Falling Leafs and Falling Jerseys

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of their all too familiar winter slumber in the standings as they continue on their not so torrid streak of 3-13 in their last 16 games.  After firing Randy Carlyle and placing Peter Horachek in charge the Leafs have seemingly forgotten not only how to win a game, they have forgotten how to score a measly goal.  Literally, they can’t score even a single goal as they have all of 2 goals in the last 5 games.  This from a team that was the highest scoring team in the whole league not too long ago.  Puzzling to say the least for the players, coaches, management and most of all the fans of the blue and white.

Of course this recent trend (if you can call 48 years a trend) is driving all the Vito’s from Woodbridge on the Fan 590 crazy. Some fans are so worked up about the Leafs plight that they have begun to toss off their jerseys in some form of protest and show of displeasure for the product on the ice.  The Leafs are not too pleased about this, neither is the local law enforcement.  After last night’s debacle (a 4-1 loss to Carolina) 3 fans were charged with mischief for their jersey tossing efforts.

So it would appear that jersey tossing is bad but a long storied tradition of tossing hats on the ice after a player scores a hat trick is okay?  Or is it?  No need to worry I suppose for Leaf fans like myself, as it doesn’t appear that any Leaf will score a goal let alone 3 in a game to test the tossing hat theory.

Just another year in Leaf Nation. Sigh.

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Peter Horachek Is Fitting In Pretty Quickly As Toronto Maple Leaf Coach

Peter Horachek has been in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs for less than a week and he is already fitting in quite nicely. Watch this footage of his strong work in the corners.

 

 

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Randy Carlyle Out As Toronto Maple Leaf Coach

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired their coach Randy Carlyle today.  Yet another losing swoon is upon the Leafs so it’s been decided by management that they have had enough of Carlyle and it’s time to take the team in another direction. Unfortunately as a life long Leaf fan I’ve seen the firing the coach manoeuvre many a times and to be honest the only time it’s ever really worked was when Pat Quinn was at the helm.  So I’m not holding out too much hope for the Peter Horachek/Steve Spott era.

Obviously the big wish is for someone like Mike Babcock to be available come this summer and for Babcock to want to be the next head coach of the blue and white.  Like many things concerning the Leafs there seems to be many moving parts in this plan.  So time will tell.

As for Carlyle I’m not really going to miss him.  Hired to be fired is the NHL coaching motto.  It would appear by many reports circulating today that Phil Kessel isn’t going to miss him either.  One thing I will miss is this video clip with Carlyle and Kessel.  An utter classic that I can watch over and over again.

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Happy New Year In Non-Alcoholic Font (a day late for extra taste)

Happy New Year my friends and loyal readers (all 14 of you thanks Mom).  As it has become a custom of this mediocre blog it’s that time of year where I should cobble together some thoughts on the past year and shed some light on some of my aspirations for the upcoming one as well.  In the past I’ve always managed to post this message on New Year’s eve, usually while enjoying a few adult libations in the hopes to make an excuse for my poor grammar and sentence structure.  However this year I’ve been relegated to day after post.  There’s really no excuse for the delay other than I’ve been a disaster at posting and blogging all year so at least I’m consistent, no?

2014 by all accounts was a fine year for the First Lady, the Association, the Merger and I.  As a family we had a blast with many activities throughout the year (trips to the hockey hall of fame, Hamilton Bulldogs game, various McMaster athletic events and Blue Mountain to name a few)  Individually the boys are growing up faster than either the First Lady and I are comfortable with (would love these little gaffers to stay little for ever).  Both the Association and the Merger are enamored with sports (something they come across naturally from their DNA make-up) whether it’s the Association racing down a loose puck playing hockey for the first time or the Merger flashing down signals as a catcher for the A’s in Rookie Ball, the young men are proving to be loving their early sporting experiences (this has been a joy to watch from the sidelines).

The First Lady as per usual has had a stellar year holding down many roles in and around our humble abode.  She’s been a wunderkind of sorts with her abilities to manage being around 3 gentlemen (I can call myself that right?) who all have a penchant for forgetting to use some common bathroom etiquette (namely the toilet seat).  There’s no question that the fellas and I appreciate all that she does and is.  WE LOVE YOU MUMMY!!

In this yearly diatribe it’s been my custom to present this little corner of the cyberspace with some resolutions of sorts that I try to intend to keep (really I do try, no lie).  First and foremost I need to be more active and eat a whole lot healthier.  There’s no ifs, ands or buts about this. Newsflash folks, I’m not getting any younger (or smaller) and I’m getting slower (tortoise like I believe).  So by hook or crook I hope that 2015 brings a more svelte straight from the arse your way.  Like it or not, the Association and the Merger are going to keep me active anyways, however i’d rather not be the panting and out of breath dad chasing them around.  Another thing I would like to do is do a better job updating this blog.  It’s quite possible that I had more guest blogs than blogs of my own. Getting to 500,000 visitors (or accidental visits as they might be) would be a great accomplishment for a someone with the limited skills that I present.

As for my the sports teams that I support I can’t remember a better time to be a Toronto sports fan. The Raptors are in the midst of being an Eastern conference contender.  The Blue Jays (minus thus far any bullpen or 2nd base upgrades) are looking like a powerful bunch with the acquisitions of Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson.   The Leafs, well they are the Leafs.  I expect a playoff push to be in the cards but again they are The Leafs, no cup is nothing new for this guy.

So there it is folks.  A sober rendition of my New Years post.  2015 here we go.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!

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Picture Of The Day: A Gentleman’s Last Wish

 

Your choice of internet site visitation not withstanding (I’m sure you just accidentally stumbled upon this little source of mediocrity, it’s okay I won’t tell anyone…really I won’t) you are most likely a sophisticated and worldly type, so I’m sure you have heard this old adage before.

You know the one where the super fan has a dying wish to be let down one last time by his favorite team, so he/she will ask their pallbearers to wear that teams jersey while carrying their casket.  (If you have heard this one before I’m sure you heard it or would relay it with for more eloquence than I just did).

This actually happened and because it has a Toronto Maple Leaf theme, I took notice.  A gentleman named Terry Siebert from  Hamilton, Ontario passed away recently and on Friday his friends followed through on his request to be let down by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Photo Of The Day: Justin Bieber Maple Leafs Fan

Justin Bieber isn’t someone you will find me discussing on this blog very often. (or ever…however I do tend to hear from many of his Beliebers during my workday and at times I’m forced to step up my Bieber game #elementaryschoolproblems)  Truth be told I’ve never really understood his celebrity status.  His ascension to superstardom has escaped my small mind and has rendered me very un-hip to my students.  C’est la vie I suppose, however today I will make an exception as Justin Bieber takes center stage with a sports angle.  

Last night during the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Dallas Star game  a picture of Justin Bieber was posted on the video scoreboard.  Bieber has recently been in the news as he public life is spiraling out of control (that is what TMZ is reporting so it’s got to be true, right?)  Bieber is also a known Maple Leafs supporter so the Stars took a shot Toronto and it’s fans with the posting of his mugshot from his recent arrest.  Brilliant!  Comedic genius I say! Solid work by the Dallas Stars and their game ops.  

I do hope that back at the comfy confines of the ACC in Toronto that their game ops staff use the old adage that I learned in university (as told to me by a former roommate.  He was a defensive end and was being handed his lunch by the opposing offensive lineman that day)  

don’t get bitter…………….get better!

 

 

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The Winter Classic – An Instant Classic @ The Big House (and @ My House Too)

The Winter Classic was just that for Toronto Maple Leaf fans as the Blue and White came out on top with a 3-2 shootout victoire in front of 105 000 or so frozen fans at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  As per usual my lack of writing acumen can’t do this game justice, nor can it paint an accurate picture so I will defer to the real professionals and fine folks at the THE BIG LEAD for you to peruse some wonderful snapshots of the Winter Classic.  Not to be outdone here is a great recount of the game via the fine folks at GRANTLAND (they can actually put words into sentence unlike yours truly).

This hockey game was quite festive in nature at  both the Big House and our humble abode as well (many thanks to Mr. John Sleeman for producing the sweet barley and hops that helped keep me warm).  Unlike in years past, I am not a huge New Years eve kind of guy in terms of going out on the town to ring in the New Year (being a father of 2 young  boys who aren’t quite proficient at telling time deters me from having too many late evenings) so the Winter Classic was  a perfect way for me to ring in the 2014.  The First Lady, the Association, the Merger and I hosted a little Winter Classic viewing shin dig yesterday and we were joined by a future McMaster Hall of Famer along with his fantastic family plus another great buddy in Paddy McSweenz.

Being a life long Leaf fan has provided me with more than my share of heart-break and ridicule.  Their Stanley Cup drought is a constant (and may not end anytime soon).  So having the Blue and White being on a the winning side of a hand shake line at the Winter Classic might be as good as it gets for me.  Sharing this game with some great friends, their kids, the First Lady and my boys was pretty a decent way to start 2014.

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10 Greatest Athletes In Toronto Sports History

The First Lady and I’s humble abode is getting some work done on it today (you guessed right if you guessed a newly constructed moat is being dredged around our compound) so Daddy Daycare is lagging around with the Association and Merger dowstairs catching up on some screen time.

Why is this relevant you say?  It isn’t really, it simply paints the unclear picture of how I’m passing the time today (rather than keeping up to date with the Busytown Mysteries that my fellas are watching).  So with this in mind I came across an interesting list of the 10 greatest athletes in Toronto sports history.

It would appear that my 7 for 7 game earlier this week i Burlington slo-pitch action wasn’t enough to get a sniff at this list so please try to hide your disappointment and give kudos to the names that actually appear on this list.  The pro sports landscape in Toronto hasn’t been that great for a long time.  The Leafs haven’t tasted alcoholic bevvy’s from the cup in some 40 years.  The Blue Jays can’t dine off the glory years any longer. The Raptors have won one playoff round in their franchise history.  The TFC is setting all kinds of standards for futility.  The only franchise that has won is their CFL team in double blue that I dare not mention since the TICAT fan in me won’t allow it.

Take a look at the names that are on the list and see what you think.  Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar, Mats Sundin, Vince Carter…… Click on this link so you can cast your own vote.  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Think others should be there?  Fill me in on your thoughts.

 

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Andrew “Maple Jordan” Wiggins – Worth The Hype?

The dog days of summer are here.  The Blue Jays are floundering, The Raptors are a few weeks away from assembling their middling team, The Bills are already training to be mediocre at Training camp and The TFC (home game winner aside) are well The TFC.  So now would be the perfect time to pass on some great reading about Canada’s (and possibly basketball’s next great thing) Andrew Wiggins.

I just finished reading an interesting piece on Wiggins on the Bleacher Report by Jonathan Wasserman and as per my usual policy I’ll gladly pass you down the internet highway to someone much more knowledgeable, more capable, more connected than I.  So click on this link and give it a read.

As for my uneducated eye I can see no reason that Wiggins isn’t worth the hype that surrounds him.  It’s likely that he will run wild at Kansas this year and be Canada’s second straight first overall selection in the NBA.

If this is the case Canada Basketball is living in it’s own golden age now with the young talent that is soon to be available to them.  Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Nicholson, Kevin Pangos, Kelly Olynyk to name a few.  Exciting times are ahead indeed.  This should be fun to watch.

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A Healthy Scratch No Longer

David Clarkson and Wendel Clark.  What else do I need to break my silence on all things concerning my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.  I’ve made myself a healthy scratch for the better part of a year when it comes to commenting on most things concerning the Leafs.  I’d like to announce that it was a noble attempt and political stance based on last season’s lockout but that would be an outright lie.

Apathy is the culprit here my friends.  I’ve recounted many times in my last few posts that I’ve become so busy with family stuff and work stuff (yes I do that from time to time) that I can honestly say that I had zero interest and energy to address the issues concerning the club.  This past season for the Leafs was a successful one compared to the past 8 so I can’t be all that depressed about their future prospects.  A game 7 collapse to the Boston Bruins wasn’t exactly a good way to exit the playoffs but it at least gave fodder for those non-Leaf fans (and some closet Leaf fans) to chat about.

This offseason the Leafs have fired up the minds and tongues of many by awarding forward David Clarkson a 7 year contract.  I can’t turn on the radio, look at the TV or be on any form of social media without hearing how the Leafs overpaid for the power forward.  This may be true, but why should anyone care?  Face it if the Leafs didn’t pony up for Clarkson the masses would’ve complained that they aren’t committed to winning.  It’s really a lose/lose situation (much like Rosie Perez said about the Stooky Bros in WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP).

I have no doubt that 7 years of David Clarkson is going to be much more fruitful for the Blue and White than having such luminaries like Marcel Mueller, Christian Hanson or Luca Caputi patrol the wing.

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