Why don't they let living Canadians compete.

I nominate Steve Smith.

I realize my jazz preference is showing, but how about Oscar Peterson?

Come to think of it, with names like Paul Bley, Oliver Jones, Maynard Ferguson, Moe Koffman and others, Canada is more of a jazz powerhouse than most fans (or non-fans) might realize. I'll take them over Neil Young any day of the week.

Do the McKenzie brothers count as one entry?

I nominate Lorne Greene.

As I commented here some weeks back, that was one of the most decent shows ever broadcast on TV. And why Ray Romano can go suck eggs...

That symbol of all things Canadian-- Dudley Do-Right.

Actually, what about Yousuf Karsh, one of the world's greatest portrait photographers? His shot of Winston Churchill in the Canadian Commons, taken in ten seconds with an uncooperative subject, is one of the most definitive photos of a politician ever taken.

These sorts of contests are never going to satisfy everyone.

That being said, those Canadians who, in Teheran in 1979, helped American hostages escape from captivity should never be forgotten.

Pam Anderson's getting her US citizenship.

Either William Shatner or Bret Hart.

Ali beat me to it: Shatner uber alles.

Peter B. 'Nuff said.

I nominate Lennox Lewis and Greg Rusedski as the greatest Canadian sportsmen stolen by the British.

Although Rusedski is only considered to be British when he's playing well. In the eyes of the great Wimbledon-watching public, the more he loses, the more Canadian he gets.

Brit:

Who?

Brit:

We had a similar experience with Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who suddenly became Jamaican when he failed his dope test.

Thank you very much, Jefferson. I'm honoured, but I'm sure David would counsel you to always beware of Canadian perfidy. Once all the fallout from Durban, 9/11, the intifada and the war on terror has been taken care of, me and my buddies are going back to planning our invasion of New Hampshire over softwood lumber.

Not even a competition. Neil Peart by a mile--er, kilometer.

John Barrett - add the great guitarist Ed Bickert to your list, and, of course, Diana Krall.

Ali - Although Greztky has to win if this is a serious vote, I'd vote for Shatner with my tongue firmly in cheek.

OJ:

Quite.

Rusedski is a tennis player of mediocre ability and acheivement, but notable for having (at one time anyway) the fastest serve in the game.

He recently failed a drugs test and instantly became extremely Canadian, but then had the ruling overturned and regained some Britishness.

Canadian perfidy is one of the biggest threats we face. Knowing that an armed invasion could be turned back by any random American Cub Scout, the perfidious Canadians have secretly sent their greatest news readers, comedians and jazz musicians to undermine this great country. (They've also sent hockey players, but our strategic indifference to hockey has tripped them up.) But we are fighting back. The push for French is secretly backed by the CIA, insuring that Canadians will not long be able to pass for real Americans.

Peter,

I believe that the current version of the Roadmap involves the U.S. pulling its settlements out of Maine and N.H. and then building a security wall. No need for an invasion, ya'll can have New Hampshire.

Red Green.

David:

On rereading, I see that you missed the tone of lighthearted railery at which you were aiming.

Canada can have Vermont, too, as long they end the occupation of B.C and Alberta.

Hey, you're the one who dragged me into this.

And to think, our forebears were content to demand 54-40 or fight, when all along our moles in London were making sure we'd get all the way to 60...

And it turns out that the word is "raillery".

Bob & Doug MacKenzie, Eh?

(Koo roo koo koo koo koo koo kooooo --
Koo roo koo koo koo koo koo kooooooooooo...)

Brit:

Tennis? Oh how the mighty have fallen....

Mark Steyn

OJ:

I pity you and your sorry American notion of what consitutes 'sport.'

You fail to understand that the true British gentleman can hold his own in a discussion of any game under the sun: from tennis to rugger, from billiards to pigsticking.

Not only that, but he can actually turn his hand to any of them, whether it's opening the batting for the local cricket team, or holding an end up on the real-tennis court. And all strictly amateur of course.

Sport is not about overpaid professionals whining about the type of grass on the fairways, or whether their latest mulitmillion dollar sponsorship deal includes enough free Rolexes.

Nor is it about middle-aged men spending years on the sofa, whittering about such arcane nonsense as full-time bullpen catchers, and feeling their buttocks growing softly beneath them.

Brit:

Of course you can play any of them--anyone can. My four year old daughter could play World Cup soccer. We like sports that require talent.

Good Lord, in which case I'd get your daughter over to Blighty now. Manchester United will pay her up to £60,000 a week if she's really of world-class standard.

You're sitting on a goldmine, man.

She's strictly forbidden slumming.

And I don't suppose you let her have a vote on the matter.

Not till she's married.

I was going to say Hank Snow until genecis reminded me of Red Green.

Stompin' Tom Connors! The folk singer so Canadian he requested Capitol Records not to sell his albums in America.