Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Won't someone please think of the children?
Wow - big day yesterday for righteous indignation in the sports media.
Hall of Famer Jim Matheson in the Edmonton Journal goes to bat for the departed Cory Cross:
Fans can be unfair, and pro hockey players are human beings regardless of how much money they make. No argument from me there. But give me a got-dang break! It is a fact of life, then, now, and forever, that 5th/6th/7th defensemen take a lot of abuse. That is their lot in life. Mr. Matty, sir, I'd like to introduce you to Igor Ulanov, Andrew Ference, Alexander Khavanov, Aki Berg, Brian Pothier, Steve McCarthy, Chris Therien, Dan McGillis, Jason Woolley, Nolan Pratt, etc. etc... Why don't you poll some of them to see how much sympathy they have for Cory Cross.
Three more little points on this:
He adds, "Of course, that reporter should know Tae Kwon Do or something if he's going to ask that question :-)". Yeah, I suppose.
And on a slightly related note (as in, why sports pundits should generally stick to sports, where the sky can be red, and stay away from moral and political issues): Dave Hodge did a (cough) "funny" bit on NHL team name changes on TSN, and tossed in this little bit:
I get it! Dubya is from Texas, right? Heh. Oh, here's the 2004 election results from Texas' 30th Congressional District, "which spans the heart of Dallas and surrounding communities such as Irving and Grand Prairie":
Hall of Famer Jim Matheson in the Edmonton Journal goes to bat for the departed Cory Cross:
... Booing him was unconscionable... he was treated shabbily... Shame on you.
Fans can be unfair, and pro hockey players are human beings regardless of how much money they make. No argument from me there. But give me a got-dang break! It is a fact of life, then, now, and forever, that 5th/6th/7th defensemen take a lot of abuse. That is their lot in life. Mr. Matty, sir, I'd like to introduce you to Igor Ulanov, Andrew Ference, Alexander Khavanov, Aki Berg, Brian Pothier, Steve McCarthy, Chris Therien, Dan McGillis, Jason Woolley, Nolan Pratt, etc. etc... Why don't you poll some of them to see how much sympathy they have for Cory Cross.
Three more little points on this:
- Cosh has a pretty firm reaction to the column in Mirtle's comments
- Yeah, Lightning fans were a little more patient and kind toward Dave Andreychuk than Oil fans were toward Cross. Think he did anything to earn that extra patience? He's headed to the Hall of Fame with 607 more career goals than Cross, plus there was that giant trophy he lifted a couple of years ago. Bad manners are bad manners, but the analogy is a bit of a stretch.
- You really need some Hall of Fame balls to conclude a column with "Shame on you". Really.
Emery explained to the press that he greatly admires Tyson for his skill as a boxer and sees no reason for a fuss. One reporter shouted from the back, "It's because he's a convicted rapist." Emery repeated that he likes Tyson for his boxing skill. What he should've said to the reporter was, "Yes, and he went to jail and served his time," and then continued about Tyson's boxing skills.
What the reporter should have asked is whether it's appropriate for the player that is least likely on the team to get in a fight, that will be protected by the other players as if he was a little girl if he does get in a fight, and is padded with tens of pounds of body armor — to wear the image of a boxer.
He adds, "Of course, that reporter should know Tae Kwon Do or something if he's going to ask that question :-)". Yeah, I suppose.
And on a slightly related note (as in, why sports pundits should generally stick to sports, where the sky can be red, and stay away from moral and political issues): Dave Hodge did a (cough) "funny" bit on NHL team name changes on TSN, and tossed in this little bit:
...and the political theme should give birth in the U.S. to the Dallas Republicans.
I get it! Dubya is from Texas, right? Heh. Oh, here's the 2004 election results from Texas' 30th Congressional District, "which spans the heart of Dallas and surrounding communities such as Irving and Grand Prairie":
- Johnson (D) - 144,513 (93%)
- Davis (L) - 10,821 (7%)
# posted by Matt @ 12:04 pm 
Comments:
It is a fact of life, then, now, and forever, that 5th/6th/7th defensemen take a lot of abuse. That is their lot in life. Mr. Matty, sir, I'd like to introduce you to Igor Ulanov, Andrew Ference, Alexander Khavanov, Aki Berg, Brian Pothier, Steve McCarthy, Chris Therien, Dan McGillis, Jason Woolley, Nolan Pratt, etc. etc... Why don't you poll some of them to see how much sympathy they have for Cory Cross.
I think you have to qualify this (which is why I did so). These guys aren't going to be villified anywhere but Canadian cities (and perhaps a few American burgs with extremely hardcore fans). My guess is those in Pittsburgh barely notice Cross, let alone call for his head.
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It is a fact of life, then, now, and forever, that 5th/6th/7th defensemen take a lot of abuse. That is their lot in life. Mr. Matty, sir, I'd like to introduce you to Igor Ulanov, Andrew Ference, Alexander Khavanov, Aki Berg, Brian Pothier, Steve McCarthy, Chris Therien, Dan McGillis, Jason Woolley, Nolan Pratt, etc. etc... Why don't you poll some of them to see how much sympathy they have for Cory Cross.
I think you have to qualify this (which is why I did so). These guys aren't going to be villified anywhere but Canadian cities (and perhaps a few American burgs with extremely hardcore fans). My guess is those in Pittsburgh barely notice Cross, let alone call for his head.
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