Toronto Is A Mess

Before you read any further, keep in mind that I haven't been in downtown Toronto for many years and I fully expected there to be changes. I don't mind change but the inconveniences that go along with those changes can be quite a hurdle for some people.

Yonge-Dundas Square

I actually love Toronto. More so in the summer than the winter but overall I think it's an amazing city full of interesting things to do and a wide variety of people both sane and off the wall.

This past Saturday I had tickets to the Toronto Maple Leafs game. They were playing my favourite team the Montreal Canadiens and I was looking forward to attending the game with my 75 year old father who is a life long Habs fan as well.

We decided that since we hadn't been to Toronto in a bunch of years that we'd go up early, catch the GO Train in Oshawa and take it to Union Station and then go from there.

First off, I have to wonder how many people get to ride the GO Train for free. Me being an honest person, I entered the Oshawa station and forked over the money for my Adult ticket and my fathers Senior ticket which were both Day Passes so we could catch the return train after the game. At no point on either trip did anyone ask to see our tickets. I could have just as easily, and I'm sure many do, walked through the station and just hopped on the train. When the game was over we did the exact same thing walking up to track level and boarding the train for the ride home. I could have saved myself $30.

Dad in the Eaton Centre

That's a minor thing. However, upon arriving at Union Station we were greeted by some bad news. The Subway wasn't working. Judging by the extreme construction going on outside the station on Front Street, I can only assume that was the reason for it. We had planned to jump on the Subway for the short ride up to the Eaton Centre.

It really isn't too far up Yonge Street to Queen Street where you can enter the Eaton Centre from the South entrance. Just a few blocks, but for a 75 year old man who isn't overly active, that's a good hike uphill. We could have jumped on a bus but to be honest, I don't have a bloody clue what bus to take so it seemed a safer bet to just hoof it.

By the time we got there my father was beat. He was shaking from the cold and exhausted from the hike. It took him quite a while to stop shaking but he was days before he had recovered from the walk up and back.

Now after resting and doing a bit more walking at the Eaton Centre we decided the best bet to keep my dad warm was to take the PATH back to Union Station and the Air Canada Centre for the game. I'd never walked the PATH before but it's underground out of the cold and wind so it made sense. It was actually quite a nice walk but all of the restaurants and stores were closed which I thought was odd for a city of this size.

Dad and Me waiting for the game to start at the ACC

My biggest complaint about the PATH was the fact the public washrooms were locked. Every washroom we came across was locked and the further we went the worse we needed one. I finally asked a security guard where I could find an open bathroom. He pointed us south to another closed food court area where we did locate a place to relieve ourselves. I'm sure we couldn't have been the only people cursing the city that day and I know for a fact my father wasn't the only senior citizen down there where bathrooms would be a welcome sight.

Despite the transit mess and washrooms like Fort Knox, we did get back to Union Station. Dad was exhausted and I was tempted to just get back on the train and head home without going to the hockey game but the stubborn old fool wanted to wait to see if he felt better.

Montreal playing Toronto. The Habs won of course!

Well, he eventually did, or at least he said he did and we made it to the game. But not before the poor guy had to walk to the South side of the ACC to Gate 4. I thought I was going to have to get him a wheel chair or carry him after the game to get him home. Once the game ended we made the long walk back to Union Station and on to the GO Train for the ride back to Oshawa. The train was full and after a few stops a seat opened up and dad was able to sit down and rest. I knew he was tired when he handed me the keys to drive his truck home.

I hope to visit Toronto again in the near future to do some shopping but I hope if I do go in the summer, the city is more accessible. I realize that upgrading the cities infrastructure must be done and they try to do it with as little frustration to the public as possible but for some it's just unavoidable. While it isn't an issue for me, there are thousands of other tourists who will rely on the services that weren't available to us on this particular visit.

I Blame The Maple Leafs

It's all finally making sense to me. It has now become crystal clear why in the middle of April and well into Spring, it feels this cold. It's actually -3C at this very moment as I type this. Hell has finally frozen over and all the blame falls squarely on those damn Toronto Maple Leafs.

Last night for the first time in something like 30 years (okay it's more like eight years) the Toronto Maple Leafs officially qualified for the playoffs.

Now I won't make excuses by reminding everyone that this is a shortened season and the Leafs are notorious for collapsing during the second half of a normal season which would usually start around this time. I don't mean April, I mean after this number of games played. So they certainly had that going in their favour.

While I'm not a Toronto fan (that's an understatement, I hate the Leafs) I am happy to see my many friends, who happen to be Leafs fans, thrilled by ending the post-season appearance drought.

But I caution the Blue & White faithful, don't start planning any parades just yet. Getting to the playoffs is one thing but winning the Stanley Cup is another beast all-together. Playoff hockey is entirely different from regular season hockey and only the best of the best or the hottest team peaking at the right time will get to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup when it's all over. Sixteen wins is all it takes but they never come easy.

Of course anything is possible once you make the playoffs. But I'd bet the Stanley Cup drought will continue for Toronto this year. For those keeping track, this would be 46 years since the Leafs last won the Stanley Cup should they fail to do it this year. To put that into perspective, I turn 45 this summer, so I wasn't even alive the last time they won. I have however been alive long enough to see my beloved Montreal Canadiens win the Cup a total of nine times. That doesn't include the cup they won just before I was born. I thought I'd mention that.

Bring on the Playoffs!!

Sorry We Suck

If I were a Toronto Maple Leafs fan I would be embarrassed. Not by the pitiful results the team has posted 8 years in a row (45 years since the last championship), or the way they constantly collapse down the stretch year after year or by their inconsistent goaltending, defense or lack of depth up front, but by the way the Leafs management and ownership thinks an apology makes up for their ineptitude.

It’s baffling to me how a once proud and powerful National Hockey League franchise can fall into such disrepair and disarray. It’s even more perplexing how Larry Tannenbaum and his rich and powerful senior staff can arrive at the idea that an apology in the local media will smooth things over.

Of course, I’m not even remotely a Toronto fan. I’m as far from it as is humanly possible. I’m a die-hard, red, white and blue, poutine eating, “ole ole” and “nah nah hey hey” singing Montreal Canadiens fan. But that doesn’t mean I can’t sympathize with Leafs fans, several of which I consider good friends.

I just sat through one of the worst seasons in Montreal history with management issues, coaching issues, player issues and poor results on the ice. As bad as it was, I’d still take the Habs over the Leafs any day. Montreal is trying to make moves to solve the problems of missing only one year of the playoffs. The GM is gone, the coach was fired mid-season and the interim coach will likely be let go as well. Add to that an assurance from the ownership that they’re committed to restoring the storied franchise to its rightful place among the league’s elite teams and I’m satisfied that they’re making an effort at least. I just hope it leads to results.

But what are they doing in Toronto? Yes they fired the coach and as much as I dislike Ron Wilson, the mess they’re in was hardly his fault. The Leafs this season were great guys but aside from maybe a handful of players, the rest were not skilled enough to succeed on a consistent basis. Sure they had good nights but those games were few and far between.

So who’s to blame? Is it bad scouting and drafting? Is GM Brian Burke, the architect of the team to blame? I don’t claim to be an expert but I think these are the two main issues with the Leafs.

Brian Burke

I am amazed that Brian Burke still has a key to the Air Canada Centre. The ultimate blame has to fall on him. This is his team and while they haven’t drafted well, with the amount of money behind this team, it amazes me that they can’t draw more skilled free agents or make trades to improve their situation. Let’s be honest, the deal for Phil Kessel looked bad when Burke made it and it looks even worse today. The picks they lost in that one deal were huge. I’m not saying Kessel isn’t a skilled player but he’s not worth the price they paid for him. But that’s old news and what’s done is done.

Toronto has to move on and right the ship before their fans finally come to their senses and revolt.  Its one thing to go to the games and “boo” the players but it’s another thing entirely to stop buying tickets, merchandise and lining the pockets of the owners Bell and Rogers who were smart for buying this franchise. They knew that no matter how much they sucked or how little they had to spend on the team, the cash was going to keep flowing in just as much as it would if they had a Stanley Cup contender.

At what point will the fans finally stop saying, “I support my team in good times and bad”? I appreciate the value of loyalty and not wanting to abandon your team but at some point you have to ask yourself, what are they doing to warrant my support and money? The relationship between the fan and the team is “give and take” and with Toronto the fans are giving everything and the Leafs ownership is gladly taking every dollar they can.

Obviously at this point the Leafs faithful are in it for the long haul or they would have done something besides bitch and moan by now. It would seem that they’re quite prepared to continue bending over and taking it from their beloved blue and white- jerseyed heroes. One thing is certain, unlike a lot of other fans in the league, Toronto supporters will be satisfied with one day making the Playoffs; while those other team’s fans expect and demand nothing less than a chance to celebrate with Lord Stanley’s Cup.

1967 Stanley Cup Champions

 

Love To Hear The Boos

Here's a short video for all of my readers who happen to be fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs...or just hockey fans in general.

This is actually quite well done even if the topic might be tough for Leafs fans to stomach.

Leafs Win - Fans Off Suicide Watch

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs will once again be allowed to use sharp knives and hospitals in Ontario are no longer expecting mass suicide attempts after the Leafs beat the Anaheim (no so mighty) Ducks earlier tonight.

Any hockey fan knows that the Leafs were off to their worst start in franchise history having gone 0-7-1 to start the season. But they've been playing a little better the last couple of games and they finally broke the goose egg before the first month of the season had ended. I think they owe it all to the dodge-ball practice.

As I've documented many times before on here, I am a lifelong, die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan. As such, I am legally required to hate the Maple Leafs. But as a kindhearted individual, it's not in me to beat a team when they're down. OK...that's a lie.

In all honesty, I felt sorry for Leaf fans during this opening stretch despite the negative comments I've still been hearing from them regarding my Habs...who by the way are above .500 and are currently on a four game winning streak.

But even as those Leaf fans felt the need to lash out and deflect their insecurities at the fans of Montreal and Ottawa, I could still sense their despair and see the emotional toll the futile start was inflicting on them. I even took it upon myself to not kick them when they were down. It was just to easy. I was, I guess you could say....the bigger man.

However, I'm sure this first win of the season will only revive the hopes of those in Leaf Nation and they'll be back to their usual friendly but annoying selves before the sun rises tomorrow morning. Lord helps us all.

October This and That

I was just sitting in front of the computer and figured I should probably post an update on the blog but I really don't have any particular topic that has peaked my interest lately.

My Habs have been playing fairly well despite a bad night tonight in Vancouver and the fact they're starting the season with a long road trip and the Leafs haven't won a game yet, so that's all good. Plus my hockey pool has begun and that helps to keep the season interesting.

The world has been dealing with some crazy stuff lately with typhoon's, tsunami's and earthquakes and thankfully none of it has really affected me at all other than feeling sorry for those who have suffered.

I tried my luck at Geocaching the other day but gave up after about ten minutes. I just don't have the patience to trek through the bush looking for hidden "treasures" just for the heck of it. If I was searching for the secret location of a group of undersexed sorority girls then that might prove to be a bit more motivating.

I went out golfing earlier tonight for the first time in about a month and it wasn't a compete failure. It was cool, the winds were blowing at about 1000 km/h and my tee shots looked great until I made contact with the ball. Eventually the sun came out and the colours of the leaves on the trees were amazing. I had a lot of fun golfing with the guys. Truth be told...I've golfed a lot worse and actually hit a few good tee shots. My putting sucked though. Hopefully I play better on the 17th as I take part in the annual Terry Fox Golf Tournament.

Thanksgiving is coming up on Monday and I'll be working all day so that won't be too exciting. On the plus side I'll be enjoying some delicious dead fowl drowning in golden gravy on Sunday night. I love my mothers cooking.

And the other day I had some fun watching the local Air Force Search and Rescue Techs practicing their skills on the bay south of Brighton. Of course, I had my camera in hand and managed to snap a few frames (see below). I've seen this stuff before but it's still impressive to watch as they drop guys in wetsuits into the water and then come around to pluck them out over and over.

So aside from some boring work related stuff, that's about all I've been up to lately. I hope your life is more interesting than mine.

Copyright © All rights reserved.

Copyright © All rights reserved.

Leaf Fans Annoy Me

I have many friends who are Toronto Maple Leaf hockey fans and despite that, I will still talk to them.

Of course I'm kidding. I don't have a problem with most of them but I find that a lot of them like to talk trash about other teams...especially the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators.

It doesn't surprise me that they dislike those teams since they're in the same division and have big rivalries. What shocks me is how cocky Leaf fans are when you consider how unimpressive their team has been since...well, since before I was born.

In fact, the last time the Leafs won the Stanley Cup was in 1967...one year before I came along. They don't even have colour photos or video of them winning their last cup, that's how long ago it was.

OK, it's too easy to pick on Leaf fans and their teams impressive record of futility. If they keep on the same losing track, they could eventually surpass the 100 year title drought of the Chicago Cubs in baseball.

What annoys me the most are the idiotic Maple Leaf fans who have the audacity to try and make fun of fans of other teams. It's one thing to be a winner and rub it in but how can you possibly make fun of other fans when your team hasn't done anything good in 42 years?

I'd be embarrased to continue supporting a team with owners who have made it quite obvious they'd rather collect the endless supply of money from their dumb fans then make an effort to actually win. Heck...forget winning, how about they just try and get enough good players to make the playoffs once in a while.

Say what you want about Montreal fans but their owners, management and players know that they better produce or they'll feel their wrath. They demand a winning team and they usually get one. Sure they haven't won a cup since 1993 but they usually make the playoffs.

Actually, I have colour photos of the Habs hoisting the cup. How many Leaf fans can say that. I've seen the Habs win nine Stanley Cups and that's not including the one they took home the year I was born.

So my advice to Leaf fans is shut the hell up! Until you actually win something or make the playoffs you have no reason to feel cocky enough to beak off. The good news is the season will be starting soon and after a few games, Leaf fans will once again be able to start talking about next season.

Another Mediocre Season in Toronto?

Can you believe another hockey season is only a couple months away and training camps will be starting even sooner? It seems like only yesterday Detroit won but the summer has been flying by and I for one can’t wait for the puck to drop.

It would be quite easy for me as a Montreal Canadiens fan to make fun of Maple Leaf fans and their team that hasn’t hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup in 41 years and counting but that’s not what I plan on doing. I say that but ultimately it may seem like exactly that after I’m done.

To be honest, I can’t fault Leaf supporters as their loyalty has been tested and they continue to support their team. Once a Leaf fan always a Leaf fan and I can respect that. But at what point do the fans start demanding more from their team’s management?

You can’t blame the players that have been in Toronto as they just haven’t been that good. Oh sure, there have been some great players during this lengthy dry spell. Players like Sittler, Salming, Sundin, Gilmour, Clark and others but while super stars are nice to have, they can’t do it on their own.

Leafs management has continuously, and quite impressively, failed to build a team around these players. These Leaf teams of the last four decades haven’t underachieved; in fact many have done a lot better than I think anyone could have predicted.

Put yourself in the shoes of those in charge of the team for a moment. Why on earth should they go out and spend money on building a team or do any better scouting when their fans continue to put up with it. Oh sure they might complain a little but they still sell out every home game and Maple Leaf jersey’s, t-shirts, pendants and bobble-heads continue to roll off the shelves. The money is rolling in and they don’t even have to win. Why bother to improve?

In almost any other market except perhaps Montreal, New York, Detroit, Chicago and a few others, the Leafs would have been sold to owners that want to win long ago. They wouldn’t have survived because the paying public wouldn’t support them.

Actually, I probably should remove Montreal from that list because their fans and the media would have demanded more from the team and have over the years. The only difference is, in Montreal, they may go through a few lean years but they always bounce back.

I’m not even suggesting that Toronto has to win the Cup to be a success. That is the ultimate goal of all teams but for a team that has struggled for so long a success would be to build a contender. They need to make the playoffs every year. They need to build a team by not buying older players past their prime but instead draft well and bring in some youth for the future. Once the nucleus is in place, then you can spend some money on some big guns to add more firepower.

I’m sure I’m not telling Leaf fans anything they don’t know. Heck, they above anyone else know what the team needs to do. But if it’s so obvious, why hasn’t it happened? Why does the team continue to trade away draft picks on has-beens? Why do they continue to struggle year after year? In my opinion it’s because they don’t need to win to make money and that’s what it’s all about.

Harold Ballard may have been a crotchety old fool but he was a smart guy who sat in his bunker at Maple Leaf Gardens every game and counted the money while laughing at the poor saps in the stands who paid to watch a pitiful team. The faces may have changed but the formula still works and Leaf fans continue to say, “Maybe next year.”

Gaff Of The Year

In case I haven't made it obvious enough in the past, I'm a Montreal Canadiens hockey fan. My father is a Habs fan and therefore I am a Habs fan.

As fans of le bleu, blanc et rouge we are compelled to hate our arch-rivals from Toronto and are sworn to ridicule them every chance we get.

Of course since the Maple Leafs haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1967, we've had plenty of ammunition to fire their way. They've suffered through year after year of dismal performances, limped into the playoffs from time to time but more often then not, they've been working on their golf games while good teams are still playing hockey.

Their biggest problem is their poor drafting skills and obviously their scouts over the years were spending more time drinking in the arena bars rather than watching for good young players...especially Canadian players.

I don't really need any more fuel to add to the fire but I will say one thing about the Leafs, they are a giving group. Off the ice they're good guys who give back to the community. On the ice they're in need of some help and have been for 41 years.

When you live in Ontario as I do and you're forced to watch the crappy Leafs on TV all the times It's nice to know the Toronto players are kind enough to give those of us who cheer for better teams something to enjoy once in a while.

Such an occurrence took place just last night in New York where Toronto was playing the Islanders. Maple Leafs goalie Vesa Toskala (gee...another non-Canadian player) looked foolish as he badly misplayed a clearing attempt by NY while they were killing a penalty. What happened next was a thing of beauty. Enjoy the video evidence below.