What kind of Leafs fan are you?

[nutman]

Die hard... I have been a leaf fan since my folks got me hooked when I was six, 46 years ago. I don't know about the rest of you Leaf fans out there, but I think this group is not showing any hunger.

 

[Bill_Berg]

I don't remember when I first started watching the Leafs, but the first real memory I have of caring about the team is of me running from the dinner table to the TV to watch the coverage of a huge trade with Calgary on Jan 2nd 1992.

 

[AlmosGirl]

Somewhere between die hard fanatic and this team can kiss my ass. Often both.

LOL. This is me. Sometimes, I just want to slap them all up the side of the head and other times, I'm like "just nevermind". But I always watch and cheer them on.

 

[nutman]

Somewhere between die hard fanatic and this team can kiss my ass. Often both.

LOL. This is me. Sometimes, I just want to slap them all up the side of the head and other times, I'm like "just nevermind". But I always watch and cheer them on.

I think right now everyone wants to give most of them a good hard wakeup slap.

 

[mr grieves]

I probably liked the personalities first -- Mogilny, Quinn, Sundin -- and then the team itself, and I quickly developed rooting interests in players not appreciated by many of the fans -- Kaberle, Reichel, Antropov -- which has continued.

so you are a Clarkson fan then?

No, the Ontario boys rarely need any extra help. But I guess I'm not as disappointed by Clarkson as most around here -- low expectations, and all.

 

[Frank E]

Somewhere between die hard fanatic and this team can kiss my ass. Often both.

I find myself swearing at the TV after some (many, most?) shifts from these guys, then I change the channel and mumble to the fridge as I grab a beer.

I end up changing the channel back to the game a couple of minutes after I sit down again. 

We're all masochists here.

 

[ZBBM]

It's my religion, and posting here is my sacrament.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

It was hard to cheer for a team that had no heart, played with no effort, desire or energy, or had a roster of players that mostly sucked (past 9 years or so except last season).  During that time I stayed true to my roots and did not cheer for any other team, but it just ****ed me off how the team played and on most nights I expected the Leafs to lose.

If the Leafs can get Bolland and Bozak back asap, I would like to see how the team does because it is not really fair or logical to assess the team when the top two centres are out of the lineup.  Once their back it will give Nonis an opportunity to assess the team and make any roster changes to improve the team by the trade deadline...if the Leafs can get 1 or two power forwards without giving away any key team pieces, they will be a tough team to play in the playoffs.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Die hard.  I've been a Leaf fan for over 40 years so I've seen extremes on both ends.  At this point I'm sort of numb, as this team is an equal mix of exciting and frustrating.

When I was a young kid I'd just made friends with a new kid at school.  He invited me over on a night when Toronto/Montreal were playing.  I'd never seen a hockey game and didn't know anything about it (I was pretty young).  I sat there with his family - his parents were Habs fans and he was a Leaf fan - and it was fantastic.  I was hooked.

 

[skrackle]

Neither of the options really describes me. Diehard is closest I suppose as I try to watch every game and I stick with the team no matter what players are on it. I watch whether they're winning or losing, a good team or a bad.

The difference is I don't live and breathe the leafs. I don't get overly emotional either way. I mean, I get frustrated when they play poorly and happy when they play well. But, 30 seconds after the game is over, my mind has moved on to other things.

I would say "dedicated" probably is a better description of the type of fan I am.

I'd say this describes me pretty well, too. I haven't had time lately to post on this forum or get too involved with the Leafs, but I'm still there in the long run.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Not sure we needed a poll to get the results we have. Most of the people on this site are diehards, we can tell that by how emotionally charged we all get...

I couldn't see myself "cheering" for any other hockey team, I mean, I like other teams play and certainly other players, but my forum name rings pretty true.

 

[Leaflifer]

As someone who has been very loyal and managed to somehow maintain interest for over 3 decades, I'm been away from Toronto for about 6 years or so without means to watch games regularly. Kids , work, no cable, regional blackouts, yada...

I've seen lots of HNIC games (on demand at 3am) and game-in-6 's too, but nowhere near as much as when I was back in T.O. Pretty much 82 games a season and went to quite a few as well.

I don't post as much as I used to because I don't know the team as well as most here these days.

I come here to feel like I'm sitting at the bar in the west end talking to whoever is sitting nearby about the Leafs.

I love living in the west but I miss the people of TO - especially (most) Leaf fans.

It kind of irked me when RC said in ep 2 of 24/7 "If you don't play for name on the jerseys, then do it for yourself!"

In my distorted view, any player who wears a Leaf sweater should be playing for the name on the crest. That crest represents more than an ownership group, it (moreso) represents a extraordinary loyal fan base and the one thing that brings the people (of every culture) of Toronto together.

Don't give me that "playforyourself" BS.

 

[draeko17]

diehard, no doubt about it.  Anyone who knows me would attest to that.  I'll be turning 53 in a few months and I have been a steadfast fan of this team since I was a very little girl growing up in the Yukon with just channel 3 on the black and white tv.  It's a part of fabric of my life.  Through fractured family situations (isn't everyone's family somewhat dysfunctional??), this team has been there.  Through the death of a husband and the breakdown of a second marriage, this team has been there.  Through the birth of my two amazing kids and single parenthood after the breakdown of my marriage, this team has been there. Through new jobs and new adventures, this team has been there.  I have saved up my airmiles to travel from BC and Alberta to catch games at the ACC.  My kids and I just spent a week in NYC over Christmas and went to the game on the 23rd.  Sucks that they lost in the shootout but it was great to see other Leaf fans there.  When we got to the airport in Vancouver to fly out to New York, the lone person already lined up to check in was also a Leaf fan who was going to be at the game.  From Vancouver.  That was awesome.  It is like being a part of something almost unique, these crazy passionate fans.  My passion for this team has made non-Leaf fans stop and pay attention to the Leafs where they didn't before.  I love the game of hockey and look forward to the drop of the puck each time.  Some games are discouraging but I'm not going anywhere.  Anyway, diehard, yes, I just am. 

 

[nutman]

diehard, no doubt about it.  Anyone who knows me would attest to that.  I'll be turning 53 in a few months and I have been a steadfast fan of this team since I was a very little girl growing up in the Yukon with just channel 3 on the black and white tv.  It's a part of fabric of my life.  Through fractured family situations (isn't everyone's family somewhat dysfunctional??), this team has been there.  Through the death of a husband and the breakdown of a second marriage, this team has been there.  Through the birth of my two amazing kids and single parenthood after the breakdown of my marriage, this team has been there. Through new jobs and new adventures, this team has been there.  I have saved up my airmiles to travel from BC and Alberta to catch games at the ACC.  My kids and I just spent a week in NYC over Christmas and went to the game on the 23rd.  Sucks that they lost in the shootout but it was great to see other Leaf fans there.  When we got to the airport in Vancouver to fly out to New York, the lone person already lined up to check in was also a Leaf fan who was going to be at the game.  From Vancouver.  That was awesome.  It is like being a part of something almost unique, these crazy passionate fans.  My passion for this team has made non-Leaf fans stop and pay attention to the Leafs where they didn't before.  I love the game of hockey and look forward to the drop of the puck each time.  Some games are discouraging but I'm not going anywhere.  Anyway, diehard, yes, I just am.

Well put. I am the same age, and agree 100% with you.

 

[Zee]

I've changed as I've gotten older.  Used to be live and die with everything Leafs, crying at playoff losses, getting in heated arguments with fans of other teams.  Now I hope for the best but expect the worst, I mean really i've seen them ultimately fail every season for over 35 years that i've been watching.  It doesn't hurt anymore, not like in 93.

 

[moon111]

I think back to days of skating with used, ill-fitting skates, on outdoor rinks in Thunder Bay.  Dreams of being the hero in the Blue and White. 

Now there's been NHL lock-outs, greed, etc.  There is no longer that player I can identify as someone who bleeds the Blue and White.  Think that is why Wendel Clark was so important to the team.  Besides the losing, it's all about Capgeek.  The innocence has been lost.  I weigh player values based on a spreadsheet now.

 

[Highlander]

Dear Draeko,
your post touch my heart, really, and I thought I was the Leafs biggest fan. Well spoken.

 

[draeko17]

nutman and Highlander, thanks.   It's an amazing roller coaster ride, isn't it?

 

[mr grieves]

Now there's been NHL lock-outs, greed, etc.  There is no longer that player I can identify as someone who bleeds the Blue and White.  Think that is why Wendel Clark was so important to the team.  Besides the losing, it's all about Capgeek.  The innocence has been lost.  I weigh player values based on a spreadsheet now.

Part of this might be the game changing, another part of it might be you no longer being a child in Thunder Bay, you know?

 

[Kin]

Now there's been NHL lock-outs, greed, etc.  There is no longer that player I can identify as someone who bleeds the Blue and White.  Think that is why Wendel Clark was so important to the team.  Besides the losing, it's all about Capgeek.  The innocence has been lost.  I weigh player values based on a spreadsheet now.

Part of this might be the game changing, another part of it might be you no longer being a child in Thunder Bay, you know?

Seriously. Greed didn't come to the game in 1994.