[blueandwhite]

We hate them and we mean it.
Nielsen figures show that "no playoff game cracked the top ten during week of may 7-13".
The exec dir of Sports at CBC said he thinks it because Toronto fans refuse to jump on the Ottawa band wagon.
yeh - keep waiting and you'll be waiting a long time.
They are calling it "catching the red fever" - call it what you like, I will not root for Ottawa.
He also said when Edmonton was doing so great last season, Calgary fans forgot their animosity towards their rival and cheered the Oilers on.
Not the same. The west will always join together versus the rest of 'em (it's a cowboy thing). but the Ontario rivalry will stand strong even now.
I'm not saying I'm cheering for the Ducks. I'm just not "catching the red fever". how lame.

[ThePundit]

Nobody is watching hockey, period. Because I don't pay for Versus, I couldn't get the Ducks -Red Wings game 6. , How is that possible that in a major sport, I can't get a conference final game?

Plus, the first 2 games of the Cup are on Versus, only. So that means I can't watch it. It's beyond a joke.

[Lefty Noob]

Color me very surprised to hear that the ratings are down in Canada as well as in the U.S. We all know why it's failing down here, and I can see Toronto fans not wanting to root for their rivals. But I'm surprised that equates into them just not watching the games at all. You would think folks would at least watch as fans of the sport itself, even if they don't have a rooting interest in either side.

[blueandwhite]

you're right - I still watch, i just don't cheer for them.
some people - if they don't have a team to go for - don't bother, i guess.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

you're right - I still watch, i just don't cheer for them.
some people - if they don't have a team to go for - don't bother, i guess.

Yeah, I'm sure you're right, and I'm sure it happens in most sports.

It's a real shame, though, that some folks can't just sit down and watch a good game just because it's a good game.

[blueandwhite]

It is true that the CBC dedicates its prime time show every sat eve to the leafs - so it is difficult for those people who follow the Leafs to suddenly follow the Sens. there are comments that we aren't a hockey town we are a blue-and-white town.
Over on Rogers Sportsnet, the Senators, the paper says, average 86,000 viewers on their regional broadcast, which is one fifth less than the Leafs.