Whine and Money

This is a surprise. Word has it Leafs' head coach Ron Wilson has taken slight responsibility for his team's repulsive start to this 5th straight playoff-less season. Nearly repentant, almost, he says he maybe could've worked his youngsters into the line-up better, sooner. But of course, and inevitably, Wilson was quick to point out other factors (out of his control and coming from above) that played a role in the futility to follow.

Something for nothing

It's those exhibition games, too many of 'em says the boss, that really threw the Blue and White crew for a loop. Wilson wanted extra pre-season time to instruct and mould his unit, not make money for the mother corp. But what's an owner to do? There's little to no expectation of bonus revenue post-season, so it has to come from somewhere. The theory: get while the getting is fresh and available, even at the expense of the head coach's preferred method of how the early-going should go.

BS

What isn't a surprise is that MLSE would attempt this kind of stuff. The company's a money maker not a winner. And it shouldn't surprise anyone that Wilson would attempt to deflect his own embarrassment onto something, someone, anyone else. How many times were his players hung out to dry from his post-game pulpit? I'm not saying those players should've been exempt from criticism, but here's a guy so willing to remind us of his numerous accomplishments yet annoyingly slow in admitting blame on himself. Sure, extra workout time would've been nice pre-season, but aren't those games of shinny are for tweaking and adjusting anyway? And couldn't the kids have just played the back-to-backs in Buffalo and Detroit while the veterans stayed back to fine tune for the real stuff? And WHAT IF the Leafs had only played three preseason games? What would the ultimate excuse have been then? No doubt Wilson would've had one. It's as money as his whine.

Front loaded

The Leafs are planning to roll out the same procession of those cash grabbing pre-season games this coming fall. Remember! Generating additional dough at the gates is important to team brass, and without a top-heavy schedule it doesn't happen.

Nothing to worry about

There's nothing to worry about for Ron Wilson. No shrugs. No what ifs. No excuses. At least not now. While the Leafs' pre-season, regular season and non-participation in the post-season isn't expected to change, another thing could very well be different this time next Spring. The possibility is very real that Ron Wilson won't have to lay his annual blame come April 2011, especially if we're immersed in another of these wasted campaigns. Thing is, we'll all just have to endure it a lot sooner. Maybe much sooner. Yet another classic Ron Wilson whine, one last time.