For such an "up and coming" exec President Pierre Boivin sure shrugs and chuckles a lot when faced with serious questions. Moreover, his "francophone" angles to operate this machine is utterly myopic and pathetic.
Note to Boivin: As a soccer fan, I know one thing. The great soccer clubs don't care where their managers come from. They want the best. If they hire the best (and most cultured), language will not be an issue as the person will willingly learn the language. To freeze people out for not being able to speak French is not only ludicrous but discriminatory. Real Madrid, AC Milan, Ajax, Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, FC Porto, Liverpool and Manchester United - the greatest clubs in soccer history - aren't that stupid and insipid. They walk the globe looking for talent.
Why should it be any different for the Habs? Should this organization not be above politics? Should it not respect its legacy and commit only to winning? One man's realism is another man's ignorance I suppose.
The Habs remain on a path to nowhere. When the most storied franchise refuses to interview other candidates and calcifies this nonsensical approach by restricting the available talent pool by focusing on politics, it doesn't take a genius to know what the results will be: One and one equal MEDIOCRITY.
Simple as that.
But hey, the demand outstrips the demand here. As long as people are willing to pay top dollars for an average product (including $10 a beer), there is no need to commit to winning. Stay the course, drink the profits.
They can say they're committing to winning. But actually behaving in a winning way is quite another.
***
The irony here is for a team that represents the soul of this city, they no longer represent excellence. Prior to their demise, the Montreal Expos were an outstanding organization. Their success in scouting, player development, trades and signings were a product of a sound organizational structure. They were free to operate outside the parochial Quebecois bubble. That helped indeed. They didn't win a title, but Baseball America consistently ranked them as a top franchise throughout the 1980s. The Expos were an example on how to do things.
The Habs? They're more interested in image. And boy do they do ceremonies better than anybody.
The other club in the city that's run properly are the Montreal Alouettes. Manager Jim Popp is awesome at his job. He has kept this team at the top of the CFL since 1996. They've reached the Grey Cup seven times between 2000-2009 winning two titles! I know it's an eight team league. Nonetheless, a great track record.
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