NNN: Stanley Cups Are Not Won In December

by PPP on Dec 3, 2008 5:00 PM EST Comment 26 comments

Memo to all Toronto Maple Leafs fans

To: Toronto Maple Leafs fans
From: San Jose Sharks fans
Subject: When to cheer for the Leafs

Dear Toronto Maple Leafs fans: when your team is down 5-1 with 30 seconds to play and has been basically handled by a bored Sharks team all game, you should really stop and think a second about whether you should stand up and start yelling "Leafs rule!" and dissing the Sharks fans who's building you are currently standing in.

...

Respectfully:

asf

Sharks fans who found you not amusing, but rather pitiful tonight.

Chuqui, Two For Elbowing

Check out the response in the comments which beat me to the "memo to Sharks fans" punch. Let's all remember that it's a long way to June, just ask The Dynasty That Never Was what you win for being the best team in NHL history before Christmas.

That was kinda my point in my posting last night. The Leafs scored mostly because the Sharks didn't really care if they did, and the few Leafs fans willing to stick around to the end (most left, the first large chunk in the 2nd period, along with the first wave of Sharks fans) really shouldn't have seen that as a "YEAH! LEAFS RULE!" moment.

Chuqui, Two for Elbowing

My point in getting upset? It's always a "YEAH! LEAFS RULE!" moment. That's part and parcel of being a fan in an opponent's barn*.

*No longer actually a barn apparently.

Then again, it's December, and December is paved with fool's gold. We will learn more about the Sharks when they hit their first dreary stretch, because we will know then how quickly they rebound from it.

Ray Ratto, San Francisco Chronicle

There, my friends, is a man that understands the perilous nature of having visions of hockey in June dancing in your head in December.

Devin Setoguchi instinctively snapped to attention whenever he heard Ron Wilson's familiar bark across the ice. The San Jose forward even caught himself glancing to the Toronto bench for instructions from his former coach, who laughed at the eye contact.

Greg Beacham, Associated Press

Wow. That military-like discipline. I like it although Wilson should have tried telling the Sharks to score on their own net.

Reason One: Patrick Marleau, the captain. He and Wilson, it's safe to say, were not close pals. Marleau is always Mr. Circumspect about it. Yet this is telling: Tuesday morning, Marleau said he had not spoken with Wilson since the firing. Marleau left a message on Wilson's phone mail after last season. And that was it. So how was Marleau approaching Tuesday?

Mark Purdy, Mercury News

Oh, did poor hippie boy not like the discipline? What a surprise that a French guy wants to avoid the army. What's that? He's from Saskatchewan? Well, who knew that farmers were pansies.

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Comments

To: Toronto Maple Leafs fans
From: Ottawa Senators ushers
Subject: When to cheer for the Leafs

NEVER!

Sit down! You’re too noisy! The Sens fans are having trouble reading the books they brought with them!

Thank you,
The management

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Dec 3, 2008 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ROFL

by WildWolfdog on Dec 4, 2008 12:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aunt Jemima!

Make me some waffles!

"You do dat, you go to da box, you know, uh, two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know, and then you get free."
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Dec 3, 2008 5:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And I’m calling BS on Leaf fans leaving in the second period. I can believe that Leaf fans were drunk or annoying, but they wouldn’t come ou to see their team’s one visit to San Jose for the year and then leave in the second period.

Why would they? Because we’re losing? Bah, we’re always losing. Hell, down 5-1 is a nail-biter for us.

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Dec 3, 2008 5:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As a cheap-ass leaf fan, I would also expect to squeeze every last drop of hockey watching enjoyment if I drop some dough for nice seats. That’s just me though, it drives me up the wall to see people filing to the concessions/bathrooms of the ACC in the 2nd period with 2 minutes to go.. Gah! If you work it out for the cost per minute that little sojurn coulda been a few bucks!

by LeafFanInVan on Dec 3, 2008 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Me Too

I run everywhere in the ACC even when I get tickets as gifts!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 3, 2008 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

@ DGB : hahaha total science fiction

by Ando Rich on Dec 3, 2008 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm thinking

the leafs fans just got quiet…the ones leaving were sharks fans, spoiled by their teams good fortunes as of late, and left with the knowledge that the game was already over…

"You do dat, you go to da box, you know, uh, two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know, and then you get free."
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Dec 3, 2008 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I stayed all game for the 7-2 drubbing at MSG last season. Yeah! More beer!

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Dec 3, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Weeeell excuse us!!

I’ll be sure inform all the pansy sharks fans in their turquoise jumpsuits that cheering is not allowed in the ACC next time Pat Falloon scores a goal!

by richiee on Dec 3, 2008 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dude Brian Hayward had an awesome mask.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Dec 3, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, if you’re a big Blue Jays fan you should check out SBN’s Blue Jays blog:

http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Dec 3, 2008 9:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Garth Iorg is the reason I still wear #16 to this day….

Well, no. Inertia is the reason I still wear #16 to this day. Garth Iorg is the reason I started wearing #16 a very, very long time ago.

Leaf, the universe and everything.

by 1967ers on Dec 4, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sharks fan here

I don’t know about the 2nd period, but a whole row of Leafs fans got up and left at probably the 10 minute mark of the 3rd period. Sec. 210, row 12 (I was in 13). All female crew, but don’t think I’m being misogynistic – just stating the demographic. For what’s its worth, I encouraged them to stay, noting that beer at the HP Pavilion doesn’t have that pesky Canadian tax attached.

I did find it encouraging that most Leafs fans were around to celebrate the second goal – even if Hagman couldn’t bring himself to do it properly.

As for the Two for Elbowing memo – it’s a little hammy. Not everyone in San Jose is so fair-weathered or arrogant. Yes, we’re on a roll – and no, a 17 year old team and its fan base can’t possibly understand 40 plus years of heartache. We HAVE developed a Chicago Cubs-style paranoia when it comes to the post-season – we’re all silently praying that the other shoe does not drop this year. We’re quite aware that a President’s Trophy does not translate to Stanley Cup glory – though they’re often connected, like last season’s Red Wings. Though it would be arrogant of me to assume we’re getting the Trophy…

@ richiee = I’ll see you at the ACC next year. I’ll bring my pansy Pat Falloon turquoise jumpsuit – you bring the Timbits. That’s something we don’t have in SJ, sadly – the Timbits, I mean. Plenty of teal jumpsuits.

Thanks for linking my post, PPP.

by Mr. K. on Dec 3, 2008 7:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

@Sharks fan/Mr K

Timbits are a small price to pay! I should be able to round up a few toonies. Consider it a deal Mr turquoise jumpsuit!

by richiee on Dec 3, 2008 8:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet!

Now if you can just sell your soul to score us some tickets, we’ll be in business!

by Mr. K. on Dec 3, 2008 11:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh my god a Yankees fan

BOOOOOOOOO

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Dec 3, 2008 9:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If you're referring to me...

Then you’ll be happy that I donated $27 to the Rogers Centre this summer to see the Yanks go 1 for 3 in the series. Good cheap seats, the Blue Jays have… wish I could say the same for the Bronx.

But I have to say – I wanted to tear off my ears during the 7th inning stretch, when that “Ok ok Blue Jays Blue Jays” nonsense came on. I’m standing my ground on that one – that’s a TERRIBLE jingle.

by Mr. K. on Dec 3, 2008 11:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I always enjoy the Yankees losing series to teams that didn’t make the playoffs, but I’m not a Blue Jays fan.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Dec 3, 2008 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bad Jingle?

Maybe, but it comes with an awesome dance that we all had to learn in gym class in grade 7.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 4, 2008 8:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Am I to be shunned

for owning one of those teal SJ Sharks Starter jackets when I was in middle school? It was a gift! And Canada is so cold! How could I NOT wear it?? It was like a modern day “Le chandail”

For those who suffer the Toronto sports scene, and more: ThePassionThatFrustratesUsAll

by TorontoPassion on Dec 3, 2008 9:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The shame!!!

I’m not Catholic so I’m not sure why I am about to make this confession….buuuut……I actually got a Sharks jersey the year they came out. I was either in 4th or 5th grade.

It didn’t say Falloon or Wilson though.

I fully accept the fact that I have no accountability from this moment onwards amongst Leafs fans. Forget the Young Offenders Act, my pre-teen sins deserve punishment.

Hell, I also had one of those bad-ass black and silver LA Kings jerseys in the interest of full disclosure. Luckily I outgrew it a year or two before that painful game seven loss.

Maybe on a sub-conscious level I yearn for the turquoise jumpsuit back in my life. Maybe my mother never breast fed me. So many questions – so few answers.

by richiee on Dec 3, 2008 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's funny...

I was just talking to a Torontonian (is that how you say it?) last night – he was sitting next to his Habs supporting Montreal buddy, so I brought up Le chandail. They were surprised when I told them it was actually required reading in California’s public school system (at least when I was growing up…). English translation, of course.

by Mr. K. on Dec 3, 2008 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Hilarious. Hopefully you got the correct English translation where the ungrateful little bastard kid is shipped off to live with an uncle in Toronto and realizes the sins of his way.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 4, 2008 8:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs