BE-LEAF-ABLE

Are you working for the MLSE?

When compared to Harold Ballard, Yes. When compared to the rest of the league, no. The only thing I see there is the "it could be worse" mentality, rather than "it should be better". I wasn't around for Ballard, but I was definitely around for Doug Gilmour (started watching Hockey around 94/95), or the '98-'02 era. It's been much better than this, and it can and should be... yet it isn't.

As for getting off easy... I can tell you, it's never easy knowing the team doesn't stand a chance of doing a thing before the season even begins, and being right year in a year out, despite all the fellow "true Leafs fans" being wrong time and time again, yet returning the next season as if nothing happened. It's even ore disheartening when the fans see what has taken place over the last few days, and then suddenly the view changes - and you know it's going to happen.

This happens EVERY year, and yes I'll know - cause I'm always in the minority defending my views on this issue wherever I go.

It reminds me of that time Toronto went on to collect a point in 16 straight games in the 2003-2004 season. At around game #11 I'm like "Toronto better tighten up defencively" and someone's like "their record doesn't match what you're saying"... or something like that. You know, the usual stuff that I'm going to get here.

Of course though, in the end, it's obvious what happened there. The Flyers exposed their weaknesses in the playoffs (again), and it was buh-bye.

A team's record does matter, but I think some people need to pay more attention to how they play in those games, and watch other teams play against other teams, not just Toronto. Whether people want to admit it or not, it does get better than this. I've seen it for myself - Stanley Cup after Stanley Cup.

As for being so young: time goes by fast. I'm sure that one day you were 19, and the next you were... however old you seem to be. That's why I used the 40 years example (although a few years ago, I said 36 years)

Yet things don't change with this team. I want to see a change, for the better. The team that wins the Cup usually has the least amount weaknesses. TO ain't there.

Unfortunately I managed to post this an an inopportune time... if there ever is an opportune time. I mean, they just blew out the Isles, and not every Leaf fan around the world reads this board, or even has to listen to what I say... and won't. I just don't understand why it is that fans don't want to realise the harsh realities for this team. We just keep turning our heads when the ugly settles in, and then absorb as much as possible when a small light glimmers. I especially don't like how the Sports media jumps on this and tries to help it along. Screw them!

Sometimes (and I love saying this): It is what it is.

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"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.