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Strachan Lets it All Out
by Alanah McGinley on 08/07/08 at 03:20 PM ET
Comments (6)
From Al Strachan at FoxSports:
[Brian Burke] started off as GM of the Hartford Whalers, a team that had just made the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons. Once Burke got there, they missed.
But he was much better in Vancouver. There, he won a playoff round. Granted it took six seasons to do so, but geniuses can’t be held to the same standards as everyone else. In those six seasons, he missed the playoffs twice and went out in the first round three times.
Of course, Strachan fails to mention the levels to which Vancouver sucked before Burke came to town, but what the hell—Al is on a roll in this column.
[A] very good case could be made that the three people most responsible for Burke’s Stanley Cup win are 1) Bryan Murray for providing the team, especially Rob Niedermayer; 2) Chris Pronger’s wife and 3) a referee.
Last year, Burke’s team returned to form and went out in the first round. So if we take out the Stanley Cup year, Burke has won the whopping total of three playoff rounds in nine years. Even if you include the Cup, he has won seven rounds in 10 years. This is a genius?
Geez. Maybe Al’s not too happy about Burke’s Lester Patrick Award that was announced this morning?
Whatever, it’s definitely the thing to read if you feel like hating Brian Burke, so do check it out. No matter what you may personally think of Burke, I don’t think you could possibly hate him more than Al does.
Loaded with so much vitriol, sarcasm and bitterness, I almost felt relieved the guy managed to get it all off his chest before he had a stroke.
Plus it’s quite fun to read. In fact, I propose someone review Al Strachan’s career using the same approach sometime… 
Filed in: hockey media, nhl general | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: al+strachan, brian+burke, media,
Comments
“if you feel like hating Brian Burke”
If? Who doesn’t feel like hating Burke?
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 08/07/08 at 04:05 PM ET
One of the most overrated executive in major professional sports, not just the NHL.
Does that make him a fit for Toronto, or not? 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 08/07/08 at 04:21 PM ET
Al Strachan is a hate filled little toad who’s agenda to rip Burke is growing tiresome.
Posted by hitman from belleville on 08/07/08 at 04:21 PM ET
Strachan should at least try to get his quotes correct when ripping a guy. It was Oilers’ coach Craig MacTavish who uttered the ‘Wizard of Oz’ gem, not Kevin Lowe.
Posted by dash_pinched from Mill Bay on 08/08/08 at 11:00 AM ET
A question I’d ask Al Strachan:
“So, Al—how many times has Brian Burke stuffed you into a trashcan?”
Posted by Laurie from SVC on 08/14/08 at 10:21 AM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003 (with a notable gap in time through 2010, kicking it with new baby Lucy while living knee-deep in chaos while reading “parenting for complete idiots” during every spare minute) sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen.
In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah was one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
So that’s me. Who the hell are you?
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Strachan’s career is a toilet bowl as well, but everything he says about Burke is true. One of the most overrated executive in major professional sports, not just the NHL.
Posted by Nathan on 08/07/08 at 03:44 PM ET