Leaf Nation giving thanks this weekend

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae.

Well, the news Leaf Nation has been waiting for since the end of the 2007/08 season was made official yesterday - as native New Englander, Brian Burke was named the President and General Manager of our (that you, me and Hazel) Toronto Maple Leafs.

Not since Cliff Fletcher's initial appointment to the post has the future of the Leafs looked brighter. Burke said all of the things that resonate with Leaf Nation - vowing to transform the Leafs into a big, tougher and meaner team. For those that know the history of the Blue and White - those were the founding principles of the Leafs when the legandary Conn Smythe first founded the team.

Burke's initial presser put to bed speculation (on the part of the media, of course) that he would purge the Leafs of their European content in favour of a more North American roster. While the betting is that Burke will improve the North American/European ratio on the team - we can safely assume that some of Toronto's better prospects won't be traded for the sake of improving the ratio.

Yes indeed - the future has just gotten a lot brighter for Leaf Nation. A very Happy Thanksgiving after all.

SUNDAY THREE PLAY
Three picks for the 4:00 pm slate of games. The total for the year is still a respectable + $900, so we'll up the total today.

NEW ENGLAND -2.5 over Pittsburgh - the Steelers, like their cross-state counterparts (those stinking Eagles), look like champs against the league's lesser lights and rather ordinary against the better teams in the league. Lay $100 on the Pats.

NY JETS -7.5 over Denver - the Broncos can't stop anyone, so that doesn't bode well for them today against the Jets. Lay $100 on the Jets minus the points.

Kansas City +3.5 over Oakland - call it a hunch play, but I can't see the Raiders covering against the arch-rivals. Lay $100 on the Chiefs plus the points.

That's it for this afternoon - maybe a play on the late game to follow. Thanks for taking the time to check in.

Hazel, here's hoping things are groovy in your world and that you greeted the news of Burke's hiring with a thumbs up.

I'm Out!