It’s my Parting Shot for some Tuesday Canadian Sport Tidbits…..

I’ve been employed in the mainstream media for over 43 years, in radio for more than 42 years and, even before I started my career in the sports media, I was a fan of the mainstream media…which means that I’m guilty of being interested, even enthralled, moreso by the so-called “Big Four” professional sports than many others. That means hockey, football, baseball and basketball, of course, although I could easily substitute golf and/or curling in place of the hoops. I’ve had the good fortune of doing live play-by-play of all six of those sports at some time or another and am also guilty for over-looking other sports, maybe even ignoring them altogether!

Sorry comes to mind, but I’m too old and set in my ways and views to change now, although the current World Cup of Soccer has been fun to watch. I’ve always enjoyed country versus country moreso than club team versus club team because that’s when an athlete’s passion and pride comes out…or at least it should!

Lost in the shuffle over the weekend was the fact that Canada won the Davis Cup men’s tennis competition. Forty years ago, the Davis Cup closely rivalled the four major championships in terms of profile and importance in tennis. However, the apparent loss of shine doesn’t take away from the fact that we are in a “Golden Age” of Canadian tennis. Felix Auger-Aliassime qualified for the A-T-P finals this year. Denis Shapovalov is a Top 20 player in the world while Vasek Pospisil has been a tough out as a veteran campaigner on tour. Those three combined to win the Davis Cup, essentially tennis World Cup, and deserve more than just a paragraph or two mention in any kind of media. In fact, I’d say Auger-Aliassime should warrant serious consideration as Canada’s Male Athlete-of-the-Year, but I’d bet on Alphonso Davies getting that honour!

Regardless, I do know that there is more to covering and following sports than just hockey, football, baseball and basketball!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!…..