Hey, Leafs: Apology NOT Accepted

(Photo Courtesy of QuickMeme.com)

If you live in or around Toronto, or anywhere in Ontario for that matter, you have surely seen the apology slag MLSE has sent out to try and do damage control for an abysmal finish to what started as such a promising season.

I feel like I’ve just been broken up with by a text message saying “It’s not you, it’s me.” At least if you are going to say you’re sorry to us die-hard fans who have put up with mediocrity (if that) season after season, tell us what you’re sorry for.

Taking out a full page ad is an act of sheer desperation. Just because the MLSE brass threw some extra money in the PR department doesn’t mean all will be forgotten. At least BP Oil tried to do something about it after poisoning millions of their customers.

Toronto's Operation #TankNation

(Photo courtesy of storm-nation.blogspot.ca)

(photo courtesy of raptorswatch.com)

                         

There's a debate raging around Toronto about the validity of #TankNation. It's the notion that when lower-end teams clearly aren't playoff bound, it's in their best interest to tank down the stretch to secure a better draft pick. 

Obviously no professional athlete would lose purposely, but this is more about the fans. The only thing they have to look forward to is next year, and they don't want their team to lose, but it wouldn't hurt. I understand the argument that to tank is classless, and it is, but bottom line, it's a struggling team's best chance at improving. The Raptors have embraced their fate and are tanking accordingly, while the Leafs are clinging to false hope, and after playing themselves out of the playoffs, will now likely play themselves out of a lottery spot too. #WorstCaseScenario.

Raptors Getting Real With Barbosa Deal

(photo courtesy of raptorsdigest.com)

                   

Bryan Colangelo didn't have many moves to make at the NBA's trade deadline, but he was still able to make one that made sense. Leandro Barbosa has been one of Toronto's most consistent players since coming north. His energy off the bench, ball movement, and quickness have made him a perennial sixth man of the year candidate. But Barbosa is also aging, and on a team mired in what is, in reality, still a long-term rebuild, it didn't make sense to keep him and his expiring contract around. Coming back in return was a second round draft pick, turning an aging and expiring asset into one with essentially limitless potential. It's tough losing a leader like Leandro, but the toughest decisions are often the ones that make the most sense.