(Apologies for the delay. I was at a family event all day yesterday and I wasn’t about to tell a 2-year-old that I had to step away from his birthday so I could write a column)
“It wasn’t nearly as horrible as I thought it might be.”
That was a quote from a long-time observer (and former CSN writer) immediately following the game. He uttered the statement to laughs and nods all-around in the pub that the forever-suffering Toronto supporter’s group U-Sector (established in 2000 for a Toronto Lynx playoff game; haven’t been at another playoff game since) had gathered.
The place was packed. Misery loves company, after all. Seven **** years and we’re still here.
And that’s the thing. It wasn’t as horrible as we thought. It wasn’t great, but, overall, it was enough to engage us and bring us back for yet another year.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
You don’t always pick the one you love, but that doesn’t mean you don’t love them through good and bad. Sure, sometimes you might sound like Kirsty MacColl in Fairytale of New York when talking about TFC -- You scumbag you maggot. You cheap lousy ***got. Happy First Kick your arse. I pray god it´s our last – but, ultimately you’re a sap like Shane Macgowan.
I kept (your dreams) with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it out alone
I've built my dreams around you
If you’re still with this club, you’re not going anywhere. You curse at the Reds, but you dream of the day when you’re standing in disbelief watching the red and white confetti fall down on a stage as Don Garber talks about passionate fans being rewarded for remarkable loyalty.
The last 12-months have been hard on the community of Toronto fans. There has been frustration and in fighting. What was once a vibrant and exciting sub-culture has turned bitter and angry. We spend too much time judging other fans and hating our own club.
All of which made Saturday so pleasant of a surprise. Sure, the black humour was out in full force – signing “We’re Gonna win the league” was likely a tad bit on the sarcastic side – but there was far more smiles than frowns at the pub and there was far more positive evaluation of the play than negative predictions of doom.
Robert Earnshaw was a favourite topic of conversation – excitement about a possible partnership with Danny Koevermans made some even dare utter the P-word (“If we can keep the damage in check, AND, Koevermans comes back in same form then, MAYBE…”).
Seeing Richard Eckersley at fullback was a happy vision. Danny Califf looked OK and the back line stayed fairly organized for long stretches. Considering the lack of time the team has spend together so far, well…
It wasn’t nearly as horrible as we thought.
No one in Toronto is delusional. We know that this is going to be a struggle. But, I think, we’re ready to get back to the job of supporting the club. And, after the last year that’s a beautiful feeling.
All for One – who knows, maybe we got on a lucky one that’s coming in 18 to one…