While this year's Grey Cup party and game made us happy and proud, it also brought us a reminder as to just how grounded most of us really are in Saskatchewan.
In fact, taking a look at most of our true Canadian sports heroes who are out there now and those who were there earlier, you won't find too many prima donnas, divas or train wrecks among the bunch.
We have a pretty well rounded and grounded group of sportsmen and women who our youngsters have been able to idolize over the years without being disappointed in the outcomes.
In fact, it seems to be our Canadian nature to just not take ourselves too seriously at any given time, no matter how famous some get to be. The stark reality is, fame is fleeting and nobody owes you anything, and we kinda know that stuff.
So I did a little quick and quiet reflection work, just to test my theory.
On the hockey front, which is our main sports venue, who do we have and who did we have?
Try Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Sidney Crosby, Hayley Wickenheiser. Those were and are the big Canadian guns, the players who attracted all the attention.
Name me one of those who have embarrassed their province or country?
Canada's current golden boy of golf, Graham DeLaet just a good guy from down the road. The only negative thing we have to say about him is that he has to claim Weyburn as his hometown. That's just an unfortunate fact, he couldn't help it. But as far as fame goes he's just a good guy from Canada, well grounded, while he collects his millions thanks to a well-honed golf game. Even as a kid, he knew how to conduct himself the right way, just like Wayne, Bobby and Sidney have had to at early ages.
In the hoops world, we have Steve Nash and a trio of young up and comers who will be starring in the NBA within a year. All well-grounded and all knowing what to say and do.
Canuck kids.
None of these character people have run off the rails.
The same is almost true on the pure entertainment side of the equation too. The only current entertainer I can think of right now who has become a loose cannon is Justin Bieber, and he's mainly out to sabotage his own career, not yours or mine.
I would love to extend our "fine Canadians" list to include politicians but alas, I think our examples are pretty well down on the lower rungs with the rest of the world's politicos. I don't think we have anything to brag about on that front. Hey, I realize that Rob Ford is just Toronto's problem, not Canada's sticky wicket, but he's just a tip of our zany political iceberg.
We may have more than our fair share of crazy, entertaining and even brilliant politicians, but not too many are above reproach and reproach has a pretty low standard to begin with when it comes to vote buying.
Now I admit quite readily that my research efforts consisted of about 11 minutes of pre-assembled thought and no real digging into facts so I know you, dear diary, will be able to come up with the names of Canadians who, while maybe not candidates for a "despicable" list, might at least qualify as unsavory or unlovable. But you know me, I keep looking for the best and brightest Canadian examples, like you know yourself.
