2015 July

Jays Thinking Business Over Strategy

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 28) — In the end, there really was no choice. While ferrying the longest playoff drought (21 seasons) of any team in the four major North American sports — and with more than two months… Read More

Anthopoulos, Blue Jays Are Going For It

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 28) — Good morning, Blue Jays fans. While you slept, the club added to its bulky stable of run–producing bats, acquiring shortstop and five–time all–star Troy Tulowitzki, 30, and soon–to–retire pitcher LaTroy Hawkins, 42, from… Read More

Blue Jays at the Crossroad

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 27) — Four days. Ninety–six hours. That’s all we have left to determine whether the Toronto Blue Jays will maintain a bright future beyond the current Major League season. The earmark for potential calamity is… Read More

Debunking My Own Myth

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 26) — Perhaps I’ve been caught drinking the Kool Aid. Though it is mid–summer, and thirst can become pervasive, I’ve normally strayed from gulping blue–and–white beverage. But, maybe not this time. In my Friday blog,… Read More

Leafs Motor Along As Usual

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 24) — If you believe that success or failure begins at the top of any company or enterprise, the Toronto Maple Leafs will end the longest Stanley Cup drought at some point in the foreseeable… Read More

Lamoriello Will Not “Mentor” Anyone

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 23) — Put your hands up, all of you that anticipated Lou Lamoriello would be named “new” general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs (stunned expressions; arms at side). I thought so. Count me vehemently… Read More

Leafs, Bernier Still Negotiating

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 15) — The mystery regarding the Maple Leafs and goalie Jonathan Bernier is rather limited given that Bernier will remain property of the club in any eventuality. Last month, the Leafs elected to take Bernier… Read More

Sparks Fly on Blue Jays Sunday Telecast

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 12) — The Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals hooked up in one of the most ineptly played games of the Major League Baseball season on Sunday at Kaufman Stadium. A total of 21… Read More

Debating the Leafs — Two Weeks Later

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 10) — Where on Earth did time go? As I was penning the headline to this blog, I nearly wrote, “Debating the Leafs — One Week Later.” Then it hit me: The Connor McDavid draft… Read More

The Toronto Six

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 8) — In my last blog, I recalled a difficult juncture in the spring and summer of 1970 that included the Kent State shootings and the crash of a DC–8 jetliner northeast of Toronto Pearson… Read More

This is Kadri’s Last Chance

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 6) — There are doubtlessly three words (one slang) that Ron Wilson, Randy Carlyle and Peter Horachek would have for Mike Babcock as it pertains to Nazem Kadri: “Good friggin’ luck.” Perhaps the current head… Read More

Might Leafs Already Have Their GM?

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 4) — Kyle Dubas is a young man with a boy’s face. And, he just helped to pull off one of the most important trades in recent Toronto Maple Leafs history — the multi–component deal… Read More

Will Maple Leafs Trend Ever Change?

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 2) — It began, without warning, on a quiet Sunday in early–March 1968. Of course, there was little chance of any real–time alert back then, in the days long before the Internet and social media.… Read More

Leafs Make Superb Deal For Kessel

By HOWARD BERGER TORONTO (July 1) — Happy Canada Day, Leafs Nation. Your team can now begin wobbling toward contention under Mike Babcock. The new, much–celebrated coach made it clear while negotiating his monster, eight–year deal that the Leafs could… Read More