You like a crowd that can find a silver lining.
So when you flick back on Thursday night’s Toronto Maple Leafs game late in the third period, to see just how bad things have gotten, you are pleasantly surprised.
Really, a 7-1 home-ice embarrassment shouldn’t be cause for joy. Heck, even the Philadelphia Flyers stopped celebrating after their goals.
But when you click off the television in disgust as the home team digs itself into a 3-zip deficit almost instantly, something compels you to just check back before calling it a night. It’s the same impulse that causes highway motorists to let off the gas pedal as they cruise by an accident site.
Click.
It’s now the third period. The score now resembles the first quarter of a CFL game, and not in Toronto’s favour. You expect boos, oversized beer empties to rain down on the ice. Or vacant seats and silence.
Like the Grinch listening for tears and sadness, you listen to the home crowd, expecting to hear the sounds of venom or apathy.
But instead, much like the gift-ravaged Whoville on Christmas morning, you hear a song of hope.
Let’s go, Blue Jays!… Lets’ go, Blue Jays!… Let’s go, Blue Jays!
A wonderful positive spin on a sham of a season. And it gives you a little hope. Not for the hockey club, but for sports in the city.
It’s springtime.
New beginnings, pine tar, Cracker Jacks, a fresh box of surprises.
Let’s make like the Leafs fans turned Jays fans and focus on the athletes that haven’t done anything to disappoint us yet.
Maybe Toronto is a baseball town after all?