Despite being considered the NHL’s worst franchise the Toronto Maple Leafs have the largest fan base in the NHL known simply as Leafs Nation. Despite the teams popularity Leafs Nation is possibly the most hated fan base’s in the NHL and one that is heavily scrutinized.
This is where being a part of Leafs Nation is like being a part of a culture. People who are not Leafs fans cannot understand why fans are willing to pay so much and cheer for a team that has not won a championship in 42 years and has not made the playoffs in 5. Unlike many other sports franchises Leafs fans are not people who simply cheer for the best or popular team at the time. If you are a Leafs fan you cheer for them because you love the team and the history the team has. Many of Toronto’s fans are born into becoming a Leafs fan. Much like myself many people cheer for the Leafs because their parents cheered for the Leafs, and being a Leaf fan was almost forced upon them. Colliers dictionary defines culture as the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group. Leafs Nation is a culture of people who shared attitudes towards the Leafs characterizes them as Leafs Nation.
I chose to write about Leafs Nation as a culture because I believe Leafs Nation is one of the most dedicated and spirited fan bases in all of sports. Despite waiting 42 years for Stanley Cup and not making the playoffs for the last 5 years, Leafs fans continue to cheer for and attend Leafs games. Despite many people calling Leafs fans “idiots” or “Losers” fans continue to show up to games and cheer on possibly the worst team in the league. For me being a Leafs fan is not only a culture, being a Leafs fan is a part of my life. Since I was born I have watched almost every Leafs game played, today I continue to watch every game. There is nothing like going to the bar and watching the Leafs game while enjoying a nice beer with some friends. At family functions or on family vacations there is no family time like sitting down and watching the Leafs play (usually watching them lose). The Leafs have brought my family together, and in some cases torn us apart. The Leafs have been more than a team to me, and too many other Leafs fans.
Being a Leafs fan means being a part of a culture that is accustomed to losing, but cheering for a team despite its losing ways is what makes Leafs fans the greatest fans in all of sports, because it’s “the passion that unites us all.”
-Curtis Thompson
Here is a quick you tube video on Leafs Nation!
I think it was an excellent idea to write about Leaf Nation as a culture. Although the Leafs have been playing terribly as of late, I, too, am a huge Leafs fan. Like you, I grew up watching hockey; most of my Saturday nights as a child consisted of watching the Leaf game with my dad and brother and complaining about how annoying Don Cherrry was.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that you discuss how Leaf fans are like no other and no one else seems to understand that community we form as tride and true Leaf fans.
I think it's important for people to understand that Leaf nation is really like any other hockey nation worldwide and only a true fan sticks by their team through the thick and thin.
Interesting post!
Taylor Short