Long suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fans will be interested to note that one of the earliest bookstore releases this hockey season is Dave Feschuk's and Michael Grange's title Leafs AbomiNation.Buy The Book | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com |
Comically priced at $19.67, referring to the last year they won the Stanley Cup although it is usually sold at an even lower price, the book is sub-titled "The Dismayed Fan's Handbook To Why The Leafs Stink And How They Can Rise Again."
No punches pulled there! But I guess after 42 years, 2 arenas, 3 owners, 19 coaches, 534 players, and 27-million fans, the authors can be downright frank about it.
You can go down to your local bookstore and check it out. Or you can read a free excerpts courtesy of the blog Pension Plan Puppets. Here's the excerpts of the chapter called Blame History:
The Globe And Mail also has a free excerpt titled 42 Years And No Hope In Sight. Also, the authors spoke on the Globe And Mail podcast.
Comments
The problem is that there are so many statistical errors, that I don't if I should believe the new information presented to me in this book. Below is a sample of the stupid errors.
P.xxii-xxiii
Re: Ducks Stanley Cup
"....Scott Niedermayer, the Ducks defenceman who was named the MVP of Anaheim's Cup-winning run in 1997...."
This is obviously a type-o (I hope), as the Ducks wont the cup in 2007
P. 64
Re: Gary Valk and Tie Domi's commentss
"Scoring the series winner in overtime in game six of the second round of the 1996 playoffs at Mellon Arena...."
Right situation, but the wrong year. Valk's goal OT winner was in 1999, making perfect sense as that was one four appearances for the Leafs in the Conference finals (since the league moved to a 16 team playoff format). In the `96 playoffs the Leafs went out in the first round to St. Louis. I find it difficult to understand how you could make such a glaring error. Your research is either poor, or you were writing based on memory. In any case, the inaccurate content is shocking.
P.112
Re: John Ferguson with Dallas Stars when the won the Stanley Cup
"....was promoted to the director of player personnel for the Dallas Stars during a successful string of seasons that culminated in the Stars; 1998 Stanley Cup....."
Dallas won the 1999 Stanley Cup. Detroit won the cup in 1998 (back to back cups from 1997)
P. 201
Re; Wendel Clark Game 6 Hat Trick
"While Clack was a reliable big-game player (and who will forget his hat trick in Game 6 of the '94 conference final?)....."
The Leafs were ousted in 5 games by Vancouver in the `94 conference finals. Clearly you must be talking about his game 6 hat-trick in LA during the `93 conference finals. I really fail to understand how you got this one wrong. In the last 20 years, that `93 playoff run is easily the most recounted in Leaf land. Clark's game 6 hat trick, the non-call on Gretzky's high stick (on Gilmour), everyone remembers watching that. The Fraser non-call is one of, if not the most famous controversial incidents in modern Leafs history
P. 247
Re: Capitals vs Penguins in "conference finals", 2009
"Perhaps the best came in the Eastern Conference final, when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.......played an epic seven game series...."
The Pens and Cap's met in the Eastern Conference semi-finals (second round). The Pens took out the Canes in Eastern Conference finals that year,