Habs Fall From Grace

What's left to be said about the once glorious Montreal Canadiens? It's a mickey mouse operation with no vision operating in a parochial environment.

I believe, or at least I want to believe, the average Quebecer understands it's no longer (exclusively anyway) about language but about knowledge and other intellectual assets these days. No one is saying you shouldn't speak - or learn - the language of a said market but we're saying is it shouldn't come at the expense of seeking excellence. After all, a language can be learned.

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So now "they" (les autres as I call them) want to boycott Molson's for hving the audicity to hire a unilingual human being - without even given the guy a chance to A) prove his mettle and B) to learn the language. The ONE family, moreover, who reacquired the team when no "chez nous" businessmen wouldn't.

And who have been the "cause and solution of all man's problems" (as quoted by Homer) by providing many a drunk Canadian with intoxicating liquid moments.

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I completely reject the "how would Torontonians react if the Maple Leafs hired a non-English speaking coach?" It's a presumptuous logical fallacy.

I don't know how Ontarians would react but I can almost guarantee they would not react like (mostly nationalist) Quebecers. There are reasons for this assumption. For example, Toronto doesn't have language baggage. If a coach came in speaking only Czech and took the Leafs to the Cup, I doubt it would be much of an issue. In ths way, Toronto fans would be closer in line with international soccer where foreign coaches are hired by native clubs and national teams constantly in a fluid maret where ideas are consistently exchanged.

Italians, German, French, and Dutch coaches are famous for imparting their know-how in coaching other nations including Korea, Greece and Russia - to name a precious few. The same for Argentina and Brazil. Currently, a pair of Italians are coaching England and Ireland. The point is clubs go after ASSETS and the best possible talent. Language fixes itself later.

Big clubs like AC Milan go as far as to help one of their "assets" integrate into Italian society by providing Italian courses - among other things. Their philosophy is simple: Italy is unique and in order to maximize the potential talent of an asset you should take care of it.

I see none of this with the Montreal Canadiens. For a team in a society that claims to be distinct, I'm surprised it hasn't been proactive in nursing its talent better to accept and understand Quebec society.

Rather, it's busy wasting its time trying to avoid conflict with an over-inflated media. It's called poor management of resources.

The Habs should always be ahead of the curve in identifying and  developing talent - especially given they already know what is asked of it when it comes to coaching. If you're operating in a restricted talent pool because of the politics (and quite frankly, I don't see why it should), then you'd better make damn sure you have a fluid list of candidates close to your chest. As for the players, it should have hit someone in the organization by now that something is off when the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers - two main arch rivals in your conference - consistently do a better job of drafting French-Canadian players. At least, that's my perception.

Instead, you get the fricken Keystone cops.

The Canadiens, in one last soccer analogy, function less like the Packers, Yankees, Ferrari etc.(brand names they should be associated with), and more like another once proud institution, Liverpool of the EPL. If you follow soccer you know what I mean. Comedy of errors are the norm for both.

In this construct I've described, Toronto would be the norm and Montreal the exception when it comes to accepting talent. Particularly, it should be mentioned, with hockey. The Habs are identified as a part of "Quebecois" culture (even though the Anglo-Irish fact runs deep can't be disputed or discounted) which makes things more complicated.

Indeed, you don't (or didn't) see this issue with the Alouettes, Impact and once upon a time Expos. It's as if the Canadiens exist vicariously through an entire population.

It's not an easy situation (not made any easier by interfering and thoughtless politicians serving to prey on the language divide) and all I can do is wish Randy Cunneyworth good luck because he certainly doesn't deserve the infantile criticism he's getting.

Again, I blame the organization for poorly handling this.

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Current Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is among the greatest and most successful managers in the history of soccer.

In this clip, culture and assets comfortably live side by side. There's no reason why this can't be the case in Quebec.

I include Ireland as a legitimate dark horse to go deep at Euro 2012.