March 6, 2006

LEAF FANS MUST BE THE MOST GULLIBLE IN PRO SPORTS 

      I knew this guy—it was about a decade ago—that lived and breathed Toronto Maple Leaf hockey.  Now that may not be uncommon in the Toronto area, but this guy was past thirty years old, had a wife, a family, and a house filled with Leaf memorabilia and paraphernalia.  The kids—there were three, and two were girls—won’t have much of a choice growing up, they will have to be Leaf fans just like Daddy.  It’s unfortunate that these kids will be subject to a lifetime of devotion, dedication and disappointment just like dear old dad.

       The reason I bring up the story of this guy is that I think he is a microcosm of the problem facing hockey fans in this city.  Blind devotion is a wonderful thing—as long as the recipient doesn’t take advantage of it—and there is little doubt that the Maple Leafs have taken full advantage of the loyalty of their fans.  Not much has changed since the Harold Ballard era—the philosophy remains pretty much the same except Harold didn’t even try to put a winner on the ice.  The new owners believe that there is little reason to build a team capable of winning the Stanley Cup when they can build a contender that keeps hopes (and income) high.  They say that Leaf fans wouldn’t stand for a rebuilding phase—and that’s poppycock.  Actually it’s the owners that wouldn’t stand for two or three years away from that all-important playoff money.  Better to have a decent club that makes the playoffs (and makes mucho deniro) than have a club that struggles through the season without a hope of making that playoff money.

       Now, having grown up in Montreal it was easy to make fun of my loyal Leaf fan.  The story I like to tell (and one that thoroughly irritates each and every Leaf fan) is the day the Canadiens had their victory parade after their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup championship.  It had become such old hat that the parade was one school bus, containing the players and coaches, driving through the streets of the city.  As the bus passed we stopped what we were doing, waved and jabbed our fists into the air and then went back to what we were doing as the bus drove on.  If this is late May in Montreal, we thought, it must be time for the annual Stanley Cup parade.  Of course, Montreal is certainly less apathetic towards victory these days, but that was the feeling about a quarter century ago.  Leaf fans would have a parade the lasted three days if the club made the Stanley Cup finals and were beaten four straight.

       MLSE ownership will point to the rebuilding that the Raptors are undergoing as proof that they can do it, but the simple fact is that the Raptor fan base has been dwindling since the playoff years.  With the team having been shoved up against the salary cap these past few years the club has had little choice but to go this route.  Until this year the Leafs could buy enough players to ensure a decent playoff run.  They can’t do that this year, and will likely have to be satisfied with the extra millions gained from not having to pay players. 

       The time has come for the franchise to spend a couple of years in rebuilding mode.  There is little choice in the matter.  They need younger players, a younger coach, and a new direction.  Will it happen?  Will ownership finally assess the situation and realize that they are out of options?  We shall see—first at the trade deadline, and then in the off-season.  Otherwise, Leaf fans will have to be content with a club that struggles mightily just to make the playoffs.  And the only school bus they’ll ever see is one that holds school children.