True Blue Blue Jays

We're only a month into the 2013 edition of MLB, and already, alarm bells are ringing across Toronto. Those silly old Blue Jays, for all of their bluster and fanfare, have stumbled out of the gates with all of the grace of a blinded Sasquatch, starting the year at 10-17, pending the results of today's Boston match.

Mediocre starts are nothing new for the Jays, who have been banished from the playoffs for twenty years like Simba from the Pride Lands, but what is new is that we didn't see it coming this season, truly we didn't.

Their offseason will go down in Jays history, at this rate, in infamy. The Marlins trade. The acquisition of Melky Cabrera. The R. A. Dickey deal, a transaction that was supposed to make the best team in baseball even better. Then, strangely, they lost. The first to lose their minds, the bandwagoners who had not spared the Jays a thought since Saved by the Bell was cool, were swiftly dismissed by the level-headed Jays faithful. Of course they're starting slow, we assured the masses, they've just been assembled. Remember how the Miami Heat had some growing pains in year 1?

Then, something strange happened: nothing changed. The Jays kept losing, sometimes by a lot, now against division rivals. Losing one game sucks. But losing a game while simultaneously donating a W to the enemy's record? Infuriating.

Jose Reyes, who had been the bright spot upon the Jays' ugly start, was stricken down by Baselor, the monster demigod of baseball, who snapped his ankle upon his neon claws. Apologies to the Simpsons for that vague, tattered reference.

Dickey has been solid, but not spectacular. Josh Johnson is heading to the DL. Mark Buehrle has pitched about as well as I would, at a much higher price. The Jays' bats have been about as threatening as a bowl of soup.

It's truly disheartening to have the misplaced affection of Jays' fans smacked around so brutally. Hell, I was convinced they would succeed last year, simply for the superficial reason that they had a nice new logo, and so far, that team has been much better than this year's, with the added benefit of fewer drunken fans mouthing off.

This is not the end of the Jays season. Of course it isn't, it's only May! But it could be a major factor down the road, when suddenly the Jays are winning, but the deficit is far too great to make up for. Just ask this year's Toronto Raptors, who dug a 4-12 hole they never surfaced from.

So indeed, you may dismiss this pathetic start as a mere scratch. But look deeper, and you may find that it was a scratch from the king of cats, and far more lethal than it first appeared...

The next step

After generations of prejudice, a number of unwilling outings and a combined 400 years worth of history, there is finally an openly gay active male player in one of America's major pro leagues.

Jason Collins courageously made the announcement via Sports Illustrated, saying 'I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand'.

There is perhaps no better time for this revolution to occur. More and more countries, and parts of the US, are legalising gay marriage. Pride, openness and acceptance are arguably at an all time high, and the perception of homosexuality has gone from an illness to simply a part of who some of us are. Our world is changing; sometimes in a bad way, like when Pluto stopped being a planet. This, quite obviously, is good.

Collins will now draw the ire, and this will be a difficult time. On the very tweet where he thanks people for their support, there are countless replies of homophobic slurs, accusations of sacrilege, and general ignorance and hatred. Those replies each hold several retweets of their own.

There is also the outpouring of support from innumerable sources, from Shaquille O'Neal and other athletes, to the gay and lesbian community themselves. The significance of this event is huge, like someone breaking through a wall. It still will not be easy for others to follow, but it will be a hell of a lot easier.

But this time of celebration is not ideal, as gratifying as it is to be able to drown out the negativity. The best will come, when the announcements receive a response of respectful apathy.

I look no further than Brittney Griner, the first overall draft pick of the WNBA, and the biggest star of women's college basketball. She herself came out about a month ago, though you'd be excused for not knowing it. The announcement was met with a proverbial shrug. Some members of the media and fans voiced their support, as well they should, while others inevitably expressed their disapproval. But it was muted, and that's the important thing.

Perhaps it's rooted in the preconception that most female athletes are gay to begin with, and it wasn't a surprise. Regardless, it will hardly affect the majority's perception of Griner. She will be the same as a gay pro, as she was as a potentially straight college player: simply a dominant force on the basketball court.

Collins will not be afforded the same luxury. He will play basketball next season in exactly the same fashion as he has for 12 years. But he will do so as both a beacon for gays, as well as a veritable witch to all who oppose his lifestyle. He will be victim to disgusting jeers from drunken fans, and he will be isolated by some teammates and opponents, because as Mike Wallace proved, some athletes just don't understand.

When Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in 1947, he was victim to such contempt from so many people, a weaker man may not have survived. Initially, a vociferous percentage of the Dodgers faithful, the fans who were supposed to cheer him on, would chastise him. Simply for his skin colour, something he has no control over, in exactly the same way that homosexuality is not a choice. It's who you are, and it should not matter.

The obvious difference, of course, is that Jackie Robinson was always black. He didn't go through the confusion and self-realisation that gays face as they come to terms with their identity. And yes, there is still need for support from friends and families when someone, athlete or otherwise, is coming out. And they have every right to be proud of who they are, not simply because they are gay, but because of the rich tapestry that makes them the individual they are.

So for now, we as educated, accepting people will celebrate the bravery of Jason Collins, who has helped future generations in ways we can't yet imagine. And make no mistake, for him to be the first, is something to be celebrated.

But the real victory will come when a player saying he is gay is met with the same response as he would get if he said he was straight: "Good for you, but more importantly, how's your three point shooting?"

Tony's Titans 2012/13 Edition

Looking over my infrequently updated blog, it's hard to believe it's really been a year since I last did one of these. Looking back on the Titans season however, it's hard to believe how long it dragged on for. It's been a long time since I've felt this sour about my Titans, and it's for a few reasons. I've grown more interested in my favourite teams of other sports (Blue Jays, Raptors, Canucks et al), teams I feel more connected with due to petty geographical reasons, and frankly, 11 years since I first started following this goofy little franchise, they don't seem any closer to success than they did all those years ago. In actuality of course, they're further, because this year they were franchise-record-dreadful, and moreover, they lack the high character guys of old. No McNairs, Georges or Wychecks, though guys like Alterraun Verner and Matt Hasselbeck are pleasant exceptions to the rule.

I'll always be a Titans fan, even if they have to make room in my heart for a Canadian NFL team someday. As always, there are ups, and there are downs, and this was clearly a down year. With so many holes to fill, it's hard to foresee the next period of success (as fleeting as those seem to be), but hey, we've been here before, and as bad as 6-10 is, I've also suffered through 5-11 and 4-12, the former of which came at a time when the Titans were supposed to be division frontrunners.

But enough about all that. I've added some new bells and whistles this year for funsies: the number next to a player's tenure marks how many seasons they've been a Tony's Titan for.

Quarterback
#3 Vince Young (2006-2010) (3)

#2 Matt Hasselbeck (2011-present) (2) ~ More than Kerry Collins, Billy Volek, or anyone else, Matt Hasselbeck is my favourite backup quarterback. He is a true teammate, a consummate professional, and I'm so proud to have him on this team. It's rare that one of my favourite players happens to come to my favourite team, but when it does, it's so damned cool. Hass doesn't come close to the excitement I felt for Vince Young, but as far as overall fandom goes, Matty is a solid #2 behind the untouchable Steve McNair.

#1 Steve McNair (1995-2005) (3)

Running Back
#3 Chris Johnson (2008-present) (3)

#2 Chris Brown (2003-2007) (3) ~ I know, it's weird, right? Frankly, I just happen to like Chris Brown a lot more as a person. CJ2K is the only Titan I don't follow on Twitter due to his cruel use of the English language, and sometimes he just rubs me the wrong way. He's an excellent player, no doubt, but his antics and personality, which I used to enjoy at times, are grinding on me these days.

#1 Eddie George (1996-2003) (3)

Fullback
#1 Ahmard Hall (2006-2011) (3)

Wide Receiver
#5 Kendall Wright
2012-present (1)

All-Time Career
64 receptions for 626 yards, 4 TDs, 9.8 Avg
1 rush for 4 yards, 4.0 Avg

I admit, a great deal of this is based on hope. Kendall Wright showed a lot of promise in a year that was generally devoid of it. Hopefully he and Jake Locker will develop into a formidable tandem, alongside whoever else happens to be manning the turnstile of mediocrity that have been Titans wideouts (remember when we signed Eric Moulds as a solution? That was an obscure moment).

More importantly, however, the kid isn't a freaking head case. I am so over Kenny Britt, a man-child whose once beastly presence on the field almost made up for his many, many, many off-field altercations and misgivings. I know: Kenny's not a bad guy, he doesn't say the wrong things and he doesn't have the wrong attitude. But he just doesn't learn from his mistakes, and he cannot stay out of trouble. Couple that with his disappointing season, and I just can't hack him anymore.

Noticing a trend in how the faces of this franchise are starting to lose favour with me? This could really be another indicator as to why my interest has been waning...

#4 Tyrone Calico (2003-2005) (2)

#3 Nate Washington (2009-present) (2) ~ Oh Nate. With all the drama and chaos that surrounds this franchise, he just quietly comes to work and does his job. He, like Britt, and frankly like the entire receiving corps, had a down year, but he was banged up throughout the year. Can't hate on him for that.

#2 Derrick Mason (1997-2004) (3)

#1 Drew Bennett (2001-2006) (3) ~ Here's a late reshuffling which might strike you as odd, but once again, it's about the person. I won't repeat myself too much about Drew's inspiring story, going from an undrafted QB to starting wide receiver, but I just love the guy. By the end of Derrick Mason's career, he was arguably more Raven than Titan, though I will always appreciate what he did for us. To be clear, Bennett's my favourite Titans receiver, but D-Mase was easily the best.

Tight End
#2 Jared Cook
(2009-present) (1)

All-Time Career
131 receptions for 1,717 yards, 8 TDs, 13.1 Avg

After years of umming and ahhing, Jared Cook is starting to develop into the prototypical tight end of today's league, and has put together two strong seasons of play. He was probably the highlight of the Titans receivers this year, despite being banged up, and fingers are crossed that next season he'll put it all together to compete with the league's best.

Basically, Cookie is finally becoming exactly what I had really hoped Ben Troupe would be. Loved Ben Troupe, but unfortunately, the kid wasn't that bright. Cook is clearly a much smarter individual: he follows me on Twitter, a definite sign of intelligence!

#1 Erron Kinney (2000-2006) (3)

Tackle
#4 Daniel Loper (2005-2008) (3)
#3 David Stewart (2005-present) (3)
#2 Michael Roos (2005-present) (3)
#1 Brad Hopkins (1993-2005) (3)

Guard
#4 Steve Hutchinson
(2012-present) (1)

Titans Career
12 games, 12 starts

All-Time Career
169 games, 169 starts

I know. I'm terribly unfair. Nobody whose only season was as a member of the dreadful 2012 offensive line deserves to join the ranks of Tony's Titans, but in my defence, the man who he's leapfrogging, Eugene Amano, was briefly also on that line, until injury put him on the shelf.

I just dig the concept of having a new Kevin Mawae on the line, the grizzled, intelligent veteran (is it just me or are interior linemen smarter than the tackles?) who can help mould the young bucks. Unfortunately, Hutch's on-field play didn't hold a candle to what Mawae offered at his best, but you take what you can get. Maybe next year will see an improvement. It would help if he, like everyone else and their dog in Tennessee, didn't get injured.

#3 Jacob Bell (2004-2007) (3)
#2 Jake Scott (2008-2011) (3)
#1 Benji Olson (1998-2007) (3)

Center
#2 Kevin Matthews (2010-present) (3)
#1 Kevin Mawae (2006-2009) (3)

Defensive End
#4 Jason Babin (2010) (3)
#3 Travis LaBoy (2004-2007) (3)
#2 Kyle Vanden Bosch (2005-2009) (3)

#1 Jevon Kearse (1999-2003, 2008-2009) (3) ~ As an interesting note, KVB almost topped Jevon this year, but in the end I decided that Jevon's brief run of excellence was better than Vanden Bosch's. I wonder what kind of talent you'd get if you combined KVB's motor with Kearse's athletic ability?

Defensive Tackle
Jurrell Casey
2011-present (1)

All-Time Career
106 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 deflection

This guy is definitely someone who could hang around the ranks of Tony's Titans for a long time if he reaches his full potential. Casey is a big, strong clogger up the middle, and he's fearless as all hell, taking on opponents head-on (sometimes even without a helmet).

Whether he can flourish on a defence that is just flat-out bad will be the major challenge.

#2 Albert Haynesworth (2002-2008) (3)

#1 Tony Brown (2006-2010) (3) ~ These rankings are starting to look pretty different with some of the older guys, and I think it comes from the power of retrospect: as time passes and their tenure grows further away, I tend to appreciate the good guys a lot more. After bouncing around several practice squads, Tony Brown became arguably the league's most underrated DT for a couple of seasons. Good on him.

Outside Linebacker
#4 Will Witherspoon (2010-present) (3)
#3 Peter Sirmon (2000-2006) (3)
#2 David Thornton (2006-2010) (3)
#1 Keith Bulluck (2000-2009) (3)

Middle Linebacker
#2 Colin McCarthy (2011-present) (2)
#1 Stephen Tulloch (2006-2010) (3)

Cornerback
#5 Jason McCourty
2009-present (1)

All-Time Career
271 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 38 deflections, 8 interceptions (92 yards)

Well, why shouldn't he be here? Like Reynaldo Hill and Cortland Finnegan before him, and Tommie Campbell afterwards, McCourty inexplicably managed to go from 7th round draft pick to contributor to the defence, and though nobody else in the league is paying attention to him, he's rapidly improving.

Through some advanced statistics I've since forgotten and can't be bothered fishing out right now, it's revealed that Jason McCourty is actually one of the league's most efficient corners, and made leaps and bounds in several areas from last season. Is he flashy? No, not at all. Or perhaps I should phrase that, 'not yet'. I'm looking forward to seeing what he manages to do when he hits his peak.

#4 Andre Dyson (2001-2004) (3)

#3 Alterraun Verner (2010-present) (3) ~ Verner continues to be an inspirational player, and makes up an excellent young tandem with McCourty.

#2 Cortland Finnegan (2006-2011) (3)
#1 Samari Rolle (1998-2004) (3)

Free Safety
#2 Lamont Thompson (2003-2006) (3)

#1 Vincent Fuller
2005-2010 (1)

All-Time Career
162 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 16 deflections, 6 interceptions (208 yards, 4 TDs)

Poor old Vincent! After all these years, and much frustration with Michael Griffin, I finally come crawling back to appoint him the new champion at free safety, only to discover he's now out of the league. I thought he was still a Detroit Lion, but nope, only played one game with them, didn't land on anyone's roster this season. I feel somehow at fault.

Anyhow, a great deal of this crowning is due to how wildly inconsistent and oftentimes clueless Griffin appears to be lately: we simply cannot trust him. But Vinnie? He was dependable. He could hold down the fort, and until Verner abducted the role of slot defender, he was a crucial if not unappreciated member of our defence. After the futility that was last season's defence, I wonder why they don't just bring him back?

Strong Safety
#2 Jordan Babineaux
2011-present (1)

Titans Career
189 combined tackles, 1 forced fumble, 13 deflections, 2 interceptions (107 yards, 1 TD)

All-Time Career
600 combined tackles, 4.0 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, 41 deflections, 12 interceptions (273 yards, 2 TDs)

Surprise surprise surprise! Yep, I sure love them veteran guys, and when the previous guy never even saw the field (I'm sorry Myron), it wasn't exactly a hard choice to appoint 'Big Play Babs' as a new Tony's Titan.

Hopefully he'll be able to see some success with this team despite getting long in the tooth, maybe in the same way Chris Hope had, before he lost a step. Of course, if he can manage to score some 97 yard touchdowns like he did in '11, then that wouldn't go astray, either.

#1 Chris Hope (2006-2011) (3)

Kicker
#1 Rob Bironas (2005-present) (3)

Punter
#1 Craig Hentrich (1998-2009) (3)

Head Coach
#1 Jeff Fisher
1994-2010 (1)

Titans Career
143 wins, 120 losses, .542 winning %

All-Time Career
150 wins, 128 losses, 1 tie, .539 winning %

For a role I hadn't even considered including until now, the recipient of the award had no competition. Not literally, of course, because Mike Munchak is the current coach, and a guy I really like and respect. But Jeff Fisher took this franchise to places it had never been before, and held the head coaching gig for an incredible seventeen seasons, so Munch's two years and zero playoff appearances aren't even comparable at this point.

Through my beloved Titans years, Fisher was there, getting the best from his players, knowing the rulebook front to back, and making some truly memorable moments. Unlike many other Titans fans, my opinion on him didn't sour in the end, and I actually wanted to give him one last year, free of the distractions of Vince Young and the like, to make things work in Tennessee. It wasn't to be, and I guess it was for the best, because I don't know how much more Fish would have been able to get out of the 2011 squad, and it's better to narrowly miss the playoffs with a new coach than an old one, right?

...Actually, I have to admit, I look at some of the other teams with new coaches in the league, and all the success they're having, and I'm pretty jealous.

Favourite Game
Steelers 14, Titans 31
December 21, 2008 (1)

This is a fun little inclusion: out of the all-time players, which of them were involved in my favourite game?

It might be a bit unfairly stacked against the early days, because of course I watched less NFL back then, didn't watch the highlights on NFL.com, and was still learning the game as I went, so even though my favourite seasons were the ones with the classic Titans players, picking a highlight game from that era is frankly quite tricky.

This game happened during what was also one of my favourite seasons: in a dominating 13-3 campaign that opened with a 10-game winning streak, the Titans locked horns with their hated old rivals for AFC supremacy. The winner would claim the #1 seed in the playoffs, and Pittsburgh looked to be the strongest opponent we would face that year.

And we beat them. We didn't just beat them, we dominated them, wire to wire, smacked them in the mouth, and stomped on their stupid towel for good measure. Tragically, the Steelers would have the last laugh, claiming victory in Super Bowl XLIII, but for that one day, at least, we were kings.

In case you were curious, the other contenders for this title were December 10th '06 (Titans 26, Texans 20 - Vince Young's return to Houston, where he beats them with a 39-yard touchdown run in OT), November 29th '09 (Cardinals 17, Titans 20 - Vince converts three fourth downs on a 99 yard drive in the final 2:37, delivering the game winner to Kenny Britt as the clock expires), October 11th '04 (Titans 48, Packers 27 - Steve McNair and Chris Brown dismantle the Packers in Lambeau on Monday Night Football) and November 27th '08 (Titans 47, Lions 10 - the Titans crush the winless Lions on Thanksgiving).

Tony's Year
2006 (26 Tony's Titans) (1)

Wow, that is actually a legitimate surprise to me. After all of my spouting about how I love the 'good old days' and the 'good old players', an overwhelming 26 of Tony's Titans played on the 2006 squad, the year that I consider being the beginning of the 'new era' of the Titans.

I guess I shouldn't be too terribly surprised, considering a lot of my favourites (Bulluck, Hentrich, etc.) hung around for a while, and as I've said a few times, I wasn't paying as much attention in those early days. Otherwise, Frank Wycheck probably would have surpassed Erron Kinney.

2006 was actually a pretty exciting year to be a Titans fan. After a lousy 4-12 campaign, Vince Young breathed new life into the shrivelled franchise, and the Titans finished 8-8, just one win against the Patriots away from a playoff berth. Not too shabby!

I love purple dinosaurs

Don't you?

Alright, I confess: this entry has nothing to do with the children's character who has haunted our screen for more than twenty years. It's about a certain hapless basketball team that have stumbled on the courts for about seventeen years: the Toronto Raptors.

Primarily, I'm just left asking the question... what happened to the purple?

Before you jump on me with the ravenous fervor of the team's namesake, I will already state that, yes, I'm aware that the mascot is, and always has been, red. However, for the first eleven seasons, the Raptors' jerseys were a rather regal shade of violet.

Over the years, the design went through a few modifications, first losing the vertical pinstripes and the obtuse logo on the front of the jersey, and then, in 2006, the team switched gears entirely. The new jerseys were red and black, and the purple was gone.

I'm not necessarily against the new(ish) jerseys. On the contrary, I think they look pretty sharp. I'm just not clear as to why they made the change, especially considering that fans seemed to really dig the purple and red combo (most Raptors hats people wear are still the ones that have purple on them).

It couldn't be due to a conception that purple is a 'wussy' colour. The Lakers have certainly debunked that notion. Could it have something to do with the defection of the Vancouver Grizzlies? Once they split for Memphis, the Raptors effectively went from just being 'Toronto's team', to what could be considered 'Canada's team'.

Could the shift to a focus on red be an attempt to capitalise on the national colours? Possibly. It's all pointless speculation at the moment, though.

Will we ever see the purple make a return as an alternate jersey? Hopefully. Especially instead of those hideous camo jerseys that have been making the rounds. One of the things about the purple jerseys is that they represent a time of success and excitement for this franchise. The Vince Carter years. The first round upset of the Knicks. That kind of thing.

It's a bit like the Blue Jays' brief rebranding of 2004-2011. After trying a few other poorly received new logos, they settled on a black motif and a slick-looking Blue Jay emblem. The jerseys were pretty good, I reckon, but the best years of the Jays were in the early 90s, and people wanted that style back. This year's new garb is a true throwback to the classic design, and fans are eating it up.

...And for the record, I actually was a fan of Barney as a kid. He had a lesson for everyone.

It finally happened.

And it took the fine efforts of the guys at RaptorsBlog for me to see the light.

After eight years of growling, of cursing, and of bitterness at the very mention of one man's name, I can finally say...

I have forgiven Vince Carter.

Upon reading this RaptorBlog interview, I was able to think back happily on those glory days, when Vince made the Raptors relevant and exciting, and somehow, the grim circumstances surrounding his departure didn't weigh on my mind.

Was it because it occurred to me how well Chris Bosh was able to pick up the role of franchise cornerstone? Was it because Vince's many great accomplishments in Toronto finally wooed me back? Or was it just because I had been waiting so long to hear Vince talk about the Raptors fans, like we were old friends, that I've simply been brainwashed?

It doesn't matter. I'm in a happy place now. Given some more time, maybe I'll even go into the depths, and unearth that familiar old purple #15.

I miss him so much

Business as usual

As the years go by, franchises rise and fall. Well, ideally, they rise and fall. In my case, however, it's mostly falling. Other than a few brief competitive streaks by the Titans, I've had very little to celebrate in sports.

I mean, just look at my beloved Blue Jays: they haven't been in the playoffs since their last World Series victory. The Jays haven't been in the playoffs since I was five years old, man. That's ludicrous! I love them, but wow, that's a long time, huh?

However, I have been very lucky to avidly follow the Vancouver Canucks for the last few years, and now, they have claimed back to back President's Trophies.


I know... When you can't put it all together and claim a championship, the President's Trophy is more of a beacon of wasted opportunity than anything else (just ask Capitals fans), but it's still a nice thing to have, right?

Though, admittedly, last year's horrible finals collapse vs. the Bruins, or the Titans 13-3 season that ended in disaster against the Ravens in the divisional round, were among the worst lows I've ever experienced as a fan.

...Ehhhhh... negativity mounting... screw it, CANUCKS ARE GOOD. YAY!