O Canada

I love Canadians. I occasionally want to be a Canadian. But it has not been a good week for U.S./Canada relations around here.

Conor is here early because they wouldn't let him in.

And last night, at the first in a 3-game series between the Mariners and the Blue Jays, we were distressed to have what should have been a friendly baseball game turn into an unfortunate display of nationalistic excess. Hundreds of Canadians and ex-pat Canadians turned up, which was fine. The singer sang "O Canada" along with "The Star-spangled Banner," which was more than fine. But the Canadian fans got a little carried away. It is, after all, the Seattle stadium, perhaps not the most polite location for celebrating either Blue Jays or Canadian-ness. Frankly, their behavior smacked strongly of the obnoxious display Americans typically put on at the Olympic Games.

I can't think of a more condemning description than that.

But Tom had the last word. After the game (which the Jays pitcher won for them, 2-0), Tom went into the restroom and encountered a group of guys continuing the "Let's go, Blue Jays" chant we had been listening to all evening. Tom said, "Congratulations! You beat the worst team in baseball!" It put things nicely in perspective. :-)