Next stop, weekend (although some of us have to work):- Little surprising that the media didn't go to town with the story about the Toronto Lynx soccer club dropping its professional team. This seemed tailor-made for the injustice file: The Lynx owners worked to build a team and a following, and now they're folding the tent since they know they don't have the cash or the clout that's behind Toronto FC, the MLS team that the Condo Builders (a.k.a. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) is bringing to T-Dot.
Here you have one group that apparently really cared about developing soccer and Canadian players, and a group with more money that just wants to tighten its grip on the Toronto sports scene. Who knows why a bigger deal hasn't been made out of this, especially since some columnists live to rag on MLSE for its alleged high crimes and misdemeanors. - Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle alert: The Saginaw Spirit are in Ottawa tonight to play the 67's. On Sunday, they take on my Kingston Frontenacs, who were apparently referenced on The Colbert Report the other night. Stephen Colbert said, "I don't know what a Frontenac is," and frankly, neither does anyone in Kingston. It's a world leader in confusing sports team names.
- The Frontenacs have found a goalie to partner with Daryl Borden. His name is Kevin Opsahl, and he's like a god skating amongst mere mortals. No, actually he's a 20-year-old overager who posted a 2.70 goals-against average last year with Lethbridge and Seattle of the Western Hockey League. That 2.70 GAA sounds good, although it was only 14th-best in the defensively-minded "Dub."
- Local note: The Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees men's basketball teams will play at Scotiabank Place on Jan. 23. Top ticket: $25. You can hear the wiseacres already: "Twenty-five dollars to watch Canadian university basketball? Can I count that as a charitable contribution on my income taxes?" This is Ottawa, after all.
The Ravens play an exhibition tournament this weekend with games against New Brunswick (tonight, 8 p.m.), Windsor (Saturday, 8 p.m.) and Victoria (Sunday, 2 p.m.). - Regular features: Saving Ottawa Sports, CIS football picks and NFL picks, courtesy yours truly and Associate Blogger Neil Acharya. Oh, and wouldn't Heisman Trophy hopeful Garrett Wolfe thrive in the CFL?
Have an average weekend. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.
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2 comments:
Hey Neate, Drew McFadzean here. I can't agree with your take on the Lynx. If anyone in TO cares about soccer and supports the Lynx, they'll obviously support the FC. Its a better standard. Canadian players will also benefit from having a high level club in Canada. The A-League is crap. Real players will want to play in the MLS. Note the case of Jim Brennan. Young Canadian players will be better served internationally if they get a chance to play in the MLS. The A-League is, at best, the ECHL.
Let's hope that's the case, Drew.
The point was more that the optics -- the smaller operator conceding defeat in the face of big, bad MLSE and the rent that was going to charged to use the new stadium -- seemed tailor-made for a columnist with a beef.
Dave Perkins of the Star, to name one, was very vocal about the deal MLSE cut to get govt. money for a new soccer stadium.
He pointed out that if govt. money is going to be used on athletic facilities on the GTA, maybe it should go to a training centre for Olympians, since not one person from the T.O. area won an individual-sport medal in Toronto.
(Jeff Buttle's from Northern Ontario, so he doesn't count.)
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