Ok, I'm a Jays fan... Can't help it. If you grew up in Toronto during the 80's and into the glorious early 90's, you had to be a fan. The 1992 win was awesome, Toronto just exploded - over a million people poured into the downtown. People were hugging total strangers, drivers in cars going opposite directions reached out to shake hands (they weren't moving, traffic was deadlocked) and the biggest memory I have was just how happy everyone was - not that crazed excitement people sometimes get during big events, just a kind of mellowed out, understated Toronto kind of happy.
While the win in 1992 was great, to this day I still get chills thinking about 1993. There are only a few moments in my memory, where the mere thought, let alone watching the actual video brings me chills and even goosebumps, but Joe Carter's home run to end the series is one of those. I to this day remember the commentary on the telecast as Carter rounded third, "Winners and still World Champions, the Toronto Blue Jays!" The idea that Joe Carter isn't in the Hall of Fame makes me sick to this day.
That was a long time ago. The one player, I'd always wished had been on those teams was Roy "Doc" Halladay. In the last bunch of years, there simply hasn't been a Jays player consistently worth watching other than Doc. He was the best pitcher ever to play for the organisation in my books - including steroid cooked Roger Clemens. I must say, honourable mentions to Jimmy Key who came out of the pen in the 10th inning of game 6 in 1992 and was stellar.
One thing Doc has shown above all else over the last year is his class as a human being, something not many athletes today seem to think is important anymore. He handled the whole trade situation last summer (with that idiot JP Ricciardi in charge) last a true professional. He just went out and left it all on the mound. Then he gets traded, goes to a great team with the Phillies (who the Jays beat in the 1993 World Series) and takes out a full page ad in a local Toronto newspaper to thank the organisation, his teammates, the city and the fans for everything they've done for him. What a champion!
I know the Jays aren't going to win anything next year, we're back in the rebuilding phase the team was meant to have when the idiot Ricciardi came in, but I will be quietly cheering for the Phillies. The idea of seeing Doc get the start in the decider of a World Series is amazing and he might now get the chance in Philly.
One caveat! I wish Doc the best of luck in Philadelphia. I also think when the time comes in ten years or so, I reckon Doc will be a Hall of Famer. The one thing I hope above all else, no matter what success he has in the future, that should that honour come, he'll enter Cooperstown wearing a Jays hat.
