The rumours and speculation were probably sparked by a column like this.
Steve Simmons:
Quote:
TORONTO - It was late in the Stanley Cup playoffs when the word began drifting out about Brian Burke.
How he was acting erratically.
How his life was spiraling in dubious ways.
How the new owners of the Maple Leafs, still not officially in place, were not happy with what they saw, what they regularly were hearing, what they believed about their prized hockey team.
It was late in the playoffs and the question was asked almost everywhere I travelled, with too many stories — some false, some true — being spread around late at night: He had become the topic almost every day. The questions being asked: What’s going on with Brian Burke? And how long before the Maple Leafs fire him?
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http://www.torontosun.com/2013/01/09...nchise-anymore
My take is that Burke ran into the same problem that Darryl did here, a poor relationship with the press. I can't say whether there was good reason for reporters to take this position or not.