Just a wee reflection or two!!

Have you ever wondered why people with the same general background, similar parents, even concomitant education turn out to be considerably different from you? There are people I consider good colleagues, and perhaps even special friends (although they would have to confirm such a label), that come from very different backgrounds, or cultures or geographic locations who have, if not similar, certainly congruent outlooks on life and outlook. In reflecting on this I have come to the understanding that any such merger of perspectives is reasonable and not that surprising.

So why is it puzzling to me that people whom I would think are more like me than many of my friends & colleagues, differ and at times are even at odds? They are critical to the point of anger or at least disdain. Let me give an example: it came up during the World Series. As you likely know, I have been a Dodgers’ fan since they were in Brooklyn. This year their opponent was the Toronto Blue Jays team. Ever since the Montréal Expos moved to the USA, the Blue Jays have assumed they are Canada’s team. This, in spite of the fact, that many in the Maritimes, consider the Boston Red Sox their team. Much like other professional sports, the make up of any MLB team is an exercise in diversity. While there are a couple of Canadians on the team, the same can be said for several other pro baseball teams; it is certainly true of the Dodgers (Freddie Freeman is one who considers himself a Canadian). Thus the international flavour of each team seems to preclude any visceral claim that a team represents a particular country.

Firstly, I can understand that people in & around TO along with those who perpetually cheer for the Maple Leafs would want to cheer for the Jays. While the Argonauts & Raptors are recent champions, the Leafs last won a championship before my son was born. So I get that tendency to want the Jays to win. But move closer to Windsor and ought not the Detroit Tigers to expect a good number of Ontarians to be fans. And those in Manitoba might gravitate to the Twins (of Minneapolis/St. Paul), Certainly there are many in the lower mainland of B.C. who see Seattle as their team. So what is it that made so many people become almost apoplectic when the Blue Jays made it to the World Series and any Canadian chose not to cheer for them.

Perhaps it was the anti-trump moment; but wouldn’t that have meant only cheering for those Jays who were not American? Surely it could not be simply extending the attachment they have for the Leafs, or else that would explain the team’s ultimate loss! Maybe it was a latent moment, generated initially by the Raptors and their one & done NBA Championship several eons ago now. Or is it more fundamental: people just like to be angry and this moment gave them a guilt-free moment to unleash heat-seeking missiles with little chance of return fire? In any event, it was an interesting experience to be the recipient of such onslaughts from people I consider special.

The Olympics (including para) and the World Baseball Classic are different moments. These are defined by nation. I would find it less surprising if someone was to criticize me should I not cheer for Canada. On the other hand, the chances of that ever happening are between nil and zero.

The Stanley Cup playoffs are on an approaching horizon. I don’t have to worry about Leafs or Flames or Jets or Canucks fans getting annoyed with me, because it is highly unlikely they will even be in the playoffs. But even so, there is an even deeper reason for not worrying: I am not much of an NHL fan anymore. And, if a Canadian team does move forward towards the final round, I may watch a game or two and I will be happy if the Cup does move back across the border in the summer (or whenever that league finally wraps up).

But for now I will continue to ponder the interesting fact that the biggest/loudest criticisms I received during last year’s World Series came from people a lot like me. It will be interesting to see what happens this year, should the same two teams end up in the finals… (Oh I know, the Dodgers spend way too much money on their players, but they don’t ask me to contribute so you can’t pin that issue on my fandom!!)

Ducking the missiles,
g.w.