Hello NY and everywhere else, welcome back to the Birdcage. We were lucky enough to have Larry Brooks answer some questions for us a while back but we had a bunch more questions for him and somehow they got misplaced and Larry didn't get the chance to answer them. So a little over a week ago I sent off an e-mail asking if Larry would be interested in fielding some new questions. Now the guy is on his vacation and I was sure that the last thing he'd want to do would be to talk to me but to my surprise, he took time out and responded that he'd love to do it.

Please keep in mind that I sent these off before Sather signed the two left wings and before Toronto announced Ferguson as the new GM. So the following is a few Q & A's with the Man himself.....Larry Brooks of the NY Post.

Bird: Just after your vacation began, a number a big hockey events took place so I'd like to ask about some of them. I imagine you had the chance to interact with Herb Brooks at some point, can you tell us something we didn't know about him? Also, share with us your feelings on the 1980 Gold medal U.S. team and what it meant to you.

Larry: I had no more than a passing, professional relationship with Herb, so I'm afraid I have little to offer in the way of insightful anecdotes. The 1980 Gold Medal win clearly was a watershed in US hockey, with an immediate explosion following in youth participation. A significant number of players on the 1996 World Cup championship team--the only US team to ever beat Canada in a professional all-star tournament--talked about 1980 having provided the impetus for their interest in hockey.

Bird: I don't deal much in rumors but I got some info that bolsters one of your articles on Bure not playing in the NHL anymore. From what I was told, he'll come to camp and even play a few games before it's announced that he's hurt. What do you see as the reason behind that and how do you think Sather will attempt to replace Bure's scoring potential?

Larry: Bure probably will not be able to pass the pre-season physical. Even if he does, it's unlikely he will be able to play at all.

Bird: With much of the Ranger roster signed to one year deals (and most of the NHL players) do you see this as a positive? Could we really see players in Ranger Blue put forth more of an effort this season?

Larry: I'd be careful before drawing a cause-and-effect between contract length and potential success. After all, the Rangers did have a significant number of important players--Leetch, Kovalev, Carter, Poti, Messier--working on the final guaranteed season of their deals last year, too.

Bird: Messier....still unsigned as I write this. Do you think Sather wants him back and can't agree on the numbers or is Slats trying to talk him into retirement? (if that were the case, wouldn't Mark have taken the Oilers deal?)

Larry: At this late date, it appears a fait accompli that Messier will be back, though there's work to do on the contract. As I've written often the last five months, I think it's a mistake.

Bird: What area of the world do the Brooks family vacation this year and what has been the best part so far?

Larry: The Brooks Family vacations in Montauk over the summer. The best part was merely all of it.

Bird: With Cujo getting his surgery many have speculated on a conspiracy...what is your take on the sequence of events and how do you see it playing out with the waiver draft coming up soon?

Larry: Good question on Cujo. Keep in mind that when I'm on vacation, I'm a fanatic about being on vacation. Hence, I know no more than I've read. The whole thing does seem somewhat odd, I'd say that. Unless there's a pre-arranged deal, however, I don't think any team will take Cujo's contract in the Waiver Draft, regardless of his health.

Bird: Will you be going to Vermont to cover Ranger training camp?

Larry: Yes, I will be in Vermont.

Bird: The Rangers are still weak on the left side as of today. How will that be addressed in your opinion?

Larry: The signings of Hlavac and Rucinsky appear to have filled the holes on the left side, at least on paper.

Bird: Everything I have heard and read suggest that the NHLPA and the NHL are gearing up for a long stoppage. One, what are the possibilities that the players hold a work stoppage before this coming playoff in '04 and second, what will you be doing if the stoppage is a long one ?

Larry: The players are forbidden under terms of the CBA to strike, so there will be no work stoppage prior to Sept. 16, 2004, which, I believe, is a day or two after the World Cup Final. In 94/95 I covered the labor negotiations; what will happen next year I couldn't say.

Bird: Are you looking forward to the post game press conferences this coming season with Sather as much as I am?

Larry: No.

Bird: The Devils look to be one of the stronger teams in the east yet again, are the talks about the team moving out of the Meadowlands a distraction for that hockey club at all?

Larry: The Devils won in 95 while negotiations were being conducted to move the team to Nashville. Distractions? There are no distractions in Lamoriello's locker room.

Bird: What are you thoughts about the circus up in Toronto? How do you think Neil Smith would fair there as the GM?

Larry: I think the selection process was horribly flawed, with Ferguson hired as a compromise.

Bird: Any chance that you could mention Hockeybird in one of your articles this coming season?....just asking.

Larry: Sure, I'll mention Hockeybird in the same affectionate manner with which I'm referred on the site by my many fans.

Bird: If the Flyers fail this year and Bobby Clarke blames the goaltending (again), can you see a scenario where Mr. Clarke is fired?

Larry: I'd be very surprised if any GM's are fired in this pre-lockout season.

I'd like to thank Larry for taking time away from his family vacation to talk a little hockey. I don't get the impression that he thinks of me as his best friend, but then I have been a little tough on the guy. And you have to at least admire him for talking to us....something the other beat writers in NY seem to avoid as if it's beneath them ( I did once have Jason Diamos on the phone and he did agree to do an interview...but it never happened).

In case you haven't noticed, I have continued to disagree with Uncle Larry's articles when it's seems I should, but I do so in a much more respectful manor. It may have seemed funny at the time, but Mr. Brooks does not deserve the name calling I engaged in and that is something I regret and apologize for. That doesn't mean I'll be kissing his behind though. And I don't think Mr. Brooks would want that anyway. Thanks Larry.....have a great season, I hope we speak again real soon.

----}- Bird

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