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The sweaty palms. The racing heart. The shaky legs. The constant pacing. The under-the-breath muttering. The over-the-top cheering. The agony of defeat and, 24 hours later, the thrill of victory.
Such was the emotional roller coaster we long-suffering Toronto Blue Jays fans endured this week as they took on those damn New York Yankees in the Bronx.
At one point on Wednesday night, with the visitors clinging to a late lead, I stood up, did a couple of nervous laps around the living room, and said to my wife, “How do people do this all the time? I couldn’t handle that.”
See, here’s the thing: for as much sports as I consume, it’s almost always done with absolutely no rooting interest in the outcome.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connects for a single to drive in a run against the New York Yankees during the first inning of Game 4 on Wednesday. (Frank Franklin II / The Associated Press)
Take the team I cover for a living — the Winnipeg Jets. A win or loss doesn’t impact me in any tangible way. I’ll root for fast-moving games that make my print deadline easier and juicy storylines I can sink my teeth into, but the final score doesn’t factor in.
Would I love to one day cover a Stanley Cup celebration in my hometown? Absolutely. That would be a terrific tale, and one that would make plenty of family and friends happy. I’m not some emotionless monster.
But truthfully, it’s quite relaxing to turn on a game any given night and simply enjoy it without any personal investment.
The big exception, of course, is the Blue Jays — the only team I truly carry a fan card for. Unfortunately, they haven’t given me much to get excited about for most of my adult life. I was 18 when Joe Carter “touched ’em all” to give Toronto back-to-back World Series championships. I’m now 50.
That doesn’t mean I ever gave up on them. Far from it. I’m a true fan — through the (rare) good times and the (plenty of) bad. I’ll always tune in, no matter what, and keep hoping for the best.
The optimism started to build again this season with one of the scrappiest, most entertaining collections of athletes I’ve ever seen. Sure, there are big names and big salaries on the roster, but they’re the true definition of a team.
They put together a terrific regular season filled with comeback wins and unsung heroes, captured a division title, and raised expectations heading into the playoffs.
But even after back-to-back blowout wins to open the best-of-five series, part of me was still waiting for the sky to fall. I understand that’s another part of fandom — living in a constant state of dread.
And when they blew a 6–1 lead in Game 3 on Tuesday night, ultimately losing 9–6, I figured the end was near and that crushing disappointment was just around the corner.
That feeling (mostly) remained, right up until the final out on Wednesday, when all the emotions came rushing in.
Fans cheer with a standing ovation for Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) after he was pulled from the mound on Sunday. (Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press files)
No question, being a fan can be a lot of fun. I just don’t think I’d have it in me to do this too often — and certainly not for more than one team in one sport.
Still, I’ve got a newfound respect for those who can. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
I’m not sure how much longer this magical Blue Jays season will last. They’re off to the American League Championship Series against either the Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners and will once again be in tough, this time in a best-of-seven.
Of course, I’m hoping this ends with the ultimate celebration a couple of weeks from now.
One thing’s for certain: there’s going to be a lot more angst in my living room in the days ahead.
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No doubt there are plenty of Jets fans reading this who are excited for the start of a fresh NHL season tonight at Canada Life Centre.
I’m excited, too, albeit for different reasons than most. I love being your eyes and ears when it comes to the hockey club and bringing you daily stories about your favourite team and players.
There’s no shortage of compelling ones this year — my 10th on the beat — which colleague Ken Wiebe and I chronicled in our season preview that appeared in today’s print edition and is also online now.
Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews (left) battles defenceman Josh Morrissey for the puck during training camp. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)
I’m predicting a third-place finish for the Jets, who I see racking up 97 regular-season points. The early injuries to Adam Lowry, Dylan Samberg and Cole Perfetti will be tough to overcome, but there’s still plenty to like about their overall chances.
A bit of a regular season step back isn’t the end of the world. They don’t need to win a second straight Presidents’ Trophy. It’s all about making the annual spring shinny tournament and then finding a way to win more than a handful of games.
What happens over the next 82 will help set that stage.
A quick reminder:
Our game-day Warm-Up newsletter gets you set for every puck drop. If you’re not already subscribed, sign up here. Each edition includes updates from the morning skate — forward lines, defence pairs, injury news — plus quotes from both locker rooms and our hot takes on what to expect.
As well, Kenny and I are putting together the latest edition of our monthly mailbag, set to go online Sunday. We’ve already got some great questions but have room for a few more. Send them our way by simply replying to this email, and we’ll be sure to tackle them.
Enjoy the season and hold onto your hats, folks; the ups and downs are just getting started.
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