Jock talk in Ottawa

Sports is not one of the of the first things that comes to most people's minds when they think of Ottawa. However two recent events are thrusting the light on two aspects of Canada's sports tradition beyond the current Ottawa Senators. The leaked announcement that the Canadian Football league wants Ottawa to host the 2014 Grey Cup caught my eye. A good time for this announcement with the Ottawa Senators in such a sorry state. It actually wasn't all that long ago - 2004, that the Grey Cup was last played in Ottawa. While the local football scene was largely a joke at the time, the event was a success. Lansdowne park and Ottawa in general was filled with fans from across Canada. Certainly refreshing for local fans who still recall Ottawa being saddled with the distinction of being the worst sports franchise in North American by Sports Illustrated magazine. This distinction is probably why the "Canadian" Terrence and Philips episode of South Park mentioned the Ottawa Rough Riders but not the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. For years the CFL did have two teams named the "Rough Riders" however that was not the case at the time this episode (episode title "Not Without My Anus") of South Park aired (April 1 1998). At this point however Ottawa doesn't have a pro football team or even a fully functional stadium. Insiders believe that Ottawa will be able to get a team and a stadium in place by 2011. We shall see, part of Ottawa's current Football Stadium - the aforementioned Landsdown Park was demolished earlier this year. It will be interesting to see how thing in unfold in the future. We have a long largely neglected history football and hockey in Ottawa. Something else to keep in mind is the rise of the popularity of soccer (or football as it is known in the rest of the world). Ottawa in fact did have soccer team called the Ottawa Wizards. Local high tech company Oz Optics even built a full sized field in Carp (Stitsville area). Yes the Wizards of Oz - a pun sadly appropriate for the perceived current state of sports here. This reputation is in entirely undeserved an inacurate. While the Ottawa Rough Riders had not won a championship since 1976, that is a completely insigificant in comparison with the over 100 year title drought of baseball's Chicago Cubs. There are many other significant events in Ottawa's history. The most notable being the creation of the most storied and recognized trophy in all of professional sports (at least in North America) - The Stanley Cup. The was created back in 1892 and is the only major sports trophy to have players names etched into it and that travels with winning players after it was awarded. The Toronto Maple Leafs Franchise -who I would like to point out have not won a championship since 1967, were built around an Ottawa born athlete Francis King Clancy. Francis Clancy was born in Ottawa in 1903, learned to Skate on the Rideau Canal and won the Stanley Cup here in his hometown before being traded to the big smoke. The great one Wayne Gretzky played his last game as professional athlete on Canadian ice here. Brian Kilrae has shattered many records and won many titles as one of the greatest hockey coaches ever. But there is more to Ottawa's sports lore than Hockey. Ottawa hosted several sold out nights in Lansdowne Park of the FIFA under20 cup 2007. Plans are also underway for a professional soccer franchise in Ottawa, with Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Ottawa 67s owner Jeff Hunt both having submitted bids. As well Ottawa is starting to develop a basketball culture. The Carleton University Ravens won an unprecedented 5 national championship titles. A showcase match between Carleton and the University of Ottawa has become a new tradition in Ottawa.