Former Expos Franchise Opens New Home

Thankfully, Montreal sports fans have lots to cheer about these days.

Their Canadiens, after years of mediocrity, are suddenly to found fighting for first place and top seed in the playoffs, only one year after missing out on the post season dance.

It also seems that Canadiens' owner George Gillett (an American, but not like the former Expos owner by the name of Loria) and the Saputo family, who have done so much for soccer in Montreal, are seriously talking of the possibility of an MSL soccer franchise a couple of years down the road.

There was even some wild blogging about Mr. Gillett helping to spur on the return of the Expos.

So, it's hoped that this good news can help overlook the fact that the franchise formally known as the Expos is preparing for yet another "new start" - this time at a new stadium in Washington, DC. (Remember Labbatt Park?).

Here are a couple of takes on the new park for the Washington Nationals:

From The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nationals/natsindex.html

Also, "Nationals Look for Fresh Start at New Stadium"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/sports/baseball/29nationals.html?ref=sports

In the meantime, as a fan of Jarry Park, Rust Staub and Cocoa Laboy, I still am haunted by the legacy of how Montreal and its fans were treated by, amomg others, Bud Selig, and a U.S. mainstream sports media that got it all wrong:

"For the Books, Nationals Face History Questions - Records by Senators, Expos Are at Issue"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/30/AR2006083003310.html


Home Opener - Ex-Expo Zimmerman homers in bottom of the ninth (Sports Ticker via the Montreal Gazette)
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=a5151338-6223-49ce-a968-8ca7ff81f6a8