Ray J Funny? Or OJ Funny?

by Mattblack on Mar 30, 2009 6:00 AM EDT in From The Branches

Look at him being rough there. I should break it up, but he's just so hot right now. I love being a linesman...

To prospects news first - Viktor Stålberg continues his points rip in the Frozen Four while Toronto Sports Media speculates on the future destination of Tyler Bozak.
That's enough good news. Maple Leaf Hot Stove ruminates on the travails between the pipes.
Toronto Mike caught up with the Marlies yesterday, and watched their playoff dreams die a little.
Your 2009/10 Maple Leafs, somewhat questionably presented to you by T.O. Sports.
A bit of light relief then. Loser Domi and her Loleafs, Jared and a quick dip into 80's children's television and Wrap Around Curl's weekend homage to OLAS.
Is NHL officiating biased? Or just maddeningly inconsistant?
Shouldn't a catfight involve the Panthers? All the hair-pulling goodness, live from the United Center.

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So, this happened…
http://thestar.blogs.com/thespin/2009/03/troubles-in-net-troubles-on-the-net.html

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Mar 30, 2009 8:06 AM EDT reply actions

I just saw that. I was about to post the link. It all comes full-circle.

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.

by general borschevsky on Mar 30, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions

So I guess we can figure out what Damien is going to write about by checking Shoalts’ archives? Way to have your finger on the pulse Cox.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 30, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Does this mean you’re off the Christmas card list, DGB?

You've had all your word nourishment for one day.

by Mattblack on Mar 30, 2009 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Hahaha

Burke was incensed and very angry at the whole thing but later said he was alright with it.

I el oh el’ed

"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

by Winkle on Mar 30, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions

This is the money quote:

“If someone’s going to try and impersonate Brian Burke, I’m going to sue his ass.”

by general borschevsky on Mar 30, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I bet you

Damien wrote that bit just so he could use that quote

"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

by Winkle on Mar 30, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions

No he didn’t. He wrote it so he could use this:

…a prolific local blogger who goes by the handle of Down Goes Brown and occasionally comments on this blog.

You hear that DGB?

If it wasn’t for Cox, you’d be nothing, nothing, I tell you.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Mar 30, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Now

Cox is going to start saying “I MADE YOU DGB”

"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

by Winkle on Mar 30, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s going to be looking for royalty payments next.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Mar 30, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

In the form of

tears of Leaf fans

"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

by Winkle on Mar 30, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I was happy to learn that two or three posts a week means I’m prolific.

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Mar 30, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Cox even sucks at Geography

I was more amazed that Cox considers Ottawa local.

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Mar 30, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Damien was confused. If you write about the Leafs you must live in Toronto.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 30, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Cox also apparently doesn’t draw a salary from the Star as he claims to never have made a cent for his opinions on taking fighting out of the game.

But (gak!) I actually agree with him about the Montador fight. If it’s a good hit, there shouldn’t be a dust-up after it. And if you want to fight, shouldn’t the guy that got pasted be the one dropping the gloves?

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Mar 30, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

It looks a bit like montador was kissing his helmet…

Как же так может быть?

by sleza on Mar 30, 2009 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

Well, we’ve all had a few thoughts along those lines – haven’t we?

You've had all your word nourishment for one day.

by Mattblack on Mar 30, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions

not really… :)

Как же так может быть?

by sleza on Mar 30, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Massive BCWW moment.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Mar 30, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe that’s the appropriate protocol when OLAS shows you his fist.

by general borschevsky on Mar 30, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions

montador also had his girlfriend accompany Schenn to the raptor game yesterday, that’s the acceptable terms for forgiveness if your fist accidentally strikes the OLAS.

Running over terribleness in search for something positive about the Leafs. Anything? Anyone?!

by blindfolded tank driver on Mar 30, 2009 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions

That officiating link...

…is quite the lazy. They didn’t even do a home road split. There was an exhaustive study that showed NHL refs do have a home team bias (I can dig it out if anyone is interested).

If there is an officiating bias, gross penalty totals aren’t going to reveal it. I would think you’d need to look at 3rd periods of tied or close games to determine if there is any type of pattern – and even that would only reveal penalties that were called, not all those times when the refs put their whistles away and let obstruction and other stuff go.

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Mar 30, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

If you can find it I’d like to read it.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 30, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Bias in NHL Officiating (done in 2004, so it’s pre-lockout data) is here

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Mar 30, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Burrows

How embarrassing is that hair pulling? What a bitch.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 30, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions

Damien's Video

That’s amazing. He recaps what’s written in his post, he moves a lot when talking about Sean Avery’s pestering of Martin Brodeu, AND he has a framed copy of his book 1967 to remind him of what got him so far: hating the Leafs.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 30, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions

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

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Mar 30, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

Reply fail to PPP above.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Mar 30, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Why can’t it be fun web pollution?

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Mar 30, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

If it doesn’t interest the Home Secretary, then it doesn’t interest me.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Mar 30, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Damien Cox and his five lovely daughters. Christ, that’s shocking.

You've had all your word nourishment for one day.

by Mattblack on Mar 30, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Two things about Damien’s blog today:

- Of all the coverage of the Burke thing, Cox’s might have been the most even-handed and reasonable. That’s a bit of an upset, no?

- It’s interesting to see “The Spin” slowly starting to transform into something that looks more like a blog. The video wasn’t all that great, but it’s a good first step. And today’s entry was more of a quick hit style. It actually feels different that his columns. He’s headed in the right direction.

Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.

by Down Goes Brown on Mar 30, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

it’s all pretty frightening.

by daoust on Mar 30, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I was typing up a blog entry that pretty much said what DGB just posted, so I’ll just summarize into a comment here:

It’s very interesting that the Star editors are pushing the staff towards web 2.0 even though the jounos really don’t get it (Cox’s inability/unwillingness to embrace twitter; Zelkovich’s embarassing comments about blogging when he launched his blog).

Although slightly amateurish, I quite liked the video at the Spin. I also like the fact that Cox is slowly starting to wade into the comments. It would be miles better if he could have a dialogue instead of the quasi-name calling we get from him now, but I’ll settle for the baby-steps – at least it shows progress.

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Mar 30, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

The best part about the video was that he walks in and out of the shot. I wonder who he gets to edit the video.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 30, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

haha – that’s one of the things that jumped out at me too. I get the feeling the star has told their staff to start using more multimedia and this was his first go. I think it’s a good addition to the Spin and I’m sure it will get better as it goes along.

Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...

by mf37 on Mar 30, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah. At least he’s trying.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 30, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

- Of all the coverage of the Burke thing, Cox’s might have been the most even-handed and reasonable. That’s a bit of an upset, no?

Since everything else written about it in the MSM seems to have been authored by a semi-retarded orang-utan then it doesn’t take much for, “Hang on, is this supposed to be funny?” to take the prize. And it is about 6 weeks too late.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Mar 30, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions