How Toronto’s sports scene became so miserable

Plus, an alleged Stronach victim tells her story, early returns from the Fringe Festival and the magic of drive-ins [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. With a little penalty kick magic, Canada’s men’s soccer team held off Venezuela to book [a semifinal tilt against (gulp) Lionel Messi’s Argentina]( at Copa America. Here’s the latest on everything else. MUST READS Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star CRIME [As accusations mount, an alleged Frank Stronach victim tells her story]( A former employee at Frank Stronach’s horse farm in Aurora claims the auto parts billionaire sexually assaulted her after she and two colleagues visited his now-shuttered Toronto restaurant Rooney’s in July 1980. Despite reporting the alleged incident to Toronto police nearly a decade ago, she tells Wendy Gillis that investigators never followed up — until Peel Regional Police recently started digging. [Here’s what she says happened on that harrowing night](. Tom Ralson illustration/for the Toronto Star The Beaten PATH [An inside look at the miserable state of Toronto sports, from playoff meltdowns to rising ticket prices]( There’s no denying that Toronto’s sports scene is in a historic hole. The Leafs have had one playoff series win since 2004. The Jays boast a top-10 payroll and bottom-10 run differential. The Raptors whittled away their championship pedigree. Today, Bruce Arthur and Dave Feschuk kick off The Beaten Path, a five-part series detailing [how Toronto got here — and the tremendous pain of holding out hope](. The Keg LCBO STRIKE [Could restaurants and bars run out of booze amid the LCBO strike? Here’s what you need to know]( With thousands of LCBO workers now on strike, you’ll need to plan a little harder to locate boozy refreshments in Ontario. Of course, between the Beer Store, Wine Rack, grocery stores, independent retailers, and now even many restaurants themselves, the LCBO’s control of alcohol sales isn’t what it used to be, Ana Pereira writes. [Nevertheless, supplies may begin to dwindle at some watering holes in the weeks ahead](. Nick Kozak/for the Toronto Star MOVIES [Let’s all go to the lobby — then buckle in for a night of nostalgia at the drive-in]( The past is alive and well at Ontario’s drive-in theatres, where not much has changed despite the occasional appearance of a QR code menu prompt. Unfortunately, thanks to basic economics, drive-ins have become endangered; operators tell Will Sloan the land is often too valuable relative to the seasonal income a theatre can provide. [We should enjoy these nostalgic pleasures before it’s too late](. Lance McMillan/Toronto Star file photo Theatre [The Toronto Fringe Festival is back, showcasing unexpected theatrical hits despite its scaled-down programming]( The 36th edition of the Toronto Fringe Festival is now underway, with 77 theatrical productions running July 3 to 14 at various venues. Joshua Chong, Glenn Sumi and Karen Fricker will review nearly three dozen shows, bestowing their “Critic’s Pick” designation on the best of the best. Starting with the coming-of-age tale “Gringas,” [here are some of the can’t-miss shows our reviewers have seen so far](. SUPPORT THIS Supplied It took a few decades for self-professed former city kid Brendan Kennedy to truly experience the quintessential Canadian pastime of canoe tripping. Though his J-stroke remains herky-jerky, [even he sees the immense value in helping other city kids experience the great outdoors this summer](. Thanks for reading. Though some consider First Up performance art, we are not officially sanctioned by the Fringe Festival. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_216184), and I will see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](