TORONTO – Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke and a few of his players called a surprise press conference Thursday afternoon to lash back at fans that have been unsupportive of the club’s poor performance over the last 40 years.
“You’re all bullies,” a teary-eyed Burke told reporters and fans who showed up ready to berate the team. “You don’t know what it’s like out there. You don’t need to be so mean.”
“You’re the worst fans ever,” he added.
When a rowdy fan at the press conference shouted “You suck,” forward Mikhail Grabovski replied by yelling, “No, you suck.”
The fan was quickly escorted away by security, but managed to shout “nice comeback,” as he was dragged out of the conference.
Grabovski and Burke pretended not to hear the fan, but were later seen struggling to hold back tears.
The Maple Leafs (37-32-11) have been facing criticism for failing to make playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. Fans have been upset with the club for having the current longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL, not having won since 1967.
Some sports analysts believe that the teasing has caused the Maple Leafs to withdraw from everyday activities, such as goal scoring and making it to the playoffs.
“The mental aspect of the game is often overlooked,” said Tim Meadly, author of My Sports Team Sucks: Why I hate the Toronto Maple Leafs. “You get these teams with players that start out with incredible enthusiasm, but the insults can get to them over time. Most of these guys probably just want to stay at home on game days to avoid the verbal abuse.”
Detroit Red Wings veteran captain Niklas Lidstrom said he felt bad for the losing team. “I don’t think the Maple Leafs have any friends. Maybe if they had more confidence? I don’t know.”
The presser continued for another 15 minutes, but some members of the press attempted to leave early. A few asked to go to the bathroom and did not return.
Tensions rose when one fan, Ed Tanassee of Scarborough, stood up and said the team needed “some real players that know how to handle a puck.”
Leaf’s starting forward Joey Crabb addressed the man.
“I don’t come to where you work and comment on your performance,” he said.
Tenassee stood up and addressed both Crabb and Burke. “When my waiter sucks, I don’t tip them. When my plumber sucks, I get free labour, and when my hockey team sucks, I tell it to their faces.”
Tenassee then threw an empty bottle of Gatorade at Crabb, who sustained injuries to his right knee.
