Sober Second Thoughts: On liquid nationalities

Jason de Vos has an interesting piece up on the Asmir Begovic situation on his CBC.ca blog today. In it he details "the other side" of Begovic's decision to leave the Canadian set-up and play for Bosnia moving forward.

Coincidently, Paul James column in today's Globe and Mail looks at the Jacob Lensky situation. Two young men, both Canadian and both now playing football for another country (although it is worth pointing out that Lensky isn't cap tied anywhere and still could come back to the Canadian fold, as unlikely as it seems). I'm sure there are other countries in the world where you would find two similar articles about player defections on the same day, but I can't for the life of me think of any right now.

The reaction on both sides of the issue, in both cases, has been predictable. The nationalists feel that a public flogging of both would be a good first step to giving them what's coming to them, and the apologizers continue in with their "but Canada sucks" line of argument.

What grey there is in the decision is lost.

Of course there is always some grey. As de Vos points out the CSA doesn't do a great job in providing for its athletes and in making them feel wanted and appreciated. It's a modern world we live in. It's naive to think that an athlete in any sport doesn't need to be made to feel special.

But, as James points out, the scoreboard shouldn't be the only consideration in a player's decision to play internationally. A little bit of pride in your upbringing and appreciation for what Canada has given to you should really be enough to keep you in the fold.

If Lensky really "loves Canada" like he says he does, then he has a really funny way of showing it.

As you can likely tell I don't have a lot of time for the defectors. I don't buy the self hating arguments of Canadians -- mostly younger Canadians -- that the player's decisions should be made based on what program offers them the best chance of winning the World Cup. I also know, deep down, that no matter how the players try and spin it any success they have with their adopted nation is likely to be tempered by the realization that they aren't really of there. It doesn't matter how often Owen Hargreaves says he always "felt British" (and Calgary sure does remind me of Manchester...) growing up, he isn't really. He knows it, the Brits know it and even if he was to work his way back into the English set-up in time for the World Cup next year, he'll never be fully celebrated there (and woe would be the first Canadian journalist that tried to make the argument that he was the first Canadian to win the World Cup. It would be inconsistent thinking, but no Canadian soccer fan would accept that classification).

But, I'm not delusional enough to think that this stuff isn't complicated. Begovic really was born in Bosnia. You can understand why he might feel some loyalty to there. I guess all we're asking for is a little honesty from the players and a little pride to be shown by everyone around.

Canada is worth supporting -- on the pitch and in the stands. And it always will be, regardless of whether it ever wins another game.

James ends his column by arguing that we should simply wish the players that have left good luck and focus on supporting those that do bleed for the Maple Leaf. It's good advice. The hatred doesn't really get us anywhere.

(But if Hargreaves were to ever play a game on Canadian soil...all bets are off!)