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Brian Burkes on-and-off relationship with the media in Toronto continued on Tuesday as the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager took issue with the line of questioning from a Toronto radio host before abruptly hanging up in the midst of an interview. cheapseahawksjerseysfromchina . Questioned about a variety of topics from his off-ice initiatives to the firing of head coach Ron Wilson, it was a question about Burkes own job security was the final straw. When host John Moore of Torontos News Talk 1010 asked Burke he felt he was close to the door, the NHL executive went on the defensive. "I wish youd told me before you asked me to do this interview that that was going to be your last question," Burke said. "A nice little cheap shot before you get off the air." When Moore persisted and re-asked his question, Burke was short with his response. "No, I dont [worry about getting dismissed]," Burke said just moments before hanging up. "I think its an ignorant question, and a gutless one, too." Its not the first incident Burke has had with the hockey media since taking over in Toronto. Earlier this season, he criticized a reporter for getting injury updates from goaltender James Reimers mother. Other columnists - including print and broadcast media - have on numerous occasions criticized the GMs interactions with the press. Tuesdays interview started with talk about the You Can Play Project (led by Burkes son Patrick) before switching to discussing on-ice issues - including a critique from hockey commentator Don Cherry about a lack of Ontario-born players on the Maple Leafs. "I have no interest in escalating an argument with Don Cherry," said Burke. "And I dont know what set him off on that rant, because we actually have had a good relationship, historically." "Lets look at a few facts. Ive run three drafts here, and in those three drafts that Ive been here, we led the league with eight Ontario-born players drafted... The notion that we dont like Ontario kids, thats garbage....Somehow in Canada, have we started differentiating between Western Canadians and Ontario boys or Quebec boys? Because I dont draw that distinction." Burke also fielded questions about Wilsons dismissal by correcting misconceptions about their relationship. "Weve been friends for 40 years," Burke stated. "Its been incorrectly reported repeatedly that we were roommates in college. We were not. Its been reported, repeatedly incorrectly, that I hired Ron. I did not. But weve been friends... it was very difficult to fire him. But Im also confident it was the right time and the right thing to do."http://www.cheapjerseyswholesalenfl.us/cheapseahawksjerseysfromchina.html . And as the Browns backup quarterback saunters into the locker room following practice he looks and acts every bit like Clevelands starter. cheapjerseyswholesalenfl . JOHNS, N.PHILADELPHIA -- The brisk air brought out Julio Teherans best more so than facing Cliff Lee. Teheran pitched a three-hitter, Evan Gattis homered among a career-best four hits, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 Wednesday night. Teheran (3-1) retired his first 12 batters before Ryan Howard led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single. The 23-year-old righty struck out four and got 14 outs on flyballs in his first complete game in 38 career starts. He became the ninth Braves starter in the first 14 games this year to allow one run or none. "The cold didnt bother me," Teheran said after breezing through the lineup on a night when it was only 47 degrees at first pitch. "When its cold, I try to focus even more and not pay attention to the weather." As for beating a former Cy Young Award winner, Teheran said: "I dont pay attention to who Im pitching against." Philadelphia wasted an excellent outing by Lee (2-2). The ace left-hander struck out 13 and pitched around 11 hits in a complete game, throwing a career-high 128 pitches. Gattis drove an 0-2 pitch into the left-field seats in the fourth. It was his fifth homer in his last three games at Citizens Bank Park. "I was just trying to put the ball in play," Gattis said. Lee, a prolific strike-thrower, often gets hurt on 0-2 pitches. He entered the game with five hits allowed, including two doubles, among a dozen 0-2 pitches. "Im going to allow hits 0-2 and Im going to get outs 0-2," Lee said. "I hope I get every hitter in that situation." After the slow-footed Howard reached on a slow roller toward second base that was fielded by shifted third baseman Chris Johnson, Teheran retired the next 11 batters before Carlos Ruiz lined a single to left with two outs in the eighth. Jimmy p;Rollins hit a single with two outs in the ninth. cheapjerseyswholesalenfl.us/. Rollins stole second on a 3-0 pitch to Chase Utley. But Utley following with a game-ending groundout. "Teheran mixed speeds on his fastball, had different movement on his speed and mixed in his other pitches," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. Pitchers certainly had the advantage against bundled-up hitters. "Both pitchers were unbelievable," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Lee was excellent. The homer just got over the fence. Teheran was terrific. He was dominating." It was the first 1-0 game that featured two complete games since Seattle beat Minnesota 1-0 on Aug. 27, 2012. Felix Hernandez got the win for the Mariners over Liam Hendricks. The series resumed after Tuesday nights rainout, which will be made up in June. The Braves rallied for a 9-6 win Monday night when Dan Uggla hit a ninth-inning grand slam off fill-in closer Jake Diekman. NOTES: Braves closer Craig Kimbrel is day to day with shoulder discomfort. ... Utley was 0 for 4, ending his 11-game hitting streak. ... Gattis was 0 for 6 with four strikeouts vs. Lee before his four hits. ... Lee has 29 career double-digit strikeout games. ... The Phillies signed LHP Adam Loewen to a minor league contract and assigned him to extended spring training. Loewen spent the last five seasons playing first base and outfield in the minors. ... Atlantas starters havent allowed more than three earned runs in any of the first 14 games. ... LHP Cole Hamels is moving closer to returning to Philadelphias rotation next week. Hamels was slowed by a shoulder problem in spring training. ... A.J. Burnett (0-1) tries for the fourth time to win his first game with the Phillies in Thursday afternoons series finale. LHP Alex Wood (2-1) goes for the Braves. ' ' ' |
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