Unapologetic
I am an unapologetic fan of my beloved Toronto Rock. And it pains me to watch them struggle as they are. I have, in the past few seasons- since that last championship on 2005- suffered through some pretty tough losses. But this season is different. It is almost like watching a loved one struggle with an illness. My team is suffering from, for want of a better term, heart failure. And I feel completely helpless. I really don’t know what I can do to help.
In the early years my team, on paper at least, was not the most talented. Sure we had some really talented players but none of the superstars who could score at will. In those days “the heart” lived in a solid stay-at-home defence. And if a guy got through that them, Whipper was there.
Two season and two championships. Les Bartley figured out what the right job was for each player. Then he made each man responsible to his teammates.
Another championship on the road in ’02 against another “better-on-paper” team.
And then it was ’03 in Rochester. That was probably the best game I have ever witnessed and, in 11 years, I have seen some pretty good ones. The defence did it again- stopping guys, fast breaks down the floor and scoring a few. I know that it was likely the toughest game Whipper ever played. On that night his heart was broken. His very best, long time fan was no longer with us. And so to heal that hurt, he played for that fan and inspired his team.
In ’05, the true “heart” of my Rock struggled with life itself. But that struggle inspired the five who remained from that very first game. Another ring and another celebration. Great joy. And then the very next day- that heart left us.
It has been as if he took something with him. And the five have become just one. First a free agent signing by a team with a young defence that needed an anchor. Then there were differences of opinion and a trade that was very unpopular with the fans. At the end of last season, the one who was most like that heart retired at the age of 42; old for a lacrosse player and ready to start the next phase of his career. A change of style and another retirement. And only Whipper remains- the goaltender most in the know would want on their team in the BIG game.
So now my Rock is one of the teams with tons of talent on paper- lots of speed, great conditioning, a BIG scorer, a couple of creative shooters, a new captain who can fly, some solid defensive veterans, considerable skill in the faceoff circle. We have a young man who has worked like a Trojan to come back from a knee injury that would have ended a lesser man’s career. At times this team is brilliant. But on for a quarter or a half. And at other times they look like a reasonably talented junior team could beat them soundly.
Some of these guys just flat out quit. Checks aren’t finished. Passes are sloppy. Bad decisions are made. And there are the excuses.
There are guys who are working as hard as ever; no quit and no excuses. But it must be awfully hard for those guys when they see teammates flat out quit.
And for a guy like Bob Watson it must be harder still. He was a member of all five of those championship teams with all those hearts.
And as is often the case, just writing this has made clear in my head, at least, what I can do to help. It is a small thing but….I will not quit. I will encourage and cheer. I will go to all those away arenas and proudly wear my 2002 championship #32 jersey. I will be as honest as I can when the guys ask. And I will not quit.
And…Just maybe….their hearts will heal. It won’t happen overnight. This team’s “heart” has been unwell for a long time. It will take it time to heal. Some changes will be necessary. I won’t like them all but…I will not quit.
And…Just maybe…with enough encouragement and love….just maybe…..