Unappreciated Patrick Chan

Recently Patrick Chan was quoted as saying that Canada doesn't appreciate figure skaters.

First of all Patrick, let's be clear - Canada doesn't appreciate MEN figure skaters. We most certainly appreciate women figure skaters. And a lot more than the men figure skaters do, if you catch my drift (and not that there's anything wrong with that).

I know it's different in other countries. I know he wouldn't be subjected to questions like "if you're such a good skater why don't you just play hockey" elsewhere. (But seriously - why doesn't he?)

Then again, if he were in the United States he might be asked why professional wrestling isn't in the Olympics. It's just like pair's figure skating - an athletic competition that can be judged for its artistic merit. All you need is music!

It must be frustrating to live in a country where a guy who once played 5 games on the fourth line of the Toronto Maple Leafs will be recognized at the mall, but nobody has the faintest clue who Chan is, that he's the world champion, or if that's even a big deal.

Then again, no Canadian gets the same level of appreciation as hockey players, who get paid obscene amounts and can even smack their wives around and sleep with their baby sitters (sometimes simultaneously) without losing our adoration, so it's hardly fair to compare Chan to that.

I guess it all depends what Chan means by appreciation. I mean, he's 20 years old and he's already traveled the world, competing in the Olympics and other competitions, often on the country's dime to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. He's also been on magazine and newspaper covers, and put at the top of lists of our country's greatest athletes (usually just to say we included a non-hockey player). And if he were to beat his wife we'd probably just be surprised that he had one, and that he could take her, and let him off the hook too.

If you're reading this Patrick (and why wouldn't you), take my advice. You're a great skater, you're 20 years old - there's still time to pick up a hockey stick and learn to stick handle. You could be the greatest Chinese-Canadian hockey player ever. In fact, you could be the only Chinese-Canadian hockey player ever. And in this country that will get you far more appreciation than the world's greatest figure skater.

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