The Leaf’s have been out of the playoffs for 10 days now. I thought I was done writing about them until next season. That is until I saw that the CN Tower, the cities most famous landmark, would be lit up in Montreal Canadien’s colours.
Tonight the #CNTower will be lit red, blue, and white for the @CanadiensMTL who will go on to represent Canada’s hope for a 2021 @NHL Stanley Cup! pic.twitter.com/cEqsXqBefZ
— CN Tower/La Tour CN (@TourCNTower) June 8, 2021
Lost bet
At first I assumed this was due to a bet between the mayors of Toronto and Montreal. If the Habs were to win the CN Tower was to be lit in Montreal colours. Had the Leafs prevailed, all strippers in Montreal would have to begin their performances for a day in Maple Leaf lingerie. Tit for tower. Makes sense to me. However, after the tiny bit of research I did I found this not to be the case.
Coast to coast
It turns out the reasoning was much less exciting. This was done simply to show support for the last standing Canadian team in the playoffs. Seriously? Do you think the Calgary Tower would ever be lit up in Oilers colours if they were the last Canadian team playing? Especially after they had just pee pee slapped the Flames.
I have never understood this narrative of supporting the last remaining Canadian team simply because of where they are geographically located. By supporting another Canadian club, I feel the rivalries are diminished a bit. It’s the hatred between cities that makes watching the games so exciting.
If anyone has the right to be a whore about who they cheer for, it is the good people of Saskatchewan, the Territories, and the Maritime provinces. Having no NHL teams based in these places, I would give the locals a pass for supporting more than one team. I am only kidding. I would not respect that one bit. Luckily everyone that calls these places home has too much self respect to do such a thing.
Final thoughts
I am disgusted, but not surprised by this move. Toronto as a whole has always been viewed as a soft city by the rest of Canada. This confirms it. It has a kissing your sister type feel to it. I understand that is a popular thing to do Toronto, just not sure they needed to share it with the entire world.