HEY BABY WERE GONNA GROW UP ONE DAY

FREE THE LEAFS

I read the internet posts with some amusement after watching the Senators, barely beat the Leafs. Listen if it had not been for Gerber, the Leafs win hands down. It is hilarious to watch the boo birds, act as if the leafs goose is cooked . These are the same genuises that picked Carolina to finish in last place last year. Yah, they got it scoped. Here is the real truth, pay attention. The leafs are a better team than last year, no question. They played a REAL hockey game, you know with shooting , passing, hitting, pace, like a REAL hockey team does. How many games did I watch in the Quinn Era, that made no sense, they would win, they would lose, who knew why or when or how, it just happened, that flipping leprachaun, he had some sort of magic. But lets face it, this is 20006 ad not b.c. and real hockey coaches match lines. Real hockey coaches, play the players that are playing well; real hockey coaches have a plan, and friends let me bring you the good news- Paul Maurice has a plan. Okay, it is hard to kick heroin, it is hard to leave your lover, and it is damn hard to grow up- I should know. And finally if the creator of the universe is willing the Leafs are going to grow up. Sure there are going to be dirty diapers, sure they will throw tantrums, and maybe once in a while a spanking will be in order. But remember you heard it here , the leafs will contend this year. They will surprise, they will win lots of hockey games, and Leaf fans are going to FINALLY see hockey,yes even tonight, though they lost 4-1 , the Leafs contended all night. They were not outshot- did you hear what I said - they were not OUTSHOT. Mr. Quin never did get that little subtly of the game, you get outshot night after night, and you will lose--- especially in the playoffs!!!!!! Don't get me back on the QWINSTER, he is gone, gone, thank someone. Anyways. what went wrong tonight- Martin Gerber , was all world-- I think we should have snagged him-- but no we go and get Raycroft-- the jury is out, but I did not like what I saw, something has gone wrong with that boy's mechanics and me thinks we will see him on the bench soon watching Aubin, and god forbid Telly. He wasn't horrible, but I didn't like what I saw. My final word is --Leaf fans , there is finally hope, let us move towards the light, and perhaps we will find lord stanleys cup there!!

THE NEW WORLD OR IS IT

Hiya sports fans, I am back. Did you think I had forgotten you. No , I was just sittin back watchin it all unfold, and yes I did pat my self, get it PAT myself on the back regarding the downfall of the mighty quinn. So where are we now. What the bleep is goin on. Gotta love that Raycroft signing. Yes, yes it makes perfect sense if perhaps you have the IQ of an organic peanut. Lets analyze this; Tukka or Tuuka or smuuka rask, whatever the name, maybe the BEST GOALIE AT THE JUNIOR WORLDS. A number one draft pick, dumped in typical leaf fashion- for who- a goalie, yes granted a former rookie of the year, who had a horrendous, a disgusting , a pathetic season. No, we couldnt go after, Marc Denis, no we couldn't sign Gerber, no we couldn't get Alex Auld, no we couldn't lure Dwayne the man rowlanson or however you spell it from Edmonton, no we couldn't get Dan Cloutier, and GOD forbid we should try to get roberto luongo that would have been a sin. Actually the leafs are on the verge of commiting the number one sin in Hockey, no clear number 1 goalie, I mean look at Edmonton if you need a clue Johnny!! Look at Philapdelphia, look at Tampa Bay, and on and on. The teams that win have a great goalie, it is simple and it ain't rocket science. Okay, he could bounce back and make Fergie look like a genius, but come on a 1st round pick, he could have had Raycroft for a bag of Lays chips and not even the jumbo bag. Sorry , Andrew, I like you and all, but one year a career does not make. The league is littered, and I mean littered with the corpses of one year flashes. I harken you-- like that language-- back to Jim Craig of Washington , from God to Garbage man in a few short years. And there are others, even our own john sebastian aubin was once the darling of Pittsburgh and he played himself right out of the league. I do not like this deal . You know something maybe ferguson should trade pogge as well , -- why not pogge for legace and we will throw in a first round pick-- don't laugh- he is probably doing this deal right now, and if he does do , please join me in the storming of the Air Canada Center, we the fans will revolt and send them all to the Bastille, or maybe just stick them on a slow ferry across lake ontario !!!
The leafs have to grow up one day and stop throwing their young to the wolves, they must develop their talent, they must let the draft picks play. Just take a look at Carolina and Edmonton, loaded with draft picks. I mean just look at Brad Boyes--- everyone knew he was a keeper, even the leafs, but oh no , can't keep him, we need Jeff Oneil, we need Jason Allison, We need Eric Lindros, we need and now the latest war cry is comeback Gary Roberts. Oh give me a break, I know ,lets bring back Clark, and Gilmour and put them all on a line together and maybe just maybe the Chief -- George Armstrong , is he dead? Well that shouldn't stop the leafs, some of the bodies we put in uniforms , really could use some serious rejuvenation. That's enough hate mongering for now. Basically I am a happy camper, can't you tell ? You don't want to see me when I am mad.
I like Paul Maurice, I believe that you will see things out of the leafs that you have never seen before, and I mean skating , passing, intensity, and guys like Sundin, and Ponikarofsky, and yes even Antripov surprising you . But John Ferguson is a bit of a dip stick and from what I can tell, and I do apologize for saying this John, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but I could do a better job of being GM than you- and as a matter of fact I know alot of people men and women who could put you to shame. Larry if your reading, from one jewish boy to another,- it ain't so complicated, you can figure it out and do yourself a favour Larry, go to Shopsies and have corned beef with a few of your brethern who have been suffering with the leafs for the last 40 years, they'll give you a few tips, and you can still make it in under the cap--okay?. Time to pack it in, will write soon.

THE WAY WE WERE

Heeee's back--Luke Richardson. This is too priceless. This really tells the story of the Leafs. I remember Luke , a first round pick by the Buds before I got married. The kid had talent, awkward, but there was something there. Cliff Fletcher shows up, and bding, bdang off he goes to Edmonton for Grant Fuhr and some no names- we also gave up Vinnie Damphouse in that deal-- now I am not saying fletcher was not a good Gm -- he got as close to the promised land as anyone has-- but come on Vinnie Damphouse and Richardson for a goaltender whose best years were clearly behind him. And on top of that it just was the same old, same old, -- the Leafs eat their kids. And now at 36 clearly past his best years, we get him back, -- duhhh!!! Look Fergie-- we have seen this all before , Brian Leetch, Glen Wesley, -- why the f--k do you think some old defenseman is going to solve the intrinsic, endemic problems in all of leafdom-- grow up and get a life. You know I wasn't down on Fergie too much and I still believe it is clearly the mighty Quinn who should take the rocket to nowheresville, but you gotta ask yourself what type deal is this-- a 5th round pick or a 4th round pick for this guy-- no way- maybe a 7th round pick. These days draft picks are valuable, very valuable. Now to his credit he did trade Ken Klee to the Devils-- and let me tell you and watch this happen Klee will play well and long for devils and will be valuable. He was poorly used, unappreciated, and as most do did not thrive under the desert storm mentality that exists in the Quinn dressing room -- and for those of you who don't know what that means , just listen to your heart and gut and you will find your way-- or better yet take a good look into Quinn's eyes and tell me there isn't a minor sort of zombie thing going on there. Enough of my psycobabble-- at least in this deal he got a real prospect, a kid, 24, who is ripping up the minors, and has a real shot at the nhl-- who remembers doug gilmour to the devils for steve sullivan -- another good trade, but we all know that steve was a bad boy and quinn showed us by putting him on waivers-- don't get me started. So we sit here on the night before the trade deadline and we can see that Fergie has no real plan, just grab a guy here and there, get older, get younger, try to make the playoffs, try to build for the future, who knows , who cares.... I heard a rumor that Gordie Howe wants to come back...I think I will let fergie know maybe detroit would give him to us for a first or second round pick... we could do it with gordie, I know we could!!!!

remember I predicted this.....

Okay , it looks bad, very bad, and though no one has even come to my blog or if they have they haven't had the decencey to comment , pro or con... yah my feelings are hurt but I'll survive. So where were we. Here is my latest prediction... the leafs down, almost out embattled, old, hurt, falling apart. But wait... yes there is hope, you watch the LEAFS will make a run for the playoffs. The Leafs never do anything the easy way and finally the s---t has hit the fan so to speak. You know, the Leafs are not a bad team, there is plenty of talent, Mcabe, Kaberle, Sundin, Tucker, Ponikarofsky, Steen, Welwood, Stajan, Oneil, and yes even Eddie can still play. So let me tell you how its gonna go. The Leafs will rally and they will be there on the last week of play gamely fighting to make the playoffs, and maybe they will pull one out for the gipper, one more for Quinn. Remember when Quinn went to cup with Vancouver they had a very average season barely above 500 and then they got hot, very hot. Now I don't predict the same here,,, but I sense something here, the wounded Bear syndrome, pride, Leaf Luck, the weirdest type of luck of all, history, Conn Smythe, the ghost of Punch Imlach... I dunno. There is something in the air and now we shall see if the Leafs are truly dead, or perhaps their rumors of death have been greatly exagerated!!!

HOW FAR DOWN DO WE HAVE TO GO

Well, I called it. Since no one is reading my blog or letting me know that they are reading it, it is sort of like a tree falling in the forest. Did anyone hear? I am not sure on that one, I will call my local Zen Master for his opinion--god am I funny or what?!! This is a necessary part of the process, things have to get so bad that Larry Tannenbaum and whoever the flip else loves mr quinn, gets the message that 8 years of getting the gears is enuf. The man is old, washed up, and cannot as I have said a million times, coach in the new environment. Sure I have kvetched about Sundin, sure there are some people who are dead weight on the team-- lets try Wade Belak for one. But ya know something, and lets see if time tells the tale on this one-- Wade Belak ain't that bad. neither is Tie Domi, neither is Aki Berg, neither is Ken Klee, neither is Jeff O'neil, and neither is Quinn's latest child whipping boy-- Matt Stajan. They are just poorly coached, poorly motivated, poorly deployed. Lets, take a look back , back in time to the Larry Murphy FIASCO-- who remembers now, poor Larry, couldn't do anything right, poor Larry was washed up , and we just let him go and guess who snapped him up. Mr Bowman, and what did Larry proceed to do. Oh just win 2 or 3 Stanley Cups as the cornerstone, the lynch pin , the straw that stirred the drink, of the Detroit Defense. Duhhh! Hey how did that happen-- was it coaching or perhaps Larry just liked the air quality better in Motown. Look, lets face it, coaching is a big part of the game and our coach ain't doin his part. You can blame Sundin, you can blame Belfour-- who should be sittin out right about now-- you can blame our inexperienced defense , you can blame Zeus-- it ain't gonna help until we deal with the root, the core, and then we may have a chance. With good drafting, good training of the kids, patience, and the willingness to call a spade a spade, my goodness martha, we might actually have a real hockey team one day-- do you think it is possible. This soap opera is getting old. It is time to find some new characters and maybe a new plot and move on. I know that Leaf fans are the most loyal and knowledgeable in all of hockey, but somehow we have been saddled with some pretty dense lads at the toppermost of the poppermost-- perhaps Larry, and Mr. Ferguson, and this weird shadowy guy Richard Peddie, - any relation the the racing car driver-- need to have an IQ test, or perhaps a competency examination by a qualified psychiatrist, I don't mean to be rude or blunt-- but come on boys lets get to it!!!!

the truth hurts

And now the end is near and I must say not in a shy way-- I told you so-- read it and weep. Oh, there will be those that blame Belfour, or Sundin, or injuries, or the moon not being in the right phase and the Leaf's trainer not doing a good enough job sharpening their skates. But I called it, and I will continue to call it, even if no one is listening, even I am voice in the wilderness, even if the Leafs do what they always do , and trade away the kids--- except this time --- they really can't - can they!!! The cap- oh thank the lord for the cap -- it makes honest men smile and the general managers who survived on buying their way to the top cry. Quinn- CANNOT COACH in this new environment, he has lost the confidence of his players, of the fans, of the media- this losing streak is not a blip, it cannot be corrected. Well, let me rephrase that, it can be corrected, but not by Quinn-- not with the cap, not with the restrictions in terms of physical play. To win you must skate, you must make passes, you must know how to defend, all the players must know their roles, all must be motivated, all must participate in the system, there is no room for silly play-- even if your goaltender is excellent and if your goaltender is having an off night then you must play even better even more disciplined---see Philly-- they don't have a no. 1 goaltender, but many nights they win, inspite of their goalie, and that is because of their brilliant coach. Sorry , you can try to blame the players, you can try to blame the gm, you can try blame whoever the hell you please, but until quinn goes-- the leafs don't !!!!

WHY DOES EVERYONE KNOW THE TRUTH

Did anyone else see the poll in Slam Sports--- the question--- does the Leafs 6 game win streak make them a legitimate contender for the cup. The answer 84% said NO NO NO!!! Why does everyone know the IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE LEAFS RECORD IS THEY ARE NOT A CUP CONTENDER? Why do they know, because we all understand that this 6 game win streak is just that, a streak, a blip, a moment in time. These are still the same old lovable , crazy Leafs. They don't know why they are winning and they don't know why they lose, it just happens. I must admit, at the risk of contradicting myself that I actually felt quite a little tingle on New Years Eve when they smoked Jersey - 6-3. Here was a game the Leafs were destined to lose. Jersey was in deep trouble and the Leafs were riding high, this was usually the moment the Leafs reached into their bag of tricks and pulled out a big loss. But no, they went down 1-0 and they fought back, yes they fought back, what a concept . The Leafs controlled the play and I could sense that they were going to score , I could sense that they were going to win. I have not had that feeling very often , not since the days of Gilmour and Clark when winning was something that seemed to be somewhat with in the Leafs control. Too often there is a flukeyness to the wins, a quality of - can you believe we pulled that one out of the fire. Alot of fancy skating, and great goaltending, and mistakes that turn into magic- not cup winning stuff. We Leaf fans all know something is missing and I think it is about time that the missing piece was put back in place. I am thrilled that Ferguson has drafted well with Justin Pogge and Tukka Rask- goaltending is the start and end of a great team. I hope that we are seeing the beginning of the building a real team of Leafs, a team that understands its' mission and one that finally gets us to the promised land.