Normally, the stories on Haiti that I get in my news alerts have something to do with the latest political scandal, a new UN report on the plight of the poor here, and, of course, massive deforestation. I usually don’t read that stuff anymore. This one, however, caught my eye because of the sports connection. At first glance I took it as a fluff piece with little relevance to the Haiti of today. But after a while, I started to realize that this story reflects in so many ways what IS happening in Haiti each and every day.
It’s all about failed dreams really. The train wreck that is Haiti today is just like the failed championship dream of your favourite hockey/baseball/basketball/football team. So devastating. So achingly frustrating.
Oh, what could have been!
You know, if you visit this blog from time to time, that we try not to dwell on that frustration. But sometimes, sometimes, it’s hard to ignore.
Maybe the recent botched elections with virtually non-existent turnout, the pending hurricane season, the seeming lack of leadership from the top, signs of increased instability in places like Cite Soleil have all got me a little frustrated.
(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/185296-sports-bizarro-world)
As the 2009 NBA playoffs come to a close, we will soon see Kobe, Lebron, Melo, or Dwight wearing a fresh "2009 NBA Champions" t-shirt and hat as they celebrate on the court with their teammates.
Kobe may be holding up four fingers in an eerie jordan-esque way. Mo Williams may be taking imaginary photos with an imaginary camera of a posing Lebron James. No matter who wins, there will also be a Final's loser and somewhere in that arena is the exact same set of "2009 NBA Champions" t-shirts and hats for the losing team which will never see the light of day in the U.S.
Have you ever wondered what happens to all of the Championship gear for the team that loses the big game? Somewhere out there, is a Sports Bizarro world where Michael Jordan is the biggest choke artist in NBA history, reaching the finals six times, but never winning that elusive title.
The Buffalo Bills were the dynasty of the 90’s and the Cowboys got dominated. A world where Kobe and Shaq’s divorce could be rationalized as the pair has gone zero for three on the big stage.
A world where Jeter and Mariano come up short four out of five years and are traded away in 2000 for some over the hill, 37 year old former all-stars by an impatient George Steinbrenner. These t-shirts and hats are shipped to Third World Countries like Ethiopia, Haiti, Sudan, etc.
Somewhere in Haiti, a little boy is wearing a "Patriots 19-0 Perfect Season" t-shirt right now. Although you will probably never see it, this Bizarro Sports World is out there and it is the only evidence of a sports world which could've been.
