Really? It’s not a Joke Right? They Really are Playing?
With the announcement that the National Hockey League is going to crank up an exciting 48 game season after a ridiculous amount of time squabbling over money and pushing the NHL behind Major League Soccer and the Road Rules/Real World Challenge as the sixth major sport in North America, it is time for me to dust off my trusty Red Wings jersey (nothing good comes from Illinois). This will be the first year since 2008 that our favorite cantankerous uncle Brian Burke will not be heading what can be described as the most moribund franchise in the NHL north of the border. Check that. One of a few moribund franchises north of the border. *Staring at you Montreal Canadians*
And let’s be clear: It didn’t have to be that way. Brian Burke could have stood up on his first day on the job and said, “Look, things here are a mess, and I’m going to roll a grenade into the whole operation. It’s going to be ugly and it’s going be painful, and it will stay that way for at least a few years and maybe more. But stick with me and I’ll lead you through to the other side.” Maple Leafs fans would have followed him into that battle with smiles on their faces. He had that opportunity. He declined it.
Was he given enough time? Not really, in the sense that nobody who was around in 2008 thought the Leafs could be turned into contenders in less than four full seasons. Rebuilding from scratch takes at least five years, the conventional wisdom goes, and a check of the calendar shows Burke didn’t get that.
If it takes you five hours to drive to your in-laws’ house and your spouse starts asking “are we there yet?” after four, you’re going to get cranky. I am ready to watch some hockey on… Hey what channel is hockey on again? Good grief. Hopefully when the NHL reached the agreement with the NHLPA, they renegotiated their TV deal that will put the NHL on a channel that people have heard of. You know, like ESPN or something like that.
Good luck hockey fans and remember, cross checking is illegal unless the linesman doesn’t see it. Then by all means bury that guy then.
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