As a long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan, I know disappointment. But hearing that a player feared for his family’s safety after this year’s playoff run was a reminder that we need to keep things in perspective.
Welcome to the 128th edition of The Sunday Spark, a series with weekly thoughts and highlights, nuggets of learning, and a simple living challenge for the week. Along with keeping things in perspective, this week’s edition looks at toy trends, plant-based leathers, and simplifying life with vertical storage.
On my mind this week: Let’s keep things in perspective
This week, former Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner opened up on why he left Toronto. Marner—who signed with the Vegas Golden Knights this summer—revealed one of the reasons he left the Leafs was concerns for his safety and the safety of his family.
The interview was a reminder of how some in our society have lost the ability to keep things in perspective.
Marner was born and raised in the Toronto area. Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs was a childhood dream. During his time with the Leafs, Marner enjoyed tremendous success in the regular season, but that didn’t translate into playoff success.
Fearing for his safety
After this year’s exit from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, a “fan” posted Marner’s address online and suggested angry fans “pay him a visit to say goodbye”. Marner, who had a newborn baby at the time, had to hire full-time security to protect his home and his family. Sadly, this is a reminder of the oversized importance our society puts on sports.
Toronto is a lucrative hockey market, and fans are hungry for a win. As a long-suffering Maple Leafs fan, I feel sad, frustrated, and sometimes angry when they don’t do well in the playoffs. But I also know how to keep things in perspective. In the end, while professional sports may be big business, for fans it’s just a game. I’d be willing to bet no-one is more frustrated than the players when they don’t live up to expectations.
But you have to wonder what kind of deranged people make threats against a player. And why single out Marner? I could point to several other star players on the team who haven’t lived up to playoff expectations in recent years.
Why is this happening now?
The Leafs have been disappointing fans for over 60 years, yet this is the first time I’ve heard of such extreme threats against players. I can think of a couple of reasons this is happening now.
First, there’s social media. In the past, we’d lament our team’s poor showing over a beer or two in the privacy of our own homes, or with a small group of friends. Social media amplifies the anger and disappointment and makes it too easy to spread hate.
Beyond social media, though, I suspect the increased popularity of online sports gambling likely has a lot to do with this extreme behaviour. People betting big dollars on the outcome of the games have a lot more at stake and are more likely to resort to threats when things don’t go their way.
Most professional athletes find ways to tune out the noise, but no-one should ever have to fear for their safety simply for doing their job.
In the end, I don’t blame Marner for leaving Toronto, and I have to wonder why any player would want to play in this pressure cooker of a market. I wish Mitch and his family well and I’m sure he’ll shine in Vegas.
Meanwhile, I hope fans learn to keep things in perspective. Because we know the Leafs will disappoint us again in the future.
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Three highlights of the week
It’s important to celebrate big milestones and simple pleasures in life. Keeping the trend going, here are three highlights and simple pleasures of the week gone by:
- We finally enjoyed some cooler temperatures and rain. It was a welcome change from the extreme heat and drought we’ve experienced throughout July and August.
- On Wednesday, we went for lunch at Anna Mae’s in Millbank with my husband’s family.
- Colleen’s friend Jimmy came over for a visit on Friday. We had pizza from our favourite pizza place for lunch, and then Colleen, Jimmy and I played games—Catan, Monopoly Deal, Spot It and a couple of other card games.
Things I learned this week
Life is all about learning. Here are three things I learned this week:
Adults and their toys
The European toy market has been seeing an interesting trend in recent years. The fastest-growing segment in the toy market is adults, followed by teens. Toy sales to children 12 and under, on the other hand, have declined significantly.
In terms of what toys adults are buying, board games and puzzles lead the way. But building sets—think LEGO—are gaining ground.
(Source: Circana.com)
AI-powered stuffed animals
Speaking of toys, here’s another development—AI powered stuffed animals. Grem is a plush toy with a chatbot inside that children can interact with.
Sounds a little creepy to me.
(Source: TechCrunch)
Plant-based leather
Leather is bad for the environment due to the toxic chemicals used for tanning, and its contribution to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. There are many “pleather” products on the market, but most of them are made from plastic derived from fossil fuels, and they don’t feel and smell like the real thing.
Hyundai is working with a startup called Uncaged Solutions on a plant-based leather made from grains, including wheat, soy, and corn. The results are promising—these products feel, and even smell, remarkably like real animal leathers.
(Source: TechCrunch)
This week’s simple living challenge – Vertical storage
Simplifying life is a big part of living more intentionally. With that in mind, I kicked off 2025 with 52 ways to simplify your life this year, including a downloadable checklist of weekly tasks.
This week’s tip is the one thing from Marie Kondo’s book that came even close to being life changing for me—vertical storage. During my first decluttering challenge, I rearranged my drawers using this technique and was amazed. I fit more in my drawers, they stayed organized for longer, and the ability to easily see what’s in the drawers saves me time searching for a specific item. Learn more in this post.
I’d love to hear what you think about any of this week’s topics. Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts and ideas.
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I wonder if the rise in adults buying toys for themselves is a soothing technique. Lego and puzzles remind us of our childhood and calmer times perhaps?
That’s such a great observation Caroline. With everything going on in the world, that may be the case.
That’s terrible that Marner had to move. Absolutely ridiculous. There’s needs to be a ref for off the ice as well.
Interesting about Hyundai and plant-based leather. Wow, I learn something from you all the time, Michelle! Have a great week!
Right. A ref to police the fans is a terrific idea. I wouldn’t want that job, though. 😀
The plant-based leather is definitely promising.
Have a great week, Wynne!
I know that many of these threats are related to sports betting, which causes some fans/gamblers to lose perspective. This is becoming more common and is not isolated to Toronto. It’s in line with a decline in the way people speak to one another, especially online, where there are few repercussions.
I agree that sports betting is definitely fueling a lot of this, Pete. It’s really sad. The same player was a victim of an armed carjacking a couple of years ago, too. No wonder he left.
The way people talk to or judge others online is appalling.
I can’t imagine posting an address online. It boggles my mind
I know. It’s horrible. There is no privacy for anyone these days. Yes, these players are paid well for what they do, but they are still human beings.
And it’s a game….for the fans it’s supposed to be a fun diversion
Right! It’s just entertainment. But the gambling has definitely raised the stakes.
Yeah. Sad.
As a Philly sports fan I’m sadly familiar with overboard, lunatic, fans. It’s such a shame people take it too far. 😕
It really is sad. People forget that these players and other celebrities are human beings. What kind of person threatens someone with a newborn baby? It’s awful.