The Pre-season: Slightly better than the off-season.

Tonight marks the Leafs' first preseason game. The Leafs are in Edmonton (home of Chris Pronger. Err, make that home of Michael Nylander. I mean, home of Thomas Vanek. Fuck!) to take on the Oilers.

The game begins at 9pm and can been viewed only on LeafsTV. Translated for the average Leafs fan: She goes at 9 and you'se can watch 'er on LeafsTV.

Justin Pogge will get the start tonight for the Leafs - and don't expect to see Mats Sundin either. As always, preseason games are more of a tryout for players that are vying for a spot on the team. In this morning's Toronto Sun, such players were referred to as 'bubble boys'. Ahhh, a term popularized by a 90's sitcom. Who writes this shit? Next up is an "I'll be back" Terminator reference when one of the fringe players is inevitably sent down. Then an especially lame Mike Myers reference that'll go something like, "Matt Stajan deserves to play in the NHL...not!". Seriously, Toronto Sun editors, sort yourselves the fuck out.

I am going to go on a bit of a tangent here...you'll just have to deal with it. The Toronto Sun is the bane of my existence. Seriously, the worst newsrag ever. There are very few people that possess an IQ over 60 that read it. You'll find the Sun on construction sites and in McDonald's employee rooms everywhere...but not in your CEO's office - unless he (or she) is shopping for a stereo and/or a hooker. It's journalism at its worst.

My problem is that the Sports section is actually pretty good. It's the most comprehensive sports section in the city. So, I have to pass on decent sports coverage, or endure the lame headlines, poor proof-reading, and pig-faced Sunshine Girls. I mean, what kind of newspaper features a half-naked girl every day?

In any event, do yourself a favour and buy LeafsTV for the season. I've heard a lot from the "I'll never pay extra to watch the Leafs" camp; and I used to be part of it. But, the fact is that LeafsTV has had exclusive rights to more games each season since its inception. Aside from being the only place to watch preseason games, they aired 8 games (I believe) the year after the lockout, to 12 last year, to 20 this year. It's not going away; in fact, the opposite is true. Give LeafsTV a decade and you won't be able to watch Leaf games anywhere else - except maybe Hockey Night In Canada.

It's only $2.50 a month, and can be added or taken off instantly - how can any Leafs fan not have it? Oh right, the fact that $2.50 a month represents a large percentage of the average Leaf fan's salary.