Hating Toronto Just Because

Having been born in Hamilton, it's not usually my way to defend Toronto.

Then again, having lived in Toronto for about half my life, there are times it just gets boring to hear the same people, usually the same boring voices from western Canada or Ottawa, slam the city for no particular reason other than it's their favourite leisure time activity. You know, all the same incredibly inventive "Centre of the Universe" stuff.

The Maple Leafs, and making fun of them, usually become part of the snide discussion, and fair enough. When you don't win for 41 years, people tend to notice.

But sometimes enough is enough.

In this case, it is utterly outrageous to read and hear from certain corners how wonderful and fabulous the Vancouver Canucks are for honouring former captain Trevor Linden tonight.

Don't get me wrong. I like Linden. One of the more honest players to come down the pike over the past 25 years, and a gentleman to boot.

But when the Leafs did the same thing with Wendel Clark in November, well, there was no shortage of critics cynically lashing the club for honouring one of the most popular players in team history. They sneered at Clark, suggesting only a team with a record over the past four decades like the Leafs would have to stoop so low to recognize such a player. The fact the Canadiens were honoring Patrick Roy the same night was proof to some that the laughingstock Leafs were, by comparison, bereft of real heroes.

Well, what's the difference between Linden and Clark, exactly?

Both were captains. Both were traded away and came back. Neither was one of the best players in the game at any point, or even the best at their position.

And neither brought a Stanley Cup back to their city. But they were both still heroes to many.

So why is it okay for Vancouver to fete Linden, but not for the Leafs to do the same with Clark?

Personally, I think both organizations did well to honour these players. But it rankles that the Leafs, despite all their flaws, were the butt of jokes for celebrating the career of a popular captain, while the very same writers and broadcasters are praising the Canucks for doing precisely the same thing.

Fact is, it's all about hating Toronto, and that's okay with me.

But let's just be honest about it.

Comments

[PJ Malone]

Trevor Linden? Honest? Isn't he the guy who engineered a backroom deal for Ted Saskin -- you know, the one that splintered his union and led to Saskin's firing?

[leaf-spectator92 - wwww.leafswatch.com]

HI Damien,

Interesting topic you mentioned. I was born and raised in Toronto and grew up watching the leafs, even though I'm now living in Vancouver I still follow the team closely.

It's clear there are a significant amount of voices here in Western Canada who hate the leafs. But I think you raised a key point-people honestly hate the leafs!, as well as I believe I think I know why people feel that way.

First point is since Toronto is one of largest hockey markets in the NHL. It gets more than its fair share of media coverage and attention. In fact, I'd argue that they received more attention and spotlight for a team that has not won a cup in 41 years. Ofcourse, a lot has to do with the sub-par performance in not having able to development competitive teams, on and off the ice. Furthermore, you look at the team and how profitable it has become for an ownership group, but has underachieved in terms of hockey accomplishments in contending. Its true! Why do the Detroit Red Wings and NJ Devils command the respect of the NHL and developed such a winning attitude in the last 2 decades?

Its because they've been able to smartly draft, develop, manage, and build great hockey clubs that can compete every year and even contend. That's why fans give better overall respect to these organizations instead of hating these teams, because they win, they've built a wining reputation, and they're proftable, and most importantly they have Stanley Cup banners to show for them!

[R Coutts]

I am not a Torontonian but I am a long time Leaf fan and I find your comments hit the mark perfectly. Honoring players like Wendel and Dougie shows some class and respect for the fans and in no way covers up the cup drought as some have suggested. During those lean years I thoroughly enjoyed watching Wendel play. When healthy, he could do score, hit, and fight, a rare combination these days. He was and is a class act. As for the ultimate success measure, his 3rd period heroics in LA during "the" game six should have propelled the Leafs into a cup they likely would have won, given how they handled Montreal that season.

[Rupprecht]

Leaf-Spectator92 hit the nail on the head as far as my situation is concerned (the Leafs get "more than [their] fair share of media coverage and attention"). Growing up in B.C. and having to watch Saturday night after Saturday night of Maple Leaf games (and this was before the HNIC doubleheaders, no less) cemented the sense of loathing for the Leafs that I exhibit 40-odd years later. Throw in the weekly Leafs fixation of Don Cherry, and it makes for a biased presentation at the expense of some pretty good hockey unviewable in other parts of the country, at least until CBC wised up and started expanding the number of games they offered. I always said that if Toronto was playing on Mars, HNIC would be right there covering them, but if Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary (or even Montreal or Ottawa) were playing in the same timeslot, good luck in being able to see them. By the time TSN and Sportsnet came along and offered game offerings featuring other teams besides Toronto, the damage was done. A Leafs hater I am today, and a Leafs hater I shall die.

[Chris Boyle]

The reason that people brought up Clark in regards to Roy is because it shows the divide in expectations among the two storied franchises.

The Leafs like to purport that they are the center of the universe, that they are the greatest hockey franchise in the NHL and here they are honouring a captain who averaged 3/4 of a point per game, knew how to fight and hit and had a couple of solid playoff runs in 9 years that ultimately fell short.

Who cares what the Canucks want to do. Do you care what the St. Louis Blues retire? They are in a totally different class. But once again this goes to the point, you are comparing the two because this is the level the Leafs have fallen to.

They have not tried to (or they have and have been inept for 40+ years) to get back to the upper echelon and the majority of their fanbase (45 and below) have no idea what it takes to ascend to the Championship level. So they cling to the players that have provided them with the greatest moments in franchise history just like the majority of post expansion teams do.

The greatest moment for a Leaf fan in the last 40 years either A. Lanny McDonald's OT winner that lead them into a 4 game sweep in the next round B. Nik Borchevsky OT winner in the first round against Detroit C. Doug Gilmour's wraparound on CuJo D. Wendel Clark tying the game to send it to OT where they would eventually lose to LA or something totally meaningless like Clark laying out Bruce Bell, beating up Marty McSorley or Ken Wregget robbing Gino Cavallini wiht a minute to go in a first round playoff game.

This has nothing to do with Western Canada bashing Toronto, it has everything to do with an iconic franchise reducing itself to it's expansion bretheren.

These things are expected of the Vancouver Canucks, a franchise devoid of anything truly special. It is not expected of the franchise that has the second most Cups in NHL history.

MLSE has set the bar low continually and the fans have rewarded them with undying loyalty, retiring Wendel Clark's number exemplifies this mindset.

This same thing is going on in Montreal right now and with the destruction wrought by Rejean Houle a whole fanbase of 20 year olds exist who demand that Saku Koivu be retired. The Canadiens have set a standard to have your sweater raised and it involves owning two rings. A Stanley Cup ring and a Hall of Fame ring. If the Canadiens relent to their fanbase and reward Koivu this rare honour than they two have excepted to reward mediocrity and the same results await the fans of Montreal that have plagued Toronto for way to long.

[John]

Wendel and Trevor - good analogy. Both deserving in my mind.

Though the Canucks don't plan to honor Pavel Bure as far as I know, even though he was among the league's best players at one time, lead them in an exciting playoff run, and unlike Linden has legitimate HOF credentials. Ultimately though, he wanted out of the organization and was dealt.

Which brings us to Doug Gilmour's number being honoured. Seriously? Tossed his stick at the coach and asked to be traded. And he goes up in the rafters? Vancouver's choice can't be called into question - Toronto's motivation, is odd to say the least.

[Mac]

Keeping in mind that the Canucks have only ever retired two jerseys since inception in 1970, the Leafs however keep 'honouring' jersey after jersey to the point every day folk I speak to are confused as to the difference and there is a significant difference, you should know better...

[Mike...In Australia]

I actually agree with you..
I am a long fan of the Leafs and was happy to see Mr.Clarks number honoured. He IS a hero in Toronto,a great city. To me a hero is a player that shows not only skill, but determination, class and a willingness to carry a team even if on an ailing back. To me, a hero is a player that brings HOPE, Even if only for a moment, to the fans who have been waiting for a Lifetime.
Mr. Clark,,we honour you...

Mike..in AUSTRALIA

[Jack Arns]

I can't believe that I actually agree with Damien!!