Leafs take on an American flavour

by James Mirtle on Nov 29, 2008 3:27 PM CST Comment 14 comments

Burke and Willson have their work cut out for them as the Leafs haven't won the Cup since 1967 and will be hard pressed to even make the playoffs this season. If the duo succeeds in coming years -- the window of opportunity will be exceptionally small given the city's never-ending unrealistic expectations -- they will be crowned with Canada's highest unofficial honor: "Almost Canadian." If they fail, the "what did you expect from Americans?" argument will quickly come into play.

— Jim Kelley, SI.com

Living in this city, I talk to a ton of Leafs fans and I've never heard anyone raise any concerns over Wilson or Burke being American. As far as I can tell, it's a complete non-issue.

If this team starts winning, no one in Toronto will care if the GM and his coach are from Swaziland.

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APPROPRIATELY LOUD SUBJECT LINE

Don Cherry would care.

And speaking of Grapes, wonder what he’ll say about Burke or Burke+Wilson tonight….

by TylerG on Nov 29, 2008 3:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Cherry has always liked Burke because he’s a rough and tumble type guy.

And from when I’ve seen Coach’s Corner, he’s a fan of Wilson.

by ShaneG on Nov 29, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, Cherry’s been calling Wilson an “arrogant American” for most of the year.

by James Mirtle on Nov 29, 2008 8:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Don Cherry loved America

He sure loved us when we invaded Iraq.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Nov 30, 2008 12:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They both have dual citizenship

Wilson was born in Windsor Ontario and Burke got his citizenship a few years ago. Maybe Kelley should have raised the issue that they can’t speak French into it too.

by Exit716 on Nov 29, 2008 3:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Kelley should have raised the issue that they can’t speak French into it too.

Saving that (non-)issue for a slow news day, perhaps? :)

I wonder if it is partially a generational thing. Toronto is probably as diverse as most large North American cities – is the hockey media there more homogeneous than the population as a whole, and thus might think a difference is more significant to the fans than it really is because it is more noticeable to them?

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Nov 29, 2008 4:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ZzzzzZZzzz booooring!

Like why does this guy have a job? Are you kidding me? Any story or in this case a non-story is still a story if its about the Leafs? SI really needs to get a grip on what hockey is as this nationality thing just isn’t there; and that comment you made about Canadians, well my guess is that you’re a dick and some Canadians called you out on it.

...

by puckbuddy on Nov 29, 2008 4:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

who can even remember?

Are we talking about Ron Wilson (b. 1956 Toronto) who played for the Moncton Hawks 1988-90, or Ron WIlson (b. 1955 WIndsor) who coached the Moncton Hawks 1988-90?

by Hawerchuk on Nov 29, 2008 7:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

They’ll hate them for being American just as much as Montreal fans hate that their owner is American… which is not at all. Only weirdos like David Orchard would care about that.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Nov 30, 2008 12:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs