Today, I was listening to the Fan 590 (a sport radio station) on my way to work. I was listening to an interesting argument involving Toronto sport fans cheering the Philadelphia Philies over the Cincinnati Reds. The host made the argument that Toronto, and to a larger part, Canadian baseball fans should be cheering for the Reds as their first baseman Joey Votto is a Canadian born and raised (out of Toronto no less). The simple argument, you should be cheering a Canadian over a player who use to play for a Canandian team.
Now, I'm not going to tell you which choice is right. I'm not even going to tell you which choice I made. What I am going to tell you is WHY the majority of Canadian baseball fans will cheer for Roy Halladay and WHY it's justified.
To the average Canadian sport or baseball fan, Joey Votto is not a household name. I even made the effort to ask several of my friends who fall under such a category if they knew who Votto was and their answers were the same all around. They didn't know him. Now, ask the average sport or baseball fan if they know who Roy Halladay is and they will say yes while giving you that look like you are an idiot.
Let us take it one step further and you'll see why the majority of Canadian sport fans will cheer for Halladay. The majority of these fans have a connection to Roy Halladay and more importantly, many had or have an "emotional connection". They cheered for him. They supported him. They believed in him. There was a commitment. A commitment that started in 1995! I repeat, 1995!
Not only did Mr. Halladay spend 14 years with the city of Toronto, he spent the majority of those years as their best player and the face of the organization. This man was a big part of the team and the city. Wait, let's take it further yet again. With only one team representing Canada in Major League Baseball, Halladay was in the heart and soul of an entire country of baseball fans.
So the comparison? The majority of these fans likely were emotionally attached to Roy Halladay for ten plus years. Joey Votto hardly spent a second in the thoughts of many of these fans. At best, he's an acknowledged good ole Canadian boy who is occassionally brought up by the more knowledgable Canadian baseball fans.
Another comparision, the cities of Washington and Pittsburgh likely have a stronger connection with Russian Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby (both foreigners) than American born players on their teams or a Canadian team. Those superstars (and Halladay is a superstar) are THEIR guys. These fine gentleman carry their respective teams and cities on their back. Halladay is no different. He did the same for the Blue Jays and the city of Toronto.
Let's throw in another key argument to wrap this up. Roy Halladay left Toronto on good terms. He thanked the fans and the team while the team and the fans thanked him. This isn't a Lebron James scenerio where his former fans wish him nothing but the worse. The Blue Jay fans want to see Halladay suceed. Essentially, they want to see one of their own suceed.
If Halladay suceeds in the MLB playoffs, the Toronto fans see a (former) Blue Jay suceeding. One of their own. Joey Votto, again, a good Canadian boy but not one of their own. Not someone they have developed an emotional attachment to.
That's it right there. So when Roy Halladay steps up to the mound in these playoffs, for some, it's go Jays go!
Love it brother - you hit the nail directly on the head. I couldn't have said it any better myself.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Votto and have been a big fan since his first year in the bigs. We unfortunately don't get a lot of Canadian 'big names' in the game to cheer for.
However, as you said, there is emotion tied to Doc. This guy is one of my idols. Along with Steve Yzerman he is likely my sports hero. Class act, hell of a person, and the best pitcher of the modern era. Period.
If/when he wins his World Series ring, all Jays fans have a little something to smile about.
Never thought I'd say it years ago.... but Go Phillies!