Troubles in Net, Troubles on the 'Net

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Brian Burke doesn't seem like a "twitter" type. And he's not.

Now, I don't particularly pretend to totally understand the twitter fad, although this blog is linked to it for reasons that, again, I don't totally get but am willing to go along with.

Burke, however, has been fighting a battle with twitter for some time now because someone out there has been, well, impersonating him at twitter.com/brianburke. There are actually some funny "tweets" on the site, which apparently orginated with a prolific local blogger who goes by the handle of Down Goes Brown and occasionally comments on this blog. The latest addition read, "In honor of Earth Hour, the Leafs and Bruins will be turning off our defence and goaltending for 60 minutes tonight," a reference to Saturday night's shootout at the ACC.

Another reads, "For the last time, Darcy Regier, I don't care if you kep the receipt for Dominic Moore. No refunds."

Not bad.

Burke, incensed by fake and insulting comments directed in his name towards former Leaf GM John Ferguson, had his lawyer try to put a stop to it about a month ago, which left Burke somewhat surprised yesterday to hear it was still up and operating, albeit with a disclaimer attached now that reads, "Yes, it's a parody."

"I guess I don't have a problem with that," he grumbled. "It's the age we live in, I guess.

"But there has to be a degree of responsibility on the Internet. If someone's going to try and impersonate Brian Burke, I'm going to sue his ass."

There are numerous other fake twitter accounts, including one with Gary Bettman's name attached to it that doesn't have the parody disclaimer attached.

Maybe it's all fun. Maybe it's just web pollution. You decide.

SCHOOL'S OUT

AP PHOTO

Tyler Bozak has been on the radar of several NHL teams.

This should be the week the market for U.S. college hockey free agents heats up, and the Maple Leafs are hoping to make a big splash.

When Notre Dame was upset in the NCAA playoffs on Saturday, that meant Fighting Irish centre Christian Hanson is now available to sign with an NHL club. The Leafs are one of many teams chasing the 6-foot-4 centre, the son of Dave Hanson of "Slapshot" fame, and are considered one of the favourites to land him.

Until now, under NCAA rules, players can only have "family advisors," not accredited NHL agents, but that also changes now. Hanson is likely to be represented by Bobby Orr.

Another top free agent, Tyler Bozak of Denver University, also saw his team eliminated last week and could, according to his agent, Don Meehan, sign with an NHL club as early as tomorrow. Bozak flew from Denver to Toronto yesterday and will meet with Meehan today.

During the season, upwards of 20 teams met with Bozak, so a great deal of groundwork has already been done.

"There's so much interest in him we just need to sit down and go through all his thoughts and ideas," said Meehan yesterday. "We want to get to a short list. That's the game plan."

Bozak missed three months with a knee injury this season, but returned to play for last week's playoffs. The Leafs are hot on his trail as well and would love to make a splash by inking one or two of these free agents over the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, the player who may be most coveted, Boston University defenceman Matt Gilroy, advanced with the Terriers to the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C. April 9-11, the final eight NCAA teams, and so won't be available to be signed for at least another two weeks.

CHERRY BOMB

Got blasted by Don Cherry on Coach's Corner on Saturday night for having an "agenda" to get fighting out of hockey.

Guilty. If they put that on my tombstone, I'll be okay with that.

Don't get me wrong. Grapes may not like me, but I like him fine. Have suggested several times he belongs in the broadcaster's wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame, so I think I'm on the record as having respect for his accomplishments as a broadcaster. As a junior coach, not so much.

All I can say is I haven't made a dime off pushing the notion that fighting has no place in hockey.

Wonder how much he's made off the Rock 'Em, Sock "Em hockey video collection? And given that most hockey fans apparently want fighting in the game still, doesn't that make him by definition a purveyor of political correctness?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELLE

Even as a non-fighting fan, I at least sort of understand the logic of stepping in for a teammate that's been wronged or even the victim of a destructive body check.

But when Steve Montador feels its his role on the Boston Bruins to step in for Stephane Yelle after Yelle is bodychecked by Toronto's Luke Schenn - you know, protecting the skill guys - we're officially en route to hell in a handbasket.

FOR THE RECORDS

Neither Olaf Kolzig nor Jamie Heward may ever play a game for the Leafs, but if you're keeping score at home, both have officially been assigned numbers.

Kolzig is No. 37, Heward is No. 28.

 

Comments

[Luke Driscoll]

I need to respond to what Damien has posted. What is all this, "many, many dreadful practices" malarkey? How can you even begin to compare hockey fights to lynching or sufferance? There is no comparison. There is no argument. Aggression and controlled violence are key parts of the sport, irrespective of whether you try to guilt-trip fans or not. It is also pure sophistry to say that the violence ends during the playoffs, the nature of game changes during a best of seven series that is all.

[Steve]

Damien, Please look at the facts with regard to the Sanderson incident. This tragedy did not happen during the fight but rather when the referee's were breaking it up. A tragedy, most certainly, but was not caused by a punch. I feel for the family, as someone taken so young in the midst of their life is always painful. At the end of the day though, tragedy's happen, and although due diligence may suggest that not fighting would have eliminated this, I tend to agree with Sugarman with regard to the calculated risk. I know people with the NHL, and in some cases there is a feeling at that level that Cherry may be somewhat of a dinosaur and supportive of barbaric acts. I suppose that you also oppose the fact that he praises our fallen soldiers, men who are in a foreign land with weapons that cause death and are trained to use them?? These men give the ultimate sacrifice for their country! The reality is though that this game is very different from the norm. You have a high rate of speed, possible weapons in your hand and in some cases a lack of respect for a fellow player. This is off set by individuals who are able to compensate and protect themselves as well as their teammates. To compare this with gladiators, who impose death at will for the pleasure of others, is not fair for the game. Given the evolution process, skates are lighter, sticks are no longer wood, goalie equipment has evolved. My question to you is why hockey?? Why not the UFC, why not boxing, why not football and why not auto racing?? There are many other so called sports that inflict damage to the individual, in most cases not tolerated in society, in many cases with increased severity of injury. Yet you hail to Canada’s game, striking to come up with some kind of personal legacy.

[Nathan]

Damien give it a rest. Even if the measures that you propose were instituted fighting would still occur. Sanderson's death occurred in a league where fighting was banned.

Furthermore, your suggestion that the death automatically becomes a justification to ban fighting is ludicrous. It's like saying we should have banned body checking when Bill Masterton died. Sanderson died not from a punch to the head but from taking of his helmet and having his head hit the ice. Helmet use should be your rallying cry, not banning fighting.

[Bold Bravado]

Actually Damien, I'm so sorry please forgive me, it totally slipped my mind. I totally forgot that you are always right, and everyone should listen to you and do as you say, because........oh, yeah, you are always right. How silly of me!!!
Forget about real issues, let's go after fighting in hockey, easy pickings, pacifist dislike it, the stage is set with the recent tragedy, great, jump right in. Doesn't matter that the fans like it, doesn't matter that the league stamps it, because they are not Damien Cox and you are. There now that that's settled, what's next, Afghanistan, world hunger, oh wait here's a good one, how's about goint to Michigan and fixing the Auto industry!!!!!

[James Edgar]

Hi Damien I LOVE Brian Burke on Twitter His post make my day sometimes. And the Real Brian Burke should just lighten up. Down Goes Brown is far funnier than Burke and is actually passionate about the leafs winning. I have so far not seen that from Mr Burke.

[Randolph Quan]

Hey Damien,

Get a mic for the videos and someone to turn off the camera for you!

[2nd Guess]

Noam Sugarman, come on, you aren't serious. "Why do people talk about Don Sanderson as if he were some kind of victim? . . . (T)he guy got into a fight and should have known the risks going in." Now who's making the moronic arguments? Sanderson DIED; I would say he qualifies as a victim. And do you really think he pondered for a second that a hockey fight would kill him? Nearly as mind-boggling is Steve blaming the linesmen instead of the actual fight -- hello, Steve, no fight, no problem for the linesmen! Face it, guys, fighting is a sideshow that serves no purpose but to arouse our bloodlust. Players fight because the penalties are not severe, and high-level leagues retain it because they think it sells. It makes hockey look too much like pro wrestling and roller derby.

[Tabber]

Id lyk 2 post her but gotta go punch out da wif now Luv fiteing in sports Go way damen yu dum

[lizoak]

You have the right agenda, Damien. I really respect you as a prominent hockey writer because you're looking at the violence debate rationally. It seems like Cherry is trying to demonize you. I don't understand why, you're being extremely reasonable and civil by raising some good questions that challenge the necessity of fighting in hockey. What's wrong with that? Why can't we question a certain aspect of the game that demands to be questioned? Is the sport a religion, an institution that we can't question? As soon as we turn our brains off bad things happen.

He literally said you had an agenda... and then left it at that. Why did he even bother to mention you? It was a one sentence paragraph that fell flat. I think he might feel threatened by you.

Please, never, never stop arguing your point of view.

[saget]

The Generalissimo's Twitter is the best one.

[wiksod applefoot]

Props to Noam, it would be nice to see a response to his post from M. Cox. I think it was a tad foolish for Damien to choose the examples he did to illustrate that times change(Wouldn't, "people used to think the world was flat" or, "hockey players didn't use to wear helmets" or something have been a little better than comparing fighting in hockey to the subjects you chose, Damien)

[gump]

Your dead wrong Damian..There are fights in the playoffs..Seven in last seasons playoffs and 13 the year before..The Ducks pounded their way to a cup in 06\07..I bet the fans in those sold out buildings in April, May and June rose to their feet for every one of them..

I just don't understand the comparableness between racism and fighting in hockey..Its 2009 dude..This isn't 1960's West Virgina..Women got to vote in the 1920's..Is that the best argument you have?

I find it uproarious that the anti-fighters look to the future and say fighting is done..I guess you guys have a crystal ball somewhere..The fact is: your losing the battle and it eats at each and every one of you..Ha..

[Fred Snodgrass]

Getting mentioned by Cherry is the pinnacle of Cox's career. Can't wait to see how much he milks this. Oh, wait.....the milking is already underway.

[A-Mar]

This is ridiculous. I don't think they should eliminate fighting altogether... but the pointless fights have to go. They demean the game and make it so players can't even land clean bodychecks without facing a facial pummeling. Staged and pointless fighting is leaving hockey, and it is for the better. The fights with meaning, the ones with emotion will stay, and they will have entertainment value without compromising the sport.