Games go on, except the ones that will be cancelled

You know, of course, that the Pan-Am Games are going on now down in Mexico, right?

And if ever a multi-sport game has fallen further out of the public eye, can’t imagine what it is.

Now, you know we think we need to better support our Olympic sport athletes a bit better than we do, which is just about every four years or so, but I honestly cannot get excited about the Pan-Ams, even though they are Olympic qualifiers in a lot of events.

Why?

Not sure exactly, probably has to do with the overblown menu of sports I honestly don’t care about – water skiing, bowling, roller skating – along with the fact a lot of the top athletes in the other sports take a pass on the Games.

It could also simply be a matter of Games Malaise that’s hit us all. We are devoutly interested in the Olympics because, well, because they’re the Olympics but in this day and age, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to fit in Pan Ams or Commonweaths or anything else perceived as second-rate.

That is not to take away from the skills of the athletes or their dedication to their sports; it’s just the way it is right now. In fact, we should probably give more credit to the men and women who set their life’s athletic goals as Pan Ams or something like that because they certainly aren’t doing it for any glory or real financial gain.

It probably doesn’t bode well for the fact the next Pan Ams, in 2015, are here in Toronto because if few are paying attention now, can’t see there being a lot of momentum built up to grab the attention of the casual fan.

I did cover a Pan Ams once, back in 1999 in Winnipeg as part of a too-big Mother Star team because we were rich at the time and figured we needed to track athletes from there to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

I have nothing against Winnipeg, it’s quite a nice city if you don’t mind fist-sized mosquitoes and black flies and the odd minus-400 degree winter weather. Actually it was one of the best eating Games I’ve been at because they have a handful of excellent restaurants.

But I do recall swaths of empty seats at almost every venue and a level of disinterest as the Games droned on that was troubling.

I did, however, see Stubby Clapp become Stubby Clapp by hitting a wind-blown popup down the right field line in a ball game against the United States and I do remember some roller hockey guy testing positive for dope – roller hockey!!!!! – but that might be about it.

Can’t wait for 2015.

-

Oh, look.

A list.

From the mail.

Well done.

Q: Hi Doug, here’s a second TV question in as many days. What are your top three TV theme songs, without lyrics, that you catch yourself “singing” every now and again? My top three have to be Law and Order (including the wolf sound at the end), Barney Miller and of course Benny Hill (maybe Night Court as well). Of course they’re usually sung during a lonely road trip or in the shower so I can’t account for how well they’re performed. Thoughts?

Heath M, Toronto

A: Not sure about Benny Hill, although it does get raves when it plays over bloopers on the scoreboard at these games I used to cover.

But I will give you Law and Order and add these three:

And you can probably throw a blanket over ‘em to say if they’re first, second or third:

(And if you or any other Irregular starts humming these during the day, I’ll take the blame).

Jim, Rocky, Dennis, Beth and a catchy tune.

Yes, it has a lot to do with my crush on Tina Fey

This might be the best, if I had to pick one.

-

What will they cancel over at NBA Headquarters today?

You know it’s coming and the prevailing opinion of the people I read is that the league will cancel the regular season “indefinitely” or “until further notice” or something nebulous like that.

It kind of has to be open-ended, I guess. It’s another shot across the bow from David Stern, a message that no one’s getting any money at any specific time.

Such an announcement will do nothing for the fans but do you think they really care? I’m not sure they do at all, certainly nothing they’ve done so far would indicate that’s the case.

Anyway, I guess it also doesn’t put any kind of firm deadline on things – like “if we’re going to try to start Dec. 1, we better have a deal by Halloween” – and that doesn’t matter, either, because even deadlines haven’t spurred these two sides to action.

All it really means is that, likely, we’re all going to have to write stories this afternoon dredging up the old facts and boring financial minutia of the collective bargaining talks.

Yawn.

-

So, it would appear I’m going to be Mr. Football this week, lucky readers.

And if we end up with some 6-3 dog of a game on Sunday, the level of disgruntlement will be off the charts.

-

Now, I remember Reggie Jackson’s three home run game in the 1977 World Series – each on the first pitch of the at-bat, as I recall – and that stood as the single best individual offensive performances I cold recall.

Until now.

What Albert Pujols did Saturday – three homers, five hits 14 total bases – is now the gold standard and should cement him as the greatest hitter in the game today.

Of course, going hitless on Sunday just shows you part of the beauty of the game – great one night, a non-factor the next – but for one game, he stood above them all.

Wish I seen it in person, wish I’d seen Jackson’s in person, too, but now when you’re talking all-time great moments, there’s a recent one to recall.

Of course, it might not make up entirely for his botched cutoff play in Game 2, but what the heck.

-

 

 

Comments

[Peter]

About Puhols, and the botched play in Game 2. There were two errors by the Jays in the final game of the '93 series. They were actually up, I believe it was 5-1 before blowing the lead and going down 6-5. But they won. Nobody remembers the errors, nobody remembers the blown lead, they only remember Joe Carter. Winning erases the bad. :)

[Dave]

In reference to your comments on the Pam-Am games and your "We are devoutly interested in the Olympics because" statement, I maybe the minority but I have zero interest in the Olympics either. I find it just screws up my TV watching for a couple of weeks while some commentators drone on and on about some ridiculous game that made it as an Olympic sport. And there is always the "we need to spend more to compete with Australia" uproar.

In September/October I drove from Eastern Ontario to Victoria, BC (there was a ferry involved between Vancouver and Victoria) and drove back through the Northern states (South Dakota instead of North Dakota). While Winnipeg does have a few good restaurants, I really don't like that city. I would put it at the bottom of my list, just above Edmonton. We arrived downtown on a Sunday evening and had difficulty finding a restaurant or pub open to have dinner. Saskatoon was a pleasant surprise. It is a very nice city.

Another surprise was Milwaukee. You haven't been very kind to it in your comments. I found it to be a pleasant city with a mixture of old and modern architecture. The Art Museum and the area down by the lake was beautiful. It may be different in February than it was in early October. We had lunch a few blocks from the Bradley Center at "Buck Bradley's saloon" It is worth a visit and the cheese store across the street had some excellent cheeses.

Maybe a list of your favorite least favorite North American cities is in order.

Cheers.

[charles]

Doug- PANAM Games will offer a LOT to us in 2015.
See
http://www.toronto2015.org/
We will have a chance to see familiar and up and coming athletes from the entire Western Hemisphere play soccer, baseball, tennis, swim, basketball, etc etc.
Plus we will build our city region: new facilities for swim, play, housing, reputation, boost our economy.
1000s of athletes will visit us; thousands of volunteers will host and help.
Plus these games offer a chance to return to sports as sports - athletic competition for your homeland. In many ways the opposite of what many complain abt with pro sports: the dumb celebrity passages, labour disputes, business, gambling, gossip.
This is a healthy good train to get on board with.

[Mike kovacs]

If the Pan-Am games are unintersting now why should they be interesting just because they are in Toronto? Isn't that hypocritical?

[sam]

I've read some conflicting stories on the downfall of the labour negotiations last week. At one point - it was reported that Paul Allen held court with the Players -and his take it or leave it stance - stopped the proceedings. Another reprt suggests he was at the meeting - but said nothing.

Anyone know the real story?

[GM]

It is one thing to hit three home runs that all factor in your team's win and to hit three when your team really didn't need the third one. Not that it is ever easy to hit a home run, but Reggie's feat was much more dramatic.

[Jon]

How could you not include MASH for the best TV theme song? Head and shoulders above all of these options (outside of maybe Law and Order).

[LeeZ]

Barney Miller for sure. And the Seinfeld theme song is a masterpiece, even if everyone is sick to death of hearing it so many times.
I see some rumours about Farrell being repatriated to Boston. Here's my dream scenario: We give them back Farrell (I've got nothing particular against him; for all I know he may turn into a fine manager, or not), and in return, we take Crawford off their hands (with Boston picking up a good chunk of his salary). We take the risk (mitigated by Boston's picking up part of the tab) that Crawford's year last year was no fluke, but the up-side is huge. Oh, and to complete my dream, we sign Tito to replace Farrell. So what do you think? (discuss amongst yourselves).

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Reggie was awesome. Pujols was/is awesome. Can't wait to see how awesome Joey Bats is going to be when he gets his shot in The Big One.
So, how to stave off all this b-ball melancholy and boredom... hey, how about some music? Ever hear a violin talk like this? If you were a Hot Tuna fan, and maybe had a chance to see/hear this live, you sure as hell have: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mua_DNvFwQ
Papa John, you were the best. Cheers.

[Lorie]

Good Evening!
Instrumental Theme Songs? The kind you belt out in the shower?
For me it begins with this:
http://youtu.be/MfP0Uf1n88o (Oh, Pernell Roberts...what an absolute hunk you were.)
and, finishes with this: (I know, I know there are words, but I usually only remember one or two lines, so that's okay, right? "Flying away on a wing and a prayer...."
http://youtu.be/e9Q3orQhEcA
Cheers!

[Ari]

Gotta be the rock song during the closing credits of WKRP in Cincinnati. Always fresh in my head, mostly to do with it having been the ringtone on my mobile phone for the last year or so...

[GM]

Lorie's right. Cheers! I was at a comedy show the other night that ended with the comedian leading 500 in attendance through the theme from Cheers. Everyone knew it.

[Heath]

All good songs but remember, no lyrics. M.A.S.H. can't count since the original song from the movie does have lyrics (and beatuiful and interesting ones at that.). Suprised nobody came up with Miami Vice or the original Hawaii 5-0. Bonanza is an excellent addition to the list!

[SheikYurbouti]

A little late, but what the heck. Here's one that always stuck in my head: The Saint
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3x2MHT1Q7E&feature=related