Opinions

Over the years I have developed some strong opinions about certain professional athletes. Many players and teams have contributed to these opinions; I have been betrayed, disgusted, heart broken by some and elated, encouraged and excited by others. This is nothing new to any sports fan, we all have people we love to cheer for and love to hate. Some people like underdogs; some people (band wagon jumpers) like the dynasties and some people feel are born and raised fanatics.

I was raised as a Leafs fan but, like most people my age; I have never seen them play for the Cup. In fact, the only major sports championships in recent Toronto history were won by the Jays while I was abroad. I was baptized a Redskins fan in the 6th grade when they stomped the Bills to win the Super Bowl. I am also a die hard Raptor fan, but I must admit that, like the rest of Toronto, I didn’t pay much attention until V.C. came to town in 1998. Since then, I have stubbornly refused to give up on the Dinos and it finally seems to be paying off.

Seeing as I don’t have much else to write about today, I am going to list my most loved and most hated player currently playing in each of the major sports.

Baseball. Love: Roy Halladay. The poise, the control and the complete domination every game, what’s not to love? He is a consummate professional. If he can stay healthy, he can challenge Santana for the CY Young every year.
Hate: John Rocker. He may not be playing anymore but racism has is unacceptable anywhere.

Football. Love: Clinton Portis. Yes, I am a skins fan, but he is good. The combination of power and speed make him a top 3 running back and the only player out of Denver who can run anywhere.
Hate: Terrell Owens. He tears teams apart, drops balls and loses as many games as he wins. It must have felt good for Garcia to beat the Cowboys this year.

Basketball. Love: Dwyane Wade. He should be called “The Iceman”. He never loses his cool whether he is hitting game winning shots or winning championships. LeBron? Melo? Forget about those guys. Flash is the best player out of that class and top 3 in the league.
Hate: It was Kobe but Carmelo Anthony has taken over. He plays a one dimensional game and maybe the sorriest excuse for a player in the NBA. The fight was over, people were separated and he chooses to throw a sucker punch and moonwalk his way across the floor away from guy who is 5’-7; disgusting. I hope he and Luke Walton play together one day so I can focus all my hate onto one team.

Hockey. Love: Mats Sundin. Come get your chunky!!! He is a solid, two way player who lights up the world when he smiles. You can guarantee that I am happy when he is happy. I know his days in Toronto are numbered and I say to John Ferguson; let him go and win his cup.
Hate: Is Domi still playing? Fine, Jonathan “Cheepo” Cheechoo. This guy is rides coattails harder than Simon Gagne. It is very simple: take away Thornton and he doesn’t score 20 goals.