It is the motto of one of the world’s most elite group of soldiers: The British Special Air Service, otherwise known as the SAS.
Who Dare Wins, also sums up the delicate state of affairs with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In Monday’s Globe and Mail, veteran hockey reporter and columnist David Shoalts proclaimed that it’s time to Book the tee times, declaring that the Leafs have no shot at making the playoffs.
At the same time, Sportsnet hockey analyst and Fan 590 morning show co-host Gord Stellick has “guaranteed” that the Leafs will make the playoffs. It should be pointed out that Mister Stellick is the former GM of the Leafs and is a close personal friend of the man heading up the search committee to hire the new GM, Gordon Kirke.
I’m not saying, I’m just saying that Stellick might still have dreams of running the Leafs one more time. Besides, I have selfish reasons for not wanting Gord to go back to being GM of the Leafs: I enjoy listening to him too much on the radio.
On AM640 in Toronto, Sportsnet’s Bill Watters regales listeners in the afternoon with stories of the “Tank Nation.” These are Leaf fans who are praying for Andrew Raycroft to start every game so the Leafs have a better shot at getting Steve Stamkos in the upcoming draft.
In Toronto right now there are three groups of Leafs fans. Those who believe the team has zero chance of the post-season, those who are convinced the Leafs will run the table and get into the playoffs and finally, those who think the Leafs should lose as many games as possible in order to win the draft lottery and get Stamkos.
As Dude pointed out in his latest blog, “Point taken,” the three point game is the scourge of the NHL and it will ultimately be the undoing of the Leafs.
With 14 games left to play, the post season is the mother of all long shots for the Leafs. However, playing for a job and for a contract is a powerful motivating tool in the NHL.
So which category of Leaf fan are you?
Write off this year and start dreaming of a Leafs team run by Brian Burke?
Win at all costs and do whatever it takes to get into the post-season?
Or watch in horror as Andrew Raycroft starts 14 straight games and pray the Leafs win the Steve Stamkos sweepstakes.
Who Dare Wins.
Making the playoffs is far more important than winning a draft lottery. One player won't make a team. T.O. already has one of the best in Mats Sundin, but where are they in the standings? There's a far bigger problem for me. I find regular season hockey usually unwatchable now, because there is such a lack of intensity. I certainly won't pay to watch it anymore. Regular season overtime was brought in to discourage teams from playing for a tie. Now we have the shootout. OK, the shootout is now here to stay, too. Why not make it even worse for teams who take a night off. Why not award 4 points for a regulation time win, 0 for the loss; 3 and 1 in overtime; and 2 and 1 in the shootout. Weaker teams are rewarded for at least playing hard and holding off the loss for longer (the opponent wins less points), and stronger teams are rewarded for playing hard and winning sooner. The only thing better would be 5-0, 4-1, and 3-2 in the shootout.
They're only points. What matters is that somehow we get some intensity back into more than an occasional regular season game. Make the playoffs and anything can happen. Because there is some intensity!
I am a fan of using these final games to position for a good draft. The Leafs can do that by "auditioning" more kids from the Marlies and sitting two veterans every night to do just that. Start RAZOR every second game and lose without trying to lose but just by being yourself...a non-playoff team...again. This time make it count for something! Red rover...red rover send Burkey right over! (toss in a healthy dose of Stamkos as well).
"We will make the playoffs, and compete for the Stanley Cup." - Paul Maurice
If thats not a guarantee I don't know what is. Forget Alfie's promise, this one is even more embarrassing!
Now I don't know Gordon Kirke or anything but I'm going to hope, for all Leaf fans' sake, that Kirke won't base his important decision on Stellick's over optimism (which is bordering on delusion, not a great quality in a GM is it?).
Of course, all of Leaf nation might be suffering the same affliction if 'a' they are holding out hope for the playoffs, 'b' they think that tanking the rest of the season and relying on a lottery will be productive in any way, 'c' they're hoping that Brian Burke will jump a winning ship.
Could any of these happen? Conceivably. But come on Leaf nation, just let your team play out the year with a little pride.
Is it really who Dare wins? I Dare Burke to go to TO I woulkd love to see him fall on his keister...
Giving up on your team under any circumstance is pretty sad. Tank Nation is made up of the fickle Leaf fan who'll jump ship when they become real underdogs. Good riddance.
Just another Leaf fan here that will be rooting for anyone else come playoff time. I am getting so tired of watching the Leafs with this same tired cycle of fighting hard to finish 9th or 10th and then drafting 13th. Its such a difficult team to cheer for but I would feel like a sell out if I didn't go down with the ship. At least we can bring back Sundin next year and start the whole useless process over again.