Drop the puck
I was in Toronto on business this week (great city, swimming in diversity), and it didn't take long to realize Canadians are thrilled to have the NHL heading back to the ice.
I saw this mural in a parking lot off King Street, and when I walked past the Air Canada Centre on my way to the bay, there were signs everywhere advertising tickets for the upcoming season.
Then I stopped at a Candian Imperial Bank of Commerce branch to withdraw $60 dollars. Scrawled across one of my colorful Canadian 20 dollar bills was the phrase: "Go Habs Go!"
While I suspect Leafs fans would have been miffed by this ode to the hated Canadiens, I got a charge out of it.
As for me, I have the NHL in my mental penalty box. I'm determined to boycott the season and I'm still pissed about the way the league and players insulted fans with that stupid lockout. But I suspect I'll come around when those toothless Canadians start beating the hell of of each other this season.
I uploaded a few more Toronto photos here ...
I saw this mural in a parking lot off King Street, and when I walked past the Air Canada Centre on my way to the bay, there were signs everywhere advertising tickets for the upcoming season.
Then I stopped at a Candian Imperial Bank of Commerce branch to withdraw $60 dollars. Scrawled across one of my colorful Canadian 20 dollar bills was the phrase: "Go Habs Go!"
While I suspect Leafs fans would have been miffed by this ode to the hated Canadiens, I got a charge out of it.
As for me, I have the NHL in my mental penalty box. I'm determined to boycott the season and I'm still pissed about the way the league and players insulted fans with that stupid lockout. But I suspect I'll come around when those toothless Canadians start beating the hell of of each other this season.
I uploaded a few more Toronto photos here ...
Posted by Bob Benz at July 21, 2005 9:02 PM
When I sent this to a hockey fanatic friend of mine, Craig Bates, he came back with the following anecdote, which is awesome:
"You know, when I read what you posted about Canadians taking the NHL back so easily, it reminded me of something that I saw when I went to Toronto a few years ago. We were headed to the Hall of Fame and when we got off the rail system near there, the station had a bunch of framed pictures of Leafs players on the wall. I watched this boy, probably 10 years old, go through and kiss every single one of the pictures in the grimy hallway and kneel before them, all while his parents watched. Still think about that loyalty and love of the Leafs now and then."
Posted by: Benz at July 22, 2005 12:35 PM