Color me totally not shocked. I completely agree with this suspension as well.
While on the surface I seem to be breaking from other Flyers fans, you shouldn't be surprised. I myself have been the recipient of two traumatic facial injuries. Another family member bears the leftovers of a basal skull fracture from being hit in the head.
This is serious stuff people, so I have an excessively low tolerance level for professional athletes that do it on purpose. (And, yes, both instances were on purpose.)
What is shocking is Jesse Boulerice's lack of control and of support for his team. When you play competitive sports, you play as a unit - always!
To paraphrase Deirdre Martin, hockey players are like warriors. They have a code of honor within the team. You break it, you pay for it. The price is bringing shame and dishonor on your brothers, which can result in being shunned by your teammates because you've proved that you really don't have their backs after all.
Unlike some of the irrational, old school, reliving the 1970s B.S.B. fans, I don't believe the NHL has it in for the Flyers and is punishing us any harder. I think we have two players on our team that gave them two really good opportunities in a two week span.
Coach, time to dig out those training materials and review them with everyone again. Captain, time to make the landscape abundantly clear.
P.S. to Colin Campbell: Don't forget to check out the tape of Tootoo and Weller. You have another suspension-worthy situation there. just think, two for the price of one!
Showing posts with label sit down. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sit down. Show all posts
Oct 12, 2007
Oct 11, 2007
Yeah! & Grr!
Good: We beat the Canucks. Final score was 8-2. (Looks more like a Cleveland Indians score!)
Also good: It feels like fall...in fall. Temps in the 90s in October is not nice. It's also not hockey weather. So, yeah mother nature!
Bad. Very, very, very BAD: Jesse. Come on! Wwhat was that all about? Are you completely oblivious to the suspension already visiting our team? Do the guys in communications really need more work?
I don't think so.
Like another individual, you let your small brain do the thinking, and it left a small child in charge. Grow up. And I really, sincerely hope coach and the other guys let you have it the whole ride home from BC. (And, yes, you deserve the suspension that you expect to be coming your way.)
[Climbing up from my rant-pit...the acoustics are much better than standing on a soapbox]
Only one full day remains between me and my...our...the regular season home opener. Stop by 224 and say hi.
If you plan to be at the Devils game on the 18th, I'll be checking out the view from 206.
Also good: It feels like fall...in fall. Temps in the 90s in October is not nice. It's also not hockey weather. So, yeah mother nature!
Bad. Very, very, very BAD: Jesse. Come on! Wwhat was that all about? Are you completely oblivious to the suspension already visiting our team? Do the guys in communications really need more work?
I don't think so.
Like another individual, you let your small brain do the thinking, and it left a small child in charge. Grow up. And I really, sincerely hope coach and the other guys let you have it the whole ride home from BC. (And, yes, you deserve the suspension that you expect to be coming your way.)
[Climbing up from my rant-pit...the acoustics are much better than standing on a soapbox]
Only one full day remains between me and my...our...the regular season home opener. Stop by 224 and say hi.
If you plan to be at the Devils game on the 18th, I'll be checking out the view from 206.
Oct 2, 2007
The Downie Effect
I've intentionally avoided posting about the Steve Downie situation until now. Apologies in advance, but this will be a long one to slog through. Here's why I waited:
(1) I knew about Downie's problems and issues, and his reputation is not un-deserved.
(2) I wanted to review the video a few days removed from the hit.
(3) I wanted to know the NHL's decision and reasoning, in light of the new policy approved over the summer break.
(4) I wanted to watch the video again after the ruling.
So here's my ruling: I don't think that Downie's suspension is unreasonable.
Argue all you want about whether or not McAmmond should have had his head up, whether Downie left his feet before impact, whether he led with his elbow/stick/shoulder, whether the timing was late, etc.
That's not what matters to me. The real issues are:
(a) Downie lined that shot up for any Tom, Dick or Dean on the ice that was in a Senators sweater because he felt the refs missed an earlier call.
(b) the NHL drafted a policy for hits to the head with the input of all interested parties (including the players as represented by Shanahan, Iginla and Blake), distributed materials in various formats to all of the teams that explain what's all right and what would result in punitive measures, and Downie still let his small brain rule the day instead of the big one.
Hitting is part of hockey and no one with a functioning brain cell believes this will change that. The new criteria only provide guidelines for times when one player intentionally hits another player in the head in such a way as to incapacitate him.
The players represent the portion of the hockey community with the most to lose if these hits continue: their careers and lives are on the line!
Downie, you had a try-out with the big boys and you were really close to making it. But you totally blew it and you have no one to blame but yourself for reacting like you left a twelve year-old to operate your reptilian reflexes.
I'm sorry your life has been by turns traumatic and trying, but so has most everyone else's at one moment or another. My personal theory is that my history only accounts for up to 50% of why I do the stuff I do. The remaining percentage (whether it's 50% or more) is due only to what I choose to do.
I'm a sucker for comebacks and rehabilitation because they are possible. I'd love to see Steve Downie be the good player he has the potential to be. That's why I'm hoping the suspension works, because hockey - by all accounts - is the most important thing to Steve Downie. Maybe the sheer fact that he can't play in the NHL because of the suspension will be the wake-up call and turning point.
In the mean time, if I find myself anywhere near Downie, I'm getting away from him as fast as possible. Although there are any number of people who say he's a respectful, decent guy much of the time, I refuse to believe that such poor control and decision-making is limited to the ice.
P.S. Shmee: Every GM is going to be a blithering idiot in a situation like this. Your job description in such a set of circumstances is to both uphold the rules and rulings, while showing team solidarity by supporting your player. (At least, if you're going to be a good GM, you do.)
First, you have a player who does something totally stupid and breaks the 11th commandment while doing it (thou shalt not get caught).
Second, said player does take up cap space while on the big roster, which has $$ and rules implications. (And unloading him to another team may not be possible for precisely the same reasons since...)
Lastly, the suspension essentially has to be served in the NHL (as per Campbell).
Q. And secondly, I’m still a little unclear as to what happens if he is sent down to the American Hockey League? Can he play in the American Hockey League if he’s sent down? And if they choose to honor the suspension, does that take games off the NHL suspension or is he suspended 20 NHL games regardless of whether or not he plays in the American Hockey League?
Colin Campbell: He’s suspended for 20 games in the National Hockey League. I understand your question, we’ve discussed this and thrown this around. There are implications as far as the cap count on the Philadelphia Flyers. There are implications on the roster, the 23-man roster. And how they look at this suspension and how they deal with the American Hockey League, that’s up to Dave Andrews.
We treat theirs the same way we treat ours. We've got our own issues and they've got their own issues. But he has to serve 20 games in this league. And in the past, players were allowed to play in the other league, be it in our league or the AHL, depending on the suspension. But they had to serve the suspension in the league they received the suspension in.
Personally, I'm not going to be rooting for this kid until and unless he develops a more mature attitude, combined with a healthy dose of respect for others and himself.
And if you don't like or agree with this: Chalk it up to a difference in opinion, then let bygones be bygones.
(1) I knew about Downie's problems and issues, and his reputation is not un-deserved.
(2) I wanted to review the video a few days removed from the hit.
(3) I wanted to know the NHL's decision and reasoning, in light of the new policy approved over the summer break.
(4) I wanted to watch the video again after the ruling.
So here's my ruling: I don't think that Downie's suspension is unreasonable.
Argue all you want about whether or not McAmmond should have had his head up, whether Downie left his feet before impact, whether he led with his elbow/stick/shoulder, whether the timing was late, etc.
That's not what matters to me. The real issues are:
(a) Downie lined that shot up for any Tom, Dick or Dean on the ice that was in a Senators sweater because he felt the refs missed an earlier call.
(b) the NHL drafted a policy for hits to the head with the input of all interested parties (including the players as represented by Shanahan, Iginla and Blake), distributed materials in various formats to all of the teams that explain what's all right and what would result in punitive measures, and Downie still let his small brain rule the day instead of the big one.
Hitting is part of hockey and no one with a functioning brain cell believes this will change that. The new criteria only provide guidelines for times when one player intentionally hits another player in the head in such a way as to incapacitate him.
The players represent the portion of the hockey community with the most to lose if these hits continue: their careers and lives are on the line!
Downie, you had a try-out with the big boys and you were really close to making it. But you totally blew it and you have no one to blame but yourself for reacting like you left a twelve year-old to operate your reptilian reflexes.
I'm sorry your life has been by turns traumatic and trying, but so has most everyone else's at one moment or another. My personal theory is that my history only accounts for up to 50% of why I do the stuff I do. The remaining percentage (whether it's 50% or more) is due only to what I choose to do.
I'm a sucker for comebacks and rehabilitation because they are possible. I'd love to see Steve Downie be the good player he has the potential to be. That's why I'm hoping the suspension works, because hockey - by all accounts - is the most important thing to Steve Downie. Maybe the sheer fact that he can't play in the NHL because of the suspension will be the wake-up call and turning point.
In the mean time, if I find myself anywhere near Downie, I'm getting away from him as fast as possible. Although there are any number of people who say he's a respectful, decent guy much of the time, I refuse to believe that such poor control and decision-making is limited to the ice.
P.S. Shmee: Every GM is going to be a blithering idiot in a situation like this. Your job description in such a set of circumstances is to both uphold the rules and rulings, while showing team solidarity by supporting your player. (At least, if you're going to be a good GM, you do.)
First, you have a player who does something totally stupid and breaks the 11th commandment while doing it (thou shalt not get caught).
Second, said player does take up cap space while on the big roster, which has $$ and rules implications. (And unloading him to another team may not be possible for precisely the same reasons since...)
Lastly, the suspension essentially has to be served in the NHL (as per Campbell).
Q. And secondly, I’m still a little unclear as to what happens if he is sent down to the American Hockey League? Can he play in the American Hockey League if he’s sent down? And if they choose to honor the suspension, does that take games off the NHL suspension or is he suspended 20 NHL games regardless of whether or not he plays in the American Hockey League?
Colin Campbell: He’s suspended for 20 games in the National Hockey League. I understand your question, we’ve discussed this and thrown this around. There are implications as far as the cap count on the Philadelphia Flyers. There are implications on the roster, the 23-man roster. And how they look at this suspension and how they deal with the American Hockey League, that’s up to Dave Andrews.
We treat theirs the same way we treat ours. We've got our own issues and they've got their own issues. But he has to serve 20 games in this league. And in the past, players were allowed to play in the other league, be it in our league or the AHL, depending on the suspension. But they had to serve the suspension in the league they received the suspension in.
Personally, I'm not going to be rooting for this kid until and unless he develops a more mature attitude, combined with a healthy dose of respect for others and himself.
And if you don't like or agree with this: Chalk it up to a difference in opinion, then let bygones be bygones.
Sep 11, 2007
Leaving no hot dog un-turned: AYCE hockey?
Kristin at eager to go psycho detailed some of the issues related to potential ring-around-the-rosie games awaiting (unfortunate) ticket holders that will surround the former goalie judge seats.
Feeling left out because you can't afford that? Don't worry, Comcast-Spectacor at the Wachovia Center is taking care of you.
A limited number of "All-You-Can-Eat" tickets will be sold for the Flyers' 41 home games. That's right, for an extra $20 - 40, depending on where you normally sit in the cheap seats, fans will be making unlimited trips to two concession stands for up to four of the following each time:
Feeling left out because you can't afford that? Don't worry, Comcast-Spectacor at the Wachovia Center is taking care of you.
A limited number of "All-You-Can-Eat" tickets will be sold for the Flyers' 41 home games. That's right, for an extra $20 - 40, depending on where you normally sit in the cheap seats, fans will be making unlimited trips to two concession stands for up to four of the following each time:
- hot dogs
- soft drinks
- popcorn
- nachos with cheese and salsa
Staff say they're "always looking for new ways to enhance our fans overall experience when they attend an event" and that ayce was a suggestion they received.
While I'm in favor of not having to bleed $$ every time I need or want to eat something at a sporting event, be warned - I will cross-check you if you (a) make me get out of your way too many times or (b) you spill anything on me.
Well, you know, unless you bring me back a soft drink, hot dog and nachos with cheese until I cry uncle.
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