Patt Quinn

“QUINN, STOP CHEWING THAT GUM AND COACH YOUR TEAM” were words that I heard throughout my entire childhood (granted, i can guarantee you that there were a few profanities thrown into that sentence).  Even when Pat Quinn was no longer the coach of my beloved leafs, I would still hear my father yelling Quinn’s name at the TV, simply because yelling “QUINN” was just easier to say. For a long while, Pat Quinn’s name was the soundtrack to my life and as you may have heard, he has recently passed.  

He was a man who will forever be remembered by the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and the National Hockey League itself without a doubt.

I think it’s only fitting that I take this time out of my day to pay tribute to the great Pat Quinn, so thank you Quinn. Thank you for the memories, thank you for coaching the leafs, even at their worst. Thank you for putting up with us rowdy leaf fans, and thank you for being one of the best coaches to ever have coached the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Rest in peace, Coach.

Positivity, People!

I watch Sportscentre and I wonder if the media likes to stir up drama or if what they say actually means something. Granted, my dream is to be apart of this media world, but it’s something to talk about.

Today in particular, the city of Toronto went into frenzy because the Leafs didn’t give their traditional game salute after they won against The Tampa Bay Lighting. Was it the Leaf fans to make a big deal out of this or was it the media? Is this snub something that is actually worth discussing? Was it a snub at all?

Here’s what I think;The leafs have been through a rough 10 days. After the Boston beat down, things went downhill. But I mean, that’s classic leafs right? The loss to Pittsburg wasn’t something to go crazy over, but after losing to Buffalo and Nashville in the fashion that they did, there was reason to worry.

Maybe the leafs made this gesture because they were frustrated with fans throwing jerseys on the ice. Maybe they were trying to make a point. I truly believe that the fans at the game last night went home happy because the team won, I don’t think the fact that they weren’t saluted at the end of the game was on their minds until they got home and saw that the media was talking about it and blowing it out of proportion.

But really, the city of Toronto right now should be discussing something much more positive. This of course being the Raptors. THE TEAM IS 10-2, LET’S BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND WHY DON’T WE!!!! Let go of the anguish that you feel about this supposed leafs snub (because really, who cares) and be excited about where we are as a city in the NBA. Not for anything, but this is big. Let’s rise together and be proud.

#WeTheNorth

Growing Pains

Every great professional sports team has had a low point. Not one team in professional sports history has won every season in a row, which is not likely to happen… ever. Teams go through the growing years, the growing pains and all of the ridicule that comes along with it, but soon enough it will be the day that the team reaches it’s ultimate goal. The Stanley Cup. The World Series. The Super bowl. The NBA Championship. The World Cup. A Gold Medal. The Masters. The British Open. Whatever it may be, all those days, weeks, months, maybe even years of growing pains and ups and downs will be completely worth it.

I’m writing this more from a student life standpoint but trying to relate it back to sports because that’s what I always find myself doing somehow. High school is an experience that we all go through. We all go through heartbreak, loss of friendship, humiliation and maybe your hopes and dreams crashing down around you. What I’ve come to realize lately is that we can’t dwell on the fact that bad things are happening to us. We have to grow from where we are. If bad things never happened to us then we would never be able to grow and learn from experience.

My grade 12 year has been a lot less of what I have expected it to be so far, I’ve lost friends and I’ve been heartbroken. But that’s apart of it all.

If the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t go through years of humiliation and pressure from fans, do you think they would have won the World Series back to back in 1992, and in 1993? No. They went through their own growing pains.

The point I’m trying to get across while writing this is that if you are feeling low just remember that this is all apart of life. Every aspect of the world goes through a cycle of sadness and disappointment, but it’s only temporary.

You will get to your World Series one day, I promise.