November 12, 2008

Change Has Arrived...


Hello Toronto. 

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that Sports And The City is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of blogs, today is your answer.

It's the answer told by those who voted in numbers this blog has never seen; by people who waited two minutes and three minutes to vote, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that the Sports And The City banner must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Mats Sundin fan and Tomas Kaberle fan, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native Canadian, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - readers who sent a message to the world that this blog has never been about just Mats Sundin: this blog is, and always will be, about all the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what this blog can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it toward the hope of a new Sports And The City banner.

It's been a long time coming, but today, because of what we did in October, in this poll, at this defining moment, change has come to Sports And The City...

As you can see above, it's official: Tomas Kaberle has been added to the Sports And The City banner. And I must say, he looks fucking fantastic up there.

A huge thank you goes out to the Sports And The City one-man marketing department, my boy Deaner. He's a rudey. He's also recently joined the blogosphere. Clearly I'm not paying him adequately, or giving him enough work to do. You can check him out at The 25th Hour.

In celebration of Tomas' ascension to the banner and the change that has come on this special day, I present to you, for probably the 15th time, the Kaberle song. Yes, I am obsessed with it.



Fuck. I love that tune.

Once again, cheers to everyone who voted. You are the change you seek...

9 comments:

Jennifer Hammer said...

You know how I feel about Kabs. And that song.

He truly does look fantastic on the new banner!

Loser Domi said...

I love that photo of KAbs in the banner. He's just so damn happy. it's like "Hooray! It's KABERLE!"

Tex said...

Love the new banner! I'm impressed. He looks like he's celebrating something... maybe its the inclusion on your site? Maybe its the Leafs' eventual Cup win? Maybe its a trade out of TO at the deadline? Only time will tell.

Anonymous said...

@Tex, I had to laugh at the trade comment. I hope he's the one guy on this team they don't trade. He's the backbone of this team.

Anonymous said...

As much as I love Kaberle, depending if he picks up his play. He is one of the more attractive pieces of trade bait that the Leafs have. A modest Salary for a solid d-man.

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Schultzy: You and I will forever have a bond in our love for Tomas. And, yes, he does look fantastic up there.

@ LD: Yeah, that's one of my favourite pics of Kabby as well. So much joy! A great selection by the marketing department.

@ Tex: Thanks dude. I'm going with the first two.

@ Tex, Deaner & Johnny: Bite your tongues, boys! On this historic day there should be no discussion of trading Kaberle. Show some respect, dammit!

Anonymous said...

Hey,

I didn't say I wanted it to happen, was just pointing something out.

Culinarian said...

can you add some rosieness on kabs' cheeks- I'm sure they're there but we just can't see them...Kabs isn't kabs without his rosie glow/pinkish hue

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Johnny: I know. Let's just not speak of it today...

@ Culinarian: As Costanza enlightened us to, the pinkish hue is very important. I think I can kind of make out some redness on Kabby's cheek. Can you believe it's been 10 years since he arrived in T.O.? That night we won our pro-line ticket, on opening night back in '98, Leafs and Red Wings, that was Kabby's first game. Fuck. We're officially old, bro.