Home » Sports » Sports Talk » Air Canada

Air Canada

© Ryan Joseph Robinson

My name is R.J., and I am Canadian. Yes, I like hockey, and no, I do not live in an igloo. I'll save the hockey talk for later, as there is a phenomena growing in Canada that is quickly gaining momemtum; this phenomena is called "basketball". I know, I know. Basketball has long been a staple in America, but over the past two years round ball has captured the imaginations of people north of the border. The reason why die-hard puck heads are dropping their hockey sticks in favor of bouncing a big orange ball is simple. Two words simple, in fact. Vince Carter.

An outbreak of purple #15 jerseys is spreading through school children from Vancouver to Newfoundland. It is hard to imagine that a country that lives and breathes hockey would embrace basketball, but Vince Carter is quickly elevating to a superstar status that used to be reserved for the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. 360 dunks. Tomahawk dunks. "Look ma, I just leapt completely over a 7 foot 2 inch French guy" Olympic dunk. Game winning three pointers. Vince Carter is the total basketball package, but if some American media-types have their way, that package will soon be Fed Exed to the U.S.

I've heard all the American rationales. "Vince could make more endorsement money in the States." "The N.B.A.'s most popular player should play for an American team so that more Americans can watch Vince on t.v." Well, I have an opposing rationale for you. It is in the N.B.A.'s best interest to have Carter playing in Canada. Here's why. Think back to when Wayne Gretzky was traded to the L.A. Kings. Gretzky-Gate was a national scandal in Canada at the time of the trade, but there is no denying that hockey greatly increased in popularity in the U.S. when Wayne Gretzky put on a Kings jersey. Hell, there's now an N.H.L. team thriving in Columbus, Ohio, of all places. Hockey still has some catching up to do to reach elite professional sports status in the U.S., but attendance and t.v. ratings are increasing at a rate that is better than any of the other pro sport leagues. The N.H.L. is on solid ice, and you can thank Wayne Gretzky for laying the foundation. Much in the same way, you can thank Vince Carter for putting basketball on the map of a country where the theme song to "Hockey Night in Canada" is just as recognizable as the National Anthem.