In 1999 when reports surfaced about the end of the world coming in 2000 (Y2K), most people feared for it.
No, the world did not end but certain events have transpired that to this writer and many sports fans, feels like the end of the world.
In 2004 when the National Hockey League (NHL) declared a Lock-Out,everyone in Canada was losing their minds. Sport television shows, and radio shows in Toronto did not have much to discuss as both the Leafs and the NHL became irrelevant.
It was the first time the Stanley Cup was not awarded since 1919, and the first time a major professional sports league in North America canceled a complete season because of a labor dispute. The lockout lasted 310 days starting September 16, 2004, the day after the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA)expired. To July 13,2005 when both sides reached an agreement and officially ended it nine days later on July 22. But those 310 days felt like an eternity. No Hockey Night In Canada, no watching my beloved Montreal Canadiens on RDS, and no Playoff Hockey which is undeniably the most exciting Hockey there is.
Without the Players there are no teams, without Owners and General Managers there is no League, but without fans there is Nothing. Fans pay the big bucks to go the games, buy the merchandise, watch on television passionately and without fans, it would just be two teams playing in an empty arena. This does not just apply to just the NHL, but to all sports.
In the year 2011 A.K.A The Year of the Lockouts, both Basketball and Football are locked-out and are in serious jeopardy of losing their seasons.
Just like for Football the reason why the lockout is in place for Basketball, is because its players and owners can’t agree on how to divide league revenue. The players that are hurt the most are the likes of Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett who only have a few years left to win a championship. A possible alternative would be playing overseas, but its no where near the same kind of talent level that the NBA produces.
For many players; playing at a professional level gives them structure,support and focus and leaves very little time for them to stray into the sordid world of drugs, alcohol, and gang-fighting. Since declaring a lockout the NFL has seen a rise in players getting in trouble with the law such as Adam “Pacman” Jones (No surprise there) and Hines Ward.
But as tough as it is for the players who are multi-millionaires, what about the Die-Hard Fans who plan weekend getaways to go on Football trips, or go to bars for Sunday Night Football. The Fans life is put on hold because a group of millionaires cant decide how to split more money. Please, how narcissistic do you have to be that you can't put aside differences for the greater good, because some times there are things just bigger then a few million dollars. In my household, as in many others across North America, Football has become a religion. On any given Sunday it is quite normal to find the avid football fan in front of his/her Television from kickoff at the 1pm games to 1am when the late game ends( This writer included). Its not like Baseball where there are 162 games, there are only 17 Sunday's in the Football season, not including the 4 rounds of playoffs. Between Fantasy Football Leagues, and Pick'em league, myself like so many other fans like to stay on top of every detail in the NFL, and not having a season will leave a massive gap in our lives. There are reports that the lockout may end on July.21,2011 but I for one will not believe it until I hear that it is finalized. No Football is a crime, punishable by the Fans who suffer the most, and with training camp around the corner the time to make a deal is NOW! I don't think the owners and players want to see a 9 Billion dollar industry suffer, but sometimes you just have to look at the downside, such is the case for Basketball. I am pleading with both sides to get it done not just for the League, but for the millions of fans who watch passionately.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Show Your Colours
This past weekend saw the Rogers Centre jam-packed with fans. The main reason, the prodigal son Roy “Doc” Halladay returned home.. After a G20 Summit last year prolonged the much anticipated return, it was nice to see an old friend. Except in Baseball there are no old friends!
In sports it is extremely rare to see Fans cheer for a player on the opposing team, but Roy Halladay is different. During Game 1 of the Series Charlie Manual made a classy move by allowing Halladay to handout the line-up card at the beginning of the game. To no surprise the sold out crowd of 50,000 fans (Most of which came to see 'Doc')cheered. It would be 24 hours later when Doc took the mound that the real homecoming began. A standing ovation, as he jogged out of the dugout onto the mound,only this time it was from the Visitors Dugout.
J.P. Riccardi's inability to build a successful team around Halladay led to him being traded to the Phillies. The 1 time CY Young Award Winner with the Jays could have had a few more trophies on his shelf as a member of the Jays, but was never able to crack the Playoffs. Since being traded to Philly, Halladay has been a man on a mission. The mission simple. Win a World Series Ring.
Halladay epitomizes what is needed to pitch and compete at a professional level.It is for this reason that so many fans not just in Toronto but around North America cheered on Halladay and the Phillies last year in the playoffs. To no surprise Halladay went onto the stage that he spent his whole career waiting for, wondering what it would be like to pitch in the playoffs,and pitched a No-Hitter.
This past Saturday Roy once again went about his business and pitched the 64th Complete Game of his career, 14 more then second place Livan Hernandez.
BUT there is reason for Optimism with the Jays now more then ever. With attendance ratings being low (discounting the Phillies series)NOW is the time to rally around them.
With a young and up and coming team, General Manager Alex Anthopolous has taken a Farm Team ranked near the bottom of the League, to a Top-5 Farm System. With the likes of: Drabek, Thames, Snider and Gose to name a few, the Jays have a decent chance of being a good team in years to come.
There is no questioning Halladay’s brilliance, but he pitched once every five days, and there is a player on the current roster by the name of Jose Bautista who plays every day, and is someone worth coming out to the ballpark for. A Sensation a year ago, Bautista has proven that it was no fluke. Once again heading into the All-Star Break with the Home-run lead with 28 (as of now), he is on pace to pass the 53 he set one year ago. Joining Bautista are Adam Lind, Ricky Romero, J.P. Arencibia and young-gun Eric Thames as a solid core,able to compete with any team. While the Toronto Maple Leafs have not made the playoffs since before the lockout, every single home game remains sold out. The excuse that Toronto is only a Hockey Market is completely bogus. Toronto fans have been craving for a successful team, one with a star that we can rally around. It used to be Halladay,Vince Carter and Mats Sundin but none of those guys were ever able to take their team to the next-level. With Bautista's record breaking 7.5 million All-Star votes, obliterating the record set by Ken Griffey Jr. by more then a million, fans should realize that he and the team are the Real Deal.
Most fans had hoped for a playoff berth this year, however as we reach the halfway mark of the season and 10+ games out of first it may have to wait another year. But for the first time since 92 there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The future looks bright for the Jays the question you need to ask yourself is; Do you want to be apart of it or not?
In sports it is extremely rare to see Fans cheer for a player on the opposing team, but Roy Halladay is different. During Game 1 of the Series Charlie Manual made a classy move by allowing Halladay to handout the line-up card at the beginning of the game. To no surprise the sold out crowd of 50,000 fans (Most of which came to see 'Doc')cheered. It would be 24 hours later when Doc took the mound that the real homecoming began. A standing ovation, as he jogged out of the dugout onto the mound,only this time it was from the Visitors Dugout.
J.P. Riccardi's inability to build a successful team around Halladay led to him being traded to the Phillies. The 1 time CY Young Award Winner with the Jays could have had a few more trophies on his shelf as a member of the Jays, but was never able to crack the Playoffs. Since being traded to Philly, Halladay has been a man on a mission. The mission simple. Win a World Series Ring.
Halladay epitomizes what is needed to pitch and compete at a professional level.It is for this reason that so many fans not just in Toronto but around North America cheered on Halladay and the Phillies last year in the playoffs. To no surprise Halladay went onto the stage that he spent his whole career waiting for, wondering what it would be like to pitch in the playoffs,and pitched a No-Hitter.
This past Saturday Roy once again went about his business and pitched the 64th Complete Game of his career, 14 more then second place Livan Hernandez.
BUT there is reason for Optimism with the Jays now more then ever. With attendance ratings being low (discounting the Phillies series)NOW is the time to rally around them.
With a young and up and coming team, General Manager Alex Anthopolous has taken a Farm Team ranked near the bottom of the League, to a Top-5 Farm System. With the likes of: Drabek, Thames, Snider and Gose to name a few, the Jays have a decent chance of being a good team in years to come.
There is no questioning Halladay’s brilliance, but he pitched once every five days, and there is a player on the current roster by the name of Jose Bautista who plays every day, and is someone worth coming out to the ballpark for. A Sensation a year ago, Bautista has proven that it was no fluke. Once again heading into the All-Star Break with the Home-run lead with 28 (as of now), he is on pace to pass the 53 he set one year ago. Joining Bautista are Adam Lind, Ricky Romero, J.P. Arencibia and young-gun Eric Thames as a solid core,able to compete with any team. While the Toronto Maple Leafs have not made the playoffs since before the lockout, every single home game remains sold out. The excuse that Toronto is only a Hockey Market is completely bogus. Toronto fans have been craving for a successful team, one with a star that we can rally around. It used to be Halladay,Vince Carter and Mats Sundin but none of those guys were ever able to take their team to the next-level. With Bautista's record breaking 7.5 million All-Star votes, obliterating the record set by Ken Griffey Jr. by more then a million, fans should realize that he and the team are the Real Deal.
Most fans had hoped for a playoff berth this year, however as we reach the halfway mark of the season and 10+ games out of first it may have to wait another year. But for the first time since 92 there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The future looks bright for the Jays the question you need to ask yourself is; Do you want to be apart of it or not?
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