I love the United States. Shit, I'd live in San Diego in a heartbeat. Maybe Dallas too. I did reside in Texas for 3 years back during those college days, or at least what I can remember of them? I love Americans. Mike Meyers from is a pal. Mike "mikeinbuffalo" Augello, same thing. Good people.
That said, I do have a problem with the Yanks. Sure, I picked'em to go all the way this fall, but I'd also like to add to that: Go Angels!
Okay, while the Yanks on the field drive me nuts, the "Yanks" on the Leafs are driving me to drink these days. I'm going on with 'theme' here so I'm not a bigot, or trying to indict an entire country or it's athletes. Besides, that's been overdone by others. I'm not onoe of them. Anyway, let's face it here, the American contingent on "Canada's team" is troubling. From the top, Brian Burke has provided more talk than touch. Ron Wilson, the same. Neither has done much to cure, or at least calm the variety of issues surrounding their club, many of which compounded by players who share the same passport.
Maybe the Leafs' GM is thinking more about Vancouver than Toronto?
I wonder tonight if Burke, also GM of the US Olympic team, is timid (if that's possible) when it comes to moving, annoying, displacing some of those he'll depend on come February? He wouldn't fire Wilson, would he? Wilson's supposed to be his coach in Vancouver. Together they wouldn't bench Mike Komisarek, would they? Isn't the Long Island native expected to provide sandpaper for the underdog American squad? Right now he's providing his NHL opposition with man advantages. Anywho, what about Jason Blake and Lee Stempniak? Both come from the South. Both demonstrate 'a game' that's headed there. USA Hockey will certainly boast youth and talent at GM Place early next year, but it's roster will be augmented by the Blake's and Stempniak's of the world. While BB attempts to suggest his Leaf players, any or all of them, will pay for the price for the current mess his NHL team finds itself, should we believe him? Is he really going to send one, or two, of his team USA forwards to the minors and risk a relationship 4 months from now? What good is USA forward, Jason Blake to Brian Burke if Jason Blake the Maple Leaf is worth nothing? Perhaps foolishly, Burke seemed to believe that dangling Olympic opportunities in front of his American Leafs would motivate them into some type of all-star play while in Toronto. Clearly that hasn't happened. Not yet. Probably not ever. Blake looks awful. Stempniak had a bit going there (he's entering free-agency next Spring), but won't sustain unless that means levelling out at average. And Komisarek is obviously trying too hard. The problem, his aggressive play is costing his team on the ice, and damaging his own reputation off of it. Burke's boys have not rewarded their master for his trust in them. So now what? I think they're all stuck together. Stuck.
The Leafs' current troubles and the plight of it's Americans may turn out to be nothing more than a lousy start followed by a big recovery. We're in Leafsland however, where those kinds of zero to hero scenarios don't usually play out. Heck, even with new faces, philosophies, attitudes and promises, what we're likely dealing with again is another bad gamble by the Blue and White, and now Red. It's nothing new. This organization makes bad gambles on an annual basis, adding yet even more to that massive pile of **** that's been collecting at 40 Bay for years now.
Join me for my radio program, "The Hook" tomorrow evening. Spits' (injured) superstar, Ryan Ellis will be my guest. Oh, how are the Spits ever going to survive without him?? They've only scored 56 goals in 10 games. Tune in, 8pm at am980.ca. Oh, "mikeinbuffalo" drops in 5:30pm Saturday at am980.ca for London's official Leafs pregame errrr support group show.
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