So, this is what it's come to in this one time city of champions: backing into the post-season with one out of a possible six points in three consecutive losses to non-playoff teams is worthy of a standing ovation.
Taking into account the improbability of 21,273 people expressing simultaneous as well as spontaneous sarcasm, we have to proceed on the assumption that Saturday's full house at the Bell Centre was actually paying a heartfelt tribute when they rose as one after the Canadiens assured themselves of a playoff spot by holding the Leafs to a 3-all tie in regulation time.
Were they still around, Bob Gainey would have been embarrassed, Scotty Bowman indignant, and Toe Blake appalled.
On the other hand, even if it wasn't deserved, a standing ovation is a more appropriate response than smashing storefront windows and setting police cars on fire.
I guess we're saving that for the playoffs.
Tiger's less than triumphant return
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods' return to competitive golf was successful, even if it wasn't triumphant.
Woods demonstrated with a top 5 finish at the Masters that his game didn't suffer grievously from a five month layoff and a hugely distracting sex scandal, but he wasn't as effectual at rehabilitating his reputation.
The Nike commercial that used an audio clip from his late father and was meant to portray a humbled, contrite, back-to-his roots Woods instead came off as cynical, exploitative and disrespectful.
What it did accomplish was to give us an idea of what Tiger Woods would look like on an ATM security camera after finding out he's broke, or that his proxy in the hockey playoff pool drafted Hal Gill in the first round.
