Sounds high brow, but by now you should know that it’s not intended to be or will turn out that way.
As great as things ever become, their greatness is always measured, in some degree, by comparison with other experiences. Consider:
“This is the best steak I’ve ever had.” Obviously implies that you’ve had at least one other steak on a prior occasion.
“This is a great place to work” also reflects that you’ve had other work experience and that you’re viewing the current situation favorably.
“You’re a way better date than your sister”, yeah some things really are best left unsaid.
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| A work in progress |
Hmmm, a tough question indeed. I’ve regaled some of you with stories of the sights and various adventures we’ve had. Others I’ve plagued with torments regarding the weather and beaches. We have also savored the coffee here and also been amazed by the skies and odd animals that are seemingly at every turn. But the one thing that tops it all? I couldn’t put my finger on it. Well, at least not until last week.
The one thing that Brisbane offers that you can’t get in Canada is watching your home team win all the marbles in their specific sport.[1]
Fresh off the heels of Luongo (of Vancouver Canuck infamy) being easier to score on than a drunken debutante who has a “thing” for boys who say “chowdaa” and then the ensuing civic embarrassment in Vancouver, Brisbane hosted championship level rugby. Twice.
For those of you who don’t know, rugby is a big deal here. In fact such a big deal it’s like Europe’s view of Germany between 1949 and 1990, where Germany was so popular with the rest of Europe wanted two. So yes, there are two professional rugby teams that call Brisbane home. But they’re not the same.
Notwithstanding that Australia has a population the size of Canada; Australia has two functioning styles of game. One is “Rugby Union”, the older style of international rugby that is featured in the World Cup every four years and generally played in private schools. The other, “Rugby League”, a more of a working class game, which is intended to be a quicker more attacking modification of the original form.
To complicate things, in addition to the international matches that the National Rugby Union teams play, of which there is no shortage, there is also a Super XV Rugby League where New Zealand, South Africa and Australia each field five teams to compete (making 15 teams in all, thus the namesake). So, in short there is a Rugby Union League. However, this should not, ever, under threat of torture be confused with Rugby League simpliciter.
The Rugby League is also played among professional teams from New Zealand and Australia, but not South Africa and according to the modified rules. However, the Rugby League operates under a collective bargaining agreement, so in fact there is a Rugby League Union.
Confused yet? Good, because it gets really confusing when someone asks “hey, mate, you catch the footy over the weekend?” Given that Brisbane has an Australian Rules Football team, a soccer team (“football” everywhere other than North America) and rugby union and league teams (also called football), and all collectively referred to as “football”. I simply say, “No buddy, we went to the beach instead.”
At any rate, I digress. Brisbane has a Rugby League team, the Broncos, but also further host installments of the annual tilt between the Queensland and New South Wales State teams for the State of Origin series. The short version is that “Origin” is a long standing League grudge match whereby the players play for teams from their “State of origin” or played junior rugby. So in hockey terms it would be like hosting an annual dust up with the Americans or if the Canada Cup (from the 70’s) was an annual best of three series.
Historically, 6 July 2011 the Queensland side won the State of Origin (League play) for an unprecedented sixth straight time. A mere three days later the Queensland Reds vanquished the Canterbury Crusaders (from Christchurch, NZ) to win the first Super XV Final in over 10 years.
No fireworks; no riots; no amorous lovers behind riot squads; and nothing that you’d see back in Canada. However, the beer was in short supply at the “bottle shops” by Monday morning. An amazing sporting feat that is likely not to happen any time soon in Calgary. In fact the last time that Calgary hosted two championships in the same year it was 1907. The first was when “Red” Serge MacWallace, Commanding Officer of Ft Calgary defeated, by knocking out, Walter “Pole Cat” Poleski the Ft Edmonton Warrants Officer during “Solstice Slam” after 17 hours, 27 minutes of bare knuckle fighting mayhem.[2]
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| Wheel of Brisbane 9 July |
Later that same glorious year the Ft Calgary team managed to snuck past (on penalty shots) the Treaty 7 All-Stars / Spirit walkers in the annual RCMP / First Nations lacrosse match. Admittedly, this victory was recorded with an asterisks (*) as the aboriginal side was largely suffering from flu like symptoms, purportedly from the blankets supplied on the visitors’ bench.[3]
Isn’t the ability to tease others really the fun of sport? Maybe the Calgary and Edmonton hockey teams can have an annual golf tournament in April. Then again, they may have to wait until July for the weather…….
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