Sports Celebs Fest full of Harts

 It had to have been a little weird earlier this month as WCW and WWF stars competed for attention at the annual Toronto Sports Celebrities Breakfast in aid of Special Olympics.
  On one side, there was Bret 'The Hitman' Hart, WCW star and U.S. champion.
  On the other, was a WWF Canadian contingent, led by WWF Canada president Carl De Marco, Kurrgan, Val Venis, Edge and, adding a little more heart, Owen Hart.
 
 Check out the SLAM! Wrestling gallery for two photos from the event!

Sports Celebs Fest

By TRISHA HICKEY -- Toronto Sun   "Sometime you make a difference by just being there," Olympic gold medalist Mark Tewksbury told sporting greats of the past and present gathered at the Westin Harbour Castle for the annual Sports Celebrities Breakfast in aid of Special Olympics.

The swimmer, who later joined such athletic heroes as the Blue Jays' Carlos Delgado, WCW's Hitman Hart and the Leafs' Curtis Joseph at the festival's star-studded gala auction, said even celebrities sometimes underestimate the value of "ripple effect" created just by putting in an appearance. In return, he said, Special Olympians like skier Michael Young and swimmer Shelley Yamamoto teach us about "compassion and acceptance."

"Special Olympians have shown me there's more to life than meets the eye, and it's up to us to scratch beneath the surface."

Size matters to Val Venis

By JEAN SONMOR -- Toronto Sun  Heads turn as Val Venis strides into the lobby of the Harbour Castle Hotel.

If the name doesn't mean much to you, it probably should. A whole section of the population (mostly under 18) is enthralled by his exploits in the soap opera world of professional wrestling and if he chooses to use that clout, watch out. We are living in an age, don't forget, where Jesse The Body Ventura, already governor-elect of Minnesota, is being touted as a presidential candidate in 2000.

Dec. 20: Full story