Oh My...It Is A Familiar Pain

I don't often find myself agreeing with "hockey insider" and TV airbag Bob
McKenzie -but in this case - I have to say - he hit the proverbial nail on
the head.
The Leafs are pretenders ! The Leafs had no business actually vying for
a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While you have to love their heart - the Leafs have given fans every
indication in the past few weeks just how limited their future is.
You cannot contend in any competition over the long haul if you habitually
surrender healthy leads.
Those who follow the Blue and White have seen more than their share of
opposing miracle comebacks particularly of late. The Leafs are proof perfect
that shots on goal mean nothing - that territorial advantage means nothing -
and that scrappy, blue collar goals are not the things on which you find a
Stanley Cup perched. While the Maple Leafs have scored more replay
worthy goals of late, they aren't known as a team that is going to bring
fans out of their seats with an end to end rush - and this is not
a season that will be remembered for it's sterling playmaking - ala Oates
to Hull or Oates to Cam Neeley...
No this season will be remembered for absolutely atrocious defensive
end coverage. How many goals did the Leafs surrender in the past month
when they had control of the puck in their own zone and failed to clear ?
How many times have opposing forwards had both "space and time" in
front of the Leaf net ? Wellwood, Gill, Antropov, and Ponikarovsky all give
me shivers when they have the puck in their own zone...
Sadly..it's all a forty year refrain...no horses.
Raycroft is not Bower, or Sawchuk, or Joseph, or Belfour...but he should not
shoulder the blame.
I think Paul Maurice did a marvellous job with what he had and reclamation
projects like Devereaux and Kilger proved his keen eye. The fact that he
stuck with Stajan and Steen will pay off in years ahead...but ...this year
is another that Leaf fans will bury in the compost hoping that by the fall,
a richer , nutrient - flushed base will be foundation of a more fruitfull
campaign...It is a wish...and a hope...something we Leafs fans sadly see
where what we'd rather be looking at - is a Cup...
Now having said all that....wouldn't it be a blast to get the chance to play that
golf course on which Adam Scott won the Shell Houston Open. Nice putt to win.
The Tournament Course at Redstone proved a wonderful venue to spring
the PGA Tour onto Augusta this week.
What is your favorite Masters Memory ? Please dial in the Golf Shop this week
Friday evening at 6PM or Saturday morning at 8AM..our season begins
this week on Masters weekend. Can't get 92 CJCH on the radio ? Dial us
up on the web where we are streamed at www.cjch.ca...
Gotta go..promos to write and presentations to send off..
Til next time..hittem long and hittem straight..
Don