TORONTO (May 26) — Clearly, two sets of rules and requirements exist in the Rogers sports empire. If not, there isn’t a person of mental acuity that can explain why Mark Shapiro retains authority over the Toronto Blue Jays the week after Brendan Shanahan was fired by the Maple Leafs. Given the length of time Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment stuck with Shanahan, Shapiro and Atkins should have been out of the picture years ago. At least Shanahan brought ambition and structure to a drowsy franchise; his undoing, the blind loyalty toward regular–season superstars that pull up lame. Like clockwork. But, the Maple Leafs consistently provided the company lucrative home playoff dates in the Shanahan years. The Shapiro Blue Jays? A nifty facelift of the outdated cookie–cutter in the Rogers family name. With absolutely nothing in the manner of playoff proceeds… or promise.

Until otherwise clarified, it appears Shapiro cemented his place with the Blue Jays merely by executing Ed the Conqueror’s stadium redesign; thereby assuring an increase in profit margin. It’s clear that nothing else matters at Rogers. Including the constantly mediocre product on the baseball field that fans pay through the nostrils to support. It is actually frightening to imagine what could occur with the Maple Leafs once Rogers has rid himself of Bell Canada Enterprises and its 37.5% nuisance. If King Edward lowers the hockey club’s standard to that of his baseball team, many more lean playoff years are certain for the game’s most–loyal fans. That’s where Keith Pelley has to remain the strong–armed executive. Unquestionably, he’ll be forced to rise above the conscience and ideology of his blasé employer. If Pelley can do so, and finally advocate on behalf of this tormented hockey region, the Leafs stand a chance. Otherwise, the club is assured to plummet under Rogers’ majority ownership precisely as have the Blue Jays. There is no way to avoid such inevitability — with the baseball blueprint there for all to see.

In hindsight, Shanahan should have sold Ed the Conqueror on a re–design of Scotiabank Arena, which looks like an early 1970’s livingroom. Otherwise, if a professional sports owner can sit back and watch his team get shamed and annihilated the way the Blue Jays were in Tampa on the weekend, that person doesn’t give a damn. 3–1, 3–1 and 13–0! 19–2 in three games with a $500 million “slugger” leading the way. And, the same run–scoring inefficiency that has plagued this club for three years. How can any of that change by fielding the identical core personnel, season after season? Alert Maple Leafs fans have been asking that question for ages… without reply.

Moreover, what truly needs to happen for a shake–up in the Rogers’ baseball wing? Clearly, at the moment, it is beyond anything we can comprehend, with a middling .500 record as the club’s realistic target. If the Leafs had been pummeled, relatively, over three games — say 1–0, 1–0 and 8–1 — don’cha think some issues might be raised? As they particularly should with a baseball team that hasn’t won a playoff round in eight seasons? Combine that with the drought the Leafs finally ended in 2023 and you have zero playoff triumphs in 27 years (19+8) for companies with the deepest pockets across the land. If the people that operate the two (soon to be one) sports conglomerates have no principles or remorse, why should the rest of us? Fair question, isn’t it?

Which points to the crux of the hockey matter for decades here in Toronto, now applied to baseball: the Maple Leafs do not have to win… or even try to win. Supply and demand assures there are six times the number of people yearning for tickets than seats inside Scotiabank Arena. Why hasn’t Ed the Conqueror formulated a scheme for the Leafs to play in the Dome? Where he can sell 40,000 tickets per night, rather than close to 20,000? Does anyone think the hordes wouldn’t flock? Regardless of sighlines? No matter the cost? As they continue to mostly fill Ed’s renovated playpen for a stagnant, second–rate baseball team? This city is too rich for empty seats to prevail with the Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays. Sadly, the Argonauts — by far, best of the bunch — are no–longer in that category. But, the “big” teams? There is no standard to maintain. Merely putting on the uniform is sufficient.

We watch as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl carry Canada’s flag in the Stanley Cup playoffs for a third consecutive spring. In recent times, we’ve had Kane and Toews; Kopitar and Carter; Crosby and Malkin; Zetterberg and Datsyuk; Kucherov and Stamkos. Here in Toronto, for too long, it’s been Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi.

As frightful in the playoffs as one can imagine.

And, we wonder… where does it go from here?

HONESTLY, THIS WAS 30 YEARS AGO…

So, where were you in May 1995? I had just turned 36 and was finishing my first season covering the Leafs, home and away, for The FAN–590. Max Domi wasn’t yet three months old; his father, Tie, to be reacquired by the club late in that lockout–shortened, 48–game season. Morgan Rielly was eight months into life. None of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner or William Nylander were yet alive. While you look at the newspaper images and headlines in this blog, however, tell me what has changed about the Leafs. Other than the calendar and roster names. The club was choking in the playoffs even then — frittering a 2–0 series lead built on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks. As in this spring, losing four of the last five matches; three of them on home–ice at Maple Leaf Gardens. Big changes needed then to break a “pattern” that is nine years in length with the current nucleus.

Does it not boggle the mind?

Count the examples of questions and statements that can still be made about the Leafs. Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star even used the ‘C’–word (below). She didn’t want to, but it slipped beneath her tapping fingers.

 
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