This time of year it often gets tossed around how long it has been since the Leafs made the playoffs, won a round, won the cup, etc. and it gets tough some times to just put it in to perspective how long it has been since they even played relevant hockey in April/May/(and God forbid)June.

For me, there is a constant reminder in the form of my precious daughter who was born in the fall of 2004 (during the lock out). I have yet to watch a single Maple Leafs playoff game with her in my life and I'm not sure I will for another couple of years.

As a teacher, I wonder why I take so much heat from the kids for being a Leafs fan, or why very few kids are fans of the blue and white. My school has about 600 grade 6, 7, and 8 students (ages 11 to 14). I think they might all look at the Leafs as some what of a joke since the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs, these kids were in Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, or pre-school - no wonder my cheering for the Leafs is a joke to them.

According to musicoutfitters.com here were the top 10 songs in 2004:

1. The Reason, Hoobastank
2. This Love, Maroon 5
3. Yeah!, Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil' Jon
4. Leave (Get Out), JoJo
5. She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5
6. Pieces of Me, Ashlee Simpson
7. With You, Jessica Simpson
8. The Way You Move, Outkast
9. My Immortal, Evanescence
10. My Happy Ending, Avril Lavigne

This sucks.

Does it end soon?