Why is Bardo the team to beat?

Are the Bardo Athletics the PBL equivalent of the Vancouver Canucks?

It seems over the past few years, the Bardo Athletics have taken a lot of criticism. 

They used to be like the Boston Red Sox. Lovable losers who had this curse cast upon them. Then Ray Lehman came to town. They picked up some younger players and got Donny Oslund – won a couple championships during the boom years and became a well-oiled machine, albeit never a powerhouse in the regular season.

But somewhere along the way, they became the team everyone hates? Well, at least the team everyone wants to beat.

Last season, we saw the Ryley Rebels celebrate like they won a championship when they defeated the A’s in a one-game play-in for the playoffs. The Camrose Roadrunners have some leftover Tofield angst against the Athletics. Holden has some leftover Brewer and young vs. old things to get them jacked for Bardo games. Armena has several local Bardo products who love to play at the storied field. Then there’s the champs – who never forget their welcome-to-the-PBL moment of losing to Bardo in a playoff series, only to narrowly edge them enroute to two of their three titles.

It makes sense with the longer history and natural rivalries brewed through generations of on- and off-the-field shenanigans that Bardo is the team to beat. It might explain why they have trouble making the playoffs, beyond inconsistent dedication. We all have that. What we don’t have, is everyone throwing their best guys, baring down on every at bat and being damn sure everyone is ready to beat the green and yellow like it’s a playoff game.

But at the end of the day, and this is no offence to Bardo, but they are a perennial .500 club that has to get lucky to win the whole thing. They win with heart, grit and some puck luck time to time. There’s hockey season getting in the way again.

Sitting in the weeds smiling are those three-time defending champion Leduc Milleteers, looking to do what no other team has done in the modern era (1987 on) – not even the fabled Ryley Rebels who three-peated twice in the 90s.

It’s difficult to get jacked up to beat Leduc. They don’t have a long history – but it is growing. Their field is along the highway with a constant buzz of vehicles. They win with great pitching and defence, not lighting up the sky like Ryley and Bardo do in their tilts.

But until we start showing up every night like Leduc is our Bardo. The Milleteers will keep on keeping on. Yeah, some will be happy that Bardo didn’t win. But at the same time, we might be doing a disservice to Leduc. Using up our best efforts on the little guy while the giant takes a nap in the weeds, before crushing us when it matters.

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Jason Buzzell