The More Things Change, The More Things Stay The Same

I finally got around to reading a book my girlfriend's mother bought me a few years ago, Searching for Bobby Orr by Stephen Brunt, and it has the following exchange between Blair, a scout for the Bruins who knew about Bobby Orr, and Stafford Smythe:

"Don't think you're so fucking smart about signing Orr," Smythe barked.
"I never said I was smart," Blair answered.
"We had him signed long before you did," Smythe said.
Well that was interesting. "If that's the case, Staff," Blair wondered, "how come Orr isn't wearing a Leafs uniform right now?"
"Because my people were too goddamn stupid," Smythe said.