It was not that long ago that I was a Leaf hater. 

Let me step back and tell my story.  I grew up in the Harold Ballard years.  I know what it means to have bad ownership.  I lived through the worst of the 80s and loved every minute of it.  I bled blue and white.  Saturday nights for me was Wayne and Shuster and the Leafs.  Mid week games on CHCH were a must.  I did not want the Leafs to move to the east because I loved the Chuck Norris division.  Wendel is a god.  When Fletcher arrived in town and we came a high stick penalty away from the Stanley Cup finals, I was in heaven.

The Leafs were good again and they rode through a period of highs where it was not unreasonable to think they could win the cup.  But then things got bad again and I made my big mistake.  One of those mistakes that is life changing, where you wish you could travel back in time and fix things a la Marty McFly.  I started reading more Cox and WCH and I took them seriously.  I started believing that I was an idiot.  They obviously knew what they were talking about since they were "journalists" and knew better.  Cox was the Star’s hockey columnist and Howie was a beat reporter.  These guys watched all their games (so we thought), and practices and knew the insiders.  They must know more than me.  Why was I supporting such a useless hockey team?  Why was I rewarding the owners by going to crappy games?  So I resolved to do my part to show my displeasure.  I stayed away.  I stopped following the Leafs, and I stopped caring.

And I was sad.  The team I loved, the team I grew up with, was no longer my team. 

When I was a kid, the Leafs were the best team in the league.  They made the playoffs for the most part (it wasn’t hard in the 21 team era).  I remember we creamed the Gretzky lead Oilers 7-1 and Bunny Laroque stoned him on a penalty shot.  That was better than a Stanley Cup.  But my memories started to get tainted.  Why was I such a fan?  The Leafs did nothing but disappoint me.  I should stop watching games.  Cox and Howard were my crack cocaine, feeding me a constant stream of negativity that brought me further down.  I turned away from my family.  I started watching Sens games.  I knew I hit rock bottom when I woke up one morning and found Garrioch clippings in my pocket. (I still don't know how they got there.)

And then I discovered PPP and the Barilkosphere.  At first I thought, who do these guys think they are? They should leave sports writing to the professionals who know what their doing.  My hesitation quickly changed as I realized these blogs were not just a bunch of Vitos from Woodbridge.  These guys knew what they were talking about.  There was good analysis here.  A lot of thought was put into their work.  They showed me how lazy "journalists" really are.  And they loved the Leafs and fought to defend their love of the team. 

I broke my crack habit.  It took some time, but I no longer read Berger in months.  I usually read Cox when someone blogs at what a dumb thing he had written (so, ya, that can be often).

This past year has been the most fun I have had following the Leafs in a long time.  They are not in the playoffs, but I couldn’t care less.  The Leafs haven’t won the cup since 1967.  So what?  If I knew for certain that they would never win a cup in my lifetime, I would still be a Leaf fan.  Why should that prevent me from being a fan? 

The critics just don’t understand what it means to be a fan, to have that passion for your team.  Through thick and thin, this is my team.  I don’t drive up and down Yonge after a playoff win, but I understand why those fans do.  Yes, I was an idiot – not because I blindly follow the Leafs but because I followed guys like Cox and Berger.

What I have learned over the past year is the following:

• Leaf fans are the best fans in sport
• Journalists are lazy
• Wendel was the best hockey player.  Ever.  (OK, this part I already new.)

I just want to say thank you to PPP and all the Barilkosphere.  You’ve made me a fan once more.  And I promise never to leave again.

But Howie and Damien were right about one thing.  I was a lemming.  But no more.  I’m done with them.  From this point forward, my fasting begins and I cleanse my body of their toxins.  And no more shall they enter.  I have seen the light and it is blue and white.

Now I know there is a lot of anti-Avery on this board, but hear me out. 

I always thought the Leafs should have gone for Schneider earlier this year, not because we needed him, but because he would have brought a lot of return at the trade deadline.  I think perhaps Fletcher avoided him because Burke was still with Anaheim at the time, and any deal with the Leafs would have led to cries of shenanigans.

The acquisition of Avery would be on one condition:  he was signed as a free agent at a one year deal.  This could only happen if the Stars buy him out, which is a possibility.  Now, the Stars can try recallable waivers on Avery, but he still may not be claimed because he would be untradeable to the team that acquires him.  If he were to be traded again, he would have to be paid in full by the next team.  I don’t think anyone may take him on those conditions.

But assuming he does get bought out, a one year deal may be all he could get.  Something in the range of $1 million pro rata for the season.  If he works out, you trade him at the deadline for picks. Otherwise, you lose nothing.  The Leafs need some toughness and Avery would come with low cost, low risk.

Besides, wouldn’t reading WCH be more fun.