Maple Leaf Deflation
(April 22, 2003)

My original plans tonight were to go see the movie, The Pianist, with my friend Fred but after last night's heroic performance by the Toronto Maple Leafs to push a game seven, Fred cancelled.  He had to watch game seven tonight.  He thoughtfully invited me over to his apartment to watch the game.  Not wanting to go to the movie alone, I accepted his invitation.

I arrived at his place shortly before the beginning of the game.  He was sitting in his armchair with a bowl of popcorn.  To his right on the coffee table was a beer and the remote.  Fred was very upbeat.

"Game Sevens are the best, Suzy, because you get to see who really has heart and - my boys - they have all heart."

Fred always refers to the Leafs as "my boys".

As the game wore on, Fred's jolly demeanour slowly deteriorated.  Flyer goal after Flyer goal took its toll on my friend.  I was expecting some yelling (with swear words) at the TV but Fred stayed reserved.  After the third goal, it was getting warm in his apartment so I opened the window.  As I stuck my head out to get some fresh air - I could hear an echoing yell in the background.  It took a second but I figured out the yell.  It wasn't one yell echoing, it was a lot of yells and they were all yelling at their TVs - yelling at "their boys".

I must admit Fred was as good as a host as he could be with the nature of the game.   However by the end, Fred hardly said a word.  As the final few seconds of the match ticked down, I turned to Fred.  He was asleep.  It was as if his body couldn't take anymore pain - so it turned itself off for the evening.  I grabbed a blanket from the couch and put it over him and left his apartment.