The Big Lie

LONDON--Truth has often been the first casualty of many a Leaf off-season. Like, say, this one.

Look, John Muckler's a terrific hockey man who could help a lot of NHL teams, and he's meeting with Leaf representatives today. Apparently he's meeting with both Richard Peddie and Larry Tanenbaum, but not necessarily together.

Whether Muckler will take the job, if offered, isn't clear. First of all, he'd like to know what the job would be, which nobody seems to really know. Second, he would want to make sure that he wasn't seen as a threat to GM John Ferguson, and so might insist that he wouldn't be able to join the organization without Ferguson getting some contractual security beyond next season.

But really, hockey is not what this is all about. You can see that all the way from these lawns of Wimbledon.

This is not about the Maple Leafs looking to add depth, experience and expertise to their hockey department. In fact, it could add confusion, disagreement and dissension. The Phoenix Coyotes, for example,were not pleased with the way in which Cliff Fletcher functioned as "senior consultant," and fired him. Muckler couldn't co-exist with Bryan Murray. This is not like having grandpa clipping hedges in the backyard, available if you need to know how to find a good plumber.

Anyways, as mentioned, none of this is about hockey.

This is about Leaf politics, pure and simple. This is Peddie and his political allies giving in to the demands of Tanenbaum and his allies, but not totally.

Tanenbaum and Co. want Ferguson out, and have successfully made sure, at least so far, that the promises made to extend Ferguson's contract by the end of June have not yet be kept.

Peddie, the epitome of a corporate politician, supports Ferguson, but understands a little compromise will buy him - and JFJ - some time to stabilize the status quo.

So you pretend, through the addition of a Muckler or someone like him, to be improving the team's hockey office, when in reality what's going on is jostling for positions of strength at the MLSE board of directors level.

Make it about hockey if you want. But that's not what this is. Not even for a second.

The Leafs, of course, have been hobbled by this kind of nonsense for almost a half-century. It all started back in the early 1960s when Conn Smythe decided to sell to his son Stafford and his partner, John Bassett, not knowing that his son had also secretly made Harold Ballard part of the new Leaf ownership team.

The younger Smythe and Ballard ended up forcing Bassett out. Then, when Smythe died, Ballard outmaneuvered the Smythe family to gain total control of the Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens.

That lasted for about 20 years until Ballard's death, and then the executors of his will, Don Giffin and Steve Stavro, tried to engineer their own power plays for control, with Stavro winning out in the end. Just before that happened, however, Giffin managed to manoeuvre Fletcher into the GM's chair against Stavro's wishes, a hockey decision clearly influenced by internal politics.

Later, when in full control, Stavro chopped Fletcher's hockey budget, and then ultimately fired him while listening to the advice of Ken Dryden, a pal of Stavro's lawyer, Brian Bellmore. Dryden then moved in and established a bizarre management structure with Bill Watters, Mike Smith and Anders Hedberg. Soon after, Smith and Hedberg were at each other's throats, and Smith eventually took at run at displacing Dryden, but failed.

Dryden, meanwhile, eventually became locked in his own internecine struggle with Pat Quinn.

Tanenbaum also became part of the ownership picture, and ultimately elbowed Stavro out. Eventually, that resulted in Quinn - a Stavro favorite - being ousted as GM, with Ferguson being brought in over his head. Quinn and Dryden were so alienated that when they were interviewing candidates for that job, neither would escort interviewees to the other man's office, leaving them lost in the bowels of the Air Canada Centre without necessary pass cards.

Meanwhile, somewhere along the way, insiders say, Tanenbaum and Peddie became estranged, which has left them on opposite sides of the Ferguson divide.

Now, Tanenbaum and his buddies believe they've got Ferguson and Peddie on the run, having achieved clearance to hire Muckler or another senior hockey person.

Peddie, a survivor if there ever there was one, probably believes he's held the Tanenbaum forces at bay for now.

Can you believe this guy? "We think (Ferguson) has lots more upside." So, four years after they hired him, they believe Ferguson has almost got things figured out? Does that mean they were lying their asses off when they hired him and said they were trying to win the Stanley Cup immediately?

"And we think he should get some help." Thus, feelers have been sent out to any number of experienced hockey people, the best of whom have told the Leafs to take a hike and in so doing made the team a laughingstock. Rumours persist that Tie Domi, of all people, was one of the people in contact with Scotty Bowman when the Leafs were courting him.

Apparently, Domi wanted to let Bowman know that he had recommended him to Tanenbaum. I mean, can you imagine Bowman's reaction to such a thing?

Meanwhile, the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund just worries about counting dollars.

It's all rather interesting, if not really new, and the manner in which Ferguson sorts things out with the person that presumably is going to be hired will be just as interesting as the Andrew Raycroft-Vesa Toskala goaltending competition.

Just don't believe it's about making the hockey team better.

Comments

[Fr. Souin]

Jim Balsillie make an offer the teachers can't refuse....PLEASE!!!!!! I'll throw my treo off the George Washington Bridge and buy a Blackberry!
ps. One other thing. When you do gain control and majority ownership of MLSE, win a cup. Will ya?

[Michael Nugent]

This consultant's job reminds me of the Groucho Marx quote, the one where he says he wouldn't want to join a club that would have him as a member. Who would want to be part of this? As much as I think JFJ is not the guy to build this team, I have empathy for him. Basically they're saying they made a mistake but are willing to live with it because he's got promise. Huh? Managing this team is the worst job in sports.

[Icerider]

For such a storied franchise -- albeit the story's 40 years old and the paper's getting a little dog-eared and yellow -- it's amazing how the club has been mismanaged. Since becoming a Leaf fan in the heady, three-Cup early '60s, hockey supremacy has somehow taken a backseat to profit, office powerplays trump talent and the fans might as well be watching re-runs of Canadian Idol for all the suits care. What's to be done? Who at MLSE cares? But what else is new? I know I'll follow the usual off-season nonsense. I'll cheer them on opening night, mutter a few Hail Mary's, mumble a less-than-heartfelt "Maybe this year . . ." But I know by Christmas/New Year's, my Saturday sports fix will begin and end with Premiership soccer. But -- if Balsillie gets a team -- the Mighty Berries of Hamilton -- I will be their first fan. If only to watch the MLSE suits squirm as their ignorance and arrogance come back to haunt them.

[Tony K.]

Once again, Mr. Cox hits the proverbial bull's eye.

In their current state, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not a hockey club in the conventional hockey sense, but rather, they are little more than a slam-dunk "investment vehicle".

Simply put, the suits at MLSE and the Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund have a captive audience of corporate customers in this city that will gladly pay many thousands of escalating dollars every year to entertain clients, suppliers, mistresses and anyone else that doesn't know or care about this hockey team winning anything in our lifetime.

The best ownership model in the NHL that has consistently striven for excellence and results would be Mike Illitch and his Detroit Red Wings. Singular ownership with the singular goal of winning the Stanley Cup every year and then hiring and allowing due autonomy to the most competent hockey minds in the industry.

I am not a Red Wing fan, but why would anyone care to be a Leaf supporter with the circus-like calamity it has consistently been for 40 years?

Nothing will change until the Leafs managerial hierarchy is completely gutted. The ownership group and this medieval-style "board of governors" should have absolutely no jurisdiction in daily hockey operations. They need to be beaten back to the limited capacity of owners/investors in a risk-managed asset.

Afterward, hire a director of hockey operations who knows hockey and is the main man for anything that happens under the hockey umbrella, have an experienced GM be given autonomy to make good decisions reporting to him, and a head coach to mould it all together.

Until this happens, Leaf fans can cheer themselves hoarse, but it will be in vain.

[Lane]

The reason many 'Laf' fans don't want Muckler is because he was in Ottawa and tainted by some success, something the Toronto team is not. They will continue to support this collection of loosers, but look at Ottawa, they built that team with draft choises and good YOUNG players while Toronto only wants old, warnout players. If they get a good young player they trade him for someone with 'heart' but more talent.

[Joe D'Agostino]

Muckler would be wise not to take the job if it's offered to him. Let someone else handle this dysfunctional mess!

[Lane]

Why would the "Maple Laffs' want Muckler? He is after all tainted by success something TML fans know little about. He built Ottawa from draft choices and GOOD young players. TML mostly sign old over the hill players, but they have 'heart',or players of marginal ability.

[Sean]

This is a farce in Leafland...Blow it ALL up!!...The upstairs stuff is really the problem...Not Maurice...

[roberto]

Isn't it amazing how every single person writing a comment to your latest blog..."A Big lie" missed the entire point of what you were trying to convey.

Mind boggling. Is it all of mankind this stupid? Or is it just Canadians? Or is it just hockey fans? Or is it just your readers?

Sadly, I suspect the answer is most of mankind or at least people in their thirties and under.

[bear]

I guess all the moaners especially Cox will have a hissy fit when this team breaks out.

Call me an idiot, but they now have considerable depth both in goal and on the D.

They finished 7th in offense despite the unbelivable injuries and now they add a couple more top 6 forwards who can both skate and hit. AND who says JFJ is finished tinkering. Anyone think Montreal Buffalo, Tampa Bay or Islanders have improved. Guess again

I honestly think a winning team would demoralize this whole Cox blog.

[Brian Webb]

Hey Hab Guy, it seems to me your club of choice hasn't done a heck of allot in recent years and were unceremoniously dumped from last year's post season by the same Maple Leaf team you have chosen to make jest of in this blog. My advice to you is that if you like your Habs so much maybe you should move there because you are obviously no good to anyone around here. As well, maybe it would be a great service to us Leafers if you would just kindly mind your own business.

[Europen Maple Leafs Fan]

Without good European fast wingers like Russian or Sweden players Toronto don't win a Staley Cup in a near future.
This is old time hockey what you play - checkers ,big slow players,wasted old star's ...
I don't remember you have in a past 20 years some rookie
who are rookie off the year or top prospect(Kaberle??).
Take a look in 80's - Clark,Damphousse,Curtnall.....
I don't belive hockey city off the hockey city's can't
find in best hockey area young talented players.
Alot countrys around globe are Maple Leafs fans
but what you give back year per year.
I wish you best luck i'm big leafs fan and i wish my dream
become reality that Maple Leafs gona win Stanley Cup.

[Tony Genco]

Cant disagree with Damian. He has the pulse of whats going on.
It just goes to show you that when you loose focus on the real game of hockey, you make up other games.

[ds]

Bear, What do you mean by "break out"? Slip past a couple of teams that were gutted by free agency, make the playoffs, be eliminated in the first round in 5 games or less, and then declaring it a successful season? Anyone who supports the current mess, must be satisfied with not seeing a cup for at least another 40 years. It's about being the best, not 15th.

[Mark Thomas]

I'm afraid that the Leafs aren't going to get sorted out as a hockey team until a single person gets control of the empire and there is just one desk that the buck stops at, like when Harold Ballard ran the show. Although we then have to hope that it's not someone quite like Harold. I believe that other faults aside, Harold had the best Leafs team on the ice since the Stanley Cup days, and I think that was due in part to a strong, single leader/owner. It could have been better, but what has produced a better result since then?

[Pete]

Thoroughly enjoyed Damien's article, "The Big Lie." Sometimes people at the top, forget that one of the basics of good management is to hire the best and the brightest...and by the way, give them the autonomy to do the job. If you can't do that, you haven't done your job! Another basic of good management is to be compassionate to your employees. As much as we may opinions about John Ferguson, the fact of the matter is that John Ferguson Sr. is very ill. Excellent timing in finding a "Mentor" and changing John's role. Obviously no concern for the man or his family who happens to be a key architect in building a winning franchise.

There's also a saying that "An Executive should treat his employees the same way that he would like to be treated". I guess this latest Maple Leaf saga epitomizes what happens when excellent Corporate Executives become "wannabe jocks".

[Ralph Belisle]

please not muckler......this guy has been gravy training the whole gretzky, oiler thing for decades, his days are over........the only worse pick for gm would be mike milbury

[nickthefatdago]

maybe you guys can take bobby clarkeout of philly and stop your whinng

[John Eleis]

I've grown up watching and defending the Leafs over the past 4 decades. Reading Damien's article has just infuriated me as to the lack of respect this organization has provided it's fans. So what do we do? Do season's ticket holders give up their seats? Do we refuse to purchase Leaf's merchandise going forward? Do we stop watching the games on TSN and CBC? Not being a season's ticket holder, I will certainly turn this team off until it can demonstrate to me that it will have an organization in place that puts customer's first and are committed to providing a quality product on the ice. Until then, they can go to hell!

[Alex]

Isn't there a significant financial upside to being a competitive hockey team? Playoff revenue plus the increased popularity of a team - meaning more merchandise sold - would be some of the benefits, wouldn't it? Damien Cox, can you write an article exploring this? I only want partial credit. You can even use the Red Sox as an example, comparing profits before and after 2004. They're a fair baseball equivalent, aren't they? I'm sure you can come up with many more. I'm willing to wager that winning teams make more money, but I wouldn't be surprised either way.

[Ron]

People, the only way to change things is to stop going to games. Watch something else when there's a Leafs game on. Otherwise you have nothing to complain about.

[mark]

Damien, you have surprised me. For the first time ever you have written something that I totally agree with. I can't wait until Jim Basilie succeeds in moving another team into Southern Ontario. I will be first in line for the t-shirt with the Leaf logo stroked out and the new team's logo prominently displayed. I'm fed up with MLSE, and can't stand Buffalo. Just give me an alternative... please....any alternative.