Last night’s game between Boston and Toronto was a tragedy of its own kind for fans of the Leafs, but for one fan the line between the world of hockey-mania and real world tragedy went out the window in favour of bad taste.
The fan in question was spotted outside the Air Canada Centre holding a sign reading ‘Toronto Stronger’ — a tacky playoff slogan if there ever was one, considering that ‘Boston Strong’ is the phrase Bostonians used to express their community, grief, and fear last month when a terrorist bombing tore through the Boston Marathon killing three and wounding hundreds.
The Toronto fan’s sign is even complete with a ribbon, a symbol generally reserved for tragedies or diseases.
Toronto fans, has it really been that long since the Leafs made the playoffs that you have forgotten decency? Of course, it was only one man in a crowd, but one would expect, in a world of common decency and reverence, that this photo would show this man getting a tongue-lashing from a fen beside him.
The Toronto fan did later get his due for brainlessness from Boston fans when his photo hit Twitter:
um, Toronto fan? Boston Strong isn’t about sports. It is about people, a city, not giving in to terrorists & fear mongers. #BostonStrong
— Jennifer Busiek Webb (@jbwebb13) May 7, 2013
And Toronto fans alike:
Id like to apologize for the IDIOT with the Toronto Strong sign at last nights game……. disgraceful.#NoRespect
— Courtney Potts (@RadioGirl_13) May 7, 2013
Hopefully the young man in the photo has learned a lesson that, apparently, no one else needed to learn: Making fun of national tragedies, especially one month after the fact, won’t go over too well with pretty much anyone.
Okay, the whole “Toronto Stronger” sign is extremely rude. “Boston Strong” was created because of terrorism, not for a stupid sports slogan.
— Felicia Hayden (@WhyYa_Hayden) May 7, 2013
