Courtesy of Faceoff.com:

The Leafs and HNIC really do suck

"When somebody who is employed as a regular contributor on Hockey Night in Canada is suddenly fired after writing a book entitled Why The Leafs Suck: And How They Can Be Fixed, you can't help but wonder what's going with respect to the CBC's journalistic integrity.

This is what happened to Al Strachan, who regularly appears on HNIC's "After 40 Minutes" on Saturdays, a segment where the goal is to break news and discuss newsworthy topics about and around the NHL or the sport of hockey.
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"Given there is a withering chapter on Brian Burke in the book -- one that people who don't like Burke's style shouldn't miss -- he is being blamed for perhaps being the thrust behind this, largely because he's tried to exert pressure on reporters and columnists before. Further, he's tried to exert pressure on HNIC in the past to have Strachan removed from "After 40 Minutes" because of an incident he didn't like while he was GM in Vancouver. So it's hardly surprising that people would be pointing fingers at his media-managing ways.

But that analysis may not be fair to Burke. After all, there are lots of others who receive shots in the book, not the least of which are the likes of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Richard Peddie and the company's second largest shareholder, Larry Tanenbaum, both of whom have been making most of the hockey-hiring decisions with the team recently."

...That's pretty messed up. The Leafs, the CBC and HNiC have seriously undermined their integrity and damaged their credibility, with this stupid and vain decision.

And even more curiously: where is the outcry from other Canadian sports journalists and CBC panelists?

What the hell is wrong with all these people?

Looks like the concept of "sportsmanship" takes another blow - Not only losing ground on the ice, but in the board room, as well.

For a corporation such as the CBC to fire Al from HNiC, this just confirms their loyalty to the Maple Laffs organization. For years Ron MacLean would have to try to shut Grapes up when he would be going on about how everyone at HNiC and the CBC was pulling for the Leafs, how the Leafs were Canada's team on Coaches Corner. And now this? Way to be NOT one sided, CBC.

MLSE sure has their hands around the CBC's balls and are willing to crush them had they not fired Al. Kind of makes sense that they would be CBC's team considering they're the only team they broadcast from Ontario east. Even though Montreal is closer to Atlantic Canada than Toronto. Fucking biased morons. I hope this team loses funding and is forced to fold. It's a long shot I know, but leave me with my dream.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

It's the same out west, too. Every bloody Saturday night, it's the Leafs vs whoever. The Habs or Sens could be playing the Sabres for 1st place in the conference or the last playoff spot and they'd still show Toronto vs the Islanders battling for 14th place. It's awful.

It makes me sick to my stomach whenever I think about our tax dollars (in Canada) going to this sham of a network in order to "preserve Canadian culture". They let TSN get the HNIC theme song, and the fucking CANADIAN Football League!!! And the other day I flipped through CBC and Martha Fucking Stewart was on!!!

Then, the bastards have the nerve to ask for a government bailout!!! It's a government-funded company!!!! FUCK!!!!!!



-Rant over-

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

Tis true, but atleast TSN is showing some decent quallity games and it's not the SAME FRICKIN team night in and night out. They also have done a good job on the song. As a fellow Canadian, I miss hearing it on HNiC. But if the CBC are going to be dancing to the tune of MLSE, then I don't want anything to do with them. Unless it's showing a Sabres game which they are ass ramming the Laffs on the scoreboard.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

...i'm still in shock that the CBC refused to renew licensing with Dolores Claman.

To cultivate a cultural icon, like that - To give history to a musical theme that's been called Canada's Second Anthem - And then to abandon it.

Abandon it! On its' Fortieth Anniversary!

What kind of fucking moron does that? Insane.

It still sends shivers down my spine to hear this:



The sense of anticipation in the pit of one's stomach, and recalling all the memories; simply overwhelming.

+1

I agree, ice. anyone who knows what that song is, remembers it as a kid and you knew some good hockey was going to be on. The cbc really shit the bed in letting the most iconic song this country was known for slip away. Although we still hear it on TSN, it's just not the same.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

The outcry is gone from the sheeple, just like nobody seems to give a crap that Michael Savage was banned in Britain.

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"Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!"
Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.

"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.

And the theme is almost an afterthought on TSN's broadcasts.....

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

So they'd rather keep Mike Milbury on there?? The guy is a complete dickhead, he thinks he (milbury) knows everything.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

I'll say this about Milbury; he's a better commentator than NHL GM!!

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

Very true, he is really annoying though.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

+1 for this thread.
Sorry. I would add something of substance, but my cat just decided to go crazy and tipped the hermit crab cage over once again <goes to look for broom and dustpan>

I've found Strachan to be an Eklund-esque rumor monger that I could live without.

It's cheesy if the book is the reason they let him go, though....

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Al's an old lady - And the CBC is full of old ladies...guess he pissed in the wrong teapot.

#1 rule in Canada, thou shalt not say anything bad about the Leafs!!!!

With a few exceptions for Grapes, still hard to believe the media didn't back him up, but I am used to what they get away with down here south of the border.

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"I don't feel like Satan, but I am to them"
Neil Young

Its true I say it all the time and I almost start fights because of saying it

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13