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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 28, 2012 · 26 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) email sports@oakvillebeaver.com Gala-vanting Sorry, Adam, but your tweets are in fact news dam van Koeverden's passion and competitiveness have served him well over the years. They have helped him become one of Canada's greatest Olympians. Friday night, the paddler let those usually admirable traits get the better of him. While cheering for his alma mater -- McMaster University, which was playing the University of Laval in the Vanier Cup -- the four-time Olympic medalist tweeted, "I hate Laval. I went there one time and just really hated it. You suck Laval. I really don't like you." Then capped it with, "Nothing personal, but F--- you." Any politician who tweeted that would probably be out of work today. Is it fair to hold an Olympic athlete to the same standards as a politician? In this case, yes. Van Koeverden's status as an Olympian has afforded him many opportunities, like recognition on the field prior to Friday's game. He has used his status to do many good things ­ he recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the charity Right to Play. At the same time, he must recognize there is another side to the equation, which includes being held to a higher standard. Van Koeverden is one of McMaster's most wellknown graduates and a former valedictorian. As such, he is a representative of his school. He has twice carried the flag for Canada, making him a representative of his country and his sport. Van Koeverden is a thoughtful, well-informed, intelligent person. He surely recognizes the political climate in his own country and must know the implications such a public statement about a Quebec school would have. In response to several critical tweets, van Koeverden said that he is a passionate fan who wanted his school to win and that his comments were taken out of context. Saturday, he issued an apology, also via Twitter: "Sorry if I offended anyone. Je suis désolé pour mon choix de mots. (I am sorry for my choice of words.) I was just cheering at a football game, nothing more. Have a great day!" When van Koeverden won his silver medal at this summer's Olympics, a couple hundred of his fellow club members gathered in the early morning hours to watch him compete. They are competitive people, many of whom have raced nationally or internationally. They are extremely proud of the athlete they have paddled alongside on Sixteen Mile Creek. And yet when they were watching him compete at See Twitter, page 27 A ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG THE EDGE: Skate Oakville's Oakville Edge senior team performs its routine during the club's Gala of Synchronized Skating Sunday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Seven other Edge teams skated at the event, as did several local dance teams as well as Canadian national teamers Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill. For a slideshow of the event, log onto http://bit.ly/TjWPNE Grey Cup champ unsure how to feel By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Growing up, Joel Reinders never dreamt of what it would be like to win the Grey Cup. Like many Canadian youngsters, his largest sports ambition was to triumphantly hoist the Stanley Cup. Second choice likely would have something basketball-related, like the NBA's Larry O'Brien Trophy, considering Reinders starred in that sport at King's Christian Collegiate and played two years of university basketball for the Waterloo Warriors. So, shortly after twice lifting the Grey Cup over his head following the Toronto Argonauts' 35-22 win over the Calgary Stampeders in Sunday's CFL championship game at the Rogers Centre, Reinders wasn't quite sure how to feel. "I don't think it's hit me yet that we're Grey Cup champions. Four years ago, this wouldn't have even been in my dreams. I couldn't have imagined anyJoel Reinders thing like this happening," said the 25-year-old offensive tackle, who was utilized on the Argos' extra-point, field-goal and short-yardage units Sunday. "I was on the basketball team at Waterloo, just going through the motions. Then stuff happened." That `stuff' included being first introduced to competitive football at the age of 21. Reinders, who had quit the Waterloo basketball team after two seasons, had bulked up to more than 250 pounds. A friend suggested Reinders consider the gridiron, and Reinders suited up for the Warriors football team the following fall as an offensive lineman. Two years and 60-odd "Four years ago, this pounds later, Reinders was selected in the 2010 Canadian wouldn't have even Football League draft. The been in my dreams. I NFL's Cleveland Browns, couldn't have imagined intrigued by a YouTube video anything like this showing highlights from the happening." eight football games Reinders had played at Waterloo, invited King's Christian Collegiate him for a tryout. Reinders, grad Joel Reinders who battled through a foot injury at Cleveland's training camp, was one of the Browns' last cuts. And earlier this year, Reinders was once again a late cut from an NFL team, this one the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. After mulling over his options, Reinders chose to sign with the Argos at the end of August. Sunday's contest was, by Reinders' count, just the 17th football game of his life -- at any level. "Throughout my journey, there have been so many things that happened that brought me to this point," said the 6-foot-8, 315-pounder. "I got hurt in Cleveland, which was incredibly See Reinders, page 27