The Brian Burke Thread

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I don't think I'd appreciate that line of questioning either. Simmons is trying to get him fired up on purpose, which I do think is gutless. Why didn't he just ask his bosses? Burke handled that fine IMO, call a spade a spade.

 

[leafplasma]

I don't think I'd appreciate that line of questioning either. Simmons is trying to get him fired up on purpose, which I do think is gutless. Why didn't he just ask his bosses? Burke handled that fine IMO, call a spade a spade.

Wasn't Simmons though.  It was John Moore.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I don't think I'd appreciate that line of questioning either. Simmons is trying to get him fired up on purpose, which I do think is gutless. Why didn't he just ask his bosses? Burke handled that fine IMO, call a spade a spade.

Wasn't Simmons though.  It was John Moore.

Oh, whoever...

 

[Kin]

On the flip side, I find it funny when the reporters think "do you think you should be fired" is a good question to ask a guy.  I think I would actually be a little annoyed if someone walked up to me and essentially said "You suck, tell me why you should keep your job" when you aren't my employer, I'd be more than a little disappointed.

Well, ok but you're a doctor, right(or something like that, I don't remember. If not, play along) and if at the hospital where you work(again, play along) they constantly had a list of the best doctors at the hospital and you were being ranked near the bottom and the hospital had a history of firing the doctors near the bottom of the list would someone asking you that question really be personally impugning you? Or would they be basing it on what they know about these doctor rankings and how the hospital usually deals with them?

It might not be the friendliest of questions but it's not being pulled out of left field to ask a guy whose team probably isn't going to make the playoffs if he wonders about his job security. That's not saying "you suck" that's saying "your team isn't doing well and that can often times lead to someone getting fired". If your doctor rankings were in the newspaper every day I'm guessing people who knew you would wonder about those things.

And especially in the specific context where the team is going to have an ownership change...I mean, it's a reasonable question. It doesn't betray an ignorance of anything. As for "gutless", I mean, you're asking the guy directly for his opinion. Gutless would have been hanging up on him and then speculating about his job security as opposed to risk him barking at you.

This is another case where Burke doesn't seem particularly levelheaded when dealing with the media.

 

[Zee]

I have to agree with Nik, I didn't think the question was unwarranted or "gutless" as Burke suggested.  Also what's with the idea that the interviewer had to let Burke know ahead of time he might ask about job security?  All Burke had to say was it's up to the owners and as far as I know they're confident in what we're doing here.  He basically did answer in that way but then went on his rant about how it was an unfair question to be asked.

 

[Can8899]

I have to agree with Nik, I didn't think the question was unwarranted or "gutless" as Burke suggested.  Also what's with the idea that the interviewer had to let Burke know ahead of time he might ask about job security?  All Burke had to say was it's up to the owners and as far as I know they're confident in what we're doing here.  He basically did answer in that way but then went on his rant about how it was an unfair question to be asked.

Assuming that there was no conversation prior to the interview whether by the actual interviewer or representative of the station concerning the topics to be discussed, perhaps Burke's response was a little off base.

If there was a conversation when the interview was scheduled in regards to topics to be discussed, the question was out of line.  Many times when interviews are scheduled, the topics are discussed beforehand in regards to what they will be talking about so the interviewee can prepare.  I know the interviewer stated that he doesn't vet his questions however that does not mean someone else at the station did not.  If Burke was asked to comment on Ron Wilson's firing and the state of the Leafs and then the Cherry issue and this question pops up, I can understand his frustration as it is a clear antagonistic approach by the interviewer.

Furthermore, why is it that the media feel it is their right and responsibility to ask questions like this?  You see it in every press conference there is some yahoo asking a question that is almost certainly aimed at getting an angry response. 

 

[Zee]

For the record the interviewer at the end said he never discusses which questions he'll ask with someone before the interview.

 

[McPwnage]

It takes guts to ask that question to Burke so it isn't gutless.  Burke overreacted, yes it was a cheap shot but he should have just calmly said "No, I'm not worried" and moved on. 

 

[rdowdall]

I have to agree with Nik, I didn't think the question was unwarranted or "gutless" as Burke suggested.  Also what's with the idea that the interviewer had to let Burke know ahead of time he might ask about job security?  All Burke had to say was it's up to the owners and as far as I know they're confident in what we're doing here.  He basically did answer in that way but then went on his rant about how it was an unfair question to be asked.

Assuming that there was no conversation prior to the interview whether by the actual interviewer or representative of the station concerning the topics to be discussed, perhaps Burke's response was a little off base.

If there was a conversation when the interview was scheduled in regards to topics to be discussed, the question was out of line.  Many times when interviews are scheduled, the topics are discussed beforehand in regards to what they will be talking about so the interviewee can prepare.  I know the interviewer stated that he doesn't vet his questions however that does not mean someone else at the station did not.  If Burke was asked to comment on Ron Wilson's firing and the state of the Leafs and then the Cherry issue and this question pops up, I can understand his frustration as it is a clear antagonistic approach by the interviewer.

Furthermore, why is it that the media feel it is their right and responsibility to ask questions like this?  You see it in every press conference there is some yahoo asking a question that is almost certainly aimed at getting an angry response.

To that end, what was the interviewer hoping the response would be?  How many of us would say "Yeah, I expect to be fired."? 

 

[Kin]

To that end, what was the interviewer hoping the response would be?  How many of us would say "Yeah, I expect to be fired."?

I assume the interviewer would be looking for an honest reaction. I think most of us, if asked that question, would say no and then go on about why that is. Burke could have easily said "No, I think we've done enough in terms of building the team's prospect depth and on the business side that both the previous owners and existing owners feel good about their investment going forward under my leadership". Burke could have used the question as a springboard to list the things that have gone right for the Maple Leafs under his tenure.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

To that end, what was the interviewer hoping the response would be?  How many of us would say "Yeah, I expect to be fired."?

It's a question formed specifically to gauge a person's reaction. Burke should have just said "No" and moved on.

 

[Zee]

Yeah Burke should have handled it better, but he's a passionate guy and blows his top from time to time.  He's probably been under a lot of stress lately given the team spiral, the firing of Wilson and all the work leading up to the trade deadline.  I hope he's not cracking.

 

[Deebo]

A series of tweets from TSN radio's Scott MacArthur:

The goal of any interviewer should never be to bait a guest, to actively seek out the "gotcha" moment. #Leafs #NHL

It's up to the guest to say what he/she wants to say. But questions shouldn't be leading or contain subtle statements. #Leafs #NHL

I believe Brian Burke handled himself responsibly and reasonably today. He was respectful. That's how I heard it. #Leafs #NHL

 

[Kin]

A series of tweets from TSN radio's Scott MacArthur:

The goal of any interviewer should never be to bait a guest, to actively seek out the "gotcha" moment. #Leafs #NHL

David Frost is rolling over in his grave.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

I hope he's not cracking.

I know he is not cracking but he must be definitively sensing a turn of the tide here. Up until recently no one would even dare to ask him something like that.

 

[Zee]

A series of tweets from TSN radio's Scott MacArthur:

The goal of any interviewer should never be to bait a guest, to actively seek out the "gotcha" moment. #Leafs #NHL

David Frost is rolling over in his grave.

You probably mean Sir David Frost, but when you mention David Frost on a hockey site...

 

[Zee]

I hope he's not cracking.

I know he is not cracking but he must be definitively sensing a turn of the tide here. Up until recently no one would even dare to ask him something like that.

The tide will turn back if/when the Leafs are good again.

 

[Kin]

You probably mean Sir David Frost, but when you mention David Frost on a hockey site...

Huh, never even made that connection until now.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

I hope he's not cracking.

I know he is not cracking but he must be definitively sensing a turn of the tide here. Up until recently no one would even dare to ask him something like that.

The tide will turn back if/when the Leafs are good again.

It always does.

 

[Redleaf]

It's never ceases to amaze me how this stuff always comes up when the team is going through a funk, and hardly ever when the team is winning games. I can almost guarantee the fact that if the Leafs had won 3 or 4 more games this season, and were still sitting in 8th, Burke doesn't get this kind of treatment in the media. But if the team makes the playoffs and get smoked out in 4 straight they'll request his head on a platter then too.

I can't even imagine what the media would be like if Burke took the traditional approach to a rebuild and the team finished last place for 5 straight years. I suppose he'd burned at the stake in front of city hall by now.

I really cant blame him for losing it with some of these media guys. Were starting to see that the media in this market have no plans to hold tight for any sort of lengthy rebuild. Patience is not part of the language when we're talking hockey in Toronto.

It's really too bad, because I'm sick and tired of the old approach of shipping out rising stars for old ones, who the media love, and who only want to finish out their careers as Leafs for the novelty of it.