Land of the Leaf

Lovable Ron Wilson is going to be named head coach of the 2010 USA men’s Olympic hockey team.  Wilson and Brian Burke will both have their hands all over this squad, as Burke is going to serve as the team’s general manager.  I’d say Jeff Finger’s chances at cracking the squad are fairly decent, unless Wilson and Burke are complete pricks… we’ll come back to that at another time.

Wilson, if you remember, was the coach of the American team that won the first World Cup of Hockey back in 1996.  The 2010 Olympic team could be one to surprise some people, as Wilson and Burke bring enough balls to tell veterans like Chris Chelios and Jeremy Roenick to get lost and retire.  You can expect a young team with a solid mix of speed and toughness, and the advantage of not having to dignify Howard Berger’s questions with an answer in press conferences following every game.

Garner Leaves The Score?
According to The Toronto Star’s Chris Zelkovich, Drive This!’s other watchable personality and Producer, Richard Garner is leaving the show and ticker-laden sports network. He left a message to staff cryptically outlining plans to: “provide programming that focuses on the many similarities that all human beings share instead of the few differences.” Garner appeared on the program today. I don’t know what’s happening… anyone?

Steve Simmons Opts For Drive-Thru Over Journalism
Read this if you must, but beware; Steve Simmons says Wilson has done a remarkable job with the lousy Leafs roster. He also explains how Wilson could make himself more likable to the media and the fans, as though Wilson should give a fuck.

Bastian Reports That B.J. Ryan’s Velocity Is A Concern To Jays
Oh man, I don’t think this is good. Cito Gaston and Brad Arnsberg let their concerns be known about Ryan’s loss of velocity, his fastball is topping out at 86 mph. We might get to see what Brandon League can do in the 9th, I’m trying to be optimistic.

Weighing Potential Draft Options For The Raps, phdsteve Likes Shooting Guards
Steve the doctor at Raptors Republic discusses the possibilities of the Raptors pursuing a SG with their first-round pick. It makes sense, Anthony Parker is a free agent at season’s end and the crop of 2’s is pretty deep.

PPP’s Leaf of the Day, Luke Schenn He is Not
Poor Drake Berehowsky, his rookie card probably never fetched more than a dollar. If it did, it was surely before he ever actually played a game in the NHL.

• The Raptors actually win one, and rather handily!  I’m not alone in thinking that the Raptors need a Charles Oakley-type to kick their asses on the bench and in the locker room.  Pops Mensah-Bonsu might not have Oak’s candour, but he brings it on the floor, whatever it is.  Eyebleaf loves him, and so should you.  (Sports and the City)

• Rogers Sportsnet still calls those crummy posts on their website “blogs”, and apparently Sean McCormick’s latest spiel on Ron Wilson is causing a stir in the MLSE offices.  How is it that Ron Wilson is actually out big-mouthing Mr. Big-Mouth Brian Burke?  Impressive, most impressive.  (Toronto Sports Media)

• I’m not going to get into the hockey fight debate here, I love a good scrap and I think there are other more pressing issues that NHL general managers should address, like failed expansion to the sunbelt.  Down Goes Brown offered the best explanation of why the new rule won’t work, then he went ahead and posted the top 10 “staged” hockey fights.  (Down Goes Brown)

• The Blue Jays’ rotation is starting to take shape, thank sweet Jesus that Mike Maroth has fallen out of contention.  Matt Clement might not be far behind him either, but he’s not necessarily out of options.  (Major League Bastian)

• It may actually be the cheesiest song you’ve ever heard, but admit it: you’ve been brought to tears by it at least once.  It’s the Classic One Shining Moment videos.  (Cuzoogle)

• I’m not even going to offer an explanation as to why I’ll link to this as you can see for yourself, no explanation is needed.  A naked man climbs a 50-foot cross and takes a dump on it in a protest against Christianity.  (Afrojacks)

Marion throws down dunk

Say what you want about Ron Wilson, but remember: he doesn’t take s**t from anyone.  He lets Howard Berger have it in the post-game press conference after the Leafs defeated the Islanders in OT last night (nice goal Grabbo!).  Man, I almost wish the Leafs had lost just to see what Wilson’s response would have been.  (Hat-Tip FaceoffBoards)

Ron Wilson Destroys Howard Berger