The Toronto Media
Posted 11:44 PM ET | Comments 12
Hey, you guys, yeah I'm pointing at you in the media. It's time you stopped writing the same stuff over and over. I've started to get quite annoyed with the Toronto Hockey media the past few weeks because you continue to read the same things, printed in the paper and posted online, every day and every week. Okay, so Niklas Hagman, Jeff Finger and Curtis Joseph are not going to get this team a playoff spot next season, but what's the big deal if they try to ice a competitive team?
I'm no expert on this matter or anything, but I'm pretty damn sure when you're a hockey player and you've been one for the better part of your life, it's not in you to lose. Athletes are natural competitors, I'm surprised there isn't a reality show out there that puts 10 athletes in one forest with only one piece of chicken total and lets them duke it out. Can you say must see TV? The same can be said about a team's management, there is no way Fletcher is tanking this season, much to the dismay of some Toronto media. As much as they try to hide it, it's clearly evident that some people in the Toronto media have their own agendas. Who knows, maybe they are all Leaf fans at heart and want their chance to be GM for a day.
Pretty much any media person who disagrees with the Hagman, Finger and Joseph signings, I believe clearly wants this Leafs team to re-build for 3-5 seasons and tank this upcoming season for a chance to draft John Tavares. I hope these guys know there are going to be 209+ other players selected as well, just letting you know. Some of these guys I'm talking about as I said may have been childhood Leafs fans, meanwhile there are others who think they know all but it's clearly evident they don't. I'm talking about you Sean McCormick.
His latest thing: http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...7/10/mcormick_leafsstyle/, and I call it a thing because I'm not really sure what to call what he wrote because it isn't a blog or an article, suggests the Leafs should have gone after a talent such as Marian Hossa, Jaromir Jagr, Brian Campbell or Corey Perry. I hope he knows the team he cheers for put together a monstrous package for Hossa and yet it was turned down. Is this the Jagr of 1991-1992? Even though I'm a fan of Campbell, let me know how it's working out in year three or four of that contract. Finally, how do you rebuild by giving up that many picks for a player who isn't even a superstar, a star at best?
I wouldn't doubt it if this guy has never seen a guy like Niklas Hagman play. Mr. McCormick you have it all wrong, these signings show the Leafs want to be competitive in the years ahead and are not even considering the tank word. The losing mentality that has plagued Toronto for the past few seasons is finally being kicked to the curb (sorry Darcy, loved ya, but how many times can we hear "we deserved the win," same goes for you Mr. Raycroft). They'll be a few young faces on the Leafs squad next season, some with extraordinary talents such as Nikolai Kulemin of Russia, it'd be really counter productive to introduce that 'losing is alright as long as you tried your best' mentality. Besides, they have one of the top goalies in the Eastern conference and a coach who is in love with him, try telling them that he won't get the bulk of the starts.
Don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to admit I have no idea what to expect with the signing of Jeff Finger, but I mean come on, doesn't he at least deserve a chance? So many times it's the fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs that get criticized, deservedly so sometimes and not so much other times, for not giving the players enough of a chance in this NHL crazed market, so now I'm firing back, how about some of you in the media let this situation play out and see how they do in the first 20 games before ripping apart players you've never seen play before. Yeah, I'm pointing at you.
PS: Mr. Howard Berger, you're on my good side.
Gagan (Leafs1319)
gaganhoops [AT] gmail.com
I'm no expert on this matter or anything, but I'm pretty damn sure when you're a hockey player and you've been one for the better part of your life, it's not in you to lose. Athletes are natural competitors, I'm surprised there isn't a reality show out there that puts 10 athletes in one forest with only one piece of chicken total and lets them duke it out. Can you say must see TV? The same can be said about a team's management, there is no way Fletcher is tanking this season, much to the dismay of some Toronto media. As much as they try to hide it, it's clearly evident that some people in the Toronto media have their own agendas. Who knows, maybe they are all Leaf fans at heart and want their chance to be GM for a day.
Pretty much any media person who disagrees with the Hagman, Finger and Joseph signings, I believe clearly wants this Leafs team to re-build for 3-5 seasons and tank this upcoming season for a chance to draft John Tavares. I hope these guys know there are going to be 209+ other players selected as well, just letting you know. Some of these guys I'm talking about as I said may have been childhood Leafs fans, meanwhile there are others who think they know all but it's clearly evident they don't. I'm talking about you Sean McCormick.
His latest thing: http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...7/10/mcormick_leafsstyle/, and I call it a thing because I'm not really sure what to call what he wrote because it isn't a blog or an article, suggests the Leafs should have gone after a talent such as Marian Hossa, Jaromir Jagr, Brian Campbell or Corey Perry. I hope he knows the team he cheers for put together a monstrous package for Hossa and yet it was turned down. Is this the Jagr of 1991-1992? Even though I'm a fan of Campbell, let me know how it's working out in year three or four of that contract. Finally, how do you rebuild by giving up that many picks for a player who isn't even a superstar, a star at best?
I wouldn't doubt it if this guy has never seen a guy like Niklas Hagman play. Mr. McCormick you have it all wrong, these signings show the Leafs want to be competitive in the years ahead and are not even considering the tank word. The losing mentality that has plagued Toronto for the past few seasons is finally being kicked to the curb (sorry Darcy, loved ya, but how many times can we hear "we deserved the win," same goes for you Mr. Raycroft). They'll be a few young faces on the Leafs squad next season, some with extraordinary talents such as Nikolai Kulemin of Russia, it'd be really counter productive to introduce that 'losing is alright as long as you tried your best' mentality. Besides, they have one of the top goalies in the Eastern conference and a coach who is in love with him, try telling them that he won't get the bulk of the starts.
Don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to admit I have no idea what to expect with the signing of Jeff Finger, but I mean come on, doesn't he at least deserve a chance? So many times it's the fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs that get criticized, deservedly so sometimes and not so much other times, for not giving the players enough of a chance in this NHL crazed market, so now I'm firing back, how about some of you in the media let this situation play out and see how they do in the first 20 games before ripping apart players you've never seen play before. Yeah, I'm pointing at you.
PS: Mr. Howard Berger, you're on my good side.
Gagan (Leafs1319)
gaganhoops [AT] gmail.com
Great Points. You never know how anyone will fit into a system when coming from another team. Could be a rivival or could be a bust. In any case, let the season play out and see what shakes loose. I admire optimism in a fan.
Totally agree with you that the Media are really being rude and severe on teams and players. But, the Finger deal is really easy to criticize, and I am in the people who thinks that this deal is just...bad, because he did not even played 2 seasons in the NHL. Like the fact that you want to shake the media up! Good work man!
Finger will be a solid dman he will be a number three man in the defense he will be fan favorite. your right about the media they all bleed a story dry that is what they do . Fletcher will not tank a season not in his blood.
Hey good stuff. McCormick's talking out of his bottom-hole. I don't think any team "tanks" to get the first pick. It's just too big a risk - especially with the lottery system. And - accuse me of being a conspiracy theorist (but for some reason I am when it comes to the NHL) - Tavares will never play for a Canadian club. Not on Bettman's watch.
the common element of Hagman and Mayers is that they are strong skaters who do the little things well in their own end. Hagman obviously is more talented while Mayers brings more muscle... I find it hard to really criticize either move. Jeff Finger I can safely say is being unfairly criticized... lets wait until he's -1 after the first 3 games to tear him apart... but seriously, the guy led the Avs blueline in hits and shots blocked... is 3.5m an overpayment... very likely... but there were a reputed 14 teams looking at this guy... and he's still fairly young and in his prime... I'd like to see what he can do before I freak out that the Leafs are doing it all wrong...
I read Sean McCormick article this morning, and I was so confused. I kept reading over the part where he stated the Leafs should have gone after the likes of Jagr, Campbell, and Hossa. This guy is a big joke, and his "hockey, toronto style" commercials on TV are starting to agitate me!
110% Right on Buddy!These jokers have gotten the knee-jerk reaction down pat! As I said earlier in my own blog "Guys like Cox, Simmons, and Strachan (to name a few) would complain about the second coming of Jesus - if it happened in Toronto." Down deep, it's about selling controversy rather than telling a story, or providing insights. You can get facts anywhere these days on the internet, so these "hacks" have no choice but to sell you something that will get people talking...my biggest concern though, is the number of uneducated fans who take these opinions as grounds to start a movement. Taking apart a Ferrari with a Sledge hammer can be done by any idiot, building one takes real talent.
great read yea the media can be harsh espically in Toronto, and billcanuck the senators tanked to get daigle back in the day that worked out well lol
Conflict sells. The media knows that. Last thing a copy editor wants to read is, "I like everything that's going on. Full speed ahead!"All that said, you are preaching to the choir here buddy. I back everything you've said 100%. As Doktor Dave has also pointed out, Sean McCormick isn't the only guilty party here. Simmons, Strachan et all.
Appreciate all the comments buds! Good to know I'm not the only one that feels this way, it's time they got called out!
Hey Stephen D - Didn't the Senators start to tank towards the end of the season? Rather than - as McCormick's implying - you set out right at the start. Mind you, the Sens were so bad back in those days...who could tell.
Also with the Sens they didn't have hte risk of the lottery back then, they knew by finishing last they would get the no1 pick