Howard Berger

30 Years Ago: How It All Started

TORONTO (Jan. 11) — It was a shot in the dark that landed bullseye. An idea so preposterous that it must have resulted from paralyzing fatigue. Even if, unwittingly, it became the genesis of my career path in sports radio.… Read More

Why Can’t The Leafs Be Honest?

TORONTO (Jan. 4) — “Yeah, I don’t know. I hope so. That’s obviously the goal.” In precisely 11 words, Auston Matthews spoke, on Thursday, more sincerely and genuinely than the team that pays him $13.25 million to score goals. The… Read More

The Blue Jays Appear To Be Doomed

TORONTO (Dec. 29) — Call Edward Rogers anything you wish (and the off–color names will surely intensify, next summer, when he assumes controlling interest in the Toronto Maple Leafs). Just do not call him stupid. Not yet, anyway. Rogers would… Read More

Travel Tales With The Leafs: All True

TORONTO (Dec. 25) — Merry Christmas. As any hockey fan in this city will attest, the game is often dealt with in life–and–death terms, particularly when the Maple Leafs lapse into a slump. But, I had the unique privilege of… Read More

The Leafs Are Chronically Soft

TORONTO (Dec. 23) — Forget the consecutive home losses to the New York Islanders and Winnipeg before the Christmas break in the National Hockey League. I’m still back in Buffalo, last Friday night, when the Toronto Maple Leafs doubled the… Read More

Are We Being Seduced Again?

TORONTO (Dec. 17) — After 31 games this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have amassed 40 points. After 31 games last season, the Maple Leafs had amassed 40 points. And, yet again, we appear to be watching the best version… Read More

The Philadelphia Hotel Caper

TORONTO (Dec. 14) — Of all the stories I’ve told from my 17 seasons covering the Toronto Maple Leafs on radio at The FAN–590, this one stands alone. So claims my 28–year–old son, Shane, a lifelong follower of the Blue… Read More

My Time With The Big Irishman

TORONTO (Dec. 9) — It has been more than 10 years since Hall–of–Fame coach Pat Quinn died (Nov. 23, 2014) of a liver ailment. Quinn coached and managed the Maple Leafs from 1998–99 to 2005–06, which coincided with my years… Read More

The Marner Condundrum Escalates

TORONTO (Dec. 5) — As of this writing, which began just before noon today, a couple of facts were undeniable: a) the Toronto Maple Leafs sat atop the Atlantic Division with the stingiest defensive club in the Eastern Conference… and… Read More

Would Marner Waive For The Apple?

TORONTO (Nov. 30) — Let me start, today, by repeating the impetus for my last blog: If the Maple Leafs allow Mitch Marner to don another National Hockey League jersey, it will be the largest blunder in franchise history. Bigger… Read More

Would Management Show Some Gall?

TORONTO (Nov. 27) — It’s often been said that teams in the National Hockey League determine what they have, and what they need, by the American Thanksgiving. Or… by tomorrow. At which time the Toronto Maple Leafs could sit atop… Read More

Is Anyone Going To Say It?

TORONTO (Nov. 25) — Surely, there’s a candidate amid local hockey scribes to tell the denizens of Leafs Nation the boldface truth: their favorite team is a better team without Auston Matthews. If I were the wagering sort, my dough… Read More

It Was Berube’s Finest Moment

TORONTO (Nov. 23) — Hold one hand close to your face and read the following sentence through the gap between your fingers. It’s a chilling prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yet, undeniable at the quarter–mark of the National Hockey… Read More

Argos Came Back From The Dead

TORONTO (Nov. 18) — The team upon which I threw in the towel near the end of September tossed it right back at me — full of the blood, sweat and snot required to overcome crippling adversity and win the… Read More

We Live In A Pathetic Newspaper Era

TORONTO (Nov. 16) — Any person beyond the age of 40 would have to agree that newspaper coverage of sports is dying. Slowly and excruciatingly. Which sadly jibes with the pattern, today, of instant information and reaction; ushered in —… Read More

I’ve been wrong about Dinwiddie

TORONTO (Nov. 11) — There are occasions in the past four years when the Toronto Argonauts have prevailed in spite of Ryan Dinwiddie. He’s frustrated me. I’ve let it be known in this space. Without reservation. On Saturday, however, the… Read More

The Leafs Are Great — Today

TORONTO (Nov. 7) — I am forever baffled over the propensity, in this sports market, to draw conclusions from one day to the next. Starting with the first shift of the National Hockey League season. And, continuing for the usual… Read More

Bizarre Football Day At The CNE

TORONTO (Nov. 3) — This was a typical day in the life of the Canadian Football League. Particularly, in the life of the 2024 Toronto Argonauts, who are still standing despite a season full of peculiar game plans and play… Read More