Breaking up: canned coaches of 2008

Someone has to be held accountable when a team is failing to live up to its perceived expectations, and the finger is almost always pointed at the head coach.

The coach serves as a scapegoat, when the real problems lie in upper management and ownership. The General Managers (GMs) and owners are the real culprits to blame here.

The GM of a team has all decision-making authority. He is ultimately responsible for selecting coaching staff, and signing players. When a franchise is in the gutters, it's far easier for the GM to fire the head coach, as opposed to overhauling an entire teams roster.

The GM seeks to maintain a degree of financial flexibility within the franchise and the coaches are disposable, because after all they're merely contractual employees just as the players are.

The Tampa Bay Lightning fired head coach Barry "Mullet" Melrose 16 games into the season. His bad relationship with players, poor distribution of ice time and losing streak led to his dismissal. For a team with playoff hopes lying on the shoulders of first overall draft pick Steven Stamkos, Melrose sure wasn't utilizing his key players.

Stamkos was averaging only ten minutes' playing time per game, and other superstars such as Vincent LeCavalier were far from acquiring their earned ice time.

Replacing Melrose is Rick Tocchet - former aggressor/known fighter hailing from none other than Philadelphia's team of goons.

Tocchet is also a convicted felon, tied to Janet Gretzky in financing and promoting one of the biggest illegal gambling rings in the country. Lightning GM Brian Lawton does have a head on his shoulders, but with a move like this I'm not sure what he was thinking.

Another short-lived season was that of Chicago Blackhawks coach Denis Savard, fired only four games in. Even in the premature NBA season, PJ Carlesimo of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Eddie Jordan of the Washington Wizards, have already been let go.

Maybe it's just the players who are underachieving; for is it not the athletes' responsibility to perform?

After all, they are paid millions of dollars.

Nevertheless. when their performances are not up to par, it is ultimately the GM's decision to move them. An inept GM has immeasurable effects on a franchise.

Looking to the past MLB season, the Seattle Mariners may have gotten it right when they got rid of both GM Bill Bavasi, and head coach John McLaren.

The six-year period Bavasi was in charge was characterized as one of the darkest periods in Mariner history.

Jays head coach John Gibbons and the New York Mets' Willie Randolph were also relieved of their managerial duties mid-season.

The Jays chose instead to bring back legendary Cito Gaston and his old school '92/'93 crew from the Toronto glory years. Yet the same long-term problems have remained unsolved in the past seven years.

JP Ricciardi has retained his post as GM - a poor team offence. Ricciardi's decision to let go of Gibbons was merely a move of indecision, as is the case with most others.

Gibbons' contract was running out, and his release was by the far the easiest move.

First-baseman Lyle Overbay told The Associated Press in June "It's the worst part of the job when the manager gets the blame. It’s too bad because it’s really the players.” And nothing could be farther from the truth.

Gibbons was a well-respected figure in the Jays clubhouse, whereas other managers just aren’t regarded in the same way.

Scott Linehan formerly of the St. Louis Rams known for his on- and off-field disputes with players.

Other NFLers fired thus far are Mike Nolan of the San Francisco 49ers, and Lane Kiffin of the Oakland Raiders.

The GM is always hoping to "take the club in a new direction" with his firings, but the majority of the time the situation doesn't pan out as such. Often, there isn't even enough time for the new coach to implement significant changes to the team.

Nearly all of these coaches began their careers on high notes - Willie Randolph was actually runner-up for the Manager of the Year award last season.

Still, it is fair to say that all coaches are due in time, and I do believe each of these leaders' time had come. The fact remains that a team's GM is inevitably responsible for a team's failure or success.

As long as the GM continues disposing of coaches in an effort to save himself, the franchise will progress in an unfavourable direction.