Goodbye post season play

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

Chris Bosh falls to the ground, in Cleveland, after a facial injury which sent him to hospital, and surgery the next day. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters

For Toronto sports fans, its yet another disappointing season when it comes to post season play. With the Leafs locking up 29th (out of 30) spot, and the Raptors desperate to cling to the final playoff position, it appears we will all be watching other teams compete for the two leagues respective championships. For many of us in the photo department at The Star, this is sad news. We love playoffs. We love covering playoffs. There is the combination of the excitement which each game brings (especially when a series elimination is possible) plus the added bonus of travel. Its alwasy refreshing to go into a new city, to a new arena/stadium, and begin to figure out sight lines and if remote cameras can be strung, on top of the added thrill of covering the emotion and play of the game.

Sadly, with the Chris Bosh injury which occurred last week in Cleveland, and Hedo Turkoglu's more recent injury at the Air Canada Centre, IF, the Raptors manage to hold on to the final spot, they face a huge battle as they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers with its franchise player LeBron James.

Blood drips from Bosh's facial injury he received in Cleveland. Photo by Tony Dejak/AP

Hedo Turkoglu reacts to his own facial injury at the ACC, in the game after Bosh suffered his injury. Photo by Steve Russell/Toronto Star

The Leafs are long gone. Hopefully the rebuild under coach Ron Wilson and General Manager Brian Burke will take hold next year and the listless Leafs will make it out of the NHL cellar and into next year's playoffs. At least we can hope.

For now, I won't hold out much hope the Raptors will be off to Ohio and the unfriendly environs of the Cavs home court. Perhaps I'll start crossing my fingers now for next year's playoff drives. In the meantime, I'll start hoping the Blue Jays, and TFC, both do well this year and some sports excitement will come to Toronto fans in the fall.

One can always hope.