AS I SEE IT COLUMN: The best and worst sporting moments of 2024
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BIGGEST NATIONAL PUNCH TO THE GUT
Wayne Gretzky used to stand for decency and all things good about Canada, but that no longer is the case after images of him and his family were published standing arm in arm with Donald Trump and wearing a MAGA hat after the presidential election.
The Great One has gone from representing decency to supporting a convicted criminal who tried to overthrow an election, separated babies from their parents at the border, purposely lied about the dangers of COVID and bragged about grabbing women by their genitals. Shameful, tragic and embarrassing for our country. A national hero no more.
BEST LOCAL STORY
In a province as rich and talented in volleyball as Manitoba, it is extremely difficult for a AA school to make the massive jump to AAAA. But that’s exactly what Gabrielle-Roy school did, capping a tremendous year by making it to the Provincial AAAA Final Four. What a fantastic accomplishment.
MOST UPLIFTING NATIONAL STORY
It’s not very often that Canada has bragging rights in any sport at the Olympics, but in the Paris Olympics Canada’s Summer McIntosh won three gold medals and one silver medal. She established herself as one of the best swimmers in the world and she did that at the tender age of 17. McIntosh could easily compete in two more Olympics. Thanks for making a nation proud Summer!
MOST RIDICULOUS QUOTE
There is no question that Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck is one of the best goalies in the world. But after losing in the opening round of the NHL playoffs to the Colorado Avalanche and setting an all-time record for allowing the most goals ever scored in a five-game series, Hellebuyck told the assembled media after the series that he had just played “the best hockey of my career.” That makes no sense. Simple logic dictates that the best goalie in the world cannot play the best hockey of his career while allowing the most goals that have ever been scored in a five-game series.
MOST SENTIMENTAL STORY
Many sports fans know that Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the MVP of this year’s World Series. What many sports fans don’t know is that Freeman – who holds dual American and Canadian citizenship thanks to his mother being Canadian – plays for Canada (and not the U.S.) at the World Baseball Classic. Why? To honour his late mother, who died when Freeman was just five years old. What a beautiful and meaningful tribute to his mom.
WORST TREND IN PRO SPORTS
Sadly this was the year when sports gambling completely enveloped pro sports. You cannot watch any game in any sport without being inundated with ads for betting sites. Gambling is a tax on the poor, and the negative societal costs to making betting on sports so easy, its impact on young adults and poor people hoping the next bet will change their fortunes, is enormous.
With Manitoba hosting the Grey Cup and the Jets looking like they could be an actual Stanley Cup contender, 2025 could be a special sporting year.
Happy New Year sports fans!