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The Cool Jays?


Opening weekend at the Rogers Centre and fans flocked to the Blue Jays' home game. With not a seat to spare, fans excitely grasped the new routine in the 7th Inning Stretch. It's a new year and things are looking good.

That was Friday.

Today was a different story. Maybe it was the weather, but there were so many empty seats. Where are all the baseball fans?

Not only was it still opening weekend, but the Jays played against the Red Sox (Yes, the winners of the 2004 World Series). You'd think with the floundering of hockey this year, sports fans would re-direct their support to the loyal Jays. They haven't deserted us, and they have won the World Series for us a couple of times!

I mean, even I went to the game, and I don't even like baseball.

Luckily, there were perks for non-fans like myself to keep me entertained. For starters, a preparation viewing of 'Fever Pitch', which conveniently opened in theatres everywhere this weekend, can do wonders to awaken the romance of baseball. Drew Barrymore plays Lindsay, a corporate, ladder-climbing urbanite who falls for Ben, (Jimmy Fallon), a Red Sox die-hard fan. I saw the flick on Friday, forgot about it by Saturday, and was re-inspired by it at the game today. I looked at baseball fans a whole new way. Not to mention love...ok, that's a lie.

Anyway, going to the game is more than it used to be -- they have made sure of that. Now you get your hotdogs and popcorn with a side of breakdancing. Yes, breakdancing. Breakdancing is cool, the Centre wants to be cool, so putting on a breakdancing show makes baseball cool.

Lastly, and excitingly, it seems there are many many more opportunities to make it on TV, or at least the Jumbo-tron. My friends and I can attest to that.


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