{"id":152,"date":"2008-04-24T08:05:31","date_gmt":"2008-04-24T13:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heroesinrehab.ca\/blog\/2008\/04\/24\/so-much-for-that-eh-damien\/"},"modified":"2008-04-24T08:34:35","modified_gmt":"2008-04-24T13:34:35","slug":"so-much-for-that-eh-damien","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/heroesinrehab.ca\/blog\/2008\/04\/24\/so-much-for-that-eh-damien\/","title":{"rendered":"So Much for That, eh Damien?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I posted the other day<\/a> about Damien Cox’s ridiculous “story<\/a>” that the Leafs’ efforts to woo Brian Burke were going to shift into high gear with Anaheim’s elimination from playoff contention.<\/p>\n

That was Monday. Apparently, the “inside sources” relied upon to give that story credibility were sorely, profoundly and rapidly mistaken; according to David Shoalts’ story in the Globe and Mail<\/a> this morning, not only has Burke confirmed that he will be remaining with Anaheim pursuant to the terms of his existing contract,<\/p>\n

Sources on both sides of the matter say no contact was ever made between the Leafs and Burke or the Leafs and [Ducks owner Henry] Samueli.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other words, the lightning quick action that was characterized as imminent by Mr. Cox in his column evidently did not include so much as even a telephone call to seek permission<\/em> to talk to Burke.<\/p>\n

Wow, what a whirlwind!<\/p>\n

This means Damien needs to change course with his columns, of course. No problem, when in doubt, Cox can simply go back to bashing Maple Leaf management with poorly-thought out complaints<\/a> (which, I would point out, needlessly distracts everyone from the many legitmate complaints to be made) . This from the “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” file:<\/p>\n

All along, however, Burke knew there was a real chance that the Ducks’ hardnosed president, Michael Schulman, would not give the Leafs the chance to talk to him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And he was proven correct, or at least Schulman made it clear no such permission would be forthcoming<\/strong> if such a request was received (emphasis added).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So the Ducks made it clear that they wouldn’t give the Leafs permission to talk to Burke if they asked for it, right? I guess that would explain why the Leafs couldn’t secure the Messiah’s services, right? Wrong, oh ye of short sight and no column space! Behold the wisdom of Cox:<\/p>\n

What’s truly incredible is the MLSE board of directors doesn’t seem to have any sense of urgency here, or a particular game plan in place.<\/p>\n

They’re just sort of meandering along, swimming in 23 per cent profits and imagining how nice it would be to have a front man who would attract all the attention and stop people from calling them unflattering names.<\/p>\n

They would have loved for Burke to be that person.<\/p>\n

But his current employer quite smartly decided he was too good to lose.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other words, MLSE’s braintrust was:<\/p>\n