Embracing Mediocrity

It matters not, this contract extension Ron Wilson is gloating over. Or at least, it changes nothing.

He makes the playoffs, he'll stay as Leaf coach. He misses, he won't. This extension is mostly about feathering his nest, at least in terms of certainty. He'll get his money, which is apparently what he wanted under his tree and Brian Burke was happy to provide.

What does matter, in a larger sense, is that this is an undeniable instance of Burke's hockey club openly embracing mediocrity.

Miss the playoffs three straight years, then get to 14th overall in a 30-team league with a weak defensive record (25th out of 30) and the worst penalty killing (30th out of 30) in hockey and the coach responsible for it all gets a handsome, multi-million reward.

"Winning if necessary but not necessarily winning." It was a cheeky, mock phrase applied to the Leafs that originated in the Steve Stavro ownership days, but rings just as true today.

This extension proves it.

Wilson and Burke have talked ad nauseum about getting rid of "blue-and-white disease" in the dressing room. But there is no greater expression of blue-and-white disease, basically defined as accepting what others would see as average result as excellence, than that which Burke has delivered in extending Wilson at this time.

Mikhail Grabovski and John-Michael Liles, both in the last year of their contracts, must play on without new deals.

But not Fibber Ron. He gets taken care of.

This is why people in Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton, Montreal, Calgary and Winnipeg chortle "plan the parade" every time the Leafs win two in a row.

Mediocrity is celebrated in Leaf-land like no place else in hockey. Hell, mediocrity pays in Toronto like no place else in hockey.

Eventually, should the Leafs not make the post-season and Wilson is jettisoned, Rogers and Bell may also want to know why the lame-duck Ontario Teachers Pension Fund had any business approving such an contract extension, particularly with another NHL lockout in the offing.

But Wilson, for now, gets to gloat. Enjoy it, coach.

 

 

 

Comments

[Dennis]

What BB is doing is creating a sense of stability in the Leafs locker room that has been missing for some time now.

Revolving door players and coaches, they've settled on a plan. Burke stated he will be expecting this team to contend for a playoff spot in X amount of time and he is on track to meet what he originally predicted.

Currently the Leafs are 6th in the East and still have over half a season to go. You're always claiming that Leafs fans are "planning the parade" after 2 wins; in reality most fans are celebrating the fact we don't have a team that skids on 13 losses in a row.

It's called progress and whether the haters like it or not, the Leafs are making it.

Why don't the media go and feast on the Montreal Canadiens, who were poised to be "cup contenders" this year? They supposedly have so much more talent and were talked up by Habs fans so much, but they get a free pass?

Give me a break.

And the Leafs fans are the ones drinking the Kool-Aid? Right.

I'm hopeful the Leafs will make the playoffs and snap that 6 year slide, but I'm realistic and realize they probably won't do much more. I guess that earns me a ticket to the loony bin, because I'm a FAN of a sports team.

[Jon]

Fans...Don't allow your disdain for the author to blind you here.....
We fans need to be objective from time to time.
This article is dead on...

[DrE]

Really? "Fibber Ron" again? Grow up, Damien. If you did your job properly, you'd get your facts straight before printing them.

Also, it's a one-year deal - Rogers/Bell can afford this contract, and there's absolutely nothing stopping Burke from firing Wilson at any time. This extension just puts to rest stories (mostly written by you, Damien) that distract the team from the job at hand.

And anyone who thinks the Leafs are worse off under Wilson wasn't alive four years ago. This might be news to you bandwagon-jumpers, but Burke and Wilson have turned a team with not only no talent but no HOPE of talent into a young, deep, skilled team that's fun to watch. Of course they could be better. But now there's actually a clear indication of improvement, which there hasn't been in the recent memories of real fans.

[Mark]

This contract extension is a slap in the face of leafs nation. Any other coach, after unsuccessfully making the playoffs in 3 years running, with the stats and numbers the team is managing would be out on his ass mid season.
Take a look over at Montreal. They sat 2 points behind the leafs when they fired Mr Martin. Look down south, 2 other teams, not far behind the leafs also saw coach turnovers. All with better PK and PP teams than the leafs.
This leafs team has talent. they're young, and they need a coach who can develope them and learn with them. Not some old grumpy bastard who yells at them, benches them constantly, and can't instruct a team how to actually do a penalty Kill.
I know I'm tired of this. Unfortunately, I'm just a Leaf Fan. I have no choice but to swallow it. I like the moves Burke has done. he hasn't been perfect but overall he's made the team better. It's unfortunate that his close friendship to Ron Wilson has clouded his judgement. There are no friends in Professional sports, and burke would be wise to remember that.
Right now, The only way to get rid of Wilson is to get rid of Burke. And I think that time will be near if he doesn't smarten up. new Ownership for the team just might see some changes

[Andy Pizans]

I am not a Ron Willson fan. You can't tell me there is a coach in this Universe that could coach the Leafs into the playoffs the last three years.

[B B]

Unlike some of their predecessors,Wilson and Burke don't take crap from the Toronto media. Not defending the signing but there is a definite "personal" edge to this weakly argued column.

[Sherry]

Totally on point. Thank you for calling this exactly what it is. A celebration of mediocrity. I feel for the players as much or more than I do for the fans.

[Jim Adams]

It is tough enough being a Leaf's fan, and has been for a long, long time. The least you could do is treat us to some half decent sports reporting once in awhile. This is juvenile Damien. Very poor effort.

[Bobby T]

Too late Damien!
You and your pals should have been writing about Wilson's mediocrity (futility) a year ago, and putting it on page one, not on the blogoshpere. I agree with everything you say (there are many more stats you could point to), except the the way you say it. A "sports' writer" should not be afraid to ruffle a few feathers, or losing a "gig" here or there.
This contract extension is absurd, on many levels. Including the fact that it has not been given a proper disection. Wilson's timing was just right. No one is going to "Scrooge" him, it's Xmas.
Buck up!

Bobby T

[Rohit]

how does it work actually ? Can Ron Wilson still get Fired if Leafs don't make the playoffs? And Leafs would have to pay him the salary for the whole contract (buyout) duration even if he gets fired or it would need only 2 weeks notice?

[Lewis McClain]

Damian is correct. Mediocrity is the accepted path. The argument that the cupboard was bare when Burke and Wilson took over is not factual. The league is full of players that are doing just fine elsewhere. Yes we got a little more speed,but gave up defence and scoring. love the Leafs, but i wish we had some leadership that wants to win.....I

[Brian M]

For all you ignorant types defending Ron Wilson, Damien is 100% on the money. Consider:

- Wilson's record is 119 wins 163 losses with the Leafs, in nearly 4 seasons
- 18 wins and 18 losses this season with a team +/- of -5
- no playoffs in 3 years
- terrible job at coaching team defence and penalty-killing, two activities which are coachable
- his lifetime record is 634 wins, 628 losses, and 101 ties...he's the Lenny Wilkins of the NHL.

The Leafs win occasionally in spite of Ron Wilson, not because of him. Consider how St. Louis has improved under Ken Hitchcock or New Jersey improved last year under Jacques Lemaire...a great coach can make a huge difference. Ron Wilson is not even a good coach!

Keep up the great work, Damien!

[Lewis McClain]

Please, Please, Please....bring back Paul Maurice.....

[Lisa]

Thanks a million ,Mr. Cox !!! What a Relief to read your 100 and 10 % accuracy in your column about the extension of R.W........Come On Leafs Nation......this is NOT about negative but accountability !!!

[TheBoss]

Great article Mr. Cox! Why is it so difficult for some leaf fans to read anything objective on the team? Imagine the excitment if they brought in a new coach. New ideas, improved special team play, the horror!

[M Thomas]

This is another one of Cox's columns that are either based on stirring the pot, or on a personal grudge. Lucky Damien, he got a two-fer. I'm sure Damien NEVER had anything to say about the way JFJ was hung out to dry as a lame duck GM! Is he happy that he gets to write a pissy column now, or pissed that an easy knock off column, once a week for the rest of the year has been taken from the table? After reading the hacks in the Sun crap all over this contract, I thought DC might go the other way, just to try to prove his superior intellect. Guess not.

[Al M]

Santa Claus (Brian Burke) was very generous extending Ron Wilson's contract. A "friendly" gesture, I say. I wonder how much confidence Rogers and Bell have in this General Manager knowing this was done behind their backs. This decision to renew is going to prove costly given Ron is not going to last beyond the end of the season. I say bite the bullet and get rid of both of these guys.

[Maurice Gull]

You have a lot of nerve, calling Wilson, 'Fibber Ron' - and what do the contracts of Grabovski and John-Michael Liles have to do with a meager one-year extension of Wilson's contract? Are the 2 players you cite complaining because they haven't been squared up yet? Is it even time to deal with such matters? What an idiot comparison. And I dare you to call Wilson a 'fibber' to his face, or in Brian Burke's presence. The TO media complain about relations with Leafs brass but your remark is cowardly, unprofessional and uncalled-for - since when do the Press have a right to impugn a coach's character simply because they do not deem his record to meet expectations. Shame. Same goes for all here supporting such venomous remarks.

[swanny]

Damien, take your Bah Humbug attitude and storm on someone else's parade.

[Not Politically Correct]

Many Torontonians also chortle "plan the parade" with two wins in a row...

[Darryl]

Although it might not seem that important in the overall strategy of things, Wilson's horrible relationship with teh media is a major downfall of his. Wtih Toronto being as hockey-obsessive as it is and with all the media attention the Leafs get, the coach must have that as part of his job description and that's why he has so much disdain. He treats the media, who represents the fans as idiots when his track record should dictate otherwise. Wilson has shown himself to be a poor teacher for his young players with one of the worst PK in the league several years running and lousy defense overall. If Wilson were winning, we could handle him being a jerk. Lose and be a jerk and still maintain employment, well, that's just not the real world.

[John]

This is news????? What its only a problem when the perennial losers are reported on?? MLSE lives and breathes mediocrity. Not one of their franchises is successful on the field or in the arena. Yet we follow them like lemmings and dole out our hard earned money in support. Time to wake up and send a message back.

[Musclehead]

Damien, This article is what everyone is thinking and well said. I guess when the revenue numbers are so strong as they are with the Leafs winning moves down the scale of importance. It's unfortunate for all Leaf fans. Until the fans stand up and stop continually gobbling up seasons tickets when they become available there truly is no reason to put winning as goal #1. The only counter point I could offer to the ownership would be how much are you losing by not competing in the lucrative playoffs where salaries are nonexistent and margins run extremely high? Maybe the ownership needs to increase expectation level to that of a stretch year and hold the management accountable for that. Then there will be some added pressure. Wilson is not the coach to take this team to the next level, that is for sure!!

[Musclehead]

@ Gary, I could name 10 coaches who would have had a better chance of getting this team into post season. This would unfortunately be speculative. What I can do with 100% confidence though is name 1 who won't, that is Wilson!!

[pinot grigio]

As usual Jimmy (or Ostrich Lover or the Fonze) is available to work for free and - as can be expected - he still has no takers. His contributions are wildly confused, poorly written and illogical; he mainly engages in butt kissing the coach and GM that run Leafland. Now take a closer look at the Cox article Jimmy boy and maybe you can learn something from it. Take an objective look at your team and the incredibly contradictory statements that we have been force fed. Look at the fact that in the 4th season of Mr Wilson's reign the team's PK ranks 30 out of 30. The defense is very, very suspect to say the least and the goalies are less than brilliant. So much for building from the goal out. Let's forget about this team being so young as if that were a quality to envy. If it were, why not stock the team with Junior A players. They are even younger. Maybe you are a little young yourself and have trouble remembering what it looks like to watch good hockey being played by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now while you grow up, read this article carefully and see how a dispassionate analysis leads to inescapable conclusions. The foxes are in charge of the henhouse and dining on the spoils. Learn Jimmy and be quiet; you should be seen but not yet heard.