Canon vs. Fanon, part 17: A Jack O'Neill Edition, part 2
Welcome to another edition of Canon vs. Fanon! It's been five months since the last one, and there are a lot of newcomers on my flist. I hope you'll pull up your keyboard and join the discussion - opinions of all kinds are welcome. If you're unfamiliar with this meta series, you can follow the tags, or use the direct links at the LJ Index.
Most of the Canon vs. Fanon posts are Daniel or team-centric. This one, though, is our second Jack O'Neill edition. In the past, we've discussed trees, 2IC status, and practical jokes. We're covering several more topics this time, and I'm still not finished with my Jack list of fanon tropes, so we might get the chance for a third Jack O'Neill edition in the future.
Recap: Canon is anything shown onscreen in Stargate: The Movie or Stargate SG-1; show supersedes movie if there are contradictions. (Abydos is one of the closest Stargates to Earth, not located in another galaxy.) Fanon is defined as popular concepts that occur regularly in fanfic, but have little or no actual canon basis to defend them.
The purpose of this series is not to mock or denigrate fanfic writers who use fanon, but to point out which common tropes are based on fanon instead of canon. As always, pointers to what I've missed, and discussions and/or disagreements with my analyses, are welcome in the comments.
Jack wanders into Daniel's office (or Sam's lab) when he's bored, and drives him or her crazy until they somehow convince him to go away.
There are two versions of this fanon trope: one in which Jack is genuinely bored and seeks distraction, and one in which Jack is deliberately sidetracking his resident scientists so they can get a badly needed break.
There is certainly plenty of canon evidence that when Jack is in someone else's domain, he tends to play with whatever he finds lying around - IV bags, magnifying glasses, doohickeys, and so on. But we never see him coming to Sam or Daniel's offices without any purpose. That purpose may be serious (stop watching the videos, Daniel, and come get tested by Frasier) or frivolous (want to go fishing, Carter, instead of spending vacation in your lab?), but it's never just because Jack doesn't have anything better to do with his time, or because he thinks they'll be able to work more smoothly after he gives them an unwanted break. In nearly every case, Jack is performing his duties as the leader of SG-1: checking up on his people.
Here's a breakdown of Jack's visits to Sam and Daniel, excluding times (like Seth, for example) in which Jack is already present when we enter the scene:
Torment of Tantalus: Jack finds Daniel in the briefing room, watching videotapes of the efforts to open the Stargate in the 40s. Jack is there to herd Daniel off to the infirmary, where they're scheduled to undergo testing.
Message in a Bottle. Jack enters the lab to check on Sam and Daniel, who have stayed up overnight with their latest plaything, and remind them of their duties as members of SG-1.
One False Step. Jack comes into Daniel's office to check on him after they've returned from the planet. Cue another temper tantrum, another visit to Janet, and the realization that the video must contain something to trigger the reaction.
Learning Curve. Jack checks up on Sam and Merrin and finds Sam asleep, with Merrin balancing precariously on a chair as she tries to find more paper for her naquadah reactor sketches.
Forever in a Day. Included for the sake of completion, since it never actually happened. Jack comes to Daniel's office to try and talk him out of quitting.
Nemesis. With Daniel uninterested in fishing immediately after an appendectomy, Jack visits Sam's office to try and convince her to join him instead. Sam's idea of a vacation, however, is performing a "detailed analysis of the decay rate of naquadah."
Small Victories. Back on Earth, Sam goes straight back to her lab (after a shower!) and studies a few Replicator blocks. This is probably the closest we get to Jack simply coming into Sam's lab with no purpose - although he does tell her he's leaving on vacation (without inviting her along this time).
Upgrades. This is the one and only time Jack wanders into Daniel's for no apparent purpose other than to be irritating. Poor Daniel is frustrated that he can't speed-read like Jack yet. Jack is mostly interested in snacks. Please note, however, that Jack is under the armband's influence by this point - he's already acting out of character.
Window of Opportunity. Jack comes striding into Daniel's office to save him from being knocked down (again and again and again...), and to demand that he translate the inscriptions on the planet.
Absolute Power. Like FIAD, included for the sake of completion, since it never happened. Jack comes to Daniel's office to demand an explanation for his erratic behavior. Daniel fantasizes about blasting Jack with a ribbon device.
The Light. Late at night, Jack comes to the lab to check on Daniel, and discovers him falling apart. The following morning, he's barely in time to keep Daniel from jumping off his balcony.
48 Hours. Jack comes to Sam's lab after he's released from the infirmary to hear her explanation of what happened to Teal'c.
Redemption, part 1. Jack visits Sam's lab to offer her encouragement in her ability to find a solution to the Gate crisis.
Evolution, part 2. Jack comes into Sam's lab to tell her that he's going after Daniel and that he won't be part of the mission to Tartarus.
Lockdown. Jack comes to Sam's lab to talk to all of SG-.75, particularly about the Russians' desire to put one of their people on SG-1.
Affinity. Jack comes to Sam's lab to find out what's been bothering her for the last several days. She tells him about Pete's proposal.
Full Alert. Jack, together with Chekov, come to see if Sam has discovered any clues to the Goa'uld infiltration in Russia. She has.
(It's interesting to see Jack's visits broken down like this, because after S4, he apparently never drops by Daniel's office again. If I've missed any such visits, either to Daniel's office or Sam's lab, please point it out in the comments.)
ETA: Thank you, scrollgirl, for pointing out Jack's visit to Daniel in Origin in S9. Jack drops into Daniel's office to check on him after he's nearly died again for a few minutes of quiet banter and an invitation to lunch.
So where does that leave us? In nearly every episode in which Jack comes to Sam or Daniel's offices, there is an actual purpose to that visit. There is never any suggestion that Jack is deliberately distracting Sam or Daniel to give them a badly needed break, and we don't see Jack annoying them out of boredom, either. The only episode that comes close is Small Victories, when Jack's visit to Sam's lab serves little purpose other than to tell her that he's leaving. The one incident that actually fits the fanon trope is Upgrades - and while Jack was hilariously irritating, he was also not quite in his right mind, and that can't really be used as canonical proof for regular behavior.
Conclusion: there is no real canon basis for the fanon trope of Jack annoying Sam and Daniel while they are working in their labs or offices.
Jack is an obsessed hockey fan.
We have already debunked the common fanon theme of Jack dragging Daniel home to drink beer and watch the game. But it's interesting to look at the realities of canon and discover that Jack barely talks about hockey at all. He does mention other sports, though, so it might be better to classify Jack as a sports fan, not specifically a hockey fan.
Let's take a look at all Jack sports references... excluding fishing, of course. :)
Cold Lazarus. When the Unity impersonating Jack picks up a baseball in Charlie's old room, he experiences a memory of Jack playing baseball with Charlie.
Later, when SG-1 is about to leave the SGC to track down "Jack" in the hospital, Hammond hands Teal'c a baseball cap, inscribed with the word "Chicago," to hide his tattoo. Teal'c examines it carefully, then announces, "Chicago. The Windy City. Home of the Blackhawks, the Bulls and the White Sox."
"Don't forget the Cubs," Jack tells him.
So, Teal'c references Chicago's hockey team, basketball team, and one baseball team, which plays in the American League. Jack chimes in with the Cubs, who play baseball in the National League. Teal'c's knowledge of Chicago trivia has two possible sources: the little television in his room, or - and I personally think it more likely - Jack himself.
Fire and Water. Jack owns a hockey stick and hockey net, and tries to work off steam with a little street hockey. He ends up smashing Hammond's car window.
The Gamekeeper. "Kawalsky" asks Jack, "Colonel, who are you gonna get to play street hockey with who can kick your butt the way I can?"
Family. Jack gives Ry'ac a baseball glove and a baseball, with the promise that he'll come to the Land of Light and teach Ry'ac how to play.
The Fifth Race. Jack boxes with Teal'c for the first time.
The Devil You Know. In Jack's flashback from the Blood of Sokar, he tries to coax Charlie into playing catch with him.
100 Days. Jack describes curling to Laira: "Curling's big where my grandfather's from in Northern Minnesota. You throw a big, round, kind of slab of rock down this slab of ice and just sweep..." He stops short at her expression, and learns that Laira heard voices on the radio.
Upgrades. Jack and Teal'c are boxing again. This time, thanks to the Atenik armband, Jack manages to knock Teal'c out.
Window of Opportunity. Jack uses the time loops to teach Teal'c how to golf... through the active Stargate.
The Light. As Sam prepares to go through the Gate to meet Daniel, Jack hands Barber a fifty, telling him to give it to Daniel because he'd lost a "sports related" bet with him. Sam asks for details.
"Curling," Jack answers.
Sam, incredulous, says, "Daniel bet on curling?"
"Oh, yes," Jack says. "His team won the big Bonspiel."
Sam looks amused, and tells him, "Okay. You don't want to tell me what the bet is. That's fine."
There are a few ways to read this exchange. Sam might be astonished that Daniel is betting with Jack on sports, or Sam might be skeptical that Daniel is betting about curling, or Sam might not believe that Daniel or Jack would be interested in curling at all. This latter option seems unlikely, seems curling is mentioned three times on the show.
Threshold. In the teaser, when they are trying to determine if MacKenzie's sessions with Teal'c have worked, Jack exchanges a few bantering lines with him:
Teal'c says, "You appear to be well."
"Well, forget appearances," Jack says dismissively. "The back's gone, the knee's shot. Forget curling. You?"
The Other Guys. Jack chats idly with Teal'c, asking him who he fancies for the Stanley Cup. Teal'c has to prompted: "Hockey? Remember, with the ice and skating? We went to a game last year." Once Jack has reminded him, however, Teal'c holds up his end of the conversation, declaring that he believes that "the Canucks of Vancouver are superior warriors."
Moebius. Jack leaves a message to "himself" in the future: "College football is played on Saturdays, pro on Sundays."
The Real World. Included for the sake of completion. This SGA episode has Elizbeth Weir attacked by nanites (if I understand the transcript correctly) that have her dreaming that her experiences on Atlantis are just a psychotic hallucination. She has several conversations with General Jack O'Neill in the course of her dreams, including this exchange:
"You've got to work yourself back into playing shape. Spend a little time doing some short shifts before you jump up to the first line."
Elizabeth shrugs and says apologetically, "I'm sorry. I don't know a thing about football."
Jack says to himself, "Nor hockey, apparently."
Keep in mind that this didn't actually happen; it's more an indication of how Weir sees Jack than Jack's actual characterization.
So, where does this leave us? We have two references to street hockey; two scenes with boxing; one reference to a trip to watch a hockey game; three references to curling; one reference to basketball; one golfing incident (complete with golfing outfit, and it's hard to imagine that Jack had time to go out and buy it during the loop); and several references to baseball, mostly in terms of playing with children. The overall pattern suggests that Jack likes many different sports, not just hockey.
It's interesting to note that is is Teal'c, not Daniel, whom Jack seems most interested in educating about sports. But other than taking Teal'c to a hockey game some time in S5 (and there is no way to tell if it was just the two of them or a team night), and a fantasy Jack's usage of a hockey metaphor in SGA, all other hockey references are to street hockey - which means that Jack enjoys playing the game, not necessarily watching it.
Conclusion: While there is no canon proof that Jack tries to teach Daniel how to enjoy hockey, there is certainly evidence that Jack has taught Teal'c about hockey and other sports. However, there is no canon basis for Jack's fanon obsession with hockey above all else.
Jack is constantly blowing out his knee.
This one is a little more subtle. We have plenty of canonical proof that Jack has a problem with his knees. Actual knee damage, though, is a different matter entirely.
We first hear about Jack's knees in Need, when Pyrus' fake Jaffa demands that SG-1 kneel before Pyrus. Jack demurs, "Actually, I've got this cartilage problem. A little ACL thing..." WHAM goes the staff weapon to the back of the knees.
Prodigy. When Sam and Hailey come through the Stargate, Jack is there to meet them. Sam asks, "How are you?"
Jack tells her, "Ah, well, the back's acting up a little... the knees, you know..."
Threshold. As quoted earlier, when Teal'c compliments Jack that he is looking well, Jack demurs, "Well, forget appearances. The back's gone, the knee's shot."
Redemption, part 1. Here is the only canon incident in which we actually see Jack suffer a knee injury. After a mistranslation from Captain Hagman results in a clash with the natives, Jack has a "partially torn ligament in his knee."
Descent. After Jack and Sam nearly drown, Jonas asks them if they're all right.
"Ah, a little wet. A little chilly. Knee gets a little stiff in cold water, you know."
Full Circle. Daniel in the elevator summons all his patience and starts all over again: "Hey, Jack, long time no see. How're you doing? How are the knees, the back, everything...?"
"Oh, you know," Jack says in reply. "Kinda weather-contingent, actually."
Orpheus. A badly shaken Teal'c begs Jack's forgiveness for concealing what he perceives as his "weakness" on tretonin. Jack dismisses it, saying, "No. There's nothing to forgive. You're still twice as strong as I'll ever be, and you've got two good knees."
Heroes. Janet, looking through Jack's medical file, remarks that he has had "three knee operations." Considering the context of the scene, it's safe to assume that these all took place during his years at the SGC. However, there is no way to tell if these surgeries were elective or due to injury.
(Am I the only one a little disappointed that Kanan couldn't at least fix Jack's knees while he was busy hijacking his body?)
As I said at the beginning of this section, there's a subtle difference here. There is no question that it's solid canon that Jack has trouble with his knees. But we see one knee injury in the course of the entire show. Janet references three knee operations, true. But that doesn't explain the huge profusion of fanfics in which Jack's knee is twisted/wrenched/dislocated/swollen/whatever else the author chooses to inflict.
Conclusion: while it is canon that Jack has problems with his knees, frequent injuries are actually fanon.
As a bonus, I offer two fanon tropes that have no canon basis whatsoever:
Jack teases Daniel by referring to artifacts as "rocks."
"Okay, Daniel, you go study your rocks..."
"Artifacts, Jack!"
"Whatever."
Exchanges like this are found in hundreds of fics. In terms of characterization, it certainly rings true. But if a canon reference exists, I have not yet been able to find it.
Anyone...?
Conclusion: There is no canon basis for the frequent fanon assertion that Jack drives Daniel crazy by referring to artifacts as "rocks."
Jack offers friendship/comfort/reassurance by placing his hand at the back of Daniel's neck.
Never. Happens.
Ever.
Please, someone, give me a citation for this. I will write you fic.
More on this in the personal opinion section, but for now...
Conclusion: There is no canon basis for the fanon trope of Jack resting his hand on the back of Daniel's neck.
My personal fanon opinion is a bit long-winded, so let's take it in sections.
The first fanon claim - that Jack wanders around annoying his teammates out of sheer boredom - seems to fall into the same fanon category as the frequent and equally false assertion that Jack likes to play practical jokes at the SGC. It's funny, it seems to suit his personality, and it allows for team interaction, so why not? I would agree with that, too - except it does diminish Jack to reduce him to caricature when it's carried too far. Like many fanon tropes, this one is fine... as long as it's used sparingly, with the recognition that it's complete fanon.
Jack's fondness for hockey and his knees are more a question of degree than authenticity. We do have canon proof that Jack is a hockey fan, and that he has trouble with his knees. But the sheer frequency in fanon is absurb in comparison to the reality of canon. There's nothing wrong with using these concepts at all - I've personally used them myself :) - but authors should recognize that they're minor canon points.
I would also like to point out that both of these fanon aspects actually have a very solid basis - only that canonical basis is with Richard Dean Anderson, not Jack O'Neill! RDA is the co-founder of the Celebrity All-Star Hockey Team, and is unquestionably a huge hockey fan. He has also undergone multiple knee surgeries. I've seen this kind of transference before, in my old Lois and Clark fandom, where fanfic writers would have Lois using cucumber oil because Teri Hatcher does, or assert that Clark's favorite movie is The Princess Bride, because Dean Cain has said that it's his favorite movie. This kind of fanon has its own charms, and it certainly doesn't hurt... as long as a writer isn't tricked by the huge amounts of fanfic into thinking that it's actually canon!
Now, our two fanon tropes that have no canonical basis: Artifacts=rocks, and Jack placing his hand on the back of Daniel's neck.
The first one, like Jack-the-joker and Jack-the-bored-irritant, is relatively benign. It is exactly the kind of thing we would expect Jack to do. I imagine that a popular author inserted it in a story, and readers seized upon it and incorporated it into their own fics. After a while, the origin is forgotten, and the sheer frequency makes readers assume that it must be based on canon, even if they can't find the source.
Is it wrong to have Jack calling Daniel's artifacts "rocks"? Of course not. But it should be recognized as fanon.
It's our last bit of fanon, though, that genuinely drives me insane. I've seen it across a huge spectrum of authors. I've seen it so often, in fact, that I have searched extensively for a canonical incident. The Serpent's Lair? The Spacemonkey Hug ™ is just that - a hug. Need? Nope, rubbing his back. The Light, on the balcony? Not there either. Enemy Mine? Hand on the shoulder when Jack tells Daniel to go to his "happy place" aka artifacts (not rocks).
If there is even a single canon scene in which Jack rests his hand on the back of Daniel's neck, please comment and point it out. Seriously. I will write you fic as a thank-you present. :)
"Anyway, I'm sorry, but that just happens to be the way that I feel about it. What do you think?"
ETA: LJ's e-mail notifications don't seem to be working at the moment. If I miss your comment, or delay replying, please don't take it personally. :)
Most of the Canon vs. Fanon posts are Daniel or team-centric. This one, though, is our second Jack O'Neill edition. In the past, we've discussed trees, 2IC status, and practical jokes. We're covering several more topics this time, and I'm still not finished with my Jack list of fanon tropes, so we might get the chance for a third Jack O'Neill edition in the future.
Recap: Canon is anything shown onscreen in Stargate: The Movie or Stargate SG-1; show supersedes movie if there are contradictions. (Abydos is one of the closest Stargates to Earth, not located in another galaxy.) Fanon is defined as popular concepts that occur regularly in fanfic, but have little or no actual canon basis to defend them.
The purpose of this series is not to mock or denigrate fanfic writers who use fanon, but to point out which common tropes are based on fanon instead of canon. As always, pointers to what I've missed, and discussions and/or disagreements with my analyses, are welcome in the comments.
Jack wanders into Daniel's office (or Sam's lab) when he's bored, and drives him or her crazy until they somehow convince him to go away.
There are two versions of this fanon trope: one in which Jack is genuinely bored and seeks distraction, and one in which Jack is deliberately sidetracking his resident scientists so they can get a badly needed break.
There is certainly plenty of canon evidence that when Jack is in someone else's domain, he tends to play with whatever he finds lying around - IV bags, magnifying glasses, doohickeys, and so on. But we never see him coming to Sam or Daniel's offices without any purpose. That purpose may be serious (stop watching the videos, Daniel, and come get tested by Frasier) or frivolous (want to go fishing, Carter, instead of spending vacation in your lab?), but it's never just because Jack doesn't have anything better to do with his time, or because he thinks they'll be able to work more smoothly after he gives them an unwanted break. In nearly every case, Jack is performing his duties as the leader of SG-1: checking up on his people.
Here's a breakdown of Jack's visits to Sam and Daniel, excluding times (like Seth, for example) in which Jack is already present when we enter the scene:
Torment of Tantalus: Jack finds Daniel in the briefing room, watching videotapes of the efforts to open the Stargate in the 40s. Jack is there to herd Daniel off to the infirmary, where they're scheduled to undergo testing.
Message in a Bottle. Jack enters the lab to check on Sam and Daniel, who have stayed up overnight with their latest plaything, and remind them of their duties as members of SG-1.
One False Step. Jack comes into Daniel's office to check on him after they've returned from the planet. Cue another temper tantrum, another visit to Janet, and the realization that the video must contain something to trigger the reaction.
Learning Curve. Jack checks up on Sam and Merrin and finds Sam asleep, with Merrin balancing precariously on a chair as she tries to find more paper for her naquadah reactor sketches.
Forever in a Day. Included for the sake of completion, since it never actually happened. Jack comes to Daniel's office to try and talk him out of quitting.
Nemesis. With Daniel uninterested in fishing immediately after an appendectomy, Jack visits Sam's office to try and convince her to join him instead. Sam's idea of a vacation, however, is performing a "detailed analysis of the decay rate of naquadah."
Small Victories. Back on Earth, Sam goes straight back to her lab (after a shower!) and studies a few Replicator blocks. This is probably the closest we get to Jack simply coming into Sam's lab with no purpose - although he does tell her he's leaving on vacation (without inviting her along this time).
Upgrades. This is the one and only time Jack wanders into Daniel's for no apparent purpose other than to be irritating. Poor Daniel is frustrated that he can't speed-read like Jack yet. Jack is mostly interested in snacks. Please note, however, that Jack is under the armband's influence by this point - he's already acting out of character.
Window of Opportunity. Jack comes striding into Daniel's office to save him from being knocked down (again and again and again...), and to demand that he translate the inscriptions on the planet.
Absolute Power. Like FIAD, included for the sake of completion, since it never happened. Jack comes to Daniel's office to demand an explanation for his erratic behavior. Daniel fantasizes about blasting Jack with a ribbon device.
The Light. Late at night, Jack comes to the lab to check on Daniel, and discovers him falling apart. The following morning, he's barely in time to keep Daniel from jumping off his balcony.
48 Hours. Jack comes to Sam's lab after he's released from the infirmary to hear her explanation of what happened to Teal'c.
Redemption, part 1. Jack visits Sam's lab to offer her encouragement in her ability to find a solution to the Gate crisis.
Evolution, part 2. Jack comes into Sam's lab to tell her that he's going after Daniel and that he won't be part of the mission to Tartarus.
Lockdown. Jack comes to Sam's lab to talk to all of SG-.75, particularly about the Russians' desire to put one of their people on SG-1.
Affinity. Jack comes to Sam's lab to find out what's been bothering her for the last several days. She tells him about Pete's proposal.
Full Alert. Jack, together with Chekov, come to see if Sam has discovered any clues to the Goa'uld infiltration in Russia. She has.
(It's interesting to see Jack's visits broken down like this, because after S4, he apparently never drops by Daniel's office again. If I've missed any such visits, either to Daniel's office or Sam's lab, please point it out in the comments.)
ETA: Thank you, scrollgirl, for pointing out Jack's visit to Daniel in Origin in S9. Jack drops into Daniel's office to check on him after he's nearly died again for a few minutes of quiet banter and an invitation to lunch.
So where does that leave us? In nearly every episode in which Jack comes to Sam or Daniel's offices, there is an actual purpose to that visit. There is never any suggestion that Jack is deliberately distracting Sam or Daniel to give them a badly needed break, and we don't see Jack annoying them out of boredom, either. The only episode that comes close is Small Victories, when Jack's visit to Sam's lab serves little purpose other than to tell her that he's leaving. The one incident that actually fits the fanon trope is Upgrades - and while Jack was hilariously irritating, he was also not quite in his right mind, and that can't really be used as canonical proof for regular behavior.
Conclusion: there is no real canon basis for the fanon trope of Jack annoying Sam and Daniel while they are working in their labs or offices.
Jack is an obsessed hockey fan.
We have already debunked the common fanon theme of Jack dragging Daniel home to drink beer and watch the game. But it's interesting to look at the realities of canon and discover that Jack barely talks about hockey at all. He does mention other sports, though, so it might be better to classify Jack as a sports fan, not specifically a hockey fan.
Let's take a look at all Jack sports references... excluding fishing, of course. :)
Cold Lazarus. When the Unity impersonating Jack picks up a baseball in Charlie's old room, he experiences a memory of Jack playing baseball with Charlie.
Later, when SG-1 is about to leave the SGC to track down "Jack" in the hospital, Hammond hands Teal'c a baseball cap, inscribed with the word "Chicago," to hide his tattoo. Teal'c examines it carefully, then announces, "Chicago. The Windy City. Home of the Blackhawks, the Bulls and the White Sox."
"Don't forget the Cubs," Jack tells him.
So, Teal'c references Chicago's hockey team, basketball team, and one baseball team, which plays in the American League. Jack chimes in with the Cubs, who play baseball in the National League. Teal'c's knowledge of Chicago trivia has two possible sources: the little television in his room, or - and I personally think it more likely - Jack himself.
Fire and Water. Jack owns a hockey stick and hockey net, and tries to work off steam with a little street hockey. He ends up smashing Hammond's car window.
The Gamekeeper. "Kawalsky" asks Jack, "Colonel, who are you gonna get to play street hockey with who can kick your butt the way I can?"
Family. Jack gives Ry'ac a baseball glove and a baseball, with the promise that he'll come to the Land of Light and teach Ry'ac how to play.
The Fifth Race. Jack boxes with Teal'c for the first time.
The Devil You Know. In Jack's flashback from the Blood of Sokar, he tries to coax Charlie into playing catch with him.
100 Days. Jack describes curling to Laira: "Curling's big where my grandfather's from in Northern Minnesota. You throw a big, round, kind of slab of rock down this slab of ice and just sweep..." He stops short at her expression, and learns that Laira heard voices on the radio.
Upgrades. Jack and Teal'c are boxing again. This time, thanks to the Atenik armband, Jack manages to knock Teal'c out.
Window of Opportunity. Jack uses the time loops to teach Teal'c how to golf... through the active Stargate.
The Light. As Sam prepares to go through the Gate to meet Daniel, Jack hands Barber a fifty, telling him to give it to Daniel because he'd lost a "sports related" bet with him. Sam asks for details.
"Curling," Jack answers.
Sam, incredulous, says, "Daniel bet on curling?"
"Oh, yes," Jack says. "His team won the big Bonspiel."
Sam looks amused, and tells him, "Okay. You don't want to tell me what the bet is. That's fine."
There are a few ways to read this exchange. Sam might be astonished that Daniel is betting with Jack on sports, or Sam might be skeptical that Daniel is betting about curling, or Sam might not believe that Daniel or Jack would be interested in curling at all. This latter option seems unlikely, seems curling is mentioned three times on the show.
Threshold. In the teaser, when they are trying to determine if MacKenzie's sessions with Teal'c have worked, Jack exchanges a few bantering lines with him:
Teal'c says, "You appear to be well."
"Well, forget appearances," Jack says dismissively. "The back's gone, the knee's shot. Forget curling. You?"
The Other Guys. Jack chats idly with Teal'c, asking him who he fancies for the Stanley Cup. Teal'c has to prompted: "Hockey? Remember, with the ice and skating? We went to a game last year." Once Jack has reminded him, however, Teal'c holds up his end of the conversation, declaring that he believes that "the Canucks of Vancouver are superior warriors."
Moebius. Jack leaves a message to "himself" in the future: "College football is played on Saturdays, pro on Sundays."
The Real World. Included for the sake of completion. This SGA episode has Elizbeth Weir attacked by nanites (if I understand the transcript correctly) that have her dreaming that her experiences on Atlantis are just a psychotic hallucination. She has several conversations with General Jack O'Neill in the course of her dreams, including this exchange:
"You've got to work yourself back into playing shape. Spend a little time doing some short shifts before you jump up to the first line."
Elizabeth shrugs and says apologetically, "I'm sorry. I don't know a thing about football."
Jack says to himself, "Nor hockey, apparently."
Keep in mind that this didn't actually happen; it's more an indication of how Weir sees Jack than Jack's actual characterization.
So, where does this leave us? We have two references to street hockey; two scenes with boxing; one reference to a trip to watch a hockey game; three references to curling; one reference to basketball; one golfing incident (complete with golfing outfit, and it's hard to imagine that Jack had time to go out and buy it during the loop); and several references to baseball, mostly in terms of playing with children. The overall pattern suggests that Jack likes many different sports, not just hockey.
It's interesting to note that is is Teal'c, not Daniel, whom Jack seems most interested in educating about sports. But other than taking Teal'c to a hockey game some time in S5 (and there is no way to tell if it was just the two of them or a team night), and a fantasy Jack's usage of a hockey metaphor in SGA, all other hockey references are to street hockey - which means that Jack enjoys playing the game, not necessarily watching it.
Conclusion: While there is no canon proof that Jack tries to teach Daniel how to enjoy hockey, there is certainly evidence that Jack has taught Teal'c about hockey and other sports. However, there is no canon basis for Jack's fanon obsession with hockey above all else.
Jack is constantly blowing out his knee.
This one is a little more subtle. We have plenty of canonical proof that Jack has a problem with his knees. Actual knee damage, though, is a different matter entirely.
We first hear about Jack's knees in Need, when Pyrus' fake Jaffa demands that SG-1 kneel before Pyrus. Jack demurs, "Actually, I've got this cartilage problem. A little ACL thing..." WHAM goes the staff weapon to the back of the knees.
Prodigy. When Sam and Hailey come through the Stargate, Jack is there to meet them. Sam asks, "How are you?"
Jack tells her, "Ah, well, the back's acting up a little... the knees, you know..."
Threshold. As quoted earlier, when Teal'c compliments Jack that he is looking well, Jack demurs, "Well, forget appearances. The back's gone, the knee's shot."
Redemption, part 1. Here is the only canon incident in which we actually see Jack suffer a knee injury. After a mistranslation from Captain Hagman results in a clash with the natives, Jack has a "partially torn ligament in his knee."
Descent. After Jack and Sam nearly drown, Jonas asks them if they're all right.
"Ah, a little wet. A little chilly. Knee gets a little stiff in cold water, you know."
Full Circle. Daniel in the elevator summons all his patience and starts all over again: "Hey, Jack, long time no see. How're you doing? How are the knees, the back, everything...?"
"Oh, you know," Jack says in reply. "Kinda weather-contingent, actually."
Orpheus. A badly shaken Teal'c begs Jack's forgiveness for concealing what he perceives as his "weakness" on tretonin. Jack dismisses it, saying, "No. There's nothing to forgive. You're still twice as strong as I'll ever be, and you've got two good knees."
Heroes. Janet, looking through Jack's medical file, remarks that he has had "three knee operations." Considering the context of the scene, it's safe to assume that these all took place during his years at the SGC. However, there is no way to tell if these surgeries were elective or due to injury.
(Am I the only one a little disappointed that Kanan couldn't at least fix Jack's knees while he was busy hijacking his body?)
As I said at the beginning of this section, there's a subtle difference here. There is no question that it's solid canon that Jack has trouble with his knees. But we see one knee injury in the course of the entire show. Janet references three knee operations, true. But that doesn't explain the huge profusion of fanfics in which Jack's knee is twisted/wrenched/dislocated/swollen/whatever else the author chooses to inflict.
Conclusion: while it is canon that Jack has problems with his knees, frequent injuries are actually fanon.
As a bonus, I offer two fanon tropes that have no canon basis whatsoever:
Jack teases Daniel by referring to artifacts as "rocks."
"Okay, Daniel, you go study your rocks..."
"Artifacts, Jack!"
"Whatever."
Exchanges like this are found in hundreds of fics. In terms of characterization, it certainly rings true. But if a canon reference exists, I have not yet been able to find it.
Anyone...?
Conclusion: There is no canon basis for the frequent fanon assertion that Jack drives Daniel crazy by referring to artifacts as "rocks."
Jack offers friendship/comfort/reassurance by placing his hand at the back of Daniel's neck.
Never. Happens.
Ever.
Please, someone, give me a citation for this. I will write you fic.
More on this in the personal opinion section, but for now...
Conclusion: There is no canon basis for the fanon trope of Jack resting his hand on the back of Daniel's neck.
My personal fanon opinion is a bit long-winded, so let's take it in sections.
The first fanon claim - that Jack wanders around annoying his teammates out of sheer boredom - seems to fall into the same fanon category as the frequent and equally false assertion that Jack likes to play practical jokes at the SGC. It's funny, it seems to suit his personality, and it allows for team interaction, so why not? I would agree with that, too - except it does diminish Jack to reduce him to caricature when it's carried too far. Like many fanon tropes, this one is fine... as long as it's used sparingly, with the recognition that it's complete fanon.
Jack's fondness for hockey and his knees are more a question of degree than authenticity. We do have canon proof that Jack is a hockey fan, and that he has trouble with his knees. But the sheer frequency in fanon is absurb in comparison to the reality of canon. There's nothing wrong with using these concepts at all - I've personally used them myself :) - but authors should recognize that they're minor canon points.
I would also like to point out that both of these fanon aspects actually have a very solid basis - only that canonical basis is with Richard Dean Anderson, not Jack O'Neill! RDA is the co-founder of the Celebrity All-Star Hockey Team, and is unquestionably a huge hockey fan. He has also undergone multiple knee surgeries. I've seen this kind of transference before, in my old Lois and Clark fandom, where fanfic writers would have Lois using cucumber oil because Teri Hatcher does, or assert that Clark's favorite movie is The Princess Bride, because Dean Cain has said that it's his favorite movie. This kind of fanon has its own charms, and it certainly doesn't hurt... as long as a writer isn't tricked by the huge amounts of fanfic into thinking that it's actually canon!
Now, our two fanon tropes that have no canonical basis: Artifacts=rocks, and Jack placing his hand on the back of Daniel's neck.
The first one, like Jack-the-joker and Jack-the-bored-irritant, is relatively benign. It is exactly the kind of thing we would expect Jack to do. I imagine that a popular author inserted it in a story, and readers seized upon it and incorporated it into their own fics. After a while, the origin is forgotten, and the sheer frequency makes readers assume that it must be based on canon, even if they can't find the source.
Is it wrong to have Jack calling Daniel's artifacts "rocks"? Of course not. But it should be recognized as fanon.
It's our last bit of fanon, though, that genuinely drives me insane. I've seen it across a huge spectrum of authors. I've seen it so often, in fact, that I have searched extensively for a canonical incident. The Serpent's Lair? The Spacemonkey Hug ™ is just that - a hug. Need? Nope, rubbing his back. The Light, on the balcony? Not there either. Enemy Mine? Hand on the shoulder when Jack tells Daniel to go to his "happy place" aka artifacts (not rocks).
If there is even a single canon scene in which Jack rests his hand on the back of Daniel's neck, please comment and point it out. Seriously. I will write you fic as a thank-you present. :)
"Anyway, I'm sorry, but that just happens to be the way that I feel about it. What do you think?"
ETA: LJ's e-mail notifications don't seem to be working at the moment. If I miss your comment, or delay replying, please don't take it personally. :)