TORONTO (June 25) — If the National Hockey League is able to move forward with its Return To Play initiative this summer — and I don’t believe COVID–19 will cooperate — predicting the best–of–five “play in” rounds will be rather… Read More
TORONTO (June 22) — I am trying hard to understand, beyond the obvious, why a number of long–time media pals are angry over my stance concerning the National Hockey League’s Return To Play scenario. The obvious being that these people… Read More
TORONTO (June 20) — We’re all aware of the old bromide “many a truth said in jest.” This was, perhaps, best–exemplified early today by my Facebook “friend”, Michael Augello, in Buffalo, New York. After I posted, incredulously, that it’s okay… Read More
TORONTO (June 12) — It remains one of hockey’s abiding mysteries: How is it that Paul Henderson, who scored arguably the most–influential and illustrious goal in the game’s history, cannot qualify as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame?… Read More
TORONTO (June 9) — Nearly three months after the last games were played in the National Hockey League, all remains relatively quiet. The NHL is hoping to gradually build toward a late–summer competition for the 2020 Stanley Cup, but there… Read More
TORONTO (June 6) — In a week during which former Minneapolis policeman, Derek Chauvin, was charged with second–degree murder in the death of black citizen George Floyd — and reviled across the globe — ESPN commentator Max Kellerman took a… Read More
TORONTO (May 28) — Evidently, I’m stupid. That may come as hardly a bulletin to those that frequent this corner. And, particularly, to Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, who invoked the word on Wednesday to describe any person affixing… Read More
TORONTO (May 24) — So, the puck has slid from the players to the National Hockey League’s end of the ice. Gary Bettman’s administration has the final call: a) move forward with a concocted mini–tournament for the Stanley Cup in… Read More
TORONTO (May 15) — It has been more than two months since the Toronto Maple Leafs played a game, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2–1, at Scotiabank Arena on Mar. 10, two days before the National Hockey League responded to… Read More
TORONTO (May 11) — It was two months ago today that I had a standing invitation from the hockey author, Kevin Shea, to attend the following night’s game at Scotiabank Arena between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators —… Read More
TORONTO (May 2) — It’s that date again. For the 53rd consecutive time.
As if anyone that follows the Toronto Maple Leafs need be reminded, it was on this night, in 1967, that the club won its most–recent Stanley Cup.… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 27) — Amid the ambiguity with regard to finishing the 2019–20 National Hockey League season, only one thing is certain: a Stanley Cup tournament cannot be conducted without players.
As much as anyone, I wish for a 2020… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 18) — Off topic, yes, but some venting required: There is no more polarizing figure on the planet right now than United States President Donald Trump. He held that claim long before the COVID–19 pandemic and has augmented… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 12) — It became, without question, the most–familiar lament among hockey fans in this city during the “lost decade” of the 1980’s: “The Maple Leafs won’t win the Stanley Cup until Harold Ballard dies.”
That departure occurred 30… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 10) — Next week, beginning Wednesday afternoon, will be the 50th anniversary of the ill–fated Apollo 13 lunar voyage, during which astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert suffered an explosion of their main oxygen tank while… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 3) — In our COVID–19 universe, laughter is cathartic. Here is one story (among many) from my years (1994–2010) traveling with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a reporter for The FAN–590, Canada’s first all–sports radio station. Hope you… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 31) — A doctor/friend of mine near Philadelphia who works with infectious diseases and is “busier than a seven–peckered monkey in heat” told me yesterday that he has no confidence professional sport will return in this calendar year.… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 28) — Given the multitudes under house arrest during the COVID–19 pandemic, I posted a question on Facebook and Twitter last week asking social media friends to name the most–memorable sports event they have attended. It generated nearly… Read More
Why Can’t The Leafs Be Honest?
The Blue Jays Appear To Be Doomed
Travel Tales With The Leafs: All True
The Leafs Are Chronically Soft
Are We Being Seduced Again?
The Philadelphia Hotel Caper
My Time With The Big Irishman
The Marner Condundrum Escalates
Would Marner Waive For The Apple?
Would Management Show Some Gall?
Is Anyone Going To Say It?
It Was Berube’s Finest Moment
Argos Came Back From The Dead
We Live In A Pathetic Newspaper Era
I’ve been wrong about Dinwiddie
The Leafs Are Great — Today
Bizarre Football Day At The CNE
The Leafs Look Bored — Already
Watch, Admire… and Remember
My Father And Sports
Maybe The Veteran Stuff Will Help
When Your Hero Is No More
Bobcat, Wilbur and the Trial Balloon
It’s Impossible To Predict The Leafs
Toronto Sun Closes Leaf Comments
Dinwiddie Loses Game For The Argos
God Help Fans Of The Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs Are Drug–Addicted
Craig and the Core–4: Hmmm…
How Does Life Go On?
Are The Penguins Pursuing Marner?
They Ambushed The Staff at CHML-900
What About Those Jerseys, Keith?
CFL Command Centre Needs Overhaul