Though Big Red came up short in the just-completed Four Nations tournament in Chongqing, China (finishing second, behind the U.S.), women's national team supporters can still look to our captain for a bit of good news. She was named MVP of the tournament, thanks in part to her ability to accelerate like nobody's business, bully her way through three Swedish defenders and coolly slot home a winning goal (video at the bottom of the post).
"Christine, for me, is actually the best player in the world," said head coach Carolina Morace. There could be self-serving hyperbole there -- but Morace herself is among the most decorated and successful women's footballers ever. If anyone knows what the world's best player looks like, she does.
So... what will it take for the rest of Canada to notice?
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Sinclair is doubly hampered when it comes to gaining mainstream notoriety. She plays an unpopular (that is to say, non-hockey) sport, and female athletes generally (unjustifiably, of course) receive fewer plaudits for their accomplishments.
But this could truly be her year to break through. At 27, she's still in her athletic prime, and with the CBC surely poised to give this summer's Women's World Cup a big promotional push, a prime-time performance in Germany could (should?) finally earn the Burnaby, B.C. native among the pantheon of Canada's all-time sporting greats.
The Lou Marsh Award (celebrating the top Canadian athlete of the year) has been handed out in recent years to a few folks who've gained respect and admiration for trailblazing performances in sports that Canadians "aren't supposed to do well in"... such as Steve Nash in basketball and Joey Votto in baseball.
But Nash is no spring chicken, Votto won't catch anyone by surprise this time, Sidney Crosby has been derailed by a concussion, and there are no Olympians to sway the voters with isolated, inspiring performances.
So why not Sinclair in 2011? After all, Canadians "aren't supposed to do well in" soccer, right?
Now, I'll admit it's unfair of me to place the spotlight on Sinclair, for two reasons.
First, her success is intrinsically linked to the success of her team -- which, you surely know, has been absolutely on fire for the past 12 months. So please know that by plunking things on Sinclair's shoulders, I'm not attempting to diminish the skills and contributions of her Big Red teammates.
Second, she's never come across as particularly interested in shining the spotlight on herself. She shows up, puts her amazing skills to work, gets the job done and, occasionally, shushes a Mexican crowd for good measure. Perhaps she'd find it uncomfortable to be at the epicentre of a nation's focus on her team.
But for right or for wrong, she will be.
Sid the Kid gave Canadians the defining sporting moment of 2010. For Sinclair -- and her team, and her sport -- to finally break through into the mainstream sporting consciousness, she's going to need to provide that moment in 2011.
And I, for one, have full faith that she can deliver.
How about you?
Photo credit: CanadaSoccer.com