An open letter to the Toronto Star’s Cathal Kelly

Dear Mr. Kelly,

Re: Your article “7 reasons Torontonians can’t root for the Habs tonight.”

Either you were attempting to be funny, or this is just further proof as to why print media on the verge of collapse.

At first I thought that the Toronto Star had a sharing deal with Bleacher Report.

I will be honest with you. Unlike yourself, I do not hold a degree in journalism from, based on what I read, the Devry Institute. I just write for my own enjoyment.

It’s clear that Toronto sports writing, notably hockey, has long since passed it’s glory days when Jim Proudfoot, Jim Hunt and George Gross graced the pages of the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun.

With the exception of Damien Cox, the Star’s hockey section is next to nothing of significance anymore.

So let’s look at this masterpiece. Your synopsis is that Leafs fans should not cheer for the Montreal Canadiens despite their playoff success. So you hate the Habs, that’s nothing new in most of the GTA.

If you don’t want to cheer for them, that’s your prerogative and I have no argument who you cheer for. Your reasoning on the other hand is where the problem lies.

So lets look at that.

The first issue is fairness. Well clearly you’ve never seen construction or bridgework disrupting Montreal traffic, so let’s call that a draw. I don’t think one night of “possible” rioting in Montreal can be compared to will more than likely happen in Toronto. My question is will the rioters be political or Jays season ticket holders jilted out of the Phillies series.

On to the next issue. This is where you fail to realize that there are actually huge numbers of Habs fans living in the GTA, present company included. They just stay out of site until the playoffs. I don’t understand why they do, but that’s just their way.

As for Leafs fans in Toronto, well I can’t understand why people living in a city, with such a winning tradition in the Canadiens,would even want to be one. Maybe they’re the ones at the “24-hour-disco” during the playoffs.

Now it’s on to P.K. Subban. Great player, eh? Did you know his dad lived in Montreal, when he came to Canada from Jamaica, and immediately fell in love with the Canadiens? He brought that heritage and taught it to his son. What a smart boy, and an even greater father!

Subban was picked in the second round of the 2007 Draft, so maybe the Leafs should have got him in the first round instead of… Oh wait, Toronto didn’t have a pick in the first two rounds of that draft.

By the way, the Leafs First Round pick in 2009, Nazim Kadri, and his family were also Habs fans. Maybe the Leafs should trade him where he belongs.

On the mortality comment, I just think it’s plain tasteless that that you compare the Habs/Leafs rivalry to that of a serious issue going on at the OSPCA. Shame on you!

As for Celine Dion. Yeah that would be sad, I’ll give you that. Then again that’s what the volume button or changing the channel is for. Works for me when HNIC airs a Leafs game or Joe Bowen’s voice graces the airwaves.

Moving on to unity. First off trust me when I say, drivers in Montreal are far better than those in Brampton! Personally I do like to see a Canadian franchise succeed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, or an underdog. This year the Canadiens are both of those elements.

I will admit that pre-lockout, when the Leafs had some chances, I had some hope for the blue and white. I do have feelings you know. Nobody should suffer a long painful life of suffering through 47 years without seeing their team win a Cup. Do you think I typed that with a straight face?

Which leaves us to one Sidney Crosby. He’s talented yes, he scored “The Golden Goal”, he’s won a Cup. Outside of that he’s one of the biggest whiners I’ve ever seen the NHL. Have you watched any of this series? Oh that’s right, your a Leafs fan. Why would you, right? Well if you had, you’d have seen that. If you want to cheer for

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the referees have enough of “Sid the Kid’s” tantrums. But if you want to cheer for Gary Bettman’s meal ticket, be my guest.

Judging by the comments on the article you wrote, it’s clear I’m not the only one who feels this way. Surprisingly, not all of them come from Habs fans either.

Perhaps it’s best that next time, you think it through before you write it.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to write something on the Toronto FC/Montreal Impact rivalry. You know, something I know nothing about!