By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (Mar. 11) — If there is one thing, among many, that I’ve learned in my first season around Ron Wilson, it’s that the coach of the Maple Leafs doesn’t react well to criticism. That’s not to suggest the other Leaf coaches I’ve had experience with in the past 20 years enjoyed being challenged, but Wilson takes it as a particular affront — mainly because of his heightened sensitivity to all things media.
Ron fancies himself as being cool and detached when it comes to reporters; he has often insisted that coverage of his team is “irrelevant”. But, he belies that notion in just about every one of his daily gatherings with the media horde that follows the Maple Leafs. In fact, he’s probably the most media-paranoid coach I’ve ever been associated with, and that’s saying a mouthful after my years around the big Irishmen, Pat Burns and Pat Quinn. Though Wilson is often cutting and sarcastic in his repartee with the Toronto media, he finally boiled over in his post-game scrum on Tuesday night, moments after the Leafs had come from behind to beat the New York Islanders in overtime.
I gave him the opening by asking a question about the disproportionate number of penalties his team took in the second period, and he chose to vent at me for challenging him after the loss in Ottawa the previous night. In the final moments of that 2-1 defeat, Wilson elected to have the officials measure the blatantly illegal stick of Senators’ forward Jason Spezza. It was a no-brainer, and it offered his club a chance to even the score on a late powerplay. On the surface, I had no problem with Wilson using a desperation tactic to try and help his club overcome the one-goal deficit. But, I couldn’t quite figure the timing of it. Here the Leafs were — in Game 67 of another lost season, with no chance to make the playoffs — and Wilson is suddenly pulling out all the stops. Stick challenges are so rare in the NHL, and are almost always utilized as a last resort in a critical circumstance. I had difficulty in Ottawa envisioning such a circumstance, with the Leafs 11 points removed from a playoff spot and wedged, as per usual, in no-man’s land in the Eastern Conference standings.
Players use illegal sticks in almost every game, but they habitually ensure to play with legal ones in the crucial moments of the third period. Still, a coach that is determined to make a dramatic call will have his spies carefully peruse the opposition stick-rack in preparation for such an important juncture. Though I’m sure it’s happened in the interim, if you ask most hockey fans to recall the last time they saw a stick measurement, you’d get a very consistent response. It was back in the 1993 Stanley Cup final, when the Montreal Canadiens were in danger of falling behind by two games on home ice to the Los Angeles Kings. Habs’ coach Jacques Demers waited for the perfect opportunity to nail Kings’ defenseman Marty McSorely, who somehow overlooked that he was playing with a banana curve in the dying moments of regulation. McSorely was sent off for using an illegal stick and Eric Desjardins scored a powerplay goal for Montreal to send the match into overtime. Desjardins then won the game in the extra session; Montreal tied the series, 1-1, and went on to defeat L.A. in five. The call by Demers has gone down as one of the genius moves in Cup final history.
Wilson’s move in Ottawa on Monday was justified, but I found the timing to be ridiculous. If this was the sort of tactic he planned on ultimately deploying, why didn’t he try and pull it off back in November or December, when the potential gain would have been more meaningful? That’s all I was questioning. Calling for a stick measurement isn’t really a ballsy move; in fact, it borders on a cheap ploy by a coach who’s team is usually in a desperate situation. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Wouldn’t it have been more useful for Wilson to try such a maneuver, let’s say, on Nov. 15th in Vancouver, when his players were nobly battling the Canucks at the end of a tiring road swing? Or against Washington at the Air Canada Centre on Dec. 6th, when the Capitals clung to a 2-1 lead for the entire third period? At least the season was still hanging in the balance back then. There was nothing to be gained from growing desperate in Ottawa on Monday.
Where Wilson’s media paranoia, and his aversion to any sort of criticism, got the better of him, was in his interpretation of my question. He chose to view it as a challenge to his integrity as a coach. I was simply asking about the odd timing. Now, I can understand why he took exception to my thought that he could have used the stick challenge earlier in the season. I think he determined it to be an accusation that he wasn’t trying as hard to win games back then, but that’s absurd. It never crossed my mind, and the concept of his integrity as a coach was not at all a part of my thought process until he raised it in his post-game harangue Tuesday night. On reflection, though, it was a rather insensitive remark after a tough loss to the Senators, and one I could have phrased differently. Wilson is a proud man and a very good coach; I’ve never questioned either of those qualities in a general sense. My challenge on Monday related only to the timing of his decision in that particular game.
Unfortunately, Wilson doesn’t have the mind-set to accept any sort of media challenge. He is so hyper-sensitive to being even mildly confronted that he often executes pre-emptive strikes, accusing reporters in scrums of harebrained notions about his club that have never — and would never — cross our minds. Just about every day, it’s “you guys” this, and “you guys” that, as Ronny pre-supposes some imaginary form of attack. I’ve lost count of the number of times my colleagues and I have looked at each other moments after a Wilson rant and said, “Where the hell did that come from?”
Sadly, this flaw in his character shrouds one of the most thorough, clever and articulate hockey people I’ve ever run across. Hardly a day passes that I don’t learn something from Wilson and — privately — we’ve had several engaging chats, mostly about his days as a defenseman with the Maple Leafs in the late-1970s.
When I felt we had gotten off to a rocky start in our relationship early in the season, I attempted to call a meeting with Ron. I asked him, personally, and I tried to arrange it through Leafs’ media relations director Pat Park. I had a tough few years with Quinn as well, but we ironed out our differences very quickly once we got together behind closed doors. It’s the way I always try to mend confrontation, but the request to Ron fell on deaf ears.
Perhaps such an understanding or truce would defeat an edge Wilson feels he holds over reporters. In that regard, he’s only fooling himself.
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You were in the wrong and Ron made sure you knew it. Good on him.
You asked a stupid question to begin with which didn’t help either.
I’m sorry but I don’t think your going to find much sympathy from people.
- PaulHoward,
- John ConicellaSorry to say but I’m with the coach on this one. I’m one of those long suffering fans since age 7 and now 44. I’ve lived on the Prairies and now the west coast but still bleed blue. Without question during this long dark period, the media in Toronto is directly responsible for having created stars out of light bulbs, turned Hall of Famers into bums, and made a horrifically disfunctional owner into a nightly circus entertainer. Now it appears the tide is about to finally turn. A clear long term plan, a deep leadership team with intelligence and experience, and a coach. And amazingly all at the same time. Oh my God, what will the media have to create now for the headline. You got your headline Howard, but someone else wrote it for you. Hoping you media folks will start writing intelligently about hockey, and leave the light bulbs, bums, and circus entertainers back where they belong, in the past.
jc
Nice try Eeyore but you are consistently one of the most negative reporters covering this team, this time you were publicly embarrassed, how does it feel?
- daveYour comments about trying to set up private meetings with the coaches to “mend confrontation” is in itself telling.
Howard - good for you! He ended up looking like a fool. The question was fine -why try the stick measurement in November? Why when you are a lame duck? It would have been worthy to remind Wilson that, like it or not, its part of his job to be front and centre; it’s all part of the “show” - even answering the hard questions. Kudos for not running and hiding. Stick to your guns and ask the hard questions. Ego or not, they mustb be asked. Try calling Burke - he knows the deal and should have a heart to heart with Wilson. After all, you will always have the last word.
- dbKeep up the good work work Howard. I agree with you Wilson does have a bit of an attitude and not a very media savvy guy. Had the same problem in San Jose if I am not mistaken.Maybe the scrutiny is getting to him - too bad for him!!!!
- Don CteWell I became a huge RON WILSON fgan last nite. You been a joke(590 leaf reporter) for years, you do nothing but critize. You the one that can not take the truth You are a major problem with the leafs. You drove many of the leafs out of town.
- John MckayOh please Howard. I’m short of time but I heard the clip after the Ottawa game, and caught a little discussion this mrning on your radio station.
Re the scrum after the Ottawa game. Your phrasing and delivery were agressive and insulting and I am glad you recognized that. And that’s fine, these things happen, I’m sure the two of you will have a chance to exchange a more moderate word or two in the future to clear the air.
But in the meantime, as ususal, you get the last word, you have the ability to cut out and present that little snippet of words just the way you want, you have an ongoing opportunity to frame the ’story’ the way you wish.
The Leafs season “hanging in the balance”… Please, lets not be silly about this.
Reporting, if you can call it that, in Toronto seems to be all about the ’story’ (however contrived that may be) and much less about reporting the event. And now, when a coach finally takes offense at one of your comments you get all defensive.
The one advantage to those televised after game scrums is the general public gets to hear how inane most of the questions are from the storytellers.
Maybe the fan would benefit from more reporting and less story telling.
- Iain DunbarIf Ron Wilson is such a great coach the team should of been playing like this earlier in the season. It ticks me off when I hear, “there is nothing on the line now, so there is no pressure on the players”. This just means to me that Wilson can’t motivate players which any good coach can. Please Wilson, get off your high horse, you knew what it be like to coach in Toronto.
- CarlosI loved that Ron Wilson let Howard have it. Howard is around the team 24/7 and I don’t recall him ever breaking a story. He seems to HATE the leafs and never has anything positive to say. He thinks he is a big man b/c he has access to the leafs, but he is not. I believe Howard predicted the Leafs would finish dead last with 67 points - how wrong was HE!?! It just goes to show that he does not know hockey, he cannot be around hockey people, and the only information MLSE gives his is trivial dribble. “Broker record” is an appropriate moniker.
Cheers Howie - have fun in the scrums bud
- Casey NashWilson does not react well to criticism?
- MarkAre you kidding me..
You are a no nothing Leaf basher who tries hard to outdo Damien Cox..
Berger you know nothing about the game in general and even worse you are a hack when it comes to reporting on the Leafs.
Sad to say that I have to listen to you because there actually are knowledgeable reporters at the Fan.
But everything that Ron Wilson had to say to you was accut=rate and I am shocked that you had the nerve to deny what was clearly on audio tape.
Berger do us all a favor and simply report the sports do not try to create a story.
Howie,
- MikeI’m happy Ron responded the way he did.The media in Toronto is embarassing.They(you)seem to have an agenda,weather it’s trying to outsmart the coach,or just trying to make a name for yourselves,I don’t know.I DO know,it’s getting old.The Leafs admit rebuilding is the way to go…maybe it’s time to rebuild the media too.Like the Leafs did,get rid of the old deadweight like McCabe,Tucker etc.etc,etc.
Howard,
I thought that your question was pertinent and well-timed. You gave me the opportunity to answer the question with a simple “He was not using the illegal stick in earlier games”.
Wilson needs to know that every word he says is going to be scrutinized by Maple Leaf fans and media.
On several occasions this year he has huffed that “wins and losses don’t matter” . Now he feels that his integrity is called into question becaused you used the phrase “when the points matter” in your question.
That being said. Wilson has done an admirable job squeezing maximum effort out of a somewhat minimally talented, injury plagued team.
There will not be a dull media moment for as long as Wilson and Burke are in charge!
- Steve ClarkMr. Wilson and Mr. Burke knew what they were getting into with the media when they came here. It is part of the job. I have no doubt that Wilson’s coaching has squeezed more out of this team than could have been expected (mostly to our draft detriment). What makes Wilson look even worse as far as the media goes is he is following a class act and media friendly Paul Maurice into town. I’ll admit that Maurice and Wilson are at opposite ends of the coaching spectrum and it appears they are also there in media relations. Ron & Brian, lighten up because if the losing continues your act will wear very thin.
- Johnhoward, wilson is simply a bully using bullying tactics. i saw his little tirade against you last night and it was akin to watching my 13 year old daughter have a temper tantrum, hardly the response you would expect a professional coach to have. wilson is in a hockey hot bed, he knew this going in, his lack of rspect for others is a glaring character flaw and his arrogance is unjustified. if and when wilson ever wins anything he can put on his all knowing act, until then coach wilson is simply a hack.
- peteThe interesting question is about Wilson’s integrity.
- Chris PernfussI believe he is genuinely trying to win every game and he has done an admirable job this year. The problem is his team is made up of a glorified AHL team and it is next to impossible to win with the line-up he has. The entire organization is out of integrity because they are attempting to re-build whilst also trying to win every game. Wilson knows there is a disconnect between these two approaches and it makes him angry that he’s in this untenable situation.
He is out of integrity - you called him on it - he didn’t like it - and you are correct!
Do not let him bully you Howard. Ron sounded like a paranoid child. Wait until the heat gets turned up and expectations are raised. This will be great.
- Brad BargesDon’t give in to these bullies, H. Wilson, Cherry, all these guys are defensive when anyone has the temerity to disagree with them or point something out to them.
- DilenoIf Quinn came around, maybe Wilson will too.
It made for an interesting post game, especially after a win!
Wilson ripped you a new ahole last night howard. hahahaha. Its about time somebody stood to express their true feeligns about you. To be honest your idiotic ideas which began early in the season saying the Leafs need to tank and season and lose to become better proves just how ridiculous your notions are. It is your itegrity that you should question, not Wilson’s because if you have ever taken part in sport you would know that it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to create a winning atmosphere when you are stuck in a losing atmosphere. The whole notion behind sport is too play hard and win, not lose Howard and for the fact that you believe one of the most successful sports organziations in the N.A needs to tank their season makes you the loser Howard. I think its time MLSE and Rogers start looking for a new beat reporter who knows not only the game of hockey but also has a better understanding of sports. You might be the Beat now Howard but your dancing alone.
- brascoLet’s be fair Howard.. you questioned his integrity as a coach trying to win with the question and it’s well within his rights to be pissed off.
Perhaps you are being a little sensitive to his reaction.
The irony is that out of all the Toronto media, your blog posts talk more about the absurdness of “tanking” the season.
- GuidoStupid question and comment Howard! I’m glad Ron let you have it.
- Joe CarrelloHoward, as I understand the Leafs have played the Senators 4 times this season with three wins and one loss. The loss was in the shootout. So please, do tell, when did you want Ron Wilson to call Spezza for the stick infraction? As history dictates, it’s usually a tactic used late in a game when you’re down a goal. Please, oh please, do enlighten me!
- What's Up With That?Howard, unfortunately, I see you as the jerk in your questioning over the last two days. Actually you have been a jerk for a long time. I really think you should replay your questions. I feel you want to seem like you’re asking pertinent questions when all you’re doing is asking useless questions. Hats off to Ron Wilson to let you know you’re a joke among reporters.
- Lenn DworakI call your type of questions “wince inducing” and find your style of reporting distasteful. I no longer listen to the Fan.
- GaryNice post, Howard.
Another thought on the stick call - how about next season, if there’s a meaningful in division game between these two teams? If he’s on to Spezza’s stick, why not wait until then to use this, rather than alerting Spezza (and perhaps other teams and players) that Ron Wilson is a guy who will make that call, so don’t even think about using the illegal equipment.
- JohnBerger you continue to sound like a dork. You go chasing after all things Maple Leaf and when they don’t respond, you go back to your web and sulk. I’m glad Coach Wilson called you out for being the weasel that you are.
- BobbyMaybe he didn’t make the call in Vancouver or against Washington because he realized that they had all switched to their legal sticks in the 3rd? Maybe he’s hyper sensitive because you are making an attempt to be a hyper-pain in his ass?
- Rink RageI agree with Wilson on this one. Rules are rules and if you see a player breaking then Wilson has the right to call him on it no matter what the situation the team is in. Also, you are somewhat critical of Wilson’s sensitivity re his reaction to this situation. It seems you are reacting in much the same manner in your blog…
- JonThis is a tough one. On one hand, I admire Howard for taking these power-hungry guys to task. Wilson wants to be untouchable. But on the other hand, Howard’s question made no sense because Toronto won those games. Why use a risky tactic if you’re up? In a boring Leaf season this incident did grab my attention.
- OvaisHoward , it is jerks like you why players don’t want to play in Toronto . All one has to do is read the media coverage of any other team in the NHL including Montreal to realize what idiots you , Damian Cox and Steve Simmons are .
- BorjeAfter listening to the Morning show I am 100% behind Wilson. Over the years you always pointing the NEGATIVE side of the leafs. At one point wasn’t you allowed to travell withe team. Everthing you say i laugh at. The fan is playing way to much
- JohnYou couldn’t just let the audio speak for itself, could you Howard? Had to do a blog post, carefully framing it with just the right context to mitigate your flippant comment that started this.
And burying a half-apology six paragraphs down - c’mon.
With this post, you are using your press pulpit to unfair advantage - attempting to spin this incident and put yourself in a better light.
Ron can’t respond in kind, but that’s okay - his criticism off-the-cuff rang true and was far more succinct.
You are a good reporter, Howard - you should have taken your lumps and moved on, not done this post.
- TerryI’m with Wilson.
Wilson knows that 90% of the media are bunch of vultures. Picking for a meal out of a dead subject.
Wilson knows it’s a waste of time, but he has to answer your dumb questions.
Putting so much aggression in such a unimportant factor is dumb.
- eddytoo many reporter pussyfoot around wilson, howard i am impressed that you had the balls to ask wilson a reasonable question. wilson’s little hissy fit is nothing compared to what he will endure if the leafs continue to suck over the next couple of years. get used to it wilson, you are accountable to the fans and the reporters who cover the leafs.
- peteThat’s the problem with T.O
- M.Gonzomedia when they don’t get there way they say and write
what ever.When did the media
become bigger then the sports
they cover.You know when you all sit down at the end of the season & report on how the year turned out and grade the players,coaches & GM’s why not do the same for the media. Go over all your storys,rumours and grade each other.knowledgeable reporters report storys they don’t make up there own on slow days,I for one miss Hunt.He knew sports.
Howard, I usually enjoy your blog but more so today. I refer to your comment that “On the surface, I had no problem with Wilson using a desperation tactic to try and help his club overcome the one-goal deficit. But, I couldn’t quite figure the timing of it”.
Quite honestly, you should have asked the question and then let it go. You didn’t and that’s bad on you. Ron Wilson has to answer to Brian Burke and only Burke. He doesn’t have to answer to you.
You should stick to reporting. If you want to be an assistant coach, then apply at season’s end.
There’s a common thread here. You had problems with Quinn and Burns as well. Maybe it’s you.
- Dan GOne additional comment. Let us all know where the reconciliation takes place. I’m sure there are a whole bunch of us who would like to be flies on the wall for that one.
- Dan GHoward, You really show how much of an leaf hater your are anytime you speak, I had a chance to listen to your dribble on the fan this morning and I actually turned hogie and tother off. I will from now on turn off any show on the fan when you come on. The negativity surrounding the leafs comes directly from wannabe’s in the media like you. I think the fan should re-consider who covers the leafs!!!!! Maybe tother can do it.
- KrisLeaf Nation.
- Scott P.Reading some of the comments here in regards to Howard being a leaf hater, a ‘know-nothing about the game reporter” and overly negative is one of the 2 reasons why I am no longer a Leaf fan and never will be again. I have lived in both the Toronto area and out west and have had the opportunity to live in the fish bowl and outside it. You people are a joke. Howard Berger is a reporter. Hes supposed to be both objective and subjective. You people will defend players and a guy like Wilson almost in a method as if you were there buddies and you were kissing up. Players dont come to Toronto because of the media?? are you kidding?? PLayers alos dont come to Toronto then because they know they cant go to dinner or shopping without some moron from “leaf Nation” coming up and wanting to get an autograph or hang out!! Some of these comments are so stupid that it makes me feel sorry for you people. Wilson has been kown and still is an egotist, he gets offended about a lot of things, always has… Washington and San Jose he did it. He hates the media, ok, move on. The fact is calls on illegal sticks are rare… anyone care to argue me on that??? just go look at NHL website and go through box scores in the last 2 years, how many do you see. some of you people need to shake your heads and listen to what rattles.
Howard, first time replying but I felt the need to. Like the way you felt the need to ask a dumb question at the wrong time. After reading you for a few years, I am going to agree with most here…you are extremely negative. Have you even played hockey growing up, or sports in general? I mean you always want them to tank this and tank that, seriously, as an athlete the last thing you are thinking about is tanking for a draft pick. Why so much hate for a team you have covered for years? I understand you may see things we don’t but man you are starting to sound like a bitter old man. Cheer up, the glass can be half full as well.
- JimmySorry, Howard, but you can’t wing your way out of this one.
I suggest removing this article, as it only promotes Ron Wilson and his ‘obvious’ 20″ inch penis.
- Kyle MaxwellI agree with the above comment on restructing the Leafs media coverage (especially Berger and Cox) as the team rebuilds. These jalopies should be sent to the media scrap heap.
- MJEHoward, as much as it pains me to acknowledge your existence…I can’t let this slide. In a city full of headline grabbing parasites, you are KING!!
- SamNo sympathy for you. It was a stupid question from a stupid reporter. It’s unfortunate he has to deal with idiots like you.
- LyleHey Howard everyone heard the what was said, I dont think that you writing an article after the fact is going to change the fact that everyone even your co-workers are laughing at you….. Idiot.
- CLARKRonnie is bang on. I find you to be very negative when it comes to the leafs but hey thats your perogative. But don’t whine on a blog about what you were trying to get across and how Ron is not media friendly.
- Mark DHoward,
Take a long look in the mirro.You’ve now got to the point where your complaining because the coach did everything in his power to try and win a game.Do you see how foolish that is?? Instead of complaining I applaude him for trying and showing his team that he still wants to win.
Why didn’t he do it earlier in the season?? who knows and who cares…why doesn’t he do it every game?? maybe because the situation doesn’t warrant it …or maybe because its not obvious that an illegal stick is being used…or just maybe because it didn’t enter their mind that game…usually these things come up randomly when opposing players notice it during the game…did it ever occurr to you that perhaps it never came up in November?? come on Howard..lets this go…your only embarrassing yourself now…
- SeanHoward I’m a long time Fan listener since the days of 1430.You discust me more & more as the years go on.When the leafs’ are doing well your voice sounds like your depressed but when they lose your voice sounds very upbeat.Ah yes I can rip the Leafs’Ever since the Fan lost the rights to Leaf games it gets worse, not only buy you but by the rest of the fan reporters.Do you think maybe that they only discovered the stick was illegal before the game? Sorry I forgot you have won the most Stanley cups in NHL history & are never wrong. Steve McIntosh
- steve mcinoshHoward,
Take a long look in the mirror.You’ve now got to the point where your complaining because the coach did everything in his power to try and win a game.Do you see how foolish that is?? Instead of complaining I applaude him for trying and showing his team that he still wants to win.
Why didn’t he do it earlier in the season?? who knows and who cares…why doesn’t he do it every game?? maybe because the situation doesn’t warrant it …or maybe because its not obvious that an illegal stick is being used…or just maybe because it didn’t enter their mind that game…usually these things come up randomly when opposing players notice it during the game…did it ever occurr to you that perhaps it never came up in November?? come on Howard..lets this go…your only embarrassing yourself now…
- SeanHoward Howard Howard how low can you go!
You attacked Ron with a question about why he would not use a tactic when it mattered, you words not mine, then get defensive when Ron fires back at you for it!
You then fire back with an I’m Sorry, no wait I’m not sorry, oh yes I am, no I’m not type article. Give it a rest man and let it go! You got called on it and it burnt you, try reporting on actual news rather than questioning the mans ethics all the time!
- John DScott,,
I will call you on the illegal stick call!!! It doesn’t matter how many times it has been called in the last couple of years, it’s a rule and if wilson can help the team by using it then he should!!!!! He gave them an oppertunity to come back in that game, which is his job, being the COACH. Wilson may be arrogant but who really cares? He is paid to win games, which i’m sure he will in the next couple of years, THEN you will be a leaf fan again i’m sure. Once a leaf fan always a leaf fan
- KrisMost Toronto media ask the most retarded questions.
What did you want Ron to say when you asked him about 5 consecuative penalties?
“We need to be more diciplined!”
What fantastic reporting that would be!
I hope you caught the sarcasm cuz I was laying it on pretty thick.
Do us all a favour and go cover underwater basket weaving.
- Dan HooperCAN ANYONE SAY SEAN AVERY?
- TrevorObviously I do not agree with everything Howard Berger reports on. However, I admire the fact that he accepts this open blog with the volume of criticism that is sent his way. On several occasions I have tried to provide posts to the star.com to criticize Damien Cox and his opinions. Wondrously, the entries are never posted by the screener… So let’s at least appreciate Howard Berger for allowing us to vent on this blog!!! And life goes on in the Leafs Nation soap opera. Much better than Days of Our Lives and General Hospital!!!
- CementWallI don’t question Wilson’s integrity, only his ability and methods. He talks of coaching over 1200 games and winning about 550, winning percentage under .500. How many Cups has he won? Zero, that is how many. He attacks players in the media instead of in private, good way to alienate himself from the players. Over all an average coach, doing a so-so job with a bad team and with handling the pressure of working in The Center Of The Hockey Universe!
- Willy Brownlooks like the score is wilson 43, berger 6 , undecided 3
- bettmanIt’s your job to challenge the coach Howie, not to be a fan or cheerleader.
he overreacted and looks like an idiot
keep up the good work!
- SBHowie,
U R AN IDIOT.
Good move turning your MIC on though.
- MikeHoward - you’re a hack. What will you do when the Leafs turn this around and start winning? Report for once? I find it very ironic that you work for a company called ‘the Fan’ when you obviously are not. You ‘blogged’ from the beginning of the season that the Leafs were going no where this year. Why then would you question ‘when the points mattered…’ if you thought all along it was a doomed from the get go?
You don’t need to be a kiss ass - but maybe try ‘reporting’ on the good stuff - even if there is very little right now. It’s no wonder nobody wants to sign here unless for its major money - ‘media tax’ for Burke to pay because of ‘reporters’ like you?
You’re officially off my RSS.
- s0badHoward, I do understand your position and you’re doing your job, but if it wasn’t for the Leafs what would you talk about today? It’s about time A MAPLE LEAF COACH SPEAKS UP. It’s not that he can’t handle the media Howard it’s becouse he stood up to you and you didn’t like it.
- Mannie BraunDeal with it Howie
Manuela
Howard,
I’m on your side on this one. I haven’t been impressed with Ron Wilson since he arrived in Toronto, both as a supposedly great “defensive coach” - and we all know how well the Leafs defense has been so far - and as such an arrogant ass towards the public. A couple of blogs ago, I commented that he reminded me of former President George W. Bush, and his most recent performance further reinforces my point. He cannot intelligently or professionally answer a question from the media (which I admit might have been phrased a bit smoother), which contains any criticism. He’s been coaching long enough to know that there will always be criticism from even the smallest decisions to your overall performance, both as a coach and player (ie. Sean Avery & Guy Carbonneau/Denis Savard).
Keep your head up and your stick on the ice Howard. You’ve put your time in with the Leafs and have earned your spot - we can’t say the same for Ron Wilson…yet.
- MurI’m with you on this one Howard. I have heard in the past interviews and questions that have been asked Of Mr Wilson only to have a sharp or terse comment in reply. I get the impression that he feels he is better than anyone else and he seems to feel this is his only means of proving that. He may be a fine coach and a great person but he really has a side of him that will one day have the fans turning against him. But then again he thinks he’s better than everyone so why would he care other than we are the ones paying his wages and allowing him to live the lifestyle he does.
- JohnHoward,
Maybe, just maybe, it’s not Ron…. it’s YOU! Pat, and now Ron can’t both be wrong.
I read all of these articles from all different types of media sources in Toronto. Leafs reporters in particular seem to think thye know the game better than the trained coaches and staff that run the team. YOU are no different.
How many NHL games did you play?
How many cups did you win?
If the answer to both of those question is zero, then maybe you should focus more on the facts of the game, rather than 2nd guess Ron’s logic.
Hopefully you have a degree in reporting.
- Kyle TomlinRon Wilson had every right to call out Howard on this. To answer Howard’s question - why not call the illegal stick when they were up 2-1 against Washington - the answer is simple - if you call an illegal stick on the other team, and if YOU erred, you are given a two minute delay of the game penalty. Ron had nothing to lose when calling for an illegal stick. He wants to win. As for Howard wanting to meet with Wilson in my words, to schmooze, get real - Ron Wilson isn’t going to be your best friend - get with the program Howard.
- GlennWell put Howard. I think Wilson is a good coach, but his Tortorella attitude is annoying. Keep poking him while he’s pissed. Should make a good non-hockey story. Everyone likes Good vs Bad. But reading the above posts, I’m not sure who that fans think is the antagonist.
- DericHoward…..what a joke you have become. Any real sports fan knows that you are incompetent as a reporter. You have a knack for asking stupid questions at appropriate times.I am so glad that Wilson set you in your place. With the state of the economy and current conditions you would think that there is a person out there that could fill you position……I hear the Goverment has an unemployment program for “cooks”.
- MichaelFan, do us all a favour and get ride of this guy. He was a nobody that thinks he’s a somebody!
Hi Howard:
- VicI agree with Wilson on this one. I thought it was an insensitive question and one that should not have been asked. If you see the celebration by the coaching staff on the Leaf bench when they win a close game you would realize how much they still want to win. I don’t agree that a stick measurement is a desperation move. It’s in the rules and can be used when needed. You also would not ask for a measurement unless you are sure the stick is illegal, as was the case here. I could see how Wilson might have misunderstood your question as suggesting that he was tanking the team in November.
Less sarcastic questions would be welcome.
Vic
ok i really don’t like your television stations or your radio station. the “puck head” attitudes are a little too much for me and a lot of YOUNG PEOPLE in this city. but after watching some highlights last night i saw this press conference. and thought it was just ridiculous., on your part! so i decided to read your blog to see if you have any kind of opinion that justifies your actions. but no, per usual it is the other guy who blew this out of proportion and how can anyone question the right to say a question? even-though it is insulting and questioning a guys INTEGRITY!!!! i attend university and i can tell you it is this self righteous attitude that people at your station have that is why a number of young people like are sick of the sports coverage in this town.
- roccoOne has to agree that Ron Wilson is hypersensitive. It is also ridiculous for Wilson to suggest that Berger was questioning his integrity. As Berger acknowledges in his Blog, his question in Ottawa might have been a little insensitive, but he as a great overall record of being a fair reporter who calls them as he sees them. Thankfully, he’s not a cheerleader.
Wilson can’t stand being questioned and his attack on Berger was not justified. I think he needs more long walks or to take up Yoga or something.
- IanMr Berger,
I must say that at times you seem to exactly know what you are saying in regards to hockey, but for some reason every now and again you come up with these totally clueless questions. You exactly did start that debit with Ron Wilson, I figured that since you have been covering hockey for 20 years you would learn how to ask questions, like maybe it is too bad that this chances did not come earlier in the season, as well state the facts about how many players use illegal sticks, not your opinion. To critic Wilson’s coaching is part of the “Toronto Medias” job, but if you look at the bunch of 3rd and 4th liners he has had since the beginning of the year, he has done a amazing job with this bunch, the problem is they are too good to finish last and to bad to finish in the top 8. Why not due what the rest of the leaf supporters have and give them this season off, they have no style, and pretty much no talent.
- John KretMaybe you could cover the Marlies, it seems more like your stlye. Second tier
Howard,
By now you’ve probably stopped reading the comments flying at you, but here goes…
While I think you are usually pretty even-handed in your assessment of the team and its coaching staff, I do not think you are accurately representing what happened between you and Coach Wilson here.
In your subsequent radio reports, and here in your blog, you’ve characterized Ron Wilson as jumping to conclusions regarding the context of your question, and you’ve suggested that the Washington or Vancouver games were examples you were thinking of, not previous contests with the Sens.
Howard, that is patently false and you owe us, and Ron Wilson, an apology for suggesting it. Please pull out your tape of the Sens post-game again and give it a listen. Your question was (forgive me, I paraphrase)
“How long did you know Spezza was using an illegal stick?”
Wilson’s answer was something like “Oh Gosh, all season.”
THEN you said “Why did you wait until now to call him on it, instead of in November when the games mattered?”
his response was “We were winning those games.”
Again, I paraphrase…but YOU set this up about being about the Senators and specifically Spezza’s stick. Not about Vancouver, not about Washington, and you should just accept the fact that you asked a rude question in an insulting manner to someone you admit in your own blog above you have issues with, and he tee’d off on you.
Hey, for us it makes interesting radio, but you honestly need to take a look in the mirror…not that you’re a leaf-hater as some say above (I do not believe you are) but that you are not being as unbiased in your reporting, and your recollection of the facts of this incident, as you think you are.
C’mon Howard, you’re a good guy. Take an objective look at this, and I bet you’ll come to a different conclusion about what happened.
(Oh, and Wilson does have a thin skin as well.)
David
- DavidI am so glad to see a majority of the posters on the side of Ron Wilson. The media in this city have hijacked the Leafs for their own soap box, and now one of their own have been called out on it.
I can not emphasize this enough, Berger you are a TOOL who needs to move on.
- BobbyHoward - I’ve noticed that Wilson has been annoyed with your questions for the last several weeks.
Keep up the great work!
I’m glad you didn’t back down to Wilson and his bully tactics.
- BookieHoward
Way to take the high road on this one. Wilson used a rule to gain an advantage successfully. He can’t be blamed for his players failing to score on the powerplay. If they would have score, and got a point or a win out of it, you would have been praising this bold call on the illegal stick. To ask why he did not use it previously in the year when the points matter…the 4 previous meetings versus ottawa the leafs took 7 of 8 points. It appears they didnt need the help then. Getting a free powerplay with two minutes left in the game is smart coaching.
Next time swallow your pride, and leave the self serving ‘apologies’ left unpublished.
Craig
- CraigHoward
- David BakerI know you care little of what the fan on the street has to say. I think I lost repsect for you as a reporter when you submarined Paul Maurice last year. Today’s tap dancing blog has only cemented your reputation on the street as journalist with no integrity. Perhaps coah Wilson’s choice not to meet with you is a signal that you should listen to loud and clear. He chooses not to associate with you for his reasons and does not have to answer for that.
Howie,
I hope you ask another stupid question and make another stupid comment to Ron, because I hope he rips into you again you moron.
- DanielRon Wilson is lost. He gives his evaluation of players to the media. Crapping on them to embarass himself and them. I don’t call that a coach. Coaching is teaching, plain and simple. Maybe he can coach, time will tell. What happened between Howard and Ron is sad. Two boys fighting over a stick violation, and the timing of such a call. Will toronto ever be a proud hockey town again?
- georgeProud of its team, coach and media??
I think he was angry at your hat. Minnesota North Stars?Why not just wear a California Golden Seals cap.
Once again, Howard, you are the one over reacting. He is trying to win a hockey game…that is the goal right? It’s not proving how politically savvy you are on what is cool or not cool according to your misinformed personal opinion.
- VinceI love Ron Wilson even more now. I understand reporters have a job to do … and they’ll resort to sometimes crossing some lines in order to write an interesting story. I’m fine with the nature of the reporting business, but that doesn’t mean someone like Ron Wilson has to take it. So what if Ron Wilson is sensitive? Just because he’s the coach he has to eat up the stupidity that is sometimes the Toronto media?
If he finds something insulting, he should fire back. I think Howard Berger is just cheesed that this coach actually has a backbone and enough self respect not to take his BS. Not everyone will lay down like Paul Maurice who treated everyone nicely even in the face of stupidity.
- Sam“The call by Demers has gone down as one of the genius moves in Cup final history.”
It’s fascinating to imagine that, somewhere, there are people who have this interpretation.
Outside of those with a rooting interest in Montreal’s victory that year, that measurement is almost universally reviled as one of the cheapest moves in Cup Final history. What better measure of a Cup champion than the degree of curve on its goon’s blade?
- bostonblueline.blogspot.comHey Howard,
Maybe you should have corrected Wilson on the notion that his integrity was being challenged. It was rather his intelligence that comes into question. There was nothing of consequence to be gained in Ottawa that night. I’m sure down the road a meaningful opportunity to catch Spezza with an illegal stick has been lost. As for Wilson’s rant about his 550 coaching victories, maybe someone should have reminded him his losses outnumber his victories, and maybe someone could’ve asked Wilson how many post-season victories he has? And while he was in such a chatty mood, maybe Wilson would’ve cared to speculate if his lack of playoff victories had anything to do with him being on his soapbox to a throng of reporters in Toronto that night, rather than in San Jose, where Wilson had a very successful regular-season outfit that fell below expectations in the playoffs during his tenure. That would be the same Sharks team that currently have the most points in the NHL without him this season.
- TommyHoward, as much as i appreciate anyones work in the media, Ron Wilson’s job is to win games, not tank.
You asked him, “Why start to coach now then it does not matter” (paraphrasing) suggesting that the leafs have quit trying to win. I think the response was as justified as the question. Why you took it a step future is beyond me. I figured that after the argument it was done. Im shocked you would write this.
- Sean LafortuneHoward,
Your a complete fool. You’ve disgusted many with this blog this morning….why didn’t you just “shut up” and take your lumps….when you say the Leafs should tank this season, basically you are asking all the players and management not to show up to work. These guys have pride in what they do since this is their careers….you really need to get your head examined!
- NeilI can’t beleive all this crap I am reading here.
- LloydMost of you idiots sound like you are on the Maple Leafs pay roll.
I am glad Howie got under this coaches skin!!! You people go to the games, buy the expensive beer pay to watch CRAP on Leafs TV buy the jerseys etc…and for what.
40 plus years and we have been taken to the cleaners.
As far as I am concerned you should all put your anger and stupid comments towards everyone who has anything to do the the Leafs.
Not a reporter who has no control over the leafs actually winning for once.
This team is a joke and so are the people running it and playing for it! They have no reason to win as they have brain washed way to many people in this city.
Wake up, they are the richest team in the NHL!!!!
Poor Ron got up set.
Big Deal!!!
He can console himself on the golf coarse soon.
No playoffs AGAIN!!!
Way to go Howie!!!!!
Howard, I heard Ron’s post game comments live & I thought he was so accurate to call you out. Why would you care when he made the stick call On Spezza - isn’t the point that here is hockey player consistently using an illegal stick? The slant you chose to take was to attack Wilson and you missed the bigger picture entirely. Unfortunately, this has been a habit of yours for more than a decade and as your own admission on your troubles with the “big irishmen” indicates the problem is not with all these coaches - the problem is clearly you!
- Paul Dredgehey, you got your 18 seconds in a post game media scrum…yoo hoo
the sad thing about you sorry sack reporters is that you think the exposure will benefit your career in some way…..yawn
- ChrisHoward ?? it’s not the question that was wrong , It is the Pompass, accusational, demeaning way that you ask them. How can you possibly expect respect from professional coaches and players if you continually degrade them in the public eye. Being in the media ( and I use that media term lightly,it’s more about sensationalizing news stories)you more than anyone should know the history that exists between the NHL players and the media around the country. It’s a long and respectful story that unfortunately has gotten lost on your type. Dam the respect Howard, continue acting like a pompass ass and it will eventually bite you right in the pompass part.
- Billdid you ever think that maybe you suck at what you do. First you tape a conversation with Maurice when he was fired, TELLING HIM YOU WERENT RECORDING, and now this.
- john zwho are you trying to impress? Your own collegues think you suck.
Berger,
The egg on your face looks so good right now. You’ve had this coming for a long time buddy, and from the looks of the comments on this website, as well as your duplicate post on Hockeybuzz, you don’t have too many fans out there.
Eat crow, and chew it up real good Howie. You got called out and you still have yet to be a man about it
- the_cause2000Howard,
- MutandaStick to the more “important” sports coverage you and your station are accustomed to, like the Under 10 Marble Championship scheduled at the end on the month just north of Toronto.
It’s clear that Fan590 does not support the Leafs. Why waste your “precious” time?
Are we ever desperate for Leafs news or what? I think this pissing contest goes to Ron.
- SteveLloyd,
- Grant. SYou couldn’t have said it any better!! A bunch of clueless moron’s taking the side of an arrogant bully! What the hell as Ron “STIFF JAW” No SMILE Wilson ever done in this league?? OH ya taken a very good and talented San Jose Shark to the playoffs….THEN POOF, GONE! Washington Capitals..KNOW WHERE!! You make the most sense TANK, FOR CHRISTS SAKES TANK! Do mindless hockey fans not realize that again we are going to draft know one?? Now they brought in BURKIE THE TURKEY ANOTHER IGORNAT LOUD MOUTH BULLY AMERICAN to sell us on waiting. Howard you have allot to be negative about!!! Has there been anything to be positive about?? Except for the profit at MLSE!
Howie, I thought it was a fair question that you posed to ron wilson.Since the new coach took over he has had a dislike for the media.. God forbid anybody questions the mighty ron wilson!!!Where does he get off acting the way he does.. I am starting to understand why don cherry does not care for him either.The best thing that happened was the sens won and ronnie looked stupid.Keep up the good work howard!!
- DennisGood job Howard. I loved the way you tried to shut him up but he went into his its not me its you mode. He is not stupid but not far off. Keep up the good work Howie.
- RexJust thought of something. Why did he not make these calls when a goal down in every game late in the game.
- RexNo integrety there. Why???
Howard,
you lost this fight. And by the looks of alot of the comments here you lost a bit of integrity as well. I heard the clip this morning as well I can could swear I heard you say “Well you question the media’s integrity all the time”. So you are rubber and Wilson is glue? Come on. Sounds like you are one that is hyper sensitive.
- BowieMr Hockey(Howard Berger) why are making this such a big story! Somebody stands up to you and you have to put this on every sports show to tell that I am BIG CRY BABY. You trying to tell how bad is Mr. Wilson is. I never like Mr Wilson, but he doesn’t desserve this. Howard go back out west and stay all year round. The majority agreeds that you should shut your MOUTH. OFTR What is next!
- JohnWow, you Leaf fans are touchy. Howard throws a good question out to your coach and it’s a BIG problem? You should see the writers in Montreal, this was nothing!! Keep up the good work Howard, reporters ask questions.
- Jimgo get em’ howie
- davethis team will get better with ron and brian but don’t them
get comfy in t.o. or we will be back to square one
You are a bottom feeder. You deserved what you got. You should be fired already berger.
- dan meanHoward,
- BenNormally i appiciate your work.
I looked up the question asked on Monday night, and as David mentioned, you didnt say why not call it earlier in the year against anyone, you said why not call spezza on it. Your reaction to this is just as bad as Wilsons. If he is over sensative, then you are as well.
Lets move on?
You should be fired for not knowing that the Leafs had won every game against the Sentators this year. My 11 year old daughter’s friend knew that.
You should be fired for asking such an inane and totally uninformed question. Ron Wilson isn’t over sensitive. He is pissed off at having to deal with someone that asks uninformed questions.
You should be fired for not acknowledging a bone head question and trying to pin the blame on Wilson.
I am not impressed…you are the laughing stock of sports reporting. I think I will put you on youtube and see what kind of reaction you get…maybe you will make it to ESPN as the joker of sports reporting award.
Unbelievable…..Way to go Ron…don’t let people get away with that nonesense. If they are going to criticize, make sure they are intelligent about it…
- PeterI can’t believe how many Leaf fans just don’t get it.R. Wilson is right.What the media writes about the team is irrelevant, in as far as how the team plays.The only thing that’s relevant to the media is the kind of reaction they can get from the fans, also the amount of attention they can get for their sponsors. So in this case you have made it a slam dunk win for Howard.Normally he gets less than ten responses to the blogs on this site.Right now were at eighty three and counting. No doubt in my mind you have made his day much better, and for what? To be honest I thought at this point in the season it was a lame call on the stick measurement also.If the leafs truly cared about making the playoffs they would have done something about the weak Goaltending, and found someone better than Stajan for a first line center back when it mattered. Why did they trade two of their top four scorers, and shut down Toskala, and then decide to put on a push for the playoffs. If Howard was out to stick it to Wilson those would be the questions to ask him. Those should be the questions leafs fans should be asking M.L.S.E. Instead of looking for reasons to bitch at reporters.
- Bob from WindsorSorry
But like many reporters you are looking to get under somebody’s skin, to say or admit something you want them to say, so you have something unique to write and sell your story. Congratulations, you succeeded. Your phasing of the question definitely was questioning the coach and the organization’s desire to win, and that has been attempted numerous times this season. Put it aside. What you should have done is apologize publicly to the coach. You want his respect and some of his time and his thoughts. Treat the guy with respect. Pat Quinn or Pat Burns could be blunt as well and have been, but they were never as honest with the media as Wilson and Burke have been. Seems you don’t want honesty or integrity, you just want a unique story that questions or chastizes their decisions. Oh sorry… your criticisms.
- DonYou did nothing wrong, Howie. Wilson knows he looked desperate and ridiculous to challenge Spezza’s stick at a time when it meant nothing. Yoiu pointed out several occasions when he could have employed the tactic namely when the season was still salvagable. And you’re right about most Leaf fans too. They are a bunch of sheep and THEY are the ones who cannot take critisism. I don’t get them. All I see on most message boards are all these people who want the team to tank for Tavares and yet they come after you for having the balls to ask a fair question about the questionable timing of Wilson’s tactic. Leaf fans are sheep, I repeat. A mob mentality where there is little though given to thinking outside the box. One day they are all tankers, next minute they all ride to the rescue of a coach whose tactic runs contrary to their desired outcome - to tank. The only people who like Leaf fans are Leaf fans. Any other fans of other teams cannot stand Leaf fans and these hypocritical comments on this blog are one reason why. “Boo Hoo Howard. Stop criticising the Leafs. It hurts.” Leafs know they don’t have to win because they have a bunch dupes for fans and everybody knows it but themselves. Integrity? The Leafs and their fans have none and haven’t had for 40 some odd years.
- Vito From HamiltonLloyd, a Howard Berger fan, and it shows! I’ll get off their payroll when you get off his lap.
- Kyle Maxwellrogers should hire a 12 year old to cover the leafs we would probally get beter reporting!saying a professional sports team should tank a season is a joke! thats like my boss telling me to come to work and only give 50 percent! nice logic booger can’t wait to see you serving me at the local mcdonalds!
- skywalker000you know howard, you have the best job in the world. you get to watch all the games, you get to follow the team.
i pay 200 dollars to see a product you evaluate on a daily basis.
that being considered, watching you get absolutely TORCHED by wilson was absolutely hilarious!! please ask more questions like that!
- AlexI used to respect your opinions, Howard….not any more. How you can think your question wouldn’t be interpreted as a shot as Wilson’s integrity is truly unbelievable. The Leafs have done a much better job this year than almost anyone expected, and you keep finding a way to slam them. I’ll be switching the radio channels from now on.
- GreggFor all Howard Haters,
I have to disagree with most of the responses on this thread. Howard Berger is not a leaf hater. Anyone, reasonably familiar with the Leafs over the past decade and with Berger’s blogs has to see his objectivity in reporting. First off, he’s a reporter. He’s not paid to be a fan. He’s paid to be a reporter and thus, give us information on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Its not his fault the organization was in shambles for the last 4 decades. He reports it as he sees it. For that matter his reports are objective and concise. Secondly, for those of you who are saying Howie wants nothing more than to see this team tank, this notion is completely ludicrous. Go back to his first blogs of the season, way back in September. The ones about this team may surprise us. And what about his numerous blogs about the notion of taking is false. He doesn’t want this team to tank nor does he think a professional sports team would tank.
Kudos, to you Howard for asking the tough questions. Maybe Hyper-Sensitive Leaf fans should just chill. Take a seat and enjoy the ride for the next few years.
- Eric
P.S. GO LEAFS GO!!!!
- EricMy,My My. Just been readin all the responses to your thoughtful account and recognition of the ‘Blow-Up’. Many on here have shown their lack of education and their ‘Character Profile’…Type ‘A’ or Type ‘B’ personality. Oh well, they’ve let us all know who they are and where they come from….it seemed sopooo important for them to do so. Keep on reporting the facts and your opinions, Howard. You do a great job, despite the nay sayers. Oh, by the way…disagreements happen all the time;it’s a part of life. No need for such a fuss by all these individuals who bash you…unless they honestly believe…and they do…. that their opinion is THEEEE Most Important…hehheh…silly people. Bye , for now.
- Karl R. Thomsonhoward,
while the team is a joke, so is howard. the question in hand had nothing to do with reporting on the game. if you have the skillset to be a coach maybe you should apply instead of attacking Ron’s integrity for coaching. if not stick to something your good at, and newsflash its not reporting… more like bu@@shit
- GinoWell put Lloyd!!
- Scott P.And Kris… Never. Living outside of “Leaf Nation” cleanses the soul. Reading most of the statements here just further reinforces what the rest of the nation sees Leaf fans as. Its pretty sad that so many people are getting on here and just ripping Berger apart because he criticized their coach who hopefully will take them to the Holy Grail!! The media in Toronto I admit is over bearing… why do you think folks?? because they, like MLSE, know you all will eat it up and it sells. Now all of you run along and save up your pennies for your price increased tickets for next year.
Part 2
- MarkSaw you act on Off the Record last night..
Still trying to keep the lie alive.
Even Landsberg was not buying your B.S.
Berger please do us all a favour and go to work for the Sens..
They like reporters that make up stories.
Howard,
Being a avid listener to the FAN 590, and other media coverage involving the Maple Leafs, I find it irresponsible for Howard Berger to challenge the coach about the illegal stick - the rule is an option at any time of year, and may be called at any point. Ron Wilson (and Brian Burke) is creating a new environment and method of coaching/managing the Maple Leaf Organization. Approaching 4 decades of mediocrity demands for trying something new - when was the last time the organization called for stick measurement?
On March 11th, again, I find it irresponsible for Howard Berger to say that he didn’t make any comment of ‘November/December when the points matter’ -
http://mapleleafs.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=800&id=36045.
Ron Wilson was well within his right, and to say that he should sit down with you, and allow for the opportunity to ‘BOND’ isn’t in the Maple Leaf plan. I would add, Ron Wilson, Brian Burke, and to a lesser extent Cliff Fletcher has removed the ‘country club’ mentality inside the club itself, now its time for the leafs media to remove the same beliefs of the past.
- Ignila Mile
- ignilamileI realy don’t understand why people are blaming Howard for being so “negative.”
- matthewGee, do you think the “negativity” has something to do with the Leafs being a bad hockey team?
What’s next — an email to the local weather man complaining that he’s being a downer for reporting overcast skies and periods of rain?
P.S.
Wilson sounded like a big baby.
First of all, go Ron Wilson
2nd, Who is the Lloyd guy? Typical jealous non Leafs fan. I’m not sure why these people are so jealous. Is it because the Leafs are the most popular team in the NHL? Is it because they sell out each and every game? Is it because no other team in the NHL can match those credentials? A team even slightly close is the Montreal Canadians… who sell out most games and are the 2nd most popular NHL team worldwide. The problem here is.. their are 30 teams in the NHL.. and probably 1/3 of the fans of the NHL are Leafs fans.. 2/3’s goto the rest of the NHL… and people just can’t take it. And since we are in Toronto, the Leaf haters are crazed! You goto Anaheim and there wouldnt be 1 in the whole city. Face it people your jealous, Lloyd represents a large number of the these people. And i rather enjoy the jealousy :)
- DarrylNo sense putting you on waivers Howie, you’d obviously clear. I think The Fan should just buy you out and take the cap hit.
- steveHoward, to be quite honest I think this whole thing is blown totally out of proportion and I feel that maybe you’re in the wrong on this one. The comment you made about the stick incident was more of a criticism than an insightful comment. At the start of the year we all knew the leafs were rebuilding and the only expectation I had as a fan was that no matter how bad the team was if they came out and at least competed I was satisfied. Well they shaved payroll and got rid of their best players and are still roughly where they were last season which to me is reasonable at this point. I was at the ACC during that debacle last year when the florida panthers came to town and were cheered, so I know how different this team is from last year. Could Ron Wilson have been a bit more discreet and responded to your request for a meeting to iron out any misunderstandings?, sure he could of, but remember, every comment you make is automatically put into a public forum and I think Ron does have a right to air things the same way. How is he being “over-sensitive” by responding to what he believes is an unjust comment. You have certainly had plenty of oportunity to respond to Mondays comment without being labelled “over-sensitive” on a public forum….till now. I can’t believe we are all sitting around responding to this when real journalism about the team could be done. Stop wasting time and please move on, normally I find most of your comments pretty decent and you try to be pretty fair but I can’t help but feel an undercurrent of poor me on this one.
- SteveThe true sign of bad reporting is bias. You’ve somehow turned a stick measurement into a story about Howard Berger vs Ron Wilson. You need to understand that we tune in to hear Ron’s opinions. So instead of trying to meet with him behind closed doors to iron out the wrinkles in your ego, just be quiet and record what he says at the pressers.
Ken
- KenHoward, you do a decent job, but Wilson slapped you down. he was right, you are wrong. Take it and move on. By trying to explain yourself, you come across weak. Face it the Toronto media is poor, with few exceptions. Howard you can rise above it, but when you mess up accept it, and take your beating like a man. Ron Wilson is right on, and I love how he treats the media.
- Doug GThis situation likely goes much deeper than just one question. Berger has been yelled at before by players, coaches and other media types before I am sure. Berger reminds me of that thing on Aliens that attached to peoples faces. I think Wilson over reacted a bit but that is sometimes what you need to do with people that ask the same annoying questions time and time again. If Wilson didn’t use that tactic with the stick (which was likely suggested by Gerber??) and Berger found out about it, I am almost 100 percent certain there would be a blog about that. Berger is not a very good journalist in my opinion but he does have a dream job. The Leafs management is trying to change the atmosphere to a winning one and part of that atmosphere includes the media. For far too long the media has asked non hockey related questions mainly because I don’t think they understand the game. Its nice to see Wilson will not be bullied by the media and this is part of the growing of the Toronto Maple Leafs and draws a proverbial line in the sand.
I do want the Leafs to finish as low as they can in the standings for the future good of the club but I am very discusted with the media. I would like to see more stories on the what, why and how of the game in Toronto rather then the who. In my opinion, the media is a giant ego that needs to be checked hard to the boards and Ron Wilson did a good job of that. Fighting in hockey remains but it just spilled over to the post game press conference.
- TrevorBig Deal….a minor scrap between a caoch and a reporter. The real qestion here is why the hell did it take so long for someone…anyone of the coaches to call Spezza’s stick or did we have to wait until some player got skewered and suffered a very serious injury. Howard keep asking the tough qestions and Wilson you are an insensitive bully. You both have a job to do so get on with it. The real question here is all about safety or should we let Spezza throw another hockey player on the Barbie!
- ken trewThe one thing that stands out to me is the fact that
YOU are the common demoninator when it comes to the ‘tough few years’ you’ve had with various Leaf Coaches.
You Howard.
Even your peers and subordinates agree… your line of questioning can be brutally inappropriate.
- RhondaAnother point made about the media and your coverage of the leafs. One decision to challenge a stick rule and it is made a spectacle. Why would you do it? Because you can and should. Spezza is then considered a cheater and you are condoning this action by saying “why even call it at all”. A team has a right at anytime to call another team/player for cheating during any of the 82 games meaningful or not. Rules are rules. To say that it is useless to do at this time of year under these circumstances is asinine. It could have made a difference and it did give us an edge or something to go on least. This is why you are not behind the bench. You should be replaced as the leafs reporter. Good for Ron Wilson for standing up to you and putting you in your place. You ask the stupidest questions. He should have thrown his shoe at you :). And to say we should be at the bottom for a chance at the draft lottery, a team is there due to fate since all teams want to win. This is another media harping on where the leafs should be. We end up where we end up. All players are still fighting for stats, jobs and improved skills. If and when we win, more power to Canada’s team. NO MATTER WHAT! GO LEAFS GO!
- BeanNice try Howeird!
You said this morning that you wanted to move on, but yet again your on OTR. Howard let it die man your making yourself look bad man.
- TonyHi Howard
Ron Wilson acts like he has a chronic sore tooth. If he displayed this attitude in other professions, he would be looking for work - a lot.
But of course this is sports, isn’t it and ill mannered behaviour is not only tolerated, but accepted. If Wilson ends up delivering a Stanley Cup, no doubt his behaviour will be accepted the way Punch Imlach’s was.
I don’t envy you your job Howard, but keep making Wilson and others in the MLSEL empire accountable on behalf of Leaf fans.
- DavidYou should join the national cycling team with all the back-peddling you have demonstrated in you musings; so many defensive and repeating ramblings.
You have sited other “problem” coaches such as Quinn and Burns. Hmm…the common denominator in your arguments must be you and your ridiculous inflammatory comments and questions to sell airtime. Change your last name to Sterne and you will finally spiral down to the depths of what you have become, namely a whining sports shock-jock.
- Martin BonisHi again Howard
- DavidAs I read over some of the other comments suggesting you don’t understand hockey, I realize that many of your correspondents don’t understand reporting. Having had experience in this area, I know a reporter’s job is to ask questions. Whatever one thinks of the specific question you asked Ron Wilson, you are doing your job and keeping him and others honest. Keep up the good work!
I find it hard to believe you don’t get along with Wilson he is the only guy who has bashed this team in the media more than you.
- Derek LawrenceBerger, did you crawl into your hole? You are a weasel. I hope you get a chance to interview Coach Wilson again, and I defintley hope he goes off on you. That was very amusing :-)
- BobbyHello Howard, thanx for the extra topic to talk about either than the boring leafs/Islander game that night. However, I have to go with Ron on this one.
The problem with your perspection is that I don’t think you understand that these pro athletes & coach’s play ever game to win. It’s easy for fans to say ‘oh, lets loose so we can get into the lottary draft’…The mentality side of an athlete is to win, win & win…It’s just instincts. You have not been a pro athlete as far as I know so you don’t understand how these players are taught to win & only win their whole lives & that includes coach’s.
You asked why Ron didn’t use this tactic in other games prior, well he answered that they won all of them against the Sens. He just wanted to reward his players with the great effort that night with a chance to win. Ron will critize his players in the media but he will also protect reward them if the effort is there. It’s pretty obvious you want the leafs to loose so they can get a chance at Tavares, it’s been your tone all season but pro athletes don’t think that way.
Having said that, I think you have to stop calling it a cheap or desperate play unless you want to angry Ron futher. It’s in the rule book & players should not be using an illegal stick in the first place. It may even give them a bit more of an advantage, who knows.
- david F.Another point you where wrong on is that you assume Ron & the players think that there is no chance of making the playoffs. Pro athletes & coach’s don’t think that way. Yes, they probably won’t make the playoffs but these players think they have a chance unless they are mathematically out of it. Having played competitive baseball the last 21 years myself. I know why Ron is pulling all the stops. Media & fans tend to think the negative or the chances are they won’t but Pro athletes are taught to never give up & win at pretty much all cost their whole lives.
- david F.Howard, Howard, Howard.
Rule number one:
Don’t crap where you eat.
- mapleaforeverwow i cant beleive the response to something so stupid. People care more about the soap opera than they do the game.
- Matt Robertsalso, isn’t it a good thing that the leafs arent dead last? I mean, if your team sucks so bad that it finishes dead last, than the rebuilding will take years upon years, because you have shitty players. The fact that some of the kids we have are better than we thought is a blessing. Instead of having to find 23 players, we now only need to find, say, 12.
- Matt RobertsHoward, you keep talking about tanking. These atheletes are professionals and being paid to do a job. Tanking means to fake is and do a half baked job. That is just plain unethical. I hope you do not subscribe to that theory in your daily life.
- TCI consider myself a Howard Berger fan… I like your work. I don’tconsider myself a Ron Wilson fan but … He seems better than average with a team that many would conside below average. Howard, your handling of this is below average… you can do better. Ron tried to get his team an advantage in a 2-1 game. What is so wrong with that??? Your timing issue isa joke. Would you have Ron wait until the playoffs??? Niether team will be there this year or next. If the game versus Ottawa means so little why are you covering it??? Why was it on T.V. Why were there sponsers??? Fans from both sides… At least some professionals showed up and took it seriously. It was a pro game and money changed hands. Stop suggesting that the leafs try less and loose more to persue a draft pick. Are you suggesting they throw games??? Who are you asking to give up besides the fans?
- stanRemember, I’m a fan of yours…and I know you can do better… get back in the game.
Wow! I’m so glad to see that so many others feel as I do about that pest of a reporter…How did he get that job anyways! He knows nothing about reporting..Most times Howard Berger sounds like he’s a college or high school nerd reporting on some obscure team sport only to obtain his credit to graduate!(Oh PS I didn’t mean any offence to college or High school reporters!) I hope the FAN assigns him to some weird station affiliate in the Northwest so we don’t have to listen to his whiny voice!
- DanielMr Berger, lighten up for the sake of Leaf nation. You are not reporting from a war-torn country on CNN as it sounds like you’re imagining most times.
- MichaelYour questions are often nonsensical and the tone overly dramatic at best.
Wilson was completely justified in his reaction. Do all reporters feel the need for individual one-on-one’s behind closed doors??
Howard. You kicked the cat and got scratched. The press and Coaches play a carefully orchestrated dance and once in a while a REAL emotion rises to the surface.
How refreshing.
The only bothersome item is your rebuttal. Take it like a man and move on Howard. You can be sure that Wilson has, as soon as he stops laughing.
- George in Port DoverRonnie made you look like a complete fool Howard. He initially stated in the previous game that the Leafs were beating OTT in previous altercations. Gotta love Ron for the way he tells these reporters where to go!!
- David CBoy Howard, You certainly created a lot of excitement. Wilsons had a tough year but his toughness gets the best out of what he has got. He and Burke are laying a good foundation. Try making some positive points Howie. You’ll find people respond better, even maybe Ron Wilson
- JimHoward
The title of your blogpost is an example of PROJECTING. I’ve listened to the Fan for years, including your daily reports and appearances. It’s funny, because I’ve always thought you were extremely sensitive and defensive, whenever anyone DARES challenge on of your assertions.
I actually saw the Ottawa post-game, and when you asked the question, I could tell Wilson had reached his breaking point with you. When I watched the next night, my impression was confirmed. I’ve seen, in earlier post games, that he doesn’t have much time for your constant kneejerk negativity- basically, my read has always been that Wilson thinks your an idiot.
Howard, just because you’re with the team all the time, doesn’t make you the “go to” authority. In fact, I wouldn’t want you anywhere near any position of authority with the Leafs, many times you’re clueless and you get tunnel vision on your pet themes.
Wilson called you out, and instead of RATIONALIZING, like you’ve done here and on the Fan yesterday, maybe you should take a hard look at yourself. Don’t use other reporters to form a little cadre of denialability, or Wilson for cover, it’s YOU Howard. When you get over yourself, maybe you’ll figure it out. Methinks it’s clearly time you moved on, because your stale bitterness and “downer” mentality is becoming a real bore.
- SteveThese posts are great. Howie, I hope you read these and get a dose of reality: You are not respected by the majority of your readers…That must hurt.
- Jonny in K Townyou did a good job and dont let anyone tell you otherwise
- bobHi Howard
- DavidI’m trying to understand the negative reaction you’re getting. Are some of your critics so in love with the Leafs they can’t bear any criticism of the Blue and White and they’re using the Wilson issue to vent at you? I’m a Leaf fan and I hope Burke and Wilson can turn it around in a reasonable time frame, but let’s get real. This team is mediocre at best, has been for four years, and probably will be for a few more. Shooting the messenger isn’t going to change that. If your critics want to vent, they could start with Peddie and company who are responsible for the state of this team. As for those who accuse you of wanting the Leafs to tank, I refer them to your January 15 blog in which you dismiss tanking as an option, referring to the idea as “ridiculous.”
instead of the dumb stick question,
where is mention of Jiri Tlusty hot streak (including 6 points in a game).
he still part of the T.O. future. Or is that not negative enough.
For God sakes, feed the fan not piss him off. You’re in a great unique, inside position.
- eddyI don’t have to say anything it has been said already. I totally agree with Mr. Wilson and he called you out for comments you made which is his right to do. Maybe next time you will watch what you write in your blog. You know what they say sports writers have news columns and wannabe’s have “blogs”
- MichaelModerator’s note: Berger also writes for the National Post
great, more stupidity
RE: Sean Mccormick
On behalf of my colleague Howard Berger, I would like to say, for the love of God, put a sock in it and coach hockey”
hey brainstorm, Wilson would love nothing more than to stick to coaching but he is forced to answer your dumb questions - duh!
- eddySweet merciful …. but yeah…I can’t believe the bile I’m reading in these comments towards Howard. Really Leaf’s nation let’s not take out our frustrations on one of the few real work a day reporters this city has…be it hockey or any other sport. Just because a coach is thin skinned and spoiling for a fight with a media member it’s not a reporters problem. It’s typical of a losing coach. Slight of hand to keep the attention on anything but the teams performance and the coaches failings. I’m a leaf fan. I really am, but that doesn’t mean I give a complete free pass for the bull that comes out of the coaches office at the ACC.
- D.A Mitchellevery play any sports howard, and i dont mean driving your kids to there game,questions like that didnt surprise one bit from you ,used to it for id say 20 yrs now and you are lucky you have a job like that casue you should be flipping burgers when we live in a hockey universe and have a pee wee reporter…
- cenzoHoward - Why would you write a 10,000 word essay detailing to us - why you were right - what you should have done is appoligize for the stupid question -re Nov stick measurement - Thats the problem in this market all the reporters and on air people - know everything - Example - Brodeur goes down and all your cronies say NEW JERSEY IS DONE for the season - last we looked they are in the top 5 in the league - and no one has said a word . Doug
- Doug BaumkenHoward, you had it coming, and deserved everything you got. Lighten up a bit already. This is hockey, its a game, sport, fun ….
- WolfI won’t attacj you as a person for the reason that I don’t know you, but my god man, enough is enough. You and Steve Simmons can find something wrong in anything. The Leafs could win the cupo and you two would print and say something negative. Ron Wilson coaches a losing team and you asked a very dumb question, he boiled over, its finally nice to see a bit of emotion from a Leaf coach. The fact that you decided to write a blog about the story shows that you are on the defensive, or else you would have stuck to your guns and moved on. And if you are the one that has had problems with the past few Leaf coaches then maybe get YOUR head out of YOUR ass because do you really think you can win this battle? Remember him and Burke are here long term. Maybe the Leafs need a 5 foot rule with you guys then maybe he wouldn’t get so irritated with the media in general. As for you, use your head, and know that you can’t win this one. Take the high road and move on, because judging the comment board it’s clear that you haven’t won the fans over.
- Ryanooo the drama!!! this is quite unreal!! Howard yes you do ask the hard questions and i respect you for that. You do a fabulous rebuttal dance in response to any public outburst such as this and the avery incident. I notice as one commenter put it. YOU FRAME it in your favour.. thats talent. You are a whiz with words. I really dont think Wilson is the man for this team . He has his quirks the joseph Shootout thing and this spezza stick thing. He seems just a bit too neandrathal like. I really think a craig mctavish type is the man for a growing young team. its unfortunate burke is of wilsons breed.
- Camaro99zThe whole tim hunter zettler Cronie types must be so nauseating for young guys like Grabovsky and kulemin
I like your reporting style Howard, but he burned you hard on that one. Who cares if he didnt call it earlier in the year. He was right by responding “we won those games”, so I guess you could say it was a good coaching move that he didnt waste it on a game they won as opposed to a game that they were losing. I thought it was a great move on a lousy team. Clearly you’re reaching for stuff to report on and frankly I dont blame you, but to write a big blog and go on the radio the day after and make yourself sound in the right, didnt do any favours. You should have just let it go!
- DaveHoward,
I’ve always regarded you as one of the best hockey reporters. You’ve done a great job in covering the Leafs for almost 15 years now. I know you didn’t mean to question Wilson’s integrity but to be honest that’s what I deduced when I heard the press conference after the Ottawa game. It just didn’t come out nicely.
I hope you and Wilson patch the things up quickly and move on. We definitely need you as fans and I hope you stick around for another 10 years. Take care
P.S: I heard you turned 50. So happy belated.
- RickyHoward - you said it yourself in your blog above - “when was the last time you saw a coach make a call on an illegal stick”?
You said that, and then wonder why Wilson did not make a call like that back in November? Duh - maybe this is the first time he really did see one this season - maybe Gerber knew from his days in Ottawa and tipped off the coach! There could be a lot of reasons why now and not then.
For you to ask the question was just plain “button pushing” and you know it! It was a rude and dumb question - you most certainly did question his integrity as a coach and winning games - no doubt about it. It has nothing to do with RW being “thin skinned”.
Speaking of thin skinned - look at yourself! Since this event you have done nothing but go out there and try to defend and justify what you said - been crying to everyone about it and looking for pity - I saw you on “OTR” and you were whining and trying to justify it even on that show. You need to grow some thicker skin.
Saying RW needs to grow another layer of skin and topping that off with Toronto media is tough etc - what a joke. What makes you think the media here is so tough or so special than anywhere else. The only difference here is you guys are around more often, even after practices etc. which is ridiculous to say the least.
If the shoe was on the other foot and you had to face a bunch of clowns like yourself everyday - I am sure you would get pretty fed up with it. Especially when asked idiotic questions like the one you asked pertaining to an illegal stick call - man the more I think of it - the dumber it sounds - it really was a stupid and ignorant question.
Not even close to professional - just a cheap shot by you at one of the NHL’s best coaches. What RW has done this season with what he has had to work with and put up with is amazing. You of all people should know that.
“Never bite the had that feeds you” - you would be well served to heed that quote Burger! I hope RW does not give you a 1 on 1 meeting you don’t deserve it. Be a man and apologize to him for the stupidity and disrespect you showed.
After what you did to a “good guy” like Paul Maurice - you deserve all these negative comments - by the way out of the 145 posted here 107 do not agree with you.
The next time you say - it’s time to move on from something - mean it - don’t keep it up at every opportunity you can.
- Bob from BurlingtonRon Wilson proved again last night what an argumentative bully he is by being ejected from the game. He claims he was worrying about his player’s safety; are these the same players that he calls out in the media all the time? What an ass. His record is terrible this year, regardless of what kind of team he has to work with. I say fire Ron Wilson. He’s not the coach we need to turn the team around.
- MurIt’s probably one you’d like to have back.
- DilenoThe question was valid, but it implied a couple of things that I can see how Wilson would have been upset:
1. That he knew Spezza’s stick was illegal before but chose not to call it; and
2. That the Leafs needed the call late in a game to get a power play.
It’s possible he didn’t know about the stick in the previous games, and as he pointed out to you, they were winning the previous games, so didn’t really need to waste a call like that, because once you call it, you can’t really do it again.
Wilson is just too sensitive, though.
I haven’t (bothered) to read all the posts but the usual “you’re a jerk for criticizing the leafs” and “you’re too negative” bull_ _ _ _ is front and center.
It’s ridiculous that some illiterate little 12 year old posts a response to a blog that is nothing more than personal vitriol.
For all the small minded underdeveloped leaf fans who feel so personally slighted by the opinion of a reporter/ columnist that they feel the need to spit out their blue & white pacifiers and froth at the mouth to insult him personally - GROW UP. You make the rest of us look stupid.
On the topic of the question/ exchange I think the question was unnecessarily provacative. It is a tactic that has been employed in hockey many times and will be again. Calling it a meaningless game likely insults the people involved just as similar remarks would offend someone who’s “just a janitor” etc.
- joelEverybody needs to switch on their brain before they put their mouth in gear, but sometimes everybody forgets.
Accept it, admit it, apppologize if you need to and move on.
Howard,
I hope you get fired very soon…I cant stand your reporting…Who do you think you are? The reason why Wilson doesnt want to talk to you behind closed doors is because your a nobody….You must think your someone important to warrant time with the Toronto Maple Leafs coach…Dont flatter yourself…Jerk
- RomanHoward, I do admire one thing about you; I’d have a difficult time reading the comments made in this particular thread. It’s the first time I have ever participated myself and I’ve never read any blog of your’s before. While the majority of the comments are negative (and personal), you have to believe they are indicative of your performance. How do you do it? Just listen to some of those closed-ended and whiny ‘questions’ you ask in the scrums! Seems to me, were it not for the security of The Fan, you’d have a hard time making it on your local Cable channel……
- MichaelHoward,
I was waiting for you to ask Wilson last night why he didn’t get kicked out of a game earlier in the year when the points mattered? What a dumb question you asked the other day. I’m glad Wilson let you have it! Tell your buddies at the Fan to stop defending you. Your reporting is defenceless!!
- Joe Caratrade burger for a cheeseburger and warm body!
- skywalker000Please Howard, just quit your job or at least move to another city (like Montreal or somewhere far like phoenix) so we don’t have to read your bs anymore. Your comments to Wilson were wrong and unneccisary and you deserved everything he said to you. I’m a larger Wilson fan now then ever before so suck it up princess and move on with your life.
- Matt BWislon’s a big suck and Leaf fans are sheep. Baaaahhh… Baaahhh…alright Dougie! Baaahh
- Vito From HamiltonHoward, we’ve had this discussion before. Many years ago I emailed you because I was tired of how you seemed to make it your mission to discredit Leaf coaches (first Burns, then Quinn). Well you’re at it again. I actually saved your reply to me from those years ago and let me tell you, you didn’t appreciate MY questioning YOUR integrety and you essentially let me have it. Since then I have come to respect your work but what were you thinking that night or even when you wrote this self-indulgent blog?? I heard the clip and saw the exchange as well…you deserved that response because of your timing, tone and line of questioning. And judging by the VAST majority of these posts, let’s just say I hope for your sake that Nelson Millman is computer illiterate.
I know it’s been a slow season, but that’s why you get paid the big bucks. Time to get YOUR game back Howard and find something real to report on.
- SLIs this article an attempt at character assassination? It was a silly question - and then to write an article about how over-sensitive the coach is? It seems the hockey reporter also suffers from the same malaise.
- JarodGet back to hockey or we’ll call in the Love Guru to help you and Ron get back on speaking terms.
don’t imatate your mom vito!
- skywalker000howard’ you submarined paul maurice! you tried to do the same to ron and he ripped your ass a new one! good on him! your reporting is juvinille!
- kaleekhoward i loved the way ron made you look! like a horses ass!
- jim brownhoward ron made you look like a complete arse! good on him! i loved the way you complained and cryed on lansberg’s show
- ryanJust a few comments Howard:
(a) Your question to Wilson was perhaps a little silly.
(b) Wilson over reacted,… he should “roll with it” a little better.
(c) Your hockey knowledge, at times, is evident. However,.. it’s your negativity and faceitiousness that rubs people the wrong way.
(d) Credit to you for having an “open” blog
- JeffHey Howie, how dare you upset poor Ron Wilson and the sheep of so called Leaf Nation who should be called lovers of mediocrity. They just don’t get it. No wonder MLSE doesn’t worry about assembling a winning team, just by reading some of these blogs, they don’t have to with these whiners. They put together a team of 4th liners, add a coach who has won nothing and they fall in lovw with them. Hence wanting Tie Domi’s sweater in the rafters. They buy this 9th and 10th place crap. Keep up the good work Howie and please try not to hurt any sheep feelings.
- Gary Ohoward you didnt chalenge him you insulted him! good on ron to make you look like a complete goof! please quit you job!
- justynHoward…I think you suffered “Ron’s Wrath” for two reasons. First of all, it WAS a smart-ass question, and good for Ron for giving it back to you. Maybe he was sending the message to his previously pampered players that no matter what the situation…you don’t pack it in. Secondly, I think you took the hit because of your moronic “bretheren”. I enjoy your work Howie, but, my God, this market is full of hockey critics who don’t know what they’re talking about! (McGowan, Cox, Kelley). Actually, what’s worse, is that they don’t know that they don’t know. At least YOU seem to know when you don’t know…ya know?
- jimBy the way…Joel’s right. Some of this stuff is pretty nasty; a sad by-product of the internet- the gutless, anonymous trasher…BUT some of this stuff is brilliant, hilarious! Trevor’s vision of Howie as “that thing from Aliens stuck to Ron’s face” is just cracking me up…sides hurt… can’t finish… response…g
- jimI love it when people try to take shots at others yet they can’t spell.
1) There are too many reporters/media personnel trying to cover the Leafs.
2) That being said, I do think that sometimes reporters try to create stories. The reaction by Wilson was child-like. If he was a true professional, he would not have reacted the way he did. HOWEVER, look at all the coverage Howard is getting out of this. Good or bad, Howard has gotten a lot of coverage out of this. He’s got to be smiling, along with everyone in Management.
3) The Leafs do not deserve the coverage that they receive. They receive all the FREE coverage just to increase their profits. Now with the salary cap in place, they are sheltered from the fans and media telling them to spend more money on players. Imagine if you owned a company where everyone else gave you free publicity/press coverage just so you can sell your product and make millions of dollars in profits. What a great concept.
4) Why isn’t the NHL digging deep into the situation with Brian Burke coming to Toronto? Are you kidding me?? There HAD TO BE tampering involved!!!! Even if they didn’t speak directly to one another (which is hard to believe), they were communicating through the media on an ongoing basis!!
5) Burke is not going to make the Leafs Stanley Cup Champions. Sure the team will be better but how can it not be? The team is so bad that it can only get better (maybe?!?). Burke did not make the Ducks into Champions - do not give him credit for that. Look at the state that the Ducks are in now. He destroyed the Ducks.
6) Is it me or has the NHL gone downhill since Bettman took over? His NBA mentality has destroyed the NHL. The league should go down to 24 teams. Add a team in Quebec City, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and one in the east coast. Then you can have a Canadian conference.
7) Stop bashing Howard. Although sometimes I roll my eyes when I hear some of his stories (the times when there’s nothing to say about the team but something has to be said because that’s his job), I still enjoy listening to him. You can not have the media cover the team (as crappy as they are) and just say good things about them. They need to take personal feelings out and just report the facts in an entertaining manner.
8) It’s in the best interest of MLSE NOT to win a Stanley Cup so that they can continue to drag all Leafs fans along and continue to make huge profits. If they win, some of that will disappear (see Toronto Blue Jays).
— I’m out of here! Be nice to Howard! :o)
Eric
- EricI had to leave a few more points after I read some of the responses.
1) A reporter is effective if he/she gets a reaction out of people which is obvious Howard has done in this case. This just proves that he has a large listener base.
2) Wilson didn’t make the call because he probably didn’t know about the stick size before. If I was the coach and knew about a players illegal stick, then I would make a point of it every single time. The players with illegal sticks are CHEATING!!! How is this any worse than taking performance enhancing drugs (please I’m not looking to get into that argument). Cheating is cheating and there should be a suspension for any player that tries to CHEAT! Spezza and others should be suspended. The NHL is all over the place when it comes to enforcing the rules.
3) The Leafs have not played a game with any meaning since they got knocked out of the playoffs by Gretzky and the Kings in the 3rd round? Wow, was that a Gretzky call on the high stick or what?
4) Funny how everyone bashed Pat Quinn when he was here. Now that he’s gone, the team is so much better. LOL (that was what you Leafs fans should recognize as SARCASM!)
Out again….
- EricI read a lot of the responses here and the point I did not see was that Wilson has to instill a winning attitude. How are the players supposed to adopt this attitude if their coach isn’t doing everything in his power to win games? Howard can ask whatever he wants, I just don’t think that he thought this particular question through.
- bobbyshowIf there is one thing, among many, that I’ve learned in my first season reading Howard Berger, it’s that the reporter of the Fan 590 doesn’t react well to criticism. That’s not to suggest the other reporters I’ve listened to in the past 20 years enjoyed being challenged, but Berger takes it as a particular affront — mainly because of his heightened sensitivity to all things Maple Leaf.
Howard fancies himself as being cool and detached when it comes to Leaf coverage; he has often insisted that coverage of this team is “irrelevant”. But, he belies that notion in just about every one of his daily gatherings with MLSE. In fact, he’s probably the most media-parasitic reporter I’ve ever seen , and that’s saying a mouthful after my years around the big Smoke, Though Berger is often cutting and sarcastic in his repartee with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he finally got chewed out in his post-game scrum on Tuesday night, moments after the Leafs had come from behind to beat the New York Islanders in overtime. Howard decided to again dwell on the negative during this conference. Etc Etc Etc…… Ummmmmmm Howard the final tally for this Blog
- BillWilson-105, Berger-35 Tie-27.
That gives you a winning percentage of around 23%. Thats WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY below the rebuilding Leafs % , I think the Fan 590 may need to “Tank” this year to get the best shot at a 1st Rd reporter next year with a bright future.
Howard,Just want to let you know that there is a group from Bridgeport CT that are huge fans of yours we tune in on sattelite only when your being interveiwed and just want to say that your doing a fantastic job.THANX
- DavidRon Wilson is a very good hockey coach but he is not media savey. This friction with the Toronto press will be the reason he will be let go. Toronto is the media capital of Canada so Ron is not going to have an easy time with the reporters as he did with other teams he coached. The Toronto media love Leaf news and sometimes that requires asking “tough” questions to get a story. Whether Ron decides to answer those questions in a dignified manner is all up to him but he has to understand that if he wants to fight the media he won’t win. Never. So take the Brian Burke approach and be blunt but honest.
The media has every right to question the actions of MLSE and that includes ALL MEMBERS of the Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s their job to ask the tough questions and make the team accountable for their actions.
- HairyKnucklesHoward, with all do respect that at times you don’t deserve, you questioned Ron’s integrity and he’s right.Ofcourse Ron is a little over the top as we know from previous run in’s with the media, however, how can you question a coach who’s said all year he is “here to win” and “they have a plan”, he even down right admitted a few times that “it’s obvious their not going to make the play-offs”.But at the very moment that the coach tries to instill in his players,especially the “up & comers”, on a never give up attitude and when the effort is there you do anything to win , at all costs, which was the real story that night. More importantly, he showed his team that he is a very knowledgeable coach and knows the rules applicable to him so that any player on his team that may have questioned his “integrity” would know that, hey, this guy is on our side, he knows what he’s doing, and in the future, if we ever need a timely decision, Ron will know EXACTLY what to do!
Ron told you that he didn’t need to make that call earlier in the season as they won all their games against Ottawa, but I really think that whether or not your intension was there, one can only assume the same way Ron did, that the game wasn’t important, leave the points on the table, what are you trying to prove,Ron, etc… In essence, me Howard Berger, should be your advisor as I can assess this team and the game better than you can Ron, so to speak. You are really not asking the question on behalf of me, because if you were representing the majority of fans, I believe, you would have said something like..hey Ron I thought that was a good call that doesn’t get used much anymore, and showed a lot of passion for your team in recognizing that no matter what time of the year and how far back we sit, there’s always something we can do to teach the players about winning at all costs, knowing the rules, etc… and that’s why,Ron you’re the coach and we’re not. Instead, Howard, you tried to grandstand and teach him.. you got what you deserved… get rid of the over the top negativity about a team who’s trying and most nights puts in a respectable effort so that even if we don’t have a vast talent pool, we can still get our money’s worth on any given night…THINK POSITIVE-IT WORKS!!!
- LAIRHEADYou haven’t written in a while Howard.Forget the incident and move on to other reporting opportunities. Give credit to a coach and his team for exceeding all expectations. They are certainly not quitters and are playing with a lot of energy. The coaches must have something to do with that.
- Jimhoward grow up and act your age! ron made you look like a fool and so did landsberg!
- kaleekI stopped listening to Howard Berger many years ago when he announced on the FAN the Leafs had acquired Eric Lindros from Philadelphia and the deal would be announced in the morning. Rule number one Howard you do not break a story unless it is going to happen. Your comments/questions often make me cringe as they are so bad and ill thought out. Too bad Burkie could not have packaged yourself, Marty York, Steve Simmons and Damien Cox in a package deal to a west coast city so we would only be forced to listen to your dribble once or twice a year. I am glad Wilson finally put you in your spot Howard.
- TerryHoward, I tend to look forward to reading your comments on the Leafs, this time you were out of line with your approach..Calm down and enjoy the next 4 years of Ron,he is doing wonders with a team of limited skill players, but plenty of drive and passion.
I am 46, and know an excellent coach when I see one.His system seems to be the main reason we are competative on most nights!!
- Paul DJust a small thought on most of these mailings:do you people not proof read and check your spelling? If anybody anywhere thinks Toronto fans are less than intelligent sentient beings, it will be as a result of our demonstrated lack of typing skills.
- PeterGreat Leaf action over the weekend against the Flames… No comment? Lots of positives in that one. I guess you’re waiting for Toronto to loose again before you post again?
- s0badBlasphemy!!!
- CaptainKI banish you from Leaf Nation!
Seriously, If it wasn’t for your reporting style I would still be one of those kool-aid drinking fanboys in overcrowded Leaf Nation where glory is as certain as a sunrise. BTW, you were both wrong and one of you is a bigger jerk than the other.
I wish Lairhead and Paul D would share whatever it is they are smoking. If Wilson is so great please tell us what this big plan for Justin Pogge is that he keeps talking about.
- Gary OHoward,
I’m sorry to say, but you’re a goof. You have the privelege to be around the Leafs all that you want and you still haven’t learned a thing about hockey. I have more hockey knowledge than you’ll ever have and I’m 23.
It’s good to see Ron call you out because whether you believe it or not, the way you phrased that question did indeed question his integrity.
Do everybody a favor and report facts instead of trying to make a story or show up the coach. According to your blog, there are “spies” keeping an eye on the stick rack right? Maybe in Novemeber the spies thought his stick was legal. It’s about time you got your head out of your @$$.
If you were a man, when Wilson confronted you, you would of turned on your microphone like he asked.
Grow up howard, you’re a hack.
- DavidPeter…There are a lot of intelligent people out there that perhaps, have not had a lot of schooling (for whatever reasons). Your reply was well written but full of crap. Pompous jerk.
- jimAnybody else feel that Howard Berger has become the Jim Cramer of the Leafs Media? No need to go AWOL, take it like a man and move on. I’m sure everyone can’t wait until you break your next news story on which 3rd line centre is starting the next game :-)
Ha Ha Howie, what a joke you are.
- BobbyHoward,
As you can see from the above comments, 85% of people don’t like you. Don’t you think it’s time to quit this job and let someone younger, with a fresher mind take over? I am sure you will get another job in hockey in 2 seconds. Players don’t like you(apparently), the coach and the GM of the team you cover don’t like you, your colleagues think you are a show-off and now the fans have had their say as well. How can you work in such an unfriendly city where nobody has a positive take on you? This must be tough, man.
- BeboWhat a useless comment Petre.Opviously yuo are not really a soprts fan. Have t\you done any sprots waching latly!
- JimHi Howard: Could you let me know how often you write in your blog? I’m an avid listener to you on the fan and would like to read more of your work whenever possible. Keep up the 1 st class work.
Regards
- BrianBrian
Now I know why I don’t like the Leafs. Not only do they stink but you Leafs fans can’t handle it when a person in the media speaks their mind or says something bad about the team.
Howard had every right to ask the question! He received a stupid answer from a coach that doesn’t know how to handle the media!
Why don’t all of you go on a crusade to get all of the reporters at the SuperBowl fired - THEY ask stupid questions. Usually by the time the media interviews are over we know what colour underwear everyone is wearing, where they went to eat the night before, when they go to the restroom and what their moms cook every 3rd week in July.
GET OVER IT PEOPLE!!!!
GO HOWARD!!!
- EricHowie! BRILLIANT! Keep up the work. Leafs cup in 2011.
- dougieeNice to see yoy back Howard.
- JimHi there Howard. I just read the stuff here and I finally got around to listening to your exchange with Wilson. Howard, you questioned his lack of judgement. In other words you dumb Leaf sheep — Howard is asking why weren’t you using your brains back in November and December! This is pure GOLD you have here. A loud mouth thats putting up his under .500 record for all to see. No wonder he isn’t on the better side of .500 for his career. Go Howard.
- Greg C