I am just the opposite. I don't really care to watch a game unless the Leafs are playing. I must admit though I don't watch the entire leaf game lately as I want them to lose (draft) and get nervous that they might pull out a win.
I am just the opposite. I don't really care to watch a game unless the Leafs are playing. I must admit though I don't watch the entire leaf game lately as I want them to lose (draft) and get nervous that they might pull out a win. - sparky
I try and watch as much different hockey as I can, even if I toss it on for background noise, really into the AHL but its hard to find a decent stream (without paying)
Location: The Banana Throwing Capital of Canada, London, ON Joined: 02.29.2008
Mar 25 @ 10:39 AM ET
As a Leafs fan, I hear you 100%. This is the least amount of games I've ever watched in a season and the fact that I don't even care about missing the Leafs games is a puzzling feeling for me. Very odd, but I hope it changes as the landscape (hopefully) changes giving us hope for the future.
I think you're all misreading what Adam is advising. He's used his own experience as a Leaf fan as an example but he's clearly advising that every fan of every team should drop their stripes and simply become a fan of Hockey.
Adam, I presume this applies to all sports. So turn in your Chelsea blues.
I respect your opinion but I completely disagree. I love being a fan of the Leafs, 'Pool, the Jays, Mavs, Raps, etc... I love the hope, the hopelessness, whatever sport brings. I enjoy hockey as a whole but I don't feel any less a fan of hockey b/c I have an emotional interest in the Leafs. Quite the opposite, my love of the Leafs has made me a bigger hockey fan.
I don't think you're insinuating it but I'm sure others will read into what you're writing and suggest that b/c we're Leaf fans (or fans of some particular team) that we know or understand less about hockey as a whole. That might be true for some but I don't think there's much truth to that at all.
Location: Isn't Cooley 5"11? You know who else is 5"11? Sydney Crosby. - Scabeh Joined: 04.06.2011
Mar 25 @ 11:01 AM ET
I think you're all misreading what Adam is advising. He's used his own experience as a Leaf fan as an example but he's clearly advising that every fan of every team should drop their stripes and simply become a fan of Hockey.
Adam, I presume this applies to all sports. So turn in your Chelsea blues.
I respect your opinion but I completely disagree. I love being a fan of the Leafs, 'Pool, the Jays, Mavs, Raps, etc... I love the hope, the hopelessness, whatever sport brings. I enjoy hockey as a whole but I don't feel any less a fan of hockey b/c I have an emotional interest in the Leafs. Quite the opposite, my love of the Leafs has made me a bigger hockey fan.
I don't think you're insinuating it but I'm sure others will read into what you're writing and suggest that b/c we're Leaf fans (or fans of some particular team) that we know or understand less about hockey as a whole. That might be true for some but I don't think there's much truth to that at all. - The Law
It's all personal experience. I can even admit that I can't watch soccer unless I have that emotional attachment to the team, it's too boring otherwise. We all do it. It's that this is Hockeybuzz, we're all such nerds and die hard fans of the sport, does it really serve us to call ourselves simply "Leafs fans," or "Habs fans" etc? We all watch way too much hockey to (obsessively almost) have such a simple title apply to us.
Location: Garf is expendabilittle., HI Joined: 01.26.2012
Mar 25 @ 11:04 AM ET
Good read Adam.
I think that the Leafs continually missing the playoffs has awakened a number of fans to the fact that they have sucked in so many ways for so many years. When the apathy of the players shows through, it's easy to become an apathetic fan of the team. That leaves you watching playoff teams play a calibre of hockey that has been missing from Toronto for a long time.
Watching US national feeds of the Saturday afternoon games with "inferior" (but less biased) commentating was the first I realized that NHL hockey was so much better than what the HNIC/Leafs product was.
Having an emotional investment still makes watching a game better. World Championships, Olympics (men's and women's) is worth watching no matter how strong/weak the team is because you feel tied to the outcome.
It's all personal experience. I can even admit that I can't watch soccer unless I have that emotional attachment to the team, it's too boring otherwise. We all do it. It's that this is Hockeybuzz, we're all such nerds and die hard fans of the sport, does it really serve us to call ourselves simply "Leafs fans," or "Habs fans" etc? We all watch way too much hockey to (obsessively almost) to have such a simple title apply to us. - AdamFrench
I don't think that being a "Leaf fan" is mutually exclusive from being a "hockey fan". That's certainly my experience. I feel like I can talk "hockey" with anyone in spite of the fact that I'm a diehard Leaf fan. I think you'll find Leaf fans who know very little about hockey elsewhere but generally I think many Leaf fans (or fans of whatever team) are also the most knowledgeable fans of hockey in the world.
I think that the Leafs continually missing the playoffs has awakened a number of fans to the fact that they have sucked in so many ways for so many years. When the apathy of the players shows through, it's easy to become an apathetic fan of the team. That leaves you watching playoff teams play a calibre of hockey that has been missing from Toronto for a long time.
Watching US national feeds of the Saturday afternoon games with "inferior" (but less biased) commentating was the first I realized that NHL hockey was so much better than what the HNIC/Leafs product was.
Having an emotional investment still makes watching a game better. World Championships, Olympics (men's and women's) is worth watching no matter how strong/weak the team is because you feel tied to the outcome. - magmoo
I'd counter that Leaf fans have been well-aware of the Leaf failings over the years. We didn't gain some "new understanding" this year. Also, it's incorrect to suggest that Leaf fans are only now watching playoff teams. Playoffs ratings, with or without the Leafs, are driven by the GTA market ...or the 401 corridor.
Location: "Welcome to HockeyBuzz. Come for the rumors. Stay for the idiots." - Feds91Stammer Joined: 08.21.2014
Mar 25 @ 11:36 AM ET
Great blog Frenchy! I too find myself in the last 2 or 3 years caring more about hockey in general (like prospects, trades and playoff races) and much less about my two teams.
Location: Garf is expendabilittle., HI Joined: 01.26.2012
Mar 25 @ 11:42 AM ET
I'd counter that Leaf fans have been well-aware of the Leaf failings over the years. We didn't gain some "new understanding" this year. Also, it's incorrect to suggest that Leaf fans are only now watching playoff teams. Playoffs ratings, with or without the Leafs, are driven by the GTA market ...or the 401 corridor. - The Law
Key in on the term "a number of fans" and the lack of a reference to the 2014/15 season; you may conclude that there wasn't a need to counter. I would never suggest that Leafs fans are all the same, that would absolutely be wrong.
