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| - I'm jealous I didn't get the FTR.
If there was a building I needed to make a pilgrimage to and that represented my youth the most, it was and is MLG.
I grew up not far, went to high school a few blocks away and spent many days there getting free tickets to watch the Marlies on Sundays, or when a buddy's dad would take me to watch Maple Leaf wrestling where I saw Hulk Hogan vs Volkoff, or the Bulldogs vs Studd and Bundy, or Harts vs Rougeaus and always, Iron Mike Sharp.
But there was also the many times I'd go and hang around outside the back doors hoping to see my hero Mike Palmateer, instead only to get autographs by Miroslav Frycer and Peter Inachek on my binder.
Or when Michelle Oates (sister of Adam) for whatever reason, took me to go watch her brother play against the Leafs because I helped her in English class. I rarely got to see the actual Maple Leafs play. Maybe a total of 4 times including twice in the final year, and my last time ever in there as an arena, seeing a playoff game loss by the Leafs.
Or just the times we got to go for a free skate or hockey tournaments. Or just going through the shops of Doug Ault knowing I'd never be able to buy a jersey of either Palmateer or Bunny Laroque. And god knows I never wanted to be Trees (Mark Laforest) or Ken Wregget or worse, Peter Ing.
I also got to see Team USA's women volleyball squad right after the Seoul Olympic games with my biggest crush Lianne Sato there, who autographed my Asic Tigers. I proceeded to have a great club season... on the bench with the Cabbagetown cabbages. I didn't want to ruin the shoes!
And then there was the time I almost saw the greatest upset of all times with Team Canada with Steve Nash and Rick Fox almost beating team USA, with Fox slipping sprawled on the floor with 3 seconds left down by 3 and turning over the ball.
Or when my dad took me to my first ever visit inside MLG when I was 8 or 9 and it'd be the only sporting event he'd ever join me at, the Harlem Globetrotters. I remember, being in the greys. It was high up. Really high up. Or that same first time I'd ever been in the bathrooms and getting scared of troughs.
Or even the time an aunt took me to see Disney on ice, in which I wasn't all that interested, but I knew my aunt had gone out of her way to take me. And I did grow up loving Mickey.
It is why when this building reopened yesterday, newly decorated, sophisticated like no other grocery store I've ever been offering a wide variety of freshly baked goods and butchered meats, I HAD to go inside... Not to shop, or sample the cheese, but just to help me remember a little.
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