All I have to say is this:
If you can't divorce yourself, for one night, from the arbitrary decision to root for a specific baseball team with all your might, I feel genuinely sorry for you.
If you deem it pathetic that baseball fans, watchers, appreciators or notice-ers followed the best pitcher they've ever seen, the best to ever pull on the uniform, I feel sorry you too.
Look, I pretty much assume myself to be too cool for everything, but watching Roy Halladay pitch for the last ten years is not something I toss aside because he changed teams. This isn't Ted fucking Lilly or some other moderately competent pitcher checking into town for a few years and shuffling off. It isn't even Jason Frasor recording the final out for the 2012 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.
Roy Halladay is a transcendent pitcher whom we all bragged to American friends about enjoying for so many years. That doesn't just shut off because he switched teams.
Cheering for the Jays as we all do shouldn't preclude us from acknowledging some things as bigger than teams and running deeper than rooting interest. Baseball is fun, and watching Roy Halladay — no-hitter or otherwise — is a shitload of fun. I won't exclude myself from enjoying something truly great and special because his hat is now a different color. And I won't apologize for it either.
Should it have been in Toronto? Should he have stayed a Jay? Who cares. If you think any of these athletes owe you or the teams they play for a single thing, you're wrong. They entertain, we invest. Don't tell me something is bittersweet because it didn't happen in the stadium closest to your house.
Damn right. Had to listen on the iPhone on the bus home, but sounded amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour coolness factor went down a notch for admitting you have a sentimental heart.
ReplyDeleteI love all of this, but mostly I love the "liberated fandom" tag.
ReplyDeleteNails. Even though it is still bittersweet that it didn't happen in the stadium closest to my home. Go Phillies.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right about the Pirates. 2012 champions.
My coolness factor went down because I'm a broken down old man.
ReplyDeleteGreat fuckin take!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this issue is even being addressed. But, if it has to be, then this is how I would like it to be addressed. Well said Drew.
ReplyDeleteHallalujah.
I think "bittersweet" makes some sense- we're happy for Doc, but we do wish it had happened with the Jays.
ReplyDeleteBut you absolutely cheer for Halladay, and for the no-hitter- I celebrated when he got that final out, it was an amazing game to watch.
What really grinds my gears is the revisionist history that happened with some Jays fans and Doc this year, and the bitterness that seemed to be directed towards him- Ack used the "jilted lover" analogy on Twitter, which was a great summary of people's reactions.
But it doesn't apply. Doc gave us 10 fantastic years, and was a class act right to the end. If he wins it all, that's fine with me.
Not even Go Phillies. Go Doc. Fuck Roy Owalt.
ReplyDeleteFuck contrarians. I'm with Doc.
ReplyDeleteBoo-ya. Well done.
ReplyDelete... and just to clarify Dave's comment, I refute/reject/am creeped out by the widespread use of the "jilted lover" analogy.
Blue Jays pitcher parlays success in Toronto into rich multi-year deal with perennial playoff contender. What reaction does he get when he returns to Toronto in enemy colours?
ReplyDeleteAck, blame Bill Simmons. He uses the "former girlfriend" analogy more than punctuation.
ReplyDeleteHere is an interesting article about AA's relationship with Brian Burke.
ReplyDeleteSounds like AA will be trading like a banshee this off season.
Thanks, Ack- I know I didn't really communicate it well, but I knew what you meant.
ReplyDeleteI like this "cross sports GMs learning from each other" thing. AA's smart for doing it, even if it is Brian Burke.
In Cleveland this is known as the Jim Thome rule.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could possibly agree with anything more than this.
ReplyDeleteAnd Torgen, he's going to get a standing ovation, because he fucking deserves it.
I couldn't wait to get in and check into Doc's game last night. And regardless of my feelings about that team, I'll be more than happy to see a deserving athlete like Doc hoist the hardware.
ReplyDeleteNow to get Stoeten to read this great piece of writing and admit he's wrong...
ReplyDeleteCaptain point out the obvious fullmer fan saves the day again!!!!
ReplyDeleteAgitated, trolling anons are the best.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it matters. If he did pitch a no-hitter the SkyDome would have been mostly empty (kinda like when he pitched his perfect game against Florida).
ReplyDeleteIts a pitty that there aren't more people going to the games. At least in Philly, he can pitch to a packed house.
just recently found this blog ... and couldn't agree more with the post. i hope the Phils win the series simply for Halladay. he gave the Jays some tremendous performances and years. he deserves a ring!
ReplyDeleteHow does he "deserve" a ring? He's a player being paid to play a sport he loves and never has to worry about money for the rest of his natural life. But he's entitled to so much more because we cream our pants when he takes the mound?
ReplyDeleteCmon man!
He "deserves" a ring because he is at the pinnacle of his profession.
ReplyDeleteAthletes will always make rediculous money for providing less than life essentials. Let it go.