Only one reason is ever needed.
1) I'm a Leaf fan.
It is an interesting thing being a sports fan.
I think I saw a Seinfeld stand-up bit about it. What are we loyal too? The players change all the time.
Is it the uniform?
Increasingly our society shows significantly more loyalty to sports teams than maintaining a relationship through difficult times.
I think when the team is the home town team that changes things a bit, but for me I was born and spent my entire life in BC, but I've been a Leaf fan since 1970. It is not surprisingly mostly about the goalies for me with a few other players and coaches as stand outs.
1. It started the moment I saw Jacques Plante in net for the Leafs. (hence my avatar) He along with Parent and Keon were my first favourites.
2. Then was the Sittler/Palmateer era.
Fortunately for me the 80's was all about music for me and I didn't watch as much hockey.
3. The 90's was the Gilmour/Clark/Potvin era.
4. the Cujo/Sundin era
5. I was always a big Giguere fan. Too bad it didn't work out for him in Toronto but he still had his moments. The first two games were shutouts. He had some great games against the Habs.
As a goalie I have always allowed myself to cheer for favourite non-Leaf goalies, so that has made some of the suffering a bit easier to cope with. But these days every goalie looks so much like every other goalie it is harder to choose than in the old days. I sort of cheer for the Ducks still though even though Jiggy is long gone and retired.
crossfing)
