Among my friends who aren't Leafs fans, the largest group just happens to be Boston fans. Most of them are pretty damn proud of themselves, as though they somehow deserve a share of the credit for their team's success, like they did anything. I'm all for cheering, and even some mocking, but the whole "WE beat you guys last night" attitude gets old in a hurry.
Mitchell and Webb put it best:
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I don't let it bother me, though. Rationally, I know how ridiculous it is for them to claim a Boston win as some kind of personal victory; likewise, I'm just here to cheer for the Leafs, I don't take it personally if they win or lose because I'm not not on the team. What's important to me is that I stick to my guns and support the team through thick and thin, because that's what I find fun.
And after a lifetime as a Leafs fan, I've learned that I have more, and better Leafs jokes than anyone I know. Whenever someone tries to tell me a Leafs joke at my expense, I usually have a better one that I'm happy to share.
Thankfully, also I have a number of friends who cheer for other teams, but are happy to engage in level-headed criticism of any team, really, wherever criticism is due. They'll admit it when their team has had a bad game or made a bad play, and they'll give credit where credit is due if the Leafs do well. (Man, they're pretty impressed with guys like Kadri and Lupul, and they've always cheered me up about our goalies when I've been a little too hard on them.) For the most part, people at these boards seems to be this way, which is ultimately why I stick around. Or, more accurately, why I check the board religiously throughout the day.
