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Busy times
Ah, the crazy days of summer. Action has heated up all around the world, on the sports scene.
Toronto is hosting the Pan American games for athletes on the left side of the Atlantic Ocean, according to my globe. They will be wrapping the games up soon, always amid some controversy. Apparently the lead act to close the games, Kanye West, is not a popular choice.
The Canadian Davis Cup team suffered severe consequences when Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil declared themselves unable to perform because of injuries. The team from Belgium took advantage of the situation and defeated the Canadians 5-0 in the series. It shows there is very little depth to the Canadian team. Nothing new there. Tennis is coming to Canada soon, with the ladies in Toronto this year, and the men in Montreal.
The action on the gridiron is warming up as well. Most teams in the Canadian Football League have already played four games. It is always fun to see the teams here getting the jump on the teams below the border. The REDBLACKS have struggled out of the gate again this year, looking for their first win. I intend to scrounge around for a few tickets to catch that action. The Argos are vacating the Rogers Centre and are moving to BMO Field. Much more hospitable for the fan.
One sport that is very popular in many parts of Ontario is softball. Played at its highest level, it is a great spectator sport. Unfortunately, it has taken a back seat at the Pan Am games, with little coverage. Many of us remember the days when Wellington’s Paul Rosebush starred at the games, recognized as one of the very best softball players in the world. A pretty fair hockey player as well, and a welcome addition to the Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame.
Baseball was on the agenda at the Games, and, for a second straight time, Canada defeated the United States by one run to win the gold medal. Most of us who watched the conclusion of the game are still in shock.
The score was tied after the teams had played nine innings. At that point, a unique series of regulations, dreamed up by some international body, went into effect to finish the game. Canadian third baseman Pete Orr scored the winning run. “The way it ended, I’m still kind of confused,” he told the National Post after the game. Right fielder Rene Tosoni put it this way: “A lot of us didn’t know what was going on. It was a very interesting way to win a baseball game.”
To start the 10th inning in the game played in Ajax, the visiting American team was allowed to place two men on base, first and second. They then could start batting any place in the order. Huh? Would the Blue Jays benefit from those rules? I am certain that the Allisons, the Ronans, and all of the other baseball purists in our area raised an eyebrow or two.
The Americans plated their two runs in the top of the tenth. After the third out, the Canadians went to bat—same goofy rules. Through a wild series of miscues and errors, Orr slid safely under catcher Thomas Murphy’s tag to win the game (and the gold medal,) for the Canadians. But there is still plenty of action yet to take place at the Games. There are eight gold medals to be awarded for water skiing this week. I can’t wait for that action.
Playoffs in golf are much more dignified, but not nearly as exciting.
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