Blind Faith

The fans of hockey here in Leaf nation support their team so blindly that it's ridiculous. Its part of the reason I despise the Leafs and most of their fans so. Most years what irks me most is those that just cheer for them cause they're the local team and that's just what they should do being good Canadians. There are the few 'true' hockey fans, who can actually name more than 5 non-allstars on other teams, and who accept logic and reason.

But this year, with the Leafs on the brink, the white and blue pride wagon is running full tilt on blind faith in a team that just has no proof of existence. They're sitting 6 points back of a playoff spot, with the Habs in-between, with 1 game in hand on 8th and 13 games remaining. Sure its the Eastern Conference which, lets face it, is soft as butter on a barbecue, but the Leafs are out of this.

Once again a squad full of old men that is going to fall short. The two black eyes from pucks fired over the boards that Pat Quinn caught during training camp were repeated on ice with Canada and the Leafs this year. Lindros, as predicted, was a flop. Belfour might as well just hit the sauce again, cause his career is done. And Mats Sundin will just have to live with a gold medal for this year.

And still I am surrounded by the blind followers who either can't think for themselves (kinda like religious extremists), or people who get all militant when questioned on the matter (again, kinda like religious extremists). I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see a blue and white mysterious package on my doorstep tomorrow.

Now you'll all ask, well what about your Avs? But I am not sitting here foisting my false hope on all of you. Their two top scorers are injured and their 'blockbuster' trade deadline move was to trade the hottest goalie in the NHL since January 1 to bring in an injured goalie with a trainload of baggage in Jose Theodore. The Avs will make the playoffs, and might even pull off a win of the Northwest (which by the points total is the toughest division in hockey). But I know the limits, and unless Tanguay comes back from injury like Forsberg used to do, fresh and ready to light it up, there isn't much chance of making it past the 2nd or 3rd round. And lets face it, Alex Tanguay, while very skilled, and worthy of a spot on any Team Canada squad, is not Peter Forsberg. I know my teams' limits.

Most Leafs fans on the other hand, no such luck. The day after they start playin with their balls...that is the white dimpled kind....the white dimpled kind you hit with a club...after the last game of the regular season I'll be hearing about how next year is the year. Such is life as a realist in Leaf nation.