Tag Archives: Boston Bruins

Bad News Bruin of Hockey

Posted on by

I’m sick of the bad behavior in hockey these days, especially from Boston Bruiin Milan Lucic. Bad News Bruin of HockeyNot only did he threaten Canadiens players in the handshake after the game last night – apparently he’s going “to fucking get them next year” – but far worse, he deliberately tried to injure Danny Dekeyser in the previous series by stabbing his stick into his groin. Bad News Bruin of HockeyAs amusing as some might find all of this – to say nothing of water bottles being sprayed to insult and mock – it is terrible for the game of hockey.

Bad News Bruin of Hockey

Lundqvist mocks Crosby

Indeed this garbage is reminiscent of the dark days of the 1970s, the Philadelphia Flyers – the self-proclaimed bullies of the league – and Bobby Clarke, infamous for breaking Russian Valery Kharlamov’s ankle in the 1972 Summit Series. Bad News Bruin of HockeyNone of this is a matter of “boys being boys” – as some are chuckling – but rather is a terrible embarrassment for the sport and must be eradicated. It’s not a difficult task. Suspensions of 5-10 games would work for the first infraction,  20-40 games for the second incident and a lifetime ban for the third. Bad News Bruin of HockeyThere are other leagues in the world, and perhaps Lucic would be a better fit somewhere else.

Chronicle of Wearing a Maple Leafs Hat in Boston

Posted on by

I admit that I went to Boston with an attitude. As a fan of Toronto Maple Leafs, I do not think kind thoughts of anything Bruin, and so donned my Leafs cap to represent the true blue and white. Chronicle of Wearing a Maple Leafs Hat in BostonI didn’t have to wait long for a reaction. “You guys have been losers since 1967.” The guy stared at me deadpan at the bus station.

My comeback wasn’t a classic. “At least I don’t live in Boston.”

It was going to be a long weekend, but I was up to it, and went straight into a bar called The Tam to watch the Bruins-Canadiens game, now in overtime. Chronicle of Wearing a Maple Leafs Hat in BostonI received a few glares and just one muttered comment – “I think this guy is messing up my karma” – but that was it. I almost felt bad when the Bruins lost the game.

The startling silence continued over the next day – perhaps because I was at a writer’s conference? Chronicle of Wearing a Maple Leafs Hat in BostonIt wasn’t until I arrived in Cambridge that things picked up again. Chronicle of Wearing a Maple Leafs Hat in BostonA square-jawed, almost pleasant-looking man leaned out from an alley. “Leafs are the only Original Six team that didn’t make the playoffs. Did you know that?”

I wasn’t sure if he was right. It took me a couple of blocks to think it through and another few to think of my comeback. “Now I know I’m in fucking Harvard.”

I continued on to The Sinclair, preparing for the next attack.

“Love the hat, man.”

I wanted to detect a tone but couldn’t find one.

“Got to wear your colors,” said another. “I respect that.” Chronicle of Wearing a Maple Leafs Hat in BostonIt wasn’t until I ran into an old friend at the show that the antagonism returned. “I looked up, saw the Leafs hat, and thought what an asshole. I knew it must be you.”

The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Posted on by

The heathen fanbase of teams across the continent – be they in Montreal, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles or Chicago – simply do not understand. The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple LeafsThey think it is about winning, hugging and celebrating in a crass display, that this is the point of the game. And I feel sorry for them.The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple LeafsThey don’t understand that it isn’t this at all, but, as Camus wrote in The Plague, instead is a reminder of our “never-ending defeat.”The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are only for those who can take it, not the world as we dream, but as it truly is: empty and unrelenting.

The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Leaf goaltender Drew McIntyre

Yes, the Leafs are only for pure existentialists. Their recent travails – an eight-game losing streak – has even brought The New York Times on the Being and Nothingness train, citing the “disturbing situation”, “devastating slump”,  and Leaf coach Carlyle’s catch phrase, “Just breathe. Take it easy. Breathe.” The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple LeafsBut they don’t understand. They use these words devastating and disturbing like they’re a bad thing, like they aren’t needed, like they can be avoided. The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple LeafsThey don’t see the wall behind us, the epidemic that’s surrounds. No. All they see is putting the puck in the net. The Existential Play of the Toronto Maple LeafsAnd it’s just so sad.