Philly Cheese Stink

How long, after a carton of milk goes bad, can you keep drinking from it? It's the ultimate existential question. In Philly, the answer is about eight years. That's about how log the Philadelphia Flyers held on to (now former) general manager Bob Clarke.

Today, hockey fans have truly witnessed the end of an era. IMHO, it is a very welcome end to what has been an awful era for the Flyers.

It is no secret that Bob Clarke is man without sound judgment (I'm trying to hit above the belt here) and that, as he admitted himself, he hasn't delivered the goods as a general manager in the NHL.

Rob first broached the subject of Clarke's "intelligence" on this very blog back in May. He didn't pull any punches and one can hardly blame him. Let's all remember what he said after he let Roger Neilson go after Neilson had been diagnosed with Cancer: "I don't think they (the fans) want a cancer patient who is a friend of Eric Lindros right now."

When Clarke was later asked to clarify his position on the issue, he came up with this gem : "The Neilson situation - Roger got cancer - that wasn't our fault," said Clarke. "We didn't tell him to go and get cancer."

I know that Clarke is a hockey legend and that someone's lack of diplomacy (or brains) doesn't mean they can't build a Stanley Cup winning team. Regardless, his inability to recognize the changing style of play in the NHL and the need for any Cup hopeful to have a decent goalie, made him incompetent. It's as simple as that.

Good riddance.