I'm a Former fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Those who have known me a long time know that I grew up a fan of the New York Islanders.

My introduction to hockey came shortly after immigrating from Korea.  As a five year old, I was living in Queens, New York.  This was in 1975 so New York City was a very different place.  Times Square was not a place where you would take a child unless you really wanted them to see neon lights, prostitutes and drug dealers.

(If you want to see what Times Square looked like back then, watch this video by Pat Benatar  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjY_uSSncQw )

In this new environment I remember watching a strange and magical sport on TV.  The New York Islanders were playing their cross town rivals, the New York Rangers.  I was captivated by this game where men seemed to move with such grace and power while walking on knives.  The Rangers had a habit of beating the Islanders back then and as a child feeling awkward in a strange place, I took pity on the Islanders and their sorry bullied state.

We moved a lot when I was a child.  We first came to Canada when I was 8 and moved to Toronto briefly before moving on to Alberta and then back to Toronto.

The year 1980 was a magical one for this young hockey fan.  The team that I took pity on as they got bullied by their big city rivals, rose to become Stanley Cup Champions!!

The Islanders went on to win 4 straight Stanley Cups....this is a feat that has not been matched since then.  I scoff at the talk of different "dynasty" teams such as the Oilers, Red Wings, Devils and Penguins.  The definition of a dynasty is an "unbroken" reign.  No team has won more than 2 Cups in a row since.  Those other teams are all false dynasties.  The Islanders won 19 playoff series in a row.  No other team has won more than 11 in a row since.  Mike Bossy scored 50+ goals in 9 consecutive seasons....not even Wayne Gretzky can say that.

Moving to Toronto provided another team to take pity on....and how!!  It was inevitable that a young hockey fan living in Toronto would eventually end up pulling for the Maple Leafs.  The year 1984 saw Toronto start 2-0 on the back of two overtime victories with a young tandem of Allan Bester and Ken Wregget in goal.  Alas that start did not presage a victory parade down Yonge Street.  The Leafs finished 21st overall.....and for those too young to realize how bad that was, the NHL had but 21 teams at the time.

Even that pitiful finish did not dim the enthusiasm of die hard Leafs fans (of whom I was one by then).  The last overall finish gave the Leafs the top pick which they used to pick future Captain Wendel Clark.  This kid from Kelvington, Saskatchewan was all heart and muscle.  He would take on and beat up guys much bigger than he.  I remember skipping school to line up for playoff tickets.  Attending playoff games at Maple Leaf Gardens was an experience I'll always remember....what an atmosphere, what emotion, what fun!!!!

In the years that followed, the Leafs bounced between Stanley Cup semi finalists and mediocrity.  In recent years, MLSE has become the most profitable hockey operation in the world.....and consistent losers on the ice.  I've had the good (?)  fortune to attend a number of Leafs games in recent years.  However, I am not sitting in the cheap seats.  I am usually in the private box owned by my employer entertaining clients.  For those who have not attended in a private box, it is a somewhat surreal experience.  It is a room that holds about 12 people with an attractive young lady tending the bar.  She will bring you a drink since it would be so very onerous to walk the 5 feet to get a drink yourself.  You get to munch on sushi, ribs and when you go to sit in the platinum seats to watch the game, that very nice young lady will bring you a Haagen Daas ice cream bar during the game.   All in all, I would much rather be in the cheap seats at Maple Leaf Gardens!!!!

The last few years have not been kind to Leafs fans.  The most profitable hockey team in the world last made the playoffs in 2005.  This year they will (barring a miracle) miss the playoffs for the 6th consecutive year.  MLSE continues to rake in the $$$ with condo developments and other sports teams.  Leafs fans continue to pay top dollar to see a losing team.

I was so completely disgusted that last year I resolved to cheer against the Leafs.  This proved far more satisfying as they finished 29th overall in a 30 team league.  I am cheering against them again this year.  Despite a 4-0 start, the Leafs quickly crashed back to earth and now sit 25th overall.

I love hockey and I still don't hate the Leafs.  (I'm not a Habs fan after all!!!).  Still I think that the hockey fans of Toronto would do well to administer some tough love.  If MLSE can still ring the till without producing a good product, why would they ever try harder??  I will cheer against the Leafs until they prove me wrong.  I refuse to buy any Leafs merchandise and I will not pay for a ticket (the last point is a tad disingenuous since I haven't paid for a ticket in some time but you get my point).

People of Toronto, stop being played for such a bunch of suckers....boycott the Leafs!!!  Here's hoping that Hamilton gets a team so that there will be at least one NHL calibre team in the area!!