Opinions - Everyone's Got One

Okay. I know you've all heard stories about "long lost cousins" showing up on big lottery winners' doorsteps. And Oprah Winfrey once said she stopped reading her fan mail because she gets so many sob-story requests for money. It seems like everyone wants a piece of someone else's action; which leads me to this next story.

You've got a lot more rea$on$ to $mile, $id!

TheChronicleHerald.ca posted an article by Josh Visser in which the author asks Cole Harbour residents, most of whom are under the age of 16, what they believe Sid should do with the money he'll earn from his contract extension. Ummmm, yeah... I have two words for you, Mr. Visser - JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY. Go find some. Is there nothing going on in Sidneyland™ that is more interesting than this? Last time I checked, SIDNEY earned that money, not his former neighbors. Who honestly cares what Joe Blow down the street thinks Sid should buy? (And why did it surprise me that most of the answers were requests, not suggestions?)

Well, since I brought it up, here's just a few of the most ridiculous "suggestions":

• "He could get Hannebury Drive a pave," Karen Costello said, referring to the street the hockey star grew up on.

Yeah, because every multimillionaire teenager can't wait to purchase blacktop.

• "Cole Harbour doesn’t have an outdoor rink," Steve Mac-Donald hinted. "He should spend it on something he loves."

Uh huh, but is that a rink for Sidney or for YOU?

• "Sidney should buy me a bunch of cookies," said Josh Kendall, 14.

Uh, are you freaking KIDDING ME?

• "And Cole Harbour needs a McDonald’s," said Ashley Sweet, 12, snacking on a rival restaurant’s fries.

For some reason, I just can't picture Sid in a "Fry Guy" costume...

Look, I for one hope Sidney will follow the example of some of his peers (Mario Lemieux, Daniel Briere, Cam Neely) and share some his his vast wealth with others who are less fortunate. He can't possibly spend all that money himself, anyways. But, um, shouldn't we let Sidney decide what Sidney wants to do with Sidney's money?

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Don't forget: you have until July 19 to submit suggestions for the nickname vote! A big thank you to all of you who have sent one in already. I've gotten some good ones. :)