A Common Thank You to the Uncommon Toronto Blue Jays

What can I say that others haven’t said? Probably not much. But I think that’s the point. The Jays captured the heart of a nation by showing so much heart and showing up for each other. This was a team that was so easy to cheer for, and a team that’s now so easy to feel for. 

This was a real team. A real story that captured a nation, heartbroke a nation, and inspired a nation. 

Today, as we deep dive into researching the possibility of each player coming back next year, because we don’t want to stop talking about you. About your sleepovers and your friendships.  

To hear the Jays talk is to hear passion, respect, and joy for each other, the sport, and its fans is what we hope to teach our kids.

To see how they support not just each other but other teams and players is a testament to the power of respect and of choosing your jersey wisely.

To see how they know each other and when to leave, space and when to wait with arms open for a hug is the ultimate team goals. 

To see how they mentor each other is to wish to be a fly in the dugout between a near Hall of Famer and a rookie of meteoric rise.

To see their tears and hear their emotion is to understand that their real people - elite athletes who wince, who swear, and then get over a bad call to not let it drag them down.

To see them swing and slide through pain is the tenacity of sport and defying odds. 

To see not just the skill but the consistency is nothing short of a testament to a lot of hard work. 

To see how they took each win and each loss as a team, no blame, no shame, all hugs brought a nation to its feet.

As we say to our kids, “Don’t believe what you see online,” we don’t know what happens behind the camera. But a team can’t perform like that, and stay on their brand of friendship, talent and perseverance, without much of it being true. 

To be a team of uncommon players is to embrace your unusualness, to be open to others, and then be comfortable enough to share it with the world. This was a team better than anything Ted Lasso could have conceived of. I watched every one of these playoff games, gaining more respect for the game itself, delving deeper into the strategy (which I won’t get into and won’t do justice), and falling in love with a group of players who should be the Canadian Dictionary’s definition of a team. 

This is the story we needed. In a world rife with more explosive headlines than ever, this was a reminder of what heart and hard work can do. We needed that. Thank you, Toronto Blue Jays. 

Please keep barking at cameras, wearing others’ jerseys, sharing your couches, nurturing talent, respecting people’s space, putting team over ego, and sharing your emotions. We’re here for it all.