareliars/don-cherry.jpg

12

Canadian Cage Match. Winner lights the torch.

I pick Shatner.

13

Ha! This does work much better as a joke thread. But what are we going to do, run through all known Canadians? Who’s next? Donald Sutherland? Neil Young?

14

My money’s on Rick Hansen.

15

Never mind. Apparently he carried it this morning. Ah, rats.

16

Gretzky

17

The rumoured short list is:

Wayne Gretzky
*Betty Fox - Mother of Terry Fox
Nancy Green - 1968 Gold and Silver skiing medalist
*Does anyone outside of Canada know who Terry Fox was?

18

It’s amazing what you can do with a tablecloth.

19

Yes.

20

I do and I think that would be an awesome choice.