No Homers Club

My sources are telling me that people out there are talking about Godd and I and it is being said that we're either naive homers or MLSE shills (while either living in our parents basements, or working at the Toronto Star, depending on who you listen to). In an attempt refute these rumours, I have taken it upon myself to write about something other than the Leafs today. 

Okay...lets see...what's out there...Leafs lose to Sabres...Antro hurt...Sundin back against the Isles...Sundin nixes Habs trade...oh, here's one. It's about basketball:

Just wondering, but should the Maple Leafs really be looking for a "Bryan Colangelo of hockey" now?

Well, mostly about basketball.

That was one of the stated goals, you may remember, when John Ferguson Jr. was cashiered Jan. 22nd, that the MLSE brass was so very much in love with the sainted Colangelo that all they needed to do was locate a hockey man of similar qualities and all would be well.

I swear, basketball...

Wondered about that at the time. Wondered why this halo surrounds the Raptor boss even though he has doesn't own an NBA championship ring and his team has yet to even win a playoff round in Toronto.

They've been to the playoffs once, and are headed there again this year. And, don't forget, this team was a total disaster two years ago. Also, there are four current NBA GMs who own a championship ring: Joe Dumars, Mitch Kupchak, Randy Pfund, and RC Buford. Jerry West and Greg Popovich are the only other GMs to win an NBA title in the last ten years. The Raptors, of course, are a bunch of fucking idiots for not hiring one of those guys. I mean, all they had to do was call, right?

The gentleman who wrote this, Damien Cox, usually writes about the local hockey squadron, but for some reason has decided to blog about Toronto's faltering-down-the-stretch roundballers today. Like his hockey-writing (and don't forget soccer), much of his venom is directed towards those bumbling clowns down at MLSE, which, even through my blue and white glasses, I can see is a worthy target. Those guys are idiots.

However, much like his hockey-writing (and don't forget soccer), Mr. Cox once again uses the wrong ammo to fire away at an easy target. Colangelo is pretty much the only thing the Peddiephiles and Tannenbaumites have done right in the last five years. And, supposedly, they didn't even figure this one out themselves, but rather had Colangelo foisted upon them by David Stern. But I digress...

Sure it's impressive what he did in Phoenix, and yes, the Raptors were a laughingstock before he arrived and became a solid team in the weak Eastern Conference in his very first year.

But to the no-ring past and playoff disappointment of last spring we can now add a Raptor squad that is plummeting, possibly all the way to the seventh seed in the east unless they can get this thing straightened out soon.

If someone had told me two years ago today that in 2008 the Raptors would be on a 2 and 8 run (and Bosh-less), yet still be guaranteed finishing no worse than 7th, I would have laughed in their stupid lying face.

At some point, one should think, this will begin to reflect upon Colangelo.

It does. I love Bryan Colangelo. He is awesome. Going to the playoffs for the second straight year. Cap-space in the summer. Bosh locked up for a few more years. Sure they are middle-of-the-pack and struggling right now, much like the shinny team, but unlike that bunch of stay-at-home momma's boys, the future actually looks bright for the Raptors.

And while we know MLSE always aims low when it comes to managers and expectations - and what they care about most is that the fans have started filling the building again in the Colangelo era - surely the club should really be looking for a hockey executive who can deliver more than their basketball man has so far, or, really, in his career.

You hear that, future Leafs GM? You've got 18 months to sort this shit out. Then the knives come out.

If it's a basketball reference they need, shouldn't they be hunting for the Gregg Popovich of hockey?

Who exactly would be the Coach Pop of hockey? Bowman would be the closest I guess. Thoughts?

By the way, if anyone is wondering how long it will take for Mr. Cox, who has long called for the Leafs to rebuild, to criticize the Leafs for rebuilding once they actually decide to do it, we seem to have an answer: Just less than two years.

Leafs. Leafs Leafs Leafs Leafs Leafs. I have a sickness.