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Late 1977. Roger Peart receives a call from the president of the Fédération Automobile Québécoise. Its the Labatt beer company, the then-title sponsor of the Canadian Grand Prix held annually at Mosport near Toronto. They want to know if Montreal can host a Formula One race. "Great question," says Peart, who then asks for a little time for reflection — 30 minutes to be precise. "I first thought of Île Notre-Dame. Then, I looked at a route that would start and end at the Olympic Stadium, but that would have been devilishly complicated to implement. I even looked at [building a track at] Laval." "We didnt have to go far down those roads," says Peart. "The first idea was always going to be the best." After 30 minutes, he phoned his interlocutor back to tell him yes, Montreal could accommodate a full-fledged Formula One Grand Prix, and that the best venue was Île Notre-Dame – a man-made island built to host Expo 67 a decade earlier – if for no other reason than its excellent access to public transit. The timing was perfect. Montreals then-Mayor Jean Drapeau had just announced that the artificial island would be devoted to sporting events, while the neighbouring nature-made Île Sainte-Hélène would host cultural-type events. By April 1978, Montreals city council had accepted the idea of a racetrack — "on the express condition that it cost the taxpayers nothing," recalls Peart. Peart, an engineer, is well-known in the world of international racing. Over the past five decades, he has not only competed as a driver (largely in amateur races) but has monitored and inspected racing circuits all over the world. Now 80-years-old, Peart is still president of the Canadian National Sports Authority (ASN Canada), and the only sports commissioner in the country recognized by the Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA), Formula Ones governing body. Unsurprisingly, it was Peart who was given the mandate to design the Île Notre-Dame track, which would need to meet Formula Ones rigid standards. The Briton, who was then living in Montreal (he now calls Ontario home), still remembers the moment he went to first inspect what would become Canadas most famed racetrack. Mother Nature had dropped a major snowfall on top of the island, forcing him to develop the initial drafts without even being able to inspect the actual ground he was surveying. "I remember those days at my cottage in Saint-Sauveur in the Laurentians; when skiing conditions were poor, I drew up plans, plans and plans again." The challenge was more than he expected. "First, I had to ignore the old pavilions of the Expo 67 scheduled for demolition. Then I had to deal with some elements – the lake and park in the center, the river on one side, the Olympic basin on the other – that were obviously there to stay." "There wasnt much space and I had to fit a circuit in there, with rights and turns." Despite the challenges, the track, by and large, remains almost the same as Peart originally designed it. The buildings to the east of the island, where the boathouse was situated and where the hairpin turn is still today, were originally used as the pits. One weekend a year, the boats would then give way to the F1 cars — "It was an economical solution," recalls Peart. Because of the impracticality of this arrangement, new pits have subsequently been built in their current location, to the west, just before the Senna turn. This is the most significant change in the circuits 36-year history, a testimony to the excellence of Pearts original design. "Everything Was Going Too Fast!" The construction of the circuit that would later bear the name of Gilles Villeneuve was executed in record time. "It was a crazy time," says Peart. "Everything was going too fast!" After a winter spent developing the best possible layout, the British engineer travelled to Europe to attain approval for the plans by the FIA. By May 1978, after a meeting in Monaco, approval was granted and the construction began shortly thereafter, in July 1978. The first F1 race was held barely three months later. A Fairy Tale for All Sunday, October 8, 1978. The first of 35 Grand Prix of Canada races to be held on the new Circuit Île-Notre-Dame – its been held there every year since 78, except in 1987 during a sponsorship dispute between Labatt and Molson, and in 2009 when event funding became an issue – unfolds like a fairy. Its a fairy tale for Peart, who, serving as the race director, gets to hear firsthand from racers like Jackie Stewart that "his circuit" is "a little paradise in the middle of a great river." Its also a fairy tale for the Quebec public. In a race seemingly scripted by the gods of motor racing, Quebecs own Gilles Villeneuve takes the inaugural checkered flag in his Ferrari to the delight of more than 72,000 excited spectators. Its Villeneuves first win in 19 races, and he receives his much-deserved trophy from Prime Minister Pierre-Elliot Trudeau. For Ferrari, it is the companys first success in eight years. The track would be renamed in 1982 to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in honour of its first champion after Villeneuve tragically died in a crash during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix 36 Years Later: Peart Still Hasnt Missed a Race A technical track - Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve requires full concentration at all times and leaves little room for error. It is a circuit of long fast rights, interrupted by tight corners where, even today, the tires, brakes, engines and transmissions are strained to their limits. However, "unlike so many other F1 racetracks, Montreal has several opportunities for overtaking," says Peart. "That means the races are always exciting." Peart has not missed a Canadian Grand Prix since 1978. He watches every race from the control tower, as one of the three sports commissioners delegated by the FIA. This year will be the first exception as Peart has delegated his position to another steward — hell still be there, just with a different view. And if you happen upon him and ask if, after all these years, he would change anything about his original design? Hell tell you that, to this day, throughout the world, he has never seen a track as perfect. Encounter With A Young Gilles Villeneuve Early 1970s. Peart is, at the time, chief instructor at the Fédération Automobile du Québec, when as he recalls, "a quiet little man from Berthierville comes to see me." "He wanted to drive race cars. I asked him about his experience, and he replied that he was racing, of all things, snowmobiles. "As our summer events were all finished, I suggested he rent [some time at] Sanair [Super Speedway], bring along a car and we would see what kind of automobile racer he would make." "The day he showed up with his brothers Mustang, I had to leave for a business appointment. But I asked a fellow instructor to work with him and give me a report. Later in the day, the instructor called me, excitedly saying, Hey, boss, we may have something here!" "Each and every lap, the young Gilles Villeneuve was faster than his instructor. Obviously, we gave him his racing license." "I remember that to thank me, he wanted to give me a five-dollar tip." Via www.Autofocus.ca Cheap Nike Shox Fre Shipping . -- The Denver Broncos retired John Elways No. Cheap Nike Shox China . -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has a broken bone below his right eye after being struck by a bad-hop grounder, sidelining the star slugger for at least a week with opening day on deck. http://www.cheapnikeshox.net/. The Toronto Blue Jays general manager made a series of bold moves that reshaped the club ahead of what would turn out to be a disastrous 2013 campaign. Cheap Nike Shox . Louis Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia will have surgery on his left shoulder this week and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Wholesale Nike Shox .Y. -- The "for sale" sign is up at the Buffalo Bills with the hiring of financial and legal advisers who may begin talking with prospective buyers within the next month.TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips answers several questions each week. This week, topics include fallout from Marcus Stroman throwing at Caleb Joseph, whos primed to bounce back in the AL East in 2015, the Los Angeles Angels emerging as American League favourites and Derek Jeters exit from the game. 1. Did Torontos Marcus Stroman have to throw at Caleb Joseph on Monday after it appeared Jose Reyes overreacted to the play at the plate? And why would he appeal the decision now, when youre out of the race, rather than just get it over with before next year? It is so hard being a major league pitcher, sometimes. Those darn unwritten rules can bite you in the behind. Nobody has to say anything - you just know. When one of your stars has a beef with the other team and he has been attacked, it is up to the pitcher to show he is a good teammate. The way a pitcher shows he is a good teammate is to throw at the individual player involved in the beef or the other teams star. When Jose Reyes believed he was intentionally stomped on when sliding in to the plate, Orioles catcher, Caleb Joseph, suddenly had a target on his back. Fortunately, Marcus Stroman missed his target and the pitch soared past the head of Joseph. That is a no-no. Pitchers should never throw at an opponents head. A beaning can end someones career or even kill them. Based upon the circumstances, I understand why the umpires and Commissioner Bud Selig believe the pitch was intentional and why he was suspended. When there is a bad blood, the primary participants are the focus of the umpires attention and protection. Stroman has remained steadfast in his claim that there was no intent in the pitch that almost domed Joseph. He is appealing because he truly didnt mean to throw at Joseph. It makes no sense otherwise. If he intended to do it, he should just accept the respect of his teammates and his punishment. Missing six games when you have already been eliminated is painless. If you do the crime, you have to serve the time. He will lose his appeal and sit for six games sooner or later. 2. Aside from Baltimore, the entire AL East underperformed this year. Who among the Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox and Rays is best suited to turn it around in 2015? This has been a down year for the AL East. It has long been the best division in basebal,l but not this season. Over the years, the spending and success of the Yankees and Red Sox caused every other AL team, particularly in the AL East, to spend more and add power. For almost two decades, everyone in the AL chased the Yankees and Red Sox. The last time the Yanks and Sox both missed the playoffs in the same season was 1993. The Rays, before this season, have had nice run of competitiveness for a small market team and the Jays have the power bats to slug with anyone. Every team has flaws of some sort. Teams that make the playoffs tend to have fewer flaws or they have enough impact in some areas of the game to compensate for their weakness in another. Of the four AL East non-playoff teams the one with the best chance to sit on top next year is very difficult to predict. It will take good general managing to fix all of these teams. The Rays are going to depend upon the growth and development of their young players. They are hoping for a healthy season for key players like Matt Moore, Wil Myers and Desmond Jennings. They wont have money to spend in the free agent market, so they have to hope Joe Maddon can rebuild the young roster into a competitive one. The Red Sox started the reconstruction process early. The Jon Lester and John Lackey trades brought them Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig that immediately improved an offence that lacked punch from the right side. But by trading Lackey, Lester and Jake Peavy, they left themselves with huge holes in a rotation that already wasnt good enough. I expect the Sox to be players in the free agent market for Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields for sure. The Yankees need an overhaul. Joe Girardi gets as much out of his roster as any manager. The reality is that the Yanks need offence, defence and pitching. They will have gaping holes at second base and shortstop, as well as an aging Mark Teixeira and a returning Alex Rodriguez to third base. The pitching staff has fallen off significantly, as CC Sabbathia is half the pitcher he used to be and Masahiro Tanakas great first half and career is now clouded by a tear in his elbow. The Yanks have money to spend, but too many holes to solve all their needs in one off-season. That leaves the Jays. The Jays are in their window to win. They have a first-place offence and some first-place pitchers. They need an ace, though. They need the guy who will keep them out of the losing streak because he is the stopper. He wins after a loss. That pitcher will cost money and lots of it. It seems remote that the Jays will be big spenders in the free agent market, but if they get an ace they have a legitimate chance to win the division. So, here are my predictions for next year. The team that is closest to being the team to beat next year is the Jays. They have balance and depth in every component of the game, except starting pitching. The Red Sox and Yankees need starters too but they both have other significant offensive needs as well. The one advantage that the Yanks and Sox have is that they have money to get what they need. The Jays most likely do not have money to spend. The Rays will be competitive, but they dont have enough offence to support their good young arms. 3. Since June 6, the Los Angeles Angels have been on fire, posting a 63-29 record (.684 winning percentage) and have skyrocketed to an 11-1/2 game lead in the AL West over the Oakland Athletics. Their overall record of 95-57 is the best in the majors as well. Are the Angels the favourites to win the World Series this year or are they a team who has a lot of success in the regular season and then falters in the playoffs? The Angels had huge expectatiions in 2012 after signing Albert Pujols.dddddddddddd They had even bigger expectations last year when they added Josh Hamilton. But both years, they were dismal failures. This season has been absolutely remarkable. The Angels are playing Angels baseball again. They are fundamentally sound. They take the extra bases. The Angels are the best at going first to third on a single. They score from first on doubles. They are a solid defensive team. They make plays. They have pitched better than expected. I knew Jared Weaver and CJ Wilson would be high quality starters, but there were real questions about the rest of the rotation. Garrett Richards took advantage of the opportunity that he finally got and became the ace of the staff. When Richards went down to injury, Matt Shoemaker emerged and rounded out the rotation. In fact, after the loss of Richards, the Angels played even better than they had already been playing. Mike Scioscia reconfigured and developed his bullpen on the fly during the season and he is one of the best at managing the bullpen. Offensively, the Angels are the highest scoring offence in the AL. They have the AL MVP in Mike Trout and a former MVP in Pujols. They have gotten significant contributions from veteran middle infielders Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar, as well. Sciosca has done a nice job blending in some young players, as well. Youngsters, CJ Cron and Kole Calhoun are important to their line-up as they add length, depth and power. They clearly have a potent offence. The Angels will end up with the best record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That is certainly a big leg up, as they have the best home record in all of baseball. But I do have a concern about the Angels: starting pitching depth. Without Richards and, possibly, his replacement Shoemaker (strained oblique,) Games 3 and 4 of the playoff series will put them at a disadvantage. I believe the Angels will get to the ALCS and lose to the Detroit Tigers. 4. The Blue Jays lost to the Yankees last night 3-2. Both teams are still mathematically alive for a wild card spot, but the odds are remote that either will get there. So, effectively, both teams are just playing out the string. In Thursday nights one-run win, the Yankees got a solo home run from Derek Jeter. In and of itself, not a huge deal, since he has hit 260 in his career, but it does exemplify Jeters career. This is the final road trip of the Jays season or, more appropriately, the final homestand of Derek Jeters career. It is only fitting that he gives Yankee fans something to cheer for. On Wednesday in Tampa, Jeter broke an 0-for-28 slump just in time for his return to New York. He cant finish his final season in pinstripes in a funk. Jeter always seems to get it right and his finishing his career in a flurry sure feels right. Everywhere New York teams go, they are despised by the opposition. They have been the villains in baseball for decades. They win too much or they spend too much or they are too smug or they are just from New York, etc. People found reasons to hate them. Yet the face of baseball has been Derek Jeter over the last two decades. He has endured and been bigger than every distraction. He is bigger than the game. Jeters on-field performance has been remarkable. He has the most hits ever by a Yankee - more than Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. In fact, he has more hits (3,453) than all but five players in the history of the game. He has won five World Series championships. He was the AL Rookie of the Year, All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP. He won the Gold Glove five times and was second in MVP balloting in 2006. Once can make the argument that he was the best shortstop ever. Even for those unwilling to give him that moniker, he is in the top five all-time. He is and always will be a legend in Yankee lore. But Jeters most significant accomplishment is that he has been respected by every teammate and opponent he has ever known. Jeter always did the right thing. He respected the game. He respected umpires and teammates. He respected his closest competitors. He never got caught up in his own hype. He never took the bait to respond inappropriately to any situation. He maintained a respectful and friendly relationship with the media. He has done everything right. There are no perfect people, let alone baseball players, but Jeters career has been perfect. He couldnt have played better. He couldnt have represented the Yankees or the game of baseball better. He is simply amazing. In this day and age of social networking, with Twitter and cameras on phones and all of the other ways that we invade each others privacy, he has never had a misstep. He is always classy and appropriate. He is grateful for what he has and has never taken any aspect of being a big leaguer for granted. Jeter has dated some of the biggest stars and models, yet never a scandal. He treats women with he same respect he treats everyone else. It is not only Yankee fans that will miss Derek Jeter - it is all baseball fans. I will be at Jeters last home game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, September 25. I for one will stand and applaud to show my respect and gratitude for how he played and his success. I will mostly be standing, though, out of gratitude for his representing the game I love with class and dignity. I applaud him for being a role model for so many young kids. We all wish our kids could grow up and be just like him. So please join me in saying, “Thank you, Derek for 20 great seasons. You broke our hearts many times, but we never held it against you because you beat us with grace, class and dignity.” Oh, and by the way, “Good riddance!! Maybe we can win a championship now, too.” ' ' '