Sometime, it's better to not be a fan to appreciate greatness

I will preface this by saying the only thing I truly know about soccer is that I do not know much about soccer.

Yes, I enjoy the game when it’s played at the highest level, I have nothing but admiration for the passion it evokes in fans (especially at the national team level) and I am astonished at times by the athletic ability of the players. What they do with their feet is stunning to me.

However, the technical aspects of the game baffle me at times, I do not have a rooting interest in any of the major European leagues and I would categorize me as a casual observer of the sport at best.

That said, I think I could watch that Lionel Messi play every minute of every game.

For some reason, I was in front of a TV for a large chunk of yesterday’s stunning Barcelona win over AC Milan and I tell you, I couldn’t take my eyes off the guy.

I would presume it’s like a casual basketball fan seeing LeBron James or Kobe Bryant play, or someone with a passing interest in tennis watching Federer do his magic.

We are drawn to greatness in sports no matter our level of interest and I think that might be the best thing about the whole sports experience: There are men and women who do the unimaginable and we are fascinated by them.

We don’t really need to know the nuances of the game and it’s probably better that we are only casual fans with no passion for either team in any specific game.

If you’re like that, let’s say you were some diehard Milan fan yesterday or a crazed Knicks supporter when LeBron goes off or a stunned Raptors fans when Kobe does his stuff, would you miss the poetry and the greatness of those beating your team?

Would you truly be able to appreciate what they can do if you’re too tied up in who wins and loses? I don’t think so.

Now, I realize moments like yesterday’s don’t come up every day and to keep our interest in the mundane games in seasons that are weeks too long people need to have a rooting interest in order to stay attached.

But for some us, people without an attachment to any team or player, I think in some way its better to watch games waiting to see what unfolds instead of hoping something good happens for those you care about.

It gets to the essence of sports, I think: Appreciating brilliance for brilliance sake, more interested in the abilities rather than the outcome.

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So a friend and I are talking music a bit yesterday and since I’m of a certain age my tastes are a tad different but then The Verve gets mentioned and, you know, it’s not bad stuff. Everyone knows Bittersweet Symphony but this works, too, doesn’t it?

Yeah, that’s me, expanding my horizons one millimetre at a time.

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We’re off tonight, right?

Things to do, people to see; sorry about that.

But I’m sure there will be questions that pop up and it’s never too late to begin pleading for questions.

You know the drill, the link’s over there or it’s askdoug@thestar.ca.

Be nice to hear from you.

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You know I think Orlando lacks any semblance of soul – I guess it’s a nice vacation spot for people with wee urchins but as a city it’s got a ways to go – and now I see that extends to the passion of its sports fans.

Maybe it was just the TV that I was watching or maybe it’s weak audio on this video but that was the lamest reception for a supposedly hated former player I can think of.

Boos?

Those weren’t real boos.

 

Sure there were some signs in the stands and some venom spewed but Dwight Howard got off easily, didn’t he?

And him making all those free throws and dominating like he did should have put the fans into a frenzy of anger; instead it struck me that they cowered a bit in shock.

 

 

Some day, Howard’s going into Vince or Tracy McGrady or Damon and he’s going to chuckle at getting off so easily.

Yep, that’s another thing that Toronto fans have over Orlando fans, the ability to get steaming mad and stay that way for years.

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So, if we get the Pope and we’ve already got the dude running the Bank of England what’s next in Canada’s apparent takeover of the world?

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Oh yeah, the Raptors.

We were talking to Kyle Lowry yesterday after practice and when the discussion got around to the final 18 games of another non-playoff season and what they might be like, he once again gave us the word he’s used in several times in conversations over the past week or so:

Professionalism.

That’s his mantra, that they have to go out and be professional, play every game hard, play to win above all else and while it’s the absolute attitude to have and it would be shocking if there was any other manner of play, it’s somehow good to hear him say it.

Look, these guys know exactly where they are and the level of disappointment is off the charts. No matter what they said publicly before, or what went on early in the season, they were burning inside about getting into the post-season.

Now that’s gone and the natural reaction is to take the foot off the pedal a little bit, to go through some mental and physical letdown as the final games unwind.

It would seem by Lowry’s words that they are doing everything they can to avoid that, to stay “professional” and provide entertainment value in each particular game no matter what’s at stake.

For all the people with tickets to the final game, and for all those who’ll watch them, we can only hope his attitude permeates the roster.

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Comments

[Striker 77]

Good day Doug (and irregs),

Been a long time since I've commented, but I read everyday..

I can't agree more about Messi. Here is a stat that I would love to share, although most probably know.. Yesterday he passed Van Nistelrooy for 2nd place all time in scoring in champs league. Messi now has only Raul to catch... Raul has 71 goals in 142 CL games. Messi now has 58 goals in 76 CL games. I am pretty sure he will beat that record.

Having said that, Van Nistelrooy has 56 goals in 71 games, which is also incredible.

The first goal Messi scored yesterday was so perfect, and looked so easy. That for me is a mark of a great player... when they can do things that no one else can do, and make it look so easy.

[JHK]

LeBron and Kobe
Messi and Ronaldo
Mcilroy and Tiger
Djokovic and Federer

Never ever get sick of watching any of these guys play, especially against each other...

[511]

Gotta chime in to address the suspicion that being a fan of a team makes it unlikely that marvelous and wondrous skills of an opposing star player might tend to go unappreciated. The Raps at Lakers last Friday night is a perfect example. I didn't discuss it with many fellow-Raptors fans, but, I did so with a couple. And each of us were all in complete awe of what we had seen from Kobe the night before. Thinking about it further, having a rooting interest against a star player might even serve as a counterpoint in its way, to help one better appreciate what is being witnessed. Speaking for myself, I was glued to the tv screen with eyes on Kobe throughout the game, but especially so during the last minutes … and I groaned and swooned in equal measure, with every spectacular play that he dazzled us with. Even as he methodically pulled the victory from our own grasping hands (speaking as a fan) in ways that very (very) few could do.

[David in Oakville]

Good Morning Doug,

Interesting perspective as always. I think I agree with 511. It is possible to be a fan and still appreciate the skill or play of a player on an opposing team. I think it is especially true for many fans of the RAPS as the team is so young. Many of their fans, like myself, were likely fans of the game long before we had a local team to cheer for. And I think the fact that this city has been shut out of playoff play (in all sports) for so long, it is natural, if you are a fan of the sport, to enjoy the playoff play of the best players and teams in the league.

You have to admit though, it is a very special "high" when you have an emotional investment in a team or player and they turn in a performance worthy of their skills and win.
+
I love Not Grace Kelly's work, but his latest column is perhaps a bit early given that there are 18 games to play.
+
I hope with all the prayers being sent for the choice of the next Pope, a few are reserved and directed at our Enigmatic Roman for his speedy recovery.

[DaveB]

Doug:

I access your blog and the Star Basketball stories using the RSS feed. Since the Star changed their format (back in January or whenever it was)the RSS feeds aren't working very well. I seem to get most of your stuff and all the blogs. However, I miss many of the Basketball stories in the Sports section. For example someone mentioned Kelly's story this morning. That one didn't show up in the Basketball RSS feed. You may want to pass that along to the Tall Foreheads.

I did find Kelly's article after by searching under his name and I agree with most of what he is saying. Maybe a playoff team next year but nowhere near a contender and no clear path to get there. most team get there with a great Draft pick (Spurs, Lakers, Miami, Thunder, etc.)

Blogger's note: Who in the world are the "great" Laker and Heat draft picks? Kobe and Wade who never won without free agent or trade talent beside them? And how "great" was the Thunder taking Durant when Portland made a mistake on Oden?

[sam]

I'm a Raptors and Jays fan foremost, but appreciate a good story and a great performance more than anything.
Back in the pre Jays day - I used to follow Roger Clemens -(Now I wish he would enjoy his retirement out of the spotlight.)
I could watch Kobe all day - the same with Steve Nash, Ray Allen and a few more - Sometimes it's the nature of the performance - other times its the actual player who I've come to appreciate -
I check regularly to see how Jose and Ed are doing because I not only appreciate what they brought to the team I'm a fan of - but who they seemed to be as people.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

If you love sport, a great play is a great play, it doesn't matter which team or player it comes from. You'll also sleep far better if you can be a fan of the game, not of the team.
It may have been a different era, but back when I was playing (you name the sport), we always acknowledged a great play made by an opponent – and then redoubled our efforts to give as as good as we got. That was just everyday sportsmanship. Even our high school and university fans were willing to be generous enough to acknowledge great plays by opponents. I guess back then, people were way more interested in rooting for players and their efforts rather than belittling and booing people.
Every aspect of sport is a positive energy thing. Why people would want to drag it down to a lower level and kill it with negativity just baffles the hell out of me.
So Doug, if Bargs' injury is season-ending, what might that do to make his contract the one more likely to be amnestied?
Cheers. Go Jays!

[Peter]

I know you've heard enough about Bargnani, but now that his season is officially over, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on everything. Maybe in tomorrow's blog?

Blogger's note: Most likely

[Johnnyc]

My alphabet is down to 24 letters .... Suffering AB fatigue....that was before today's announcement.....

[Drew]

Doug, noticed the there are more then a few Raptors wearing old school Jordans during the games. Are they trying to send a trend out?

Blogger's note: No. Just comfortable footwear

[Geoff Read]

In my sports watching history, there have been a few transcendent athletes of the type you're talking about. Michael Jordan was one of them, Kobe Bryant another. Magic Johnson. I've never quite gotten that feeling about Lebron James. I don't turn on a game just because he's playing.

For me, a non-basketball list of figures who I did or would tune in just to watch them play would include:

Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Marcel Dionne (so underrated)
Sidney Crosby
Pavel Bure (in his prime)
Hayley Wickenheiser
Diego Maradonna
Lionel Messi (well said)
Ronaldo (for the brief period when he was in his prime)
Zinedane Zidane
Roger Federer
Stefan Edberg
Martina Hingis (same comment about that relatively brief peak)
Steffi Graf
Martina Navratilova
Serena Williams
Jerry Rice
Joe Montana
John Elway
Doug Flutie (in his CFL prime)
Tom Brady
Eric Dickerson
Barry Sanders
Walter Payton
Cal Ripken Jr.
Roberto Alomar
Derek Jeter
Nolan Ryan
Roy Halladay
Roger Clemens (before we all knew he was cheating)
Greg Maddux
Ichiro Suzuki

[SirIsm]

Is Kleiza really that much of a liability? Or is he just injured way too often? With no chance for Bargniani to recoup some of his value this season - is he a better amnesty option?

[Lorie]

Not only the Papacy and Bank of England - how about running the entire freaking universe?!?! Chris Hadfield's just taken command of The Space Station: Canadians rule all of the worlds! I've seen transcendent moments in sports that will stay with me forever...and as many have taken place in elementary and high school gymnasiums as places such as the Air Canada Centre, Wimbledon and Augusta National. And they've been equally impressive, moving and awe-inspiring to me. Brilliance? There's shining moments happening all over the place. So, music? Well, here's some music for you, Doug - and some Jose Calderon content for me. :) http://youtu.be/c70S9bnYQOY

[Shane]

Doug,

Now that the news about Andrea is out, what is the likelihood that he, not Kleiza could be the victim of the amnesty clause.

Is there a specific date in which a team must decide to amnesty a player during the offseason? If so I guess BC will see what the market is first, and if nothing materializes, could that be an option to just let him go?

[james]

D-Mac: "If you love sport, a great play is a great play, it doesn't matter which team or player it comes from. You'll also sleep far better if you can be a fan of the game, not of the team . . . just baffles the hell out of me."
Wise words indeed. A wonderful post.

[Rob.V]

Hmm. Dude, I think your appreciation might be coming from the fact that you are a fan! It's possible right. I mean, no deadlines, no writing... sounds like a fan to me.

The Verve, great baby steps. The 90's was a very good period for music. Lot's of infused rap and rock, good story telling, and artistic boom if you will. I'm proud of you, and hey, millimetres count!!

I turned on the Laker/Magic game last night and my initial thought was, what?... that's it???... are you kidding me??? Now, I know I haven't been to "every" game, but when VC came back in that playoff game vs. Jersey... THAT! was something special man. The venom was off the charts and the game was great, an environment I don't think I could ever forget. Oh yeah... the freaks in Philly have nothing on us.

But Orlando, that homecoming was laughable!

[doug]

what am I more tired of, AB talk or Howard talk??...both, but Magic fans let Howard play them for a fool for a long time so looks like they deserved it and he knows the fan base there.....this Rose situation perplexes me, as he has been practicing with the Bulls for 22 days, and is "fine if he misses season"...as a teammate i'd be a little ticked, I understand caution and am not commenting on his physical situation but to practice all-out for 22 days would leave me a little perplexed as a teammate to hear that statement especially with playoffs looming ...just saying...ok cheers and no alas no Canadian Pope...

[Rob]

These are special times in football. what messi an ronaldo have been doing for several years can be compared to the level of Lebron's play this year.... they are both underrated because they happen to play int he same era.

[sportschic]

Messi is amazing; he's in a class of his own. The amazing thing is he's done so much/broken so many records and he's only 25, so one can assume he hasn't peaked yet. The only success he hasn't achieved is with his national team (senior level).

I know that fans of another team can marvel at his play, even when it is against their team, but I wonder if that's true of a team where there is a real rivalry, like Real Madrid. If Jose were here, you could ask him! ;)