You’re tearing me apart!
I am many things; writer, frisbee enthousiast, unemployed slacker, Jewish, balding… and none of those traits (or my assorted chronic joint injuries) causes me as much grief as my seemingly unlimited loyalty for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Today the team has once again reminded me that unwaivering loyalty comes with a heavy price: inevitable betrayal. This is a team that has for years operated under the illusion that it is just a step or two away from the playoffs despite all evidence to the contrary… this has left it in a competitive limbo where it can neither perform up to management expectations, but is unable to go through the redevelopment that a team on the outside can afford to take.
Once again management has decided to take a relatively mediocre team and add a component which can neither guarantee modest success (the playoffs) or even offer hope of real success (a championship), all at the cost of youth and a chance at rebuilding.
While part of me applauds their ability to operate confidently despite a complete and utter lack of competence, the less-cynical part of me dies a bit more each and every time they try and pull this shit.