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The NHL Draft proved a bore for Toronto Maple Leaf fans as GM Brian Burke was unable to arrange any deals. Burke is going to face real pressure to alter the team’s current line-up when the free agent signing period gets underway tomorrow. The pressure in Toronto to do something, anything, has been stoked by Burke’s promises and hyperbole. After tantalizing fans with the prospect of adding a Tavares or a Kessel, Burke will find it difficult to lead the franchise through yet another year of mediocrity, even if that is the prudent thing to do. It has been such a long and painful experience since John Ferguson walked through the front door that I would gladly suffer through another year of stagnation if it leads to a top pick and necessary organizational restructuring. The worst thing would be a foolish signing, like a long term deal for the Sedins, or even a commitment to a Mike Cammalleri type, bandage moves which do not address the underlying rot…best quiet signing of the off season thus far; the Pittsburgh Penguins inked Bill Guerin to a one year two million dollar contract…some interesting free agent types that are seemingly below the radar; Mike Knuble, Brian Gionta, Mattias Ohlund, and Francois Beauchemin. If cap room considerations lock out teams after the big names are signed (Gaborik, Havlat, Bouwmeester and Hossa), wouldn’t any of the aforementioned four look nice if available for a reasonable cost?…I think the Leafs should also consider adding the class and leadership of John Madden.  The New Jersey Devils have opted to not pursue Madden in the free agent sweepstakes…Nik Antropov apparently asked the New York Rangers for a six year, 31 million dollar deal. Nik will be looking for employment elsewhere starting Wednesday…Vancouver GM Mike Gillis flew over to Stockholm following the draft to continue negotiations with Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Could the Canucks be creeping closer to acceding to the Swede’s extraordinary twelve year demands?…covering the NBA Draft last week, the Sporting News commented the Toronto Raptors have possibly the best management team in basketball. What, exactly, provides the impetus for such a glowing statement?…retired QB Trent Green has certainly ignited a fireball of excitement with his assertion that at least ten QB’s will throw for over 4,000 yards in the NFL this year. The previous record was seven, but a stunning array of healthy and eager arms have Green predicting a glorious season for high octane offense…the Sporting News is reporting that former Jacksonville Jags pivot Mark Brunell is fighting it out for the back-up role in New Orleans…big rumbles in NASCAR have Dale Earnhardt Jr leaving Hendricks in 2010 to drive for his own JR Motorsports. Replacing Earnhardt? The lovely Danica Patrick…Juan Manuel Lopez continued to storm up the boxing pound for pound rankings with a facile demolition of Oliver Lontchi Saturday night in Las Vegas. Boxing needs to finds a way to highlight the most exciting champ in the game. Lontchi, by the way, entered the ring to “Thriller”…the talk will begin soon. Klitschko vs. Klitschko, Vitali vs. Vladimir. There’s not a single compelling fight left in the heavyweight division, so why not the ultimate freakshow?…it’s just a shame a race between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra cannot be arranged. Though Rachel boasted a better fig from their respective weekend performances, Zenyatta toted 129 lbs and seemed well within herself as she mowed down front runners. It would be a spectacular moment for a gasping sport but the financial incentive does not yet exist for a showdown…I’ll admit to spending an inordinate amount of time reading about the late Michael Jackson. A grim picture emerges if you carefully sift through the various sources; a lonely, drug addled sexually ambiguous man desperately attempting to project an image in direct contrast to the life he was actually leading. All so unnecessary. I’ll say it again, I don’t believe Jackson was inordinately talented and I think he knew it. Have you taken the time to actually listen to his songs? Or even view the famous Motown show from the eighties? He was a master at hype, at spin, but I don’t see evidence of any life-work that will endure…