Rhubarb Report 066

This year is the first time since 2004 that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been a part of the NHL playoffs. They were, until last week, the owners of the league's longest post-season drought. You would also have to go back a lot of years - specifically, to 1967 - to find their last (13th) Stanley Cup win. That gives them the unenviable title of also having the NHL's longest-active championship drought. It's not easy being a Leaf's fan. Trust me on this one.

Just when hopes were high this season, the Leafs have now found themselves in a 3 - 1 deficit against the Boston Bruins. Somehow, this doesn't surprise me from the team that is now the NHL version of the Chicago Cubs. This doesn't qualify as rhubarb as much as it is a painful reality for Leafs fans worldwide.

Reality check aside, and before Leafs depression sets in once again, there is plenty of rhubarb to make you stop and ponder just what makes the world go 'round. Alas, Episode 66 of the Rhubarb Report - game on!

1. The chasm between college and pro sports became readily apparent recently in the world of basketball. On one hand, you have Kobe Bryant tearing his Achilles tendon. It then took him 16 days to return to the Los Angeles Lakers' bench. In the meantime, he could be found critiquing his team from afar - via Twitter. Contrast this with Kevin Ware, the University of Louisville player that sustained a horrific injury in the NCAA Regional Final. Ware underwent surgery and was back on the bench within the week to cheer on his teammates in the Final Four.

I understand the economic differences between the two. But there is much to be said for the attitude (and gratitude) of the player in these scenarios - or lack thereof.

2. In the "are you serious" department, I bring a disturbing statistic to your attention. According to this report, 29% of Americans see a need for an armed revolution in order to protect liberties. That includes 18% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans.

What happened to protecting liberties with a ballot box? My question is - when was the last time that this 29% was actually within a mile of a voting booth?

3. Finally, it is once again time to question the ability of our legislators to govern effectively. Case in point: the recent Senate vote on background checks for firearms purchasers. Senators voted 54 - 46 against the legislation. However, 90% of the country is in favor of mandatory background checks. Disconnect? Lincoln stated in the Gettysburg Address -  

"government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Shouldn't Congress be representing the people of this country? Of course, that assumes one key thing: that legislators are choosing to represent constituents and not political action committees and special interests. Silly me.

Debate the issue of gun control all you want – that isn’t the point. This really isn’t about guns at all. It is an issue of legislators representing constituents - and constituents trusting their elected representatives to do so. The democratic process doesn't work when the relationship is one-sided.

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Related Articles By Allan Besselink

• Rhubarb Report 065
• Rhubarb Report 064
• Rhubarb Report 063