Harold Ballard : Wha’D’Ya Mean Ex-Con (1980) - The Fifth Estate

Adrienne Clarkson profiles Harold Ballard, the then controversial co-owner of Maple Leaf Gardens and the Toronto Maple Leaf hockey team. In 1972 Ballard was convicted on charges of theft and fraud related to misappropriation of Maple Leafs Gardens funds, and was sentenced to 9 years in prison, ultimately serving one year in jail. Ballard owned the Leafs until his death at the age of 86 in 1990.
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About the fifth estate : For four decades The Fifth Estate has been Canada's premier investigative documentary program. Hosts Bob McKeown, Gillian Findlay and Mark Kelley continue a tradition of provocative and fearless journalism. the fifth estate brings in-depth investigations that matter to Canadians - delivering a dazzling parade of political leaders, controversial characters and ordinary people whose lives were touched by triumph or tragedy.

[@ThePolerbearproducts]

Yankee Stadium: “The House Ruth Built” Maple Leaf Gardens: “The House Ballard Destroyed”

[@gregoryian123]

You are buying into the media bullshite too much

[@joepalooka2145]

Hilarious when she says "fans pay as much as $17 a seat"!

[@SumitAtreGoogle]

For perspective thats $52.77 in 2020 CDN dollars. Absurdly cheap.

[@riobabic8960]

You can’t get popcorn for $17 in 2021 !

[@MG-cw4rw]

@@SumitAtreGoogle not really, you also have to take in the inflation prices

[@andrewhayes88]

The first and so far the only Leafs game I ever went to, a tall can of beer was over $18. People are mad to pay for one.

[@anniemae62]

In those days, my parents paid about $33.00 a week for groceries for a family of 8 so $17.00 was a freakin' lot of money to spend on an 'unnecessary' item, especially multiple tickets. But yeah, would love to find a ticket for that price now!

[@byff2323]

UrinatingTree brought me here.

[@MoveInSilence23]

These old Canadian documentaries are great!!

[@MoveInSilence23]

@Ms Mccoy meh

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Definitely better than the new ones. Defund the CBC!

[@vader97100]

I’m under the impression Ballard murdered Stafford Smythe and forged the will to get sole ownership. With his personality, it sounds realistic.

[@dannythomas417]

And I'm under the impression that Jacques Lemaire is the real mastermind behind our curse. The fact that he joined Montreal for the 1967-68 campaign makes me believe that he's the worst thing that ever happened to the league.

[@aai3661]

LOL. And it's STILL only 1980. Years and years of misery ahead still.

[@michaelcanney7218]

40 years later and still no cup lol

[@nosyargerdna]

@@michaelcanney7218 It's actually fun and @ the same time it hurts watching the 1993 maple leafs playoffs currently on sportsnet.

[@johnlacey3857]

I’m doubtful we’ll ever see a Stanley Cup again in our lifetimes...

[@SpyroPS1iscool]

A movie needs to be made about Harold Ballard, it would be super interesting especially with the feuds between Keon, Sittler, and Vaive

[@jayp.6166]

Jason Priestly directed a Harold Ballard documentary that is premiering on CBC this Sunday. It's called "Offside"

[@anniemae62]

It was just on TV a few days ago, all those guys you named (and more) were on and yeah, it was good!

[@travisazzopardi8024]

Good to know cause I recorded it but still haven't watched it yet. Thanks Cindy. ;)

[@shinkoakata11]

@@travisazzopardi8024 Can u send me a video file in mp4 or mkv format? I am working outside of Canada and not ale to get CBC.

[@stevethompson6059]

What a Greasey sales Man more than half in the Documentary

[@aai3661]

She's talking about the struggling team and it's 1980. Little did she know that it was all down hill from there.

[@thehappycappy120]

Aaron I ot was long before 1980 try late 1960s

[@mckessa17]

The 80s were the worse time to be a Leaf fan. I lived it.

[@robminmonaca]

This guy makes don sterling of the NBA and dan Snyder of the NFL look like saints.

[@robminmonaca]

I will also add George Steinbrenner even though he said some questionable things himself but actually wanted to win. This guy was in it for the money and was still making it and only caring about the building that the team.

[@cityhawk]

As much as I didn’t like Steinbrenner as a Yankees fan, I can’t say that he was a penny-pinching cheapwad.

[@freethinker2350]

Ballard was bad but not to the point where Snyder or sterling look good. With these clowns one is just as bad as the others.

[@MIchaelMiii]

What a piece of work that guy was. Wouldn't last a day in today's culture

[@brettpatterson404]

michael miiii lol yeah the president of the United States begs to differ

[@jokerswank6082]

His management was a joke even when there were great players. Ownership seems to make a big difference in making great teams. Look at Detroit before and after Illitch bought them for example.

[@glenw-xm5zf]

Hog wash. He would be elected by the Libs as p.m. of Canada

[@gc6888]

Too many snowflakes now

[@geoff3103]

he probably would. Not like Leafs fans will stay home or not tune in. And he'd make mincemeat out of Bettman

[@reprogrammingmind]

$17 a ticket for the golds! Those were the days.

[@timothydaniels504]

When I was 15 years old I used to walk past Harold Ballard’s house on the way to baseball practice. In the summer he was often sitting on his front steps with a drink in one hand and a garden hose in the other. When he was in the mood he would turn the hose on me or any other kid walking by. He wasn’t funny. He was an embarrassment to his family and the NHL.

[@mike196212]

You're right,but he had plenty of embarrassing company to help him along. Pretty sure he took money from other teams in 1981 to move the Leafs into the old Norris Division. Good old Ken Dryden(I'm a Leafs' fan;been with them since 1970) brought them back home in 1998.

[@brettpatterson404]

@@mike196212being rivals with. Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis was better than being in the east.

[@mike196212]

You're right considering how the Leafs were crumbling back then. No argument from me now that I really think about it.

[@mike196212]

Correct.

[@Popsfresh]

Back when people were comfortable saying the N word on national television.

[@kellismith4329]

Back then it wasn’t a matter of comfort, it was just a word like any other Is it any less offensive to call him a black guy ? Why use anything descriptive how about just a guy ?

[@nortorioustxc4359]

So Ballard is like the NHL version of Donald Sterling

[@jethronb]

Now I know why Dave Keon took so long to come back for the fans

[@jokerswank6082]

If not for him, Davey probably wouldn't have went to the WHA. Sure Sittler might've became captain later but things might've gotten better

[@ibeleaf]

some people want a time machine to go back and take out hitler... i'd take a little "detour" first.

[@dzanier]

It’s hard to believe that there are actually some people who have nice things to say about him.

[@custodiansrock]

We shared season tickets in the 80s. Crazy times. Funny, same results today. Still no Cup.

[@dannythomas417]

This is why Ballard and Jacques Lemaire are THE worst.

[@Hushoo]

She's so blunt. Haven't seen this kind of documentary these days.

[@TheLeafsfanTV]

Ballard and Eugene Melnyk are so much alike. As a long time leafs fan I'm enjoying watching the sens go through what the leafs went through 40 years ago.

[@cashtheyen4113]

Eugene Melnyk doesn't hate black people like Ballard did.

[@cariopuppetmaster]

He is 10 thousand times worse than Melynk

[@TheLeafsfanTV]

Cashtheyen I didn’t mention anything about him or Melnyk hating black people. It didn’t need to be brought up.

[@jadenippersiel912]

It's not even close

[@clown-world2.0]

Today's Maple Leafs need to play like the 60's Maple Leafs.

[@warrenl6863]

Took the Maple Leafs and ran them into the ground.

[@brianmouland209]

My mom detested Ballard and called his private box, the Jail Cell

[@jesfel14]

Tree Brought me here thanks to the Half century of failure video on the Leafs.

[@yomama9567]

"I've cruised with Howard, I have trolled with Howard- and Howard has no trouble loving ladies, in every way"...WOW- the good old days!

[@TheVeek192]

no

[@sashineb.2114]

Very interesting, thanks for posting this. I remember in the late 80s when Harold & Yolanda were in the news constantly, with her trying to marry him. I had just watched the 6pm CBC Toronto news and then left to meet a friend for supper. I passed Maple Leaf Gardens, looked up and there she was in the apartment -- Yolanda, on the phone, pacing back and forth. Probably discussing her latest appearance on the news.

[@thomasb.smithjr.8401]

Harold Ballard is the type of fellow who, when peeking into his Christmas stocking on Xmas morn and seeing nothing but horse manure, would exclaim, 'Hey, I've got a pony around here somewhere - I just know it !" 😉

[@SeLLy261]

25:17 Lanny Mcdonald. What a player he was.

[@sheltr9735]

What a man, period!

[@kellismith4329]

If not for Ballard, Lanny would have retired there - Flames won out there as he was taylor made for them

[@joepalooka2145]

They should erase the Alan Eagleson interview, he's a pariah of the NHL forever.

[@pikeman80]

And they still haven't won the Cup in Canada's second century!!!!!! They still have 46 years left. Lol

[@MikeyMike-uu3fe]

7:00 That was a cool thing he did for the kid.....Harold lived his life how we wanted too....I admire that

[@stuartmcdonald5172]

When criminals and psychopaths run sports teams, you get what you got in Toronto in the 1980s - a nightmare. All those decent people that protected and defended this monster (Milt Dunnell, for example) are ultimately, just as disgusting.

[@julienllcooljjulienllcoolj353]

They should make a movie about this.

[@travisazzopardi8024]

"Paying as much as $17 a ticket." I miss those days. And $10 concert tickets too.

[@orbyfan]

Don Cherry hasn't changed much; in those days his Herb Tarlek suits fit right in.

[@patrickcrowley806]

Wow, truly a different era

[@paddywagondriver4205]

This would be a great Netflix Movie

[@SuperStrik9]

Worst owner in sports history. A horrible human being. Racist, sexist, tax cheat, petty. He once took back a car he gave as a gift to a long time employee after the employee's death smh.

[@Psychiatrick]

Too bad about his income tax issues ... the last valid Income tax law expired May 9 1921.

[@darrellsturrock5795]

His head would spin if he saw the money MSLE was making today.

[@majorsmythe1]

Harold made the "Carlton street cashbox" and set the foundations for ML$E. Check the stock price of MLG when he started and when he left, incredible business success. Gave millions to charity. Not calling him a saint, but those are facts.

[@crowtservo]

His head would explode if he saw how much players were making today.

[@wparro6009]

Wild...grapes is fired Ballard would be rolling in his grave

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Always enjoyed 5th Estate 😊😊❤

[@GetBenched2010]

Ballard was a real life Bond villain!

[@trainfire2008]

“Do you expect me to talk?” “Noooo, Mr. Bond, I expect you to Die‼️”

[@roadstar92220]

Used to see Harold up in Tiny Township at his cottage. His garage was full of memorabilia.

[@incarnateTheGreat]

Wow. Wonder if he was all auctioned off or if his kids have it.

[@e.a.p3174]

now it's 2023 and the Leafs still haven't won anything

[@calvinw8470]

Neither have the Coyotes, Sabres, Blue Jackets, Panthers, Wild, Predators, Senators, Flyers, Sharks, Kraken, Canucks, Golden Knights, & Jets.

[@bassiejazz]

@@calvinw8470 Flyers haven't won the Stanley Cup?

[@calvinw8470]

@@bassiejazz Not since this feature was released (1980). Flyers last won in '75.

[@SylveonMujigae]

@@calvinw8470You can take the Golden Knights off now

[@jersey4755]

"Last December it reached it's lowest point ever..." More like one of the best things to ever happen in any sport. Bet that stupid fan never mouthed off or threw something at another player again.

[@kingofqueens83]

Harold Ballard was like George Steinbrenner turned up to one hundred.

[@kcatleticos]

Steinbrenner wasn't cheap and built a Championship with his money-- Ballard complete opposite-- don't see comparison..

[@adandemobilegamer]

@@kcatleticos exactly 💯

[@brianmouland209]

But without the championship teams

[@trevor8493]

Perfect analogy

[@jayp.6166]

Man, I miss the Gardens So incredibly much better than the Scotiabank Library

[@lisahardy9707]

Lol Eagleson was a CON man himself

[@cgc8382]

a great mini doc from 1980 👍

[@raymondsupper]

Millhaven would make a great retirement center with Tenderloin and fresh buttered garden peas for dinner

[@welterskelter]

She's smitten.

[@1990pommie]

ballards problem he could not stand fools which is why? media was against him simple.

[@user-rs1ui4sv2w]

History of the maple laughs .😂😂 things haven’t changed 😢😢

[@SportsFan2001]

14:33 Thanks for watching! And now for some wise words from Harold Ballard...

[@Gazooo29]

WOW $17.00 for a ticket, what are tickets worth now.

[@yolovideos8084]

170.00

[@yolovideos8084]

box seats 1,7000 just carry the decimal and you can calculate todays prices

[@altfactor]

Didn't an abbreviated version of this story (cut down to about eleven minutes) run on CBS's "60 Minutes", spotlighting the controversies he engendered?

[@IrishHooligan86]

It took 25 years after his death for the leafs to figure out how to build a team the correct way and in 2017 us leaf fans finally have something to cheer for. Sure there was moments within the early to mid 90's and early 2000's that seen competitive leaf teams but nothing to compete with the best

[@noisespektrum5416]

Leafs went to the final 4 in in 1993 and 94. the 2017 Leafs didnt get out of the 1st round of the Playoffs and were the number 8 seed going in even with the number 1 draft pick and rookie of the year.

[@aaronlusanko6356]

Dennis Fredericks early 90s they stunk, 2993-1995 when they had a good team was the mid 90s, not the early 90s.

[@noisespektrum5416]

they went to the final 4 in the 92-93 season, thats early 90s. 95 was a lockout year, leafs did nothing in 95

[@aaronlusanko6356]

NoiseSpektrum actually​ leafs made the playoffs in 95, 95 was a half season.

[@aaronlusanko6356]

NoiseSpektrum also I consider the early 90s the 89/90 season, the 90/91 season, and the 91/92 season. 93 considered by a lot of people is really close too the mid 90s.

[@pikeman80]

Ballard wasn't into winning. He was into making as much money as he could for himself And if anyone wanted more money he got rid of them and brought in kids because they were cheaper. He also knows that people will fill the stands even if they lose every game.... Oh....and Don is just a nickname for Mr. Cherry. His first name is actually Donkey

[@cityhawk]

No surprise that both of them lead losers.

[@charleybarley7148]

He basically said as much, yes. Lmao.

[@u2ooby]

Do remember he was born in 1903...before the airplane was invented and the titanic sinking.

[@cityhawk]

Too bad that he wasn’t on the Titanic.

[@alexchiasson322]

His time as the owner of the leafs was always interesting. But for Toronto fans it must have been a nightmare. He took a storied franchise in Canada’s premier market down the toilet and has put a curse that is still alive to this day. I am sure that the ghost of Howard ballard attended all those game 7s.

[@hollywoodhh5646]

As bad as ballard was he won more than MLSE, ballard was better than MLSE and he wasnt even trying to win

[@powerhouse9868]

2:52 "as much as $17.00 a ticket" in 1980 is equal to $66.44 in 2023.

[@stevethompson6059]

At least he was honest being called a con Artist by journalist Clarkson who took helicopter to her Cottage years later, Maybe let's do a Documentary on Clarkson on her year as Governor General

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Very good host, interviewer ...Harold quite an interesting character ...need more Harolds 😅

[@michaelcanney7218]

Ballard and eagleson, 2 clowns made for each other, shake your hand, count your fingers

[@riseofthesugars5312]

04:44 This guy should be the New York Islanders GM.

[@colinvawter512]

0:51 1 season at 500 during your whole tenure. All other seasons were below😂

[@os2kouhai331]

It's hard to believe that the Leafs had more playoff success during the Ballard era compared to now

[@dannythomas417]

​@@os2kouhai331 But Lemaire ruined us.

[@bobbypaluga4346]

He’s one of the old time pricks that think expressing his ugliest thoughts is being honest and commendable. People have different sides, sure you feel like cussing out a driver that swerves into your lane, what good comes from doing so? The guy might have a gun and not take kindly to your words. Anyone can choose to act like a raging racist, most don’t. Any man can say ugly or vulgar words to a woman, most don’t. This guy has the money and power to get away with anything. I’m sure he’s six feet under now, but many will have taken his place.

[@chazboner7041]

Bobby Paluga go change your tampon

[@mrveritas700]

Imagine Harold being around today....IE rainbow flag....lol

[@johannadayy4770]

Im in love with fifth estate

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

"Dr Ballsss" 😅❤

[@stevethompson6059]

Had the pleasure of meeting with Mr Ballard and King Clancy also Leonard Red Kelly

[@alightintheblack]

17:19 - Walt McKechnie thrilled to be part of the circus.

[@walterdavies6434]

@1:53 His suit matches the wallpaper

[@MichaelB1979]

Wow!!! Great insight. I loved this

[@stevethompson6059]

Mr.Ballard is more hournerble than Larry Tannenbaum and this slick Salesman Munson Campbell

[@channerattoyota1]

Love that King Clancy

[@bcabskmbonqcnb]

even in 21st century, leafs are cursed by ballard. shanahan is probably possessed by ballard's spirit.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Ohhh, that Sittler jersey would be sweet to have #27

[@annalisavajda252]

Fast forward a few decades Don Cherry is fired for saying "you people...buy a poppy"

[@BBQFanNo1]

Even Don Cherry was mellow compared to Harold Ballard.

[@botchedonce7159]

I always liked Adrienne Clarkson. She was a good newscaster.

[@botchedonce7159]

@Last chance Cowboy Forgot about that. Thnx. I guess they all are propagandists for the system. Mainstream anyway.

[@UncleBuZ]

4:39 I was at that game

[@glenw-xm5zf]

punch Imlach should never been a coach.. for anyone

[@kellismith4329]

Or a player, likely

[@fredgardiner6734]

Formula for success?

[@majorsmythe1]

Guy was a self made man. Started his own skate company, then just bought stock and more and more. Then even more.

[@kellismith4329]

@@majorsmythe1 yep, and as he said who cares what anyone thinks ?

[@aussieaussie4848]

How can one man make himself look like such a horrible condescending person without even brushing on who he really is..

[@stephenmiller2337]

Roger Neilson was too much of a class act for a clown like Ballard

[@intercommerce]

The old gaurd....

[@danielyoung6630]

The old CARLTON CASHBOX , maybe last time a WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING TITLE FIGHT was ever had in CANADA!

[@dnasty312]

21:46 How about *fellow felon?*

[@kevinsheedy7157]

Adrienne Poy

[@lisahardy9707]

Lol just casually utters the N word

[@brianmouland209]

Once told Barbara Frum she had a great face for radio

[@TheJhn924]

Wow... Our former Governor General used the "N" word @ 20:52...

[@calvinw8470]

u triggered?

[@TheJhn924]

@@calvinw8470 No... just amused.

[@calvinw8470]

@@TheJhn924 much more taboo nowadays

[@joewasrippedoff8152]

Mel Brooks uses the N word in his movies how come he is not cancelled?

[@TheJhn924]

@@joewasrippedoff8152 This Ballard interview and Mel Brooks movies were of the same era. The N word was never a good thing to say but racism was more out in the open back then... many still use this kind of language everyday but in private.

[@dougmphilly]

don cherry admires ballard...not shocked

[@christopherlucy1772]

Well that's true it was a great con man he conned the Smythss ? that must have been hard to do..

[@reinadegrillos]

Despicable.

[@gymrat2647]

When I use to be a leafs fan I hated Ballard

[@sheltr9735]

Over the last four or five years, so much has changed I wonder whether your opinion has changed, i.e. whether you're a Leafs fan now

[@riobabic8960]

Punch Imlach was a terrible coach ! Coaches back then were terrible compared to the Russians !

[@jerrysmithers1429]

we need more Harold Ballards these days

[@seanpoulton2446]

No we don’t. I’d rather not have more destructive owners

[@Swamp_gas12]

Colonel Parker, Donald Trump and grease all rolled up.

[@dannythomas417]

Don't forget Jacques Lemaire. He's the mastermind behind our downfall.

[@198634]

An absolute tyrant - but you gotta give the man credit for always speaking his mind and never taking back anything he said .

[@dzanier]

i suppose i have to agree with the last part of what you said. but i don't think it's anything to be proud of. the willfulness of this individual was almost psychotic.

[@stuartmcdonald5172]

Actually, the stupidity of this comment is one of the reasons why Ballard was able to get away with so much. The idea that you give someone credit for doing and saying terrible things and not backing down from them is utterly ridiculous.

[@198634]

All good points and comments from you both but I think Ballard was so narcissistic that he was able to get away with it all .

[@dickvandickweed]

@@stuartmcdonald5172 100%. Nobody in the comments even mentioning Gordon Stuckless happened under this guy's watch. If there is such a thing as a human trashbag, its name would be Harold Ballard.

[@johnnybaxter1953]

@@stuartmcdonald5172 People respect authenticity. Always have always will