Roger Lajoie operates Triumph Sports Communications, a leader in providing editorial, broadcast and public relations services.

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The Rog's Rant

Let’s hope fun comes back to fun and games in 2007

When I first started out in the sports journalism business back in days of the stone tablets (OK, it was February 1, 1980, but that’s long enough ago trust me), we used to call covering sports “fun and games” as opposed to having a real job.

The sports department of a newspaper was widely known as the “toy department” and nobody took any of us who were lucky enough to be a sports writer or a sports broadcaster too seriously.

We didn’t take ourselves too seriously either. And why would we? After all, it was just sports after all, how could anybody take sports too seriously? It was all about fun and games and toys, not like the news people who had a real job to do.

I still love the sports business now, perhaps more than ever. On its worst day it’s still the best way to make a living – but I do have one regret about the sports business as 2006 comes to a close and I start year 27 in this profession.

It really is the sports business now. Long gone are fun and games, and toy departments. And what a shame that is.

I was hosting on The Fan 590 with Mike Toth of Sportsnet recently, a guy I really admire. I like the job he does, he’s a real decent person, we think a lot alike (i.e. – he’s smart) and he does what I try to do – he takes his job seriously without taking himself or what he does seriously.

That seems like a contradiction but it’s not. You can and should take your work seriously without taking yourself or what you’re doing too seriously. You can work seriously (as Mike does) without being too serious about it (as Mike does as well).

But what was lamenting that day that long gone are the days where people had fun with sports. Sports used to be a diversion, something to take your minds off the day to day grind – but now the way people take it, it’s become another grind for many of them.

As he usually is, he was right on. Sports is far, far too serious these days. Everybody talks about contracts, free agency, franchise finances, players in trouble with the law, and their fantasy leagues and pools.

I am in the grand total of one fantasy sports league. Just one – and it’s a permanent hockey pool I’ve been in for 14 years. I no longer take part in any other sports pool because they are all taken too seriously.

Play some pick-up hockey or other sport with the boys at work? No thanks – too serious, everybody thinks their trying out for the National Hockey League.

You should read some of the emails we get at The Fan from “fans” of teams that we might say something bad about. Unbelievable! Angry, bitter, sarcastic fans, many of whom I suspect lost a few bucks on sports wagering the night before.

Sports is still great and it you take it the right way it always will be. Sure, there’s so much business involved now, but that doesn’t mean that from time to time you don’t still see the true joy emerge.

Hey, ever watch the way baseball players act after a walk-ff homer is hit? They all run to home plate and jump up and down like kids. Beautiful. For a few moments anyway it’s all about the game again.

People, sports are supposed to make you smile, not frown. Sports are supposed to energize you, not depress you. Sports are supposed to make you forget about your troubles, not give you more.

Here’s my Christmas and New Year’s wish for my friend Mike Toth and to sports fans everywhere – may 2007 go down as the year where we all re-discover that sports is “fun and games” and the “toy department” once again, just like it used to be.

Have some fun with it fans and see you at the rink – and at the field – in 2007.

Happy Holidays!

Comments on Dec. 15 column on Baseball to blame for drug mess:

“Just once, just once The Rog, I would like to see an athlete just take the blame for what he’s done and admit it. Just once. That guy would be a national hero for his honesty.” – Allan in Toronto

“I say let’s make all drugs legal in every sport. Hey, if those guys don’t care about their health, why should we?” – Gary in Pickering

Email your comments to therog@rogerlajoie.com

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