FTB - Honouring Edition

by PPP on Jul 22, 2008 9:20 AM EDT

The Leafs have announced through their MySpace page that they will be honouring two legends of Leafdom: Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour. I would guess that for anyone in the 23-33 age range these two represent two thirds of the triumvirate of great captains that we have been lucky enough to see suit up for the Leafs. Both were able to marry the gritty edge that would have made Leaf fans love them regardless with an ability to put points on the board.

Two of my favourite memories of Wendel demonstrate what a beast of a hockey player he was when healthy which sadly was never often enough. I think it was the first hit I saw but it's that famous clip from Rock'em Sock'em II when he catches a poor St. Louis Blues player coming around the net and basically ends his life. I didn't know people could hit that hard. The second was in the 93 playoffs against the Blues when he took Cujo's helmet off with a slapshot. I didn't know people could shoot that hard.

As for Dougie, his legacy was cemented in 1993. From tying game 7 against the Red Wings (I had dozed off!) to the wraparound goal against the Blues in game 1 to challenging the entire Kings bench to a fight I have never seen a player so determined to do whatever it took regardless of the potential harm to his well being in order to win in the playoffs. When he was traded back from the Habs in 2003 even the most cynical of my Leaf fan friends were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of seeing Killer in the blue and white again. The way it ended was a crushing blow to everyone.

It's hard to pick favourite memories but while you're polishing up your Origins of Fandom fanpost toss up a fanshot with your favourite YouTube video of Wendel and Dougie.

Links and my choices come after the jump.

Wendel teaches McSorley not to touch Killer

Dougie Highlight Reel with St. Louis goal at the end

Greener thinks he knows why Swedes love Canada so much.
General Borschevsky outlines Mats' three choices and the fallout from each.
Why more Mats? Because he was kind enough to let us know that the Leafs aren't out of the picture! You're killing me Mats. Should I be irate or elated? I need to know ASAP.
Frost reminds us that Dave Keon is an asshole. Get over yourself buddy. Ballard's dead and in hell. Join the party already.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA JAYS SUCK!

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Who needs a smile this morning?

http://darcytucker.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-feel-better-about-signings-of-mayers.html

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by Chemmy on Jul 22, 2008 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

You could probably drive to any shinny game in Ontario and pick up a guy who could manage two assists in two NHL games and would be happy to play for season tickets or something.

Or the opportunity to buy season tickets.

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

by PPP on Jul 22, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, it’s the Devils signing the guy. I wouldn’t imagine that they’d buy someone Leafs tickets, and you know, nobody goes to Devils games.

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by Chemmy on Jul 22, 2008 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

'93 playoffs

Does anybody remember Wendel destroying Craig Janney (Blues) late in the second round? Literally bent him over backwards. Then Janney kinda freaked out, rolling around on the ice, grabbing his back. I think it was Game 6, and it set the tone for Game Seven: Resistance will be painful!

by general borschevsky on Jul 22, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Yes

I remember watching replays of the hit and wondering how Janney didn’t snap his spine.

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

by PPP on Jul 22, 2008 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

He did the same against the Sharks in game five in 1994.

Down Goes Brown - Because it's technically possible that things may get better before we all die.

by Down Goes Brown on Jul 22, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

PPP

so much hatred towards the blue jays…why, oh, why? my heart hurts.

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...

by eyebleaf on Jul 22, 2008 11:35 AM EDT reply actions

MUAHAHAHA

Now if only they’d start mentioning the Jays in the contraction debate.

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

by PPP on Jul 22, 2008 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

that is cold!

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...

by eyebleaf on Jul 22, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Jayt'red

I don’t hate the Jays as I just hate baseball.

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jul 22, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Same but the Jays give me a wonderful local outlet for my hatred.

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

by PPP on Jul 22, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

baseball

I feel the same, jared, but I bet baseball is a good sport to watch stoned—it’s so slow you won’t miss much while having deep conversations about what would happen if Stark Enterprises and Wayne enterprises merged (Within 3 days, talks boil down to shouts of “EMO BOY” and “HIPPIE!”)

by loser domi on Jul 22, 2008 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Stoned

You want a good game to watch stoned, watch you some curling. They even have things called stones so you can giggle about how your not the only thing stoned. Not to mention jokes about getting stoned can get you knocked out of your house….wow, I can’t believe I know enough about curling to make two curling jokes.

Don’t do drugs kids.

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jul 22, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

"getting stoned can get you knocked out of your house"

Curing is also awesome while on a sugar high—I’m always all, “go, go, go YAY!!!! I have no idea what’s going on YAYA!!!!”

/puts watching curling stoned on list of things to do before death
//Drugs are bad, mmkay?

by loser domi on Jul 22, 2008 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Too much cement

I don’t really follow baseball anymore. There was a time in my youth when Mel Allen and This Week in Baseball was second only to HNIC.

But now I rarely watch it on TV and I couldn’t tell you who’s winning/losing or even who’s in the race for the wild card.

Even though I’m no longer an active fan of the game, I’d argue that there are few better sounds than baseball being broadcast quietly on an AM radio, late in a cool summer evening as I’m going about some other task (trying to find a favourite tonka truck that my boy has left in the garden, picking up all the sidewalk chalk left scattered over the back deck or just sitting with my feet up finishing a great bottle of wine).

And whenever I go on holidays, I go to the local ball park get a beer and a pretzel and I have a great time.

I’ve seen games at: Fenway, Yankee Stadium, the Big O, Kingdome, Safeco, Candlestick, the Jake, RFK, Shea and Tiger Stadium. I’ve even been to a minor league game in Savannah (Go Sand Gnats!) where the high school band provided the music and the entire stadium was general admission.

Yet, once or twice a year I’ll go down to the Dome and it just sucks.

It’s like they have some type of fun removal system that just bleeds the place of any joy.

The Dome is easily the worst atmostpher of any ballpark I’ve been to in North America.

Is it the fans? All that cement? The rules against naked ladies in the hotel windows?

I don’t know what it is, but a Blue Jays home game is such a soul-less experience that it has completely diminished my interest in the Jays and has helped to dim my interest in the entire sport….

A life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...http://bitterleaf.blogspot.com

by mf37 on Jul 22, 2008 1:03 PM EDT reply actions

Fenway Park on a sunny Boston afternoon is the greatest place on earth.

From my Flickr:

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by Chemmy on Jul 22, 2008 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

fenway

is beautiful. i was there last year, sunday night baseball, sox and yankees, when boston went back-to-back-to-back-to-back. it was unbelievable. it was april, but i felt like the pennant was on the line, that’s how great the atmosphere was.

the atmosphere isn’t the greatest at the dome, but there’s nothing like going to a ball game in the summer time. i love it even in toronto

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...

by eyebleaf on Jul 23, 2008 2:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I would agree that the SkyDome has played a big part in that along with stiff fans and a ridiculous overcommercialization of games at “Rogers Centre”.

Also, the Jays suck which makes it very tough for us fairweather fans to get excited.

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

by PPP on Jul 22, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions