Staring Into The Void
We're moving on from our usual gang of idiots today and taking a trip up Highway 7 (keep all your doors securely fastened once we're east of Perth). I heard from a poster on TMLfans that Ottawa's Team 1200 is having a "Why I'm proud to be a bandwagon jumper" contest. Basically, Sens fans get an adult to dial the phone and then they explain why they switched their allegiance from Leafs to Senators. Winner gets free tickets to catch up with current Leafs fans in Ottawa, who will make up the customary 65% of the crowd at Tuesday's Leafs-Sens tilt. You might want to make fun of Team 1200 for instigating a contest that plays to the worst stereotypes of Sens fans as sad, small-time frontrunners, but hey. It's a step up from from their usual fare of jokes about domestic violence.
It was Hegel, or maybe Jan Hrdina, who had an explanation for the existential plight of the benighted Senators fan. He called it negative identity, defining yourself against something bigger instead of what you actually stand for. Ultimately, it leaves you empty at the centre, afraid to confront what it is you really are. How else to explain a town six months removed from a trip to the Finals, poles apart from the Leafs in terms of points and future outlook, still feeling the need to rage at the Blue and White? Deep down, Sens fans know they once were Habs fans, or they were Leafs fans, or they are twelve; either way, they live in the most boring city in Canada, which certainly puts them high in the running for lamest worldwide.
But that's not the scariest part, dear reader. This sad stunt is yet another reminder that, as much as reading Simmons or listening to Watters makes us long for the sweet relief of a nailgun pressed to the temple and fired, they are role models to the Ottawa media. They're where the Ottawa guys want to be. So take some pity on the sad sacks in the nation's capital, and give them a break or two. The Leafs always do - in the regular season, anyways.
It was Hegel, or maybe Jan Hrdina, who had an explanation for the existential plight of the benighted Senators fan. He called it negative identity, defining yourself against something bigger instead of what you actually stand for. Ultimately, it leaves you empty at the centre, afraid to confront what it is you really are. How else to explain a town six months removed from a trip to the Finals, poles apart from the Leafs in terms of points and future outlook, still feeling the need to rage at the Blue and White? Deep down, Sens fans know they once were Habs fans, or they were Leafs fans, or they are twelve; either way, they live in the most boring city in Canada, which certainly puts them high in the running for lamest worldwide.
But that's not the scariest part, dear reader. This sad stunt is yet another reminder that, as much as reading Simmons or listening to Watters makes us long for the sweet relief of a nailgun pressed to the temple and fired, they are role models to the Ottawa media. They're where the Ottawa guys want to be. So take some pity on the sad sacks in the nation's capital, and give them a break or two. The Leafs always do - in the regular season, anyways.
Not sure if you guys ever get "prime time" sports with "I'm the boss" Bob Mcgown...but today was another great example of his axe to grind...for whatever reason, I can't figure out...other than the standard "run down insert local team here" cause sports fans love an argument...gets better ratings etc.
Sports ratings 101.
So he starts off asking if there is any use in even talking about the Leafs on the show...(they are now going on 20 minutes straight) He says that 13 games in and the Leafs have no chance of anything, no prospects etc...Jim Kelly of all people says "then explain why the Marlies are the best team in the AHL"
"I'm the boss" then claims and laughs that it's only 10 games into the season...
(I'm sure I don't have to go any further to point out the flaw in this logic...but some of the readers here are Pete's fans, so I will)
So "i'm the boss" can and does...often...use the same stats to argue opposite points...as long as it's negative both ways, cause they have commercials and newspapers to sell...it's like watching a grade 4 class debate team.
Having the benefit of reading two languages I would have to point out to you sad provincial fellows that the media embareassments in your quaint provincial capital pale in comparision to the radically extreme small minded media in and around Montreal who write about hockey .
There were some headlines about domestic violence and Domi in the TO papers as well but I guess that fact doesn't count cos it came from yer quaint provincial capital .
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_3851.aspx
Allegations Of Verbal Abuse & Threats Of Deprivation Mark Tie Domi Divorce Case
1. Good point about Montreal...though I would put Simmons up anywhere, anytime, against any reporter in any city in the world.
2. The link you posted is a news article about the abuse allegations against Domi. Mr. Gill was referencing a bozo who made jokes about domestic abuse. Big difference.
3. You seem to be suggesting that we are somehow proud of our "media embarrassments" and letting their transgressions slide...which means that we clearly aren't doing our jobs very well.
Check your facts Sir....
There might be a lot of Leaf fans at Scotiabank for the games, but at worse about 40% of them are fans of the garbage in Blue, and not the 65% as you so pompously suggest.
And as for Sens fans worrying frivolously about converting Leaf fans to our side, perhaps you should focus more on the fact that your sorry team got run by Washington and ATLANTA at home last week, or that your team is but one Sundin knee tweak away from another lost season.
Which would make it... 41 years and counting?
If this damn team hadn't padded its' Stanley Cup stats in the original Six days, y'all wouldn't have a damn thing to say; you'd be a franchise marked by 40+ years of ineptitude and failed expectations, and names like Harold Ballard and John Ferguson Jr. would figure prominently in the sad current predicament of the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan Maple Leafs.
So take your beating on Tuesday night like a man, along with the other "65%" of Scotiabank Place. I hope if we do this to you enough, you gluttons for punishment will just start staying away for good...
Thanks for proving my point.