Sometimes Sport Isn't Filled With Surprises

It is often said that the joy of sport is that on any given day any team can beat any other. Where this falls down is over the course of time. Last weekend was a generally predictable one in sport and it occurs to me as the New York Yankees move closer to clinching a playoff spot despite this afternoon's loss to the Blue Jays that over time, teams that should win very often do. Even if they go another year without winning the World Series, the Yankees have shown that despite looking dead to rights in May, their talent produced after in August and September and they will almost certainly be in the playoffs again. In the NFL, both the Colts and Patriots won again and moved to 3-0 for the new season. By far that league's two most consistent teams for the past few years, they continue to make it same as if the other thirty teams are all chasing third place. Beyond that Senators training camp continues to be a rather dull march towards the regular season. The only tension seems to be around Christoph Schubert and whether he will play as a forward or a defenceman. Hardly the drama that one wants from a weekend in sports.

Despite this I find that I still care. I have been religiously checking the boxscore for both preseason hockey and Blue Jays baseball despite the fact that neither really counts for anything. Part of the allure is simply being in the know, who scored and who pitched and the like. In thinking about it, however, I think that a lot of it has to do with a connection similar to what is shared with friends and family. When you talk to the people in your life, you will take an interest in things that you would not care about if they were the comings and goings of a stranger, say someone you happen to meet at a party. I think we follow sports teams in a similar manner. They are a reliable and recurring presence in our lives. Three or four times a week for the hockey season, I know that regardless of what else is going on I'll be able to watch or check on the Senators. During baseball season, I know that almost every morning there will at least be a boxscore to read in my newspaper. Ultimately life goes on, win or lose and so the games can be both taken lightly and invested with as much meaning as you feel like giving them. That is the prerogative of the fan, to care as much or as little as you choose at various times.

On a lighter note, it is also worth mentioning that the 67s had a great weekend. After winning the opener on Thursday in Barrie they went on to beat both Brampton and Kingston on the road and so are 3-0 as they prepare for this Thursday's home opener. Their killer Cs were in full force again, as Logan Couture and Tyler Cuma both contributed large to the wins. Cuma seems to be determined to make himself a first round draft choice this summer after being ranked 30th in ISS's initial player rankings for the 2008 draft.