Former Leaf admits to finally understand fan's frustration with the team
For the scores of Maple Leaf fans around the hockey world, the last few decades haven't given us a lot to celebrate, unless you're a masochist. Countless disappointing seasons, embarrassing collapses, and star players not playing like star players when the games matter most. For any of you Blue Jays fans out there, the frustration is not just limited to the Leafs, as the Jays have also made it their life's mission to let you down.
A former Leaf made a guest appearance on the Missin' Curfew podcast this week and discussed what it's like to be a fan in Toronto. Joffrey Lupul was a fan favourite during his time with the Leafs, but persistent health issues eventually resulted in a trip to the LTIR that he never came back from.
Lupul revealed to the Missin' Curfew crew and listeners what it was like to be a Leafs player after a bad home loss, at first admitting to scorning some fans who expressed their displeasure in a disrespectful way when encountering Leafs players out in public. He then apologized to those fans, revealing that he understands it much better now.
"I played in Toronto a long time and the best thing about playing there is the fans and the worst thing about playing there is the fans. You'd be out after a game [after] you got your ass kicked and someone's just like, 'f**k, you guys suck' or something, and most of the time you just shake it off, but the odd time, I'd be like 'f**k you', and after that I'm like, I never really understand why these fans feel the need to do that... until [Wednesday]."
This, of course, in reference to the Toronto Blue Jays' 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins this past Wednesday, preceded by their 3-1 loss to those same Twins on Tuesday.
"After that game, I total get it now. It would be my obligation as a Jays fan, if I saw the Manager, or [Vladdy] Guerrero somewhere, to be like, 'what the f**k were you thinking?', so, to any of those fans I told to shut up, I apologize. I totally understand it now. It took me 40 years, but [Wednesday] was like, 'I get it. I understand what these people are doing.'"
Lupul was a member of the Leafs' team in 2013 who suffered one of the worst collapses in franchise history, surrendering a 3rd period 4-1 lead over the Boston Bruins, losing Game 7 by a score of 5-4 in OT, so he has certainly taken his fair share of heat over the years. Now, he knows what it's like to be on the other side of that as a fan.
| POLL | ||
7 OCTOBRE | 142 ANSWERS Former Leaf admits to finally understand fan's frustration with the team Are you also a Blue Jays fan? | ||
| Yes, and I'm not proud of it | 19 | 13.4 % |
| Yes, for better or worse, I am | 94 | 66.2 % |
| No, I cheer for a different baseball team | 10 | 7 % |
| No, I don't watch baseball | 19 | 13.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
