| Re: Why is your team your favourite team? Ah, the long and storied history of Hockey and who you root for.
I grew up in Peterborough (I bet nobody guessed that, right), rooting for the OHL Peterborough Petes (who just defeated the Ottawa 67's to advance to the Quarter Finals for the Memorial Cup) going to games with my Grandfather who had season's tickets. Peterborough was a town of leafs fans. But my grandfather was a Hab's fan, and my dad liked Detroit - so I grew up confused (there's a hallowe'en picture of me at age 3 or 4 dressed as Bobby Orr). Most of my friends liked the Leafs. I liked the Habs because of Lafleur. I liked philly cuz of Pete Peters, and Chicago cuz of Tony O. I really got into the Islanders during their hay day - during street hockey showdowns it was Lafleur or Bossy that I would usually shout out.
It was in University in Toronto that I got re-stoked to the Leafs. Mob mentallity maybe. Maybe it was just in my blood. I love that it's an old team. A storied team. I love things with history, but a history of some success and lots of dissappointment. I love looking at the old photos, I love the old jersey. I love the old names like Hap Day, Syl Aps and Conn Smyth.
There's something about how rooting for a team bonds complete strangers together that's borderline religious. Maybe more than borderline. |