Words from the worst sports city in the world

Grantland, presented by Subway, published a story on Wednesday calling Toronto the worst sports city in all the world. This is a unique distinction which, if I understand it correctly, makes it a worse place to be fan than Tehran, home of Azadi Stadium; worse than Pyongyang, where all soccer is played under the guidance of Fatherly Leader and his invisible cell phones; worse than Yangon, Burma or Freetown, Sierra Leone.

How did it get to be such a bad place? Because the teams lose, mostly. Most of the time, anyway.

After all, it's horrors beyond horrors that Toronto hasn't won anything since 1993 (unless you count the Argos, which Marche doesn't do until it suits his hypotheses). I wake up in the middle of the night with a jolt, sweat-drenched, angry beyond words about Tie Domi on a semi-regular basis. But it also isn't that big of a deal: so what if the Leafs lose every year. The Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908 and life has gone on there ever since. The Jays lost tonight. C'est la vie.

It's worth noting that in his slam on Toronto, Marche gets a few little things wrong. Like who owns the Blue Jays (Rogers, not MLSE), the Argos record, the idea the Leafs haven't purchased any players despite a vast riches (never mind that the NHL operates on a salary cap) or that Toronto never took to Mats Sundin (never mind the ovation he got as a Vancouver Canuck). And it's Marche's opinion that the Leafs best chance at winning a cup was in 2001, but don't forget they made it deeper in the playoffs the next year.

To me, the biggest question about the whole piece is why. Why does he think Toronto is so bad for fans? It certainly doesn't bother me that the Jays are missing the postseason since I'm not the guy from Big Fan. Toronto teams lose; every city has losing teams. When Marche calls out the Leafs for not making the playoffs in six years, one wonders why that's some violation of his fandom. The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't made the playoffs recently either and nobody proposes the "inverted statue" for their owners. And nevermind that Marche doesn't mention the Leafs were a two points - one NHL win - away from the playoffs in 2007.

There's a kernal of truth when he says the city loves scrappy overachiever; the mundane player who shows up on time, all the time. John MacDonald was beloved here and the Jays went as far as to honor Kelly Gruber's number. Every Leaf fan I've ever known - myself included - has adored Wendel Clark, who - lets face it - was a not a strong first-overall pick.

But find me a city where this doesn't happen. Boston, recently named the best sports city in the world, idolized the Lunch Pail Gang teams of the late 1970s. Find me a media market that didn't award David Eckstein the title "scrappy."

He only focuses on the minor teams when they fail, too. The Argos are underwhelming right now, but they won the Grey Cup in 2004. He ignores every season of Toronto FC except their first, when they were an expansion team. Even the Toronto Raptors get shortchanged: they're mentioned twice and their postseasons - 2008 and 2007 - go unnoticed.

If Toronto sports are failing you so completely, Marche, maybe it's time you took a break to one of the world's better sports towns. I hear Pyongyang is nice this time of year. And they have a good soccer program, too.

Shakedown on Bay Street

“Pretty soon now, will be a quitter.

Pretty soon now, I will be bitter.

You can't see it 'til it's finished.”
- Talking Heads, Artists Only

There’s trouble brewing in the downtown, and it’s not pretty. The Leafs are a team in trouble. On the ice, they’re underachieving and losing whatever steam they had fast.

Granted, they managed to not just beat, but to shut out, Ottawa, one of the best teams in the NHL. But they followed that up with two bad losses, one to Dallas on Friday and one to Phoenix on Saturday.

But you know what? That’s not even the worst part of it.

Not that I want to sound like an apologist, but both Dallas and Phoenix are good teams. The Stars are second in the West right now and the recent addition of Ilya Bryzgalov has put Phoenix in position to make a playoff run.

No, it’s their front office that’s in shambles right now. It’s a power struggle, the classic end-game scenario that plays out every so often.

Right now, John Ferguson Jr. is blaming Paul Maurice for the Leafs problems and tried to fire him over it. But Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment overruled him. Maurice is a company guy, somebody they brought up through the ranks. Remember, he’s only a few years removed from coaching the Marlies.

No, it’s JFJ who seems to be on the firing line, and with good reason. During his term as GM for the Leafs, he has overseen numerous great deals that have helped to push the Leafs to just above .500.

Deals that have seen first round picks fly away. Deals that have brought in such star players as Mark Bell. Deals that have seen valued prospects – such as current Bruins goalie Tukka Rask – leave, replaced by people who aren’t playing up to par.

Deals that have seen the Leafs fall from the playoffs, and into the cellar.

Perhaps they learn their lesson a bit late, but MLSE does learn. And when they do, they take out on the GM, sometimes cruelly.

This is what they did to Ron Babcock not too long ago. The then-GM of the Toronto Raptors, Babcock was first stripped of his power, and then marginalized and terminated when the Raptors brought in Wayne Embry.

Babcock has since disappeared from the ranks of General Managers in the NBA.

So, is this what it happening with JFJ right now? Are the Leafs preparing to ‘clean house’?

While on one hand, it certainly looks like it.

But on the other, why should they do it now? Who else is there to replace him?

The Raptors managed to secure Bryan Colangelo from Phoenix, a stroke of genius, when the Suns cut him loose.

But there are no Colangelos on the horizon in the NHL. The best-qualified candidate was rumoured to be Scotty Bowman, who was widely said to have rejected the offer right up.

Also rumored are Mark Messier, Steve Yzerman or Ron Francis, all of whom have exactly zero experience as a GM.

Would they do any better? Maybe. They have no experience, but Garth Snow has done a good job without any in New York.

Does that mean that the Leafs should change GMs in the middle of the season?

Yes.

The Leafs need a shakeup, and firing JFJ is less disruptive then firing Maurice, who remains a capable coach. After all, JFJ has had numerous chances to prove himself as a GM but has yet to succeed.

It’s time for a change in Toronto. End power struggle now, before it derails the team’s season any further.

How the Argos lost - Notes on the 07 East Final

Nobody thought it would end like this – but nobody foresaw the Argonaut’s fingers seemingly coated in butter, either.
Yes, the Toronto Argonauts, who entered the playoffs winning their last seven games in a row, lost decisively to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a game marred by turnovers – some three on each side.
As the fourth quarter started, with the Bombers inside the Argo 10 yard line, it looked as if the Bombers were going to try and wrap things up. After all, they led 19 – 1; the game was theirs to lose.
But when Bomber QB Kevin Glenn hurt his arm in the fourth while diving on a loose ball, the momentum shifted, significantly, to the battered Argos.
One monster pass to Arlen Bruce III later, and the game, the Argos and even the fans, roared back to life.
Michael Bishop showed off his powerful throwing arm, driving the Argos some 92 yards to their first touchdown of the game with some long, precise passes, capped off with his own quarterback sneak for the major.
As reserve quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie came in for the Bombers, the Argo fans were on their feet and screaming.
It seemed a lot like the inverse of the last Eastern Final played in the Rogers Centre in 2005. In that game, the Argos led throughout the first half, only to collapse to Montreal – and in particular, to QB Anthony Calvillo – in the second, losing 33-17.
“All of a sudden, this isn’t the Rogers Centre - this is the noise dome,” said CBC’s Steve Armitage.
But Dinwiddie pulled it out. Airing the ball, and running down the clock, he wore down the Toronto defence with long passes. A touchdown pass to Edwards sealed the victory for the Bombers.
Or did it? The ref on the field had to check it out – and then went to the booth for a review. And it was overturned.
And then the Argos grabbed another fumble in their own end.
“Are you kidding me,” shouted CBC’s colour commentator Khari Jones. “That’s their third fumble today!
“They should be blowing the Argos out!”
But Toronto’s ball-handling woes continued, as their receivers dropped passes that would have brought the Argos deep into Winnipeg territory.
Winnipeg’s smothering defence kept the Argos out of the game, clogging the secondary and keeping Bishop under pressure – including a huge sack late in the fourth.
It was an incomplete pass, late in the fourth that sealed it – although, with less then two minutes to play, what could the Argos have done? They would have needed a touchdown, then a field goal – just to tie.
Nonetheless, the Bombers prevailed. They limited the Argos to just 31 rushing yards and keeping the Argo offense smothered, like a heavy blanket put on a fire, for three quarters.
“We played them well all year,” said Winnipeg running back Charles Roberts.
“We took it upon ourselves to come out here and prove them wrong.”
And so, what an upset it was. The Bombers were seven underdogs going into this game, but they played like 14 point favourites. They ran the ball, they passed the ball and they, most importantly, stopped the Argos from doing likewise.
Simply put, they played like champs.
And in the end, that was the only thing that mattered.

The (worst) trade of year

It's a textbook case of getting dimes on the dollar. It's the worst trade in Toronto since Vincer Carter was traded for, well, a sack of nothing. Worse then the Roger Clemens trade. It's even worse then trading for Doug Gilmour a couple years back.

As a Leafs fan, it's pretty much a final straw for me this season.

And, hopefully, the last move made by John Furguson Jr (We'll get to that later).

By trading Mikael Tellqvist to Phoenix for Tyson Nash, the Leafs have made maybe the most confusing move I've seen all year. Gone is a solid, if expensive, #3 goalie for an enforcer, a guy who'll be hard pressed to make the fourth line, if he even cracks the lineup at all (He hasn't even played an NHL game all year).

I don't get it. The Leafs need better scoring - I hate to say it, but if they can get a solid forward for Steen, I'd be okay with it - not some guy who can't score (despite his only youtube clip : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0VFIU8fW_Y ) and won't even play.

Have I said that enough times? This guy is going right to the Marlies. They just traded a solid backup, although one that's hard pressed to be a #2 on Toronto's stuffed goalie squad, for a guy who won't even be playing for them. Forget the Vince Carter trade - at least the Raptors ended up with something.

So, what does this do for the Leafs? I don't know - their cap is barely any different (Tellqvist was only getting $525,000 a year) and they have a guy who TSN calls "extremely injury-prone" and only has the potential to be a "fourth line agitator". It doesn't make any sense to me. None. If the Leafs had traded for a draft pick, that would make sense - I guess. If they had traded for - okay, Phoenix doesn't have a heck of a lot - something other then a washed up enforcer, I would get it.

The Leafs were getting rid of a goalie they didn't need to a team that really needed one - they should have been the sellers, they should have been able to land a prospect for him - and they really didn't get anything for him.

Yes, this is a minor move - but it's what seperates good General Managers from the great GMs - John Furgusion went with what he could get, not what he needed (better defence, maybe a scorer).

And by doing that, trading dimes on the dollar, he's left me angry enough to not care about the Leafs for now. When Rob Babcock pulled this kind of stunt he was escorted out of town. The Blue Jays let Gord Ash go after a series of trades crippled them in the late 1990s.

I think it's time for JFJ to join them.

A Completely unacceptable situation

It was the same story all over again - but hopefully with a different resolution.

When Shea Hillenbrand exploded in the Jays clubhouse, it signaled the end of his tenure on the club. After all, calling the team a "sinking ship" and almost coming to blows with your manager would end your employment almost anywhere.

So when Ted Lilly got angry on the mound during the third inning of tonight's game against the A's, almost everybody had the same thought on their mind - "Not again!".

(Although, there was a loud, bald man sitting right behind me whose thoughts were elsewhere - like how he felt it was necessary to explain to his kids that the Jays don't matter because they're "Never in the race"... Or to the 20-something guy next to me, who felt the need to talk to his girlfriend about everything - his at-bat music (Golddigger by Kanye West), what the K means on the scoresheet, what's behind that wall with the 200 painted on it... )

But it didn't look too bad - while I could see that Lilly wasn't about to go down without a fight (okay, so maybe he pouted like a kid in house league - it's still a fight, by baseball standards anyway) I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined what would happen next:

John Gibbons came out of the clubhouse with (allegedly) a bloody nose.

That's right - Ted Lilly may have hit his manager - or at least that's the angle that the media's already jumped onto.

I refused to blow a fuse /
They even had it on the news /
Don't believe the hype...

Public Enemy - Don't believe the hype

For both his and John Gibbons part, Lilly has said that his behavior was completely unacceptable - and Gibbons has said that the fight never took place... But if indeed John had a bloody nose (from my spot on the foul line, on the A's side of the field, I never saw anything that made me think Lilly was going to hit Gibbons, or even do anything more then sass him) then this is indeed a completely unacceptable situation.

For a team that went into this season with such high hopes - the Jays signed new pitchers, got some big bats and were finally looking like they could contend with the big boys of the AL East - this season has been less then spectacular. We've seen big names go away (Hillenbrand, Hinske). Major players have been gone with injuries (Chacin, Burnett). And some people have just been busts (Towers) or, at best, just hot-and-cold (Janssen). With all the fighting that's been going on, it's no wonder that Vernon Wells wants to leave - if it's this bad in public, imagine how chaotic the clubhouse must get.

So yes, it's not too soon to say the this season is pretty much wrapped up - the Jays are 10 games back of the Yankees as I write this for the AL East lead and are 7.5 (and behind LA, Minnesota and the Red Sox) games back of the Wild Card White Sox. And while it's entirely possible that the Red Sox could go on a 14 game losing streak, the Twins could get stranded on a mountain and the Angels could vanish in Area 51 - the Jays still wouldn't win the Wild Card - and the AL East... Well, let's just say that it's way beyond reach and leave it there since I can't say positive things about the Yankees unless I've had a few drinks first.

It's not as if the season has been a waste though - the Yankees and the Red Sox have had to whip out really good seasons just to be in the top two spots. Hell, with a little luck the Jays could very well go above the Red Sox in the standings (they're only back by something like 3.5 games). Toronto has finally proven that they can compete with the big boys - and if they can get the clubhouse settled down, Toronto would seem to be a good place for a free agent to land: it's not a media-centre like Boston, where even the smallest details get discussed to death by obsessive fans in the media... And it's not New York, where you're always in the spotlight (for better or worse).

And if Wells wants out - then maybe the Jays should make a move for a pitcher (I've said it before and I'm going to say it again: get Javier Vasquez. Sure, it's not as if the White Sox want (or need) Vernon Wells, but at least put it out there. Try and get Wily Mo Pena as the "Player to be named later" in the Hinske trade. Bring back the Boomer - David Wells. He doesn't have to pitch... But bring him back anyway. He can toss BP, drive the bullpen car or just be a spokesman - just bring him back, please.