The Expos are gone, but baseball remains

Many of us have moved on, found a new love, rediscovered old passions and realized that there is just too much to do than to waste our time crying. I miss the Expos like anyone else, but I know there are still some of you that for some reason still believe this city has a right to a major league baseball team, I’ve seen the Facebook groups.

Get up and open your eyes: the Montreal Alouettes are one of the more entertaining teams in the CFL. The Montreal Impact just embarrassed Toronto FC in the Nutrilite Canadian Championships. The top women in Tennis are coming this year to Montreal for the Rogers Cup at Uniprix stadium. The fastest growing sport in North America is laying a foundation in La Belle Province with the NASCAR series, and our boy Jacques is racing in it. And don’t get me started on the festivals, because you know that can easily fill up a summer.

I get that that’s not enough, that you miss baseball.

I understand, I truly do.

It’s tough to go out a replace those summer nights riding the metro to Pie-IX, buying the $8 dollar bleacher ticket, banging the empty seats, starting the wave with 8,796 friends. But there are other ways to get your fix. Go join a league, coach a team, become an umpire, (lord knows Baseball Quebec needs some). Amateur sports in the Montreal area, from the West Island, to off the island, always could use an eager volunteer who loves sport.

The Expos last played Oct. 3, 2004. It was a sad day, I know most of you have moved on, however, working in Montreal’s sports media I can’t help but realize how many Montrealers are still hung up on the Expos. I’ve heard it all: “It wasn’t fair,” “I went to every game I could,” “Jeffery *&%$ing Loria.”

I know time heals all wounds and there are still fans that wince when they see that ugly Big O tower in the distance. It’s just time to see this city is ripe with any sporting opportunity you wish to follow.

So are we good now? We can move on, live a little. By all means wear the ‘spos hat, sport the Raines jersey, remember El Presidente El Perfecto; just stop living in the past with Nos Amours. Vlad’s an Angel now.

Sean Campbell is a Pointe Claire native and can be heard seven days a week on the TEAM 990, Montreal's Sports Authority. Questions? Complaints? Insults? E-mail them to sean.campbell@team990.com.