Justin and Sid

We thought we had run into Sidney Crosby in a shopping mall the other day, but it turned out to be merely a life-size cardboard replica of Sid the Kid. Not long after that, we found ourselves face to face--well, not quite face to face, due to height differences--with Justin Bieber. Another stand-up cardboard cutout.

We were reminded of an incident involving Al Pollard, one-time BC Lions running back and CKLG sportscaster. Al had taken on a job as manager of Oscar's Steak House on Georgia Street in Vancouver. In the lobby was a life-size image of Al in his Lions uniform. One evening, a couple of patrons who may have over-spent their time at the bar kidnapped the cardboard statue and began lugging it across the street to the Ritz Hotel. Enraged, Al took off across Georgia, dodging traffic the way he had dodged tackles, and brought down the miscreants on the steps of the Ritz. Satisfied, he tucked his cardboard self under one arm and walked back through the traffic to Oscar's--where, we hope, the crowd cheered and bought him a drink.

Note to fans: the cardboard cut-outs of Justin and Sid do not sign autographs.