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Where's Richard Dawson When You Need Him? Oh....sorry (eeks)...I didn't know...
 Posted
3/11/2009 12:00:00 AM
Wasn't going to write much on the verbal joust between Ron Wilson and Howard Berger, but enough folks have asked. Here's some quick thoughts.
I have been on both sides of this issue, not that I have coached in the NHL. I've had athletes like Ken Griffey Junior and Mike Keane extremely ticked off at me in dressing rooms to the point of it being incredibly uncomfortable, and I felt for Berger being in that position last night. He didn't roll over and I respect that. He took the criticism from Wilson and gave some back. I liked that also. Where he erred, and it was the heat of the moment, telling you what your heart meant. In addition the heat of the moment, showed in your eyes....
Sorry - out of Asia experience.
Where he erred is in denying that he asked why the stick measurement didn't come in November when the points may have mattered more. In essence, he did ask that after Monday's game. It's a leading prompt, but I didn't think it questioned Wilson's integrity. Wilson made it "him versus them" from the beginning with most of the media who cover the Maple Leafs on a daily basis, and that's his prerogative. Wilson is actually more upset, in my rough estimation, with other things Berger has suggested, given that he's opined for a long time that the Maple Leafs, this season, are hurting themselves long-term by winning hockey games. Worse teams than the Maple Leafs have made the postseason in the National Hockey League. And despite Vesa Toskala's reasonably strong play before his injury shut him down, it's safe to say not many in the NHL have had worse goaltending, as a head coach, than Ron Wilson has had. A healthy Ryan Miller gets the Maple Leafs into the playoffs. A healthy Henrik Lundqvist may have gotten this team a #6 seed this season.
Knowing all that, the constant suggestion that the Maple Leafs are shooting themselves in the foot by winning hockey games is ludicrous, and Berger has done that constantly. It's been a virtual mantra. But listen, if you can't draft in the Top 2 this season in June, then who really cares if you're anywhere between 3rd and 8th. So this obsession with teams hopping over each other around the bottom rungs is silly, and I admit it -- I do it too. Even sillier is the idea that playing well at the end of this season will "carry over" into next year. No it won't. It never does.
Anyway, Berger likes to poke and prod and if injected with the truth serum, has wanted a public blow-up such as what happened last night for some time. It's a wonder it took nearly 70 games. Some in the media have taken unfair shots at Brian Burke and Ron Wilson. I don't know that they can bring a Stanley Cup here, but I do know that it's way too early to suggest they can't. Ludicrously early, in fact. Burke was maligned by some for being so public about what he could do and couldn't do during Trade Deadline Day, and now in retrospect, those media members who did so should feel sheepish and feel bad they called Burke names.
Many of those who sling arrows at Burke and/or Wilson clearly demonstrate that they can't handle even the least bit of pushback from either gentleman or other media members. Soft as tissue. And borderline pathetic. But Berger isn't as such, and I can really respect that. He got torched up, but didn't throw in the towel. But there's more probably more to this tension than meets the eye. In addition, Wilson is going to have a tough time suggesting he doesn't read the papers, doesn't listen to radio shows, and doesn't scour the Internet. He's a borderline brilliant man, and a brilliant man would learn quickly as to who is potentially undermining him. I'm not saying Berger's doing that, but my opinion (maybe moreso than ever) matters not. Wilson thinks he is, and that's enough to start a feud.
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