As part of Blue Toro’s on-going/never-ending quest to provide interesting content, welcome to our new weekly feature: Top Toronto Athlete sightings of the week.

As regular readers know, we often feature public shots of athletes who ply their trade in Toronto.  However, rather than producing random blogs discussing these various sightings, we thought it would make more sense to collate them into a weekly feature.

As such, we now present our inaugural column.  Please feel free to contact us with your feedback, constructive or otherwise:

1) JAMES REIMER

Removing whatever doubt was left that James Reimer never stops smiling, here he is taking the time to pose with a fan, despite dealing with the fallout from the Leafs game 7 meltdown.  Mind you, now that we know who the goaltender is going home to every night, I think we’d all have a permanent smile on our face under those circumstances.

2) JOFFREY LUPUL

Meanwhile, Joffrey Lupul appears to be doing his best to avoid the spotlight, which might explain why he went under the cover of darkness to attend the Vampire Weekend Concert last night.  However, he still couldn’t avoid the fans. If his left fist and expression on his face are any indication, the winger appears close to lashing out at somebody.

3) JOE EPPELE

Argonauts offensive lineman Joe Eppele was at RealSports Bar with some friends on Monday night to watch the Leafs game against the Bruins.  They all seem quite happy, so I’m assuming the photo was taken sometime before the last two minutes of regulation.  Either that, or they just don’t care.

4) BRETT LAWRIE

While this isn’t what you’d usually term as a social sighting, we felt obliged to share this photo of Brett Lawrie.  I’m sure plenty of women out there can empathise with how much of a pain it is when you’re preparing to go out and you’ve misplaced your makeup mirror.

5) JOSE BAUTISTA

This picture actually comes from last weekend, when Jose Bautista went out for a meal in Boston.  How do we know he’s in Boston? Look no further than the guy not bothering to stand up for the photo, basically embodying the arrogant sense of self-importance normally associated with Boston sports fans.

6) RUDY GAY

Quick quiz: Why do you think the Raptors Rudy Gay looks less than happy? Is it because; a) He’s in Baltimore, b) He’s shopping at H&M or c) The Grizzlies have clearly shown they don’t need him.

7) R.A. DICKEY

Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey received an honorary doctorate from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto earlier this week, i.e. he didn’t actually put any time or effort in to earn it.  This led to questions about if his Cy Young award was also an honorary one, given the way he’s performed at times this season.

8 ) DION PHANEUF

And finally, I’m not saying fan James Liles is pissed off with Dion Phaneuf, but here’s a photo that was taken when he ‘meet’ the Leafs captain.

If you have any tips or information about any of Toronto’s sports teams, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk

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• By paul.taylor
• May 18, 2013
• Comment

Curtis Joseph may be retired, but he certainly hasn’t been forgotten.  Look no further than Leafs fan Robert DeRose, who was thrilled to have his photo taken with the former goaltender at Lowes in Windsor :

Heading into this campaign, many Leafs fans were still pining for the days of Joseph, who averaged 33 wins per season between 1998-2002 in Toronto.  However, as highlighted by James Reimer’s performance during last night’s 2-1 victory in Boston, the Leafs appear to have finally found a suitable replacement.

In fact, if Reimer can have even half of Joseph’s success (454 career wins), the Leafs may be about to become regular contenders again.  As long as he doesn’t also attempt to challenge Joseph’s record of 352 career losses, the second-most in NHL history.

Photo credit: @DoctorRobert

If you have any questions, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk

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• By paul.taylor
• May 11, 2013
• Comment

It turns out the guy sat by Elisha Cuthbert during game 4 at the ACC between the Leafs and Bruins wasn’t the only reason for her pulling faces like this one:

Apparently, the actress already had an inkling her latest television sitcom was going to be cancelled by ABC.  Not the ‘Happy Ending’ she was hoping for I guess. (Shake head or insert groan here.)

I think it’s safe to say it hasn’t exactly been the best of week’s for Miss Cuthbert.  At least she has that little ray of sunshine in her life, i.e. Dion Phaneuf, to cheer her up:

Photo credits: @jenayap & @Bluejaysmemes

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• By paul.taylor
• May 11, 2013
• Comment

And so it come’s down to this: Do or die for the Maple Leafs. Lose, and your season’s over.  As such, I can’t imagine the players will need any incentive to give it 100% tonight against the Bruins.

However, just in case one or two of the players are struggling for inspiration, maybe this will help, courtesy of Leafs fan Michelle Griffin:

Sorry, wrong picture!  That’s from my private collection. Errr, let’s try again:

That’s more like it.  I’m going to hazard a guess that both the players and the fans are now up for tonight’s game.

Photo credits: @mgrriffin

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• By paul.taylor
• May 10, 2013
• Comment

While it doesn’t quite compare to being at a Lakers game, Elisha Cuthbert wasn’t the only celebrity at last night’s game between the Leafs and Bruins.  Also in attendance at the ACC was actor Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow in the hit TV show Game of Thrones:

Harington is currently in Toronto to film the action/adventure movie Pompeii and was previously in town during 2011 for the making of Silent Hill: Revelation.  If the Leafs shirt is anything to go by, it appears he’s already been brainwashed by the MLSE money-making machine.  (Leading to token “You know nothing Jon Snow!” comment from Canadiens and Senators fans.)

In some respects, Harington couldn’t have picked a more exciting game to go to, even though the Leafs ended up losing 4-3 in overtime.  If nothing else, it gives him the chance to learn quickly about how painful it is to be a Leafs fan.

Unlike his character Jon Snow, at least Canada is one place where Harington can actually be excited about the prospect of winter coming.  In fact, with the Leafs looking on the verge of being knocked out of the playoffs, it can’t come soon enough.

If you have any questions, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk

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• By paul.taylor
• May 9, 2013
• Comment

The Score: Tonight the Toronto Maple Leafs lost in overtime to the Boston Bruins. CBC often had their cameras fixed on the Reimer family, as his mother and wife were side-by-side, suffering through each and every play with James, the Leafs’ tender. When teams provide the players with family tickets, they lump them all together. That means Reimer’s family would be in the same section as Dion Phaneuf’s girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert.

After the overtime winner was scored, they cut back to the Reimer family, only to see James’ wife giving a look to Cuthbert, who promptly rolls her eyes and dismisses her. It’s a hilarious moment because you can probably guess what happened: the Bruins scored, Cuthbert made some half-thought out exclamation as all fans do (something like “oh you gotta stop that!” or “stupid goalie!”), Mrs. Reimer gives her the eyes and maybe says something, and…awwwkwarrrrd.

Seems like it wasn’t Miss Cuthbert who made a stupid comment after the goal.

Anyway, the big question remains: do you blame Phaneuf for the loss?

• By ed
• May 8, 2013
• Comment

The game may still be nine hours away, but if these tweets are anything to go by, Leafs Nation is pumped up and raring to go for tonight’s game at the ACC:

Cannot contain my excitement! 7am & ready to go! #game4 @mapleleafs #DIEHARD #GOLEAFSGO #TMLTALK AHHHH #PLAYOFFS #nhl twitter.com/jessimacaaa/st…

— j ‘ s s ⚡ (@jessimacaaa) May 8, 2013

@mapleleafs we’ve got this game tonight! Go leafs go! #TMLtalk twitter.com/nstockdale_/st…

— Nicole Stockdale (@nstockdale_) May 8, 2013

Go Leafs Go @mapleleafs twitter.com/megsartoretto/…

— Megan Sartoretto (@megsartoretto) May 8, 2013

I’m thinking it’s way too early in the day to be this psyched, but maybe I’m just showing my age.  Certainly, Leafs fans never fail to impress me with their passion and enthusiasm, especially after what happened in game 3.

I think we can safely say productivity is going to take a major hit today, regardless of where people work. (This may or may not be a subtle message for the benefit of my boss.)

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• By paul.taylor
• May 8, 2013
• Comment

Remember her? Taylor Stevens. Hey “two friends” got super famous last year while distracting Peter Deboer during the Kings vs Devils Stanley Cup finals. Besides being a huge hockey fan, she’s a webcam superstar adult model bouncy blonde who loves to play. Born in Toronto, Canada.

The Leafs are in the playoffs for the first time since the invention of HD TV, and like many people in Toronto, she’s jumping on the bandwagon. Good girl. If you’re fortunate enough to go to the ACC this weekend, keep your eyes open for her, and adult star Tera Patrick. Let us know by email, Facebook or Twitter if you get the chance to chest-pump her.

• By ed
• May 2, 2013
• Comment

How you view the Leafs 5-4 loss against the Jets potentially says a lot about whether you’re a glass half full or half empty kind of person.  Either you’re enthralled by the comeback from 4-1 down to gain a valuable point, or you’re concerned by a losing streak that has now hit five games.

Regardless of your perspective, it’s safe to say we could all use a little boost after last night’s heart-breaking defeat.  And here it is, courtesy of the Toronto Bunny:

Despite being a Leafs fan, it seems she’s more than happy to show the love for other teams as well:

Hopefully those pictures have helped cheer you up a bit, despite the cheeky little minx being careful not to show her face.   Actually, talking of being a minx and judging by some of the Toronto Bunny’s tweets, it appears she’d like to go that little bit further to also cheer the players up:

Lupul is SEXY AS FUCK

— Toronto Bunny (@torontobunny) March 17, 2013

I’d bang Kadri. #NoShame — Toronto Bunny (@torontobunny) March 16, 2013

I guess I would bang Cody Franson also. — Toronto Bunny (@torontobunny) March 16, 2013

That last tweet elicited this response from someone:

@torontobunny just narrow it down to the entire leaf team aha

— Justin Cimini (@jcimms9) March 16, 2013

Kudos to the Toronto Bunny who actually retweeted the comment.  She definitely sounds like our kind of girl, i.e. full or hormones but also able to take a joke and a bit of banter.

Photo credits: @torontobunny

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• By paul.taylor
• March 17, 2013
• Comment

Say what you want about Leafs followers, but you’re likely to run into them no matter where you are.  Even Winnipeg! Here’s Leafs coach Randy Carlyle posing for a picture with a fan before last night’s game against the Jets:

You can tell the photo was taken beforehand, because Carlyle is only having to half-force his smile.  To be fair, I reckon the fan would have been less likely to harass the Leafs coach for a memento if he’d seen him after the 5-2 loss.

At least the one positive Carlyle can take from the whole experience is that he gets to leave Winnipeg.  Something tells me it’s going to be a loooong day in work for the fan.

Photo credit: @Ty_Lavallee13

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• By paul.taylor
• March 13, 2013
• Comment