Leafs GM Brian Burke hangs up on radio host after being asked ‘ignorant, gutless’ question about being fired (Audio)

Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke entered a radio interview Tuesday thinking he was just going to promote the You Can Play Project started by his son that aims to end homophobia in hockey, but things did not end well.

Burke started off talking about the campaign, then talked a bit about the Leafs before responding to Don Cherry’s charge that the Leafs don’t like players from Ontario. Burke firmly disagreed with Cherry and defended his stance with several facts.

After answering that question, things got awkward when NewsTalk 1010’s John Moore asked about Burke getting fired. Yes, you read that correctly, the host asked Burke what he thought about the suggestion that he should be fired.

Here’s a transcription of the testy exchange, along with audio of Burke hanging up below.

Q: One last question for you, Brian Burke, changing coaches is always an option, but a lot of people on a panel I was hosting this weekend said it was time for the general manager to be changed.
Burke: “Well, I haven’t heard that. And I don’t know what panel you were hosting. That’s up to ownership. I wish you’d told me before you asked me to do this interview that that was going to be your last question, a nice little cheap shot before you get off the air.”

Q: I’m giving you a chance to answer it.
Burke: “Well, that’s up to ownership, when the GM gets changed. But I wish you’d told me that off the air before, you were going to take a little swing on the way out. But I guess that’s what people in your line of work do.”

Q: Well, Brian Burke, I’m not taking a swing. The possibility of a general manager being changed when a team isn’t performing well is always there. So I’m asking you if you feel like you’re close to the door.
Burke: “No, I don’t. And I think it’s in ignorant question, and a gutless one, too.”

I’m with Burke on this one. Moore never asked a question. It’s pretty obvious he was trying to be a jerk by bringing up that subject. Had he just asked whether Burke’s job should be in jeopardy based on Toronto’s poor record, that would have been fair. But he didn’t, and Burke called him out for it.

via Puck Daddy