From the Branches: Don’t even pretend Maple Leafs fans don’t know how bad fandom can be

Last week I published an FTB pointing the low attendance at the Coyotes at Senators game. I was mocking what people say when pictures of a badly attended Panthers game is brought up “bad fans, Canada’s better, it wouldn’t happen in a proper market where it snows”, the usual wanking over maple syrup and free health care. Most people got a chuckle and moved on.

Not Senators fans. Oh no, my inbox has been racking up the e-mails.

Here’s the thing: When most of the replies start with “You wouldn’t understand, you’re a Leafs fan.”, your argument is silly and I stop paying attention (unless I like you, hi Mat!). Or if it’s 18 paragraphs about the Seattle basketball team, because WTF, I’m not reading that.

(You all could learn from Sabres fans who just send a “fuck you” and leave it at that.)

I wouldn’t understand what? Bad ownership? Let me point you at Steve “slash payroll and flip off Gretzky” Stavro and Harold “Turn up the heat and shut off the water fountains” Ballard. Yeah, Leafs past ownership makes Eugene Melnyk look like Santa Claus.

Would I not understand what a bad team on the ice looks like? Let me point you to LAST FUCKING SEASON.

I wouldn’t understand how to react to a bad season? I’ve been to eight Leafs games since the cancelled season and spent less than $50 on MLSE products. I can enjoy my team and not give them any money. I don’t pay for the Leafs games I watch on TV (free GCL). I don’t pay for attending Marlies games. I don’t buy merchandise. I don’t buy clothing. But yeah, I don’t know how to react to a bad team because I’m a Leafs fan.

Leafs fans don’t know how to be good fans because they always show up no matter what? Let’s take a look at attendance and these so called “bad teams”.

Yes, the ACC has been sold out for every Leafs game from here to eternity. This is based on two things: 1) There’s a strong corporate base in Toronto and that’s a huge chunk of tickets sold right there. 2) The Leafs are turning 100 years old and that translates to one of the largest fanbases in the world. People travel from far and wide to see a Leafs game. The cost, planning, and time it takes to organize a trip to a game, you may not have the chance to even think about how they’re doing in the standings.

So sure, when your fanbase is less than 30 years old and centralized in a corner of a province, yeah, it’s easy to pull a so-called “protest”. But wait, you don’t even do that, look how steady that attendance is. Don’t pretend the shitty attendance for the Coyotes - Senators game was any kind of organized protest tor anything. When the Sens miss the playoffs attendance barely dips. I’d believe these claims if it dropped to Hurricanes or Islanders levels.

Finally, the biggest excuse: Location. Yes, Kanata is hard to get to, and takes time. You know what else is a big inconvenience to get to a game?

HAVING A GIANT LAKE IN THE WAY. (Okay this is just my personal issue, whatever it’s my rant).

Yeah, it can be frustrating to be a fan sometimes, owners can be cheap, teams can be bad, arenas can be far, and people can write mean things about your team.

Suck it up buttercup we all go through it. Some of us just have more company in the stands to suffer with.

Don’t @ me.

Here are your stupid links.

Who should the Leafs leave unprotected in the expansion draft? Editor in Leaf thinks Uncle Leo and Matt Martin should lead the way.

Should we worry about the start to the season? The Leafs Nation says no.

Connor Brown is finally in the NHL and The Athletic says he’s here to stay.

The Leafs recent road trip was a learning experience.

Last Word on Sports says the Leafs have the tools to get the job done.

Vintage Leafs Memories reflects on the first five games.

PK Subban wants to be remembered in Nashville.

The NY Rangers did Hallowe’en alright.

Finally, DGB shares the sad tales of the NHL teams to never be invited to the outdoor parties.