Ottawa's scurred
Ottawa city council has recently voted to ban Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys at the Ottawa Senators' home rink, the Corel Centre.
Says councillor Rick Chiarelli, who sponsored the move:
"'The Senators have been an integral part of the economy in Ottawa, and our civic branding, and it's offensive to [have] a bunch of people walking around with Toronto Maple Leaf jerseys when civic pride is on the line... I've been to the Leafs-Sens games, and up to 20 per cent of the people are cheering for the Leafs, wearing Leafs' paraphernalia. That can't be good for progress. It can't be good for the city's image or branding.'"
Uh, memo to Ottawa city council: all this does is reinforce your city's insecurities when it comes to sharing a province with Toronto, and your hockey team's insecurities about being bounced from the playoffs by the Leafs in three of the last four years.
Keep up the good work, Mr. Chiarelli. Torontonians everywhere will thank you.