TORONTO (July 18) -- Over to you, Leafs and Raptors.
Once again, sports fans in Toronto -- a.k.a. Loserville -- must look to a change of weather for a small glimmer of hope. But, that is hardly novel. Every summer, as the football Argos and baseball Blue Jays stink it out, we glance ahead to our winter juggernauts... only to repeat the process once the Leafs and Raptors take up the city's familiar pattern. At the moment, however, there is no other choice. As difficult as it is to imagine, Toronto sports rooters must again pin their hopes on the dynastic Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment empire, which is the rough equivalent of expecting a go-cart to win the Indianapolis 500.
But, that's all you got, folks.
After an illusory start to the major league season, the Blue Jays have spectacularly lapsed into their post-1993 posture and are running head-to-head with the Washington Nationals as the worst club in baseball. Incredibly, the same management group is allowed to operate the franchise from one year to the next, hiding behind injuries and payroll for its consistently poor performance. As such, another Toronto custom is about to be realized: Trading the best player on the team. Pitcher Roy Halladay has been diplomatic in his public comments, but you know he is dying to join a legitimate ballclub, and he'll probably get his wish before July 31st. Of course, all that will do is buy more time for the failing GM.
The CFL Argonauts are a complete disaster once again. This club has the potential to match last season's 4-and-14 record, as evidenced by its past two games. At Rogers Centre last Saturday, the club was outscored 30-0 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders... in the second quarter! After the 46-36 loss, the coaches and players were lauding their effort in the first, third and fourth quarters, suggesting a poor 15 minutes was the only problem. Which is kind of like saying the Germans had a bad couple of months in 1945.
Friday night, in Calgary, the Argos were further exposed in a 44-9 mauling by the Stampeders. In this game, Toronto was outscored 31-0 in the second half -- definitely an improvement. Quarterback Kerry Joseph fumbled once for a touchdown and threw two interceptions that went the other way for major scores. And, he's the No. 1 man.
So, summer is once again a write-off.
No wonder the Kool-Aid is in fully supply for the Leafs. Fans are convinced the addition of defensemen Michael Komisarek, Garnet Exelby and Francois Beauchemin will enable the club to make up 13 points in the standings and qualify for the playoffs. Of course, that's assuming every other team in the East stands still. Promises from the Blue & White have been a dime a dozen in recent decades; accomplishment has been sporadic, or non-existent. But, hope always runs rampant in the warm months.
As for the Raptors... well, talk about promises!
Can the four major sports teams in Loserville miss the playoffs once again? It appears up to the Leafs and Raptors to break the pattern.
Keep the Kool Aid in the fridge.
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