2016-2017 Leafs Season Wrap

Here we are my fellow leaf fans, a day that we all knew would sooner or later come, but kept hoping for the best. First of all, I just want to put it out there how incredible it has been to watch the leafs play over the past year. Hockey that I didn’t know could even exist in the city of Toronto was played right in front of my eyes and I have never been so thankful.

            For the first time in a really long time, it wasn’t a dread to watch a leaf game. All throughout the season, and that playoff run, I was glued to my TV, watching those young kids become something of themselves, and make something of our city, that we all have been longing for, for a very long time.

            As I watched as that last goal sneak past Anderson tonight, I immediately thought of all the great things this team is going to accomplish in the next couple of years. No one even believed the leafs would be able to keep up with the Caps in this series, but somehow they did and I feel so lucky to have witnessed it. Despite the minor (and major) anxiety attacks I’ve had the past two weeks from the leafs, I would never trade in that feeling of excitement for the world. This is what being a sports fan is all about. Going through the crappy seasons with your team (and in Toronto there have been many of them) to getting to the good part like this. The part that you know great things are going to happen soon.

            I know that in a couple years when the Leafs do win the cup (because they will), I’ll remember this day… how I cried for a good 15 minutes after the game ended, and thought to the future for better days to come for the leafs. As for now, the season is a wrap and the leafs can be proud of themselves for what they accomplished this season. The maple leafs gained a lot of confidence from everyone in the city this year. This is just the beginning on what is going to be a team that Toronto has never ever seen before.

Toronto Sports - April 2017

            Being a Toronto sports fan the past couple years has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. There have been so many things to be happy about, so many things to take away from the past couple of seasons from our favorite sports teams. I don’t remember a time in my life where I’ve been able to be excited about so many actually DECENT teams from the city that I live in.

            I guess we should start with the leafs. I mean, I don’t want to get ahead of myself, because after all they are the LEAFS. Anything can happen in the last couple games of the season, and until the leafs are actually clinched in the playoffs, I don’t want to jinx anything. BUT COME ON… The leafs are actually good. I can’t even believe I’m saying that, but it’s true. It’s been quite a while since the leafs have actually been a good team. I mean, yes of course in 2013 they made the playoffs in the shortened season, but this time if they do make it, its going to feel a little bit more real. Matthews, Marner and Nylander are making history and we are all privileged to watch it. That’s the best part of it for me. Not only are they sitting in a playoff spot, but it’s THEIR FIRST YEAR. And you know that means? It means years of GREAT hockey to be played in the city of Toronto. Whether or not the leafs make the playoffs, or make it deep into the playoffs, it’s only the beginning of the beautiful journey these young guys are about to take us all on.

            The Raptors have been making us in the north a very happy fan base for the past couple of years. This has a lot to do with the work of Masai Ujiri and of course the brilliant play of  Lowry and Derozan. I’m not going to lie, my heart was quite broken when they lost to the Cavs, but it was a learning experience and that’s the most important thing that we can take away from last years playoffs. Considering the fact that the Raps are clinched, we can all anticipate a great first round. Picking up Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker was HUGE for the team, and those are two players that can really have a big impact come playoff time.

            The Jays season is days away and I can’t believe how fast it’s come. It feels like a couple weeks ago that Edwin hit that grand slam sending the jays to the ALDS. Since then, we’ve lost Edwin, but gained a lot of key players that can potentially make this season a great one for the Jays. A lot of people I talk to are critical of the way they think the Jays are going to do this year, but the only thing we can do is hope for the best. The past couple of season the Jays brought me pieces of history that I will remember for the rest of my life and for that I’ll be forever thankful.

            TFC plays there home opener tonight at BMO Field. If you thought baseball season came back quickly, I think the MLS season came faster. I feel like that cold day in December was just a little while ago. That game messed with my head in more ways than one, and I will go over those penalty shots again and again and wonder why it had to end that way. But let’s not dwell. Giovinco and TFC brought excitement and passion into the city with their playoff run last year. I can only imagine that there will be more in store for us this year.

            Overall, it’s an exciting time in the sports world everywhere, but the excitement feels so real right now in the city. There is so much going on I can hardly keep track. No matter how many times Toronto sports teams have broken your heart, you keep going back for more. We are all under a spell that pulls us back in after every season that our hearts have been broken. We are captivated by the passion that these teams unite in us all. All there is to do now is watch in excitement and cheer as loud as we can, because like I always say, there is no better feeling in the world than being a sports fan.