From a distance, it is easy for many of us who live in the colonies to giggle at the shenanigans in the Republic of Toronto, mostly because the burg on the shores of Lake Ontario is big and boisterous and belligerent, even while its centrepiece sports franchise is not big and boisterous and belligerent.
I refer, of course, to the Maple Leafs, who, by any method of on-ice measurement, are having a bad century.
The most recent reminder of this reality visited Leaf Nation just the other day, when Brian Burke, the man who generally manages the local shinny side, played the role of hangman and pulled the trap door on his head coach, Ron Wilson, replacing him with Crusty the Carlyle.
This move, we were advised, was one part hockey and one part humanitarian in makeup. In terms of hockey, the Leafs suck, so the coach had to go. On a personal level, Burke was unprepared to subject his much-maligned bench boss to another rousing chorus of "Fire Wilson!" from the paying and braying customers at the Air Canada Centre.
"It would be cruel and unusual punishment," said Burke.
Who knew that this man of truculence also is an old softy?
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Patti Dawn Swansson
Maple Leafs: Can Bully Boy Burke and Crusty the Carlyle Get the Job Done?
March 5th, 2012 by Patti Dawn Swansson Leave a reply »
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