The Chronicles of Harold Ballard

Harold Ballad is everything you expect from the stereotypical rich old white man, the Toronto Maple Leafs LOL History page would of been unable to contain all the unbelievable shit he has done. This is his story.

Partner in Ownership

 * Ballard became one of the three owners of the Leafs in November 1961 alongside Stafford Smythe and John Bassett. His job at the time was just getting the Maple Leaf Gardens filled while hockey tactics were handled by the other guys, hence the 1960's Leaf's dynasty.
 * Following the emergence of color TV (yeah this was very long ago), the Leafs got a new lighting system that caused a glare issue with television company CBC's broadcasting equipment, Ballard didn't want to pay for the changes that had to be made so he grabbed a fireman's axe and threatened to destroy the TV cables unless CBC paid for it all, it actually worked.
 * To get more seats installed in the Gardens, a big portrait of Queen Elizabeth had to be removed to make room, when asked about it, Harold responded, "She doesn't pay me, I pay her. Besides, what the hell position can a queen play?"
 * Ballard tried to get as many events as possible happening in the Gardens at the highest expense to make a much money as possible.
 * In order to sell more beverages, Ballard would turn the heat up in the building in the summer and shut off the water fountains, he'd also triple the price.
 * But why was Ballard trying to get all that money for the Leafs? To put it simply: he wasn't. He was taking all the money for himself.
 * Ballard, along with Smythe would get busted and be charged with tax evasion. He'd of course plead not guilty, while the court found him guilty of almost everything.
 * Bassett would try to get Ballard and Smythe out of ownership but since they still had ownership they staged a proxy war and Bassett surrendered his shares.
 * 6 weeks later, Ballard would forge Smythe's will and have him killed to become sole owner of the Leafs, the dark age would begin. (yeah I know that's not what happened but doesn't it sound fitting?)

As the Emperor

 * Ballard's trip to prison was apparently described "as a luxury" and he only had to serve a third of his sentence before making parole. So he learned nothing.