Candians like sports and they actually acknowledge that there are more than 9 sports in the world too. There is a very small window where there is no basketball, ice hockey, gridiron, baseball, tennis, golf, soccer or NASCAR on, so you would think you ight get to see some sport from around the world. Wrong, women's college
softball is what you get, followed by live 10 pin bowling on a specialy created lane on the beach. But not in Canada, they like most sports going around and are happy to talk/participate in them. Our first sporting experience here was a hockey game. Not NHL though, since tickets are above $200 and are impossible to get. So we went to the junior team in Toronto, the Marlies. It was really exciting and I think if I were here full time I would rather watch a Marlies game than a Maple Leafs game.
They seem to care more about it and it was more intimate with a smaller crowd. Once in the arena, you could move seats if you wanted, as long as you dont take someone elses. Common sense, I like it. Moving around the stadium it gives you a different view of the game and how fast it is. At ice level you see how hard they hit and how fsat they skate, at a higher level you can appreciate the tactics that are similar to indoor soccer. A good game to watch and of course Toronto lost. Our second sporting event was a full NBA basketball game. Toronto vs Boston. Jade was so excited to share the same air as Shaq and although it was good to see someone of his caliber play before he retires, I think his air is over rated. It was another good game and although we were waaaaaaaay up the back (the wall of the stadium was behind us) you could still see all the court,
if not the screen with the replays. The half time entertainment was really, well entertaining. They had the two opposing mascots 'battle' it out on the court with hilarious results. The Toronto mascot would pull other stunts too like rubbing the bald head of a security guard and driving around the court ina small clown-like car, very amusing.
Considering we were in the last row, you would think that we wouldnt have to move much to let people through, but apparently its a rule that to get to any row you have to go through the last one. Still, another enjoyable evening. I will say that they need to speed the games up a little, the hockey too. The basketball game is 48 minutes long but with all the breaks it took 4 hours. The hockey is a 60 minute game that took 4 hours too. Enough "official timeouts" (read T.V ad break timeout) and get on with the game. The last sporting event was one that we actually participated in. Curling, its not something that is readily available in Australia so I jumped at the chance to give it a try. It is similar to lawn bowls, although obviously on ice. Throwing lumps of granite down an ice rink to aim at a big bulls eye doesnt sound too exiting but I have to say it was a lot of fun.
In lawn bowls there is a weighted side to the bowl which makes it curve. With curling, when you release the rock you give it a little twist left or right which makes it 'curl'. I wanted to get down low to the ice and throw the rock down, but you need special slidee shoes for that, mine had too much grip, so I used a special pole. I was invited tere by my Father in Law who has been doing it for quite some time. He failed to mention the the sweeping you have to do is actually not easy. First you are walking on ice, which is slippery.
Then you have to sweep hard when he says to while walking down the ice following the rock. When you sweep in front of the rock it makes it go further and in more of a straight line without curling. But the next day I was feeling sore in muscles that I didnt know were there. Its not often you sweep the hallway with such vigour and it can get quite physical (no curling injury jokes please). I would definitely try it again and really enjoyed having some competetive sport again, something that I have missed while travelling.
Candians like sports and they actually acknowledge that there are more than 9 sports in the world too. There is a very small window where there is no basketball, ice hockey, gridiron, baseball, tennis, golf, soccer or NASCAR on, so you would think you ight get to see some sport from around the world. Wrong, women's college
softball is what you get, followed by live 10 pin bowling on a specialy created lane on the beach. But not in Canada, they like most sports going around and are happy to talk/participate in them. Our first sporting experience here was a hockey game. Not NHL though, since tickets are above $200 and are impossible to get. So we went to the junior team in Toronto, the Marlies. It was really exciting and I think if I were here full time I would rather watch a Marlies game than a Maple Leafs game. 
They seem to care more about it and it was more intimate with a smaller crowd. Once in the arena, you could move seats if you wanted, as long as you dont take someone elses. Common sense, I like it. Moving around the stadium it gives you a different view of the game and how fast it is. At ice level you see how hard they hit and how fsat they skate, at a higher level you can appreciate the tactics that are similar to indoor soccer. A good game to watch and of course Toronto lost. Our second sporting event was a full NBA basketball game. Toronto vs Boston. Jade was so excited to share the same air as Shaq and although it was good to see someone of his caliber play before he retires, I think his air is over rated. It was another good game and although we were waaaaaaaay up the back (the wall of the stadium was behind us) you could still see all the court, 
if not the screen with the replays. The half time entertainment was really, well entertaining. They had the two opposing mascots 'battle' it out on the court with hilarious results. The Toronto mascot would pull other stunts too like rubbing the bald head of a security guard and driving around the court ina small clown-like car, very amusing. 
Considering we were in the last row, you would think that we wouldnt have to move much to let people through, but apparently its a rule that to get to any row you have to go through the last one. Still, another enjoyable evening. I will say that they need to speed the games up a little, the hockey too. The basketball game is 48 minutes long but with all the breaks it took 4 hours. The hockey is a 60 minute game that took 4 hours too. Enough "official timeouts" (read T.V ad break timeout) and get on with the game. The last sporting event was one that we actually participated in. Curling, its not something that is readily available in Australia so I jumped at the chance to give it a try. It is similar to lawn bowls, although obviously on ice. Throwing lumps of granite down an ice rink to aim at a big bulls eye doesnt sound too exiting but I have to say it was a lot of fun. 
In lawn bowls there is a weighted side to the bowl which makes it curve. With curling, when you release the rock you give it a little twist left or right which makes it 'curl'. I wanted to get down low to the ice and throw the rock down, but you need special slidee shoes for that, mine had too much grip, so I used a special pole. I was invited tere by my Father in Law who has been doing it for quite some time. He failed to mention the the sweeping you have to do is actually not easy. First you are walking on ice, which is slippery. 
Then you have to sweep hard when he says to while walking down the ice following the rock. When you sweep in front of the rock it makes it go further and in more of a straight line without curling. But the next day I was feeling sore in muscles that I didnt know were there. Its not often you sweep the hallway with such vigour and it can get quite physical (no curling injury jokes please). I would definitely try it again and really enjoyed having some competetive sport again, something that I have missed while travelling.
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