All I Want For Christmas – CK Sports Edition
Every year at this time, we take a look back at the year that was. People begin compiling highlight reels, they talk about the plays and players of the year, and they celebrate the many accomplishments teams and athletes have had in the world of sports.
For me however; this time of year always gets me looking forward. So here, are a list of things I would like for Christmas for sports in Chatham-Kent, and I truly hope Santa Claus, and the sporting world are listening.
1. A celebration of private investment in Chatham-Kent: It’s a simple rule, if our Municipality spends money on it, and our taxes pay for it, people will complain. Unfortunately, it seems like CK residents are unable to dissociate private and public investment. We need to celebrate things like the creation of a Downtown skating rink, without criticism. With our budget restrictions within the Municipality, particularly when it comes to infrastructure, it seems impossible we will see a new arena in Chatham-Kent in the coming years without significant private investment. Therefore, the first thing I want for Christmas, is for everyone to celebrate private investment in our community, so that these investors continue to have the motivation to spend money on improving our quality of life.
2. Respect for Seth: Wallaceburg’s Seth Griffith is the top scoring OHL player who will not be attending the World Junior Championships in Russia this month. Not only that, but he wasn’t even invited to the Canadian selection camp. Really, he’s only the top scoring threat on the top Junior team in Canada. If you combine this season and last, Griffith has more goals and points than any other player in the OHL. Griffith was passed over in his draft year, he then proved people wrong and was selected by the Boston Bruins. After being passed over this year, I can’t help but believe he’ll again prove people, this time Hockey Canada, wrong. This Christmas, I want respect for Seth.
3. Localism: With the NHL lockout in full swing, I think this is a perfect opportunity to practice a little bit of localism. If you spent $100 last year going to an NHL game, turn that $100 into tickets to several local junior hockey games. Go support the Chatham Maroons or Blenheim Blades; take a drive to Wheatley on a Monday, or Dresden Friday, or Wallaceburg Wednesday. The entertainment value is high, especially if you bring your kids. They can get up to the glass and see the game from inches away, and their inevitable new heroes are accessible and enjoy when fans approach them. Plus, the Blenheim Blades have more highlight reel time this year on TSN than every NHL team combined. What I want for Christmas is for people to spend locally and support our junior hockey teams.
4. A reprieve for the Horse Racing industry: Call me nostalgic, but sitting in the grandstand at Dresden Raceway this summer, I couldn’t imagine the town without a vibrant horse racing industry. As well, thousands of jobs across the province depend on horse racing. Call me a cynic, but I’m not buying the provincial government’s stance that the recent cuts to places like Windsor Raceway and Hiawatha are good for our economy. What I want for Christmas, is a reprieve for the horse racing industry in Ontario, including Dresden.
5. Support for CKSN: Call me selfish, but I’d love anyone reading this that owns a business, or runs a sports organization to consider supporting CKSN through advertising, or even written submissions. We take a lot of heat for not covering some events to our readers’ standards. We are small, we’re independent, and we do the best we can. This site is run by volunteers, for you, for our athletes, and to positively promote our community. Without advertising however, that coverage won’t just suffer, it will disappear altogether. So think about it, and when you’re looking to diversify your advertising dollars, please send us an email. What I want for Christmas, is for people to support CKSN, because we’re supporting you.