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Intersting new out of Columbus, and no it is not about the blasted Buckeyes, but about the Columbus Blue Jackets. Blue Jackets fire their first and only coach:

The Columbus Blue Jackets fired Dave King on Tuesday, severing ties with the only coach the team has had since entering the league in 2000. At 14-20-4-2, the Blue Jackets have the second-worst record in the Western Conference.

I think what you are seeing here is the pressure to take this to the next level. Columbus has rallied around the Blue Jackets, and the “Arena District” as the area around the hockey arena is know, and made it one of the cool things to do. At this point, however, I think people want more than just a team but a competitive team. The owners must know that a perenial losing team sharing space with Ohio State athletics might not do so well over the long haul. If hockey is to really make it in Columbus winning will need to be a part of the equation.

Clearly, team president and general manager Doug MacLean – who will be the team’s interim coach – felt that CBJ’s problems were not just a lack of talent. And as little as I know about hockey, I can see his point. If a team can’t hold a lead or if they make basic mistake in key positions you have to suspect coaching:

“I was frustrated by the inconsistencies, good stretches, bad stretches and tremendous letdowns at times,” MacLean said at a news conference.

In the long run this should be a good thing for Columbus. Plus we are not alon, King is the fifth NHL head coach to be fired since December 1!