Vancouver, (BC) - After 3 1/2 months of "vacationing", Vancouver Canucks General Manager Greg Byron has returned to his team. Byron has been heavily criticized by everyone in the hockey world since leaving for his "vacation". Media has been on his case for just basically abandoning his team, other general managers around the league have taken stabs at him and even the Canucks ownership has questioned Byron's antics. Today Byron held a press conference to try to sort some of it out. Here is the transcript:
Reporter:"Can you tell us where you were for 4 months and what you were doing??"
Byron: "Well it was only 3 1/2 months. I spent the first 4 weeks in Mexico where I was scouting some of there younger players. Then I spent the next 4 weeks traveling around Australia scouting some of there top young players. Then on to Egypt, China and Japan for the next 4 weeks. For the rest of vacation, 2 weeks, I was in Hawaii relaxing."
Reporter: "Umm, Do those countries really have any "top prospects" to scout even? I've never heard of a top prospect coming from any of those countries."
Byron: "You never know, I mean hockey is becoming a worldwide sport more and more every year. A lot of countries are starting to develop talent and it's important to stay on top of it. I mean, I could see Mexico's top prospect Juan-Chito Ruez getting drafted if the entry draft was extended by 10 or so rounds."
Reporter:"WHAT are you on? Just admit you were screwing around and that you abandoned the Canucks!!!!"
Byron: "Well, maybe I will just draft some top prospects in these countries if you don't believe me then. I'll show you. Don't be surprised to see Henry Ho, Juan-Chito Taco or Peter Pan drafted in 2005 by the Canucks then. That will be all."
- The Province -