tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post1437040685363988641..comments2023-04-28T05:53:41.295-04:00Comments on Vintage Leaf Memories - Michael Langlois: Now the Maple Leaf GM has a persecution complexMichael Langloishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-86499135884057566662012-04-05T19:10:41.575-04:002012-04-05T19:10:41.575-04:00zenbeerbass...thank you.
I (and I'm guessing ...zenbeerbass...thank you.<br /><br />I (and I'm guessing a lot of fans) simply want the GM to get on with building the roster and spend less time talking about it.<br /><br />We all know he's a good GM. Now he just needs to make the changes needed to get us to the level level- and hopefully skip a level along the way, and get the team into contender status.<br /><br />As I said above, we need less bravado and more results.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-37250221358928151392012-04-05T18:11:33.741-04:002012-04-05T18:11:33.741-04:00Hi Michael,
I have indeed noticed your recent pos...Hi Michael,<br /><br />I have indeed noticed your recent posts about Brian Burke... and the conclusion being, that if a Leaf fan such as you (who is generally upbeat and positive) is starting to get frustrated, the apple-cart is truly upset.<br /><br />Now, I'm no Burke apologist, but I believe he is just as frustrated as we fans are, and it just shows when he has a mic shoved in front of him. Yet, he can't throw his players under the bus, not while the season is still on. I suspect we'll see more contrition from him once the season is over.<br /><br />That said, as a fan I'm willing to give Burke one more year to right the ship before I add my voice to the chorus. If that doesn't work, I hope the team's owners have it in them to look elsewhere.zenbeerbassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-36074656374001709362012-04-05T14:39:18.353-04:002012-04-05T14:39:18.353-04:00I'm with you, cbh747.
He has too often buil...I'm with you, cbh747. <br /><br />He has too often built expectations and it just wasn't necessary.<br /><br />As many of us have said, he just needs to do the job, get results and stop complaining.<br /><br />Three and a half years in, the standings don't lie.<br /><br />What happened to "no excuses, no complaints"?Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-22400906032561207292012-04-05T14:20:19.432-04:002012-04-05T14:20:19.432-04:00Brian Burke has adopted a bunker mentality and tha...Brian Burke has adopted a bunker mentality and that doesn't really work in this town. If he thinks the media is out to get him then perhaps he should see what it is like in Montreal or New York when things are not going well.<br />As Leaf fans I am sure that most of us were just happy to be out of the JFJ era, much as we were once thrilled to have survived Harold Ballard. All we were looking for was a systematic return to respectability.<br />Burke came in and immediately dismissed the concept of a 5 year rebuild. Not interested. At that point he raised the bar on our expectations.<br />He was going to go out and sign the Sedins, instead he came back with Jonas Gustavsson. He was going to move up in the draft and take Tavares. Didn't happen.<br />He has raised our hopes and expectations time and time again without result. He has taken a 24th place team and turned it into a 25th place team. He has no one but himself to blame for any criticism directed his way.<br />Personally, I think that he has been let off easy by the fans and media in this town.<br />His best bet is to keep quiet and produce results.cbh747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-75275049209023046092012-04-05T12:54:06.164-04:002012-04-05T12:54:06.164-04:00Perfectly said, Gerund O'. Right on the money...Perfectly said, Gerund O'. Right on the money. Thanks.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-59999923922772106492012-04-05T12:45:11.687-04:002012-04-05T12:45:11.687-04:00Thanks Caedmon.
I try to provide some balance. ...Thanks Caedmon. <br /><br />I try to provide some balance. Those who visit here regularly know that I've often credited Burke with being a solid, shrewd hockey guy. He just doesn't need to keep telling us.<br /><br />Fans have the right to express their views, and those who post here on a regular basis know hockey and have followed the Leafs for a long time. <br /><br />I always appreciate hearing from you, and from all the other thoughtful posters here, Caedmon. Good stuff.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-46435073182268850212012-04-05T12:29:15.965-04:002012-04-05T12:29:15.965-04:00Not too much to add here, Michael. On Burke, I agr...Not too much to add here, Michael. On Burke, I agree with a lot of your criticisms and you've made them fairly, I think, and have given him props where he deserves.<br /><br />What I would like, just once, is for Burke to show some humility and eat some humble pie. For cryin' out loud, how many of us diehards have to hear about "how many parades have you been to in your lifetime" etc., etc., on a daily basis from our smug coworkers and/or even family members?! It's a different kind of humble pie, but hey, we put up with it every day! <br /><br />Hey, I for one will never tire of your Burke rants. We are passionate about our team and he deserves to have his feet held to the fire for what he's promised and paid to do.<br /><br />Cheers.Caedmonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-34176417663816310862012-04-05T11:38:59.491-04:002012-04-05T11:38:59.491-04:00At the risk of repeating myself - and others on th...At the risk of repeating myself - and others on this site - Burke is his own most astute critic. He's the one who said "we're in a results-oriented business" and "we're in the business of winning". That's what pro sports is. Period. The rest is PR bafflegab and media fodder. By his own criteria, Burke has failed. Wilson failed. Allaire has failed. Period. Nothing personal. <br />Pro sports is normally about accountability - brutally so, in some cases - because the team's bottom line usually depends on success. We are demonstrably worse than we were last year, or the year before, or the year before. Period. <br />So spare me the the "noble GM" stuff, please. Our GM has dug us a very deep hole. But unlike success-driven markets, there is no accountability in Toronto because the coffers are full no matter what happens. Until that changes, to paraphrase the classic French phrase, things will likely remain the same.Gerund O'Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18212577489787017900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-8178481610010456762012-04-05T10:10:02.292-04:002012-04-05T10:10:02.292-04:00You've said it so well, Willbur. And I think ...You've said it so well, Willbur. And I think you speak for a number of long-time, thoughtful and yes, loyal, Leaf fans. We've all been here a lot longer than Brian Burke and our "opinions" aren't un-important.<br /><br />It is we, the fans, who have helped build the Leaf legacy. Because we follow, because we buy, because we care, because we have observed this sport and this franchise for decades, in many cases, we have earned the right to express our views- even if they collide with those of the current GM or his friends and apologists.<br /><br />Thanks Willbur.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-34411924394853429112012-04-05T09:45:27.725-04:002012-04-05T09:45:27.725-04:00There is nothing wrong with a GM defending his coa...There is nothing wrong with a GM defending his coaches or players. If he truly beleives Allaire is awesome so be it. The problem I have is the way he does it. Why can't he simply say "We think Allaire is doing a good job and we stand by him". A simple concise statement that does what it is supposed to. Instead we get A GM who goes off on a tangent about the mythical "They" who is out to get him and the rest of the team. By implicaton he is stating that all those who might disagree with him are stupid morons who aren't real Leaf fans. <br /><br />Well I'm sorry Mr Burke I have had a vested interest in the Maple Leafs for a lot longer than you have going on thirty years. I am a true Maple Leaf fan and you know what I do happen to disagree with you. I don't think you have done a good job, don't think your goalie coach has been doing a good job. If you think that I'm not a "real" Leafs fan becuase I disagree with you your flippin crazy. You are however going about turning me into someone who while still a fan is starting to loose interest in the Leafs. I am starting to no longer care what happens. I am tired of the constant failure, the bs excuses and the blowhard exhalations of a GM who has no answers so must rely on blowing hot air instead. So keep putting yourself front and center and making your grand pronouncments and fiery speeches defending your players and coaches from mythical enemies. I've got better things to do than waste my time listening to you and caring about a sinking ship.Willburnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-75832870082730436862012-04-05T09:25:16.080-04:002012-04-05T09:25:16.080-04:00Well said, Pete Cam. Some (like Anon above) will ...Well said, Pete Cam. Some (like Anon above) will defend Burke, but not all of us buy his "act", or think he invented the position of General Manager.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-62388836943637302862012-04-05T09:22:49.323-04:002012-04-05T09:22:49.323-04:00Anon...just to be clear, I've posted often on ...Anon...just to be clear, I've posted often on Burke and have regularly acknowledged his contribution to a "Cup" in Anaheim.<br /><br />I simply don't buy your point about taking the focus off the team. That's not, in my view, why he acts the way he does.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-19676232928637049202012-04-05T08:54:31.234-04:002012-04-05T08:54:31.234-04:00I love how you choose to leave out Burke's Cup...I love how you choose to leave out Burke's Cup, and focus on the two re-build phases. I'm pretty sure Brian's fingerprints are still all over the vancouver team that is now successful. What you writers fail to understand is that Burke doesn't talk to the media in order to defend himself, he does it in order to take attention away from the team. He's actually really good at it. While everyone is left complaining about this and that quote from Brian, his guys get shielded for a bit. If you guys could just stop wading through the surface bullshit, and actually write something of substance, that would be fantastic. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-5747715385526029292012-04-05T08:50:16.359-04:002012-04-05T08:50:16.359-04:00Brian Burke is an inveterate control freak. When t...Brian Burke is an inveterate control freak. When the media (and I include excellent blog sites such as Pension Plan Puppets and Maple Leaf Hot Stove) don't agree with his point of view or question some of his decisions he reacts bombastically.It would be so very refreshing if he would admit that he has made some mistakes and tell us what he is going to do to remedy them.<br /><br />Ron Wilson is his friend. I get that but Wil<br />son was allowed to coach here for 4 years, much longer than most losing would be kept anywhere else. then, for Burke to react to media criticisms the way he has is just ridiculous.<br /><br />Francois Allaire is the goalie coach. the goaltending has been, for the most part terrible during his tenure. He should be held accountable for that. Personally, I can't stand the vertical-horizontal butterfly method that he teaches. It seems to me that he is turning promising prospects int robot clones and taking away all their creativity. Gustavsson's progress, in particular, has been retarded as his skill set is not amenable to Allaire's methods.<br /><br />The bottom line is that Wilson and Allaire should be held accountable but ultimately the one who is most accountable is Brian Burke.Pete Camnoreply@blogger.com