Now Comes The Hard Part

TORONTO (Apr. 23) — It isn’t often, if ever, that a team will pursue a split of consecutive playoff games on home ice. That objective is normally reserved for a road team, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs in their… Read More

What If It Happens Again?

TORONTO (Apr. 22) — I know it’s difficult, Leafs Nation, to embrace perspective about your team, especially after such a debacle as the playoff opener in Boston the other night. But, heck, it was just a year ago that Tampa… Read More

“Car 34, Where Were You?”

TORONTO (Apr. 21) — Was it a look of confusion… or a deer in the headlights? Decide for yourself, as captain John Tavares left the ice (below) after a severely humbling, 5–1 loss by the Maple Leafs to the Boston… Read More

It’ll Be All Brad… All the Time

TORONTO (Apr. 20) — This prediction is too easy… and, quite frankly, too predictable: If the Toronto Maple Leafs get tormented by Brad Marchand, yet again, golf season around here will start early. Yet again. No player in the National… Read More

Argos In A Hell–Like Scenario

TORONTO (Apr. 11) — I can only imagine the angst; the fear and the disappointment that has overwhelmed the Toronto Argonauts in recent months… and far–more quietly than it would have in an earlier era. Good Lord, how this city… Read More

Egad! The Leafs Look Playoff Ready

TORONTO (Apr. 10) — While most of Leafs Nation is consumed by the media–driven race to 70 goals for Auston Matthews, I see elements potentially more exciting for fans of the Blue and White. From my perspective, this is the… Read More

A New Era Begins For The Leafs

TORONTO (Apr. 1) — Please pardon me the sin of diverting you, even temporarily, from the Auston Matthews love–fest in the mainstream media. I promise to not keep you very long. But, a far–more significant event is about to unfold… Read More

Sadly, Jew Haters Are Everywhere

TORONTO (Mar. 27) — Another anti–Semite has crawled out of his hole. Someone named Andrew Berkshire, who calls himself a “Montreal media personality”, teed off on Zach Hyman in a Twitter (or X) post that reeks with anti–Jewish sentiment. I’m… Read More

Remembering Legends From Above

A RE–POST FROM FEBRUARY 2021, DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC: TORONTO (Feb. 15) — It was Apr. 27, 2006 and I felt sorrowful. While in my hotel room at Le Centre Sheraton in Montreal, covering Games 3 and 4 of the… Read More

Berger & Rumack: Would You Watch?

TORONTO (Mar. 18) — If I remember correctly, the last time Stormin’ Norm Rumack and I were on the air together was nine days before Apollo 11 lifted off on man’s first lunar voyage. Just kiddin’. Wasn’t that long ago,… Read More

Ron and Don: Together Again?

TORONTO (Mar. 11) — Starting today with a confession: I have no idea when the photo, below, was taken. But, looking at Ron MacLean, Don Cherry and a birthday cake, I’m going to assume (until told otherwise) that it was… Read More

For the Maple Leafs, it’s all the same

TORONTO (Mar. 8) — Nothing has changed in the past half–decade. Zilch. Bupkis. Nor will it change in the foreseeable future. Every year on trade deadline day, the Maple Leafs are choked off and handcuffed by the four playoff ballerinas… Read More

Only the Toronto Star Had Gonads

TORONTO (Mar. 3) — As an indication of the vice–grip held by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment over the local and national media, the Toronto Star was the lone outlet to report on the unconscionable cash–grab by the Toronto Raptors… Read More

No More Excuses For The Leafs

TORONTO (Feb. 29) — It was there… for two stunning, impeccable weeks. Even if it ended with a face–plant on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena. The Toronto Maple Leafs, led by their highest–paid stars, won seven consecutive games and played to… Read More

Leafs Need Goaltending Assurance

Auston Matthews is the first player with 45 goals in his first 51 games since Mario Lemieux had 51 goals in his first 51 games of 1995-96. — Sportsnet via Twitter TORONTO (Feb. 17) — Barring injury or a lengthy… Read More

Everyone Missed The Point

TORONTO (Feb. 13) — The cheerleaders and apologists in the Toronto hockey media were out in full force, predictably bargaining on behalf of Morgan Rielly and the Maple Leafs since the international incident on Saturday in Ottawa. As I’ve written… Read More

Rielly Goes Full–Hunter On Greig

TORONTO (Feb. 11) — Forget about another defenseman or depth forward. As he nears the National Hockey League trade deadline, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving should try to obtain an inanimate object. Not once in the Core–4 era have… Read More

Tanenbaum / Bell Tear Down Argos

TORONTO (Feb. 6) — Thank you, Kilmer Sports (Larry Tanenbaum). Thank you, Bell Canada. It was so kind of you to grab our ticket money for next year in mid–November… then proceed to gut the best regular–season club in Toronto… Read More