Even mildly attentive readers will know I am a fan of certain sports teams. I can't stand NFL or NBA but I love the AL's Red Sox, EPL's Arsenal, SFA's Morton and, perhaps most personal of my loves, the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. I loved them since I bought hockey cards in 1969 when I was six during my suburban years from birth to seven on Queenston Drive, Mississauga. I carried the 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Pat Quinn in my wallet (it was a trader) until undergrad and still have and still buy cards from that series. Tim Hortons is a tie to my childhood love of the player cruelly traded to Buffalo when I was around grade one. In my way, I love Bill Root.
But let's be clear. I do not love them because they are good - that's for Habs fans and Colorado fans and New Jersey...do they have fans? Or because they are well managed or well coached. Or because they have great players. I certainly do not love them because Hockey Night in Canada's twisted version of sports reporting seems to require you to love them. I love them beacuse I do, like a person who shells out a thousand dollars to give a dying cat dialysis. So when Nieuwendyk joins the Leafs I am happy and when Dougie packs it in I am sad.
Comments
Wayne - September 10, 2003 7:32 pm
I was a Leaf fan until the year Punch quit, they traded the Big M, and Johnny Bower retired. Some new kid was making a big name for himself in junior and was starting his first year with the Bruins (I think his last name was Orr)and I have been a Boston fan ever since.
Alan - September 10, 2003 10:22 pm
Bandwagoning after 37 years is still bandwagoning. Next thing you'll expect them to win the Cup!
Stephen DesRoches - September 11, 2003 10:06 am
Go Habs Go! :)
Alan - September 11, 2003 4:41 pm
We all want them to go. It is just the matter of where upon which we differ.
Matthew - September 13, 2003 12:58 am
Doug Gilmour is my favourite hockey player all-time. No question.
Doug Gilmour is the number two reason I hate Wayne Gretzky (I also love Wayne Gretzky--yeah, it's one of those).
Number One: Wayne Gretzky is a corporate whore. Oil company? Fast-food franchise? Coffee? Shoe Company? Wayne says yes! Thanks for continuing in the tradition of super-star atheletes who's "community spirit" stops at considering the ethics of the people they advertise for. You aren't a good role model Wayne, just because you act like one in a McDonald's commercial.
Number Two: Gretzky sticks Gilmour in the face, drawing blood. No penalty. Instead Gretzky scores, King's win, series over, etc. I know this isn't really Gretzky's fault, but getting mad at the ref isn't as satifying. Really, the #2 reason I hate Gretzky is because he was so goddamn good. I don't like Superman much either.
Doug Gilmour is the only sports hero I've ever had, and given that's it's unlikely I'll be returning to early adolescence any time soon, I don't suppose he'll be replaced.
(At any odds my bet is the same: The Habs are gonna suck again. Which is at least one thing right with the NHL.)
Alan - September 13, 2003 8:09 am
The right thing sucking is in the world is the Habs sucking. But they can suck too much. In the dark hours of the Cory era they were so pathetic it wasn't fun anymore. I am really happy they do not suck enough now that you can say they suck and it has meaning.
I had the luck of watching Gretzky and Lemieux each live twice, once on the same team. Halifax Canada Cup pre-tourney game v. USA 1987. Lemieux was the better player that night. Wayne passed into open space alot forgetting that Kurri was a Finn.
I watched Pittsburg play Ottawa in one of the last games spring of 1997(?) before Ottawa started being a serious team with their run for the playoffs against Hartford. He and Jagr needed to play about 10 minutes to beat them. It was amazing to watch them wait until the second half of the second period for everone to get sleepy. Mario should be a Leaf but I have great respect for how he has handled his issues wth wealth and hockey, taking over the team that owed him, keeping it in the game, especially compared to Wayne.
Corey Webb - December 1, 2003 1:36 am
As much as I'd like to see them win the Cup in my lifetime, what's more important is that they don't play the trap, I HATE THE TRAP! I love the Leafs, but the second that start playing that defensive hockey crap I'll switch teams until they stop, I don't care if it means giving up 18 years of fandom
Robert Othern - December 30, 2003 11:51 am
I guess you better give up being a Leaf fan now because as it has been pointed out (sports columnists, broadcasters, color commentators, etc.) the reason that they are winning is becuase they are now playing the trap.
I can't stand Leaf fans. I used to be one myself until Gilmour left. I came to the realization that after years and years of hoping for the one thing that inevitably will never be earned by the Leafs, it is just a waste of time and effort to be putting into them. I can think of many, many better ways to spend my time and hard earned money than to spend it on Leaf memorabilia, tickets, jerseys etc. The management is there strictly to make money out of all you suckers. It probably stops you from accomplishing alot more out of life too.
Don't get me wrong, hockey is the best sport in the world and I thoroughly enjoy the game but to waste my time on a bunch of has beens will get me nowhere fast.
Alan - December 30, 2003 12:05 pm
It has been strange, however, watching the Leafs actually play well. I am so used to them not being good enough. The loss to the Islanders last weekend was reassuring that the world has not turned upside down.