Toronto Rocks Lacrosse!

Although the game of lacrosse is one of Canada's National Sports, it was only recently that I had the pleasure of cheering on a game. My son had received three tickets to a Toronto Rock game for his birthday. So on a comfortable Sunday afternoon in January, he and his chosen companions (well, he chose his cousin -  I was more of a given not a chosen!) rode the GO train to Union Station and Air Canada Centre.

For some reason, I'd always assumed lacrosse was similar to ball hockey. After all, there are sticks, and a ball and a goaltender and the desire to move one past the other. I figured the main difference between the two was the passing of the ball at eye level as opposed to ankle level (which would explain the absence of shin pads which initially made my soccer and ball-hockey-playing son cringe!) But after viewing this game, we agreed that lacrosse more closely resembles basketball with its structured offence and defence rotations and even a shot clock!

Curiously, a very noticeable difference between professional lacrosse and other professional sports was the continuous presence of music. The playlist was of the same flavour but unlike watching a basketball or a hockey game, nobody hit the pause button upon the continuation of the play. During a hockey game, I would just be getting into the song when it would stop as the ref was dropping the puck. I always thought: wouldn't it be nice if the music kept playing as they athletes were playing? But now I also wonder if the energetic tunes might interfere with the spectators' attention to the intricate activities of the game itself!

Perhaps the onslaught of music actually adds a layer to the climate of this crazy game! After all, players are constantly whipping one another with their lacrosse sticks and jumping over one another. They clearly don't subscribe to the traditional sporting practise of calling penalties - there were barely any throughout the entire game. But it certainly wasn't due to the absence of roughness!

Overall, it was highly enjoyable to observe the skill required to line up a ball with a guarded net using a handheld net, and seeing players darting around with the precision and determination of a dragonfly intently following its supper. It was a thrill to experience something so action-packed and so Canadian - I  now know what a lacrosse game looks like!

One Passion Captures Another

One Passion Captures Another

Some might argue that it's unnatural or even unsettling to find oneself underneath a bridge. After all, the main reason for a bridge's existence is to enable secure passage over water. But on Welland's recreational waterway, it's perfectly acceptable to pass underneath one - several of them, in fact. This one is the historic Main Street lift bridge that, aside from the spirits of historically-inclined individuals, no longer lifts at all. But it does add to the character of the canal, whether or not you appreciate its structural stature.

And while the bridge does safely transport motorists over the canal, there aren't any motors whirring beneath it. Only non-motorised vessels are permitted, providing a welcome calmness for those who like to glide along in their canoes and kayaks on a mellow summer evening.

I happened upon this eclectic team of rowers one evening while I was exploring the eastern edge of the waterway. It was rather exciting to encounter, actually: a refreshingly dynamic subject to photograph compared to the motionless lightposts and monochromatic brickwork along the shore. Not only that, but the lime green and violet and royal blue of the rowers' jackets were like drops of paint against the combined greyness of the cement canal walls, the steel bridge, and the rippled early evening water.

You don't need to be a part of a team to experience the water in this way. Anyone can indulge in their flatwater inclinations on the old canal thanks to the rental program at the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation.  It's a great way to perhaps try out a new activity and to see the bridges one drives over all the time from a completely different angle!

Shot during the Tiger-Cat - Eskimo game, September 15, 2012

Okay, here we go, nice and easy here, just hold the bottle up and wait for someone to notice it.

That's right people, I'm the sustenance guy, attentive and nimble. I am the king of replenishment, the wizard of wet, the master of the liquid and all things refreshing...

Look no further you monstrous, shrinkwrapped animals, and never mind about the coach - I'm the guy you need. Me. I'm the one cradling the large plastic vessel of Gatorade perfection over here. Or wait, is it water? I hope they aren't too particular because I don't feel like being the cheese in an Eskimo sandwich today...

Wow those guys are tall! S'okay... no big deal... I'm supposed to be here. I just keep walking around slowly and never mind about the hundreds of people watching me. Besides, they aren't watching me, they are watching impatiently as they wait for the game to resume. Maybe they are thinking if I hurry up and give them a drink, it will resume sooner.

Hey there big guy, you want a little sip of this? Poured especially for you, nice and refreshing. It will help you play better. Not that you need help, man, you're doing great, I'm just sayin. Hey, you do your job and I'll do mine okay??