Tuesday Grab Bag: The wait for the 13th Buff continues

I'm a little abbreviated this week as we hit the offseason months with little built up news.

Today in the bag, I'm touching on a trio of smaller basketball notes, before closing with some talk about Canelo Alvarez v Amir Khan.

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Tuesday Grab Bag: FIFA is french for Embezzlers United

Straight to the action today, as I'm off to LoDo to watch the Rox play this afternoon.  After the fold, I'm talking the FIFA arrests, a pair of Games 7 in the NHL, and the uninspiring action in the NBA conference finals.

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The 2015 CU Garage Sale

Ah, the garage sale.  A biennial smorgasbord of surplus CU gear for the cost-conscious shopper.  Want the swag without the hefty price tag? Well, then here's the event for you.  Honestly, one of my top three days on the athletics calendar (1: opening day for basketball, 2:  all other basketball games, 3: the garage sale).

New for this year: a long ass line!  I showed up a good 45 minutes early, but was still behind about 50-75 people.

Somewhere near the front: @RyanKoenignberg

What's not pictured are the hundreds still behind me.  By the time the gates opened at high noon, the line stretched around the ticket line stanchions at the entrance to the plaza, south down Colorado, and out of view by the Folsom Field ticket office.  I'm lucky I arrived when I did, as were friends of the blog @CUGoose and @BupsJones,who joined me in line a little later.  Even though I wasn't among the first group to get in, there was still plenty of stuff to peruse once inside the gates.  For those farther back in line... not so much.

The garage sale - a free-for-all of grabbing - is one of the few instances that it pays to be a *cough* larger gentleman.  As athletics staffers get early access, 'normal' sizes like medium and large are almost entirely picked over before the public even gets a shot.  Happily for my XXL frame, there's still plenty around in larger sizes if you're in the first few groups in the door.  Accordingly, I scooped up a nice haul.  Maybe not as much basketball-specific stuff as previous years, but still more than worth the extended lunch break I had to take in order to get in line when I did.

Without further adieu, what I was able to score:

That's right, a damn football helmet.  You had your choice between game/practice used and replica.  I went replica, 'cause I thought it looked better.  Either way, one of these would've set you back a cool $100.  This is going in the man cave.

First up on the clothes end is this sweet weather repellant track jacket.  This is the kind of stuff the garage sale is great at.  Outdated styles, but who really cares if you're wearing 2013's jacket in 2015?  Either way, you're staying dry and reppin' CU.  The current version sells for $65 on CU's website; this one was mine for $15.

 

Another stellar garage sale pickup: last year's team polo.  What are these, usually $50-60 bucks at the store?  Today only you could get them for $10.  I'll be wearing this for years!

Always got to grab up the t-shirts.  $5 each.  I'm especially excited about the one on the right, if you couldn't guess.

Here's a nice example of Burks-era basketball shorts. According to the tag on the inside, they may or may not have belonged at one point to Trent Beckley.  At the garage sale, sometimes you have to size-up, and this is certainly a case of that.  Fine at the waist, but +4 length.  Still though, they'll make for great loungin' wear.  I can't remember the cost, but I think it was $5.

Here's some workout wear.  Or, more precisely, softball wear.  Can never get enough of this stuff, and, at $5 each, you can't beat the price.

More than top wear, the garage sale is also a great opportunity to pick up some work pants.  I got these golf shorts and pants (no logos) for $10 each.  The pants are made for someone seven-feet tall, but that's why they invented hemming.

Turtle-neck thermal?  Absolutely, for $10.  This'll be great for those October/November football games I eventually decide to attend.

I also scooped up a track jacket and polo emblazoned with '2001 Big 12 Champions.'  I assume these were for the players reunion in 2011.  I already have a version of the track jacket from the 2012 Pac-12 basketball championship, but that style of jacket is really nice, so what the hell?  The polo is just fine, and will be great on the golf course ('cause I apparently golf now?)  $10 each. (BTW, My camera was so impressed by the throwback style, that it decided on its own to use a filter. Whatever you want, dude.)

If you're keeping track, I got all those clothes for $100.  Are you kidding me?!  Bargains galore!  But even on top of that, there's more.  At the checkout line, they had the usual cavalcade of media guides for free (if you wanted it, you could get the '93-'94 women's hoops guide).  Going further, there were some other surprises in the freebie bin:

I ended up grabbing four 1990 football media guides for eventual gifts, a '94 football guide for me, and... is that what I think it is?  Yes, BOTH the 2001 Big XII champions video and the 62-36 commemorative film on VHS.  VHS!  HAHA, you just can't beat the hilarity that will ensue at the next white elephant party I'm invited to.

All told, I spent $200 today.  A lot, but if you take out the cost of the football helmet, I made out like a bandit.  I can't wait for 2017 when I get to go around again!

Monday Grab Bag: Football is in the air

This is getting serious.  With two weeks to go before the start of the football season, it's hard not to ignore the excitement and focus in the air.  The regular students will hit campus this week, the football team is now going behind closed doors to continue their preparation, and suddenly the Rocky Mountain Showdown seems to be impending, rather than distant.

It's official, the calendar has flipped.  Baseball season has passed, football now takes the stage.  This can mean only one thing: November is just over the horizon!

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Today in the bag, I'm talking Saturday's football scrimmage, some unfortunate injury news, and the fight against ALS.

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Monday Grab Bag: Farewell, Captain Jack

Big news from the CSU camp this weekend.  I'll try to tackle it with grace, but no promises will be made. Needless to say, I laughed my ass off on Friday to the mental image of RamNation's sand castle stadium blowing away in the August winds.

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in the bag, I'm talking about the shake up at the Fort, the comparative momentum in Boulder, and tragedy on the race track.

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Monday Grab Bag: The return of the worst week in sports

Welcome, once again, to the worst week in sports.  The Major League Baseball All-Star game, annually, announces itself as deserving of an entire week of focus, and then proceeds to bore the nation to tears through a glorified round of batting practice and a main event no more important than a random spring training game.  Even for me, a devout follower of the religion of baseball, this week is impossibly difficult to get through.

The question that I've been hearing more and more over the past few years is "how do we fix it?"  You can't, stop trying.  The reasons behind the existence of this non-event were: 1) to create a new source of revenue for the league during the Depression, which eventually evolved into 2) provide a showcase for out-of-town stars that fans rarely got to see.  80 years later, baseball no longer needs the revenue, and fans can see out-of-town stars whenever they want, thanks to nationalized television packages.  There's no longer a point. Just name a team, hand out some bonus checks, and keep the season moving.

But, that's too logical and forward thinking for baseball, so expect them continue to wring the stone in search of water.  Meanwhile, more and more fans of the game will stop watching, and the sport's infrastructure will become more and more irrelevant. *sigh*  Baseball, as always, is timeless to a fault.

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Today in the bag, I'm talking the conclusion of the World Cup, NBA free agency, and fundraising at CU.

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Monday Grab Bag: Basketball renewals

Work has me swamped (as usual), so straight to the action...

Today in the bag, I'm talking ticket renewals, and the continuing playoffs in the NBA and NHL.

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Monday Grab Bag: All-Star week sucks

I know I harp on this every year, but it needs to be said: All-Star week sucks.  The game, and its attendant fanfare, is pointless, boring, and purposely slotted in a dead period where there's nothing else available to draw my attention.  To each their own, but I generally question the sanity of anyone who 'looks forward' to this non-event.

However, that doesn't mean I want the All-Star game 'fixed,' or any of that nonsense being talked about on sports radio.  Middle aged men can wax poetic all they want about Pete Rose destroying Ray Fosse's career and Ted Williams' walk-off home run, but the All-Star Game has always sucked.  They only remember it fondly because the Mid-Summer Classic was one few games televised before the modern era.  Had other baseball been readily available on television, everyone would remember the All-Star Game as the pointless distraction that it has always been.

I know it'll never happen, but the game needs to be dumped from the schedule. And if that only highlights how unnecessarily long the baseball season is, then why not shorten the season while we're at it?

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Today in the bag, I'm talking budget cut announcement, Spencer at the WUG, and 'Dre's first run as a professional.

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Roll in the Brinks truck, Tad's getting paid.

On the same day that it was announced that each athletic program at the University of Colorado was being asked to cut costs by 10%, the terms of Tad Boyle's recent extension were released.  Originally negotiated by former AD Mike Bohn, the new contract (between a slight boost in base pay, increases in supplemental income, tweaks to incentives, and the elimination of retention bonuses) calls for Coach Boyle to receive an extra $700k per year on his contract which runs to April of 2018, bringing the bottom line number to just under $1.5 million per year. The contractual focus is no longer on Coach Boyle earning his keep, but rather now on CU compensating him enough to stay.

Yeah, I'd be smiling too.

It's a well-deserved pay increase for the rock star coach in charge of the most successful program on campus.  After 69 wins and three-straight postseason appearances in his first three seasons (both program records), this raise was, in effect, a no-brainer.

While I never took much stock in the panicked rumors from the last few years that hinted that Tad was soon bound for more lucrative opportunities, I'm comforted by the continued financial commitment to hoops, and hopeful that this raise will give would-be suitors pause.  The total, cash-money number is still lower than some of the rumored/reported outside offers that Tad has received the past few offseasons, but it's a solid step in the direction of financial security for both Boyle and CU.

What's that?  You're still worried about the buyout clause?  Well, it's nothing near the lottery-sized payments included in new UCLA coach Steve Alford's contract, but, should CU and Boyle part ways before the end of April in 2015, the spurned party gets $500k.  At least it's something.

ROLL TAD!

Monday Grab Bag: ... still shaking off the post-4th hangover

Three weeks ago, I made a point of selecting the Colorado Rockies as a surrogate baseball team to follow while My White Sox surge towards true 'dumpster-fire' status.  Of course, since that announcement, the Rox have gone 5-14, slipping below .500, and into third place.  I offer a heartfelt apology to both the Colorado Rockies and their fanbase for bringing the stink of losing with me.

How about I make amends?  I'll reverse course, become a temporary 'fan' of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and drag them, kicking and screaming, into the cellar.  How does that sound?

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It's a Christmas Carol version of the bag, in which I talk Buffs past, present, and future. 

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Monday Grab Bag: Still waiting for an AD

Following up on my lead-in from last week, I've made a decision on what baseball team to follow.

To summarize, with my beloved White Sox turning into a bona fide dumpster fire (three straight losses to the Astros over the weekend!), I'm looking for a hardball distraction to obscure the mounting futility.  Turning to twitter, I received numerous suggestions like the Yomiuri Giants, Dorados de Chihuahua, along with more conventional choices like the Seattle Mariners.  (Thanks to everyone who chimed in!) 

In the end, however, there was only one real option.  I'm going with the home team, and jumping back on the Rockies bandwagon.  And what a bandwagon it is!  After yesterday's 5-2 victory over Philadelphia, the Rox moved to four games over .500, and sit only half a game back of the division leading Diamondbacks.  My poor, poor White Sox could only dream of such heights.

So get ready, Coors Field.  Your attendance is about to be boosted by one over the next homestand!

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Today in the bag, I'm talking AD search, the NBA finals, and the US Open.

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Quick post: Basketball ticket costs going up

Earlier this year, when football ticket renewals went out, I had to make a gamble.  I ended up making it in favor of not renewing my football seats.

You see, the life of an unpaid blogger isn't as lucrative as you might imagine, and I could see over the horizon the strong possibility that my basketball tickets would be getting hit with a hefty price increase.  I can't in good conscience give up my perch halfway up Section 9, so, rather than betting that basketball prices would stay flat for another year, I saved my money for basketball renewals.  Sure, there were other influences on my decision, but that was essentially 75% of my thinking.

Today, I learned that my money was well saved.  In recognition of CU now becoming known for basketball, a required donation to the Buff Club has been tacked on to all non-student price levels at the CEC.  For many, that may mean as little as $50.  For me, I'm now throwing down $150 on top of the regular ticket cost.  While it's true that the printed price of my tickets is not going up, the actual hit to my wallet has gone up 60%.

A map detailing the 2013-14 pricing structure can be found here.  Certain price levels have been requiring donations for a while now, but this season will mark a first for Colorado Basketball.  This policy just brings the CEC closer in-line with the ticketing structure in Folsom. 

You know what?  I'm fine with it.  Colorado Basketball has been grossly undervalued for years, and it makes sense for the athletic department to begin capitalizing on a program that has suddenly turned into a money maker.  While the sticker-shock is a little high right now (60%, yo), I will make the argument that, between free parking, relatively cheap concessions, and a high quality product, attending a game at the CEC is still one of the best sporting values on the Front Range.

The 2013 CU Garage Sale

Once again, the folks at the CU athletic department are opening their warehouse for a garage sale.  Those who have taken advantage of it in the past know that it is an incredibly cheap way to load up on Black and Gold gear for the upcoming year.  T-Shirts?  $5.  Pants?  $15.  Track jackets?  $20.  They even have game-worn jerseys from most sports, available to you, the CU fan-on-a-budget, for low, low prices.

Unfortunately, it's getting harder and harder to find anything if you're normal-human sized.  By 12:05 today, essentially right as the doors opened, anything from men's sizes S through XL was already gone, and shoes were only available in sizes approaching SHAQ. Bad luck for many bargain hunters.

Luckily, I am not sized like a normal human, and I was able to score some great deals.  I may not have found the game-worn Nate Tomlinson jersey that I was looking for, but it was still worth the trip up to campus.

This is my haul from today:

An official jersey from the mountain man himself, Ryan Miller.  The slim-fit is a little small for me.  In retrospect, I may have to gift this.

This is what I came for: NCAA Tournament wear!  Combination Pac-12 Champion and Tournament participant track jacket for only $20.  BOOM!

More Tournament wear.  This time, a fleece for $10.  I had to size-up on this one, but it'll be worth it when it's November, and I'm headed to the CEC.  This was the last one they had in stock, and I had to stare-down a dude who was looking at it.

A pair of track pants, one with logo, the other without.  My lounge-wear needs are officially taken care of.

I got two pairs of these golf pants.  Luckily, our football coaching staff is made of of appropriately-sized gentlemen.

 And, finally, a pair of t-shirts, both basketball themed.  Items right after my heart.

Grand total for nine items: $110.  I'd have paid that for the two Tournament tops alone.  I love the garage sale.

Quick Post: Folsom Improvements

Last night in Colorado Springs, Mike Bohn, Phil DiStefano, and Mike MacIntyre finally introduced the long-awaited plan for facility upgrades at Folsom Field.  Tabbed at $170 million in total outlays, and organized into three phases, the plan includes improvements to seating on both sides of the stadium, a new academic facility under the east stands, a massive expansion of Dal Ward, and, of course, a permanent indoor practice facility.

The academic center phase would be first up.  From: the BDC

The goal is for the first $50 million of the project to be sourced through private donations, with the remaining $120 million to come from leveraging the increased athletic revenues pouring in as a result of the move to the Pac-12.

While it doesn't appear to be the grand, sweeping re-design that was leaked last fall, it's nice to finally see some public movement on fundraising.  BuffNation now has a goal - $50 million.  That may seem like a lot to a layman, but it's a drop in the bucket for modern college football. If we can't raise that kind of dough, we don't deserve a big-6 football program. 

In addition to the $170 million injection into Folsom Field and the football program, the released plan also includes a phase of improvements to the Coors Events Center.  This would entail a series of expansions to the cramped concourse, the creation of premium seating areas along the top of the aisles, and the founding of a hall of fame.

Of course, I'm most interested in the CEC expansion...  From: the BDC

The CEC improvements are not included in the $170 million price-tag announced yesterday, and should be considered separate from the football-centric phases.

I love the plan, and the sentiment behind it - doubling-down on the recent upswing on the south side of campus.  We've seen the kind of near-immediate impact facility improvements can have on the basketball programs in recent years, and these kind of improvements would help to continue that burgeoning success. Hopefully, the CEC plan comes to fruition sooner then later, and doesn't get lost in the commotion of the improvements to Folsom.

Everyone break open your piggy bank.  It's time to make good on all of those drunken promises you've made over the years...

Quick Post: On the evolving Pac-12 Network

Work began on the future home of the Pac-12 network yesterday, with the expectation that the operation will be up and running for the fall.  It's an exciting time in a conference seemingly bent on sports-world domination.

The new secret lair... located on Third St in San Francisco.  from: Pac-12.org

The new home of Pac-12 Enterprises, who will produce both the Pac-12 Network and digital distribution content, is a symbol of what CU left the rotting corpse of the Big XII for.  In addition to more money, CU's new home offers a sense of inclusion and forward thinking that was beyond lacking when UT was running the show.  The Big XII continues to be years behind competitors in terms of distribution and market expansion.  With the Pac-12, CU is a part of the new frontier of sporting consumerism.

So, what exactly does this mean to you, the consumer?  It will be easier to follow the Buffs than ever before.

No longer will games go un-broadcast.  The Pac-12 network will be on the basic cable tier in home media markets, with every regional network available on expanded sports tiers.  While satellite provider agreements are still in the works, I have no doubt that sports friendly DirecTV will be involved. Additionally, through the philosophy of "TV everywhere," everything broadcast on the various Pac-12 networks will be available online or on your phone. 

If you want to pay for it, you will be able watch the Buffs, wherever you may roam. This point was underscored for me when I looked up my ISU live-blog from last-year.  No more blackouts!

I'm talking Scrooge McDuck money.  Straight cash, homey!

All told, the Network and digital distribution could mean an additional $15+ million per year into the Buff Treasury.  The digital media rights, along with the Pac-12 Network system, are all in addition to the $2.7-3 billion television deal signed last May.  That deal alone should bring in $15 million to CU starting this fall, with that number only going up in future years, via a built-in escalator clause.

The CU athletic department is about to be seriously rolling in the dough.  As if you didn't already know that.

Quick-Post: The results are in: Larry Scott is $2.7bil worth of awesome UPDATED

Word is starting to leak out about the Pac-12 broadcast right deal.  Everyone in the conference is about to get paiiiiiid to the tune of $2.7 billion over 12 years.  The broadcast partners will be Fox and ESPN, and the Pac-12 is withholding some rights to further their pursuit of their own network.   In real dollar terms to CU that's over $18 million per year right off the bat.  CU had been getting between $9 and $10 million in the Big XII.

We can all argue back and forth about whether or not the additions of Colorado and Utah made the Pac-12 territory more marketable, but I have to think the excitement of expansion and re-branding had something to do with the Pac-12 getting triple their current deal.  Also, Larry Scott is a badass.

(UPDATE: 5-3-11) Jon Wilner of the SJMNis saying that initial reports may have lowballed, and that the deal is actually worth upwards of $250 million with possibly more announcements slated for the future.  That would be close to $21 million per school.  Suck it UT!

(UPDATE: 5-3-11) New York Times confirms Wilner's update.  It's $3 billion over 12 years, with $250 million per year and near $21 million per school, per year.  That's quadruple the current deals.  Additionally, Pac-12 retains rights to own Pac-12 network.  WOOT!

Quick-Post: CU kicks me while I'm down

Season football renewals came out today.  Great, not only am I still grieving over last night's loss to ISU, but now I have to watch money fly out of my bank account. The good news is that total prices are down, but, unless you sit in the cheap seats or section 220, that's mostly due to there being one fewer game on the schedule.

On the bright side, while it does hurt to pay cash money right now, my decision to renew isn't as difficult as it was last March.  Even if the Buffs-4-Life coaching crew can't spin immediate voodoo, things should at least be interesting to watch this fall.

Quick-Post: Cash-Money from Embree Hire

Just read in the post that in the wake of the Jon Embree signing that the Athletic Department has already received 400 new orders for football tickets.  Taking a conservative average of $300 per seat (assuming only 1 seat per order, which is ridiculous, and $300 per seat being what I pay per year), the AD has gotten $120,000 from ticket orders alone.  That's all without lifting a finger to sell the team. Add in the assumed increase in donations from all those people who said they'd never give a dime to the university until Hawk got shit-canned, and the bonanza Mac was talking about may have already started to arrive.

Monday Grab Bag: Well, I guess it could be worse...

I think Spring has finally set (thank God). Just in time for the bag...

Hawks stumble, then regain their footing: A whole hell of a lot can happen in 48 hours. After the awful, no good, disgusting performance in the 3rd period Friday night, where goalie Antti Niemi gave up 4 (mostly soft) goals in the period, the Hawks rebounded to blank (first playoff shutout since '96!) the Preds 2-0 last night. Whew. A disaster like that garbage that put me to sleep Friday can often trip up a good team. I know now is a little late in the game, but maybe the Hawks shouldn't have rested their playoff hopes on a post-season virgin. Kudos still go to Niemi for shaking off Friday night, and getting his first playoff victory; he needs to have his shit together, and his 23 stops Sunday are a good start.

(Woot. From: The Trib)

CU Basketball Coaching Search: It looks like it's down to the 3 candidates who interviewed over the weekend: Tad Boyle, Mike Dunlap, and Steve McClain. As I said last week, I'd prefer to keep McClain, however I think the much talked about transfer possibilities from the team are minimal and overstated. (Al was only going to stay for one more year regardless, he probably doesn't want to sit that year out. Cory wants to play his final season with his brother regardless of the situation. Marcus has only 1 year of eligibility left. Aside from that, I find it hard to believe Shannon Sharpe would sit out another year, and the Aussies will probably stick together.) Despite the wishes of the players and myself, I'm beginning to believe that Tad Boyle will get the job. Not that he will be a bad choice (in fact if we were to go with McClain, I'd spend the next few years playing "what if" as Boyle vastly improves some other program), but I think that McClain has "earned" the job. Either way, as long as it's not Dunlap, I'll be agreeable to the hire.

(Seriously, I'm gonna be doing photoshops and everything. Yippie-Ki-Yay Motherfucker!)

Sox off to their worst start since '97: Yeesh, they suck. Getting swept by Cleveland? That's low. Just looking at the standings (which I try to never do before Memorial Day) finds the Sox 5 games back of the AL Central lead after only two weeks of play. WTF? Maybe it's time to realize that Mark Kotsay doesn't belong in the middle of a Major League order, and that Omar Visquel doesn't belong on a Major League roster, let alone the lead-off spot. I've seen 3 "bad" Sox teams in my life (The '95, '99, and '07 squads all sucked balls), so I admit I have been relatively lucky. But having watched this team struggle to hit for going on 4 seasons now, it's evident that changes need to be made. It's beyond past the time that both fans and management should've stopped oooo-ing and ahhh-ing over solo home runs and begun to demand legitimate, repeatable, production from a line-up that costs $70-ish million dollars, regardless of the time of year. (a few minor points: why does Juan Pierre need to be bunted over to 2nd all the time; I heard something about that guy being fast. Why say that Andruw Jones needs to play everyday the same day you bench the guy? We can't hit so the solution is a 13th reliever? If Alexi Ramirez can never bat his weight in April, why not keep him in extended spring training till the Kentucky Derby? Why wait til the 3rd week of a season to skip a guy in the rotation; why not do it in the 1st week when there are more off days? Yep, I'm a little frustrated.)
(Come on guys, the Indians are terrible! WTF?! From: The Trib)

Ubalo's No-No: Didn't watch the game, but I checked out the box score Sunday afternoon. 6 walks? That reminds me of a little-league game. The opposing pitcher is just so over powering that the kids have no chance to touch him; so they just sit there as he wings it across the plate, praying for a walk (This happened to me on a few occasions). No-hitters are always impressive, but to still be throwing 97-98 mph after 125 or so pitches is even more so. Too bad the Rox couldn't follow it up by shutting shit down in the 9th the following day (umpire over-eagerness was involved, but you can never blame the umps for a loss) Ubaldo has proven over his career that he can be straight nasty when he's on. Now I'm starting to believe that he can be the horse of a championship-level staff. By-the-way, that No-No was worth 79 pts in my fantasy league.

(Ubaldo!.... Jimenez!)

Ndamukong Suh donates money to some shit school east of here: A lot was made this weekend of Suh's generosity to pledge $2.6 million of his forthcoming lottery-level winnings from the NFL draft to his Alma Mater. Neil Woelk used this opportunity to complain about the lack of similar sifts from former CU athletes. Not-for-nothing, but giving is a personal thing. If someone doesn't want to give (or keep their giving private), it's their right to keep all the money they have earned (It may be unseemly, but its true). I've said many times that collegiate athletes owe decidedly little to their schools (after all, top athletes are so vastly underpaid compared to the value they bring).

The Daily Camera stole my idea: It can't be just coincidence that 2 days after I post an article about craft beer in cans that the BDC comes out with an article about craft beer in cans. That's bush-league BDC, just bush-league.

Happy Monday!

Blue Jay fans suck ass

Tuesday I relayed the feisty Ozzie quotes after the opening game of the Blue Jays series. One quote that has stuck in my mind was "How many people are going to show up [for the opener], about 50,000 or 40,000? Tell the fans in Toronto, Alex Rios is in Toronto; all you fans come out and boo him. We need people in the ballpark just to come out and boo Alex the next four days. Please, we haven't seen many fans here the last three or four years. Come out just to boo him." The point that stuck with me is not the rather random hatred devoted to Rios, but the semi-desperation of Ozzie to get fans out to the ballpark in Toronto. Ozzie was essentially daring Blue Jay fans to give a rats ass and show up after the home opener. The BJ (heh-heh) fans have responded with a distinctively Canadian yawn.

(That's a lot of empty blue seats. From the Trib)

Look at that picture from last night's 11-1 White Sox winner! Only 10,610 fans (the fewest in Blue Jay history) braved the 50 degree temps and dome conditions to watch they beloved Jays last night. That's pathetic, even for April baseball against a non-divisional foe. Sure there are some excuses: It was a weeknight, the Jays are down this year, and many fans are mad at the organization for trading Roy Halladay. So what. You're either a fan or you aren't.

Deadspin.com noted the relative attendance struggles of both the Blue Jays and their AL East rival Baltimore Orioles by remembering that these two franchises used to be the hottest tickets in town. The Blue Jays, specifically, used to draw an obscene 4 million fans a year back in the early 90's. If you were able to score Jays tickets, even in the upper reaches of what was then known as SkyDome, you were living a charmed life. Now, they would probably give a whole section to yourself if you'd ask.

I bring this up mostly because I fear for baseball in Canada. I like the fact that Major League baseball still has a team in "America's Hat." It makes the league seem like more than some jingoistic masturbatory venture (which it mostly is... that they still get away with "World Series" is hilarious). Having seen what happened to the Montreal Expos (Who I had a fond place in my heart for. Don't ask why), I genuinely fear for the Blue Jays. The 'spos floundered when the owners sold off young stars in the making (like Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Larry Walker) and became frugal and disinterested in providing quality product on the field. Fans stayed away out of principal (and the fact that Quebecois distrust anything not intrinsically Quebecan, but that's another story), and MLB retaliated by trying to send the team to Puerto Rico (lol) before finally forcing the franchise down the collective throats of the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. I remember towards the end of the franchise, they couldn't even sell radio broadcast rights. While the Jays are certainly a more national team, this could happen in Toronto if the organization is not careful. Yes, one sparsely attended series is not going to sink a franchise, but don't be surprised if attendance in Toronto sags all season long.