Kaberle Trade Press Conference: Classic Burke

Remember the JFJ days? Burke is awesome.

Classic says it all….thjs is the old Burke toronto sports fans came to love and admire…says whats on his mind and a straight shooter. Fantastic!

Can we do a collection here and get Howard Berger a suit? It doesn’t even have to be from CORY’S CLOTHIERS…it can be from Moore’s or even Sears.

Seriously. Nobody’s expecting him to pimp out but ‘homeless chic’ is not a good look for a sports reporter.

I don’t understand the hate on this wesite for Howard Berger and how he looks. He asked a legitimate question, one that many fans would have asked given how the team is performing, and Brian responded with the “get in the playoffs by the skin of our teeth” quote which I have read in many articles regarding this trade.

So Howard asks a solid question which produces a solid reponse, and all people can talk about is what he’s wearing. He doesn’t look any worse then Steve Simmons but no one here is harping on how horrible Steve looks.

Get a grip people!

I happened to see the press conference. I got the sense that Burke actually respects Howard Berger more than any of the others that asked him questions.

@Derrick: First, nobody here has lost their grip, though you’re getting close. Second, if you’re going to criticize people for overreacting, it’s usually a good idea not to overreact when you do it. Third…well, I don’t have a third. Well, maybe I do: this is a sports media blog, and better still, IT AIN’T YOUR SPORTS MEDIA BLOG. As long as nobody is threatening anyone or colouring outside the lines in terms of anti-social behaviour, then it’s fair game. I’m not trying to join in the hypocrisy party that you’re hosting and try and stifle your attempt to stifle me, but I’m going to keep bringing my Berger comments as long as and often as I see fit. I suggest you talk to your shrink about this in advance and see if you can negotiate a lower rate.

@Tommy D: I don’t get that sense at all, but to each his own. I think that Berger respects Burke, but don’t see it much the other way around.

@myself and my bonzai plant: Yes, I think it DOES matter that Berger looks like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. I think it’s either an indication of disrespect or incompetence. Call me crazy.

@Denial….. Berger works for a radio station so who cares how he is dressed. Apparently you seem to be fixated on it.

Your comments reflect your ignorance and intolerance to other points of view

It’s interesting to compare this press conference to the one AA put on re: the Bautista signing, or the comments from AA I heard about the Wells trade (I couldn’t find a complete audio file of the press conference).

Burke appears to be confrontational with those people who asks questions he doesn’t like, almost exasperated he has to answer their question (see Stever Simmons and the guy in the yellow jacket, sorry, don’t know his name).

Compare that with AA and how he keeps his emotions in check and sticks to his message. That being said AA is still in the honeymoon stage as a GM of the Jays and I don’t think he’s been really challlenged by the media.

I spoke to my shrink ahead of time and she agrees with me, but won’t lower her rate.

Did Burke say are best fans are our season ticket holders?
That they email him with their feedback? Is this why it seems he change tactics and seemingly going after first round draft picks? Are the season ticket holders not happy with the Kessel trade?

I also believe that the Bruins have fleeced us in the last 2 trades and Burke begged Chirelli to make this deal to make him look better in the eyes of the fans. It improves Boston’s lottery pick and gives Burke some credibility back. Though I don’t believe this “Haul” is the boon that many people think it is.

@Nutzaboutgolf: Who taught you a big word like ‘fixated’?

@Derrick: On this we can agree. Just for pure entertainment value (especially the loose collar, Rodney Dangerfield look) Burke is fantastic. Compared to JFJ (“we can neither confirm nor deny that we are having a press conference at this minute”), he’s friggin P.T. Barnum.

But if you look past that, I think Burke tries to intimidate reporters with whom he doesn’t agree with, and when he gets into a corner his MO is to get very aggressive (the best defense is a good offense kind of thing). I thought Simmons’ questions about the apparent (some might say inherent…I would be one of them) contradictions in the overall Leafs’ Master Plan were quite valid.

On the one hand, Burke says he’s not giving up on the 8th spot. On the other hand, he’s saying he doesn’t want to 8th spot if it means you get your ass kicked. But, by definition, that *is* the 8th spot. Nobody ever is a “strong 8th spot contender.” Calling anyone who makes it into the 8th spot a contender in the first place is a contradiction in terms. If you get the 8th spot, you’re just “happy to be there.” Sure, you can occasionally do some damage — the Oilers a few years ago, he Habs last year — but that’s the exception.

So what do the Leafs — or more specifically, Burke — want? You can’t creep in on the 8th spot. You either get in the playoffs as a contender or you’re rebuilding. There is no 3rd option that can really be considered an option (teams that get the 8th spot are either unlucky or lucky, depending on their situations — it’s not a strategic objective).

Simmons pointed this out and Burke threw a bit of a tantrum, changed the subject, and then turned into Archie Bunker. It happens frequently.

When watching all the clips, you get the impression Burke really isn’t happy with where his team is at. It seems clear to me that he failed in assessing the talents of Versteeg and Beauchemin, or else they wouldn’t be traded right now. In fact to say that Aulie replaces Beauchemin adequately now, doesn’t say alot for what Beauchemin brought to the table. That isn’t a negative for Aulie, but rather i seem to recall that when Bueachemin was acquired he was to be the top 2-3 defenceman on team, physical, power play, leader. Aulie may become that but currently is not. Versteeg was supposed to be the “top 6” forward, clearly he is what he advertised in Chicago a really good 3rd line player on a really good team. Yet Burke thought he could make him into top 6.
Unless Burke can land something substantial for these draft picks, I don’t see how the team is moving forward.

Finally, have to admit watching a Burke press conference is pure entertainment. However, i think Berger and Hendrick almost seem like plants there from MLSE lobbing soft questions for Burke.

Good point Dennes, this was perfect win/win for the Bruins. Short term they have a quality player and long term this will hurt the Leafs in the standings and giving them a better pick. I never recall something like this before.

Toronto sports fans are so easy to win over. All you have to do is wear a nice collared shirt like the used car salesman Bryan Colangelo or present a brash exterior like Brian Burke and that’s good enough for us.

Win some damn games, already.

Yellow Jacket needs to learn to ask questions without relying on his hands to do the talking. That was a meandering mess.

Simmons asked a fair follow-up regarding the ineptitude of the power play over the last several years, and Burke obviously mishandled that one. He was flustered by the previous question, and probably took it as an indictment of Wilson, and didn’t want to have that conversation. He probably would like to have that one to do over.

on his other remarks, to say they have maintained their philosophy and approach during the Burke tenure is risible, and he needs to stop saying it. He thought he could fast-track things, and he was wrong.

Well the point a lot of media have been making, and that I agree with is that its a *great* thing that Burke has accepted he made errors and taken steps to rectify them.