When he wasn't hunting vampires, Abraham Lincoln was busy being one of history's greatest orators. One of his greatest sayings was, "You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time"; something the Toronto Maple Leafs are finding out the hard way right now. Two weeks ago the Leafs were eliminated from the Playoffs and since then they've gone 3-2-2 and nobody is happy about it for a variety of reasons. "Leafs should be losing these games so they get a better draft pick!" "Leafs should have won these games back in February when it mattered!" "Leafs should try their hardest and play Playoff spoilers! (Note: Buffalol)". Etcetera and so on.
Look, you can't ask a professional hockey team to lose games. You simply can't. You may want them to lose games, but getting upset when the team you cheer for wins is patently absurd. Last night on Twitter I saw as many "Great job Phaneuf!" tweets as I did "F*** you Phaneuf you idiot!" ones; all from Leafs fans. Here's a simple question, "Did you cheer for Leafs wins back in October?" Of course you did, and the Leafs won quite a few. Hooray! Then came February and March and suddenly winning hockey games became a big no-no. A win back in October was just as "costly" to the Leafs draft pick as the W they got last night, but nobody was cursing Phil Kessel for scoring a hattrick against Ottawa like they were Dion Phaneuf for last night's OT winner. Either you want the Maple Leafs players to do well and the team to win games, or you don't. If it's the latter that you want, then I'm sorry to say, but you're no fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
That's my two-cents on this. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong in the comments.
Links after the jump.
Leafs Links
Playoff Tickets on Sale - Prospects Added
Jeffler with some Marlies news.
TML Captains: Red Horner 1938-40
The Hockey Writers continue their series on the Leafs leaders.
I Need Matt Frattin to be My New Lanny McDonald
Sorry Mike, but I doubt Fratting can grow that nice of a duster.
Game Recaps
Other Links
A few things that really get Justin Bourne's goat.
The Unfinished Stanley Cup Series
NHL History Girl with the year in which no one won the Cup.
