Around the Ross homestead, I usually spend my fall-time weekends raking up leaves that have fallen as the days grow shorter and the cold sets in.
But 2006 appears to be a "Bizarro" year.
It's mid-April.
The days are longer.
The sun is shining.
It's such a pleasant stroll from the subway to the rink.
Playoff fever is in the air.
Can you smell it?
Well I can't. Because for the first time since 1998, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not in the playoffs.
And I just can't figure out how to feel about that.
You see, last Saturday night, I was at the Sens-Leafs game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
And I saw the boys from my hometown get pummeled by Toronto. I mean, it wasn't even close. The Leafs took it 5-1 and the 1 Ottawa goal came way too late.
And what made it worse was that I was seated in the press box where there is an unwritten rule: No cheering in the press box.
It's always tough, but I have always been professional and maintained my composure.
I just wish the camera man next to me would have observed the same rules.
He works for a national sports network in Canada and jumped to his feet, arms raised after every Leafs goal. It made me want to throttle him. Not because it was unprofessional, but because I'm a Sens fan.
But no....I kept quiet and let him enjoy the moment.
Because about 20 minutes after the final horn, I was in the Leafs dressing room, standing next to that very gentleman as the Leafs were officially eliminated from playoff contention by Martin St. Louis' OT winner over Carolina.
It was a rather somber moment....it was also a moment of confusion for me.
As a Sens fan, I was thrilled.
But at that very moment, I was also able to experience a real sports moment.
Watching these millionaire hockey players, people who some say are only after the almighty dollar, turn to sad, heartbroken hockey players.
It was a truly human moment. Sundin, Wellwood, Stajan, even Pat Quinn seemed like regular people. Guys who wanted to win so bad but fell just short.
But alas....when you go 1-5-2 against a division rival, and you leave 8 points on the table because of shootout losses and you lose 8 straight games in January, you sealed your own fate.
Never put yourself in a position where someone else must do your work for you. Never lose control of your destiny. Because if you do, a huge win over a major rival can become very insignificant in a hurry.
P.S.....I was sipping a soda with a colleague (who happens to be a Leaf fan) after the game. He told me: "Rossy, playoffs be damned....tonight's win over the Sens was our Stanley Cup".
On that topic, I made two observations:
1) Toronto took 1 game out of 8 in the season series versus Ottawa. Since when does one win get you the Cup.
2) At the very moment he made this declaration, a lone mini-van drove by the bar. I said: "If that win is your Cup, is that van your parade?"
Leaf fans....see you in September!
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