Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW

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Stimulus

by Paul Wells on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 10:33am - 69 Comments

shtick Stephen Harper with Canadian-born soccer (football?) star Owen Hargreaves, today

Memory lane: “My priority here this week is to meet with other leaders,” Harper told reporters in Heiligendamm, Germany, where the summit is being held. “Meeting celebrities isn’t my shtick,” he added. “That was the shtick of the previous guy.”

Tags: Balls, Stephen Harper

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Critical Reasoning

I’m fairly certain that Stephen Harper is also Hargreave’s MP. He’s not dallying with celebrities, he’s just meeting with one of his constituents across the pond.

http://bcinto.blogspot.com BCer in Toronto

So, attention to every other resident of Stephen Harper’s Calgary riding that might be in London at the moment, whether on business, pleasure, of what have you: Stephen Harper would be happy to duck out of his G-20 meetings to have his photo taken with each and every one of you.

Bring your own balls.

archangel

Some of them are women and the rest don’t have any.

Critical Reasoning

Sir, the residents of Calgary Southwest demand an apology for your ball-related slur.

seaandthemountains

have you taken temporary leave of your handle?

Critical Reasoning

Just pointing out that there’s a world of difference between meeting a hometown soccer hero and pandering to Bono.

Lord Kitchener’s Own

True, though I’m not sure which one is actually more appropriate for a PM to do!

I should also say, and I have NOTHING against Hargreave for leaving Canada to play in (and for) England, but it does seem odd that the leader of the Party that absolutely VILIFIES Michael Ignatieff for going to England to work at Oxford, Cambridge and the LSE, made time for a photo-op with a Canadian who went to England to play for Manchester United and England.

Again, I think that’s great, and more power to him, but I’d bet there are some soccer fans out there that are more angry that Hargreave plays for England and not Canada than that Ignatieff taught at Oxford and not U of T (well, of course Ignatieff DID teach at U of T, but you take my meaning). Not me by any means, but I know some Canadian soccer fans who might dispute your characterization of Hargreave as a “hometown” soccer hero.

I’d hate for Hargreave to be used for political purposes, but Harper meeting with a Canadian soccer star, holding a maple leaf soccer ball in the country where he lives and plays (and the country for whom he plays internationally) ought to put an end to all the “Ignatieff lived in England for a long time, and isn’t that SHOCKING!!!” nonsense.

Critical Reasoning

The difference between Iggy and all those other expatriate Canucks who enjoyed a long and successful career outside of Canada is that Iggy is the only one who aspires to become Canada’s Head of Government.

I don’t think that Iggy’s three decades living outside of this country should disqualify him from leading it, but it certainly is a valid point for Iggy’s political opponents to mention. Let’s all stop pretending that Harper has some kind of problem with expats in general. He doesn’t.

seaandthemountains

you mean that Bono was raising a number of salient policy issues? I am no fan of Bono, PM, or for that matter SH. While, without question, both interactions include political posturing, at least their were substantive issues on the table with Bono even in Martin failed to follow through (and was later criticized by Bono for doing so).

As others have said, if not for Harper’s knee-jerk anti-celebrity rhetoric this photo is not an issue. But like with a range of other issues, Harper launched his criticism and than proceeds to take the same criticized-behaviour a step further into the breach.

DM

Is Hargreaves trying to leverage his entertainment-world celebrity into a world leadership role? Was this photograph taken adjunct to a meeting where Hargreaves will – based on his celebrity status – be advising Harper on substantive policy issues?

Cause if not, then this is just a photo-op with a Canadian ex-pat, and doesn’t really bear any similarity to the situation Harper was commenting on in his earlier quote.

William

I don`t know what this PM could do to make you folks happy—-everybody should just lighten up—-it`s just a picture of two guys and a soccerball.

Mike T.

HE should not poo-poo meeting celebrities (disparaging the last guy who held his job at the same time), then go out and meet celebrities. Howzzat fer starters?

dan in van

At least cut the last guy some slack for putting in some of those ‘regulations’ that have made Canada’s banking system the strongest in the world, especially when you (Harper) were all up in arms at the time… But as for the photo, meh. Ex-pat meets schmuck for schtick. It works back home.

dB

Seriously, can this point not get a little more attention?
Mike T.

I think you mean not getting around to removing the regulations that made the banking the strongest system in the world.

Unless you meant Hargreaves.

Mikee

This is important news?? Must be a slow news day with only the G20 and US energy policy to comment on.

Paul Wells

You’re repeating yourself Mikee. This event was arranged by the PMO, and they’re the ones who sent the photo out. I’m faithfully reflecting their news priorities. Complain to them if you’re unhappy.

Mikee

It is not compulsory to “reflect their news priority”. If it’s a puff ball the media should ignore it!

Critical Reasoning

Why should puff balls be ignored? Any PMO news release is (by definition) fair game for the media. It’s up to readers like you, Mikee, to judge whether the ball is too puffy to be worthy of comment.
Paul Wells

Well, “the media” spent about a minute and a half on this and so far it seems to have rather tied up your morning. Meanwhile, “the media’s” latest print column is about a 13,000-word report on years of insititutionalized torture in a worldwide network of secret prisons, and you didn’t get around to commenting on that one. I do apologize for my skewed priorities.

Wayne

LMAO – bada bing Paul! It is very hard for some people to see anything that is directly in front of their face … You notice how Stevie boy looks very comfortable on the world stage nowadays (especially his stride and the determined look – I think that plays well no non sense sort of camera presence – but then again if you look around you see that he is turning into a form of elder statesman and he is still in office whereas .. well you know where I’m going with this.
Mikee

Your apology is accepted.
http://coyne kc

Wayne
You notice Owen doesn’t give the elder statesman the ball – the river is a little close after all.
http://www.jackmitchell.ca Jack Mitchell

“. . . his stride and the determined look – I think that plays well no non sense sort of camera presence . . .”

He looks like he’s been photoshopped into this picture.

http://www.macleans.ca Jonathan McKinnell

Also, it’s funny. You may notice that we have a fair amount of humor and good will on this site.

Critical Reasoning

“I know that the Red Devils provoke a rather passionate reaction from football fans on both sides of the Atlantic,” joked the Prime Minister. “But that certainly won’t prevent me from rooting for Owen’s continued success. Thank you, Owen, for all you have done to shine the international spotlight on Canadian soccer.”

Matthew Fletcher

Owen could do a fair bit more for Canadian Soccer by actually playing for the Canadian nationl team.

sf

He cannot, because he has played for England. And you cannot blame him for that, not only was it beneficial for his own development, but it also provided him with the opportunity to play in the World Cup.

Stewart Smith

I think everyone has missed the real issue. Our noble PM has put back on all the weight he had lost when the 2 phone picture was taken. Anyone know what medical condition is associated with such rapid weight fluctuations?

Critical Reasoning

It’s called “camera angles”. It’s been an effective weight-concealment technique ever since photography was invented.

Karen

What a lame photo-op; I love soccer but this is horrible.

Critical Reasoning

What’s so lame about it? It’s just a picture of the Canadian Prime Minister standing beside Canada’s greatest soccer player, with London’s Tower Bridge in the background.

Mike T.

I actually wouldn’t have met with him. If the Canadian national team isn’t good enough for him, then our politicians shouldn’t be either.

Terry

How anti-aspirational comrade.
http://losethatgirl.blogspot.com/ Lose That Girl

Actually, the Calgary soccer establishment didn’t want Owen. He went to Germany so he could continue his career after Canada basically shut the door on his opportunities. At least he had the guts and work-ethic to make his career a reality — even without the support back home. It’s a sad reality that Canada doesn’t always nurture their own in soccer. Canada has no international presence in the game *at all* and that is not the fault of Owen Hargreaves.

Mike T.

I echo Mr. Fltecher’s sentiments, it would be silly to expect him to play professionally in Canada but if you are going to chose to not play for the national team then politicians shouldn’t go out of their way for photo ops with you.

Critical Reasoning

If you are going to chose to not play for the national team then politicians shouldn’t go out of their way for photo ops with you.

What a load of tripe. Why shouldn’t a Canadian politician meet with a Canadian athlete who has distinguished himself in the world of sport, and who happens to be one of the politician’s own constituents, to boot?

dB

I’m sure you feel exactly the same about Canadian academics who have distinguished themselves in the world of human rights policy.
Critical Reasoning

You’re right. I do feel exactly the same about Canadian academics who have distinguished themselves in the world of human rights policy.
Lord Kitchener’s Own

Why shouldn’t a Canadian politician meet with a Canadian athlete who has distinguished himself in the world of sport.

I totally agree, but dB nonetheless makes a good point. It’s at the very least HIGHLY ironic that the leader of the “Michael Ignatieff spent 30 years working in England, and isn’t that SHOCKING!!!” party simultaneously holds up Owen Hargreaves as the epitome of “Canadian soccer”. The PM’s 100% correct that there’s nothing whatsoever “unCanadian” about moving to England to pursue exciting and unique career opportunities. However, one wonders if he’ll remember that when the CPC are drawing up their attack ads for the next election.
http://coyne kc

LKO
I do believe you’ve driven that sucker [nail] right in there, no chance that pesky little frog’s gonna get it out this time.
Critical Reasoning

LKO, if Owen Hargreaves spends the next few decades pursuing excellence outside of Canada, and then makes a triumphal return to his homeland in order to govern it, I’m sure you’ll have a valid point.
Lord Kitchener’s Own

Well, I’m not sure that after decades of playing for Man U and England he’ll be qualified to be PM.

However, if he makes a triumphant return to, say, coach the national team, do you think there should be an uproar that a distinguished Canadian player who spent decades outside of the country shouldn’t be allowed to coach Canada’s team?

On this one, I’m an absolutist (I’m also a dual citizen like Hargreaves, I should “confess”, though people probably know that from previous posts of mine). Being Canadian is about who you are, not where you live.
Mike T.

Meet your constituent, sure. Pics? Nope.
http://coyne kc

CR
I do believe you don’t believe this stuff anymore, this line had some validity 2 yrs ago – maybe? No now, it’s childish, and entirely suited to Harper’s style.
Critical Reasoning

Look, Iggy is a true Canadian, and he has every right to run for the highest office in the land. Also, I don’t think that Iggy’s 30 year absence says anything about his patriotism. But you can’t ignore the fact that this is a completely unprecedented situation.

Canada is probably the only G20 country where a man could live abroad for three decades, and still have a realistic shot at becoming its elected leader. This is not a bad thing – it’s just one factor out of many that voters will be considering in the next election. Certainly, how Iggy conducts himself as Leader of the Opposition is more important than where he lived before entering politics.

Critical Reasoning

It’s hard to fault Hargreaves for actually making money with his amazing talents, by playing for a professional club in the UK.

Matthew Fletcher

No fault for playing professionally in the UK. The best should be expected to go to the best leagues. There is fault though for abandoning the national team – though too be fair, the national team does a pretty horrendous job of player development, but still, every effort should be made to play for one’s country in international football.

Critical Reasoning

Of course, Hargreaves also qualifies for British citizenship because his parents were born there (he was born in Calgary).

http://losethatgirl.blogspot.com/ Lose That Girl

Canada never qualifies for international football. Hargreaves and others at the pro level would just be sitting in the stands if they chose to play for Canada. The players are not at fault for a system that doesn’t look after them. Hargreaves had the choice of playing for Canada, England and Wales. His father is from England, his mother from Wales. Had he remained in Germany longer and taken out citizenship, he could have played for them as well. Once you make your intentions known, you can only play for that one country.

http://losethatgirl.blogspot.com/ Lose That Girl

I think the photo op is fantastic. More for a chance to see Owen Hargreaves who has been out of the Manchester United line-up after a double knee surgery. It’s a crazy day over in London today with all the riots so it’s nice to see something not full of angst and violence in the G20 news. It’s a photo op…. leaders do them all the time. It’s nothing to get all in a lather about.
archangel

Is that a lead pipe piercing his right ear and exiting the left on? Why is he smiling?
Lord Kitchener’s Own

Maybe Harper’s “writing” a book on soccer too.
Mike514

We’re comparing apples and oranges. Paul Martin met with U2, while Stephen Harper met with a Canadian-born athlete. At the very least, Harper can defend this as promoting fitness and sports, or some such thing. Now, if Harper had met with, say, the Rolling Stones, then the comparison would be more fair.

But it’s generated some interesting comments, so I’m glad that it’s appeared on this blog.

dB

Bono has also had an audience with pretty much every important American political figure of either party over the last five years. So yes, we’re comparing apples to oranges.

Blues Clair

The coalition forced him do it.
ag

Owen Hargreaves has damaged Canadian soccer prehaps more than any other athlete ever. He turned his back on his own country to play for england because he’s like 1/2 english (never lived there before playing for them either).

I hope the PM gets his office to do their homework next time. Owen Hargreaves does not deserve to be recognized as Canadian.

Mikee

Hargreaves deserves recognition as a Canadian every bit as much as Michael Ignatieff.
Mike T.

That’s a bit harsh. I might not get my picture taken with him, but nto recognizing him as Canadian goes too far.

Stephen

If he wanted to be recognised as Canadian, he’d… what’s the phrase… oh, right, “play for Canada.”

Something tells me that if John Tavares decided he wanted to play for the US, Harper would have the sense to not praise him as the face of Canadian hockey. I guess no one was smart enough to brief him in on just how bad this looks.

Pompey_Canuck

Owen Hargreaves turned his back on Canadian Soccer. He said that he always felt more British than Canadian, so why is the Prime Minister meeting one of the most hated “Canadians” instead of some of OUR national team members that are playing in Britain. To say that Hargreaves shines a light on Canadian Soccer is akin to saying that the Post 9-11 world has shone a light on Human Rights. It is disgusting, as a soccer fan I am upset and appalled that the PM would meet with him (even though I hold the PM in low esteem I am still surprised that there wasn’t a single person in the PMO that thought this would be a bad idea). Though this photo will most likely turn up again if Harper goes after Iggy for working outside of Canada for awhile, because apparently you can live outside of Canada and make the PM proud. Every day I become more embarrassed by our Government.

Critical Reasoning

You must get “disgusted and appalled” quite easily. I feel sorry for you.

Pompey_Canuck

This is the soccer equivalent of thanking Brett Hull for his services to Canadian Hockey, every soccer fan in the country is outraged. Canadian Manchester United supporters are also outraged, and they are fans of the club where he plays! If Harper had done the same thing with Brett Hull there would be riots. I am fully aware that the number of soccer fans in Canada is much lower than Hockey fans, but I am trying to demonstrate how upset all of us are. A blog that I read has tagged this story under treason. I fail to see how anyone with even some pride in their country could be anything less than disgusted and appalled. Owen Hargreaves is public enemy number one of Canadian Soccer, to have him be thanked for his service to Canadian Soccer is disgusting.

sf

No it isn’t. Canada sucks in soccer. Canada does not suck in hockey. If Hargreaves played for Canada, then that would have destroyed any chance of ever playing in the world cup, which is the dream for any soccer player.

For you to claim he is a traitor to pursue his dream, now that is disgusting. Maybe if Canada could find him someone to play with, then things would be different.

But here you are, saying that he should play for the Canadians, and languish, putting his skills towards losing games to Trinidad and Tobago, rather than playing against the best teams in the world for England, where not only does he have a change to play in the world cup, but he also has the chance to make his game better by playing against the best players in the world.

Pompey_Canuck

Sf – so what exactly should Canada thank him for? Representing Canada at the International level would not have had any impact on his professional career with Bayern Munich and then Manchester United. You seem to confuse the fact that the World Cup is every four years and that all International players play for their club teams the rest of the time. So no matter what country a player plays for he has the opportunity to play against the best players in the World and make his game better. George Best is widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers to ever play, yet he never played in a World Cup. He played for his country. If Owen Hargreaves dream was to play at the highest level, he is doing it. If his dream was to play in the World Cup, why was he upset to not get selected for a Canadian U17 side (if he had been selected it would have made it more difficult to play for England), if his dream was to play in the World Cup why did he play for Wales in unofficial matches? He lived in Canada until he was 16 then moved to Germany to pursue a club career, when Canada tried to select him he refused, and instead went on to play for England. My issue isn’t as much with Hargreaves betraying Canada, as it is with Harper thanking him for what he has done. Hargreaves has done nothing but damage to Canadian soccer and to be thanked for it is ridiculous. By your logic Brett Hull was following his dream by playing for the US, so I guess you don’t think he is a traitor either, eh?

Toby

Thus concludes Harper’s quest for “people who like giving interviews to Canadian media less than I do”
perdogperday

Next time in Dallas, Harper’s going to congratulate Brett Hull on his success and thank him for promoting Canadian hockey around the world.
BarryW

Hargreaves did not “turn his back” on Canadian soccer. He was told by the youth team selectors that he didn’t have the talent for the national team. In addition, the man wants to play at the highest level i.e. the World Cup finals – and that is not possible in the Canadian national team. A bit like a Canadian actor going to Hollywood to achieve the highest honours.

Pompey_Canuck

He was not selected for the U-17 side, then when he was selected for the national team he turned them down saying when I was interested in Canada they were not interested in me. As for playing in the World Cup finals it is a load of garbage he also played for the Welsh team in a unofficial match as he was considering joining them instead of England. Wales have the same of chance of making the World Cup as Canada. He is no better than Brett Hull, and Harper needs to apologize for thanking him for what he is did for Canadian Soccer.