Tuesday night, the Canadian plays against the powerful Tampa Bay Lightning, at the Bell Centre. Ayoye. What time will lightning strike? At what time will the CH be struck down?
Well no. This is not the expected natural disaster. No way. The Habs are playing well. His goalkeeper, Samuel Montembeault, plays more than well. And the locals win the match 3 to 2. Martin St-Louis is happy. I know, win or lose, Martin St-Louis is always happy, but there, it shows in his eyes.
Alright, that’s the ad The antechamber. Let’s skip watching the hockey game broadcast on TVA Sports. Going back from RDS to TVA Sports, we go through TVA Sports 2. It’s baseball. Baseball on March 21? No, it’s not the resumption of an Expos game against Padres, so dear to Elvis Gratton. It’s the grand finale of the World Baseball Classic, live.
The World Classic is to baseball what the World Cup is to soccer. I know, there are already the World Series. But the World Series is only accessible to 29 American cities and one Canadian. This is Donald’s view of the world. While 20 countries participate in the World Baseball Classic, including China, Australia, Israel, Italy and Canada. It’s the 5e editing. But the first we hear so much about and which brings together the largest number of Major League Baseball stars. This explains it.
It’s the 9e sleeve. Japan leads 3-2 over USA. The Americans are at bat. The other hockey game will wait. I stay here. To hear the emotion in the voices of the commentators, I realize that I am coming to the conclusion of a great moment, which we will talk about for a long time to come.
Mike Trout comes knocking. Mike Trout is one of the best hitters of the new millennium. The best player of the American team and its captain.
In front of him, at the mound, Shohei Ohtani. Shohei Ohtani is one of the greatest phenomena of modern times. Pitchers these days focus on the throwing action, when they have to hit, they hit for form. Not Shohei Ohtani. Shohei Ohtani is an excellent pitcher. Shohei Ohtani is an excellent hitter. So Shohei Ohtani throws, Shohei Ohtani hits, and Shohei Ohtani plays outfield. Shohei Ohtani does it all.
PHOTO SAM NAVARRO, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
Mike Trout, after hitting a first-inning double on Tuesday in the United States-Japan game
If I often repeat Shohei Ohtani, it is to tame his name. Although I have been following his exploits since 2021, my brain has not yet saved his name. However, if there is a name that the sports fan should never forget, it is his, so much what Shohei Ohtani is accomplishing is beyond reality.
Imagine if, some nights, Samuel Montembeault was in goal, and other nights, he played on the first line, with Suzuki and Caufield. That’s it, Shohei Ohtani.
To add a little drama in the Trout-Ohtani showdown, both men play for the same team, the California Angels. They’ve never been adversaries before tonight. Two brothers. Suddenly, enemies. One has Japan behind it, the other the United States. This is the sequel to the Pacific War.
PHOTO RINGO HW CHIU, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, who faced off in the final stretch of the World Baseball Classic final game between Japan and the United States, both play for the California Angels in MLB.
There are two withdrawals. With a stroke of the stick, Mike Trout can tie the game. By throwing three catches, Shohei Ohtani can give the world championship to his country. One ball… One swing… Two balls… A second swing, thrown at 100 miles per hour… Third ball… Full count! Next throw… CATCH! Rodger Brulotte explodes! Japan is avenged! The land of the setting sun has just risen. They are the baseball senseis.
It’s finish. I missed almost everything, I only saw the climax. Like I got to the end of the movie titanicwhen Rose is on her makeshift raft, while Jack is dying of hypothermia, next to her.
That’ll teach me to be a finite fan of a finite team. For this season, at least.
There are tons of Canadiens fans who preferred to watch their club play a game that means nothing, rather than savoring the sporting event of the year so far.
Thanks to this magical moment, the World Baseball Classic has just entered the major leagues, it is the case to say. This missed appointment will not be missed next year.
Connor McDavid, the world’s greatest hockey player, said this week that hockey should emulate baseball, and create an international competition where the best from everywhere can play against each other. I hope Commissioner Bettman listens to his greatest star.
There is something in these clashes between countries that opposes and unites at the same time.
In 1972, during the Series of the Century, as much as we wanted to beat the Russians, we got closer to them than ever in history.
That’s sport, a way of being together. In the same place. At the same time.
As long as we are not late!