Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

The people will be heard

by Aaron Wherry on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 9:05am - 29 Comments

Of all the causes that have inspired a demonstration on Parliament Hill, surely this is the least worthy.

Jason Spezza may have plenty of critics in Ottawa, but he has just as many fans, and on Saturday more than 100 will show their support for him during a rally on Parliament Hill.

The aim of the rally will be to convince the Ottawa Senators to keep the mercurial centre instead of trading him before his no-trade clause kicks in on July 1. “Every time something goes wrong with the Sens, it seems like there’s a need for a whipping boy and we’re sick of it,” said Louise Tremblay, who is organizing the rally. “Jason Spezza is our No. 1 centre and we don’t want to see him go.”

Tags: Jason Spezza, parliament hill

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Anon 001

Why Parliament Hill? Shouldn't they be at the ~~Corel Centre~~ Scotiabank Place?

Richard

10 years later, it's still too far to drive.

http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

Hey, this is great news! I'm a big Spezza fan and I intend to attend the rally.

John D

I'm with Richard, none of the players are worth that drive

jarrid

Wherry, to say that anything involving hockey is "least worthy" is patently outrageous. Surely you're pulling our leg?

If not, then I'd like proof of your citizenship.

Lord Kitchener's Own

What do Jason Spezza and the Senators have to do with hockey?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Stewart_Smith Stewart_Smith

thats just mean
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Oops, I laughed and thumbed you up, then remembered that the Senators are the team I cheer for!

But why on earth did Jarrid get a thumbs down mark on his post? It was amusing and on topic. Surely the more progressive commenters here aren't doing a reflex up or down like the dark side does? Please don't.

pdpd

It's weird – on the one hand this is pretty lame, and invites sarcasm and a bit of scorn, as here. On the other hand, though, isn't this awesome? In a wonderful, innocent, sort of way?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Ottawa_Centrist Ottawa_Centrist

If the anti-Spezzites organize in time, it could get ugly on the Hill…

Lord Kitchener's Own

If the pro-Spezza people figure they can get about 100 people out, I'm not sure it'll be that ugly, as the numbers won't exactly be even.

I'd bet one could rally 1000 anti-Spezza protesters in about 48 hours. Though, I may be overestimating Sens fans' collective understanding of hockey.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Ottawa_Centrist Ottawa_Centrist

Many Sens fans are still on the Habs bandwagon anyway… may need to ship in some anti-Spezzites from Jason's home town.

http://www.TennisVagabond.com Big Dave S

If the Spezzites are anything like their hero, there's no danger of it getting dirty.

CAPS

Spezza plays like he thinks he's still in Pee-Wee or Bantam and can stickhandle through everybody else on the other team … except that he can't.
Gary

Well, I don't know about "least worthy"?

100 people is about the same as some of the anti-prorogation demonstrations held awile back.

"Worthy" is a "in the eye of the beholder" type thing me thinks!

Like Aaron is the "least worthy" of pundits in Canada! Mkay!

Lord Kitchener's Own

SOME of the rallies against prorogation were around that size, but the one in Ottawa was over 3,500 people by RCMP estimates, so that's hardly a fair comparison.

Besides, the point Wherry is making isn't "What a pathetically sized rally", it's "What a pathetic thing to rally over". It's not unworthy because there are only 100 people, it's unworthy because their cause is KEEPING JASON SPEZZA.

To me, holding a rally to keep Jason Spezza in Ottawa is like holding a rally to keep herpes in Ottawa. Though, arguably herpes has been less damaging to the city.

Gary

Holy stating the obvious Batman!

My point was the fact that some of us felt that the anti-prorogation rallys WERE a pathetic thing to rally over and very hypocritical coming from the Liberals. I just used the numbers given by Aaron for comparison, hence my eye of the beholder comment. I guess I should type slower!

Lord Kitchener's Own

I guess I should type slower!

No, you just should have omitted the size comparison. You seemed to be comparing the size of the Spezza rally to the size of the anti-prorogation rallies as a measure of worthiness. I maintain that, your "eye of the beholder" line notwithstanding, it wasn't at all clear that you were comparing the two events on their "worth" and not their size. Now it is.

I'd still maintain that this rally's cause is probably amongst the least worthy. I'm a big opponent of our current Tory government, but I'd view a rally in favour of keeping them in Ottawa as being much more worthy than a rally to keep Spezza there!

Gary

Sorry for the confusion, I should have been more explicit as to why I used the number of people in the example.
I agree with the Spezza rally as to worth, but on the other hand, if the Blackhawks were in the same boat with, say, Mr. Toews, you would see mass demonstrations on Madison Street, and I would be there!
I, on the other hand, tolerate the Conservative government, warts and all, as I would rather separate as a Province instead of living with another useless Liberal government. I hate them THAT MUCH!
Lord Kitchener's Own

I agree with the Spezza rally as to worth, but on the other hand, if the Blackhawks were in the same boat with, say, Mr. Toews, you would see mass demonstrations on Madison Street, and I would be there

Of course you would, because keeping Toews would be a worthy cause. Keeping Spezza is just lunacy.

http://intensedebate.com/people/MostlyCivil MostlyCivil

Wozza Spezza?
Mike T.

It's only legitimate when they get like 25,000 or something.

Lord Kitchener's Own

LOL

Though, if it's 25,000 people arguing that the Sens should keep Jason Spezza, I'd argue it's still not legitimate.

Lord Kitchener's Own

"Jason Spezza is our No. 1 centre…"

That's not a feature, it's a bug.
jarrid

What about dealing Spezza to Chicago for Kane? It would have fans all over the league talking about the trade all summer long.

Chicago would come out way ahead on that one in the long run. Kane's a liability on the ice when his team doesn't have the puck and he's allergic to corners.
http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

Only if the Senators take Brian Campbell's contract back. He can chaperone Kane on his cab trips in the market.
John D

Risky, do you know the cab fare to Scotiabank Place?
Lord Kitchener's Own

What about dealing Spezza to Chicago for Kane?

Hell, if you think that's gonna happen, why not see if they can trade Kane for Sidney Crosby???

Me, I'd keep the 21 year old who just came off his best season, finished third in playoff scoring while winning the Cup, and who's averaged 25 goals and 51 assists a season (with an average of 9 goals and 11 assists in the playoffs over his career) over the 27 year old who's just had his two worst seasons, has averaged 26 goals and 31 assists a season and who's averaged 2.8 goals and 2.4 assists in the playoffs over his career, while never finishing as high as third in ANYTHING.

But maybe that's just me.

I think the only way Chicago comes out "way ahead in the long run" through a Kane-Spezza trade is if Patrick Kane gets hit by a bus while leaving the press conference announcing the trade.
Lord Kitchener's Own

Of course, my joke would have been better if I'd properly written "Why not see if they can trade SPEZZA for Sidney Crosby?"