Tag Archives: Mike Babcock

Media Scum Find Their Goat: Mike Babcock

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The relentless attacks against former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock are another example of what is wrong with sports journalism. A new player is dug up every day – Nazem Kadri the latest – on Babcock’s tactics as coach. The vitriol is then vaguely, insidiously, connected to the racism of Bill Peters.

As I have written previously, it’s the sportswriters – talk about an oxymoron! – that are the root of the problem. Imagine going through their closets of homophobia and ethnocentrism. Ew, David. Indeed, if they were really concerned with the coaching culture in hockey, what of the obvious monsters who barely last 2-3 years per team – Mike Kennan, John Tortorella, Ron Wilson, Randy Carlyle, et al? Why are they not suffering the slings and arrows of this onslaught? Laziness perhaps? Stupidity? Sportswriters are after Babcock because they are pissed off at him. Babcock never gave them the respect they desperately craved. He laughed them off. “Hey, Coach Babcock, why didn’t you give Auston Matthew three more minutes of ice time? Why didn’t you play Spezza on opening night? Why won’t you listen to us, Coach Babcock? We know best!”

The Toronto Maple Leafs are underperforming because they lack discipline. Their elite players – Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Taveras – rely on skill and not discipline. They do not work as a team. They fail to clear the zone. They do not dig in the corners. They forget to take the man. As wonderful as skill might be – especially for an All Star Game – hockey is hockey. It’s tough. It’s hard. There is no pointing fingers. The only one to answer for a loss is oneself. As if any of these sportswriters would know that.

Darren Dreger’s Dive Bar on TSN

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Darren Dreger sits back, trying not to look too jowly, in his faux European cafe. Darren Dreger's Dive Bar on TSNDarren Dreger wants to be someone important by casting aspersions, or stirring the shit, as he might say. He wonders aloud if there is a rift between Coach Mike Babcock and Auston Matthews. Babcock replies with civility because that is the business. Darren Dreger's Dive Bar on TSNBut the truth is that Dreger’s methods – TSN’s desire for ratings – are nothing more than muck-racking. This tendency in sports journalism is nothing new – noted for its low bar – but why can’t it be hosted in a place where we will all get the point, loud and clear?Darren Dreger's Dive Bar on TSN

A Big Fix for Canada’s Team

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I blogged in February on The Five Big Problems of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Happily Team President Brendan Shanahan agreed on the most important point. CFeApxQXIAAM3-m.jpg-largeBy hiring Mike Babcock as the new head coach – $50 million for eight years – Leafs management sends a clear message to media, fans and players alike: this team must win now.

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 21: Nazem Kadri #43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates after scoring in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center on March 21, 2013 in Buffalo, United States. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

There are many next steps, the most important of which is to address player leadership, but the first step is the most important.

Said Babcock this morning: “I believe this is Canada’s team and it’s time to put it back on the map. I came here to be involved in a Cup process. I have a burning desire to win. I want to build a team that the fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be proud of.”

13-05-13 - TORONTO, ONTARIO - Maple Leaf Square erupts as the Leafs score to even it up 1-1 in the 1st period. Toronto Maple Leaf fans react to the Game 7 action in Boston between Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. The winner of the game goes on to Round 2 of NHL playoffs Rick Madonik/Toronto Star

My New Year’s Wish for the Toronto Maple Leafs

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most talented teams in hockey, and yet, as CBS Sports wrote,”They are extremely streaky and volatile. You never know which team is going to show up and what exactly is going to happen.”My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple LeafsThese players know how to play. They know how to pass. They know how to score. They know how to defend. They just need a coach to move them in the same direction.My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple LeafsCurrent head coach, Randy Carlyle, is the one to blame for this inconsistency. As he admitted himself after the team lost recently to Carolina, the team with the worst record in the league: ”I don’t think we were mentally ready to go out and play the type of game that was required. Simple as that.” My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple Leafs(Whose job is that? Oh, right, the coach.)

And so as simple as that, Carlyle has to go. Sign Dallas Eakins for the rest of the year and see how that goes.My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple Leafs If it doesn’t work out, get Babcock. Now is the time to win.

Looks like 2015 might be a good year after all: Leafs Fire Carlyle.