Freddie P's Blog

March 27, 2010 @ 13:29

What was unfolding as a pleasant Saturday morning quickly went south when I flipped on TSN's Sportscentre.

There were back back to back reports that totally bummed me out. The first one dealt with that abhorrent thug Gilbert Arenas (next posting) and the second one dealt with someone who actually contributes to society, former Leaf coach Pat Burns.

I hadn't heard much about Burns lately but then the Sportscentre report kicked me right in the gut. They're naming a community hockey rink after Burns in Stanstead, Quebec and he was there yesterday for the naming ceremony.

The rink hasn't been built yet, in fact I don't think a shovel has hit the ground, but they held the ceremony yesterday because if they waited any longer Burns wouldn't be there.

It's no secret now; he's in the final days of his life after battling three different cancers over the past six years. First it was colon cancer, which he beat, then liver cancer which he beat and now lung cancer which can't be beaten. Burns declined treatment.

I'm sure I speak for most Leaf fans when I say Pat Burns will always have a special place in my hockey heart. The wonderful run he took the Maple Leafs on in the early 90's is something that none of us will ever forget.

He brought hope to a city that had none through most of the 80's, and along with Cliff Fletcher made the words Stanley Cup something more than a fantasy.

Burns was big, brash and bombastic but he was a great leader and a fabulous coach he managed to squeeze absolutely every once of effort out of the best Leaf team since the 60's.

To see Pat Burns on television this morning, gaunt and weak while speaking with a voice I could hardly recognize was terribly upsetting for me, so I can't image what his family is going through.

He's only 58 years old.

"As for my career, I always said to my kids 'you don't cry because it's over, you're happy because it happened.' That's the main thing. I'm very happy that it happened."
Pat Burns, March 25, 2010