By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Oct. 30) — Oh, how they must be chuckling in the ivory towers on Bay Street!
Arguably the worst team in the National Hockey League since the lockout continues to be the most lucrative commodity on skates. Even the tall foreheads at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment have seemingly thrown in the towel on their annual dissing of Forbes Magazines’ NHL value rankings. Normally, by the evening of the announcement, CEO Richard Peddie is on record suggesting that no person outside the hallowed halls of the Air Canada Centre could possibly have a line on the Leafs’ monetary worth. This is either an effort to keep the tax people at bay, or to avoid laughing out loud at the sheep that form the lifeblood of the company.
Yes, that is YOU, Leafs Nation.
An insatiable willingness to accept whatever garbage is tossed your way each year lines the pockets of the executives you purportedly “hate” [I see that word a lot in my e-mails]. No form of indignity is powerful enough to dissuade you from the uncontrollable love of your Blue & White. You bitch… and moan… and go insane over the always-accurate appraisals of the team in the media. Depending on the hour of day, you either castigate or lionize members of the hockey club — often the same player. The familiar disappointment of missing the playoffs on April 8th is washed away with delusional fantasies by April 9th. And, always, you are there to buy every ticket; purchase every jersey; watch every game on TV; lose your mind over every word written and spoken about the team [the part I like best], and generally cradle the habit you have no power to temper, let alone break. You are, by any measure, the most easily placated fans in all of sport — rivaled only by the zombie-like baseball fanatics on the north side of Chicago.
And, boy, do you make money for people! Even media scrubs like me. I can’t begin to tell you what your devotion to these blogs is worth. I’m particularly thankful for the e-mailers that swear they will never again read my opinions, only to repeat that threat after the next blog…. and the next one… and the one after that. Probably the same folks that promise never to watch their blundering team after another home-ice embarrassment, only to count the hours until the puck drops again.
Knowledgeable? Where do I start? The celebration is already underway over the three-out-of-four games streak in October that may ultimately lift the team into its habitual 11th or 12th-place roosting in the Eastern Conference. What more could any devoted fan wish for?
Face it… you just can’t control yourselves. And, the folks on Bay Street love you for it… so much so, that they refused to budget for playoff dates next spring at the ACC. I mean, why go down the same path of futility for a fourth consecutive year? Season-ticket renewals are dispatched after the Stanley Cup tournament concludes, prompting a wild stampede to the mailbox — cheques faithfully enclosed; interest about to accrue. The extra kick in the wallet from 100 percent renewals in early summer surely takes the sting off lost playoff gates, don’t you think?
No wonder King Richard and Lucky Larry are indebted to you.
You ask for nothing, and give everything. What a perfect world some people live in.
[p.s. You’re the very best, most devoted fans in the world… don’t change a thing].
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Hi Howard,
How many fans can actually afford to purchase tickets these days, let alone actually find any available for purchase? It’s mostly corporate money that feeds the Bay St. Machine!
I can only imagine what the franchise would be valued at when they’re winning playoff rounds and become actual contenders.
- GarenPathetic. You should be ashamed of yourself for writing such nonsense.
- eyebleafThe lack of interest and fan support in Atlanta has really helped them because quite a powerhouse. Same with the islanders. I don’t see why you have to be such an ass, Berger. Did some leaf fan beat you up as a kid?
- ChrisWoops, make that because=become
- ChrisThis is just journalistic junk. How and why the Fan590 can continue to employ and staff someone who produces this nonsense is beyond me. Shame on you Fan590.
- Shant KYou’ve decided to go from delivering veiled comments about Leaf fans dedication to their team to outright insulting fans. I’ve read your last post, Mr. Berger.
- DarrylYou spend the entire article insulting Leaf Nation by calling us a bunch of mindless idiotic sheep, and then try to kiss ass at the end with “You’re the best… don’t change a thing”. You may not lose readership with this garbage, but you’ve certainly lost my respect.
- GraemeHoward,
“The familiar disappointment of missing the playoffs on April 8th is washed away with delusional fantasies by April 9th.”
Are you calling us “April Fools”?
Happy Halloween.
- PaulProbably should have hit delete instead of publish.
- LexHahaha I loved this column Howard! For Richard and Larry they are living in a perfect world… nothing could be better for these guys ( and all at MLSE )
- RobbAs a true Leaf ‘Hater’ I love reading / listening to all the Leaf talk ( especially when things are going bad ) and thought you summed up Leaf Nation perfectly.
Hey Howard. If the Leafs didnt exist, what in the world would you be doing?
- JimAhhhhh!
There we go…Howard is back to his normal self again…
I guess someone slipped him some kind of happy pill in Jersey the other night…
Now he’s back to the same guy we all know…all alone in his hatred of anything Maple Leafs related, living in a city where he is surrounded by happy Leaf fans…it’s really not a surprise that he is so belligerent towards anything to do with the Blue and White…
Thanks for being your grumpy self Howie Burger man!
sheep…lol
- steve mHoward,
When you will get over this “Leaf fans are blind sheep lining the pockets of MLSE” schtick.
Do the math. Southern Ontario only having one NHL team is a travesty beyond belief. 40 years ago there was only one team in NY and now there are three. NHL hockey will sell out in SO even if we had add two more teams.
The myth that Leaf fans celebrate a win and start planninga parade is a ridiculous myth reinforced by non-Leaf fans. A Habs fan in my office routinely initiates conversation with me with the “parade route” crack the day following a Leaf win even though he clearly knows that I feel the Leafs are at last 3-4 years away from icing a truly competitive team.
I’ve not been to a Leaf game in 18 yrs and have never bought a Jersey.
Please stop with this crap.
- HeatonBitter much, Howard?
I’m glad you mentioned that your paycheque comes out of the fans’ devotion, as well.
I think you might be trying a little too hard to be ‘edgy.’ Ease up, man. You’ve got one of the greatest jobs on earth.
If you think a little negative feedback is out of line, perhaps you might use the spoils of your many years of supplying information to us, the zombie-like masses, and retire to Muskoka.
I usually enjoy your blog, and I often agree with your writings, but this one was a little over the top. Even for me.
Hey! If you’re tired of the whole Toronto thing, I’m sure there are plenty of people out there willing to take your place. Hell, you can trade places with me, if you want. I’d much rather be jetting off to some NHL city than sitting behind this desk everyday. But hey, that’s just me.
- bobbyshowBeen watching, listening wondering about the Leafs for the last 40 years. None of it ever had to do with winning.
- FredThe Leafs are a metaphor for humankind; we aspire, we fail, we intend, we pretend and in the end our best just isn’t good enough.
Since this is only the 3rd time I’ve read your blog and that I haven’t been to see a Leafs game since 1985 I guess I don’t fit in with the masses that you’re writing about. I would like to know however, why it is the Toronto media (which I rarely read anymore) finds it so entertaining to continuously write negative articles about the very team that provides them with a job.
- Quinten BurrellGet a job
- Paul RWhy dont you cover a different team then? Or is the money to much to turn down?
- Matthew RobertsYou know Howard, I have stood by you for a long time defending your comments about the Leafs. This article however is just beyond ridiculous. Why do you feel the need to make fun of fans simply because were not ban wagon jumpers. Sorry for being a Leafs fan all my life and I dont want to change teams. I happen to know a player on the roster who thinks your a rat. If you hate the Leafs so much, get the hell out of town and cover someone else. Maybe you can cover the Argos. To speak the truth is one thing, but to castrize fans because we support our team whether they win or lose is just terrible. Good bye blog
- Jamie“An insatiable willingness to accept” ??? I’m a huge Leaf fan and I haven’t gone to a game in over 8 years because getting down there for two is more than 1 single mortgage payment. Shame on you for promoting the “ineptness” of the “organization”, again. In a market of over 6 million people a 20000 seat arena in a hockey cultured, cold climate part of the world, what do you expect? You blame Leaf fans (”NATION”) for not being able to stay away???? RIDICULOUS!! The real Leafs Nation don’t even get to go to games!!!! More like “Rich Nation” go down to the ACC. If its bad or foolish to follow the Leafs and since your job title is “Leafs Reporter” (only) perhaps maybe you should resign and go cover the Anaheim Mighty Ducks! Bye!
- Vince SaladinoYou’re going to get a lot of cr@p for this one, but for the most part I agree with you. I think you may have gone too far though by basically calling all leaf fans “losers.”
Personally i’m/was more a fan of the individuals than the taem (i.e. Curtis Joseph, Steve Thomas, Tucker, Mogilny, Clark, Gilmour etc.) but now they have nobody that appeals to me. I haven’t followed them nearly as much since Curtis’ departure and wont do so untill they provide a team I can be proud of to support. At the very least i’d like them to draft someone whom they can build the franchise around. Untill then i’ll choose to spend my disposable income on the Raptors or Blue Jays, 2 teams that put an honest effort in building a winner. I’ll get my hockey fix watching Ovechkin, Crosby or Iginla amongst others instead of the leafs. The rare time I do watch this year is for the hope that they’ll lose and get closer to the dream player (Tavares).
- DilsonHi Howard,
Great article but don’t go out disrespecting those TML knuckle heads.
My pension fund continues to thrive due to the Blue and White Kool Aid.
As always, your article is accurate and pointed. Great work. Now will the next phase in all of these replies will be how rotten and greedy the teacher’s pension fund is and how real fans don’t soil the logo and all of you media types are boobs.
Man, I love the Toronto Hockey season.
Greg Chaban
- GregWhy are you so angry? Should I cheer for the team that has the most points? Have you been hanging out with Damien Cox lately? It is what it is, so deal with it.
- SamI’m not sure whether your final point about the very best fans in the world is meant to be a shot of sarcasm or a fact/point. Whatever it is, there is ssomething to be said about loyalty to your team even in the tough times.
In European sports, there exists a stronger and more open bond between fans and teams - the loyalty that is exhibited over there, specifically in soccer and other sports, is unbelivable. I look at the way 50,000 people splash their disposable income to watch a side that maybe isn’t that great. The reason they do it isn’t necessarily to see a winner. It’s due to love. They love their team. Over there that type of loyalty is hailed and celebrated, while over here that same type of dedication and romance is criticized by Howard Berger…
I would be the first to admit that the level of which some people get behind the Leafs in this city is borderline pathetic, however it comes down to one simple word - LOVE. People here love their team. People here love hockey. Without that, it would be a very different sporting landscape.
I don’t hesitate to say that without the same love and loyalty that Berger criticizes, his life would be very different…
- SunnyYour an idoit. It seems like your not even a leaf fan. If your a true fan you show up and cheer your team on no matter what. Don’t you get that. No matter how bad this team is we still go out and cheer for them. Thats called loyality. If we stopped going that wouldn’t change anything. Theres still a salary cap and they can’t try and buy the cup anymore.
- MattYeah, the NHL is only for the rich(er), who can afford to go to games. Most of the true fans, including me, stay home. Or at the hotel, when I’m in Toronto. And I’ve got a first cousin who plays in the NHL. Believe me, by now, after 45 years, if I could avoid being a Leafs fan, personally, I definitely would! Not much sense in this article at all.
- Timberlea TomGotta admit Howard, you had it coming.
- PaulPaulB
Wow, Did you ever sucker punch the fans! I don’t see the Forbes report as a negative statement against the fans, but a positive one. It just goes to how loyal Leaf fans are and how far-reaching their influence is. It’s true we’ve been complaining about management since the Ballard days but the fact is, boycotting our favorite team is NOT an option, just as expecting team ownership to be committed to winning instead of making money is the same as expecting humanity to forsake violence. Just ain’t gonna happen.
- ((HUGH))Hey Howard: You are the man. Keep up the good reporting. The facts are the facts.
- BrentHoward,you are the classic example of the honest, happy, impressionalbe rube (that used to be how viewers/listeners percieved you) that, when faced with an ugly environment, changes into
- Lincolnan obnoxious, narcisistic jerk. Think you’ll increase your earning power by being the “heel” writer, like Cox and Simmons did? Probably right. Now who’s the whore?
Offensive, disrespectful, futile. I can’t wait for the day that your assaults of regular, good sports fans come back to haunt you.
- Peter MorrowHey Howie, if it wasn’t for these people you wouldn’t be paid to be a blowhard anymore.
- Andrew