Ok Sports fans, here is your homework. It’s not very often that I insist you read something, but Michael Farber’s article in Sports Ilustrated is must reading. The story on Brian Burke is fantastic. Talk about a story that “captures the spirit of thing”:

“A few days after Brendan came out to his father, in late December 2007, Brian told him, “You know the best part? I don’t have to take anything back.” Burke says he never told his children there was anything wrong with homosexuality. But when he really rummages through his memory, he concedes there are smudges on his otherwise clean conscience. When he played in the American Hockey League in the late 1970s—he was a stay-at-home defenseman whose skills fast-tracked him to Harvard Law School—he spoke in the lingua franca of the locker room. “Yeah, I used those slurs,” he says. “I’m embarrassed by it. It was an accepted part of the [hockey] culture, and it still is. But not on my teams. It’s a big part of trash talking, and that’s got to change.”

That’s just one piece of Farber’s story that caputures much of the Brian Burke that we don’t get to see or hear about..

“”Last summer I said something [nasty] about Kevin Lowe, and Brendan asked, ‘How can you stay mad at someone?’” Burke says. “I said, ‘It’s easy.’ He said, ‘No, it’s not. He used to be your friend. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t approve.’”
When Lowe, now the Oilers’ president, learned of Brendan’s passing, he e-mailed Brian, referring to their shattered relationship while offering his sympathies. Burke immediately called Edmonton G.M. Steve Tambellini, with whom he had worked in Vancouver, and asked him to tell Lowe that this is one broken fence he wants to mend.
And so Burke and Lowe began the healing process last week at Canada Hockey Place. In their best moments, the Olympics can be as much about peace and friendship as about rivalries. Five nights before the U.S. beat Canada 5–3, the grieving father walked over to Lowe, a Team Canada executive, and offered his hand. Burke says an awkward sort of half man-hug accompanied the handshake. ”

Fantastic stuff Michael, a great story on a Burke. It becomes easier to become a fan of Burke with each passing day. While he portrays himself as the big truculent type, you can tell there is a softer side that is probably driving the bus more often than not. That’s good to see.

Sports Illustrated’s Michael Farber’s excellent article on Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke can be read here.

Is it me or has Ron Wilson picked up where JP Ricciardi left off? Did these two go to the same PR and motivational schools? In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter what the hell the fans think of a coach. It matters even less when they are winning. Every time I read a quote from Ron Wilson lately, I want to strangle the guy, or at the very least stick a sock in his mouth.

“”You have one (expletive) goal in your last 10 games,” Wilson said to Kessel.”

From where I am sitting, there is no problem for a coach to rip one his players in front of his teammates. It’s not my preferred method, embarassing a guy, but lots use it. What I don’t get is doing it within earshot of the entire throng of media hounds hanging around watching practice. I once worked for a real SOB. He constantly reduced people to tears in his office. However outside that office, to the rest of the company, no one would say a bad thing about anyone on his team, he defended everyone like they were his kids. You want to embarrass your star player in front of his teammates, wouldn’t it be smarter to do so behind a closed locker room door?

“”We do it here because I’m pissed off, okay?” he said. “You do need a kick in the rump once in a while. Then we’ll see how people respond.”

You have to believe Wilson rubs his dog in it’s pee when it has an accident. I always thought coaches, including Wilson tried to create an environment of us against the rest of the world. Isn’t is kind of hard to establish that attitude when you treat your players like ass?

“”Actually at the end of the day, you guys shouldn’t even watch us practice,” Wilson said to the assembled scrum on Thursday. “This is the only sport where the media will report what you said to a player on the field of battle. You can’t do it in football, baseball or basketball. How many basketball practices have you ever been to? None.

“This is our office and it should be off-limits.”

i have no problem when guys rail on the press when it is deserved, here the pool did nothing wrong but show up. If Wilson prefers to work in an environment where there is only 1 or 2 writers, there is a league full of cities where he can beg for attention. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the oven.

“”We’ve got to compete harder,” Wilson said to reporters afterwards. “Not compete when we’re down 2-0. Compete from the start. Don’t get going when the score is five- or six-to-one. Compete all the time and consistently. That’s what we’re going to have to do if we want to be a competitive team.”

If the team doesn’t have the commitment to compete, isn’t that an attitude problem? Who is responsible for that attitude? I mean this isn’t Wilson’s first year here. He’s had this group for a while now. His team the other night looked as bad as the bunch did during the Paul Maurice era- which was about as bright as the John Brophy era.

I am curious what Wilson does if Kessel reacts to his lashing the same way Kaberle did to his benching? I mean what if it has a negative effect. What if instead of 10 bad games, Kessel quits on Wilson, says screw you and mails it in? I am not suggesting he will, but what if? I wonder if Wilson discusses these things with Burke et all before lashing out.

I have no problem with Wilson as a coach, I just really prefer he just shut up and coach, that’s all.

TSN’s story on Wilson is here

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Maple Leafs would be ecstatic but for that whole September 18th trade. While alarm bells shouldn’t be sounding after 5 games (they should be blarring) the fact that the Maple Leafs have no where to go but up should be music to us Maple Leaf fans. I mean so many times we have been told the only way to improve is to shit the bed- literally- finish dead last and get the top pick. Problem is, we never had the right person at the top to assemble the right combination of talent to get us to the bottom. Cliff and Brian did too well last year and we didn’t get to the bottom. Like many years prior bad simply wasn’t bad enough.

Now, however, 5 games in Leaf fans it looks like we may just have the right group. These guys are, without a doubt the worst group the Leafs have assembled in a long time. No, 5 games does not a season make. However these first 5 have been preeeeeeeeeeety telling. Let’s see, the forwards can’t score, and they can’t come back to take a pass or help the d. The d, they, for lack of a better word Ssssssssuck. No really, they suck. Ian friggin White is the best of a bad bunch right now. In net?????? baaaaaaaaaaaaah The bright side is that this could be a good draft year…

What?????

We did what with our first round pack????????

So, what’s a coach and GM to do? I mean where do you turn?????

Cox suggested demoting Toskala and Blake to save some big $. Ok, let’s say for a second we are going to do that. Who or what are you going to spend that money on???? Personally I don’t think Blake has been in the bottom half of the forwards in terms of performance. I know Wilson benched him tonight, but he appears to be the only guy forechecking. Who do you bring up from the Marlies???? Those offense powerhouses Hanson and Bozak??????? They are kids. The answers have to lie in that locker room. The coaches have to find a way to reach this guys. There really is no other way. Unless there are some real hidden gems who have yet to be signed that I am not aware of this group is it. Burke has dealt the first round picks for this year and next. The young kids aren’t worth moving. The answer is currently on a plane likely freaking out. It’s a long season and Burke and Wilson should support the bunch they went with. If this continues for long then, as a friend used to say- throw a bomb in to the room.

It is amazing though how are perspective has changed due to one day when one trade was made. If Burke doesn’t make that deal the level of panic is dialed way down- except at all the local media outlets where wait till next year wouldn’t be good for ratings. With the picks gone, the negative tone of the media will continue to carry the day. Wait for all the i told you so’s in the paper tomorrow.

TSM

“However, it’s difficult to believe Moore will sign in Toronto, even though both parties would like that to happen. It is believed the two sides remain about $1 million (all figures U.S.) apart per season, a gap that is just too wide to be bridged.Moore, based on his breakout season with the Leafs, is thought to be looking for roughly triple the $900,000 he earns this season with a desired two-year deal in the $5 million range. While that seems steep, there are those who believe Moore could command more than $3 million a season on the open market this summer. It is thought the Leafs would happily keep Moore if he would agree to a three-year pact at about $4.5 million, a deal that would average about $1.5 million per season.” Toronto Star, March 3, 2009

One word. Oooops.

“”Brad will provide character, toughness, and he is a proven winner,” Burke said in a statement. “We look forward to the veteran leadership that he will give our team.” January 7, 2009
“With Brad May it’s not just the toughness element which he does bring, but more importantly the leadership he brings to the locker room where the younger guys can see a guy who prepares properly and approaches the game properly and has the leadership skills. the hardest part of being a leader, is coming into a new group mid term and trying to be a leader- But i have seen Brad operate before and the one guy on our staff, Keith Acton pushed harder for this then anyone else…This isn’t a Brian Burke project, I love him as a player but he brings other things, he is very positive and that is very important to a young team, he never comes in a pouty, or in a bad mood. Every day is a great day to Brad May. I want a positive influence for those kids, a guy who pays a terrible price to win on the ice, a guy who practices hard. He is not a great hockey player, but he does a lot of things well and i think our team needs to see those things, how to prepare and act like a professional hockey player.” Brian Burke PTS January 8, 2009

Three words, why not now?

If you are Dominic Moore, don’t you wish you could turn back time? Talk about money you will never, ever, ever get back. Someone will get desperate and sign him. It may be a 2 way deal it may be a tryout, it may be a long way away. The old saying about a bird in the hand……… One has to wonder who was driving that boat, the agent, or Mr. Moore. The real question is, would he dare come crawling back? Would Burke be the bigger man and take him back. Imagine the savings he could get now?

If Brad May is all the things mentioned above, then wouldn’t this be the year to have him around? If Phil Kessel has “issues” don’t you want him around Brad May? If he roomed with Luke Schenn, don’t you want him around Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg? How much money would he demand? How much ice time would he want??

Lots of questions as we head down the stretch of training camp….

Paul Kelly spoke to Leafs Lunch this afternoon. Below is a recap of his comments. He really didn’t say that much, substance wise. He had a message he wanted to convey and he repeated it throughout his interview. It’s a good listen that will be replayed on the Watters show this afternoon. Here is my recap:

hope that the PA is in better place when i joined- enormous respect and admiration for the players and staff at the PA – fab group of people to work with. My comments will be confined to certain matters. My efforts were always designed and intended to protect the players. It’s what i woke thinking and what i retired thinking at the end of the day. Also driven by the good of the game, what grows the game etc. Those are things that motivated me. AS i headed into the meetings, those were the things that were on my mind. I am saddened and developed, until you have gone through it you can’t imagine the range of emotions, i leave with enormous affinity for the players in the NHL and i want to do what’s write.

The day i started at NHLPA we came in with new constitution, sometimes when there is change you swing the pendulum too far to make changes.There are an abundance of checks and balances in the system. Didn’t realize some of the challenges of that system when I started. It’s a challenging job to begin with, but given this system (the checks and the balances) who critique every action, every word being challenged, which isn’t bad, but no other players union has these in place, I hope the PA takes a look and addresses so that it can better function.

Not going to talk about internal union matters, what goes on in the locker room stays in the locker room. I am motivated by what’s best for the players. Thankful for having had the opportunity, I am a big boy and I hopefully have some talents to bring to the next phase of my life.

People take shots at public people. I didn’t see the anonymous letter until a few days ago. When you see something written that isn’t factual it’s upsetting, but I have broad shoulders, I wasn’t surprised by it. MY concern was my family and my kids. I can’t control it and I understand it.

No animosity towards anyone at the NHLPA. Everything I did was for the players.

I was fatigued, walking in I was concerned and apprehensive because of what had transpired, walking out I was shocked, disappointed and the range of human emotions people feel. People get terminated all the time, it hurts. I loved my job there. I will come to grips with this over time. I hope I left it better than when I started. I worked with great people and I am a better person for having had the experience.

you can listen to it here

Sometimes we learn more about a subject by what isn’t said. With every passing day, we are gaining insight into what was broken in the home team’s dressing room at the ACC by what we are hearing is new, as opposed to what was wrong.

To his credit, Cliff Fletcher hasn’t publicly criticized any ex- Maple Leaf, certainly not on the basis of character anyway.

Ron Wilson, without naming names has certainly alluded to a need for a change in leadership in the room. It doesn’t take rocket science to discern who he is pointing the finger at and for what. Even the media appropriately nicknamed those who wouldn’t waive their no-trade clauses as the Muskoka 5, a tongue in cheek swipe at the cozy, country club atmosphere of the dressing room at that time.

Today, we gain more insight. This time from a player who played above and beyond last year and who certainly doesn’t have the “political” label on him. That is, no one ever would accuse Vesa Toskla of having an axe to grind with any ex-maple leaf. Yet in articles circulating this evening, the number one goalie is providing ample light into what was by providing insight into what is.

“It’s not like big names or big superstars are here now,” he said Tuesday after practice. “We’re pretty much everybody on the same level and it seems to be good.Everyone is talking to everybody and we’re just getting used to (each other).”

It’s not what he is saying, it’s what he isn’t saying. Reading between the lines, the superstars or big names on the roster last year seemed to be problematic, and not everyone talked to each other in the locker room. The media made lots of chatter about the nature of the room when guys like Roberts, Green, Domi and Corson where on the team. We haven’t heard much about these issues since those guys left. Clearly, to Toskla anyway, it was a problem.

“I think it’s going to be a much more relaxed atmosphere here now,” he said. “Everybody might feel more relaxed to speak up and say something if they have something on their mind. I think that’s great. That’s how you build good team spirit.”

Who, or “whoms” was not creating this pressure in the past, not allowing players to speak their minds? You take this comment, couple it with the words of the new coach with respect to needing to change the leadership and perhaps the picture becomes very clear. Perhaps those running the room weren’t the great leaders we have all been led to believe they were. It would be interesting to hear the honest opinions of guys like Steen or Stajan as the majority of their pro mentoring has come from the recently departed. I am left wondering if the room was country clubesque as portrayed by the media, or was it toxic?

Perhaps one day we will hear a more definitive truth. The picture being painted from the peripheral aint pretty. It sounds to me like one the biggest problem the Leafs had in the last couple of years was in their psyche. McCabe, Raycroft, Tucker, Wellwood were jettisoned this summer after Belak, Kilger and Gill were dealt at the deadline. Throw in the coaching staff save for Acton and you start to get a pretty good idea of where Cliff saw things. The million dollar question is Sundin. I know, calling into question his leadership qualities isn’t going to make me very popular. I guess we have to start with the question of what is the definition of a true leader? There is no question from a playing standpoint, as Howie correctly points out, Sundin owes the Maple Leafs (or us fans) anything. We got every penny out of him, as a player. Does that also mean he was a good leader. In my opinion, a good leader not only leads by example one the ice, he sets the tone and runs the roost off of it. A good leader doesn’t sneak out a back door after a bad game. A good leader is there to take the lumps night in and night out. A good leader doesn’t let others do that either.

To be fair, I wasn’t there. None of us may ever know what kind of leader he was. None of us may know what the room was like. It certainly seems that as more comes out in the wash, things certainly weren’t as they appeared. I guess they never are.