Sat 14 Oct 2006
While our prime minister is currently in the news for something else, I’d like to comment on something I saw him do a few weeks ago.
When the Leafs and Senators played in the season opener, one of the side stories was that Stephen Harper was in attendance, and cheering for the Leafs. I was distracted by the Senators’ win (one of their bright spots so far this season) and by the mention of the sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hockey fans in Calgary could have been upset to watch the guy they voted in cheering for the enemy Leafs. Fans in Ottawa who have watched the new guy residing at 24 Sussex cheering for the provincial rivals. Political sceptics could have seen his allegiance as pandering to the big city vote. Even as a fan of the Senators and a sceptic of political posturing in every aspect of life, I saw it in a different light.
Sitting beside him was his Leaf jersey wearing son, who was genuinely excited to be at the game, hardly the ideal companion for a man pandering for votes. I once worked at a sports retail store where our manager was quite excited by the success of the Leafs during their playoff run that particular season, but his excitement was fuelled by the extra money he was making by selling Leafs merchandise. Now, while I don’t actually believe that the prime minister is a big hockey fan, I didn’t sense that kind of fake enthusiasm, but a real enthusiasm based on something else.
I grew up dreaming of attending an NHL hockey game, and when I finally did, my two companions were my equally excited brother and my dad, who didn’t know the difference between innings and periods. Neither I or my brother were fans of the two teams playing, but we were excited to be there. At every home-team goal, we were on our feet, and so was our dad, not because he wanted a certain team to win, or because he knew exactly what was going on, but because it was an exciting place, and we was excited to be there with us.
Stephen Harper was at a hockey game with his son, and who cares how or why he got his tickets or which team he was cheering for.
October 15th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
“Now, while I don’t actually believe that the prime minister is a big hockey fan, I didn’t sense that kind of fake enthusiasm, but a real enthusiasm based on something else.”
Actually, Harper is known to be a huge hockey fan, and until his rise to Prime Minister was actually working on an extensive book profiling the history of the game.
That said, I’m not trying to pull away from your point… If Harper’s son is a Leafs fan - good for him to support his son.
Ralph Klein announced, at his retirement, that now he doesn’t have to cheer for ‘both’ Alberta teams due to being the Premier. I think your team’s your team, no matter what your position is - and anyone giving Harper flak for cheering for the Leafs (despite my usual taunting) is probably in it to get votes of their own.
October 18th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Will I have to agree with Kirk. The PM even recently authored or co-authored a book on hockey. He is a massive fan.
My point is the night of the game the PM found it more important to FLY on a government chartered jet with his son to watch a hockey game in TO, then attend a fairly important vote in the House of Commons.
If Chretien had done this Harper would have called it contempt of parliament and wasteful liberal use of government assets for personal matters… now this is just government policy I suppose.
Cheers,
P
October 18th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Thanks for the correction guys. I hadn’t known about his book or hockey fan status.
Certainly every action by a politician has a political aspect of it, but my comments were on the personal aspect of it.