Coach's Corner Critique

It's Sunday and I'm about to sink into some NFL action so I'll make this short which shouldn't be too difficult since the CC was basically divided into two parts (two subjects).

Part One:  Don is dressed in some Bruin colours and goes on to praise the team.  He especially credits Burns in doing a fine coaching job of such a young team.  He also credits Burns with putting Thornton on a checking line in his first year and not on the scoring line.  That way he'll learn both aspects of the game.

I thought all this was the usual ass-kissing Don gives the Bruins and thought the Thornton playing on a checking line was a no brainer.  Apparently not as the play by play guy and Harry Neale talked about it throughout the second period.  I've heard this all before: about Thornton's play and how well a job Burns is doing.  The entire topic bored me but I'm sure some people found it interesting.

Part Two:  Canadian Juniors.  On this subject Don goes a little crazy which usually makes for a good CC but he kind of over did it.  His points were:
 

• He compliments the Coaching staff of team Canada.
• Reason #1 why they lost:  The team was out of gas.
• Reason #2 why they lost:  The team had too many injuries which led to the lack of endurance (not exactly Don's words :))
• Canada was without 5 top players (stayed with their NHL teams)
• Some of the Russians and Slovaks are good because they have played in Canada.
• There were 130 foreigners in junior hockey last year and this year there are 250.
• Ron makes a point that if the player is good enough to make the CHL why does it matter that he is foreign (good point).  Don snaps back that once a team pays for a guy to come over they allow him to make the team, they won't send them back after they bring them over (interesting point).
• Don reads a letter.
• Don says you need Canadian players playing hockey on the Canadian teams (pounding on the desk - nice touch Don).  Ron says...some teams like the odd European player. :)  This really got Don going and he said that you should see what they say behind their backs (interesting).

The rest of the segment was just Cherry letting off steam about how he feels there are too many foreigners in our system.  I think that perhaps Cherry would feel differently if Canadian kids were going to good leagues in Russia and making money but it's all one sided (he pointed out we need the Americans - for economic reasons I guess).  I believe the best player should get the job whether their name is Igor or Bob - it doesn't matter to me.

I did like the end where they showed the Winnepeg fans that were and always have been great and Don summed it up nicely when he said "...too bad they don't have a team..."  I was really pissed when the Jets moved....but that's another story.

Anyway, 7 out of 10 - a high score considering the lack of insight on some of the issues and the fact they only dealt with the Bruins (2 minutes) and then 4 minutes spent on Don's rampage about the World Juniors.  The high score this week comes out of Don's emotion.  Whether you like what he had to say or not you gotta admit it was entertaining and we need some non-policitally correct comments, especially on CBC.  Don's the only guy there not afraid to voice his opinion....CBC can't fire him as he's too popular :)

E-mail Scott Comments:spapp@ptbo.igs.net

Well I am off work sick with the FLu today so I am going to get this done. First with this video tape situation again. We have like 4 blank tapes in my house. # of them my wife tapes her soap opera on. What is it with soaps??? Anyhow. The fourth tape she tapes Melrose Place and all those fox night time soap operas. You think there would be one tape that I could use for Hockey but no go to use one and she says that I can't use that beacause her soap is on it. She then informs me that the rest of the tape's have her soap on as well and Melrose place and Buffy and whatever else. I will have to wait till she watches them before I can use the tape. So I fastforward one to almost the end when I think it is safe to use it and tape the game. I come home from work on Saturday early because I am sick and she informs me that I cut off the end of her soap on that tape. The part I cut off is "scenes from the Next All My Children"

Anyhow I just needed to vent a little and now that is done I can get on with the important stuff.

Doean't Don look great. Have to think he is a little divided here. Huge Leaf Fan but Loves the Bruins. Last game in the Gardens I think Don did a great Job of not praising either team too much.

Found the first bit boring. Big deal about Thorton. Not sure if Don was comparing Thorton to Gilmour when he made the referance about Demers and Gilmour nut there is no comparison not yet anyway. Really all I want to comment on about that.

Right away they jump to the Canadian Juniors. They start with the five players that are missing. I am going to disagree with Scott here and agree with Don. If we have those 5 other guys it could be a different story. Not sure how many of those players would like to go but I would jump at the chance to play for my country. Look at the teams that didn't let the players go. All American teams. Calgary let Rico Fata play.

 Now they talk about Europeans playing here once again I agree with DOn. The league is call the CHL(Canadian Hockey League) Yes there are a few American teams but that is why there are American players.

 Now Scott says he thinks Don over reacted on this subject. Once again I disagree. I thought Don handled himself well, it was nice to see him get upset. That is the almost the kind of CC I have been looking for. I enjoyed this one. Maybe because I am proud to be a Canadian(not saying Scott isn't because I know he is) but I thought Don did a great Job. Anyhow that is all from me. I am going to go work on some other stuff with the page now and upload this stuff soon.

E-mail Comments:kevin.messervey@sympatico.ca