Sid the Kid stand-in a model citizen
By MIKE KOREEN

The next time you watch that Sidney Crosby Gatorade commercial where
everyone is throwing hockey sticks in a pile, take a good look at Sid
the Kid's body.

In parts of the commercial, it belongs to none other than Argos
receiver Michael Palmer.

The University of Guelph graduate, who has made strides in the world
of modelling and acting, is Crosby's body-double in the television ad
and enjoyed working with the Pittsburgh Penguins rookie phenom.

"We were hanging out on the set for two days (in Toronto)," Palmer,
25, said yesterday. "He is cool, man, down to earth, just relaxed like
this team. He's just another dude, you know what I mean?"

Palmer is not a dead-ringer for Crosby, but his ties to the athletic
world and his similar stature (5-foot-10, 187 pounds) helped his cause
when it came to landing the gig.

"I guess I sort of (look like him)," Palmer said. "But it's not the
look and the facial features. It's the similar body type, same weight,
those kind of things."

The fourth-year CFLer also walked down the runway this past off-season
in a fashion show at the Liberty Grand.

"I've always wanted to do it," Palmer said of modelling. "I'm not
going to say it's easy money, but playing football, the fact that I'm
in shape and look good or whatever, this is kind of an industry I can
go into very easily. It's a lot easier than football. It doesn't
really take that much work."

What if Playgirl comes calling?

"I'm not going to get into that stuff," he said with a smile. "I want
to keep it classy."