By Brendan Emmett on the road from Ottawa
It’s the final countdown.
By the end of Friday, Team East will be back in Toronto. We have exited Ottawa and are in Whitby, Ont., Friday morning to give away our final two tickets for the Blue Jays game on Sept. 27.
Some stories from our last day in the nation’s capital:
Our grand prize winner in Ottawa was student Mike Yee. He worked his way around class to make sure he made it to the Rogers store to enter his name. When I ambushed Mike at Algonquin College to deliver his prize, he was literally speechless.
No worries, dude. As long as you cheer loud and proud for the Blue Jays on Sunday, it’s all good.
Wednesday night I snuck away to Brewer Park to check out the Gee-Gees and Ravens duke it out in Canadian university baseball.
As a ballplayer, it was really cool to mix it up and talk Blue Jays with a bunch of the boys. Ottawa even let me warm-up with their squad and turn some double plays with their middle infield. Starting infielder Brad McKay told me how he “throws on the run all day, just like Tulo.” I love it.
Fun story of the day:
I met David Piccini in Ottawa — he’s the Conservative Party candidate for Ottawa-Vanier. Despite where your political allegiances lie, this is an excellent Blue Jays-mania moment, and I must tell it.
David is a big Jays fan, but is also in the middle of campaigning right now, and due to work he can’t always watch the games. Recently, he was going door to door introducing himself to members of his community, and at each house would ask for updates on the Blue Jays-Yankees game. According to him, here’s how one conversation shook down:
David: “How’s the game going?”
Resident: “Well, we’re losing 1-0”
David: “But I thought the Blue Jays were up 1?”
Resident: “Oh – I’m a Yankees fan”
David: “What!? How?! Boo!”
Resident: “… Well, guess I’m not voting for your party”
David: “Fine! We don’t need ya!”
(David leaves)
The way I see it, David is just another example of someone making work sacrifices in order to be a great Blue Jays fan. Nice!
Alright, Whitby. We’re here. Let’s party.
Then, T.O. — I’m back. Can’t wait to feel the buzz of Blue Jays-mania from the ground zero with which it began.