Sour Mulleted Grapes

Recently fired Tampa Bay Lightning coach/mullet icon Barry Melrose was on sports radio station Fan 590 Tuesday morning and had some not so nice things to say about his time with the Bolts.

While he didn't name the people involved, Melrose said that he dealt with constant interference from people in the organization.

"I had guys in Tampa who wanted to run the team and I wouldn't let them. I was hired to coach and I coached," Melrose told the Fan 590. "I wasn't playing the right guys. I was playing certain guys too much, I wasn't playing other guys enough. Every day was a constant battle."

When asked about who he was talking about, Melrose said he had a lot of respect for co-owner Oren Koules, but didn't want to bring up the other co-owner Len Barrie.

"They gave me a chance to coach and I will always appreciate that, but like I said, I hope Oren Koules does well, I like Oren."

Despite more off-season changes than any other team in the league, Tampa Bay are the worst team in the league, with a 6-13-8 record. In the 11 games they have played since Melrose's firing, the Bolts have won just one measily game.

When Melrose was asked if that statistic made him feel good, the former coach and now ESPN hockey analyst was very honest.

"I'm not going to lie to you, yeah it does, and any coach who tells you otherwise is a liar," Melrose told the Fan 590, adding, "I hope Tampa Bay doesn't win a game in the next year."

Later on in the interview Melrose would go on to say that Lightning rookie Steven Stamkos isn't NHL ready and that he doesn't like replacement coach Rich Tocchet because his hair isn't as nice as Melrose's glorious mullet. Okay, that last one he didn't come out and say but you know he was thinking it.

[Source]