It is a beautiful day here in the fired up city of Toronto.
The sun is shining, the temperature is finally climbing and last night 50,000 fans made their way downtown to celebrate the home opener at the SkyDOME for the Jays, who went on to lay the knuckles to last year’s World Series champs - the Boston Red Sox.
Courtesy of my buddy Px
All this feel good is helping me to forget about the hangover from those “other guys”. Vancouver fans, I’m sure, can relate.
Nobody asked me, but do we have sports for the same reason as for the Colosseum in Rome circa 70 AD?
Never mind the war with Hannibal, come see the games.
I always get that twang of guilt when I go to a game.
For example recently, Toronto was considering a bid in for the Pan-Am Games.
Toronto doesn’t have the money to bid for the 2015 Pan Am Games, Toronto City Councillor Michael Walker told the Toronto Sun.
He said, “there couldn’t be a worse time. There’s got to be a better use of taxpayers’ money than this one-time shot and it’s gone. I just don’t think we should pursue it”.
Damn straight there is.
Just off the top of my head:
Potholes; housing the homeless after a near record setting winter for snowfall; not rising property taxes in an already excessively expensive housing market; gun crime and gang violence; budget for better snow removal for the remainder of the 2008 year come December.
And yet, enter Premier Dalton McGuinty
There is now a strategy being discussed to use federal and provincial funding to apply for the bid - which doesn’t make me feel any better as those dollars are my tax dollars too - regardless of what tier of government the come from.
Premier Dalton McGuinty is game for a proposed local bid for the 2015 Pan American Games.
“We think it’s worth taking a good look at. We haven’t seen any details yet, don’t exactly know what it would involve, but we think it’s something that we should closely examine,” McGuinty told reporters this morning at Queen’s Park.
“It could mean that not only would it help us further put Toronto and region on the international map, it could also act as a catalyst for some important new build — infrastructure and the like — so we think it’s worthwhile taking a look at,” he said.
But McGuinty said any potential bid by cities around the Golden Horseshoe for the Games would need help from Ottawa.
“We’d obviously like to sit down and chat a bit with the feds as well,” he said, adding a bid would certainly spark the building of new sports facilities.
I love sports. I love amateur sports - I think our country should provide more support to some of our amateur athletes.
This is not the case when considering bringing the Pan Ams to Toronto.
Games being funded by all tiers of our government while our military operations extend indefinitely, (I don’t care what year they picked out of the hat to quell the Liberals), seems so ignorant to me.
Not counting Canada’s contribution to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, the initial deal with ISAF was, according to John Manley, not to exceed expenses of more than $200 million for a 2 year commitment back in 2003.
Some numbers of interest from Esprit-de-Corps:
Manley’s estimate of $200 million for the mission had doubled before the first soldier boarded an Afghanistan-bound aircraft. Military analysts suggested that, due to having to rent strategic airlift from the Russians, our total cost might reach the staggering sum of $1 billion.
Fast-forward to March 13, when Parliament agreed to extend Canada’s commitment to Afghanistan through December 2011. Ironically, this vote was based on the independent report tabled by none other than John Manley.
In the interim, the Canadian contingent has moved south from Kabul to Kandahar and the casualties have climbed to 82 killed and 650 wounded, and Manley’s projected $200 million has become an expense of $7.5 billion for the military mission, nine times the amount spent on civilian aid to Afghanistan.
Nine times the amount spent on civilian aid.
We’re going to be there longer to rebuild a failed state with stats like that?
2011? Give me a break.
Are we really in a position to start bidding for games?
Why? What’s the gain? A few new stadiums get built for some CFL teams?
The revenue generated won’t get kicked back to our amateur athletes that’s for sure.
Maybe we should pass and let Colombia or Bogata take this one.
If this seems wrong to you I encourage you to write you MP and tell them that the dollars would be better spent elsewhere.
In any case I’m off to go see Canada’s only boxing title holder Steve Molitor defend his belt for the fourth time tonight at Casino Rama.
On my dime and nobody else’s.
My conscience is clean.
Have a good day and wherever you are enjoy it - and if you like watch the fight on TSN at 10PM ET.
Now Playing:
itunes: Ben Folds Five
P.S. It’s Duane’s birthday on Monday - don’t let him off easy!
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There’s always enough money to put taxpayers in debt to the benefit of big business.
Homeless, shmomeless, what are you thinking?
“Important new build” sounds like what they are doing in Vancouver–upgrading housing for those with money.
A war that actually cost more money and lives that the politicians initially projected? Really? That’s surprising!
It is a gorgeous day in the somewhat-boring-but-still-quite-pretty city of Ottawa, and I’m going skiing before all the white stuff melts. I’m the only one left that loves to see snow fall, and my friends hope that I’ll stop praying for more snow so that they can finally enjoy the spring. I promise if I have a good ski day, I will pray for it all to melt. Of course, that means the potholes become even more evident … perhaps all those Hummer drivers can rationalize those stupid vehicles while driving around town–no need for off-road when on-road has craters.
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Detroit hosted the Super Bowl last year and built so many new buildings that now sit vacant. Crime, homelessness, potholes, layoffs and and then there is the mayor (google kwame kilpatrick for more info on his mess) are at an all time high. At least we got one day out of it and the people who live in poverty at least pick up cans around a new stadium and an old stadium (at 10 cents a can in MI)to survive.
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Yeah, it has always bewildered me the way governments would rather spend mass amounts of money on these one-time events (Olympics, other athletic sports, concerts, etc.) instead of actually doing something that will have a lasting effect.
On another note, Ben Folds is very cool.
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Great post, and one that I think really hits the mark.
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Sox rule. Jays suck. Nuff said. Great entry Patty.
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winnipeg had the pan am games in 1999 , brought in millions of dollars of revenue for city, sure it cost alot to put a bid together ect. but if the city were to get it ,if they bid on it, it would be worth it for the city
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Go BJ’s!!!!! Hope more people support the team this year….if the pitching holds up and they can get over the hump of leaving too many guys on base then they may make the postseason… he’s to hoping!!!
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That reminds me, I need a new Jays jersey. I keep putting it off year after year. Nothing agaist the Jays. I just keep forgetting.
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Sean - I know this is a touchy subject for some - but I’m not convinced that the revenue that comes in for these events offsets the costs incurred by various demographics. Homeless and disenfranchised must be brushed aside when the cameras are on after all.
MMAW - I ain’t shocked. I am shocked that the credit card is still out despite us receiving another bill in the death of Canada’s 82nd soldier yesterday. I used to ski and didn’t get it in once this year - i am ashamed.
Silly - yeah I remember following a lot of the story of hopes and dreams when the Super Bowl came to Motor City. Michigan in general can’t seem to cut a break when it comes to rebuilding.
Ben - Yeah Ben Folds got my vote when he helped out Billy Shatner on his last album…it wasn’t that bad actually. It’s all about the street cred.
Matt - That may be the case but the shallacking I saw last night, and the way they’re running up errors in the field today, this Sox team may lose the series. Beckett and Halladay tomorrow? The Sox gotta make good on the rookie on the mound today.
And they’re still playing your riff to introduce them.
Kdog - go Bj’s indeed. Up 3-2 right now.
Em- I’m all about the Jersey’s. I wore my powder blue retro one last night - and I happened to match the team. I love the throw back stuff. I’m forever on the hunt for Toronto St. Pat’s sweater.
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ahem - up 4-2….
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10-2….?
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Boo yah
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I just returned from the lovely SkyDome for the second straight day… the opener was, of course, fantastic… and those powder blues are beauts… but there is nothing like an absolute shellacking to come away feeling satisfied.
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I love that I’m not the only one who will always call it SkyDome and not this Rogers Centre nonsense.
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oh and I will be watching the fight with the gals tonight.
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Yesterday I was at the Jays game one row right behind the Sox’s dugout. Can I just say something…what kind of name are the “Red Sox”! Pretty lame almost as lame as the Jays. Don’t get me wrong I support the Jays, but seriously they need a more intimidating name. Anyways, I’m commenting because I was about two seats away from this couple that took off their shirts and ran onto the field at the bottom of the ninth. All I could think was that I’m so going to do that when I turn 90 because it won’t matter if it goes on my permanent record. And maybe I’ll marry a man to do it with me! The security will tackle me and crush me and I’ll die, but… what a way to go!
Thanks for giving me something to comment on Mr.Good
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By the way the new Toronto hat are terrible. The logo is just going downhill…
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May I ask…was I the only one who got all teary eyed during the opening ceremonies for the new season because I was choking back tears when they did that memorium for people who passed away. It was not really the fact that the people had died that was making me sad, but it was the distinct contrast between the cheers given to the well know people who passed and the awkward scilence given to those who were not. Or maybe I’m just PMSing.
Man, it is depressing how so many emotions and opinions can be dismissed by hormones and growing up. if that is a fact and all that I have based myself off of has been a lie than I will hate being an adult. Finding that all you feel and know has just been your body adjusting to your new life as a ecomoy supporting worker. I guess that is why I hate the careers course I have to take. When my teacher asks everyone what we want to do with our lives, I always wonder why do I have to do anything when I can do nothing intead? If I say that I want to be a freelance writer living off of 1000 dollars a year, it’s called impractical. Maybe I’ll become a careers teacher instead…
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Quoting Patrick Pitt:
I got mine when they won all back in 1993…the problem is, I was 8 in 1993. At the time it was way too big, but after 15 years, it’s gotten a little snug. :P
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Sarah - keep your eyes peeled for the sweep today - Doc Halladay is on the mound.
Kristen - the Roger’s what?
Silly - good fight, but I think Steve’s been too busy. 4 defenses in 9 months is too much. Boxing is the hardest sport in the world and Molitor looked more tired than usual. I also think the judges who gave every round to Molitor should be drawn and quartered. The fight was much closer than that.
Jess- Sorry, I’m not Matt. But yes the opening ceremony had me going. Anytime they play that music from Any Given Sunday (the Al Pacino speech) I get the lump in my throat.
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My husband is a die-hard Jays fan, which sorta makes me one by extension, especially after my sad, sad hometown team moved on down to Washington. I can hear the game in the other room as I type this. 10-2 last night was pretty sweet.
(We differ on hockey. He support the ‘Nucks, but my team’s still around. Go Habs!)
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They lead 6-2 in game 3 after a grand slam by the Big Hurt.
Bye bye Boston.
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I agree on the fight, Pitt. It was worth the cocktails, though. Boo yah
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he beat a tough tough hombre though and i put him as no lower than #4 in that weight class…he’s earned a big money fight.
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Just got home, again… so happy I decided to go to all three games. The crowd was really fun today, Doc pulled through, and Beckett got pulled early. It’s clear how much everyone still loves Johnny Mac, we had a pretty rousing chant going for him in our section. I love that our opening weekend was a sweep of the BoSox.
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Johnny Mac is clutch
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and have I said Go RED WINGS today
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I’d love to see an original six match up of Det-Mtl.
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Yes! Let’s get passionate about “professional” sports. That’s super real. Let’s discuss trades from this team to that, and extra innings, and which dude is cheating or gay, etc. America’s Favorite Pastime. No wonder we kill at will without outrage. All y’all busy with steroid fake baseball!!! II just wanna know about about A-Rod and his ROD,you know, like, gimme more, gimme more. And I’m a gonna get drunk on watered-down beer to hang with the hot men (with beer bellies) that follow this shit, as opposed to real life. You are stupid.
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Yeah you pretty much summed it up. You sound like you have something you’d like to get off your chest - please don’t hold back.
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How do governments, federal, provincial, or municipal justify this kind of spending? I guess if homelessness and child poverty have been pretty much eradicated in their areas of responsibility the go for it - otherwise spend the money where it is a priority and not on sporting venues and promotion. Imagine if you ran your own household that way!
“Sorry guys - we missed another mortgage payment this month and there is not enough money to feed you properly - but cheer up! Daddy got new skates!
Maybe if they figured out a way to turn these huge sporting complexes that they build for the events into afforable housing after everyone goes home - maybe then.
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Brian thank you and spot on. Your quote in jest is spot on too and, I’m frightened, and spot on.
This post has been live in many of conversations of my comings and goings this past weekend. I would like to see the money be spent on improving mass transit - so that those that can’t afford to live in the city can still afford to get there!
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Don’t worry about what Dalton McGuinty said, he’ll end up doing the opposite, as always.
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Patrick:
Not that I don’t need new skates. I’m still trying to live down the last time I got new stuff; I lost my wedding ring and then spent some of the insurance money on new gear. New gloves, helmet, pants. I told her that I think of her everyone time I play - but it hasn’t helped.
If my post sounded grumpy - sorry. I found out today they are broadcasting some playoff games in Mandarin. Don’t get me wrong - great for all of my Mandarin-speaking friends. I have been arguing via email with MLSE and the NHL about blacking out hockey games for awhile, and have gotten nowhere! Today I find out they are broadcasting in Mandarin - but can Smart get a few Leaf games in Whitehorse? No - fuck him - he’s only been a Leaf fan since 1965.
Note: Hold off on any disparaging remarks about the Leafs. I have been a fan all my life and there are no words you can say or actions that you can take that can harm me. If I can tolerate watching them for the last 42 years then words alone cannot hurt me - my psyche has enough scar tissue on it that I could be mistaken for a rhino. I was in diapers and wearing a bib the last time they won a cup and the way they run that team I’ll be in an old folks home, back in diapers and once again sporting a bib by the next time they even get close.
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Brian have no fear I bleed blue and white.
And you post didn’t sound grumpy at all. Whitehorse? Really?
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Really really. It’s where all the ex-pats from Muskoka go.
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hahaha
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Quoting Patrick Pitt:
If you ever get out skiing, don’t ski moguls on a warm afternoon when snow turns to slush. My poor husband is now immobilized with a broken shoulder. Spring can come now.
Perhaps we’ll start watching hockey now and have an opinion on that instead.
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i love skiing in the warm stuff though.
i hope your husband has disability insurance!
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…. there’s a part of me that still wants to keep skiing without him …
We’re both computer geeks, so as long as he can type with one hand, or he tells me what he wants to code, he shouldn’t need disability. We’ll see how it goes–right now, he’s pretty much useless. Anything to get out of doing the dishes.
You can’t risk such an injury–your marathon awaits!
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don’t worry. i’m running 26 km almost 4 times a week. no probs - i’m hard like christmas candy!
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Patrick -
So much of what you said in your initial post was powerful and necessary. I missed your initial analogy to sports in ancient Roman times - I’ve often tried to rationalize the premeinesce of sports today as being a historically necessary distraction - and a simple human form of entertainment, evidenced through the ages. But that thought never really stood the test of time (no pun intended). I mean, the ancient Romans executed “prisoners” and slaves in public, and slaughtered animals for sport, so let’s not glorify or rationalize the past (even though it can make Western society today seem not so bad).
More relevant, you lost me in your responses. Sweep and clutch and boo yah, etc? You agree with lump-in-throat for some dead athlete (or some song or whatever sports-related theme music that gets you going), but I think these comments obliterate your original post. When smart people buy into the glorification of professional athletes and view them, or give lip-service to them, as overly important and god-like, to the detriment of the real people working for society, it just saddens me. Perhaps your responses were a type of Canadian sarcasm? Please explain. Where’s the play-by-play of Congress or the UN Assembly? That’s boring. Because stupid people can’t understand it or follow it. But one, two, three strikes (count them on your fingers) you’re out!, is simple and fun.
What say you? Are you a follower and believe of Sports (capital S) or an independent anarchist?
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I’ll kick this off by saying I don’t appreciate your judgmental tone of what you’ve misinterpreted as my opinion nor what could be considered the opinions of some of the other readers and comments in this stream.
You called me stupid.
I expect an apology.
I follow and support sports, as I said in my post, I am not to my knowledge, an independent anarchist - whatever that means.
I didn’t glorify the past - it was a comparison to what might subconsciously be happening today. You’ll also noticed that the comparison itself was framed in a question - it took neither pro nor con.
I don’t think losing you in my responses is relevant at all, if you have some sort of problem with the comment stream, don’t read it.
You don’t like the fact that I or some of the other readers followed the baseball series on the weekend - that’s nice, so what?
As for my vernacular, I’m not going to change it to make it relevant for you, you’ll have to build a bridge and just get over that.
“Obliterate my original post?” So because I enjoy sport, I can’t be critical of frivolous taxpayers dollars going to support it? At the end of the post I say that I’m going to see a boxing match, on my own dime, and that my conscience is clear. This is to underscore that I don’t need government and taxpayers dollars to satisfy my enjoyment for that form of entertainment.
I don’t “buy into the glorification of professional athletes” any more than I do professional musicians. They’re human like you and I. And some of them, are actually quite decent human beings. Again that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate their talents the way one would a work of art.
In addition, I support an organization called Right To Play, look it up. There’s more of my connection to pro-athletes. I don’t consider athletes god-like, I enjoy sporting events. Nowhere in this post did I refer to athletes with such ecclesiastic reverence.
Canadian sarcasm? Make a case for why I shouldn’t consider that the statement of a bigot.
It’s my writing style and because I post only once or twice a week that I hit on a myriad of topics in a single post. I’m not a gifted author or reporter or writer. Matt invites me to write and I oblige him.
Where’s the play-by-play to the UN or congress - well if you notice I’ve commented on the NATO summit already. That’s not what this post is about. Are those events boring - I’d say that’s rather subjective but compared to sports - to the masses yes they likely are.
Now I’ve responded to all your points, and you’ve probably not a high opinion of me upon telling you I don’t appreciate your comments - insulting and judgmental as they were.
So I’ll give you this free piece of advice: Just because someone writes or enjoys something that you don’t like, i.e. sports, doesn’t make them stupid or obtuse to the other goings on.
You should not be so quick to pass such judgement lest that judgement be passed on you.
If I were to judge you on the premise of these two comments alone, I’d be inclined to think of you as some stupid bitter nerd who holds a deep rooted grudge to athletes based on the fact that they simply don’t understand or fit in with that group of persons.
Or maybe you’re just someone who forms a critical opinion without critically reading, as you’ve done here.
Again I expect an apology for your calling me stupid if you’d like to be treated with any respect on future visits to my posts. You can disagree but bigotry and name calling to me and other posters I won’t tolerate.
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Einstein enjoyed sailing, fishing, and baseball. I guess he was stupid too.
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Quoting Patrick Pitt:
Sorry Patrick, it was a reflex :)
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It’s okay, It happens all the time…it’s really hard…for Matt.
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Hey Patrick (& gazala),
I like your post, Patrick. I don’t think it deserves criticism of this sort. I like sports. I don’t like tax payer dollars being spent on sport facilities.
I like athletes. I don’t think they are God like (and some are pricks), I have quite a few professional athletes as friends and co-workers. I am an athlete. It takes a good deal of discipline, dedication and brain power to be a good athlete.
I think enjoying sport is like enjoying a good book. It is something to do on a Saturday to relax and enjoy with a good group of friends. If I wanted to discuss politics and the doom of our world every moment of everyday then I might as well lay down in front of a moving train. I’ll save that for Monday.
I got my hockey playoff tickets! Go Red Wings!
Booyah Pitt!
Have you ever done “the Murph” workout, Patrick (more illogical language gazala)? WOD for me, today.
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Patrick -
You are right. I let my attempt at “trash talk” go wild and I went overboard. I am sorry. Having been indoctrinated in sports as a child (and caught up) in professional sports until recently, my rant was born out this past, e.g. my father yelling at me when running that if I am not puking, then I am not trying that hard - just one example. Not to get all Freudian on you.
When I said “you’re stupid” I didn’t actually mean you. I was trying to be incendiary. I know that may be hard to believe, but I wasn’t speaking to you or any particular person (except to vent on the importance of sports above a lot of other things growing up in the U.S.). Btw, not only was I in attendance at the 7th game of the ‘91 World Series (Go Twins - still have ticket stub and dirty Homer Hanky), I went to all 7 playoff games between the BoSox and the Yankees in 2004, and had to have my parents give me some money to pay off my credit card that December (telling them that it was their fault they got me into this sport and Grandpa Fitz would have wanted me to go to all games:).
I really wasn’t speaking to any one person, but trying to cause a stir.
I am sorry.
Beth
p.s. I was not, nor am I a nerd (really). I was head cheerleader at my high school. Go Eagles! I am kind of a bitch though. Hey, at least I am honest.
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No worries, and thank you for the response - maybe I jumped the gun a little. Causing a stir is fine, I guess having had a few people come on here and then spam other authors, Matt, other readers or myself, I try and assess if I’m dealing with a troll or not. (By troll I mean someone who logs on just to fly off the handle on others).
Rest assured we get a lot of that around here and I have to consider the other readers- iI’d do the same for you if the tables were turned.
Glad to hear it was nothing personal, I’ll try and remember that. I certainly wouldn’t want to keep you from stirring the pot, just so long as we can all stay civil.
And yes honesty supports bitchy all the time.
Visit again!
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Thanks Patrick. Not a troll at all, just extraordinarily “feisty.” That’s what I like to call it anyway. I only visit this site to learn (it’s like Comedy Central but even more liberal), to see things differently (perhaps), and seriously, for the past 8 years all I have wanted to do is move to Canada. I am sure you know that when many Americans visit abroad they tell the locals they are Canadian. I am no different. Being from Minnesota, I can kind of get the accent too. I often end my non-question sentences like questions, and can throw in a few strategically-planted “eh’s?” Don’t y’all get offended:) Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.