437 replies to this topic

[Hockeytown0001]

Reading through a thread at HF Boards, I got to thinking - do Leaf fans, as fans of a proud Original 6 Franchise, deserve better than what they've been getting? Horrible management, mediocre at best teams, horrible trades/signings and MLSE's only motivation being for profit hasn't stopped the fans from coming to games or buying merchandise. Of course, fans are enjoying watching their failures, many Wings fans among them.

I don't like the Leafs as much as the next guy, but I can't help but feel the smallest portion of pity for what their fans endure compared to Detroit fans. I sure don't feel bad for the team, but to the Leaf fans who are starving for a winner (not the cocky, entitled fans), I do to a certain extent.

[cjm502]

I think they might be the most loyal fans in the league, and Leafs fans are absolutely nuts about their team. I think they deserve better.

Edited by cjm502, 16 November 2010 - 04:28 PM.

[jollymania]

There are reasons for and agianst

[achildr1]

Yep.

Pretty much the same as, do Lions fans deserve better? I believe so.

[vladdy16]

Absolutely they deserve better. A long-standing, once proud franchise is in the pits of despair with no discernible way out. Much like the Hawks, once they regain some of their former glory, it's back on the Public Enemy list, but for now, they deserve our compassion.

[Winger19]

They live and die with their team. They definitely deserve better. The Leafs fans that I know are fiercely loyal, but unfortunately accept the fact that they're a mediocre team.

[cupforwings]

As the guy above said, us lions fans deserve better too. It is hard to root for a teams that you know will let you down year after year. They absolutely deserve better.

[kook_10]

Hey - without losers there couldn't be winners, so I thank them.

[Broken 16]

Yep.

Pretty much the same as, do Lions fans deserve better? I believe so.

This. How can I not say they deserve better when I know for a fact that I deserve better as a Lions fan.

Edited by Broken 16, 16 November 2010 - 06:13 PM.

[e_prime]

I feel bad for the fans.
They continue to support that franchise in ways unimaginable* to me.

I do not understand how the franchise has been able to string together so many bad choices for leadership on and off the ice.

I'm not a huge fan of Burke, but for the fan's sake... I wish him all the luck.
I think he did the franchise and the fans a disservice by trying to make the team better NOW with the Kessel trade.


*Note: I did start following the Wings during the "Dead Wings" era, but Yzerman was playing and that was enough for me. The Leafs don't have that.

EDIT: Not a Lion's fan. Matt Millen lasted two or three seasons longer than I could stand to continue watching them.

Edited by e_prime, 16 November 2010 - 06:15 PM.

[dicksmack]

The funny thing is, perhaps it's the blind loyalty that is keeping the leafs down. If these people wouldn't be so ready to still pay big money for tickets and everything else despite chronically being known as "Loserville," perhaps the financial pressure might force some changes to be made. To me, it's dumb to want to pay for an inferior product year after year. So no, maybe Leafs fans don't deserve better.

[Manoir]

Feel bad for Leafs fans but not for Burke. He was so arrogant after winning the cup and was routinely mocking Kevin Lowe for running his team into the ground.

[Esquire]

The funny thing is, perhaps it's the blind loyalty that is keeping the leafs down. If these people wouldn't be so ready to still pay big money for tickets and everything else despite chronically being known as "Loserville," perhaps the financial pressure might force some changes to be made. To me, it's dumb to want to pay for an inferior product year after year. So no, maybe Leafs fans don't deserve better.

This times 1,967

[cjm502]

The funny thing is, perhaps it's the blind loyalty that is keeping the leafs down. If these people wouldn't be so ready to still pay big money for tickets and everything else despite chronically being known as "Loserville," perhaps the financial pressure might force some changes to be made. To me, it's dumb to want to pay for an inferior product year after year. So no, maybe Leafs fans don't deserve better.

So what you are saying is they love their hockey and their team so much it in fact makes them stupid? They happen to be that much more passionate than you, so they deserve to lose? That makes tons of sense.

[Barrie]

As someone who lives in one of the west Toronto 'burbs, I have enjoyed the post lockout playoffs. I haven't had to deal with any loud mouth Leafs fans in April-May since 2004.

My Leaf fan friends don't want to talk playoffs, and that's fine with me.

[cjm502]

Feel bad for Leafs fans but not for Burke. He was so arrogant after winning the cup and was routinely mocking Kevin Lowe for running his team into the ground.

Burke is an idiot. Phaneuf, Giguere, and Lebda. Absolutely horrible contracts/trades.

[kook_10]

The funny thing is, perhaps it's the blind loyalty that is keeping the leafs down. If these people wouldn't be so ready to still pay big money for tickets and everything else despite chronically being known as "Loserville," perhaps the financial pressure might force some changes to be made. To me, it's dumb to want to pay for an inferior product year after year. So no, maybe Leafs fans don't deserve better.

Reminds me of the Knicks. A sports radio guy on once had a great quote about them saying: "they are the greatest franchise in sports because year in and year out they get their fans excited believing they have a shot, even just a little chance, when they really don't."

[Barrie]

So what you are saying is they love their hockey and their team so much it in fact makes them stupid? They happen to be that much more passionate than you, so they deserve to lose? That makes tons of sense.

I think fans should make the team accountable to them. If they don't win, they shouldn't go, I think it's that simple. Teams in the same city should be in a position where they are competing against each other for the fans, and being on the front page of the paper.

Unfortunately for Toronto, I think they have two major problems they can't get out of. 1) they haven't had a winner since the Blue Jays in 1993, and 2) there's to much corporate money in Toronto, and it's the corporations they buy all the Leaf tickets.

[Hockeytown0001]

That being said, Habs fans nearly burned the city to the ground after they won one playoff series.

Imagine what Leaf fans would do to Toronto if the Leafs won the Cup.

[vladdy16]

That being said, Habs fans nearly burned the city to the ground after they won one playoff series.

Imagine what Leaf fans would do to Toronto if the Leafs won the Cup.

That would be what is known as a win/win situation; Leafs win the Cup - *poof* no more Leafs fans.

The funny thing is, perhaps it's the blind loyalty that is keeping the leafs down. If these people wouldn't be so ready to still pay big money for tickets and everything else despite chronically being known as "Loserville," perhaps the financial pressure might force some changes to be made. To me, it's dumb to want to pay for an inferior product year after year. So no, maybe Leafs fans don't deserve better.

Yeah, that really worked for Chicago, didn't it?
Times didn't get better until there was a change in ownership.