L'Affaire Burrows

Funny how people are so ready to believe Alex Burrows, and so ready to assume Stephane Auger essentially cheated the Vancouver Canucks.

Come to think of it, funny how it's always the Canucks screaming outrage about something. Unless, of course, its a Vancouver fan shining a laser into the face of an opposing goalie. Then, in the words of Alain Vigneault, they're just "great fans."

They sure get unhinged in a hurry over hockey in Vancouver. Geez, years later, you can still get folks all up in a lather over the Bertuzzi-Moore incident, claiming Steve Moore deserved what he got and how he faked his injuries, etc.

Never much moderation out of B.C. when it comes to these things.

Just last summer, Canucks GM Mike Gillis accused the Leafs not once but twice of illegally meddling in Vancouver team business. The NHL essentially laughed and went on to other business.

Now Burrows and his accusations against Auger, which have many in Vancouver screaming that justice must be done, how this proves referees carry grudges and how Auger should be thrown out of the sport.

For starters, how do we know Burrows is telling the truth?

There's absolutely no corroboration of his story. What we do know is that he's a known dive artist and agitator who is more than happy to fake an injury or a foul if it draws a penalty against an opponent. He believes referees are there to buy into his various cons and acting jobs.

He's a pretty good hockey player, too. It's just that the nonsense sometimes overshadows the ability, just like his teammate, Ryan Kesler.

Auger? Solid, not spectacular ref. Not one of the NHL's best, but solid. To be honest, most nights I couldn't tell you who the referees are any more. It's just not a big factor to me.

The willingness of so many to accept Burrows' story, however, is just an extension of the way in which many adults feel when they go to the neighborhood rink and watch their kids play. So many constantly harp on referees and accuse them of deliberately falsifying calls to benefit one team or the other.

Let's face it. As a nation, we're a bunch of crybabies and referee baiters.

To many (say, Leaf broadcasts) the game is nothing more than a constant discussion of officiating calls, how they got it right or wrong or why they missed this or that. Always, there's an underlying message — Pat Quinn is the best at this — suggesting the men in the striped jerseys are somehow dishonest, unmanly and not to be trusted.

Hockey Night in Canada fostered this mentality for years, although it has improved slightly in this regard in recent times.

There's still an attitude in this country that the best officiated game is one in which referees don't make any calls at all but simply give the advantage to the lesser skilled players and the lowest common denominator.

I always want to ask those people what they think the refs are out there for. To break up fights, I guess. But not too quickly.

I don't know what Auger said to Burrows. But I don't believe Burrows, either, and I don't believe the integrity of the sport has been terribly compromised.

I do believe the Canucks are making a mountain out of a molehill. But then, they always do.

Comments

[RS]

No offense, but the last statement is pretty funny coming from a Leafs writer.

[Nikoo]

Well said Damian....

Integrity in the NHL ??????

This is the same league that has franchises in Phoenix and Nashville, but not in Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec City etc. Integrity??

This is the same league that calls Georges Laroques a "professional hockey player" where he makes an incredible amount of money by skating like a novice and is unable to release a wrist-shot more than 2 inches off the ice!! Integrity??

Lets leave the officials alone, they are hardly the keepers of the game. If its integrity people want; then you had better start watching the NFL since we kno how steroids in MLB and point shaving in the NBA have played critical roles in diminishing the credibility of thoase sports.

[Forklift]

Maybe Burrows can even the score by pulling Auger's hair.

[Marijan Kalman]

Stephane Auger didn't essentially cheated Canucks,he is just extention of the problem that everyone in hockey knows but for decades hockey people DON'T WANT to take action.
All the refs in NHL are ORDERDED how to refferie game by NHL for the only one goal, and that is to make NHL investment WIN.Situatuon is way worse than NBA but all of you in media have no guts to make proper investigative report.If that happens this junk leauge would go down like house of cards.All of you should read statements from the hearings of ref who is fired by NHL and then you will find out that Campbel and other heads in NHL are controling ref association like pupets FIEXING EVERY IMPORTANT GAME depeding of their interest.
Soon someone is going to start talking and then all the GARBAGE is going to come out of NHL closets!!!!!

[Mark]

Why single out Burrows for diving and sucking players into penalties? Half the European players in the league are far worse than he is. Sure i am a Canucks fan and danged right Burrows has a special place in the heart of Canuckleheads, kind of this generations Gary Lupul (who probably never hit the radar in Toronto - centre of the civilized universe). It was also Burrows who was on pace to set a team record with his 3rd hat trick in 4 games when all this crap came down.
But to be fair it is danged hard for the players to play any sort of decent game with the inconsistency being shown on the ice by the zebras. The previous Canucks game, against Calgary, the refs didn't turn a blind eye but they knew how to manage a game so that the end product was one of the best games of the year in my opinion. And Vancouver lost that one as well!
I watch a lot of hockey every week, thanks to Centre Ice, and the officiating issues extend far beyond Vancouver. The refs are human, but the inconsistency from game to game is there to be seen. Perhaps it is a transitional thing, with many of the senior refs either retired or retiring shortly. I hope so and in the next season or two we see the return of 'invisible consistency' hockey fans expect.
I read your column on a regular basis Mr. Cox, and to put all this down to simple sour grapes Vancouver fans does a disservice to your normally high standards as well as hockey fans everywhere.

[Bill]

Poor article Damien. As Bob McKenzie pointed out, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence to back up Burrows story. This stuff goes on all the time, however Burrows should have taken it and shut his mouth out. He should not have called out the ref to the media. If anything he should have told his coach before the game started about what the ref told him.

[Gulliver Foyle]

Hmmmm, on the face on things Burrows account of the incident adds up and is supported by the evidence at hand. Ref and Burrows talked before game, ref made very bad calls that targeted Burrows. Cox's interpretation is that Canuck fans are cry babies and are guilty because some bozo pointed a laser pointer at Kiprusof on Saturday night. Not exactly following the logic train here Damien.

The two conclusions are that Burrows story is correct, or that he is lying and Auger just happened to talk to Burrows pre-game and then make two very bad calls.

[Atchinator]

Who knows what was said before the game. I'll I saw was butal officiating. One particular penalty to Burrows, for interference I think, was a complete joke that suggested Auger was out to get the player.

[peter]

every player imbelishes on the ice. even Gretzky. Cox's obviosly did not see the game. As usual some guy who knows nothing about western games because they dont bother to stay up and watch the games. the only see the spotnets highlight and then decide to write a story about something he knows nothing about.

[Andrew]

Given the fact that there is video of Auger singling out Burrows for a discussion during the pre-game warmup, why is Cox so quick to side with the ref? Is it really just a coincidence the ref made a point of talking to Burrows before the game? Is Burrows really smart enough to realize that the conversation was video taped and then make up a story after 2 borderline calls against him in the third? Given the video evidence of the talk and the calls, it appears Cox's prejudice against Burrows is showing.

[Moe Green]

Mountain out of a molehill? Perhaps in this instance, but officiating in the NHL is at it's low water mark. The number of phantom calls is ridiculous. The number of missed calls is absurd. Oh sure, they make up for it with the weak "delay of gamey" or "breaky sticky" calls. I am sick of horrible calls regularly deciding games. I'll say it again: the NHL officials are good but hockey is the worst officiated game in the world. We need more refs and video reviews for penalties. It has gotten ridiculous!

[Dennis Regan]

Maybe if Burrows would grow-up and play the game like a man, he wouldn't have to fear the refs. Taking a dive and trash-talking to me are both childish and gutless. Who cares if the refs are looking for these kids. Let's get them out of the game.

[Steve]

The video of him coming over to Burrows before the game isn't proof of an act of sheer stupidity by the official? We don't know what was said, but pre-game the official with an axe to grind shouldn't come up to Burrows pre-game on tape and then call questionable penalties. My Guess is that Damien has neither watched that footage or the penalties. Your article is just a whiney "I hate Vancouver" rant, I expect nothing less from you.

[Geoff]

In the age of Donaghy, how is it so unbelievable that Burrows is telling the truth? Him and Auger did have a discussion pre-game, which in and of itself is rather odd. And to say referees are a non-factor to you, well I wish I saw the game through your eyes.

Officiating in pro sports has never been worse, and I find it laughable that people stick up for them.

[Leaf Fan in Habland]

It is possible that he's telling the truth. Everyone complains, but no one has ever gone this far, so maybe there is something to it. The fine on Burrows was warranted because if there was something serious like that going on, he could have gone through the league office. Maybe he didn't do that because he thought they wouldn't do anything without a push from the media (or maybe he's making it up) but the league office should at least investigate, and if they do find something, the punishment should be harsh. Not because of what Auger did (Bob McKenzie notes that is happens all the time), but because he told Burrows he was going to do it. Better a tacit and understood self-policing, than refs mouthing off to players. It's one thing for players to mouth off to refs--it's understandable, and it is part of the refs' job to take it (or penalize if it gets out of hand), but refs should at least maintain the appearance of neutrality. There is a saying in law that it is just as important for justice to be seen to be done, as it is for it to actually be done.

[Conn Smythe]

I don't know what to think - but I do find it hard to believe that Auger would tell Burrows that he was going to get him (or whatever he was alleged to say) before the game.

Cox, I think what the majority of fans want is consistency in the calls at every game - not a game where there is no penalties at all.

[Wilbert Williams]

Cox says "For starters, how do we know Burrows is telling the truth? There's absolutely no corroboration of his story."

Well we obviously don't know what was said but there is some evidence to suggest that he was telling the truth. According to the video the ref did chase him around and was saying something to him before the game (why?) and the same ref did make questionable calls against him.

Also, if Cox doesn't beleive Burrows why did he note that he has a reputation of being a diver. Him being a diver should have nothing to do with the validity of calls against him for interfernce and such. Cox is really saying is the ref was justified to do exactly what Borrows is accusing him of doing becuase he is a diver. Even though almost all players emblish calls and strive to fake injuries to certain extent. Some players are just better at it than others.

[Kevin Black]

"Let's face it. As a nation, we're a bunch of crybabies and referee baiters." LOL Damien. I get you're a reporter and you're supposed to have catchy lines to attract readers, but you know as well as I do that to generalize this idea is not only childish, but damages your journalistic credibility.
I believe Burrows simply on the terrible interference and tripping calls he received as well as Burrows outright anger toward the officiating. Realistically, in today's NHL, players and coaches do not speak out about officiating - how many times have we heard "...but that's the referee's decision and I have to deal with it" .. I bet you have heard it more than I.
For Burrows to speak out, obviously shows his downright disgust and felt that speaking to the media about it was a necessary evil - he knew he could get fined or suspended.
Furthermore, you cannot disagree that in the final minutes of the game, many questionable calls are put on the back-burner to 'let the players decide the game' - it's hard to believe that Auger was going on this precedent based on the questionable calls.
Lastly, you claim you don't believe Burrows - why not? I just don't see what he has to gain by making such a (if he's lying) ludicrous claim. I really don't think anyone would be ripping on him for those calls after his 9 goals in 5 game spurt here - My opinion is based on the on ice evidence, I'm not sure yours is based on anything other than personal opinion.
" I do believe the Canucks are making a mountain out of a molehill. But then, they always do." - in classic 'internet speak" this is QQ, whiny material Damien. I am by no means a Canucks fan, but enjoying your otherwise intelligent and insightful columns - I had to comment on the ridiculous piece written here.

[adam]

Your article is useless as you're clearly biased, and you offered absolutely nothing to move this story along or shed light on what actually happened (or didn't happen). You have no reason to not believe what Burrows said other than that you don't like his style of play or him or the team or their fans. I'm not a Vancouver fan and don't know much of Burrows. But the level of the accusation makes me think he's not stupid enough to say it unless it were true because it is very serious. You're what gives bloggers a bad name - no substance, no additional reporting or research, just slinging mud.

[David Perrault]

The NHL has a responsibility to investigate this matter, There is no more serious violation in sport than a biased official. If you don't believe the integrity of the sport has been compromised I would suggest you look at the NBA, Olympic Figure Skating, and European Soccer just to mention a few. All of these sports have had scandels with referees. Alex Burrows made a mistake when he spoke out in the dressing room following the game, he should have requested the NHLPA, the union representing the officals and he NHL look into the matter. If these allegations are found to be true than Mr. Auger should never officiate at any level again.

[howie]

wow. Interesting comments. Anti Vancouver, pro NHL. A Toronto reporter, in bed with the NHL Head Office slamming what may be an honest concern. Auger? Solid?? Respected??? He's the guy that branded Shane Doan as a racist. Damien, did you watch that game? Dreadful refereeing to the point that Terry Crisp, colour commentator for Nashville, was "embarrassed".

Your article articulates well your dislike for Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks. Regardless, you should show some objectivity and professionalism in this matter. My sense is that you would be all over this if a Maple Leaf player was the injured party here. Thumbs down.

[bradmclean13]

I think a real issue here is the overall lack of accountability with officiating. I don't mean disciplining refs but just and acknowledgement of there mistakes. Even if Auger had come out a publicly stated that Burrows was 100% accurate, the NHL would still disciline Burrows, which is ridiculous. The league is a PP driven league, so more games are being decided on bad calls, so the NHL should work to improve the officating problems not hide them. NHL and NBA are the has the worst and most inconsistent officiating and are also the most strict with the players who criticize it. It is no coincidence that the NFL has the best officating and acknowledges the mistakes they make.

[Ron in CR]

You know Damien when you aren't bashing the Leafs you've actually been writing some really good stuff the last year. I do feel there is some truth to Burrows' story but I feel exactly the way you do about him and how do you take seriously the story from the boy who cried wolf. I also lived in Vancouver for one year and as soon as I mentioned the word 'Toronto' or expecially 'Leafs' I was immediatly hissed at and shunned. The best I can say about those fans is that they are passionate.

[KD]

The Canucks may have a history of crying foul, but to say that therefore Auger is right and Burrows is wrong is unfair. Unfortunately, all we have is video of Auger approaching Burrows and speaking. We have no idea what he actually said. For all we know, he was asking how he felt after the "injury" in Nashville. We'll never know the truth on this one, although Burrows better be very careful the rest of this year - if anyone even near him falls down, he can expect a penalty against him.

[Bryan M]

Sorry Damian, but I respectfully disagree. Anyone who plays or has kids who play will sometimes disagree or argue with refs, sure. But does that make us all crybabies and ref baiters? Why the need to generalize to this level? And why pick on BC specifically? They take their hockey seriously, just like we do. It is odd that Auger just happened to have a pre-game chat with Burrows. What was Auger talking to Burrows about before the game? Why the weak penalties after that? Let the investigation proceed - there is certainly enough strange behaviour to warrant it.