From: cwhui@descartes.uwaterloo.ca (Chen W. Hui)
Subject: Re: Both Canadian teams in first place
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 18:59:59 GMT

In article <UeRhnhy00WB48_C540@andrew.cmu.edu>, Amit Likhyani <al1x+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
> Excerpts from netnews.rec.sport.baseball: 29-Jul-92 Both Canadian teams
> in firs.. by Tim Maceachern@fox.nstn. 
> > I believe this is the first time (other than the first one or two days 
> > of a season) that both Canadian teams have been in first place at the
> > same time.  How'd you like a World Series played completely in Canada, eh?
> 
> We don't need the Canadian supremecy.  The Expos may well win the
> division, but what is the relevance of 2 Canadian teams in first place. 
> No one ever notes that American teams lead all of the divisions or that
> a Canadian team
> has never won a World Series or that the Expos will be playing in Florida
> by the end of the millenium.  I think an all Canadian world series would suck
> and I would not take time out of my semester to watch it.  It would be a 
> ratings disaster.  Even if Montreal played the New York Yankees, it would
> still be a ratings disaster.  Why do you people have to gloat when the 
> Canadian teams do well?
> 
> Always Making Friends,
> Mit

This isn't gloating.  You want gloating, see Summer Olympics, L.A., 1984, NBC's
coverage.  But to get back to the subject...

Let's get a few things straight:

1. Toronto and Montreal may play their home games in Canada, but to call them
   Canadian teams is a bit much.  I live near Toronto, but I'm not under the
   illusion that the Jays are a truly Canadian team.  The entire squad, as is
   Montreal's, is made up of the same mix of American and Latin players that   
   all major league teams have.  Ok, so the Jays have Ducey and Expos have 
   Walker.  Does that make Texas a Canadian team for having Reimer?

2. As Tim notes, it is relevant for both Toronto and Montreal to be in first.
   It will be interesting if either team reaches the World Series because 
   the "World" in World Series will finally gain some measure of truthfulness.
   Eventually, two non-US teams will contest the World Series whether it be
   Toronto - Montreal or Toronto - Tokyo (See "Total Recall" for the reference).
   Is that too difficult to swallow?  Too bad, that's progress.
   
3. Why would an "All-Canadian World Series" suck?  I'd have thought a series 
   between two former last place clubs would suck (Atlanta vs Minnesota) but 
   those games were really exciting.  If the teams play well enough to win their
   respective divisions and also their Leagues, then they deserve to be in the
   World Series.

4. I agree that CBS would lose big time if this scenario actually happens. 
   However, that's not a big loss because if you want something that "sucks"
   just watch one of their broadcasts.

5. Everyone keeps predicting that the Expos will be moving.  IMHO, the only
   place that Expos will move to is a new stadium when the rest of the Big "Owe"
   falls into the swamp it was built on.  If the Expos can put together a few
   good seasons like the Jays have, the fans will remain interested.

Chen W. Hui


   

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