They are not victims, but the moment the poop about Lupul/Cuthbert hit a TSN screen they became sympathetic. It is a perfect encapsulation of the current state of the Toronto media - shoot first, ask questions second.

They think they are responsble for organizational changes - it has gone beyond simply reporting on the team. What other market gave a former coach the platform to blast the team on a national broadcast? How was that objective? What purpose did it serve other than to artifically create content and fill time on the broadcast and fill a couple web pages of story/comments?

Kessel is a "victim" (your word) the second the media criticizes for not talking, then when they don't like what he says jumping on what he said.
- Deeps27

You said it better than I did

Even half concussed he still knows a hell of a lot more than us on what goes on.
- LeafMan

so you agree with his take on Dion then?

No. I like watching hockey. I support my team through thick and thin. I don't ask for all this coverage. I simply don't care that Jonas Siegel thinks Phil Kessel should take media lessons because he was mean to him and the other reporters one day.

I get it's fun to pretend like all this noise wouldn't bother us if we were lucky enough to be NHL players - it's fun to pretend that the Toronto media is acting on behalf of the fans of the team and not being overly critical to drive ratings. They're not. What percentage of fans do you think call into radio shows, or go online in forums like this and comment? It's pretty small. They're not speaking for me and I never asked them to.

I would prefer they just covered the team - I don't care that Dion Phaneuf wears a Red Bull hat during interviews. What is objective aout that criticism? Was that a warranted story in your estimation?

By extension, your argument is if I am not in favour of what my government does I should "turn off", dig a hole and sit in it and not express my displeasure and not cast a vote? Excuse me for hoping that more people voicing their displeasure with the coverage will also serve as a vehicle to enact change.
- Deeps27

Well, no, because the government isn't funded based on you paying attention to it, so that's a little different.

One other thing, I think some here confuse what a reporter and a analyst does.

I like listening to what Ward, Kypreos, Ferraro and O'Neill have to say, they know damn well what it is like in a dressing room and what goes on during games, they lived it. They have insight and just because they speak their minds, people get all pissy.
- LeafMan

And the second Glenn Healy starts "analyzing" and being critical about what he "sees in Phaneuf's eyes"?!?! This is where it goes too far. Give me a break. What analysis is that?

At some point it needs to be recognized that both the fans and the media are responsible for the content they see on television and read in papers and online. One only exists because of the other and serves what sells.
- BINGO!

There is no winning. The epitome of this being: The Kardashians, everything on TLC, Justin Bieber, etc.

For everyone 1 person who hates it and wants to boycott. There are 100 lapping this garbage up.

Iss march rankings out. Crouse up to 3

Kylington down to 24

Crouse will come protect Kessel and Dion.
- Iggysbff

Rather perplexing that one. Teams might be wary of defensive deficiencies.

There is no winning. The epitome of this being: The Kardashians, everything on TLC, Justin Bieber, etc.

For everyone 1 person who hates it and wants to boycott. There are 100 lapping this garbage up.
- markmark

And there you have it. People like it. Majority rules. And the cycle continues.

Phanuef, Lupul and Avery's sloppy seconds need to grow a pair, lighten up and get a life....

mind read!
- Lucas Neilson

"if only I could remember where I left my head set"

~ Nick Kypreos

And the second Glenn Healy starts "analyzing" and being critical about what he "sees in Phaneuf's eyes"?!?! This is where it goes too far. Give me a break. What analysis is that?
- Deeps27

that stuff drives me nuts
So and so had a good game because he saw it in his eyes during the warm up

I think you, as citizens, should stop whining and deflecting on the media and do something about it. Stop watching games on TV...cancel your sports channels. Now. That's how you vote in the marketplace. Stop reading the media...including this blog. All of it. Don't give anyone the page hits. Go for a walk or build something. You can complain all you want, but if the public still subscribes or clicks, the media assumes they're giving them what they want.

That's how you affect change in the marketplace and create an environment where people only ever say good things about Dion Phaneuf - like it is in this forum. Are you prepared to do that? Quit whining then.
- SmileandWave

I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad. You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, God damn it! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

Well, no, because the government isn't funded based on you paying attention to it, so that's a little different.
- BINGO!

No poop. If I don't like something just stop watching it? Sorry, not going to happen. I'm fine to disagree with everyone who believes Leafs coverage is perfectly onside and doesn't need any sort of reform. I believe otherwise.

Even half concussed he still knows a hell of a lot more than us on what goes on.
- LeafMan

oh.... you're serious



i hear its either loafers or velcro for him tho.. so i'll call it even

Phanuef, Lupul and Avery's sloppy seconds need to grow a pair, lighten up and get a life....
- RoloTahmasee

either way shouldn't have been aired on TSN, technically is their fault as they moved forward with hashtagging and showing tweets on TSN. Even though that tweet slipped through, tweets should be reviewed or as we call it "a delay" before something is put live on TV

so you agree with his take on Dion then?
- Lucas Neilson

I don't take just what they say about a player and how they are playing, I watch the game and can see for myself if I agree or not. I think the analysts are dead on about how he plays, which is poorly. Now, when you take into account his leadership, on the surface to many of us he has failed, where the analyst like Ward, Ferraro, Kypreos etc... have an advantage in that they played the game and can recall as young players what a true leader does in the dressing room and on and the off the ice, so their insight into that is valuable, they know.

You may hate their personality but you cannot dismiss the knowledge they have in this regard.

No poop. If I don't like something just stop watching it? Sorry, not going to happen. I'm fine to disagree with everyone who believes Leafs coverage is perfectly onside and doesn't need any sort of reform. I believe otherwise.
- Deeps27

Well, no, he's saying to vote with your wallet. If you don't like what's being said than stop watching it because your eyes contribute to their success. If you want to enact change in a marketplace you have to hit them in the wallet, otherwise why would they give a (frank)?

Phanuef, Lupul and Avery's sloppy seconds need to grow a pair, lighten up and get a life....
- RoloTahmasee

solid advise

At some point it needs to be recognized that both the fans and the media are responsible for the content they see on television and read in papers and online. One only exists because of the other and serves what sells.
- BINGO!

Exactly. Neither exists in a vacuum.

At some point it needs to be recognized that both the fans and the media are responsible for the content they see on television and read in papers and online. One only exists because of the other and serves what sells.
- BINGO!

the fans are in now way responsible for the content aired on a privately owned network

it is the networks responsibility only.. if they choose to allow individuals to post comments without a disclaimer then the liability falls on them as the host of the medium.

the fans are in now way responsible for the content aired on a privately owned network

it is the networks responsibility only.. if they choose to allow individuals to post comments without a disclaimer then the liability falls on them as the host of the medium.
- Dozzer

oops sorry i guess that wasnt allowed my bad!

Well, no, he's saying to vote with your wallet. If you don't like what's being said than stop watching it because your eyes contribute to their success. If you want to enact change in a marketplace you have to hit them in the wallet, otherwise why would they give a (frank)?
- BINGO!

Unfortunately viewership doesn't work that way. A million people could tune out and that wouldn't matter to their ratings unless those people are being measured. So Joe Shmo not watching games doesn't touch their wallet.

Well, no, he's saying to vote with your wallet. If you don't like what's being said than stop watching it because your eyes contribute to their success. If you want to enact change in a marketplace you have to hit them in the wallet, otherwise why would they give a (frank)?
- BINGO!

There were three other paragraphs supporting my point - don't cherry pick an example and try to argue with me like the rest of the point had no validity. I am not going to stop watching hockey. Period. Because I enjoy watching a game doesn't mean that I need to be subjected to the rest of this bullpoop and pretend to like it. Kessel said something, and I agree with him. If you don't I couldn't care less. The coverage is overly critical and unfair in this market. It is a byproduct of having a terrible team for too many years. Agree or disagree - there are a lot of facts that support my position, including other players from around the league supporting Kessel at the ASG - none of whom were solicited to do so.

I don't take just what they say about a player and how they are playing, I watch the game and can see for myself if I agree or not. I think the analysts are dead on about how he plays, which is poorly. Now, when you take into account his leadership, on the surface to many of us he has failed, where the analyst like Ward, Ferraro, Kypreos etc... have an advantage in that they played the game and can recall as young players what a true leader does in the dressing room and on and the off the ice, so their insight into that is valuable, they know.

You may hate their personality but you cannot dismiss the knowledge they have in this regard.
- LeafMan

totally hit or miss with me

sometimes i just laugh at the comments they make and other times i agree with it.

without a doubt they do have a more hockey intelligent view of things than us, i agree 100%. thats their job and they have lived it for a long time.

oops sorry i guess that wasnt allowed my bad!
- Lucas Neilson

LM got it before I saw it.. or.. still can see it.. so... i guess.. uhh.. thank you?

I don't take just what they say about a player and how they are playing, I watch the game and can see for myself if I agree or not. I think the analysts are dead on about how he plays, which is poorly. Now, when you take into account his leadership, on the surface to many of us he has failed, where the analyst like Ward, Ferraro, Kypreos etc... have an advantage in that they played the game and can recall as young players what a true leader does in the dressing room and on and the off the ice, so their insight into that is valuable, they know.

You may hate their personality but you cannot dismiss the knowledge they have in this regard.
- LeafMan

i think the emphasis and non stop talk about leadership is over the top... Sure if plays a part, but how much of a factor is it over skill or just being on well build team.

this week it was mentioned that Wilson made Dion Captain.. Burke and Wilson saw him as the person they wanted as the caption. Whether he is the right choice or not..it wasnt up to him.

Same with his contract.. Management failed again
It really comes down to Management failing at every level