Getting acquainted
On a walk through and beyond the fashion and entertainment districts of Toronto and on a fruitless mission for a power adapter, I stumbled across a bar about to show the hockey game. Though it was probably the half price pizza that secured the deal, I was still interested in watching the Maple Leafs play regional rival the Ottawa Senators. According to some locals drenched in blue and white (the Leaf’s colours) at the bar – they had better win. This was to be the second game of the season and Toronto had already lost the first game in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens. If they lost this one they would be 0-2 with only 80 matches remaining.
If nothing else, ice hockey players can skate, and some of the moves they pull demand admiration. What I also thought demanded admiration was the ability of Canadian television spectators to follow the puck. I had no idea, but as pub local, Ian, explained, most Canadians played ball hockey everyday until they were at least 16. It is innate. He assured me that I wasn’t alone, Americans have no idea about the game either, apparently.
The Leafs ended up 0-2, but it was an exciting finish all the same. They last won the penant in 1967, so it has been a rough few years for fans. Ian, a bathroom and kitchen renovator, who stayed and watched with me explained why the Toronto Maple Leafs are the hockey team to support if you like a true underdog.
Around the time they were successful, soon after they won the title, one of the three guys who bought the team for $99 million left to pursue other ventures, leaving the remaining two guys to pick up the $33 million between them. Turns out they couldn’t afford the $17 mil each so they decided it might be a good idea to try their hand at embezzlement in order to raise the money. Needless to say, they were caught. According to my guy, one of the two remaining owners had the good sense to die prior to conviction, leaving the third guy to face charges alone. He was convicted and jailed.
After he was released, he was offered first right of refusal for the Maple Leafs. Obviously he didn’t have the cash so the boss of the Montreal Canadiens lent him the money. What a business move by the Canadiens! This is almost equivalent to Manchester United giving millions of dollars to me to manage Arsenal. What better way to get the upper hand than to pay a lemon to run a rival company. Pure Genius. Go the Maple Leafs!
Ian turned out to be a pretty smart guy. He also knew a lot about Australia, and strangely, his grandfather fought in the Australian army in WWI. His most prized possession is his grandfather’s hat – those Australian army hats with the right side flap pinned up. Don’t know what they’re called but the Canadians call them Australian sombreros.
As Ian’s beers disappeared ever rapidly, he told me of the striking similarities between our two countries. Canada is like Australia but the right way up, he said. Thank God for gravity. It does make sense in some respects, and I agree – Canada is very cold, Australia (mostly) very hot; both have vast expanses of unused land (one icy, one sandy); the majority of the population is concentrated in small areas; both countries have their proudest moments in history based around war; both countries have tall-poppy syndrome and both countries have identity problems.
Interestingly, what this guy was saying becomes especially illuminated when comparing the way both countries attempt to assert their identity. Comparitively, Australia is largely pro-republican – we grow tired of the fear that the Queen could simply walk into our house and start pushing us around. We need to become republican because we need our own head of state, we believe this will somehow fix our identity problems. However, for Canadians, being part of the empire is important, it distinguishes them from “the yanks”. If Canada becomes a republic it will be yet another thing they have that is similar to America. This, I realised, dates back to 1776 – The Declaration of Independence when Canada’s population fluctuated after empire loyalists fled north across the border, declaring their loyalty to Britain.
Either that, or the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, as Ian explained to me in jest.
Wherever I Hang My Hat 
Siobhan said,
October 10, 2009 at 12:21 am
Hey Tom!
Sounds like you’re having a great time already. It’s no surprise that one of the first things you do is stumble into a bar.
Your writing (which I’ve only read once before) paints a very unique picture of your travels.
I’m so envious of you being in Canada. I can tell you that if I was there, I probably wouldn’t be making the same progress in the socializing stakes as you.
Good luck getting a job and keep the posts coming,
xoxoxoxo
Sal said,
February 25, 2010 at 3:18 am
Weird I assumed the Maple Leafs would have red and white as their colours. You learn something new every day. Also I would have thought they would be called the Maple Leaves (plural). Crazy Canadians.
Tom Lyons said,
February 25, 2010 at 5:27 am
I think Montreal has more the red and the white. As for the use of Leafs instead of Leaves, I’m not entirely sure, Sally. Crazy Canadians indeed.
Sal said,
February 25, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Maybe they were worried about getting teased. I’m sure there are some potential jokes about their ability to play and having to leave.
P.s. you write good
Tom Lyons said,
February 26, 2010 at 7:20 am
Ha, I hadn’t thought of that and it took me a while to cotton on to your little joke there…Crazy Sally!