Remember. Please

Of course, a digression.

We don’t do overt displays of emotion or hero worship or even patriotism all that well in this wonderful country of ours and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

I am far more for under-stated appreciation for what we have, more mostly private reflective moments of thought, not as much action.

Except Canada Day.

And today.

I am of the eras that don’t truly know the hell of war, no one in my immediate family served in active duty, no one died, cousins weren’t left without fathers or mothers, my family remained intact.

Only, it would follow, because of the actions of the brave men and women who did take the call and serve the duty, who put life and limb on the line so that we can live as we do today, so that our country – and our world – remains for the most part a hospitable place.

This is the day we need to celebrate them, publicly and privately.

There was a time when I think more than a few of us spent time in the Legion. In small towns and medium cities and big-cit neighbourhoods they were places to go and hear stories, to see the fellas, to perhaps play some shuffleboard and have a pickled egg, a draught and get some perspective on what life was like.

Good afternoons, they were.

Those Legions are dark, mostly, we are losing the men and women who survived the war to the realities of time and that’s too bad.

If you drive by one today, slow down, would you? Tip your cap or bow your head or just look and say a silent thanks. You’ll feel better, I bet.

There isn’t a lot of war veteran history in my family – there are a few medals in Super Brother’s house that I hope he gets a chance to look at for a second today, or perhaps to share with Super Grandpa at some point – and I would venture to guess it’s the same in a lot of Irregular families.

There are, however, tens of thousands of you out there who know the loss of war and it of you we think today.

Think hard.

And be appreciative.

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Anyway, now back to our regular foolishness.

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So, the talks drone on.

The weekend for union to mull over the latest NBA offer – or last offer if the dispatches are correct – and thankfully we should have some resolution on Monday or Tuesday.

It would appear to either be acceptance with noses held and a 72-game season or some kind of decertification move and chaos.

Me? I’d love the game to come back but the level of ambivalence and ennui is off the chart.

Will say this though:

With a 75-game starting Dec. 15 crammed in to what appears to be a 130-day period will be a test of even the fittest of grunts. Of which I am not one. Better start training, just in case.

Or not.

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Okay, you know what I wish?

That this story about soccer player David Testo wasn’t a story.

I wish we didn’t care, or want to know, or need to know his sexual orientation, that he could live and play and we could watch and critique and appreciate without any regard for what he did or does in his private life.

I understand entirely that it may send a wonderful message to youngsters who may be feeling confusion or anger or even shame and I can see the good that it may do.

Just wish it didn’t have to be done, that we didn’t care, the teens in similar situations didn’t have to worry about keeping things secret for fear of repercussion, that they could live as they want to.

They can’t, that sucks, and until they can, we have very much work to do as a society.

I really don’t care which of the athletes I watch are gay, or which are straight, or which are whatever. You shouldn’t, either.

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Speaking of …

You been keeping up with this ongoing story of the possibly gay penguins?

Outstanding.

I’m just waiting for the march of other penguins on the zoo to protest, telling the handlers to let Buddy and Pedro live their lives as they wish.

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Knew this would come some day:

(One last Friday plea for more mail, please; I need something to do before the late-afternoon coaches meeting I anticipate).

Q: I know you loathe the pucks, but is there any chance you might do another guest appearance on the IGBT for the Leaves?

Jim S, Thornhill

A: Tee-hee.

Nah. I think Zorro and Kevin and Dave F. are fully capable of running that show; no sense me crowding the issue.

But, if we get to Labour Armageddon the first of the week and there will be no NBA season, all bets are off.

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As I was doing the reporting on this baseball story (yes, we are all over the map these days, aren’t we?) one thought stuck me:

The allure of home must be a powerful, powerful, dangerous, dangerous thing for some young athletes.

You would think after all the past incidences of kidnapping and terror and the perils of wealth that more athletes would use their financial abilities to either take their families to safer, more sane places to live or at least take better security cautions they can likely afford.

But there is something about “home” I guess that draws them back, something stronger than simply the chance to play winter ball with long-time buddies.

We can’t quite understand it, I don’t think, not too many of us have had to leave our comfort zones and homelands in search of a career.

But we can hope – and hope that teams drill this into the heads of their young players from the minute that they join organizations – that kids take all the precautions possible. And that they don’t flaunt their wealth so openly as to almost dare those in dire circumstances to see them solely as dollar signs.

There is a responsibility of youngsters to protect themselves and their families. That may not always be enough but it should be a starting point for all of them.

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Finally.

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Comments

[ditch]

I feel a 72 game NBA season would be a nice touch. One game for every day of Hump's marriage. Gotta love the symmetry, no?

[Avinash]

The Remembrance Day tribute - great. Hear hear!!

[LeeZ]

Apologies in advance if you've answered this question thousands of times already, but please indulge me: the split of basketball related venues refers to, what, a cut from apparel sales, various merchandise, etc., right? And how do the players receive their cut of this? Is it added directly to their paycheques? Do they get a lump sum every season? Does it all (or partially) go to a fund for destitute retired players? Does it go to the union?

Blogger's note: It is the number that determines salaries, it is the basis for the cap determination and the tax; it "is" their pay

[abecedario]

Lest we forget to edit!

[SheikYurbouti]

A Calgary police officer started what is hopefully growing into a country wide movement. He discovered that some of those homeless people out there are tormented veterans that need more help and understanding than what they've received so far. The feds are taking notice, and hopefully putting together programs to do more. May we all consider that the next time we encounter a homeless guy/gal that doesn't appear to be doing enough for themselves.

[simon]

Dear Doug:

I am sure it will make your life tough, and not fun. However, I am hoping for labour armagaden, just to see what would happen. Maybe both sides would realize how wonderful things were after they get everything resolved, after probably two lost seasons. The players and owners have not felt any pain only the little guys. After two years, they might realize, that they are crazy to have gotten themselves into this position.

Take care

[Tim H.]

Great post on Remembrance Day, Doug! Except, that it really should be Remembrance Year!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Just back from paying my respects on Parliament Hill. Quite a privilege to be able to do that. The War Memorial gets to me every time I see it, which is almost daily. Add a sea of veterans and dignitaries, a crowd of tens of thousands, proper pomp and circumstance, pipe and drum, a 21-gun cannon salute and a fly-over... goose bumps.
For all the flag-waving and chest-thumping that happens south of the border, it doesn't come close, in my opinion, to the respect that's shown here in The Great White North. First off, in three languages. Second, the crowds grow every year, and seem more respectful by the year. Third, all the downtown shops are closed for the morning, which is a proper touch. I also think the simple fact it's called Remembrance Day rather than Veterans Day creates a bigger impact. The tribute tends to be washed out a bit south of the border as well, the attention getting divided as it is between November 11 and Memorial Day, which actually gets the bigger splash there.
Lest we forget. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M720ICH_Ne0&feature=related
Cheers.

[Lorie]

Good Afternoon Doug,
We may not have had the impressive, touching ceremonies that took place in places such as Ottawa, but here in London, the community came together in a big way to support our local veterans. After 10 poppy boxes were stolen just a day before Remembrance Day, Londoners channelled their outrage into trying to recoup some of the money. We were asked by a local radtion station to donate to a special fund station in an attempt to replace the stolen money. To date more than $5,200 has been received with over $10,000 committed. A bad news story turned good. And the good programs that the sale of poppies allows, will hopefully be able to continue. Well done, London. And well done, Doug. A thoughtful, important essay (Can a blog be given the gravitas of an essay? Well, I think in today's case, it most certainly can.) Thank you.
And, of course, thank you to the men and women whose sacrifice remembered today.
http://youtu.be/6e4jqTF6aks

[Rob.V]

Well well, I think I am finally, FINALLY out of hibernation.
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My apologies for leaving you in the lurch this summer dude however truth be told this has been the most wonderful off season in well, what?, 17 years I guess!!
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No silly rumours to dissect, no player shenanigans to read about... no vitriol for MLSE (and Co.)... no pre-season games to throw away... all good I say!!!.
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But I have returned, yeah...like a war hero I suppose. Yes, I have the CB4-LBJ and Carmelo scars of last season to prove it!!
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Anyway, I am very proud to be Canadian and when I watch any of those documentaries that talk to our troops and the job they had done storming the beach of Normandy (along with many other missions) the lump in my throat is as big as anyone’s.
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But having said this though... what is to admire, really? What is to remember???... the fact that some young kids were sold the cool aid… and we didn’t realize (at an early age) that war is stupid... or the fact that our so called "leaders" (I can think of other words to describe them) continue to put our young kids in harms way... in 2011!!!! no less.
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I mean, haven’t we evolved enough as society to never let this type of immoral and despicable fighting continue?
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I guess where I'm going is that maybe we should "forget". Forget about how stupid we were in the past.
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Why don’t we "remember" that color or religion are not "boundaries" or borders.... and forget about all of the reprehensible behaviour of the past.
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Seems like a reminder of how really really dumb we've been however if we use today as a means to remember so that these tragedy's never happen again I get it. But I imagine someone somehwere (right now) is planning a "mission" of sorts. Sad!.
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You know, I just googled Rememberance Day and it is said it is meant to honor the men and women of world war I
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A slight issue with this might be best described as, um... World war II??
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Seems like all this remembering hasn't really work too well, eh?
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You see my point. We need let go of the past. Why not simply celebrate what's right, and be smarter. What's done is done... and move on!
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The the past doesn't = the future!!
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It's why I choose to no longer watch the news... the 30 second light hearted story at the end of a 60 minute broadcast just cannot seem to bring me back from the 59 minutes and 30 seconds of negativity that I'm being sold.
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Just reading back on this post (lol), maybe a little too deep...sorry people!
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Anyway, how's that for a re-entrance into the (irregular) matrix!!

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

My partners and I made this film for CBC last year:

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/wewillrememberthem/video.html

It's a two hour special on Canada's fallen soldiers in Afghanistan. I would encourage people to watch, because it will break your heart.

AG, Toronto

[SheikYurbouti]

@Rob V, War is always ugly, but not all are stupid. Do you think we'd be living in a better world today if those young men hadn't fought the Germans, either in WW I or WW II ? Sorry, but rather than "a little too deep", I feel your post is a little too naive and/or ignorant. Shame on you.

[doug]

I agree with you 100% on the Testo story, i could give a rat's butt what someone's sexual orientation is, how does that concern me??...and to those that use the religious card that's just sad, as again i have my religious beliefs so what gives me the right to impose those onto others??, but many do, it's like their beliefs supercede others, isn't that hypocritical?, isn't that breaking a coupler of the ten commandments they so cherish, so get off it, and let's let others live as they see fit.....what's with the owners?, I am befuddled by them 100%, it is obvious they want to break the union, and I tell you this has some basis in the Dana White model of treating athletes and doing business, it has to , as they have just gone plumb loco....

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7220959/nba-lockout-players-unlikely-accept-owners-proposal-sources-say