Brian Burke is suing Internet trolls who say he impregnated Hazel Mae

After MLSE brass booted Brian Burke from the general manager’s office in January, a small but rabid corner of the Internet speculated that the reason for his ouster was a steamy extramarital affair with Sportsnet Connected host Hazel Mae. Some of the rumour-mongers even alleged that he knocked her up. On Friday, Burke launched a defamation lawsuit against 18 of the online commenters—thereby introducing the rumour to a whole section of the public who had never even heard it in the first place. (For the record, Mae supports his case.) The reason for doing so, his lawyer says, is a matter of principle: because Burke has the cash to pursue the case through the courts, he decided it’s up to him to “stop people who post comments on the Internet from thinking they can fabricate wild stories with impunity.” The effect of Burke’s high-minded rhetoric is marred only slightly by the fact that the accused parties are currently known only as “KaBoomin8,” “Slobberface” and “Poonerman.” [CBC]