Edward Zawadzki

The World According to Eddy Z

It's been a long time since a sports team here in Toronto has generated as much electricity as the Blue Jays have in the past 2 weeks or so. In an exciting and expensive trading flurry that's reminiscent of the Pat Gillick glory days, which saw them win back to back World Series in '92 and ’93, they have dealt for some big name stars at the trade deadline. That will ensure that the Jays will be in a legitimate playoff hunt this season. Acquiring all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies and then ace pitcher David Price from the Tigers has the city going Blue Jay crazy. These acquisitions have definitely made the team a fearsome force to contend with and already in possession of the most explosive offense in the game should make them one of the favorites to win.

Eddies Edge; My Christmas Column

To say the very least, 2014 has been a year both difficult to describe and even more so to forget…

Sick Banners at Seattle's Ferguson Sympathy Protest

I cannot believe the banner displayed at the demonstration in Seattle in support of the Brown family and the tragedy that befell Michael. It seems that some political morons flew the distasteful sign that asked people to condemn Israel and support the Palestinian cause. Now everyone has the right of protest and opinion (even me) no matter how delusional and mindless it may be but to do so just sullies and ruins the very reason that those peaceful protesters gathered.

Cyber Attacks, Massive Snow Falls and Failing Microphones

A news story out of Washington today really caught my attention in a frightful way. It seems that Admiral Michael Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, testified that in his opinion China and 2-3 other world nations are capable of launching massive cyber attacks on the United States that could shut down the power grid and affect all aspects of communication and travel that could paralyze the world's only super power. In fact many informed officials claim that the prospect of such a move is not considered a “what if” scenario but a “when” concern. They feel that such an attack could happen within the next decade. It’s time for the US and their closest allies in Canada, England, Germany, Poland and Israel to take measures to counter such a threat. No time for negotiations and appeasement but time to be ready to powerfully counter such an attack.

Harper and Putin on Ukraine, Gordie Howe

Dr. George Jackowski has in his lifetime become one of the most heralded research scientists in the world today. Dr. Jackowski is the holder of over 160 medical patents for his work, and has quietly affected the health and well-being of much of society today.

Eddie's Edge

Well here it is, my first column back at CFP after a much, much too long hiatus. I am relishing the calm of the pre-dawn morning to be able to collect my thoughts needed to interpret into words my feelings to share. It's October 28th, 2014 and its the day after general municipal elections here in Ontario. Head and shoulders the most highly visible election held yesterday was the highly publicized and anticipated controversial mayor's race here in Toronto. When all the dust settled, it was John Tory, a Liberal posing as a small c conservative, who finally was able to put one in the win column after several unsuccessful stabs at elected office. Tory edged out the tough on taxes, politically incorrect Doug Ford, who stepped into the mayors race last month to replace his ailing brother Rob, the incumbent Mayor who the media love to hate. Rob dropped out of the race to fight an aggressive form of cancer that had attacked his still young 45-year-old body.

An Orphans Bond

The best way to describe my mom Wanda is just to simply say, she's a great gal! Smart, funny, sweet and at times almost girl-like and naïve. Which is incredible when you think about the life that was forced upon her and the fact that on February 14th of this year she celebrated her 94th birthday. My mom was imprisoned in forced labor camps during World War 2, beaten, horse whipped, had rocks thrown at her daily by the dreaded Hitler youth. She told of her attempted escapes, of her running through the forests in her bare feet. She married the love of her life, my beloved dad Walter, who was a Naval officer and the epitome of a gentleman who absolutely adored her. They met while they were in adjoining camps, my dad being a POW. They would fall in love at first sight and marry a few weeks after the end of the war.

Tribute to my Friend Allison Stachyra-RIP

Polesworld.com A couple of weeks ago I met a young lady at the Bloor St. Boxing Club. For those of you who don’t know, along with being an author, I’m also a boxing promoter and broadcaster and am the President of Championship Boxing Inc. Along with my friends Paul Ryan, Richard Souce and John Melich we are starting a new Boxing series called The Toronto Boxing Championships on the Rogers Network. Well this young lady’s name is Ally and man when she walked through the door she took everyone’s collective breath away. She was brought in to meet me so I could arrange to put her in the Toronto Sun as a Sunshine Girl to help promote our event. Within 5 minutes I knew that firstly this was a young woman of not only great beauty but the possessor of a great heart and humor. A young woman of quality!!

Catholic Priests, Marriage, Kate Gosselin breaking down crying, Earthquake in China

With all the controversy of the past several generations involving the Holy Roman Catholic church and the sexual predatory habits of a small group of its clergy, doesn’t it seem archaic and even criminal of the Vatican to continue the tradition of not allowing priests to marry?

Porter airlines, Polish funeral, Larry King divorces

Prime Minister Steven Harper certainly endeared himself to Polish Canadians by attending a memorial service at Maxi Million Kolbe Church in Mississauga, Ontario, honouring the victims of last week's catastrophic plane crash that took the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and almost 100 other dignitaries. The contingent crashed on Russian soil, near their destination of the Katyn forest, where they were to attend a 70th anniverserary of the brutal mass slaying of 22,000 Polish officers and intelligentsia in 1940. Harper's statement that “When Poland grieves. Canada grieves” was poignant and appreciated; a tribute to the many Polish contributions in North America.

Canadians in Afghanistan, The Poles and their impact on North American society

I can’t tell you how proud I am of being a Canadian when reading about the lives of such heroes as every member of the Canadian Armed Forces in harm’s way, gallantly serving not only Canada but every land big or small in the free world in such hotspots as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Farewell Ben Weider

Canada lost one of its greatest and finest on the weekend with the passing of fitness guru, best selling author and renowned Napoleonic scholar, Ben Weider. Joe Weider, Arnold Swarzenneger, Lou Ferrigno, Franco Colombo

Canadian and U.S. Politics and elections

It is really ticking me off on how the Hollywood liberazzi are treating American Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. This incredibly courageous woman, a mother of 5 children, is living proof that she is a person of character who refused to abort her handicapped child whom she considers to be perfect. She has an approval rating of over 80 per cent in the largest state in the union, has run the Alaska’s over 20 thousand employees with an even but firm hand and has negotiated pipeline deals that approach the 50 billion dollar mark.

Olympic roundup and ratings, Russians in Georgia

I'll be the first one to admit that the Chinese deserve applause for the success of this installment of the Summer Olympics. Well planned, efficient and successful in just about every way possible except for one. The entire games, except for a few highlights as Michael Phelps and his 8 swimming gold records and Usain Bolts shattering the 100 and 200 meter marks in track, were an incredible bore. The Games did more to put the world population to sleep than a snout full of ether. It just seemed to lose much of its drama and I believe the time differential and subsequent live TV presentation of events lost a lot of viewers. I'm interested in seeing what the final viewer ratings will be like.

Propane explosion in Toronto, Mistresses and Monsters

I tried to get close to the site of the massive propane explosion in the Keele and Wilson district of northwest Toronto without much success this morning. The area surrounding the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gasses on Murray Rd., which is largely residential, has suffered extensive damage with windows and doors being blown right out of their framework up to a kilometer away.

Farewell Leif Petterson, Welcome back Brett

One of the toughest parts of being a columnist is when you have to write about the loss of someone you know in the all too small world of sports.

Brett Favre, The house that Ruth built, Wimbledon, Tiger Woods

I remember back on March 4rth of this year when I received a text message from one of my NFL sources telling me that Packers great Brett Favre was about to announce his retirement any minute, I turned to my buddy, property management empassario Steve" The Sports Junkie" Stern and told him that I'd bet him that Favre's retirement would last about as long as a Pauly Shore sitcom.

Wimbleton roundup, Hockey, UFC, Baseball

In what was without a doubt the most dramatic and exciting final ever seen at Wimbledon, Spain's Rafael Nadal won an incredible 7-hour marathon (5 on the court, 2 rain delays) over Switzerland's, Roger Federer 6-4  6-4  6-7  6-7  9-7. Federer, who had won Wimbledon five consecutive times was chasing Swedish great Bjorn Borg's record of 6 All-England titles.  

Spain captures title, Turkey captures Heart

Just finished watching the finals of the Euro Cup 08 which saw the side from Spain defeat Germany 1-0 to win their first European championship since 1964. It was a great tournament that certainly had its share of excitement and dramatics. Not taking anything away from either Spain or Germany, but for me the team of the tourney was the side from Turkey. From their incredible last minutes come from behind win over the tough Czechs, to defeating the heavily favored Croatians 4-2 and their heartbreaking last minute loss to Germany, the Turks certainly won over a legion of fans with their heart and determination and for that I'm going to name them my team of Euro 08. It was a great month of world class football and I'd be interested on seeing later this year how the soccer ratings compared to the upcoming Beijing Olympics later this summer. I bet that the 2nd largest football tourney next to the World Cup gives the Olympics a run for its money.

Iranian Grand Poo Bah and American Politics

So it looks like Iranian Grand Poo Bah, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is flapping his gums again, predicting that the Jewish state is about to be wiped from the map and that the fall of the great Satanic power the United States is about to occur with the countdown of the annihilation of the emperor of power and wealth is ready to occur. While Chuckles held the podium, he also announced to the world that he foresees the new" Sex in the City" movie to win big time at the Golden Globes, predicts the Jets blowing out the Rams at the next Super Bowl and a huge Zeppelin tour in 09.