The Hypocritical Coach

Funny, really, to hear Ron Wilson bleating today about how unfair it is that the media is allowed to watch his practices and report on them.

This is the very same coach, ladies and gentleman, who upon coming to Toronto last season ripped the very same media people for not taking the time to watch practice carefully and to ask questions specifically related to drills and practice techniques.

Then again, Wilson often likes to play both sides. Remember him waving his Canadian passport when he was hired, telling the world about his Canadian roots and love for the country?

Then earlier this week, when asked, he made it abundantly clear his complete and total allegiance was with the U.S. in its joust for junior gold with Canada.

Now, I have absolutely no problem with Wilson being an American and cheering for the Americans in a hockey competition. But why the big show about being Canadian?

As far as his outburst at practice today, it was typical Wilson, lashing out at the media when the media has nothing to do with the state of his hockey team or the very, very mediocre job he has done in 1 1/2 seasons with the club. It was an open question how Wilson would handle the Toronto media situation after previous NHL stops in outposts like Anaheim, Washington and San Jose, and the answer has been fine from time to time, with occasional irrational moments.

Today, quite probably, was a very transparent attempt to deflect attention his team to a phony spat with the media.

Every team in the NHL has open practices. It doesn't seem to bother or slow down the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals or Pittsburgh Penguins.

Just the Leafs. Just Wilson.

And if he really thinks it's unfair that the media gets to watch practice, why in the world would he mock the media last year for not taking the time to watch practice carefully?

As far as centring out Phil Kessel for criticism today, again, that is typical Wilson. Hockey people will tell you his worst tendency as a head coach has always been that when things are good it's about him, and when things are back, it's about them.

Go ahead, dump on Kessel. He probably deserves it. Moreover, he wanted to come to Toronto to be The Guy and get paid like it, so he's going to have to learn that being The Guy isn't always wine and roses.

But Kessel could just as easily fire back and say the team would be much better if the head coach had managed to make the penalty killing something better than absolutely horrific during his entire time with the club.

Could it be that Wilson is completely frustrated that despite his years of experience he has been completely unable to get this Leaf team to improve one iota in more than 120 games?

A better question is probably this: barring significant improvement in this team over the final half of the season, what would possibly motivate GM Brian Burke to bring Wilson back next year?

Comments

[Tom]

What could motivate Burke to bring back Wilson? The lack of anyone better who could do something with this group. Maurice and Quinn were also helpless, and the team culture seems not to have changed. You could try to pick up Keenan for a year or two, and that would shake things up, but I'm pretty sure the burnout would make things worse down the road. And besides, if you can believe it, this team has less talent than the teams of recent years, as they've unloaded the talented but unmotivated players. No, I'm afraid we will have Wilson to babysit this crew for a few more years. When they build it up to where they can contend, then we may see a new coach to finish the job.

[J Ritchie]

Right on Damien. A nation watched enthralled as the juniors went for gold, and not a single fight. So much for it being a necessary component of the game. I'm sure the Cherry-ites will rationalize it away though. Switching to Leafs/Flyers last night was like switching from a jet to a Lada. I have been a Leafs fan in the past, but why waste a second of my life watching the Leafs play such a mediocre brand of hockey?

[Kevin]

Well put Mr. Cox. Good to see a quick and decisive response to Wilson's outbursts.

He could be frustrated too that he has over 500 wins, and just one finals appearance.

Or maybe that in 9 of 15 seasons, teams he's coached have either missed the playoffs or lost in the first round.

[doug]

if i were a GM and my coach rippped into a player publicly I would call him into the office and reprimand him(the coach that is) if he did it again he's be gone....you don't do that kind of crap, its classless and uncalled for, plus you just lose a team that way....Wilsonj konws his ship is sinking....

[eyebleaf]

"...what would possibly motivate GM Brian Burke to bring Wilson back next year?"

I've been critical of Wilson as well, but Burke could perhaps give him a little bit more to work with.

But that penalty killing. Jesus. It's a joke.

[Ryan]

A+ Mr. Cox.

Wilson in my eyes doesn't fit in Toronto. He belongs in a Market where Hockey isn't the life and soul of everyone. Unfortunately I don't see the Leafs becoming a better team until a few items are addressed.

1) Coaching
2) Ownership (Yes they still have their hands in the cookie jar)
3) Player development.

Coaching has been an issue since Pat Quinn left. There hasn't been any Iron Fists behind the bench, and not enough hockey sense to utilize the right players in the right situations. Like Stajan being a 1st Line Center, seriously he is a 3rd Liner.

Ownership has also been an issue. The Teachers, Peddie, Tannenbaum & that whole flock of idiots have too many things on their plate. Ever since they have been buying up every sports team in the City, it seems as if they have all fallen victim to failure. MLSE is the new curse, forget Ballard.

With the new NHL, old tactics need to go out the window. You don't develop players like you did in the 90s. Look at LA, Chicago, Pittsburgh. The key to the new NHL is bring the key players in early, (ESPECIALLY during a rebuild plan). The Leafs should have gotten rid of the older dead weight, and have the College Kids playing as the 2nd Line. Sure they may not shine in their first year or two, but give them time, the only way they will learn is by experience. NHL experience. But i'm not the GM, so what do I know right? just my two cents is all.

[Brian]

Burke is in a bit of a quandary, Wilson is his best friend but the Leafs are just not performing. When I watched the Buffalo game at the ACC he was simply out coached. When you have limited talent you preach defense, Wilson west coast style simple does not work. As for Kessel I notice his attitude at the Buffalo game he was a figure skater that is all. This trade is not bad but you better have a good supporting cast for a player like Kessel.
Mike Keenen is not the answer but I like Andy Murray, he is a good teacher and is patient with players, or even Mac T. But it is time to can this coach but with the Olympics soon I do not think it will happen.

[Wayne]

Lashing out at the media, 'cause indeed, the media could have a lot to do with the state of his hockey team. The coach likely would want to chew out his player for impact, then leave at that. But, the media makes it a spectacle. What Wilson was wanting to accomplish with assertive comments to his staff could be overblown and counterproductive if the media make it a BIG news issue, thus contibuting to the stae of his hockey team.

[Not Confued]

When was that winning streak? Two weeks ago? Smelling salts wouldn't wake up Leaf Nation to the reality that this team is bad gusting to mediocre. They'll hang on 'til someone with Grade 8 math tells them it's over. A sad lot indeed.

[Down Goes Brown]

Wilson's point today was that the media shouldn't have access to NHL practices.

His point last season was that the Toronto media doesn't make good use of the access it does have, because they fixate on line combinations and don't appear to understand the X's and O's.

You could argue about whether he's right or wrong on either point. But there's nothing contradictory in those two positions, and no reason to suggest Wilson can't honestly believe in both.

It's not different than Damien arguing that Luke Schenn should be a Marlie, while also criticizing his NHL play. Maybe he shouldn't be here, sure, but if he's going to be then he should be expected to do a good job. Same with the media at a Leafs practice. No hypocrisy at all.

[Robert Bates]

Burke and Wilson - matching blowhards- that act gets old real quick. Both of them should go as quickly as possible and the team would benefit.

[Cory Smith]

Down Goes Brown, I didn't know you were Ron Wilson's translator in addition to being a wannabe reporter/columnist who sits behind a computer in his mother's basement blogging all day.
I take issue with many things Damien writes, but he was bang on in Wilson's hypocrisy today. Ronnie is upset because a supposed defensive specialist coach once again has the worst team defence and an absolutely deplorable penalty kill. How about playing an aggressive penalty kill instead of the useless passive box that gets killed because no one can block a shot?
Like was said earlier, Wilson had the opportunity to blast his players before or after practice in the dressing room. Instead he chooses to do it in front of the media, knowing they would write about it, and then turns around and criticizes them for being there.
I guess you can have it both ways if you're Ron Wilson and an anonymous blogger.

[Dunsmore]

Ron Wilson cannot continue to embarrass his players in public. The team is not a playoff contender (like his San Jose teams were). . He cannot coach a young & developing team.

Leaf fans need to stay away from the TV and Radio, start supporting the Sabres and watch the Teachers Pension Fund squirm.

[MacGregrrrr the Terrier-ist]

I'm counting the days, hours and minutes until the Olympics are over - then Team USA GM Brian Burke can fire his Team USA coach Wilson, and we can finally hire a coach who will build up his players instead of constantly deriding them and dissing them in the media (one of my NHL buddies told me about a similar situation a few years back, when a certain tyrant coach would make a run for the Stanley Cup and all the other players around the NHL would hold their breath and pray he'd lose ... lest other GM's think having a tyrant and a bully behind the bench was the key to victory ... HINT: It isn't. Conn Smythe would have pointed to Monty's maxim: "... The first thing a young officer must do when he joins the Army is to fight a battle, and that battle is for the hearts of his men.
If he wins that battle and subsequent similar ones, his men will follow him anywhere; if he loses it, he will never do any real good. ..." - Montgomery of Alamein: Memoirs, xxxiii, 1958)

[Go B's]

Wilson is not the problem. Kessel is. You will not win with him, as you know, it is a 2-way game. He has 1 move, which is why he doesn't score against good teams. I watched him for 3 years in Boston, glad to have your draft picks rather Phil the Thrill. Best of luck in the next 5 years.

Cam Neely

[Angelo Kontos]

Perhaps Wilson should focus more on getting the team going and less on the media, but that does not change the fact that the sports media in Toronto overanalyzes everything to death, and in a smug fashion too. Like anyone else, I have my opinions about hockey, the Leafs, and Ron Wilson; but I don't act like I know everything from the comfort of my newspaper column. Damien Cox and so many others in sports media write arrogant,sarcastic, and often downright rude articles about sports professionals who without exception are more qualified than they are to run a sports team. How many Stanley Cups have you won, Damien?

[Ray Khan]

Wilson a joke. The leafs penalty killing is a joke. Fire this guy and get someone to teach them how to play against another teams powerplay

[Conn Smythe]

Wilson should be less concerned about the media and more concerned about being 2nd last in the league in GA and last in penalty killing. Again.

[drake richards]

Damien,

Wilson is a goner.

This article Damien is simply the drawing of the knife by the media. I am sure your colleagues will rapidly follow suit, including Howard Berger, Steve Simmons etc., etc.

Its amazing how quick the media is to defend itself on media related issues, rather than simply reporting on the team itself.

The media controls this team in so many ways and any media person who denies this just hasn't got a clue.

Here is the reality Damien in case you have not figured it out from your home office on Wisteria Lane - - this team will always suck because it lives in an environment where its virtually impossible to make a mistake or have a bad game.

Yeah I know these players are all paid millions and professional athletes and they should have a backbone...

blah, blah, blah...

Sydney Crosby would be barely a 40 points a year player in this Town because of the media elephant that would climb onto his shoulders night in and night out.

[ColdCraig]

I agree with a lot of whats being said but the players need to be held accountable. Say what you want about Wilson and Burke but they're not on the ice missing assignments. Burke has to start making moves...I wonder if there's still interest in Hagman?...

[Sam]

I dunno how much you can lay on coaching. Like one poster said, when Quinn and Maurice were here, they couldn't get it done either and they had far more talent to work with. The only way Wilson gets canned is when the Leafs actually have the talent and still can't perform. Just look at this roster and compare it with the other teams, what makes you think the Leafs shouldn't have embarassing losses? Other teams view the Leafs as an easy win and rightfully so. Enough with this unrealistic expectation and accept the fact the team isn't any good.

[Brian]

Has anyone thought that the better players are deliberately underachieving in order to get traded away from Wilson, or just to a better team, which means just about every other team in the NHL.

[canadaallthaway]

Thanks to Hockey USA who named loud mouth Burke and his clownish Weaselson to head their Olympic team, it will be one less worry for us.

With all due respect for the all star players on the US team, they don't stand ANY chance with the like of Mike Goonisarek and the Leafs wanna be line-up they have.

[rickybb]

The liberal media again didn't do it's homework. They should have known that Kessel was a STREAKY player back in Boston, and his only lifeline was Marc Savard feeding him the puck. If you ask anybody in Boston, they will all tell you that and that is why Boston waited until Toronto Mastermind Brian Burke came around salivating at the bit to trade for Kessel. Boston picked Burke's pocket and we will pay for years to come. This is a greater blunder than the one Floyd Smith made when he traded his first rounder (Team Canada Captain and Stanley Cup Champion Scott Niedermeyer) for Tom Kurvers to avoid finishing last that year. Sound familiar Leaf fans? But what have our media heroes written about Burke and Kessel. CONSTANT PRAISE! Typical storylines: The Messiah (Burke) brings in the Saviour (Kessel). Let me remind you all...there is only one Messiah and only one Saviour... and Burke and Kessel aren't them!!!! This story has gotten old and it will be up to MLSE to right the ship.....AGAIN....AND AGAIN!!! Oh the agony of LOSING FOR OVER 43 LONG YEARS.....and counting! Hey, how about Sittler to manage and Dougie (Gilmour) to coach???? Just the sound of that makes me feel so much BETTER!!!!

[Grandizar]

Uh hello!! why the heck is everyone so up in arms against the leafs when this was supposed to be the begining of a rebuild? all we did was get a proven commodity for two un-proven commodities and then the whole lot of hockey gurus including your truly Mr. COX has them by the jock straps because the GM said this team was worth play offs? On that note did'nt you hockey elites rip Fletcher when he said that he no first liner in his club? I mean please stop watching and save yourself some brain cells (and ours by by your biased rants after EACH and EVERY game).

As bad as MLSE is, I think its the closet LEAFS fans who watch and wait for the team to flounder and then come out in droves to condemn every move. Lay off LEAFS if you dont think they are worth watching and media guys like COX and McCowan,you are a disgrace as anyone with 2 cents of intelligence knows that this city is full of arm chair QBs who like COX and McCowan think that they know best what ails not just LEAFS but every T.O sport.

So COX and all other whiners, either stop watching LEAFS or do not COMPLAIN after every game!