Have you ever thought of how your age affects your outlook on the Leafs?
I'm 45. I started cheering for this team in 1969, a year and a half after they last won the Cup. I am right around the optimal age for feeling pain as Leafs fan. Certainly I remember some high points:
- Finally getting Dave Keon's hockey card to complete the set
- Being allowed to stay up past the first period
- Shutting out Detroit 13-0 (Gordie Howe scored on his own net)
- Henderson and Sittler scoring winners for Canada
- Sittler's 10 point night
- Turnbull's 5 goal night
- Delivering the Globe every morning to Lanny one summer
- Lanny popping that one in game 7 OT against the Islanders
- My first time at MLG (against Keon, Hull and Howe of the Whalers)
- Vaive's 50 goal seasons
- Wendal's first term with the Leafs
- Borschevsky's goal
- Dougie Gilmour's wraparound (I was there)
- Joe Bowen's blood-curdling playoff calls
But the painful moments weigh a lot more heavily:
- Poised to bury the Flyers early in the playoffs and watching them go on to win the cup
- Hab cups throughout the 70's
- Ballard/Imlach madness (it would be pages and pages to list)
- McDonald traded, Sittler traded, Thompson traded (with 2 first rounders for Dan Maloney and a 2nd rounder - sound familiar?)
- Pretty much the entire 80's (John Brophy bleeding from his head, and he was the coach. What's with that?)
- Every breath JFJ ever took
- Brian Burke completely overestimating the talent level of the team he has assembled, and assuming this talent would make the Kessel trade palatable. This trade will set the team back 5 years and set Boston up.
- Never a realistic Cup contender with no change in sight
Older fans got to enjoy some Cup glory. Younger fans haven't suffered enough. I don't think either group could share my perspective.
I have always bled blue but I'm now dry. I am completely spent on this 40-year investment with little to show for it. No diehard fan deserves this.
I wish that someone had tapped me on the shoulder on opening night in 1969 and said "Don't do it.".
Let me know when they're good again and I'll think about coming back, assuming it happens during my lifetime.
Have you ever thought of how your age affects your outlook on the Leafs?
I'm 45. I started cheering for this team in 1969, a year and a half after they last won the Cup. I am right around the optimal age for feeling pain as Leafs fan. Certainly I remember some high points:
- Finally getting Dave Keon's hockey card to complete the set
- Being allowed to stay up past the first period
- Shutting out Detroit 13-0 (Gordie Howe scored on his own net)
- Henderson and Sittler scoring winners for Canada
- Sittler's 10 point night
- Turnbull's 5 goal night
- Delivering the Globe every morning to Lanny one summer
- Lanny popping that one in game 7 OT against the Islanders
- My first time at MLG (against Keon, Hull and Howe of the Whalers)
- Vaive's 50 goal seasons
- Wendal's first term with the Leafs
- Borschevsky's goal
- Dougie Gilmour's wraparound (I was there)
- Joe Bowen's blood-curdling playoff calls
But the painful moments weigh a lot more heavily:
- Poised to bury the Flyers early in the playoffs and watching them go on to win the cup
- Hab cups throughout the 70's
- Ballard/Imlach madness (it would be pages and pages to list)
- McDonald traded, Sittler traded, Thompson traded (with 2 first rounders for Dan Maloney and a 2nd rounder - sound familiar?)
- Pretty much the entire 80's (John Brophy bleeding from his head, and he was the coach. What's with that?)
- Every breath JFJ ever took
- Brian Burke completely overestimating the talent level of the team he has assembled, and assuming this talent would make the Kessel trade palatable. This trade will set the team back 5 years and set Boston up.
- Never a realistic Cup contender with no change in sight
Older fans got to enjoy some Cup glory. Younger fans haven't suffered enough. I don't think either group could share my perspective.
I have always bled blue but I'm now dry. I am completely spent on this 40-year investment with little to show for it. No diehard fan deserves this.
I wish that someone had tapped me on the shoulder on opening night in 1969 and said "Don't do it.".
Let me know when they're good again and I'll think about coming back, assuming it happens during my lifetime.
Whole thread was about that little beauty, eh? Be honest.
I'm 25, have been a Leafs fan my entire life...and I always will be. But, this is just getting depressing. I'm dating a girl who I met at University and she's a Sens fan...and it's at the point where I may have to dump her because I can't tolerate her chirps at me for being a Leafs fan. I'm being 100% serious.
That 'little beauty' broke the back because it just relaunched the '80s. Maybe your experience has been different so you have a different perspective. From where I stand, been there done that.
Have you ever thought of how your age affects your outlook on the Leafs?
I'm 45. I started cheering for this team in 1969, a year and a half after they last won the Cup. I am right around the optimal age for feeling pain as Leafs fan. Certainly I remember some high points:
- Finally getting Dave Keon's hockey card to complete the set
- Being allowed to stay up past the first period
- Shutting out Detroit 13-0 (Gordie Howe scored on his own net)
- Henderson and Sittler scoring winners for Canada
- Sittler's 10 point night
- Turnbull's 5 goal night
- Delivering the Globe every morning to Lanny one summer
- Lanny popping that one in game 7 OT against the Islanders
- My first time at MLG (against Keon, Hull and Howe of the Whalers)
- Vaive's 50 goal seasons
- Wendal's first term with the Leafs
- Borschevsky's goal
- Dougie Gilmour's wraparound (I was there)
- Joe Bowen's blood-curdling playoff calls
But the painful moments weigh a lot more heavily:
- Poised to bury the Flyers early in the playoffs and watching them go on to win the cup
- Hab cups throughout the 70's
- Ballard/Imlach madness (it would be pages and pages to list)
- McDonald traded, Sittler traded, Thompson traded (with 2 first rounders for Dan Maloney and a 2nd rounder - sound familiar?)
- Pretty much the entire 80's (John Brophy bleeding from his head, and he was the coach. What's with that?)
- Every breath JFJ ever took
- Brian Burke completely overestimating the talent level of the team he has assembled, and assuming this talent would make the Kessel trade palatable. This trade will set the team back 5 years and set Boston up.
- Never a realistic Cup contender with no change in sight
Older fans got to enjoy some Cup glory. Younger fans haven't suffered enough. I don't think either group could share my perspective.
I have always bled blue but I'm now dry. I am completely spent on this 40-year investment with little to show for it. No diehard fan deserves this.
I wish that someone had tapped me on the shoulder on opening night in 1969 and said "Don't do it.".
Let me know when they're good again and I'll think about coming back, assuming it happens during my lifetime.
You've made your choice..... when we win the cup and toronto shuts down for the party YOU'RE NOT INVITED
I'm 24... I arrived on the scene for the 89-90 Leafs........became a huge fan during the 92-93/93-94 years.
Potvin was my hero......I use to put on my street hockey pads and mimmick the moves he made when I watched the game and played goalie in organized hockey.
I was crushed when the Kings beat the Leafs out in the 93 season but I think the great memories I have of being such a big fan of the Leafs and Potvin are worth more than any kind of championship (although it would be great).
I love this team. Well, I loved this team. I was 12 in 93, man what a year. That was a team with heart, character and skill. Every player on that team would skate through a brick wall to get a win. That's when I became a Leafs fan.
I can admit it now, we suck. We will get better. The only question is can Burke pull it off? Can he pull off even a semi-successful "re-tool" where we get back to the conference finals? Can he do better? Is the ONLY way to success in the cap era NHL through the draft?
Burkes going to have to impress me with either signing NCAA free agents or some significant UFA's next year. If he wants this team to be as good as it can be as quickly as possible, that's what it will come to.
I cannot change my allegiance, it wouldn't be right. But I won't give them any money until they reward us with a team worth watching, and believing in.
One day we will be able to say GO LEAFS GO and not feel so, let down. One day.
I'm 48 and have been following deez bumz since 1970. Through thick and thin, I've always enjoyed cheering for them; when times are dry, it just makes the victories seem better.
I can honestly say though, I've yet to lose a minutes sleep over a Leaf loss. I'm not the guy going out on the ice and looking like a bum so I don't treat it like I am.
Old enough to have seen the Leafs win the cup at least 4 times. Can honestly say that I have never had a negative opinion of the players, the team, the coaches or General managers dating back to Punch Imlach. Through thick andd thin I have remained a true Leaf Fan and I will forever remain so.
I'm 25, have been a Leafs fan my entire life...and I always will be. But, this is just getting depressing. I'm dating a girl who I met at University and she's a Sens fan...and it's at the point where I may have to dump her because I can't tolerate her chirps at me for being a Leafs fan. I'm being 100% serious.
Dude, both the leafs and sens arent very good. but if she says, leafs suck, just say yeah. cause right now its true. you cant polish a turd into gold.
35 - seen really bad teams in the 80's - mocked at school when all my friends were Oiler fans - saw miracle 93 run cut too short, saw some pretty impressive teams in the late 90s up until the lock-out but mainly disappointments.
My daughter is 5 and she makes fun of the leafs.... pretty depressing. On top of that she and her Mon are Sens fans; Good thing I love them.
Started really paying attention at the Leafs when Quinn came aboard....Been really into it these last 8 years and no good results from the Leafs.People say the Ballard years were even worse....I cant imagine it
I'll always be a fan, which gives me the right to call Brian Burke exactly what he is -- an egomaniac that lied about the rebuild. I want a 'reset' on that hiring decision.
26, a Quinn Era Girl, and honestly, you know what. I think we have nothing to complain about. Boston Red Sox had to wait what? 82 years? Chicago Cubs are still waiting. So it's 42 years. Point? Most teams have to suffer a WHILE and there are always really long and dark days. But I'm sorry, and I will say this with all sincerity: I never understand why people go MLSE doesn't want a cup. The money they would make on Stanley Cup Final [and win] apparel would go through the roof.
My outlook on the leafs there will be be a cup win, hopefully within the next 5 years and we'll party like t's 1999
sometime around the time Ballard was in power the leafs became about money and not winning even though despite the bets efforts of jim gregory to build a contending team in the 70's.
Sometime around then a formula to make loads of cash while icing a horrible team with a central figure that would help them draw in the fans. Sittler was the first one, follwed by Vaive, Iafrate, Clark, Gilmour, Sundin and now they hope Kessel.
__________________ Hockey's Top 1100 Hockey Players of ALL TIME Book!!!
26, a Quinn Era Girl, and honestly, you know what. I think we have nothing to complain about. Boston Red Sox had to wait what? 82 years? Chicago Cubs are still waiting. So it's 42 years. Point? Most teams have to suffer a WHILE and there are always really long and dark days. But I'm sorry, and I will say this with all sincerity: I never understand why people go MLSE doesn't want a cup. The money they would make on Stanley Cup Final [and win] apparel would go through the roof.
My outlook on the leafs there will be be a cup win, hopefully within the next 5 years and we'll party like t's 1999
82 years.... you do realize we'll be lucky to live that long right?
Screw the bratty future babies that will be born into a championship without feeling all the pain and suffering.
ive only been a leafs fan since like 95 and im already getting tired of it haha... cant understand how the older guys have put up with it
only fans from the 1980's went through this many bad seasons
there is no short cuts when buildign a team
once we come to grips withthat we will say no to such bonehead moves as giving away our #1 picks b4 we know what chickens will be hatched by the eggs that we bought during the summer free agent frenzy
