Category Archives: Sports

Much Adu About Nothing

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By Jason MenardFormer soccer wunderkind Freddy Adu signed yesterday with the Philadelphia Union, marking his return to professional soccer on North American soil. And the fact that this story was relegated to afterthought status on noted sports Web site SI.com reveals everything you need to know about the sad state of soccer on this side of the Atlantic.

Six years ago, Adu debuted for the United States’ national team playing an international friendly for the squad against Canada. At the time, Adu was supposed to be the future of North American soccer. The truth is that he is — only not in the way everyone thought that future would play out. Continue reading →

Women’s Rogers Cup Double Faults with Beauty Focus

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By Jason Menard

Anyone who has had the chance to watch women’s sports know that it is serious stuff. But the way the games are marketed, it’s hard to take the game seriously. And that will remain the status quo as long as those responsible for promoting the games focus on pulchritude instead of power, precision, and play.

The Rogers Cup tennis tournament is the latest example of what’s wrong with the marketing of women’s sports. Continue reading →

Blame Barry for Lack of Bautista Love

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By Jason Menard

If baseball fans can’t see their way to embracing Toronto Blue Jays’ all-star slugger Jose Bautista, it may be because their view is being obscured by Barry Bonds’ oversized head.

While Bautista will be the feature attraction at this year’s all-star game, it was only a couple of months ago that Time magazine called the Dominican superstar “the best baseball player you’ve never heard of.”

I think Time got it wrong. I think fans are well aware of whom Bautista is; I just think fans hesitate to jump in with both feet when they’re so wary of the other shoe dropping. And that shoe has been used by the Bonds’ (allegedly), the McGuire’s, and the Sosa’s of the world to stomp on the hearts of fans.  Continue reading →

Posties’ Problem? They’re Wearing the Wrong Type of Uniform

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By Jason Menard

The problem with Canada Post? They don’t throw deliveries through a hoop into your mailbox or have to feint past a postal opponent to shoot your mail into a community box. If they had, supporters would have welcomed them back with open arms – a case we’ve seen repeated over and over in the sporting world.

The postal lock-out has now been over for a week, thanks to back-to-work legislation from the federal government. Despite the filibustering efforts of the NDP, the Conservatives finally got their chance to use a majority – and they did. Continue reading →

Mob Behaviour, Online and Off, Vancouver’s Legacy

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By Jason Menard,

Vancouver’s legacy won’t be one of shattered glass and the residual stench of long-died-out flames; instead, the post-Stanley Cup riots will be a defining event in using social media to combat mob behaviour.

Unfortunately, what’s started as a good story of an on-line community rallying around its city to bring a group of cowards to justice is rapidly becoming a cautionary tale about the lure of anonymity both online and off.  Continue reading →