Leaf fan molester

When seeking out sanity, don't go near a Toronto Maple Leafs supporter. They are not too well endowed with any intellectual acumen. This includes the sports casters of which there is a legion. They are all experts in the fields of athletics.

One can certainly tell. They are all working themselves up into a frenzy about a skill player named Mats Sundin. He is presently a free agent.

At first he didn't want to leave Toronto. So he signed a one year deal, at a discount rate to play hockey in Leaf land. He said he like playing in Toronto. He does have an excuse for this. He's Swedish.

So earlier in the spring time when it became apparent that the Leafs had about as much chance of making the playoffs as Albertans embracing the Kyoto treaty. There was a hullabaloo about Sundin not wanting to do it for the team, and sacrificing himself to become a rental player

Now he clearly stated that he wanted to remain in Toronto for the season. Yet the fans went nuts because they thought they could get hundreds of good players in trade. It remains a specific quandary for Sundin.

First he stated that he wanted to play in Toronto. You see this is the top of the laundry list of paradoxes. If Sundin had requested to be traded, there would be screams from the very same fans mind you. The kind citizens of Toronto get sort of ticked when a world class super star states a reluctance to come to Toronto. You know the old USA cultural concept, that everyone wants to be an American. Its the same thought process.

No wonder a lot of superstars don't want to come to Toronto. The fans are idiots. Its a no win.

The last perplexation remains Sundin's reluctance to make up his mind. He had stated that he wanted to announce his intentions July 1st. He had some fantastic offers regarding time and length of contract. He has yet to make up his mind.

This outward failure of committal doesn't go over too well with Leaf fans. First if he resigns with the Leafs, they will be mad that it looks like that he was trying to hold them over a barrel. If on the other hand he signs on with another team, again the very same fans will roast him for being an inconsiderate mercenary.

In lock step comes the Toronto sports media which acumen can be resolved with the simple point that they all forecast the Patriots to win the Super Bowl and most forecast the Penguins in the Stanley Cup. If there is a favorite these guys ride with it. The same goes for Sundin for the sports media in Toronto plays up to their audience, never guides it.

This glares in the Sundin example. They appear not to understand why Sundin is taking his time. This shows a large lack of attention. Had these "experts" read their notes from a couple of years ago, it would show that Sundin had serious hip problems after a season of hockey. He was thinking of retiring then. The only treatment for his hip problems was replacement which would have ended his professional hockey career.

Since no surgery has occurred since last we looked, one can assume that Sundin is allowing his hip to recuperate enough to play for a full season. Every year the hip problem gets worse. Sundin knows that he cannot play hockey at a professional pace unless his hip is relatively pain free. So it is no surprise that he has not committed to any hockey contract because his hip is saying no.