Rob Zamuner’s Ears Are Burning
It’s called pandering to the crowd. Give ‘em what they want to hear. A common example is when a band rolls through town (let’s say Winnipeg) and tells the thousands in the audience how much they love Winnipeg or how Winnipeg has the best fans in the world. It’s an easy sell and it accomplishes two things:
1. It makes Winnipeg feel good about itself.
2. It makes the band look good in Winnipeggers’ eyes.
Pandering. What else would you call hockey analyst Pierre McGuire’s suggestion to a Vancouver radio station that Canucks’ pest Alexandre Burrows is a possibility for the 2010 Canadian Olympic men’s hockey squad? Here’s Jason Botchford (The Province) with the call:
It’s not likely but it’s possible, according to analyst Pierre McGuire who created waves Monday on TEAM 1040 AM when he said Canucks forward Alex Burrows is being considered for the list of 60 players who will be invited to Hockey Canada’s summer camp at Calgary in preparation for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be on the list, but I can tell you he’s part of the discussion,” McGuire said. “He’s in the conversation. It doesn’t mean he’s going to be invited, but I can tell you having talked to people close to Hockey Canada he is part of the discussion.”
Part of the discussion? Who isn’t part of the ‘discussion’ right now? Guys like Ian White, Brent Seabrook, and Mike Fisher have probably been part of some conversation at some point. That’s not news. When you think about it, the Candian pool of players isn’t as deep as it historicallly once was. So of course Burrows would come up in ‘discussion.’ Why suggest that a guy like Burrows has even a chance? Seriously. Picture the 2010 team with Burrows on it.
Someone get Anson Carter on the phone. He’s now part of the ‘discussion.’
That’s not to say there isn’t a case for Burrows. He has some efectiveness to his game, and in a couple years will be a quality player. Let’s put it this way: Guys like Shane Doan, Rick Nash, and Ryan Smyth have been given spots over the years for no other reason than being good World Championship players unable to carry bad teams into the NHL post season each year, so why not Burrows?
I knew I couldn’t write that with a straight face.
