My brother, a Hollywood muckity-muck, has been globe trotting recently because he’s developing a new show and is such a big deal. You might think there’s a sibling rivalry. You might be a fool. Let me explain.

Loyal Scaiaholics understand that even though the Expos left Montreal 14 years ago, I’m still a fan. My brother, after returning to Montreal from a trip to Morocco [because he’s such a big deal], started texting me pictures from inside Olympic Stadium. Or, as those of us in the know [or the French. Probably more the French] call it, Stade Olympique.

At one point, he sent a picture of himself standing where home plate would have been.

I responded, quite naturally, that was the spot where Moises Alou hit a walk off grand slam in a random gamethat I recalled seeing on TV as a youngster in 1992. No, it wasn’t a random game at all. The Expos were right in the middle of a playoff race! Where they fell tragically short. I told him to incorporate that into the show.

Olympic Stadium was never popular with players. They would frequently wind up with knee injuries from running on Astroturf that was, apparently, just laid down on the concrete without much padding.

That may explain why you can see the outline of home plate on the concrete.

So the discussion continued.

He was now asking my shirt and hat size. When I was in high school, the family made the trip to Montreal so I could see a home game. Henry Rodriguez, in the midst of the Oh Henry! candy bar craze, would hit a home run, but the Expos fell tragically short in extra innings that night. You might think it’s weird I remember each of these games. You might be a fool.

Despite having been to Montreal, I found it exhilarating to see so much Expos memorabilia in one place.

My brother asked if I would like a jersey with “Raines” or “Carter” on the back.

You might think I’d respond with a simple, one word answer. You might be a fool.

I actually replied with three texts:

“You’re really asking two questions here,” the first text read.

“On the one hand,” I continued. “they both went into the Hall as Expos. On the other, Gary Carter lobbied pretty heavily to go in as a Met. But at the same time, he was grateful to get a shot back in Montreal to end his career. He’s also the more tragic figure. I don’t know how to feel about this.”

Loyal Scaiaholics know how much I feel ways about things.

I concluded, “If you’re at the shop, maybe ask an Expos fan what would be his preference? They’re in their natural environment up there.”

My brother replied, “Copy that.”

But then he blew my mind.

He suggested he could clip a piece of Astroturf that was rolled up, explaining that their guide said they had newer turf but this was the “old turf from the Expos.”

That immediately took precedence over another jersey. In addition to the Starter jacket, I’ve got jerseys all over the place.

I explained that to my brother. I would assume he was on board. I have to believe clipping off a piece of Astroturf is cheaper than buying a replica Gary Garter jersey. Even in Canadian money.

I also warned him that if he did ask another fan in the store whether to get a Tim Raines or Gary Carter jersey, he’d have to, by law, pose the question in both English and French.

I may poke fun at Hollywood, but, in fact, I learned about that particular law from the movie, Canadian Bacon.

In conclusion, I’m not sure why I have this picture on my computer, but it really helps explain my feelings on the Expos leaving Montreal: