Old Editorial from 1995.
I love watching the Canadian National team play but I really DON"T think they should play in Toronto! The stadium is always filled with expatriates of the visiting country. Although sometimes the stadium may be filled there is no carryover down to the local level. I was more impressed by seeing the team in Edmonton being cheered than the convenience of being at a hometown game.
I think this 'old country/ancestor/heritage/culture stuff is fine but not for sports against your new country! If any people think I cheered for Wales or Scotland when they were in Toronto they're sadly mistaken. However if I ever had to leave here for the same reasons people left their own countries, that's where my sports loyalty would end. (Of course I'm glad there is cultural pride at the local level otherwise they might be no soccer now in this city; my rampage is at the NATIONAL level).
There was to have been a three team 'Canada Cup' tourney between June 2nd and 8th, 1996 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium. First string national teams of Canada, Greece and Costa Rica were to take part. This time organizers were to try something new by distributing 4000 tickets per game to the Ontario Soccer League which would pass them along to local associations. The idea was that at least 4000 local kids would hopefully be cheering for Canada. Seemed worth a try.
Rocket Robin
robing@clo.com
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