THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE
1. COULD BE A LOT WORSE: Most of our grandparents and great grandparents occupied this country between 1914 and 1944. That 30-year stretch produced two world wars, the Spanish flu pandemic, the scarlet fever outbreak and the great depression of the Dirty Thirties. Our ancestors lived through some bad s%#t. Worse than anyone we’re dealing with right now. I can just see my grandpa scoffing down at me for daring to complain that I’m being forced to stay home, watch my television and play my video games. Let’s use this moment to appreciate that nothing, not the economy, not our wealth, not our health and not even our security is ever guaranteed. When it all comes back, which it will, let’s not forget this. And let’s use this as a reminder to appreciate what we do have when the world is right again.
2. MESSAGE TO THOSE QUESTIONING THE SHUTDOWN: The slowdown in COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan is very much encouraging. It means that what we’re doing is working. This is not a sign that we can let up. Quite the opposite. This is a sign that we have a chance to choke this thing out. We need to step on the gas and keep distancing. Remember, the sooner we confront this thing head-on, the sooner we can all get back to normal and put this nightmare in the rear-view mirror.
3. HEROES OF THE WEEK: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Scott Moe and Mayor Michael Fougere. None of them are perfect, nor has anyone’s handling of the crisis been, either. But they didn’t sign up for this. We like to pick on political leaders for their flaws but in situations like this, no one gets less sleep or higher stress than they do.
4. LOSERS OF THE WEEK: Peter MacKay, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump (again). They seem more focused on their own political ambitions throughout all of this than actually solving this crisis.
5. BEST TAKEOUT COMFORT FOOD: The cinnamon buns from Brewed Awakening will put a smile on anyone’s face, even right now.
6. SPORTS TEAMS ARE VICTIMS, TOO: It sounds trivial to even bring this up but what about the athletes, coaches, staff and fans who were excited about a championship run this spring? I feel awful for the Prince Albert Raiders who will never know if this year’s squad was good enough to finally win another Memorial Cup or not. Or how about the SJHL teams ready for their playoff run? They worked all year for this and a good chunk of them will never get this shot again. Are they suffering like some fighting for their lives in ICU? No. Are they suffering as bad as everyone struggling to survive financially through all of this? No, of course not. But that doesn’t mean the hockey teams and their fans aren’t victims, too. They are. Albeit on a much different scale.
7. PRO SPORTS TIMELINE: The NHL and NBA shouldn’t feel pressure to make any final decisions before August. A September/October made-for-TV playoff extravaganza would be just fine if they can pull it off. The world needs more playoff excitement and if the next regular season doesn’t happen until Christmas or even later, meh. Who cares? The playoffs need to be the priority. The NFL will try to push their way into starting by the fall, come hell or high water. That’s when this will get really interesting, especially if the crisis is still raging
8. WORST PART OF SHUTDOWN: The sadness and low morale I’m seeing on people’s faces everywhere.
9. BEST PART OF SHUTDOWN: Researching and making my selections for the 2020 Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame induction. The amazing stories in our own backyard are mind-blowing! I can start sharing them with you all once our class of 2020 has been announced. I can’t wait!
10. MORE BINGE-WATCHING FOR SELF-ISOLATION: The expansion Toronto Raptors beating arguably the greatest team ever, the 95-96 Chicago Bulls, is available for viewing on YouTube. I still get goosebumps remembering how excited my dad and I were (both of us knew damn near nothing about basketball) to see this rag-tag crew representing us Canadians, beating Michael Jordan and the Bulls. It was a special sports memory made ever more so by the Raptors growing into the national sensation they have become all these years later.
(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)
