FIOLE - This March 26, 2010, file photo shows former NHL coach Pat Burns speaking during a news conference where it was announced an arena would be named after him, in Stanstead, Quebec. Burns has been hospitalized with complications from his lung and colon cancer. Burns was admitted on Sunday, April 4, 2010, the day of his 58th birthday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz, File)
AP
While Chuck Norris might be an inspiration to goalies and Internet memes around the world, one guy who’s managed to be tougher than everyone is former head coach Pat Burns. While Burns is struggling with terminal lung cancer and reported to be in worsening condition, it seems that some are in a hurry to be the first to report on the coach’s death.
Even before he’s actually dead.
Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy wrangled some of the tweets from media sources reporting that Burns had died from his battle with cancer, but TSN’s Bob McKenzie managed to get word from a source saying that Burns was, indeed, still alive. He got a phone call from Pat Burns himself and tweeted what the three-time Jack Adams Award winner had to say.
Pat Burns just called me Seriously. Here’s what he said. “Here we go again. They’re trying to kill me before I’m dead...
I come to Quebec to spend some time with my family and they say I’m dead. I’m not dead, far f------ from it. They’ve had me dead since June.
Tell I’m alive. Set them straight.” Done, my friend. Done. What a beauty. A great man, a great friend. Just leave him the hell alone.
Pat Burns doesn’t fear death, he laughs in the face of it and gives the finger to those in the media in a big hurry to put him in the ground. God bless Pat Burns.