Good Times Grimes

That is too bad! Sounds like you're pretty lucky to have a friend with connections. I've been to about 6 games in the past three seasons. Not very many considering there have been 123 home games in that time. I can't stand how in Toronto businesses get a hold of the tickets and use them all to entertain clients-- it means that real fans don't get many opportunities to go out to games. The upside of the Leafs not making the playoffs in so long is that people are more willing to sell their tickets and make a profit rather than attend and see a losing team. So if you're desperate to get to a game you can sit in the nosebleeds and pay $140! Hopefully the Sharks can finally deliver this year. I've often picked them to win the cup only to see them go out in the first couple of weeks of the playoffs. Who do you think is going to win it all this year? That Canucks/Kings game should be a good one to watch. I would be surprised if the Kings could pull off the sweep. I think Vancouver will win the next two games and L.A. will win the series in Game 6. Penguins are up 9-3 at the moment in Game 4 at the end of the 2nd period. That series has been so high scoring and unpredictable... some of the most exciting playoff hockey I've ever seen. Even though I hate the Penguins and Crosby, I hope they can win the next couple of games just so the series keeps going. Interesting stat I heard today: Last year there were 7 suspensions over the course of the playoffs. This year there have been 8 in the first 7 days!

The Pittsburgh/Philadelphia series has been insane in terms of fights, hits, outrageous scores and unpredictability. I'd be more than happy to see the Penguins ousted from the playoffs tomorrow. I'm also very anti-Vancouver, and happy to see them down 3-0 (Sorry Macca). It would be a great upset if LA could sweep them. It's going to be very interesting to see who takes out the cup this year. My early pick is the Flyers, but they'll need Bryzgalov or Bobrovsky to give them some stability in goal. This is such a great time of year for sports: NHL playoffs, NBA playoffs in a couple of weeks, MLB season has just begun, the Masters, and of course AFL. Pantaloons- Who were the Leafs playing when you went recently? I was also at a game in early 2011 against Calgary in which they came back in the final seconds, but I can't remember which month it was in. I think they ended up losing it 2-1. I really hope the Leafs come good some time soon, they are the only team to have missed the playoffs every year since the 2004-2005 lockout.

Hopefully round 1 excitement plays a factor and we can crack the 30k mark. I do agree that 25 is more likely, though.

Yep. Few things get to me more than cocky athletes. Lebron is one. Didak is another.

Not a huge fan on basketball, but happy with any team other than Miami winning it. Not a fan of Bosh, Wade or Lebron. There's a great joke about Lebron that's been going around since his performance in last year's playoffs: A homeless man was begging on the street and asked Lebron James for a dollar. Lebron gave him 75 cents. As usual, he didn't have the last quarter.

I feel bad for anybody that has a relapse. There is nobody who wants to live as an addict. I hope Ben gets the help he needs and can get clean.

They did win back to back, but it's nearing 20 years ago now (92 and 93). Unfortunately I was too young too follow it then, and not living in Toronto until a few years later. It's the last time a major Toronto team has won a championship though, and the Jays look like the only one out of the big 3 (Raptors-NBA, Maple Leafs- NHL) that could do it any time soon. It's taken especially seriously in the States with the Boston/Yankees rivalry probably being the biggest. I've only seen snippets of that documentary, but I do know the story behind it. Whenever I get down on the Demons, I just try to think- hey, it could be worse. The Cubs haven't won in 103 years and counting!

The Jays are great to see live, but in my time following them the city's interest has usually dwindled around July when they're too far outside a playoff spot. There are too many games in the season, in my opinion, to expect fans to maintain a keen level of interest throughout. That's why I love footy...each week you're looking forward to a game and the lead-up is always an event in itself. I'm hoping this year is different for the Jays as there are lots of young prospects starting to come around. Hockey is great to see live--if you can get a ticket. In Toronto the tickets will be sold out for the entire season within an hour of them going on sale. I've only managed to get to 2 of 41 home games this year (although that's not necessarily a bad thing considering the Maple Leafs' abysmal record). Vancouver would be a much better team to follow I think, although they are notorious for choking. That might be even worse than following a team that you expect to lose.

Spring training for the 2012 season is underway with the best performed teams so far being the Detroit Tigers, LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox. Does anybody have any early season picks as to who's going to be the World Series Champion this year? The recent addition of 2 extra playoff spots will make things more interesting and hopefully make the playoffs more attainable for teams with payrolls of under $100 milion.

I've been going through a 90s phase over the last couple of weeks. These are a couple of my favourites:

Had to watch The World According to Monsanto for one of my Geography courses in my first year. Amazing and terrifying how much control and influence Monsanto has.

The big day's here. Giants or Patriots? I'm hoping Manning can produce some more magic and deny New England the Superbowl. With the Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox, Boston doesn't need any more championship teams. They've already had more than their fair share. (Call me bitter, but I've never seen a team I support win ANYTHING of significance)

So we've got a re-match of the Giants/Patriots Superbowl. Time for New England to exact some revenge on Eli Manning? Or will the New York's playoff run continue? Should be a cracker.

Very impressive tournament from Lleyton this year, considering his draw. I was doing some research on him and apparently his old man was a pretty good footballer and played a few games for Richmond. Lleyton chose tennis over football relatively early on, but allegedly could have done well in either sport.

Eric "concussion" Lindros. He had all the potential in the world but couldn't seem to string together a full season. He played for Toronto in his last season and started as the best player on the team, but unfortunately he fell victim to the concussion again. 2010 was a great run for the Flyers, they seemed to come out of nowhere. Similar to St Louis in the MLB last year. They've lost many of the stars that they had from that run, but have somehow maintained their position as one of the top teams in the league. Very impressive management, really.

Can't go past Breaking Bad at the moment. In terms of comedy I think It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a classic, but you have to watch it from the beginning and persevere through a relatively slow season and a bit until Danny De Vito comes in. I don't think I've ever laughed as hard as I have during that show. I also find The Office to still be quite good, despite Steve Carrell's departure. Can't see it going for too much longer though. Anyone seen previews for the new series Alcatraz? I can't decide whether it'll be Lost 2.0, or something that actually makes sense...

I'm a big NHL fan, Toronto Maple Leafs in particular. The season is just getting to the interesting point, as the contenders and pretenders are being sorted apart. The Leafs haven't won since 1967. I have never seen a team I follow in ANY sport win it all...I sure know how to pick them.

2011 was a great year for baseball. Probably the best "World" series I've seen. Living in Toronto, I'm a HUGE Blue Jays fan. Optimistically looking forward to this season; the Jays have a list quite similar to that of the Dees in that there are many young players with all the talent required to have success. They just need to put it together.