TORONTO (Oct. 3) — There’s nothing quite like a hockey broadcaster who doesn’t give a sh** about what he says… so long as it’s the truth. As a glorious example, allow me to re–introduce Doug MacLean, who coached the third–year Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup final in 1996. He morphed into an energetic hockey analyst on Sportsnet that became too “hot” once Ed the Conqueror began to take full control of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Today, the Conqueror’s network wouldn’t go near MacLean with a 60–foot pole. Too candid. Too honest… particularly when assessing the “home” team. How about these gems from the old curmudgeon’s 😛 appearance, earlier in the week, on the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast… when discussing the Matthew Knies–for–Kirill Marchenko trade:

“I always envisioned Knies as a guy the Leafs desperately needed at playoff time,” MacLean asserted. “Was he going to develop into that big power forward that [teams] need in the playoffs, which the Maple Leafs haven’t had for awhile? Marchenko… is he another one of these ‘skill’ guys or is he going to be a playoff performer? Because, I’ll tell you, Marchenko cannot be another ‘pretty boy.’ They can’t afford another ‘pretty boy’ in Toronto. Does Marchenko blend with [Auston] Matthews? That is another important question. But, the biggest problem with the Leafs is they still do not have a No. 1 defenceman. You guys may think [Darren] Raddysh is that player, but I don’t. They still don’t have the Stanley Cup No. 1 defenceman. I’m not sure they’ve got a No. 2 guy there.”

Definitely not the sort of appraisal you will find on Sportsnet.ca.

Think about some of the greatest conquerors in history: Genghis Kahn, Napolean Bonaparte, Alexander the Great. None have crushed and vanquished like the modern–day messiah, Edward Rogers. There isn’t a suspender, a jockstrap or a tinnie in town that this guy doesn’t control. Our nation’s forever–laughable Competition Bureau once again stepped aside for the rich and powerful. Rogers doesn’t own a mere sporting monopoly in Toronto, he has a monopsony. Look it up. There’s a difference. A monopolist dictates the price and supply for consumers, while monopsonists dictate production methods and quality standards down the entire supply chain.

Which sounds precisely like Ed’s empire.

He’s got so much control, he could rename his fellow conquerors Genghis Baun and Mogilny the Great.

Think about it: This heir to a communications throne has maneuvered himself into stewardship of every established team in the city — the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays, Argonauts, Toronto F.C. and Marlies. Which has never been the case. Coming closest, when I was younger, was John Bassett, who controlled one–third of the Leafs and 100 percent of the Argonauts. But, he still had Harold Ballard and Stafford Smythe as hockey partners.

Ed the Conqueror’s only partner is God… and a limited one, at that.

Most absurdly, Edward also gets to control the message being delivered about his hockey and baseball teams by owning 100 percent of Sportsnet. Competition Bureau Canada felt this allowed for parity across the board; that all sports broadcasters in the country enjoyed the same opportunity as Rogers. When, in truth, you couldn’t stumble across a bigger fiasco or conflict–of–interest. In spite of some knowledgeable messengers, every word uttered about the Leafs on Sportsnet (and Saturday Night Hockey) must be viewed through the prism of branding and co–ownership. How can there not be unreasonable restraints on candor and sincerity? Even crossing over to broadcasters otherwise considered rabid fans of the Leafs — such as J.D. Bunkis and Sam McKee, who had their post–game Leafs Talk show unceremoniously dumped without a word from above: the epitome of disregard and disrespect by an employer. Bunkis had to announce the show’s elimination on his ‘X’ (or Twitter) account. Clearly, he and Sam — giving in to passion — spoke the truth a bit too often about last season’s woeful Leafs team. That’s a no–no. Toronto hockey fans aren’t savvy enough to recognize a bunch of dogs. Why provide any obvious hints?

State–controlled TV is now upon us at the Conqueror’s network. Even Dan Shulman, arguably the most–respected Canadian sportscaster since Brian Williams, had to appreciably choke back sentiments and conclusions while the Blue Jays plummeted from first to worst in the American League East. There were moments, especially during home games, when Dan’s silence was noticeably deafening. But, that’s what you get when a single entity owns every major professional team in the city… with control over the breadth of criticism from on–air employees.

It’s also why such–outspoken observers as MacLean, Glenn Healy, Bob McCown, Don Cherry, Al Strachan and Kelly Hrudey were no–longer welcome. Dictatorship has its limits, even in sports broadcasting.

LINGERING THOUGHTS FOR A SATURDAY: Not sure why I feel this way but I’m convinced that Nick Arbuckle, when he’s 71 years of age, will still be backing up whichever quarterback is starting for the Argos. Such as [Saturday] against the B.C. Lions at BMO Field while Chad Kelly nursed a sore hand. Ol’ Nick has become the Michael Hutchinson of Canadian football. Remember that span of about three years when the Leafs would turn to Hutchinson — and not prolifically — after their first four or five goalies went down? Same with Arbuckle and the Boatmen. He may never retire… I couldn’t help but recognize, once more, the glaring contrast in captaincy between Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado and Matthews of the Leafs. MacKinnon, an accomplished performer at Stanley Cup time, got ticked at Brandt Clarke of Los Angeles and engaged in a fight last Wednesday. As if he had anything to prove to fans across the National Hockey League. Matthews wouldn’t drop his gloves if they were on fire… Saturday, for the first time in 74 years, Hockey Night In Canada did not appear on CBC. Well, it ultimately will (starting in December) — just with women playing. If that’s your thing. The usual hockey fare will now be televised, exclusively, by Ed the Conqueror’s network with Saturday Night Hockey the eye–popping program title. Most hockey followers in this country subscribe to Sportsnet and/or its streaming service. Leafs games are still being called by Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson. Ron MacLean is still hosting the intermissions that feature Elliotte Friedman’s inside info. And, Colby Armstrong has been deemed a replacement for Hrudey and Jennifer Botterill. But, there’s no–longer such a thing as “free” hockey on television in the country that has forever defined the sport. I’m not certain how any group can legally challenge the decision by Rogers to remove the telecasts from CBC. We live in a democracy but even those from an autocracy can decide which media outlets carry games they own… Still, a hockey tradition in this tradition–rich country took a solid kick in the nuts at 7 p.m. on Saturday…

 
FROM MAY 1, 1982 AND THE OPENING TO GAME 3 OF THE STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. FREE FOR ALL TO WATCH. FROM THE COLISEE IN QUEBEC AS THE NORDIQUES BATTLED THE DYNASTIC NEW YORK ISLANDERS (AND WERE SWEPT IN FOUR STRAIGHT).

More bullsh** from the Conqueror and his minions: Jack Armstrong, the most–recognizable and popular basketball voice in our land, had to announce his own return to TSN. Just as the impersonal company refused to issue a dedicated announcement that Todd Crocker was replacing Joe Bowen as radio voice of the Leafs. Must be wonderful to work for employers that look upon you so splendidly… In the end, Keith Pelley’s position with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment wasn’t diminished. Rather, his role atop the company expanded to include all media properties. Keith is a broadcasting legend in this country. He’s rarely treated as such… The Ottawa Redblacks will be in a difficult position after the current season. Though Ryan Dinwiddie was spirited away from the Argonauts last winter and handed keys to the empire, how can a team retain a GM/coach that has authored the longest winless streak (0–15) in Canadian football history — and could finish with zero points, which has never happened? I have a sneaky suspicion, however, that the Redblacks will end with a 1–17 mark. You know Ryan is aching to defeat his former team next week in the nation’s capital. The scenario is just too easy… Two years after losing a franchise–record 121 games, the Chicago White Sox are going to win the World Series. Mark it down.

LEAFS PROGRAMS FROM THE 1975–76 SEASON

AS PART OF MY LARGE HOCKEY COLLECTION, I HAVE PROGRAMS FROM MAPLE LEAF GARDENS DATING TO 1933, THE SECOND YEAR OF THE ARENA AT CHURCH AND CARLTON. INCLUDED ARE A STACK OF MAGAZINES FROM 50 YEARS AGO — IN THE 1975–76 NHL SEASON — WHEN MY FATHER PURCHASED A PAIR OF SEASON TICKETS IN THE SOUTH MEZZANINE BLUES. IT WAS THE YEAR THE LEAFS FEATURED THE MOST–PROLIFIC FORWARD UNIT IN FRANCHISE HISTORY. DARRYL SITTLER, LANNY McDONALD AND ERROL THOMPSON PUT UP 273 SCORING POINTS AND SITTLER TOTALED (ON FEB. 7 AT THE GARDENS) A STILL–RECORD 10 POINTS IN A GAME AGAINST BOSTON. BORJE SALMING AND IAN TURNBULL DEVELOPED INTO THE MOST–PRODUCTIVE DEFENCE PAIRING IN TEAM ANNALS. ENJOY THIS NOSTALGIA:

 
OPENING NIGHT PROGRAM (ABOVE AND BELOW) FROM THE FIRST GAME IN OUR SEASON TICKETS: OCT. 11, 1975 AGAINST CHICAGO. THE LEAFS PREVAILED, 2–1. BORJE SALMING WAS ON THE COVER AND FEATURED IN THE MAGAZINE.

OPENING NIGHT LINE–UPS FOR 1975–76 (ABOVE AND BELOW).

THERE WERE MANY ERRORS IN THE FEB. 4, 1976 PROGRAM. INGE HAMMARSTROM’S NAME WAS MISSPELLED (ABOVE) WITH THE WASHINGTON “CAPITOLS” IN TOWN (BELOW). HAMMARSTROM WAS SPELLED CORRECTLY IN THE LINE–UPS. EVEN THE DATE ABOVE THE LINE–UPS WAS WRONG. IT WAS FEB. 4, NOT FEB. 3, AS LISTED.

 
IT WAS THE NIGHT AFTER SITTLER’S 10–POINT ERUPTION AGAINST DON CHERRY AND THE BRUINS. MINNESOTA WAS IN TOWN FOR A RARE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME AND THE CAPTAIN’S NUMBERS HADN’T YET BEEN UPDATED.

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