https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Melnyk
He died on March 28, 2022, due to an undisclosed illness at the age of 62.
Melnyk was born in Toronto, Ontario, on May 27, 1959, the son of Ferdinand and Verna Melnyk, who were both born in Ukraine. He was a Canadian citizen and also a resident of Barbados.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/world/melnyk-leads-boycott-of-world-cup-sponsors
Melnyk leads boycott of World Cup sponsors
Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is spearheading an international movement to boycott the products of major sponsors, including Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch InBev, until the 2018 World Cup is moved away from Russia.
Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is spearheading an international movement to boycott the products of major sponsors, including Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch InBev, until the 2018 World Cup is moved away from Russia.
Melnyk, always outspoken about Russia’s invasion into Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, is livid at the hypocrisy of FIFA — soccer’s governing body — for allowing the country to stage the tournament while Russian president Vladimir Putin is waging war.
“(Putin) has no right to have that,” Melnyk, chairman of the Advisory Committee for United with Ukraine, said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
Melnyk suggests Putin is trampling on the tournament ideals of global unity and peace.
“It goes against every possible theme of soccer and the World Cup and what it’s supposed to stand for,” he said.
By targeting chief sponsors, United with Ukraine is hoping that the lost profits and sense of global awareness will eventually result in FIFA moving the tournament. A statement released by the organization Wednesday said it is “asking FIFA’s partners to take a firm and principled stand and demand FIFA immediately re-assign the 2018 World Cup to a more deserving nation.”
The organization already does have some international support. In March, United States senators Mark Kirk (Illinois) and Dan Coats (Indiana) called for FIFA to move the World Cup away from Russia in 2018, as well as to remove Russia from the upcoming World Cup. The 2014 tournament will be played in Brazil from June 12 to July 13.
A pair of Russian parliamentarians immediately responded by suggesting the United States should be banned from the 2014 World Cup, citing American military actions and human rights violations.
But Melnyk is dedicated to the cause.
“It’s gaining traction as we speak,” said Melnyk. “I think it will be impactful. This will be relentless. It will go on for as long as it takes. It’s well funded and very well organized and then you mix in the passion of the people involved.”
Melnyk’s parents escaped Ukraine and met in Toronto in the early 1950’s and he grew up hearing countless stories about the Soviet invasion of their homeland. His paternal grandmother was thrown out of her home by Soviet officials. Melnyk has supported a variety of causes and charities in Ukraine. He distrusts Putin and worries about the country’s future.
On Wednesday, he repeated a statement he said months ago that Putin appears to be following Adolph Hitler’s plan for advancing through Europe.
Ukraine elected Petro Poroshenko as its new president last week, giving hope that tensions could calm down, but Melnyk isn’t convinced.
“I really believe that this is a lull in the action,” he said. “This is the way the playbook ran with Hitler. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
He praises Canada’s political leaders, including Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird, for being outspoken about what’s happening in Ukraine and says his boycott stance is the best way he can make a difference.
“To me, it’s very personal in many ways. The fact is, I can help. I can’t stand in the centre of Kiev and march, but if I can assist, I will.”
The Senators owner says the rest of the world has to wake up to what’s happening.
“We need everybody,” he said. “We need the U.S. We need the (European community). Unless (Putin) is stopped now, he’s going to pick up half of Ukraine, then roll into the other half, and then into Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland.”
>He died on March 28, 2022, due to an undisclosed illness at the age of 62.
https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/senators-owner-eugene-melnyk-pledges-support-for-ukraine-in-open-letter
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/12/22/ukrainiancanadians_answering_call_of_the_homeland.html
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/sens-owner-melynk-urges-canadian-action-on-ukraine/article17626045/
>Jada has a Facebook show called Red Table Talk, where she talks about a variety of topics, some of which are her sex life. In a recent episode, Jada talked about her first threesome. Oh, did I mention that Jada’s co-hosts on Red Table Talk are her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris and her daughter Willow Smith. Awkward.
>is this Russian Disinformation that the liberal media accused Senator Johnson and myself of?