Bouchard And Separation

We in Canada all know the rules: when one of us does well on the world stage, the rest of us cheer for them. Individual, group, or company we all back out fellow Canadians. That's even if we end up feeling silly for backing Jim Carey or BlackBerry long after everyone else has given up on them. Okay, there are exceptions. You're allowed to abandon them if their behaviour is bad enough (Justin Bieber) or the connection to Canada is tenuous enough (Ted Cruz) or we're just stick of them (Celine Dion.)

This principle of mutual support is doubly strong if it's in a field where we are rarely successful. So everyone is really getting behind our sudden tennis stars, Milos Raonic, Eugenie Bouchard, and sometimes Vasek Pospisil. In Raonic's case, it's been pretty easy to cheer for him, because he fits the national stereotype so well. Like Mike Weir and Steve Nash, he's gotten where he is by quietly working hard and letting his play do the talking.

But Genie, you're making this difficult for us. No, is not because of your recent slump; after all, we stuck with Jacques Villeneuve long after he won anything. And we also aren't put off by "Genie's Army," your horde of largely-male fans that are just a bit creepy.

But when you're purposely not friends with your competitors to keep some sort of competitive edge, that seems a little worrisome. Yes, people used to complain that Kim Clijsters was too nice, but you may have noticed they stopped doing that after she won four Grand Slam titles.

We were willing to look the other way when you made that infamous quote about becoming a brand. True, it looks stupid now, seeing as it coincided with the start of your slump. But hey, lots of people say regrettable things at the onset of fame. But going through coaches faster than the Maple Leafs, arrogantly turning away criticism like a Spearsian pop star? That's starting to sound like someone who can't take responsibility.

But now she’s started a mixed-doubles partnership with Nick Kyrgios. Yes, the guy who just exceeded everyone’s definition of trash-talking by telling a competitor he knew who his girlfriend was sleeping with. Although Bouchard didn’t specifically defend that, she was full of praise for Kyrgios, saying his personality was good for the sport. Really? Defending bad behaviour as long as it’s entertaining? That’s… Okay, I’m going to say it: that’s so American.

So that’s it, my nationalism has been pushed too far. I’m invoking the Nickelback Rule and suspending my support for Eugenie Bouchard despite her being the most accomplished Canadian in her field.