With the Olympics currently ongoing other sports stories are taking a backseat and that is a shame.
One of those stories comes from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Now while I could easily argue that the timing of the announcement is poor, I will ignore that and just commend the announcement.
What announcement you ask?
Well it seems the Blue Jays have decided, rightfully so, to retire the number to the late great Roy Halladay, who passed away tragically in November, when he crashed his amphibious plane into the Gulf of Mexico.
Doc, as he was passionately referred to by Blue Jays fans, will become just the second Blue Jay to have his number retired, joining Roberto Alomar.
Halladay is arguably the greatest Blue Jay of all time so it makes sense.
And those who argue against Doc, typically argue for Alomar.
So again, it makes sense.
Halladay spent 12 seasons with the Blue Jays compiling an incredible record of 148-76, despite the club never fielding a competitive team.
Halladay was the one constant in an otherwise consistently rotating cast of characters.
The Blue Jays failed to reach the post season at all in the 12 seasons Halladay was a Blue Jay, essentially wasting the prime years of their greatest talent.
His incredible stretch of play included the 2003 Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in the American League.
The Jays’ inability and seemingly disinterest in winning resulted in Halladay asking for a trade out of Toronto.
Now with trade requests typically fans get angry when star players ask for a one-way ticket out of town.
But that is what made Doc so special, the fans loved him for it.
Halladay was one of those few pros who was able to win over the fans with his play on the field and demeanor off of it, and keep it even once he asked for a trade.
Doc was beloved in Toronto, which I think is a major reason the fans saw his exit as bitter sweet.
Toronto sports fan have a reputation for being a little on the crazy side, and very emotional but in this case they saw the situation for what it was.
On the one hand they were sad to see the greatest pitcher to ever twirl a ball for Toronto leave town, but on the other they were excited to see their prodigal son get a chance to win that elusive World Series.
So good on Blue Jays fans for recognizing that, and good on the Blue Jays for coming through and recognizing the greatest Blue Jay in history.
Yes I said it, Halladay is a greater Jay than Alomar.
If for no other reason that Alomar only played five seasons with the Jays.
So get ready for opening day when baseball is back, but get ready to see the number of the greatest Jay being retired.
It is just an extreme shame that he will not be there to take part.
