How ‘bout it.

How ‘bout it.

7 months ago with 13 notes
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

I have squandered my resistance 
for a pocketful of mumbles
such are promises - all lies and jests
still, a man hears what he wants to hear 
and disregards the rest. 

In the clearing stands a boxer 
and a fighter by his trade 
and he carries the reminders 
of every glove that laid him down 
or cut him ‘til he cried out 
in his anger and his shame: 
“I am leaving, I am leaving” 
but The Fighter still remains.

Please, please fix yourself NHL. It is much too late and well past time.

31 plays 9 months ago with 10 notes
9 months ago with 13 notes
Years ago, a friend and I were looking for work at the same time. We both loved the Leafs and devoured hockey news, filling our days with hours upon hours of mindless sports TV and radio. One of our favourite topics was the sparkling personality of Wade Belak, a regular guest on many of Toronto’s networks. My friend had a particularly good interview one day, and we joked that it was thanks to the good luck of a huge picture of Wade Belak in the paper she had been carrying. Desperate for work and loving the notion of such a silly lucky charm, we both slid a little picture of Belak into our wallets in search of better (more employed) fortunes. It was a joke and a conversation starter, and for a girl with a handful of Jays tickets and hockey cards in her wallet, it fit right in. Some years, wallets and shitty part-time jobs later, Wade Belak was traded to the Florida Panthers. I was sad to see one of my favourite people leave Toronto, so I sent him an email through his website to say as much. I quickly mentioned the Wallet Wade story, thanked him for my string of mall jobs and wished him luck. “Toronto is sorry to see you leave - we loved you for a million reasons and I hope you find the same with the Panthers.” It was nothing - a dashed off missive to a player I always liked having around. You should tell people when you appreciate them. A few days went by and to my surprise I received a laughing response from Wade. He said that he was flattered and happy to hear I was finding success in my interviews, that he would miss TO and his experience here, and that his Fans (always delivered with a capital F) had been great to him. He signed off with thanks, best wishes for future employment and a reminder to keep my head up. It is when your team is weak, as the Leafs have been, that you appreciate the strength of a man like Wade Belak. It is when your team is filled with holes, as the Leafs have been, that you appreciate the versatility of someone who can play multiple positions - regardless of his skill level. It is when your team’s silkiest skater and most talented passer gets concussed on a late hit from some nobody that you appreciate the presence of a man like Wade Belak. Many post-lockout editions of the Leafs needed him, and I can’t think of a single time that we looked around and he wasn’t there. He lightened the mood of some particularly dour seasons, kept our spirits up and served as a constant reminder that some people seemed to truly and whole-heartedly appreciate their opportunities. If having his picture nearby wasn’t really good luck, it was a reminder of the courage and sincerity with which I should approach any job I was given. I remain thankful for that. I was driving today when I heard the news break. I continued on listlessly and highway blind for a few lights before pulling over, parking and pulling out my phone. I don’t know what happened or why. I do know that this is a significant loss for the sporting community and the hockey family; that a father, husband and friend is gone. I do know that you should tell people when you appreciate them. Toronto is sorry to see you leave, Wade. We loved you for a million reasons and I hope you find the same in peace. Miss you. I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains.

Years ago, a friend and I were looking for work at the same time. We both loved the Leafs and devoured hockey news, filling our days with hours upon hours of mindless sports TV and radio. One of our favourite topics was the sparkling personality of Wade Belak, a regular guest on many of Toronto’s networks.

My friend had a particularly good interview one day, and we joked that it was thanks to the good luck of a huge picture of Wade Belak in the paper she had been carrying. Desperate for work and loving the notion of such a silly lucky charm, we both slid a little picture of Belak into our wallets in search of better (more employed) fortunes. It was a joke and a conversation starter, and for a girl with a handful of Jays tickets and hockey cards in her wallet, it fit right in.

Some years, wallets and shitty part-time jobs later, Wade Belak was traded to the Florida Panthers. I was sad to see one of my favourite people leave Toronto, so I sent him an email through his website to say as much. I quickly mentioned the Wallet Wade story, thanked him for my string of mall jobs and wished him luck. “Toronto is sorry to see you leave - we loved you for a million reasons and I hope you find the same with the Panthers.” It was nothing - a dashed off missive to a player I always liked having around. You should tell people when you appreciate them.

A few days went by and to my surprise I received a laughing response from Wade. He said that he was flattered and happy to hear I was finding success in my interviews, that he would miss TO and his experience here, and that his Fans (always delivered with a capital F) had been great to him. He signed off with thanks, best wishes for future employment and a reminder to keep my head up.

It is when your team is weak, as the Leafs have been, that you appreciate the strength of a man like Wade Belak. It is when your team is filled with holes, as the Leafs have been, that you appreciate the versatility of someone who can play multiple positions - regardless of his skill level. It is when your team’s silkiest skater and most talented passer gets concussed on a late hit from some nobody that you appreciate the presence of a man like Wade Belak. Many post-lockout editions of the Leafs needed him, and I can’t think of a single time that we looked around and he wasn’t there.

He lightened the mood of some particularly dour seasons, kept our spirits up and served as a constant reminder that some people seemed to truly and whole-heartedly appreciate their opportunities. If having his picture nearby wasn’t really good luck, it was a reminder of the courage and sincerity with which I should approach any job I was given. I remain thankful for that.

I was driving today when I heard the news break. I continued on listlessly and highway blind for a few lights before pulling over, parking and pulling out my phone. I don’t know what happened or why. I do know that this is a significant loss for the sporting community and the hockey family; that a father, husband and friend is gone. I do know that you should tell people when you appreciate them.

Toronto is sorry to see you leave, Wade. We loved you for a million reasons and I hope you find the same in peace.

Miss you.

I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains.

9 months ago
reblog with hockey players born where you were born.

ohvegeta:

eagertowin:

jason spezza, john tavares, manny malhotra - mississauga

Tim Thomas what what

Prepare for this majestic list of heroes:

Rick Tocchet
Mike Ricci
Bryan Marchment
Chris Durno

Gambling problem? SCARBOROUGH.
To Catch A Predator-style moustache and mullet? SCARBOROUGH.
Unbearable dickbag of a human being? SCARBOROUGH.
Chris Durno? SCARBOROUGH.

Also Larry Murphy and the Primeaus but I loved them. I kid because I adore, Scarbs. I’ll feel lukewarm niceties for you forever since you gave me the Barenaked Ladies.

1 year ago with 101 notes