04/19/24
July 01, 2008
Grey Cup arrives in Afghanistan: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Canadian Forces Capt. Ryan Matthies stood back in disbelief, seemingly trying to comprehend what he had just done. "Dude . . . I just touched the cup!" the soldier said, staring at his hands.
posted by tommytrump to culture at 09:29 AM - 6 comments
Ahhh! Another article that mentions cake! I dunno Spitz, I thought this was a good thing. My impression was that it helped remind the troops more of home, boost a little morale. Now the George Canyon thing, you may have a point. (Who's George Canyon?)
posted by BoKnows at 11:42 AM on July 01, 2008
It's a good thing. The Grey Cup unifies Canada like the Stanley Cup (which we no longer ever win) and it reminds troops that the connection between them and Canada is still strong.
posted by jc at 02:09 PM on July 01, 2008
They Grey Cup doesn't unify Southern Ontario. I don't think half the people in the GTA know it exists.
posted by fabulon7 at 09:54 AM on July 02, 2008
fabulon, I never met anyone in all my life in the Golden Horseshoe who didn't care at least a little bit about the Grey Cup. To not even know about it would take a real effort to avoid the news, especially in the autumn. (Shit, half the people I know here in New York City are up to speed about it, and I don't hang out with expats barely at all.) More to the point, so what if no one you know gives a shit? I give a shit, tommytrump and jc give a shit, and clearly the troops in Afghanistan give a shit. These other people? I never heard of them neither, and if they live in Toronto and have never heard of the Grey Cup, they clearly don't get out to anywhere I'd ever care to meet them. I think this is great. So glad they do stuff like this.
posted by chicobangs at 10:02 AM on July 02, 2008
That was hyperbole. Obviously there are several Argos fans in and about Toronto. And if you go to Hamilton, you'll find Ti-Cats everything all over the place. (But they'd kill you for referring to them as part of the GTA, I expect.) But unlike the rest of Canada, the CFL just doesn't seem to draw in and around Toronto. It's the league's dead zone. (Which is why they are extra-worried about the Bills playing here twice a year.) It's strange -- every other CFL city seems to do well. Not Toronto. That was my whole point. The Grey Cup generates some interest if the Argos are in, but otherwise, deadsville. Which is too bad.
posted by fabulon7 at 01:57 PM on July 02, 2008
Ah, yet another example of sport being used as part of the ideological state apparatus operating to convince us that war is a good thing. I must say, the Canadian government/military is sparing no expense to keep this thing rolling. Not to mention, George Canyon ... how many of y'all didn't lick your chops when you saw his name on a CD swap disc.