THE PHILADELPHIA PHILIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES…
THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL…
AND THE UNITED STATES HAS ELECTED ITS FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT…
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!
SO LASTNIGHT WAS IT TOO MUCH TO BELIEVE THE CANUCKS COULD GO INTO SAN JOSE AND WIN A HOCKEY GAME???
APPARENTLY SO!!!
THEY CAME CLOSE…BUT DEVIN SETOGUCHI TIED WITH 40 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD…
AND THEN PATRICK MARLEAU WON IT FOR THE SHARKS IN OVERTIME…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING THE CANUCKS WOKE UP IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 8TH PLACE…IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
AND THERE ARE 4 TEAMS NOW WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF THAT LAST PLAYOFF SPOT…
ALL OF THEM…HAVE GAMES IN HAND…
ADD TO THAT…THE CANUCKS DO NOT PLAY AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WEEK…
WHICH MEANS…WHEN THE ALL-STAR BREAK IS FINALLY OVER…
THEY’LL FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE TIGHTEST PLAYOFF RACES IN NHL HISTORY…
LET’S START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP…
RIGHT NOW DALLAS IS IN 12TH PLACE…
BUT THE STARS ARE IN FLORIDA TONIGHT AND AT HOME TO ATLANTA NEXT TUESDAY…
COLORADO IS IN 11TH PLACE…SHOULD THE AVALANCHE WIN THEIR TWO GAMES…THEY CAN CATCH CANUCKS IN THE STANDINGS…
MINNESOTA PLAYS TORONTO ON MONDAY… A WIN ALSO PUTS THE WILD INTO A TIE WITH THE CANUCKS….
COLUMBUS IS IN CALGARY TONIGHT…A WIN GETS THEM TO WITHIN A POINT OF VANCOUVER…
EDMONTON AND ANAHEIM ALSO PLAY NEXT MONDAY…WHICH COULD PUSH BOTH TEAMS 2 POINTS AHEAD OF VANCOUVER…
HERE’S THE MATH…
THERE ARE 8 TEAMS IN THE WEST…FIGHTING FOR THE LAST 4 PLAYOFF SPOTS…
BY NEXT WEDNESDAY ALL 8 OF THOSE TEAMS COULD BE SEPARATED BY A MERE 4 POINTS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 38 GAMES REMAINING…15 OF THOSE GAMES ARE WITH THOSE OTHER 7 TEAMS…
AS A DISSAPOINTING AS LASTNIGHT WAS FOR CANUCKS FANS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE FATE OF THEIR SEASON IS STILL VERY MUCH IN THEIR OWN HANDS…
REMEMBER…ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Canucks
TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS OF THE VANCOUVER THE CANUCKS…ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT ONE STAT…
THE CANUCKS HAVE GIVEN UP 25 GOALS IN THEIR LAST 5 GAMES…
AS A THE RESULT…
THE CANUCKS MANAGED TO EARN JUST 1 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS DURING THEIR 5 GAME HOME STAND…
NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART…
THE ATTACHMENT OF “BLAME”…
RIGHT NOW THERE’S PLENTY TO GO AROUND…
BUT…GET SOME DISTANCE FROM THIS MESS…AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO…OFFENSIVE STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ADD PLAYERS WHO COULD FIT INTO THAT STYLE…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MATS SUNDIN…PAVOL DEMITRA…KYLE WELLWOOD…AND STEVE BERNIER…
NO LONGER ARE THE CANUCKS COMMITTED TO A “DEFENCE FIRST” PHILOSOPHY…
THE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED…HEADING INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK…IS THIS…
DO THE CANUCKS HAVE “THE FIRE POWER” TO PLAY THIS BRAND OF HOCKEY???
THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 7 OF THEIR LAST 8…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…IT’S WHO THEY’VE LOST TO…
5 OF THOSE 7 LOSSES HAVE COME AT THE HANDS OF TEAMS “BELOW” THEM IN STANDINGS…
THEY’RE ALSO 1 AND 6 IN THE SHOOTOUT…
NOW ALL THIS IS NOT TO SUGGEST…THE CANUCKS SHOULD GO BACK TO THE “DULL AND BORING STYLE” THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS TWO SEASONS…
NOBODY WANTS THAT…NOBODY!!!
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND…
TWO YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS WERE THIRD IN THE NHL IN “GOALS AGAINST”…
THEY WON THEIR DIVISION AND KNOCKED OFF DALLAS IN THE FIRST ROUND…
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS…ROBERTO LUONGO WAS A FINALIST FOR 3 LEAGUE AWARDS…INCLUDING THE HART TROPHY…
AND…OF THE 49 WINS THE CANUCKS ENJOYED THAT SEASON…LUONGO WAS IN GOAL FOR 47 OF THEM…
QUITE SIMPLY THE CANUCKS ARE NOT “GOOD ENOUGH” TO OUT SCORE THEIR MISTAKES…
SO MAYBE IT’S TIME…THEY STARTED CONCENTRATING ON MAKING A LOT LESS OF THEM…
THE CANUCKS HAVE GIVEN UP 25 GOALS IN THEIR LAST 5 GAMES…
AS A THE RESULT…
THE CANUCKS MANAGED TO EARN JUST 1 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS DURING THEIR 5 GAME HOME STAND…
NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART…
THE ATTACHMENT OF “BLAME”…
RIGHT NOW THERE’S PLENTY TO GO AROUND…
BUT…GET SOME DISTANCE FROM THIS MESS…AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO…OFFENSIVE STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ADD PLAYERS WHO COULD FIT INTO THAT STYLE…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MATS SUNDIN…PAVOL DEMITRA…KYLE WELLWOOD…AND STEVE BERNIER…
NO LONGER ARE THE CANUCKS COMMITTED TO A “DEFENCE FIRST” PHILOSOPHY…
THE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED…HEADING INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK…IS THIS…
DO THE CANUCKS HAVE “THE FIRE POWER” TO PLAY THIS BRAND OF HOCKEY???
THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 7 OF THEIR LAST 8…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…IT’S WHO THEY’VE LOST TO…
5 OF THOSE 7 LOSSES HAVE COME AT THE HANDS OF TEAMS “BELOW” THEM IN STANDINGS…
THEY’RE ALSO 1 AND 6 IN THE SHOOTOUT…
NOW ALL THIS IS NOT TO SUGGEST…THE CANUCKS SHOULD GO BACK TO THE “DULL AND BORING STYLE” THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS TWO SEASONS…
NOBODY WANTS THAT…NOBODY!!!
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND…
TWO YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS WERE THIRD IN THE NHL IN “GOALS AGAINST”…
THEY WON THEIR DIVISION AND KNOCKED OFF DALLAS IN THE FIRST ROUND…
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS…ROBERTO LUONGO WAS A FINALIST FOR 3 LEAGUE AWARDS…INCLUDING THE HART TROPHY…
AND…OF THE 49 WINS THE CANUCKS ENJOYED THAT SEASON…LUONGO WAS IN GOAL FOR 47 OF THEM…
QUITE SIMPLY THE CANUCKS ARE NOT “GOOD ENOUGH” TO OUT SCORE THEIR MISTAKES…
SO MAYBE IT’S TIME…THEY STARTED CONCENTRATING ON MAKING A LOT LESS OF THEM…
Friday, January 16, 2009
Canucks and the Media
THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY EATS ITS OWN CHILDREN…
SO THROWING “THE LOCAL HOCKEY TEAM” INTO POT OF BOILING WATER FROM TIME TO TIME…IS PRETTY MUCH ROUTINE…
ALTHOUGH…AFTER THE CANUCKS LOST 4-1 TO PHOENIX LASTNIGHT…
THE HOCKEY WRITERS IN THIS TOWN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
FIRST THEY ADDED CARROTS AND THEN ORDERED A NICE BOTTLE OF RED WINE…
THE APPETTIZERS BEGAN WITH THE HEADLINES…
THIS MORNING “THE PROVINCE” WENT WITH…”HELL FREEZES OVER”…
FOLLOWED BY…”PROBLEMS SO DEEP ONLY SURGERY CAN FIX THEM”…
AND FINALLY…“ANOTHER INEPT AND UNWORTH EFFORT”…
OUCH!!! THAT’S GOTTA HURT!!!
“THE SUN” CHOSE TO GO WITH…”THE LOU-SING CONTINUES”
“THEY’RE PLAYING SCARED”…AND “THE BLEEDING JUST WON’T STOP”
THEN THE WRITERS TOOK AIM…
ED WILES WROTE THIS…ABOUT THE CANUCKS PERFORMANCE LASTNIGHT…”SO OFF THE CHARTS AWFULL…SO INCOMPREHENSIBLY BAD THAT SINGLING OUT ONE ASPECT OF THE CANUCKS GAME IS LIKE BLAMING OUT CURRENT WOES ONN ONE ASPECT OF THE ECONOMY”…
JASON BOTCHFORD WENT FURTHER…”IF THERE IS A HELL…IT INCLUDES WATCHING THE CANUCKS PLAY HOCKEY ON THIS RUN”
OVER AT THE SUN…CAM COLE FOCUSED HIS ATTACK ON HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…QUOTE…”THE NATIVES SMELL BLOOD…MAKE NO MISTAKE AND THERE ARE NO GUARENTEES THAT THIS COACH CAN WEATHER THE STORM IF IT LASTS MUCH LONGER”…
IAN MACINTYRE DESCRIBED THE CANUCKS PLAY WITH WORDS SUCH AS…”SLOPPY”…”PANICKY”…AWFULL” AND “HOPELESS”…
AND THEN FIRED OFF THIS SHOT…
“IF LUONGO WERE A GROUND HOG HE’D HAVE SEEN HIS SHADOW IN THE FIRST PERIOD AND DISSAPPEARED FOR ANOTHER 2 MONTHS”…
YIKES!!!
THE PLAYERS WILL OFTEN TELL YOU…THEY DON’T READ THE PAPERS…WATCH TV…OR LISTEN TO THE TALK SHOWS…
DO NOT BELIEVE IT….
IT’S WHY EVERY SO OFTEN…A PLAYER…COACH…OR GENERAL MANAGER BLOWS UP IN THE FACE OF A MEDIA TYPE…
AND IT’S ALSO WHY MARKUS NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK CITY…
SO THROWING “THE LOCAL HOCKEY TEAM” INTO POT OF BOILING WATER FROM TIME TO TIME…IS PRETTY MUCH ROUTINE…
ALTHOUGH…AFTER THE CANUCKS LOST 4-1 TO PHOENIX LASTNIGHT…
THE HOCKEY WRITERS IN THIS TOWN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
FIRST THEY ADDED CARROTS AND THEN ORDERED A NICE BOTTLE OF RED WINE…
THE APPETTIZERS BEGAN WITH THE HEADLINES…
THIS MORNING “THE PROVINCE” WENT WITH…”HELL FREEZES OVER”…
FOLLOWED BY…”PROBLEMS SO DEEP ONLY SURGERY CAN FIX THEM”…
AND FINALLY…“ANOTHER INEPT AND UNWORTH EFFORT”…
OUCH!!! THAT’S GOTTA HURT!!!
“THE SUN” CHOSE TO GO WITH…”THE LOU-SING CONTINUES”
“THEY’RE PLAYING SCARED”…AND “THE BLEEDING JUST WON’T STOP”
THEN THE WRITERS TOOK AIM…
ED WILES WROTE THIS…ABOUT THE CANUCKS PERFORMANCE LASTNIGHT…”SO OFF THE CHARTS AWFULL…SO INCOMPREHENSIBLY BAD THAT SINGLING OUT ONE ASPECT OF THE CANUCKS GAME IS LIKE BLAMING OUT CURRENT WOES ONN ONE ASPECT OF THE ECONOMY”…
JASON BOTCHFORD WENT FURTHER…”IF THERE IS A HELL…IT INCLUDES WATCHING THE CANUCKS PLAY HOCKEY ON THIS RUN”
OVER AT THE SUN…CAM COLE FOCUSED HIS ATTACK ON HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…QUOTE…”THE NATIVES SMELL BLOOD…MAKE NO MISTAKE AND THERE ARE NO GUARENTEES THAT THIS COACH CAN WEATHER THE STORM IF IT LASTS MUCH LONGER”…
IAN MACINTYRE DESCRIBED THE CANUCKS PLAY WITH WORDS SUCH AS…”SLOPPY”…”PANICKY”…AWFULL” AND “HOPELESS”…
AND THEN FIRED OFF THIS SHOT…
“IF LUONGO WERE A GROUND HOG HE’D HAVE SEEN HIS SHADOW IN THE FIRST PERIOD AND DISSAPPEARED FOR ANOTHER 2 MONTHS”…
YIKES!!!
THE PLAYERS WILL OFTEN TELL YOU…THEY DON’T READ THE PAPERS…WATCH TV…OR LISTEN TO THE TALK SHOWS…
DO NOT BELIEVE IT….
IT’S WHY EVERY SO OFTEN…A PLAYER…COACH…OR GENERAL MANAGER BLOWS UP IN THE FACE OF A MEDIA TYPE…
AND IT’S ALSO WHY MARKUS NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK CITY…
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Nashville Predators
ON NEW YEARS DAY…THERE COULD MORE FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY TO PAY ATTENTION TO…THAN JUST A HANGOVER…
THAT’S THE DAY THE CANUCKS RETURN TO NASHVILLE…
THE STAGE WAS SET TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN THE CANUCKS PLAYED ONE OF THEIR MOST PHYSICAL GAMES OF THE SEASON…
ALEX BURROWS…RYAN KESLER AND ROB DAVISON ALL DELIVERED BIG HITS…
AFTER THE GAME NASHVILLE HEAD COACH BARRY TROTZ RIPPED INTO THE CANUCKS…
TROTZ CLAIMED THE CANUCKS…QUOTE…”CROSSED THE LINE”…
VANCOUVER CANUCKS ALAIN VIGNEAULT DID NOT SEE IT THAT WAY…
IN HIS WORDS…”THERE’S NOT A RULE IN THE BOOK THAT SAYS WE CAN’T HIT A NASHVILLE PREDATOR”…
LASTNIGHT ON THE BLAKE PRICE SHOW…DARCY HORDICHUK TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER…
HORIDCHUK MADE REFERENCE TO THE 9 GAME SUSPENSION SCOTT NICHOL OF THE PREDATORS RECEIVED 2 YEARS AGO WHEN HE SUCKER PUNCHED JAROSLAV SPACEK…
IN HIS WORDS…“WHERE WAS BARRY TROTZ”???
“I JUST DON’T THINK HE HAS CONTROL OF THE TEAM”…
DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILAR???
CERTAINLY…THIS SITUATION IS NOT AT DEF-COM 4…AT LEAST NOT YET…
BUT THIS IS EXACTLY THE ATMOSPHERE THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE TODD BERTUZZI…STEVE MOORE INCIDENT…
AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE FORCED TO QUESTION THE LOGIC BEHIND THE NHL’S “INSTIGATOR RULE”…
A RULE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE PLAYERS TO POLICE THEMSELVES…
SO WHEN THE LEAGUE FAILS TO PROTECT THE PLAYERS…THE END RESULT IS TOO OFTEN “FRONTIER JUSTICE”…
WHAT DRIVES IT ALL IS LACK OF RESPECT BY THE PLAYERS…FOR EACH OTHER…
BUT LET’S BE CLEAR…THE ANSWER IS “NOT” MORE SUSPENSIONS…
8 OF THE 10 LONGEST SUSPENSIONS EVER HANDED OUT BY THE NHL…HAVE COME IN THE LAST DECADE...AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING BETTER…IT’S GETTING WORSE…
IN THE MEANTIME…MARK…JANUARY THE 28TH ON YOUR CALENDAR…
THAT’S THE DAY NASHVILLE IS IN VANCOUVER…
WHO KNOWS…MAYBE THE NHL WILL GET LUCKY…MAYBE A HOCKEY GAME WILL BREAK OUT
THAT’S THE DAY THE CANUCKS RETURN TO NASHVILLE…
THE STAGE WAS SET TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN THE CANUCKS PLAYED ONE OF THEIR MOST PHYSICAL GAMES OF THE SEASON…
ALEX BURROWS…RYAN KESLER AND ROB DAVISON ALL DELIVERED BIG HITS…
AFTER THE GAME NASHVILLE HEAD COACH BARRY TROTZ RIPPED INTO THE CANUCKS…
TROTZ CLAIMED THE CANUCKS…QUOTE…”CROSSED THE LINE”…
VANCOUVER CANUCKS ALAIN VIGNEAULT DID NOT SEE IT THAT WAY…
IN HIS WORDS…”THERE’S NOT A RULE IN THE BOOK THAT SAYS WE CAN’T HIT A NASHVILLE PREDATOR”…
LASTNIGHT ON THE BLAKE PRICE SHOW…DARCY HORDICHUK TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER…
HORIDCHUK MADE REFERENCE TO THE 9 GAME SUSPENSION SCOTT NICHOL OF THE PREDATORS RECEIVED 2 YEARS AGO WHEN HE SUCKER PUNCHED JAROSLAV SPACEK…
IN HIS WORDS…“WHERE WAS BARRY TROTZ”???
“I JUST DON’T THINK HE HAS CONTROL OF THE TEAM”…
DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILAR???
CERTAINLY…THIS SITUATION IS NOT AT DEF-COM 4…AT LEAST NOT YET…
BUT THIS IS EXACTLY THE ATMOSPHERE THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE TODD BERTUZZI…STEVE MOORE INCIDENT…
AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE FORCED TO QUESTION THE LOGIC BEHIND THE NHL’S “INSTIGATOR RULE”…
A RULE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE PLAYERS TO POLICE THEMSELVES…
SO WHEN THE LEAGUE FAILS TO PROTECT THE PLAYERS…THE END RESULT IS TOO OFTEN “FRONTIER JUSTICE”…
WHAT DRIVES IT ALL IS LACK OF RESPECT BY THE PLAYERS…FOR EACH OTHER…
BUT LET’S BE CLEAR…THE ANSWER IS “NOT” MORE SUSPENSIONS…
8 OF THE 10 LONGEST SUSPENSIONS EVER HANDED OUT BY THE NHL…HAVE COME IN THE LAST DECADE...AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING BETTER…IT’S GETTING WORSE…
IN THE MEANTIME…MARK…JANUARY THE 28TH ON YOUR CALENDAR…
THAT’S THE DAY NASHVILLE IS IN VANCOUVER…
WHO KNOWS…MAYBE THE NHL WILL GET LUCKY…MAYBE A HOCKEY GAME WILL BREAK OUT
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sean Avery
WHY ARE WE SURPRISED???
NOT THAT SEAN AVERY IS AN IDIOT…
WE KNEW THAT!!!
THE QUESTION IS…WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THE NHL AND THE DALLAS STARS ALLOWED THIS PROBLEM TO GET TO THIS POINT???
THERE WERE PLENTY OF WARNINGS…
THE FIRST CAME IN OCTOBER WHEN THE STARS MADE THEIR FIRST TRIP TO NEW YORK…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIODS…AVERY WALKED OUT OF THE TEAM DRESSING ROOM AND BEGAN YELLING OBSCENITIES AT THE TELEVISION HOST “JOHN GIANONNE” FROM MSG…
FINALLY AVERY DIRECTED HIS PROFANITY AT GIANONNE’S WIFE…
AND THAT’S WHEN GIANONNE FIRED BACK AT AVERY…
THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY UGLY…AND THE NEXT MORNING…IT WAS ALL IN THE NEW YORK PAPERS…
YET…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…
LAST MONTH DALLAS WAS IN BOSTON…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD AVERY WAS TOSSED OUT OF THE GAME FOR UNSPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT…
AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ICE…AVERY GOT INTO ANOTHER YELLING MATCH…
THIS TIME WITH A FAN…
ONCE AGAIN IT ESCALATED…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS LACED WITH OBSCENITIES…
THIS TIME AVERY TOOK OUT HIS FRUSTRATION ON A FEMALE COMPANION…WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FAN…
THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE…
THERE WERE COMPAINTS SENT TO THE NHL…AND THE BRUINS SENT THE LEAGUE A COMPLETE REPORT…
NEVERTHELESS…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…NO FINE…NO SUSPENSION…NOTHING…
HOW’S THAT FOR A MESSAGE???
TOMORROW MORNING AVERY AND DALLAS GENERAL MANAGER BRETT HULL WILL MEET WITH NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TRUST ME…AVERY WILL NOT HAVE A FRIEND IN THE ROOM…
THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A SUSPENSION BY THE LEAGUE AND AVERY MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME FOR THE STARS…
BUT IN THE END…THE NHL IS LEFT WITH ANOTHER BLACK EYE…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT HAS ONLY ITSELF TO BLAME…
NOT THAT SEAN AVERY IS AN IDIOT…
WE KNEW THAT!!!
THE QUESTION IS…WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THE NHL AND THE DALLAS STARS ALLOWED THIS PROBLEM TO GET TO THIS POINT???
THERE WERE PLENTY OF WARNINGS…
THE FIRST CAME IN OCTOBER WHEN THE STARS MADE THEIR FIRST TRIP TO NEW YORK…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIODS…AVERY WALKED OUT OF THE TEAM DRESSING ROOM AND BEGAN YELLING OBSCENITIES AT THE TELEVISION HOST “JOHN GIANONNE” FROM MSG…
FINALLY AVERY DIRECTED HIS PROFANITY AT GIANONNE’S WIFE…
AND THAT’S WHEN GIANONNE FIRED BACK AT AVERY…
THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY UGLY…AND THE NEXT MORNING…IT WAS ALL IN THE NEW YORK PAPERS…
YET…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…
LAST MONTH DALLAS WAS IN BOSTON…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD AVERY WAS TOSSED OUT OF THE GAME FOR UNSPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT…
AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ICE…AVERY GOT INTO ANOTHER YELLING MATCH…
THIS TIME WITH A FAN…
ONCE AGAIN IT ESCALATED…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS LACED WITH OBSCENITIES…
THIS TIME AVERY TOOK OUT HIS FRUSTRATION ON A FEMALE COMPANION…WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FAN…
THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE…
THERE WERE COMPAINTS SENT TO THE NHL…AND THE BRUINS SENT THE LEAGUE A COMPLETE REPORT…
NEVERTHELESS…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…NO FINE…NO SUSPENSION…NOTHING…
HOW’S THAT FOR A MESSAGE???
TOMORROW MORNING AVERY AND DALLAS GENERAL MANAGER BRETT HULL WILL MEET WITH NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TRUST ME…AVERY WILL NOT HAVE A FRIEND IN THE ROOM…
THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A SUSPENSION BY THE LEAGUE AND AVERY MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME FOR THE STARS…
BUT IN THE END…THE NHL IS LEFT WITH ANOTHER BLACK EYE…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT HAS ONLY ITSELF TO BLAME…
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Markus Naslund
IF YOU READ IAN MACINTYRE IN THE VANCOUVER SUN TODAY…
YOU WOULD BE FORCED TO CONCLUDE…
THE FANS AND THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY TREATED FORMER CAPTAIN MARCUS NASLUND AS IF HE WAS COVERED IN LEETCHES…
ACCORDING TO MACINTYRE THE CRITICISM OF NASLUND WAS…QUOTE…”DESPICABLE”…
CERTAINLY NASLUND WAS NOT LOVED THE WAY TREVOR LINDEN WAS LOVED IN THIS TOWN…
BUT…”DESPICABLE???”
PLEASE!!!
IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS NASLUND PLAYED IN VANCOUVER HE WAS PAID NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS…
NOT BAD FOR A PLAYER WHO AVERAGED JUST 27 GOALS…AND IN THE 11 YEARS HE WAS THE CAPTAIN…NEVER LED THE CANUCKS PAST THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR NASLUND THE PERSON???
HIS TEAMMATES CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS…AND IN HIS DEFENCE…AFTER EVERY GAME…NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE…NASLUND ALWAYS FACED THE MUSIC…
UNFORTUNATELY HIS CHARACTER IS NOT THE ISSUE…
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS…PERCEPTION IS REALITY…
THE PASSION THAT HE SHOWED PRIVATELY IN THE LOCKER ROOM…OFTEN DID NOT TRANSLATE ON THE ICE…
AND HIS COMMENTS TO THE MEDIA OFTEN CAME ACROSS…AS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO…EITHER DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER…OR DID NOT CARE…
NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR AN NHL CAPTAIN WORKING IN A CANADAIN CITY…
THE FANS SIMPLY HAD DIFFICULT DEALING WITH IT…NIGHT AFTER NIGHT…
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEM WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING…
PERHAPS NO WHERE WAS THAT “DISCONNECT” MORE APPARENT THAN ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF LAST SEASON…
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT BOTH NASLUND AND TREVOR LINDEN WERE PLAYING THEIR LAST GAME AS CANUCKS…
LINDEN RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION…
NASLUND WAS ALL BUT IGNORED…
WHEN YOU CONSIDER MARKUS NASLUND HAS SCORED MORE GOALS AND COLLECTED MORE POINTS THAN ANY PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT TREATMENT ON THAT NIGHT…WAS CERTAINLY “UNFAIR”…BUT NOT “DISPICABLE”
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS GAME IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS…
IT’S WHY NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK AND IT’S WHY NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL RETIRE NUMBER 16…
YOU WOULD BE FORCED TO CONCLUDE…
THE FANS AND THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY TREATED FORMER CAPTAIN MARCUS NASLUND AS IF HE WAS COVERED IN LEETCHES…
ACCORDING TO MACINTYRE THE CRITICISM OF NASLUND WAS…QUOTE…”DESPICABLE”…
CERTAINLY NASLUND WAS NOT LOVED THE WAY TREVOR LINDEN WAS LOVED IN THIS TOWN…
BUT…”DESPICABLE???”
PLEASE!!!
IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS NASLUND PLAYED IN VANCOUVER HE WAS PAID NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS…
NOT BAD FOR A PLAYER WHO AVERAGED JUST 27 GOALS…AND IN THE 11 YEARS HE WAS THE CAPTAIN…NEVER LED THE CANUCKS PAST THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR NASLUND THE PERSON???
HIS TEAMMATES CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS…AND IN HIS DEFENCE…AFTER EVERY GAME…NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE…NASLUND ALWAYS FACED THE MUSIC…
UNFORTUNATELY HIS CHARACTER IS NOT THE ISSUE…
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS…PERCEPTION IS REALITY…
THE PASSION THAT HE SHOWED PRIVATELY IN THE LOCKER ROOM…OFTEN DID NOT TRANSLATE ON THE ICE…
AND HIS COMMENTS TO THE MEDIA OFTEN CAME ACROSS…AS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO…EITHER DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER…OR DID NOT CARE…
NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR AN NHL CAPTAIN WORKING IN A CANADAIN CITY…
THE FANS SIMPLY HAD DIFFICULT DEALING WITH IT…NIGHT AFTER NIGHT…
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEM WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING…
PERHAPS NO WHERE WAS THAT “DISCONNECT” MORE APPARENT THAN ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF LAST SEASON…
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT BOTH NASLUND AND TREVOR LINDEN WERE PLAYING THEIR LAST GAME AS CANUCKS…
LINDEN RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION…
NASLUND WAS ALL BUT IGNORED…
WHEN YOU CONSIDER MARKUS NASLUND HAS SCORED MORE GOALS AND COLLECTED MORE POINTS THAN ANY PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT TREATMENT ON THAT NIGHT…WAS CERTAINLY “UNFAIR”…BUT NOT “DISPICABLE”
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS GAME IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS…
IT’S WHY NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK AND IT’S WHY NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL RETIRE NUMBER 16…
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