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by Jameson Fleming… NEW YORK—Syracuse and Connecticut had 70 minutes of game time and three hours and 46 minutes of real time to figure out how to describe Thursday night’s six-overtime battle between the Huskies and the Orange.
But when it came time to step up to podium after the marathon, nobody could come up with words to recount the night’s 127-117 Orange win at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“I’ve got no words to even try to describe it,” were the first words out of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s mouth at the post-game news conference. All the SU representatives—Boeheim, Jonny Flynn, and Paul Harris—could do were poke fun at the event and each other.
“I’m just proud of these guys for hanging in there and especially Paul [Harris] because Paul was just, I can’t describe how awful he was for most of the part of that game,” Boeheim joked.
“He was even smart enough to miss the dunk so he could get a three-point play. How much smarter can you be than that?”
Boeheim was referring to Harris’ attempt to throw down a monster dunk in the sixth and final overtime, but missed terribly. That play is probably the earliest play anyone can remember about the game.
“I just wanted to get the game over with,” Flynn said. “For a second I’m just thinking, Lord, let’s get this game over and go home.”
Flynn had good reason to want to go home. The super sophomore played over 67 minutes, six minutes more than anyone else. He totaled 34 points, 11 assists, and somehow found the energy to nail all 16 of his free throws. Flynn had extra motivation to hit all his attempts from the charity stripe.
“When AO [Arinze Onuaku] hit two free throws, we had pressure on us to hit our free throws,” Flynn said. Onuaku, a 29.6 percent free throw shooter, connected on two free throws with just over two minutes left to break the 11th of tie of the game.
UConn capped off its comeback with a Kemba Walker put-back to tie the game with a second half. Then the craziness began.
A full-court pass made it into the hands of Syracuse’s Eric Devendorf who launched a miraculous three that found the bottom of a net that was probably as fatigued as the players.
Madison Square Garden erupted. For five minutes everyone in the building stood staring at three officials huddled over a little monitor.
Those three officials ruled it no good. If the ball left Devendorf’s hands a tenth of a second sooner, we wouldn’t be talking six overtimes, we’d be talking one of the greatest buzzer-beaters in NCAA history. Both scenarios presented win-win situations for the ‘Cuse when it came to the memory books.
“I was mad,” Devendorf said, “I was furious. We couldn’t lose at that point. If we lost, that would have been a dagger.”
The Orange was on the verge of losing in each of the first five overtimes.
In the opening overtime, SU trailed by four, but the squad came back with a Rick Jackson dunk to tie the game.
In the second, the ‘Cuse trailed by three, but Devendorf’s free throws sent it to a third extra session.
The third overtime? More of the same.
This time UConn jumped out to a six point lead with two minutes on the clock. Eventually an Andy Rautins three tied the game. Ironically, it was Rautin’s dad, Leo who played for the Orange 28 years ago and won what was the longest game in the Big East Tournament history with a tip-in.
Flynn also kiddingly wanted UConn to give in after the third OT.
“I said to A.J. [Price], you’re a one seed regardless, just let us win at this point,” Flynn said.
To the fourth overtime the two teams went. The Huskies once again led, this time by only two points. Two missed Paul Harris layups sent the never-ending contest to a fifth OT.
UConn once again grabbed a four point lead, only to squander it as SU started another parade to the free throw line to send it to a sixth and final overtime.
At this point, a game of rock, paper, scissors would have been a fairer way to end it. SU resorted to playing small forward Kris Joseph at center with the team’s three big men fouled out. The ‘Cuse also had walk-on Justin Thomas record seven minutes of action.
UConn was in just as much trouble. Jim Calhoun was forced to use Donnell Beverly and Scottie Haralson.
SU’s group of misfits outscored UConn’s misfits 17-7 in the sixth and final extra period. The sixth overtime was the only time in all six overtimes that the ‘Cuse led the game.
“You can’t say enough about the guys off the bench,” said Rautins, “They took charges and got rebounds.”
At the end of the game, everyone in the building was tired and exhausted. Pretty much the entire crowd stuck around for all six sessions, with most fans never sitting once the game hit multiple overtimes.
The game lasted so long, it seemed like the inebriated fans around me in the upper deck press row were sobering up.
Even SU assistant coach Mike Hopkins needed some medical advice from a ‘Cuse trainer after the game.
“He told get some water and Gatorade and I’ll be good to watch game tape until the earliest hours of the morning,” Hopkins said. Apparently Hopkins didn’t realize he was saying this at almost 2 AM—it was already the earliest hours of the night.
Obviously, not everyone was in a jovial mood after the game.
“I’m sure in the summertime, I’ll look back and say what a historic battle it was,” said Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun. “Right now, it’s a loss. There’s no other way.”
But Calhoun will remember it. All 19,000 people in attendance will remember this game. The hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people who watched it on television will remember this game. Jonny Flynn will remember this game.
“I’ll tell my kids about it,” Flynn said, “I’ll tell my grand-kids about it.”
Ironically, two NBA scouts were sitting in the upper deck press row and left the game for the night in second half. I said to them, “Why you leaving?”
The one responded, “We’ve seen these kinds of games all the time.”
I’m going to go out on a limb and gander they have never seen what went on in the world’s most famous arena Thursday night (and Friday morning).
By Ranhvir Samra…
I remember a few things from 1992, the Blue Jays won the World Series, the mushroom cut was cool, the US Dream Team dominated at the Olympic basketball competition and a young 7′1″, 300 pound Shaquille O’neal was drafted into the NBA by the Orlando Magic. He was touted as having the potential to dominate the NBA and go down as one of the best ever from a very young age. Through his stints in Orlando, Los Angeles and Miami Shaquille has proven he is a winner, more specifically a NBA Champion. With four titles to his credit (and three finals MVP awards), Shaquille has won four more titles than Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley combined. Shaquille has won a scoring title, a MVP award, three All-Star Game MVP awards and an Olympic Gold Medal. He has been the face of the NBA during the “Post Jordan” era and only recently was replaced by Lebron James as the game’s biggest stars.
He came into the league as a slim and athletic big man, over time Shaquille has bulked up and now stands at 330 pounds plus. His quickness has diminished, his hand eye coordination is less accurate, he is playing less minutes and taken less shots. Despite all this, Shaquille has stood the test of time and is playing at a level that very few would have predicted. At 18.2 points per game and 8.7 boards a game, Shaq is helping to carry the load left by the injury to Amare Stoudamire. Though Phoenix is currently on the outside looking into the playoff picture, Shaquille is still going strong at age 37. His career averages of 24.9 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game and career 58% field goal percentage rank among the greatest of all time.
Recently, torching up the Raptors (like everyone else) for 45 points and then leading the Suns to a victory over LA with the help of 33 from O’neal, he is definitely deserving of his All-star game appearance. It goes without saying that the NBA will miss Shaq when he decides to hang up the shoes. Converting over 60% of his field goal attempts, O’neal leads the league in that category. Had Amare been injured a week earlier, Shaquille might be a Cavalier right now. Imagine that, Shaq with Lebron. Shaq has had his fair share of superstar teammates including Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Penny Hardaway. As he climbs up the all time scoring list, let us not forget the zany and off the wall stylings of O’neal on and off the court.
Now Blue Chips was a pretty good movie, but Kazaam and all the other movies? Despite his lame attempts at acting, Shaq did release a couple Rap albums and even collaborated with the great Notorious BIG on a track. His beef with Kobe Bryant lasted for years and was based on jealousy more than anything else. With the Hollywood media buzzing, the two openly feuded with one another, taking shots through the media at one another. But just like his career, Shaquille has resurrected his relationship with Kobe Bryant, as witnessed at this year’s All-Star game. If nothing else, the two were overcompensating for their harsh pasts, falling just short of holding hands. The two were sharing jokes, playing one on one during the warmups, exchanging pleasantries on the court, I couldn’t believe my eyes at one point.
One “beef” that is not so well known is the one between Shaq and his one time Orlando teammate Penny Hardaway. Penny entered a cushy situation in Orlando, with the media following Shaq like bees to honey, Penny quickly became an All-Star, co-starring with Shaq in Blue Chips and attaining endorsement deals. All was dandy until Nike wanted to make a Penny Hardaway shoe. Shaq was sporting Reeboks and they were not selling so well, the Penny shoe outsold the O’neal shoe and Penny was gaining popularity. O’neal changed his demeanor with Penny and criticized him for taking so many shots.
Time brings change, that is inevitable. Over time, Shaq has amassed many awards and accomplishments. He stands in the top 10 All time in scoring, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage. Shaquille has morphed into a well respected, gentle giant who still demands respect in and around the paint. In 1995, a young Shaquille lead the Orlando Magic to their first NBA Finals appearance. In game one, Orlando forward Nick Anderson is at the free throw line. With a three point lead he needs to hit just one free throw to seal the game for the Magic. He misses both, gets his own rebound, is fouled again, only to miss two more free throws. Had Nick Anderson hit one of those four attempts, the Orlando Magic would have won game one and the series over the Houston Rockets. The beginning of the Orlando Magic dynasty with Shaq and Penny leading the squad?
Things didn’t work out that way and the cards have settled. It is pointless to think about what may have happened if….. because then people get emotional. Like what if John Starks didn’t have a horrendous game 6? Or McSorley didn’t have an illegal stick? And Jordan didn’t retire in 1993? The NBA fans will miss Shaquille more than Shaquille knows, his addictive personality, good natured sense of humour, eye for the spotlight, the occasional offensive comment, his breakdancing moves and larger than life image are irreplaceable. The end of the O’neal era is upon us. The Diesel is running low on fuel and the nearest gas station is miles away, if Shaquille drives conservatively and doesn’t hit traffic he just might make it for another fill up in Phoenix.
by Bryan Thiel… No one goes to a baseball game to learn anything. Well, at least not anything important.
That’s not to say that arguing over the six Astros’ pitchers to no-hit the Yankees, the catcher to catch the most games after the age of forty, and what exactly went into the original Cracker Jack recipe isn’t a valuable addition to your library of baseball knowledge, but it won’t exactly change your life either.
Well, unless you’re a fan of the Yankees or Cracker Jack that is.
Whenever anyone gets tickets to an international sporting event—be it hockey, basketball, baseball, the Olympics, or any venue pitting nationalities against each other—it’s simply an excuse.
It’s an excuse to miss work, it’s an excuse to take a week-long trip to Toronto in order to catch some early baseball, and it’s an excuse to cheer for players you normally wouldn’t, and against some you yell the loudest for.
People go to things like the World Cup of Hockey and the World Baseball Classic to represent their country’s pride, and to watch as some of their best athletes put their country’s crest firmly on their chest in an attempt to bring back some national glory.
They don’t go to learn things.
They go to catch a glimpse of stars that play on teams out of the country that hardly ever visit, and watch them hit a home run or make an amazing defensive play. They don’t go to watch an opposing player like Italy’s Mario Chiarini make diving catches in the first inning of Saturday’s game against Venezuela.
People go to the games to watch Major League-calibre talent shine against some of the lesser-lights in the tournament; not to see Mark Defelice stymie Major League talent through four innings only to watch 186-game veteran Jason Grilli implode.
Canadians and Americans attend one game to produce the most electrifying crowd any Toronto baseball fan has ever experienced (aside from those who attended games in the late ’80’s and the back-to-back early ’90’s) and then show up to the other five only for some watercooler chatter about big home runs from Adam Dunn and Kevin Youkilis, or about the new Dustin Pedroia MLB ‘09: The Show commercial.
The Venezuelan fans showed up each and every night, cheering just as loud during their victories over the Italians and (later) the Americans, as they did when they lost 15-6 to the U.S.A Sunday evening, topped off by a gruesome home run call.
Fans of Major League Baseball run down to the first and third base dugouts before game-time to catch a glimpse of their favorite players taking batting practice, tossing in the outfield, or just chatting it up, underscored by the occasional autograph.
Fans of international baseball were treated to players caring about the fans cheering them on—stopping for autographs as often as they’d stop to chat, flash a smile, or give a thumbs-up to someone yelling encouragement, which was fairly often.
In every American League or National League game, fans are exposed to “the best of the best”.
In every World Baseball Classic game? It’s the same—just sprinkled in with some of the “best of the rest” as well; some of whom can hold their own.
Every baseball fan goes to a Major League game looking for that new memory of their favorite team or player. At the World Baseball Classic, it’s more than just a memory: it’s new knowledge.
It’s knowing and learning about players who are battling their way up through the major league systems, as well as those who are starring in leagues world wide.
It’s about discovering something new about a nation: How they feel about their government, how so much more passionately 13,000 Venezuelan fans can scream their hearts out than 22,000 Toronto Blue Jays fans, or just saying “I didn’t know so-and-so was Italian”.
It’s buying tickets to every game simply expecting baseball, but falling in love with different countries and their passion and getting so caught up in it all that a monstrous home run by Chris Ianetta to cut the lead to two stuns you; or a ninth-inning error has you fretting, even with the single-season saves record holder on the mound.
It’s seeing curtain calls for the bench players in the middle of an inning.
Simply put, it’s baseball in it’s most universal language: ball, bat, field.
Letters may change, but they’re still the same in any language.
by Michael Seff… Gregg Zaun is back in Baltimore, almost 14 years after making his Major League Debut with the Orioles. In between, the journeyman catcher has made six other stops along the way, most recently a five-year stint with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Zaun describes his return to Baltimore as “very comfortable,” adding, “It’s the people that work in and around the ballpark that make [Camden Yards] such a homey place.” But the veteran backstop, drafted by the O’s back in 1989, also looks back fondly on his time in Toronto.
“I enjoyed it a lot,” he says of his experience in Toronto. “It’s sad for me to realize that my Blue Jay days were over. I enjoyed the city tremendously, loved the ballpark, loved my teammates. It’s a very comfortable place to play.”
The Glendale, California native is grateful to those in the Blue Jays organization for giving him what he describes as his first opportunity to play as a regular. But he also understands that at 37 years old, his role on the Orioles is to be more of a mentor, especially considering that Baltimore is grooming one of the top catching prospects in the game in young Matt Wieters.
“When [Wieters] gets here and I have to take a step back, it’s something that I’ll enjoy because he’s a good young player and a good person, and I would love nothing more than to see him fulfill every expectation that the organization has of him,” Zaun says.
Said manager Dave Trembley: “He’s a veteran in this division and brings a lot to us as far as leadership, knowledge of how to pitch to hitters… He takes pride in calling the game, his preparation skills are very good, and he’s here to mentor Wieters and help with the young pitchers.”
Though he will likely start the 2009 season as the starting catcher, stepping aside for Wieters does not figure to bother Zaun too much, considering his desire to teach. Having previously worked for Rogers Sportsnet, Zaun has a potential career in broadcasting when his playing days are done, but his real desire is to coach at the Major League level.
“I really enjoy working with young players and seeing that light bulb come on in their head when they figure something out,” Zaun says. I take a lot of pride in helping those guys out but if I can’t do it at the big league level, then I’ll just go into the TV booth and start working there.”
check out Michaels blog www.pitchingideas.net
by Bryn Swartz… I have always had a fascination with the quarterback position. Maybe it’s because the position is the single most important position in all of professional sports. Maybe it’s because I love leaders, and the quarterback is supposed to be the leader of a football team both on and off the field. But mostly it’s because quarterbacks always have—and probably always will—received the most praise when a team wins…and the most blame when a team loses.
In the history of the NFL, there have been 1,678 cumulative seasons of quarterback play. The following list includes the most elite of the elite. It’s a list so profound, some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history—John Elway, Brett Favre, Bart Starr, and the immortal Johnny Unitas—didn’t make the final cut. Neither did Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Roger Staubach, Jim Kelly, or Terry Bradshaw. No quarterback appears twice on this list, which includes seven Hall of Famers and two future first ballot Hall of Famers.
I made the difficult decision of not including the postseason as factors in my rankings. I included some of the postseasons in my description, but didn’t let them factor into the decision making. For example, a player like Ben Roethlisberger would only be rated on his regular season performances; the playoffs mean nothing.
I also needed a way to compare the statistic of passer rating across different eras. So I created a little formula I call PR+. It’s very similar to the baseball version of ERA+, which is a way to compare earned run averages in different eras by factoring in the pitcher’s ballpark and the strength of the league that year. PR+ will factor in the passer rating compared to the league. A score of 100 is considered to be average, meaning above 100 is above average, and below 100 is below average.
For example, in 2004, Donovan McNabb’s passer rating was 104.7. The league average for passer rating was 82.8. McNabb’s value is 26 percent above the league average, meaning his passer rating plus (PR+) would be 126.
* Honorable Mention*
11) George Blanda, Houston Oilers, 1961.
Average quarterback: 64.7 rating, 202-405, 2906 yards, 21 TD, 26 INT
George Blanda: 91.3 rating, 187-362, 3,330 yards, 36 TD, 22 INT, 141 PR+
The 1961 Houston Oilers are the greatest offensive team in AFL history, and the most prolific scoring machine the league has ever seen, besides the 2007 New England Patriots.
The Oilers scored 513 points in 14 games for an average of 36.64 points per game. They put up 55 points against the Raiders and the Broncos. They scored 49 and 48 points against the New York Titans. They topped 45 points in two other games. In five of these six games, they put up over 500 yards of total offense.
The 34-year-old Blanda made just 11 of the 14 starts in 1961, leading the Oilers to 10 consecutive victories to end the season, including the AFL championship.
Blanda shattered the single-season record for touchdown passes (36). He was the only AFL quarterback to throw for more than 20 touchdowns. He came within two touchdown passes of doubling the runner-up in the league.
His 3,330 passing yards led the league and set a new AFL record. The AFL Player of the Year also topped the league in yards per attempt (9.2), yards per completion (17.8), and touchdown percentage (9.9 percent). He threw seven touchdown passes in a November game against the New York Titans.
Just under 20 percent of Blanda’s completions went for scores. His 19.2 percentage ranks as the second greatest percentage in history, and has not been surpassed since.
The only knocks against Blanda?
22 interceptions ranked Blanda fifth out of the eight AFL quarterbacks in interception percentage. He also had pretty impressive supporting talent. Billy Cannon was the best running back in the league that season, while wide receivers Bill Groman (23.5 yards per catch, 17 touchdowns) and Charley Hennigan (82 receptions, 1746 yards, 12 touchdowns) turned in two of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in history.
Blanda would go on to throw a record 42 interceptions the following season. He led the league in interceptions in each of the next four seasons. He played 15 more seasons of professional football and would never again be an elite quarterback.
For one season, though, he was king.
10) Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams, 1999.
Average quarterback: 77.1 rating, 309-541, 3,653 yards, 21 TD, 18 INT
Kurt Warner: 109.2 rating, 325-499, 4,353 yards, 41 TD, 13 INT, 142 PR+
In Kurt Warner’s autobiography, he tells of a time when he and his father were stopped in the airport by Chris Berman of ESPN. This was in May 2000, following the Rams’ Super Bowl victory over the Titans. Berman congratulated Warner on his season and told him that ESPN considered him to be the greatest one-story wonder in the history of the National Football League.
Warner earned the starting job in August, after a season ending injury to Trent Green. Warner, who had thrown 11 passes in his professional football career, joined Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 40 touchdowns in a single season (Brady and Manning have since joined that list).
Warner’s league-leading 109.2 passer rating stands as the seventh highest total in NFL history. He also topped the National Football League in completion percentage (65.1 percent), yards per pass attempt (8.7), and touchdown percentage (8.2 percent). He ranked second in passing yards (4,353).
The Rams won 13 games during the regular season and earned home field advantage in the playoffs. Warner led the Rams to a Super Bowl title, throwing eight touchdown passes in the postseason—five against the Vikings in the divisional round, one against the Buccaneers in the championship game, and two against the Titans in the Super Bowl. His final pass of the season was a game-winning 73-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce with under two minutes remaining in the Super Bowl.
I have just two knocks against Warner’s storybook season. He ranked just ninth in the NFL in interception percentage (2.6 percent), and he was surrounded by some of the most unbelievable supporting talent in the history of the NFL—future Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Orlando Pace.
In fact, in 2008, Whatifsports conducted a test, where they took the 42 Super Bowl champions and played them against each other 100 times. The 1999 St. Louis Rams walked away as the greatest team in NFL history, winning 77.1% of their games.
In one season, Kurt Warner was the MVP of the National Football League, the MVP of the Super Bowl, and the quarterback of the greatest Super Bowl champion team in NFL history.
9) Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants, 1963.
Average quarterback: 69.1 rating, 205-407, 2,992 yards, 22 TD, 23 INT
Y.A. Tittle: 104.8 rating, 221-367, 3145 yards, 36 TD, 14 INT , 152 PR+
The 37-year-old Tittle turned in the greatest season ever by a Giants quarterback in 1963, capturing league MVP honors.
Tittle set a new NFL record with 36 touchdown passes. He topped the NFL in completion percentage (60.2 percent), yards per attempt (8.6), touchdown percentage (9.8 percent), and passer rating (104.8). Only one quarterback (Bart Starr in 1966) would surpass Tittle’s passer rating over the next 20 years.
Tittle threw just 14 interceptions, which was a 50 percent improvement over the rest of the league.
In leading the Giants to the NFL championship, Tittle set an NFL record by throwing for 22 more touchdown passes than interceptions. He remains the only Hall of Fame quarterback to never win a postseason game (0-4 in NFL championship games).
Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, 1989.
Average quarterback: 75.6 rating, 286-512, 3,659 yards, 21 TD, 20 INT
Joe Montana: 112.4 rating, 271-385, 3521 yards, 26 TD, 8 INT, 149 PR+
Although he only started in 13 of the 16 games that season, Montana absolutely dominated the NFL, earning league Most Valuable Player honors.
He set the single-season record for passer rating (112.4), leading the league by 22 percent. His league-leading 70.2 completion percentage is the third highest single-season total in history. He topped the NFL in yards per attempt (9.1) and touchdown percentage (6.7 percent).
Had Montana played a full season, he would have likely finished with 4,400 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes.
Montana led the 49ers to a 14-2 record (11-2 when he started) and a victory in Super Bowl XXIV. In the Super Bowl, Montana threw for five touchdown passes.
7) Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers, 1994.
Average quarterback: 78.4 rating, 312-538, 3,639 yards, 21 TD, 17 INT
Steve Young: 112.8 rating, 324-461, 3,969 yards, 35 TD, 10 INT, 144 PR+
Steve Young’s 1994 season is probably my favorite quarterback season in NFL history.
Young dominated the league in 1994, setting a single-season record in passer rating (112.8). He topped the league with 35 touchdown passes, the fourth highest total in league history at that time. His league-leading 70.3 completion percentage still ranks second in NFL history. He easily led the NFL in yards per attempt (8.6) and touchdown percentage (7.6 percent).
Young also rushed 58 times for 293 yards (5.0 yards per carry), and seven touchdowns, meaning he accounted for 42 scores during the season.
Young earned Most Valuable Player honors for the second time in three seasons, solidifying his status as one of the greatest, if not most unappreciated, quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Young led the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where he broke Joe Montana’s Super Bowl record by throwing for six touchdown passes in a 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers. Young became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to win league MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors in the same season (Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana).
6) Milt Plum, Cleveland Browns, 1960.
Average quarterback: 63.2 rating, 175-355, 2,463 yards, 19 TD, 22 INT
Milt Plum: 110.4 rating, 151-250, 2,297 yards, 21 TD, 5 INT, 175 PR+
Plum’s 1960 season is probably the most forgotten season in NFL history. While only diehard fans will even know the name, few could tell you that in 1960, Plum was better than all but five quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Plum set an NFL record in passer rating (110.4), with a PR+ of 175, the third highest among quarterbacks in the top ten seasons. He averaged 9.2 yards per pass attempt, the fifth highest mark in NFL history at that time. He led the NFL in completion percentage (60.4 percent) and interception percentage (2.0). The next best quarterback in the NFL threw more than twice as many interceptions as Plum.
For Plum to throw less than one-fourth as many interceptions as the average NFL quarterback would be the equivalent of a quarterback today throwing for approximately four interceptions in a full season. One interception every 50 pass attempts is a record setting pace nowadays. In 1960, it was simply a mind-boggling statistic.
Brown did have the luxury of playing with the greatest running back in NFL history (Jim Brown), and a Hall of Fame fullback (Bobby Mitchell). He led the Browns to an 8-3-1 record and a second-place finish in the NFL East.
5) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, 2004.
Average quarterback: 82.8 rating, 305-511, 3,604 yards, 23 TD, 16 INT
Peyton Manning: 121.4 rating, 336-497, 4,557 yards, 49 TD, 10 INT, 147 PR+
Manning’s finest season came in 2004, as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player led the Colts to a 12-4 record and a franchise record 522 points.
Manning shattered pro football’s most famous record, as he threw his 49th touchdown pass in the season’s 15th game to break Dan Marino’s 20-year-old NFL record. His touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.9-to-1) set an NFL record for quarterbacks with at least 25 touchdown passes. He became the first quarterback to throw 10 touchdown passes to three different wide receivers. In one five-game stretch, Manning threw 24 touchdown passes. He could have easily hit 50 touchdown passes if he had played in the last game of the season. He threw more than twice as many touchdown passes as the average quarterback.
Manning also shattered the single-season record for passer rating (121.4). He posted a 100+ passer rating 11 times, including nine games in a row. He not only broke the single-season record for passer rating, he obliterated it. His mark will probably never be broken.
Manning topped the NFL in yards per attempt (9.2) and touchdown percentage (9.9 percent).
The only knock against Manning’s brilliance?
He didn’t dominate the league quite as much as some may remember. 2004 was a record-setting season in scoring, as four quarterbacks posted a passer rating above 104. Twelve different teams scored more than 370 points.
4) Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, 1984.
Average quarterback: 76.1 rating, 288-512, 3,651 yards, 22 TD, 21 INT
Dan Marino: 108.9 rating, 362-584, 5,084 yards, 48 TD, 17 INT, 143 PR+
Marino’s 1984 season might be the most popular and well-known of any quarterback in NFL history.
Marino shattered the single-season record for passing touchdowns (48). He broke George Blanda’s 23-year-old NFL record by a full 33 percent—the equivalent of a quarterback throwing for 66 touchdowns today.
He also broke the single-season record for passing yards (5084), a record that has been challenged many times, but has withstood the test of time.
Marino led the league in completions (362), attempts (564), yards per attempt (9.0), touchdown percentage (8.5 percent), and passer rating (108.9). His completion percentage ranked third (64.2 percent) and he posted the sixth lowest interception percentage (3.0 percent).
He turned Mark Clayton (1,389 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Mark Duper (1,306 yards, 8 touchdowns) into superstars. He did all of this despite having a leading rusher (Woody Bennett) who failed to average 40 yards per game.
Marino led the Dolphins to a 14-2 record and an appearance in Super Bowl XIX, where he threw for 318 yards with a then-record 29 completions.
3) Sammy Baugh, Washington Redskins, 1945.
Average quarterback: 47.5 rating, 96-211, 1,438 yards, 11 TD, 19 INT
Sammy Baugh: 109.9 rating, 128-182, 1,669 yards, 11 TD, 4 INT, 231 PR+
I believe that PR+ is the most important statistic when judging a quarterback. In 1945, Sammy Baugh turned in the highest single-season PR+ total in NFL history: 231.
Baugh’s season was record-setting in three extremely important statistics: passer rating, completion percentage, and interception percentage.
Baugh’s passer rating of 109.9 ranks as the seventh highest total in NFL history—unofficially. Officially, because Baugh played in just eight of the 12 games and threw just 182 total passes, his season is not recognized by the NFL record book. Sid Luckman ranked second in the league with an 82.5 passer rating, meaning Baugh bettered Luckman’s mark by 33 percent.
The average quarterback completed 45.5 percent of his passes in 1945. Baugh completed 70.3 percent of his passes, setting an NFL record that would be broken by Ken Anderson (70.6 percent) in 1981. It could be argued that no quarterback in the history of the National Football League has ever dominated a single statistic the way Baugh dominated completion percentage in 1945. Baugh’s completion percentage was 55 percent better than the league average, which would be the equivalent of a quarterback completing 97 percent of his passes in today’s game.
Baugh set an NFL record in interception percentage (2.2 percent). His four interceptions in 182 pass attempts looks extremely impressive based on today’s standards. Projected over a full season, Baugh would have thrown about 12 interceptions. Factoring in the difference in eras, Baugh would have tossed approximately 30 and 32 touchdowns, and either four or five interceptions.
Baugh also led the team in interceptions, as usual, and led the entire NFL in punting, as usual. His Redskins finished 8-2 and advanced to the NFL championship game.
2) Tom Brady, New England Patriots, 2007.
Average quarterback: 82.7 rating, 326-533, 3,652 yards, 23 TD, 17 INT
Tom Brady: 117.2 rating, 398-578, 4,806 yards, 50 TD, 8 INT, 142 PR+
This should come as no surprise to anyone.
In 2007, Tom Brady turned in the greatest season by any quarterback in the last six-plus decades.
Brady led the New England Patriots to the first 16-0 season in NFL history.
The Patriots shattered the NFL single-season record for points scored with 589. Brady led the charge on a scoring attack that topped 50 points twice, 40 points four times, and 30 points 12 times. The Patriots averaged 41.4 points per game in the first half of the season. In the second half, they ‘cooled’ off, averaging 32.3 points per game. Most importantly, they did not lose. Not once.
Brady’s numbers were astronomical. His 50 touchdown passes broke the most famous single-season record in all of the NFL, and with the advent of the steroid era in baseball, possibly in all of professional sports.
He led the NFL with a passer rating of 117.2, the second highest total in NFL history. His fairly-low PR+ of 142 (compared to the rest of the quarterbacks on this list) can be attributed to the fact that the league passer rating was 82.7, one of the highest marks in history. Brady could have posted a 158.3 passer rating and his PR+ would have been 191, ‘only’ third all time.
Brady topped the NFL in passing yards (4806), yards per attempt (8.3), completion percentage (68.9), and touchdown percentage (8.7 percent). He became just one of four quarterbacks to average a touchdown pass per 100 yards passing. He posted the greatest touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history (6.25 to 1).
It didn’t matter who Brady played. He threw for 23 touchdowns and three interceptions in seven games against playoff teams. He threw for three or more touchdowns in the first 10 games of the season. He posted a triple-digit passer rating 11 times. He threw for 20 touchdown passes in October. At one point in the season, Brady had thrown 39 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
The 2007 Most Valuable Player threw more than twice as many touchdowns as the average quarterback. He joined Donovan McNabb on the short list of quarterbacks who have thrown more than 30 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season. He joined Montana, Elway, and Bradshaw on the list of quarterbacks to lead their team to four Super Bowls.
1) Sid Luckman, Chicago Bears, 1943.
Average quarterback: 96-217, 1,414 yards, 14 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 48.6 rating
Sid Luckman: 110-202, 2,194 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 107.5 rating, 221 PR+
What? You never heard of him? You barely heard of him but don’t know too much about him? You have heard of him but didn’t realize how great he was?
Get ready to learn.
Sid Luckman’s season in 1943 stands as the single greatest season by any quarterback in the league’s history.
In 1943, the average quarterback completed 44 percent of his passes. Quarterbacks averaged 14 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions.
Luckman threw twice as many touchdowns as the average quarterback. He threw half as many interceptions.
His 28 touchdowns broke the previous NFL record of 24 set by Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Cecil Isbell the year before. His 2,194 passing yards and 219.4 passing yards per game set new records. His 107.5 passer rating was 20 points higher than the previous single-season record holder (Cecil Isbell of 1942).
One out of every four Luckman completions went for a touchdown. By comparison, one out of every seven Manning completions in 2004 went for a touchdown. One out of every seven Luckman attempts went for a touchdown. His 13.5 touchdown percentage is a record that will never be seriously challenged, let alone broken.
He averaged 10.94 yards per pass attempt, another NFL record. Some quarterbacks struggle to average that per completion.
Luckman even set NFL records in statistics that don’t exist. His PR+ was 221, the second highest mark in NFL history. He averaged one touchdown pass per 78 passing yards, another record.
Were it not for a career year by Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, Luckman would have finished first—and not second—in completions, attempts, and completion percentage.
Watch what happens when I take Luckman’s stats away from the league’s statistics:
Average quarterback: 94-219, 1302 yards, 12 touchdowns, 24 interceptions, 41.9 rating
Sid Luckman: 110-202, 2194 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 107.5 rating, 257 PR+
Take away Sammy Baugh—the only other legit quarterback in the league—and the numbers are even more extreme:
Average quarterback: 88-217, 1227 yards, 10 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, 35.8 rating
Sid Luckman: 110-202, 2194 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 107.5 rating, 300 PR+
Even more amazingly, Luckman achieved these stats with little to no protection. Defenders were allowed to practically decapitate the quarterback, and many tried to do so.
Luckman also had the ‘luxury’ of playing virtually every single snap that season—on both sides of the ball. He played all ten games at quarterback. He intercepted four passes as a defensive back. He served as the team’s punter. He even returned a few punts and kickoffs.
For Luckman to play the way he did is unbelievable and shows how superior he was to the rest of the NFL. His season in 1943 will likely stand as the greatest season by a quarterback until the end of time.
by Mike Allder… Besides the slender Swede Borje Salming, my favourite all-time Leaf would have to be Dave ‘Tiger’ Williams. Tiger was a pugilist rough and ready Prairie boy who made the big leagues by not backing down and by taking on all comers.
It was 1974 when after being drafted by the old Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA, Tiger elected to forgo the new league and to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs who held his NHL rights.
Leaf fans will never forget the year this brash 20-year-old cocky kid began patrolling the left wing for the Blue and White. Wearing No. 22, Tiger was a welcome breath of fresh air for Leaf fans.
The decade of the 1970s would see Toronto’s historic franchise marred in sub mediocrity where only once the team would go on to play past the second round of the playoffs, defeating the pre-dynasty New York Islanders in 1978 but losing to the mighty Hab’s in the semi’s.
A team stacked with talent, the likes of Darryl Sittler, Lanny Mcdonald, Ian Turnbull, Mike Palmateer, and yes Borje Salming, not to mention a handful of high draft picks the Buds just never seemed to reach their full potential.
So much more was expected but the Leafs would remain as usual, supreme under achievers.
None of that seemed to matter to Harold Ballard, the Leafs’ curmudgeon, once convicted felon owner who would sit in his Gardens north end bunker amidst sold out Garden crowds. Money was being made hand over fist at what many referred to as the Carlton Street Cashbox and that was all that would matter to Harold.
Leaf fans, always gluttons for punishment, forever proclaiming that the next season would be the one, but out of the mediocrity a fan favorite would emerge.
A gun collecting, jeep driving farm boy began racking up penalty minutes and even scoring goals. A goal scoring enforcer, was it possible?
Yes, Tiger quickly became the leagues’ penalty minutes leader, with no shortage of enforcers waiting nightly in the old weak sister ‘Chuck’ Norris division. It would be Tiger Williams No. 22 jerseys that quickly became the best seller at the Doug Laurie’s Sports located in the Gardens lobby.
With his stick riding, hand waving goal celebrations, to his ‘done like dinner’ quotes Tiger was and still remains one of the most popular Leaf players in team history.
Punch Imlach, who was Leaf GM when Tiger was on the prowl, grew tired of the country club atmosphere around the team. Imlach’s mission would be to clean house disenchanted with many veterans play.
Imlach traded many Leaf stalwarts as well he wanted to rid himself of dealing with Leaf captain Sittler who he thought had become a little too big for his britches off the ice, and a little too slow on the ice. Since Sittler’s contract would not allow a trade unless he approved, the Leaf captain would not be going anywhere at this time.
Punch started to dismantle the team in December 1979, infuriating fans and Darryl by trading his best friend and fan favorite Lanny McDonald to the Colorado Rockies.
I was totally pissed off but by my disgust and contempt for Punch would be reserved for February 18, 1980 when Tiger along with little known Jerry Butler were traded to the Canucks for Rick Vaive and Bill Derlago.
I phoned Maple Leaf Gardens to express my anger, my vulgarity heaped upon an innocent woman who happened to be working the switchboard that day. Still seething, I phoned the Toronto Sun and placed an ad in the personal section of the classifieds.
“Punch you are old. Please die soon.” Batman.
That would be my ad; it would appear in bold letters the following day. I even paid extra for a larger PUNCH heading. My ad appeared just the way I expected on the Tuesday February 19 edition. Over the course of that day I fielded a few calls from friends who had seen the ad and recognized the Batman handle.
I had been given the nickname Batman while working at Collegiate Sports. I do not know why but the name just seemed to stick. Even my employee ‘Tough to Beat’ name tag was labelled Batman. I was surprised just how many people had seen the ad.
That night the Leafs were in Long Island for a game against the Islanders. The following morning in the Toronto Sun’s sports section and under the Leafs game recap was the bold heading “Zap em’ Punch, Batman’s with ya!” with a half page spoof about my ad from the previous day.
It was hilarious how the staff writer had taken scenarios from the old Batman television series and along with the Boy Wonder, Alfred and Commissioner Gordon, Batman was ready to aid Punch in his quest to rid the world of such a malcontent hockey team.
I phoned and spoke to the writer to tell him that I loved the story and thought it had been very clever. He explained that after my ad ran in the classifieds the phone rang off the hook with readers who thought the ad was in very bad taste.
Many readers wondered how the Sun could even print the ad. The ad attracted a lot of attention and that is why the Sun decided to go with the spoof—all in good fun. I am sure Punch Imlach was made aware of the caped crusaders wishes for his early demise.
Tiger would go on to have his best year statistically speaking in Vancouver, playing in the All-Star game in 1981 on a line with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy. Dave Williams is still the NHL’s All-Time Penalty Minutes Leader with a staggering 3966 minutes.
Punch would go to on to live another 2844 days after my ad ran that cold February day back in 1980 till his death on December 1 1987. The moral of this story?
Be careful what you wish for, it may come true. Sorry Mr Imlach, I didn’t mean it.
by Jon Neely… After some shrewd negotiating with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, I came across the absurd opportunity of following Leafs’ President and General Manager Brian Burke for one whole day.
This uncensored and unrated look at the job Mr. Burke has is only a glimpse into the life of the man who has been called upon to save the beloved Buds.
Here now, is a day in the life of Brian Burke.
8:17AM: Brian, having allowed himself to sleep in due to the fact he has little to accomplish today, pulls into the parking lot of the practice facility. Outside the doors stand Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne, laughing to themselves and gleaming with pride as they look at the morning paper’s front page, “Ducks take 3-1 lead over Senators, Cup win almost certain now.” Burke smiles as he walks up to the two men and shakes their hand. “Great morning isn’t it Burkey?” Getzlaf proclaims. Burke nods in approval as he kicks a rock from inside his flip-flop, and adjusts his sunglasses.
A Ford F150 pulls up, music blaring, windows rolled down, its defense pair Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermeyer, with brother Rob in the back. They walk towards Brian as they chuckle about last evenings team BBQ at Pronger’s house, where Scott used a vase to try and show Rob how to properly lift the Stanley Cup but dropped it. They join Burke and the other two players at the front door, just as a member of the Duck’s staff stuck his out the door and wondered where Burke was planning on starting the parade route next week. Brian Burke smiles, shrugs his shoulders and turns back to the players.
6:46AM: Burke awakes to his blackberry alarm blaring AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’, “Damn”, he mumbles, “just a dream again.” It’s Monday, and Burke slowly rolls out of bed and rests his feet on the warm carpet floor. The Toronto Maple Leafs President and GM switches off his alarm and see’s he has 22 text messages awaiting him. He rubs his eyes and turns on the television, taking his time, knowing there is a long, busy day ahead of him.
7:32AM: Burke walks down the hall of the Leafs hotel in Ottawa on his way to the team breakfast provided downstairs. Top button of his shirt undone, tie loose and hanging from his collar, his eyes focused on the Blackberry. As he begins to read his overflowing inbox of text messages and emails his phone begins to ring, it’s MLSE President and CEO Richard Peddie.
“Brian, it’s Richard, I have an idea for the summer. Our jersey sales are down this year and I’ve been thinking we need to make a trade for a captain, because fans will flock to the stores to buy a jersey with a ‘C’ on it. We should trade our first round pick and Luke Schenn to the New York Rangers for Markus Naslund, make him captain and let him finish his career here. Think of the money we’ll make off his jersey!”
Click.
Burke quickly ends the call, and wishes that little man would stop calling him. Somewhere John Ferguson Jr. proclaims “I told you!”
7:37AM: Burke walks into the Leafs private conference room where a table awaits full of delicious food for breakfast. In the far corner of the room stand Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolia Kuleman laughing with former GM Cliff Fletcher. Cliff rolls up his shirt sleeve to reveal the “Silver Fox” tattoo he got while out on the town with the two players the night before.
At the same time Dr. Forman, Leafs team doctor, meets Burke at the entrance to inform him that Mike Van Ryn had received another concussion late in the night when a game of checkers with fellow defender Jeff Finger got violent. Burke makes a mental note to get in touch with St. Louis Blues staff to discuss a trade of Van Ryn to the Blues in exchange for Carlo Colliacovo back to the Leafs. He got hurt far less than Van Ryn.
The Leafs GM then takes his place at the table with his normal meal buddies; Dave Nonis (Senior Vice-President of Hockey Operations), Ron Wilson (Coach), and rookie defenseman Luke Schenn. Schenn, Burke’s roommate on the road (to keep him from being corrupted by any of the non-physical, non-defensive minded European rookies on the team), had gotten up earlier when his brother, Brayden Schenn, called to ask what jersey numbers were free on the Leafs’ roster.
The four men chuckle about the prank pulled on Luke last week when Burke had a ‘C’ sewed on all of Schenn’s clothing, simply getting him ready for the future.
8:01AM: Injured goalie Vesa Toskala who is out for the season, but decided to come on the trip before his surgery, calls over to coach Ron Wilson to throw him a muffin. Wilson tosses one in his direction, but Vesa goes down too early and the muffin beats him high glove side. Burke makes a mental note to instruct the surgeons to do some work on his glove hand, along with his hip and groin.
Just then Martin Gerber walks in sporting an Ottawa Senators tracksuit, not by choice but because Burke instructed him to just wear his old suit, he wouldn’t be in Toronto long enough to need one from the Leafs. The Leafs’ brass also plan on making Gerber wear his Sens’ pads and helmet for the game that night, to confuse the Ottawa players. Unfortunately defender Chris Phillips is suiting up for the Senators, and he excels at scoring on goaltenders in Sens’ equipment. Burke forgets Phillip’s own goal on Ray Emery in the 2007 playoffs helped the GM beat the Sens and win his first cup.
8:17AM: Burke and Wilson begin to discuss new ways to work around questions concerning the Leafs tanking the season and going for a high draft pick. They stick to their original plan of weekly calling out a player, criticizing his play, in hopes that the media will believe they are actually upset with these guys.
8:45AM: After a hearty meal Burke heads out to the hall while in a phone conversation when Matt Stajan approaches him. Burke holds up his hand and quickly says, “Sorry kid, no autographs.”
11:06AM: Burke takes a seat in the 15th row of Scotiabank Place to watch the morning skate of his team. This, just after instructing Marlies’ call-up Ben Ondrus to fight as many players as possible during the skate, this way Burke could fully judge the toughness of his team. After Ondrus is knocked out clean by Assistant coach Keith Acton, Burke makes a mental note to suit up Acton in a future game.
11:45AM: Goaltending coach Corey Hirsch comes to Burke complaining of the old man who occasionally hangs around the ice dressed as a goalie. Burke informs him that this is in fact Curtis Joseph, who they should be nice too because they need him to babysit Stajan on weekends.
11:58AM: Burke and Schenn sit down for some lunch at a nearby café. While enjoying his turkey sandwich the rookie drips some mustard down his shirt, Burke reacts fast. He quickly licks a napkin and reaches over the table to clean up the mess. When the mustard doesn’t come out, he demands that someone in the café get the stud defender a new shirt. A young waiter walks over and politely asks Burke to calm down, as he’s disturbing the others enjoying their meal. He tells the waiter to walk away slowly or he’ll never work another day in his life. He then gives Schenn the shirt off his back.
12:06PM: Burke buys a new white shirt for himself, then gets a matching shirt for Luke, but with a ‘C’ sewed on. They laugh together, as Burke pauses to think of all the fun they’re going to have in the future.
12:36PM: The Leafs’ GM joins FAN590’s Darren Millard and Nick Kypreos on their daily radio show to discuss the latest in Leaf Nation. After giving his standard one word answers, Burke tries to tell Kypreos that they are not actually friends, but Nick won’t listen and insists they go out for a beer when Burke returns to Toronto. After Burke hangs up Kypreos says excitedly, “He’ll call me.”
No he won’t.
1:15PM: Burke’s Blackberry buzzes, it’s Canucks’ forward and Swedish twin, Henrik Sedin returning a call. He answers and they have some standard small talk and catch up before Burke gets down to business and says:
“So here’s the plan for the summer, you and your brother are coming to Toronto. We’ll pay you $4 million each, and we’ll throw in Mats’ mansion and some excellent bunk beds for the both of you. The colour can be your choice, how does all that sound?”
Henrik hesitates, then replies, “That sounds pretty good, but we’ve gotten a better offer. Your buddy, Kevin Lowe, in Edmonton offered us $9 million per season, coupons to ride the roller coaster at West Edmonton Mall, and he’ll give us matching racecar beds.”
As the steam rises from the GM’s forehead, Henrik begins to say something, but is cut off abruptly.
Click.
Burke angrily ends the call and curses Kevin Lowe’s existence. He checks the Sedin’s off of his “to buy this summer” list, and hopes Rick Nash returns his call soon.
2:24PM: Burke finds Wilson having a conversation with Schenn and fellow blue-liner Ian White and comes over when he sees the two players high-five with glee. Wilson informs Burke that they will be forced to play the two defensemen for the entire game against Ottawa, as the rest of the Leafs defense is injured.
2:26PM: Burke tries on a pair of skates, but they don’t fit.
3:07PM: With the players headed up for their afternoon nap Burke receives a phone call from Raptors’ President and GM Bryan Colangelo. He wants to know if Burke would take over his job at the end of next year once Chris Bosh has left for nothing, along with the Raptors chance at being good anytime soon. Burke respectively declined, and then removes Colangelo’s number from his phone.
3:55PM: Burke bumps into Ottawa GM Brian Murray. They shake hands, exchange some GM gossip and as they turn to leave Burke says, “Well, enjoy your final year as GM of the Sens.” Murray laughs at the joke. Burke laughs too, but at the fact it wasn’t a joke.
4:15PM: Burke’s BFF, Brad May, joins him for a pre-game cigar and shot of Jack Daniels.
4:55PM: Burke gets the news that Montreal Canadiens have fired their coach, Guy Carbonneau. The Leafs GM and coach question why Bob Gainey would leave him as coach while the Habs were struggling mightily, and then fire him the day after their most impressive win in weeks. Burke wonders, if the Habs blow it up, if there is anyone on the Canadiens he would like to see in blue and white next year.
There isn’t.
7:11PM: Burke, high up in a box, uses his handy dandy binoculars to scope out Ian White’s choice of facial hair, and approves once he sees the moustache flowing in the breeze, complemented nicely by the chinstrap halfway down the jaw line.
7:12PM: Orders the usual; cotton candy.
7:44PM: Burke is seen cheering as Ian White scores on the ice. What is not known by the onlookers is that Burke has just won a free coffee from his latest Roll-Up-The-Rim cup and didn’t actually notice the goal on the ice.
10:42PM: Burke congratulates the team on a hard fought game in the visitor’s dressing room.
10:43PM: Wilson walks by Burke; the two inconspicuously look around and give a subtle fist bump. “One more loss, one step closer to the other Schenn brother” Burke says. Wilson smirks and walks towards the media hoard, ready to deal with more questions concerning yet another loss.
10:50PM: After talking with a few of the players Burke heads out of the change room and down the hall, things around him suddenly seeming a little brighter.
“Turn off those damn camera lights you idiots, you trying to blind me?” Burke shouts.
Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager, in charge of a team whose fans are more than just hockey-crazed, they’re, well, insane. The man has a got a tough job ahead of him to change this dysfunctional team into a champion, but he’s the only man who can do the job right.
A day in the life of Brian Burke.
If only.
(As a die hard Leaf fan, and true believer that Brian Burke will lead the Leafs back to Cup contention, it’s necessary sometimes to just sit back and laugh at the situation right now. Go Leafs Go.)
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