Lame Moments in Sports #11
Probably the lamest moment yet.

Trappers sold, heading to Texas
Canadian Press
10/23/2003

EDMONTON (CP) - The financially struggling Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League have been sold to a Texas buyer, owners announced Thursday, leaving only one triple-A baseball team still in business in Canada.

The Canadian Football League Edmonton Eskimos, which bought the Trappers in 1999, have sold the team for $10.4 million US to Round Rock Baseball Inc. The team is expected to play out the 2004 season in Edmonton before moving to Texas next fall.

Well, that does it. This, on top of the events of a few weeks ago (see Lame Moments in Sports #9) have prompted me to take the following step: As of now, the Edmonton Eskimos are officially suspended from the roster of teams I cheer for, this suspension to last until the beginning of CFL training camp next year. Until then, I will be counted among the supporters of the B.C. Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders. This I am doing not simply because of the Trappers' move, but because when Edmonton's baseball fans first heard of the sale, it was a done deal. In the article Hugh Campbell makes two claims about the reasons behind the sale and move. First of all, he says that it was done to recoup the money that the Eskimos spent on the Trappers in the first place. Secondly, he says that the PCL no longer wanted Canadian teams in the league (an entirely believable idea). Now, if the sale was done for financial reasons, why was no attempt made to find a local buyer? And if the second is true, why didn't Campbell let the baseball fans of Edmonton know what was going on, so we could attempt to convince the PCL that this is a viable baseball city. As my sister put it, this entire thing both sucks and blows.

Anyway, Edmonton Eskimos, I no longer support you, and will not again until next June.