The Toronto Maple Leafs Past Hockey Discrimination

Doesn't surprise me one bit if the Toronto Maple Leafs (under Conn Smythe) practiced discrimination against Italian-Canadians. It would fit right into Canada's sketchy past on race issues. The Leafs weren't alone. The Boston Red Sox (a town not immune to racism) were one of the last teams in baseball to have blacks play for them. People (including my father) said the same thing about the Montreal Canadiens not giving Italians a chance. They 're still upset at the organization trading Tony Esposito. The Habs, in fact, still discriminate.

But T.C.! It's not discrimination when it comes to matter of respect and protection of culture!

Fucking idiots.

I digress.

Some of it is definitely hurt feelings and perhaps even paranoia. However, we'd be fools to not think there was more at work.

The United States was always more progressive in integrating its immigrants. Sports is usually (a coincidental if not leading indicator) reflective of a nation's cultural make-up.

Italians were well-represented on American professional and amateur teams for decades before they began to appear on Canadian teams. Now, some of it is a function of population (among other things) of course, but I personally was suspicious.

Obviously, times have changed. They have too and if we don't change along with it we will be left behind deservedly forever forgotten.