Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The boys over at 6thSens have a great post about the once fierce Battle of Ontario. I recommend you have a look at it certainly gives a Sens-eye-view on the matter. Yeah, the Leafs beat out the Sens in four playoff appearances HALF A DECADE AGO, and for a team with nothing to cheer for in 40+ years that may be important. It gives the wallowing hordes something to hold on to. I asked a bunch of the guys here at the office (right smack in downtown Toronto) what they thought, and here’s what I got.

“My opinion is yes, but not nearly as much as it did in the early part of the decade (2001-2004). For me, their games have less meaning because neither team is very good, there’s no bragging rights that come from beating a non-playoff team (especially if you are a non playoff team yourself) even if they are in close proximity.”

“As long as Alfredsson is on the team ,it’s a rivalry my friend…” to which I replied “Why Alfie?” … “I hate how he plays...don't like him he's a sneaky dirty player.”

I think that the first comment is (a) pretty well thought out for a LEAF fan, and (b) there is something to be said for self-realisation in a situation like this. The Yankees v. Red Sox (go SOX!) rivalry is still relevant because both teams are often fighting for tops in their division, and ultimately tops in the AL. The only sport where it seems like overall team quality DOESN’T matter is college football. One-off games each season like the Iron Bowl (Auburn v. ‘Bama), The Red River Shootout (Texas v. Oklahoma), and The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe (Minnesota v. Wisconsin) all offer unadulterated hatred, of the fiercest (on field) kind.

Hockey has ebbs and flows just like any other sport. Is the passion to ignite this rivalry still there? Sure it is… all it takes is one blow out, cheap shot, or wrong thing said to the media… Enjoy, this could be the rekindling of something great.

~MFP3

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