Archive for the ‘hockey’ Category
One of the greatest defensemen in the history of the NHL is finally getting his jersey retired. Selected three times as a First Team all-star and three times to the Second Team, Larry “Big Bird” Robinson also won the Norris trophy for the league’s best defenseman twice (1977 and 1980) and was a runner-up in 1979.
Part of the “Big three” unit that included Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe, Robinson was part of the legendary and dominating Habs dynasty of the 1970s that won four straight Stanley Cups. Robinson won a total of fours cups (as well as one as coach with the New Jersey Devils in 200) participating in 227 playoff games.
Forget all that. No one messed around with Robinson to boot. Yeah, the Big Bad Bruins and Broadstreet Bullie were mauling the league, but Robinson put a few of those bums in their place with a punch or body check.
The only unfortunate thing to all this is why the Montreal Canadiens waited so long to retire his number? Not to mention Bob Gainey’s #23 which they will also have a ceremony for.
They let the entire 1990s go by plus most of the 2000s. It wasn’t until intense lobbying did they decide to do so. No one from the organization ever explained their reasoning- good luck trying to get them to return your calls or emails.
On this front, someone made a mistake. At least they got around to it.
What follows is an edited version of a letter to the sports editor I spotted in the Montreal Gazette written by Hall of Fame defenseman Brad Park. Emphasis mine.
“I attended the Bruins/Canadiens game here in Boston on Nov. 8…but something bothered me as a Canada. Sitting down in front of me were a number of Montreal fans. It was easy to identify them as they were wearing their bleu, blanc and rouge with great pride. During the Canadian national anthem, the Montreal fans sang loudly and with great pride…When the Canadian anthem was finished, everyone in the building cheered…What came next blew my mind. When the American anthem started, maybe a half dozen of the Canadian contingent sat down and would not rise during the singing of the American anthem. To me, this is unbelievable! Over the years, the world has become aware of the phrase “The Ugly American.” We in Canada have always thought of ourselves above this level of contempt. Is this the new Canada, one that I cannot understand?” Is it the new low that we degrade ourselves at a sporting event to protest our culture when we guest abroad? One simple act can reflect on many. If one wants to protest, do it in the proper place. Hockey games and sporting events are not platforms…If we continue to think of ourselves as true Canadians, showing respect is a must!”
First of all, credit must go to Brad Park – a Canadian who now lives in the U.S. – for stepping up and speaking out. Of course, he is correct. I know I’ve witnessed not only what he describes here but the booing of an anthem (Canadian or American) as well. What’s amazing is that these fans decided to do this in Boston.
Is this an exercise in freedom or arrogance?
The hard truth, as I have mentioned before on this blog, is that even abroad we’re beginning to see the rise of the “Ugly Canadian.”
Brad Park, a five time First Team All-Star and twice Second team, was among the the greatest defensemen in the 1970s. Only Bobby Orr surpassed him with eight First Team selections and one Second Team for a total of nine.*
“Please rise for the singing of the Canadian and American anthems” is a common protocol now. Anthems are no longer perceived as political tools. Sure we can find all sorts of excuse such as we shouldn’t sing anthems at sporting events but until that happens stand up and show respect.
*Denis Potvin was also named to seven all-star selections; five of those on the First team. Yes, same as Brad Park. Unfortunately, while Potvin managed to win three Norris trophies for top defenseman (twice runner-up,) Park had the misfortune of finishing second on the ballot no fewer than six times – twice to Potvin and four times to Orr.
www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/10446140
Tel me something we didn’t know! As far as this tournament went, it makes perfect sense that the Chicago Blackhawks made the final only to lose to the Habs – like usual. Boo-hoo-hoo!
Kidding aside, notice in the first round the Detroit Red Wings lost to the….Dallas Stars? In fact, I have no idea who thinks the Blue Jackets, Lightning, Sharks and Panthers should have been in the top 16. They shouldn’t be ahead of the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils or Philadelphia Flyers.
In this commentator’s opinion the Wings have one of the best jersey’s in hockey – as do all the Original Six teams.
Oh by the way, did anyone catch Mike Komisarek introducing his team in French last night at the Bell Center? Of course not, if you weren’t there or didn’t watch the game the media didn’t report it.
And for the record, Bertrand declared himself “satisfied” What a pinhead.
blogcritics.org/archives/2007/10/13/012614.php
I don’t expect an excessive suspension. Unless the NHL what’s the send a permanent message.
The Philadelphia Flyers don’t seem to be getting the message. Remember the dumb kid in grade school who failed phonics? That’s what the Flyers are imitating.
Yet again the wannabe tough team is in the center of a storm as Randy Jones hit Boston Bruins star forward Patrice Bergeron from behind. Into the boards his face went. Out cold with a broken nose and without feeling in his legs, Bergeron was taken off on a stretcher.
Weenie. This is hockey not soccer! In the old days players would shrug it off, take a stitch or two, grab a wheel chair and back they came.
Incidentally, Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Kovalev hit Pittsburgh Penguin forward Evgeny Malkin from behind. Darn it. Nothing happened to Malkin. Lucky him.
To be clear, the Jones hit is not one of the worst hits I’ve seen. Indeed. hockey experts have been explaining the nuances “of how the intention of a clean hit can turn cheap.” The only problem is that it’s a hit from behind when the player is not expecting it.
So what about the Philadelphians? Jones is not known to be a dirty player and expressed immediate remorse. Sure thing. It’s like when we hear on the news how the neighbour who snapped was known as “quiet” and “friendly.”
In today’s NHL, the dirty hits keep-a-comin’. At what point does it cross from coincidence to the norm?
I run the risk here of sounding like a bleeding heart pansy liberal but hey I never said I was brave. What was once dismissed as “part of the game” is now upsetting not only hockey fans but NHL players themselves. The culture of “this is how hockey is played” is on a collision course to break someone’s neck out on the ice. I didn’t know hitting from behind is “how hockey is played.”
The fact is that today’s NHLers are bigger and faster than they have ever been. Not only that, since the league has pretty much enacted rules that prevent players from policing themselves like real men, players often approach the game knowing full well there won’t be any consequences. The rats run the icedom now.
While this has little to do with the Jones hit, once upon a time a hook check used to slow players down. Today, you can’t touch a player with your stick. Players complain, coaches complain. It’s like soccer.
Result? Players pick up speed in the neutral zone or their own defensive end and barrel into an opposing player top speed.
Scary stuff.
Ever play shinny at a local rink? Ever play against a guy (let’s describe him as French-Canadian, with no teeth and a twinkle in his eye for fun) who recklessly skated at top speed straight up the middle life’s caution be damn? What happened? You got out of the maniacs way. Or if you were a player with a history of making poor judgment calls you would decide to stand pat. Crack!
Whatever, not everyone can skate at a high level and to see someone come at you at excessive speeds can be intimidating.
The NHL has a new type of problem on its hands and they to nip this one in the bud.
The other day people were calling in talking about the horror of Bruins 6’8” defenseman Zdeno Chara bloodying the nose of Chicago Blackhawks tough guy 6’6” David Koci of The “take fighting out of hockey” group were front and center on that one. That’s UFC stuff right there. At least, they entered a gentleman’s agreement to batter each other.
Stuff like this offends less than what we’ve seen with Downie, Boulerice and now Jones is just plain cheap.
The NHL will surely review this play and once again Paul Holmgren will have have his Costanza moment and sit like a school boy in trouble in front of Colie the Disciplinarianator.
Colie: “So Paul. We meet again. It’s come to our attention your team pulled another one.”
Paul: “Was that wrong? I gotta tell ya. I hafta plead ignorance on that one.”
Note: Jones got two games. He should have got more. 5-10 would have been more appropriate.
Saku Koivu
Captain of this haiku –
Wants to play in June
The other night a few of us were discussing the Montreal Canadiens and what possibly could happen for the upcoming season. As we presented (and pretended to be experts) our arguments and thoughts, I observed something: the cranberry-lemon muffins are dee-lish and that some fans (and this goes for any team in any sport) choose to look at things on a micro level and others on a macro level.
The micros are less concerned with the big picture. They consider analytical specifics. They don’t mind debating with a certain amount of subjectivity. Why did the coach insert that guy there? Why is this player playing with that player? Why is the goalie looking sluggish? Why does the assistant coach prefer hamburgers to hot dogs? And so on. It’s constant examination (nit picking to some) about the day to day operations and daily routines of the hockey club from top to bottom. The media tends to take this position because it breeds controversy. Or at least the more you report the more likely you will stumble on one. The rumour mill also goes into manufacturing overdrive. In a one-trick pony sports town like Montreal this strategy can work very well.
The micros can be a tad neurotic and live, die and identify with the club as if it is there own.
The macros look at the big picture. They are slightly removed from the club. This doesn’t mean they lack passion but prefer some level of objectivity – if not realism. It doesn’t really matter why a defensemen is being used sparingly. They are not involved in the decision making process. Fans don’t know what the general manager, coach and players know. They are not privy to “inside” information (why engage in speculation which is a glorified form of gossip and is not trustworthy?) and perhaps they shouldn’t be because it’s not the job of citizens. Macros want to make sure the overall direction of the team and club is going in the right direction. After all, with management long gone the Montreal Canadiens will continue to live.
Macros may be the silent majority (or minority?) as they don’t tend to (at least this is what I perceive) participate in call-in shows. On the other hand, micro conversations can be mind numbing at times and macro logic doesn’t sell papers since it demands patience.
As far as I can tell, you can probably apply this to Iraq. Micros consider every single decision of a current administration and argue from this point forward. Macros are less concerned with this since people are not foreign policy experts. They don’t expect the government to tell them everything – there are limits to freedom of information. For security reasons, it only make sense. However, they do trust that eventually time will provide some truths and answers.
Macros are willing to tolerate daily setbacks and successes as part of a process. Micros less so. Micros will point to a current situation and will unfold a path to the future accordingly. Macros will be detached from, say, body counts since it only skews the big picture.
Both are crucial to our understanding of a particular issue or subject.
Of course, they are many who manage to incorporate both but for the most part people do not. Mixed in all of this indeed is partisanship and we tend to let this guide our pessimism and optimism; cynicism and skepticism.
Whatever course politicians use, they will eventually be gone but their imprint can be everlasting or fleeting.
Personally, I tend to lean on the macro side of things.
Either way, the United States and Iraq will continue to move forward no matter who is in power.
We get pretty decent Major League Baseball coverage here. The Toronto Blue Jays get the priority but if they are idle or play on the West coast, the sports network do a good job of broadcasting other games. I’ve had my share of Dodgers, Angels, Tigers, Cubs, Yankees etc. games. Go Dodgers by the way.
Watching Canada decimate Russia at the hockey summit series should make Canadian soccer fans yearn for a “program of excellence” like the one designed and implemented by Hockey Canada.
Soccer officials should borrow from Hockey Canada.
But before that can happen the stagnant culture that creeps around over at the CSA needs to be eradicated. How this will happen is anyone’s guest.
Will and commitment is all that is needed – well, that and a strong development system.
There is talent in Canada. Time to realize this potential.
Here’s a hockey-baseball connection. It serves to remind that baseball had a deep tradition in the city right up until the Montreal Expos split for Washington to become the Nationals. It provides a personal historical perspective from former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy”You’re my boy blue” Lasorda who became a hockey fan during his stay with the Montreal Royals in its golden era in the 1940s and 1950s. Lasorda recalls the great Habs of the 1950s and reminds Montrealers of a time when the Big Mtl was once a Major League city endowed with a glorious dynasty. Now we’re beggars.
Interestingly, not too many people realize this but Montreal had a professional ball team before Los Angeles. Life has a funny way of coming full circle.
Sam Pollock – As General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens he helped engineer 9 Stanley Cups in 14 years (1964-1978)and the legendary Habs of the 1960s and one of the clubs greatest dynasty in the 1970s. Pollock’s death is a reminder of what was once one of North America’s greatest and most succesful franchise. The heritage of excellence has given way to hard times in recent years for les habitants.
Phil Rizutto – Revered by the New York Yankees faithful, Phil “Scooter” Rizutto was an enormously popular shortstop in the 1940s and 1950s. Once told by Casey Stengel to go “grab his shoe-shine box,” Rizzuto – a supreme “small-ball” player – eventually played 13 years in the big leagues playing an integral part on nine World Series teams. Scooter was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1994. Following his retirement, Rizzuto went into broadcasting where Howard Cossell remarked to him that he wasn’t going to make it as a broadcaster. Once again, Rizzuto proved a second legend wrong. He is credited with coining the terms, “Holy Cow!’ and “Did you see that?”
Bill Walsh – In the 1980s, the football world was defined by the San Francisco 49ers led by Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and head coach Bill Walsh. Under his guidance, the ‘Niners won three Super Bowl titles between 1981 and 1988 and quickly became one of the NFL’s most succesful teams. Alas, just like the Montreal Canadiens, these are trying days for San Francisco’s first professional sports team.
The Commentator 
