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NHL: Roberto Luongo, Poet Laureate
Posts
Anyone who says Subban has an attitude problem can screw off
Win.
Subban is a great player.
I think it's a horribly arrogant thing to say. I don't think it should really be surprising from a hockey player, or any athlete in general, and it's being made into too big of a deal. However, it is pretty arrogant.
Maybe I'm biased since I'm a Detroit fan. The professionalism from the Red Wings borders on irritating some days.
I haven't been paying attention to the Habs as much as I would have liked, so I suppose I'm wrong.
edit: Don't get me wrong, I think Subban is arrogant as all hell.
My response to that: So?
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Subban+benching+shame+conformity+wins/3954659/story.html
A pretty damn accurate portrayal of social dynamics in the NHL. Though I don't know what they mean about Kyle Wellwood being weird. A teddy bear, maybe.
super edit: I didn't realize that he was benched for the attitude towards his own teammates. That's another kettle of fish entirely and one I fully understand.
Even as a young kid, playing rep hockey, we had to wear a shirt and tie to games. We had to act like adults. Hockey was srs bizness and if you didn't take it seriously you weren't going to be playing. We were taught that if you wanted to succeed, not only in hockey, you had to work hard and focus on your goals. Being a jerk off wasn't going to get you there.
Now as a viewer of hockey, I admit that it's entertaining when a player says or does something they shouldn't, and it can get uncomfortable watching a player "discuss" the game just played by using the various cliches that are overused. But ultimately, hockey players shouldn't be doing anything that puts them on the front page of a newspaper unless it's because they have done something amazing on the ice.
I wouldn't want to see the NHL turn into the NFL in terms of player attitudes but it could certainly use some more emotion and candor
Because professional is, in the NHL, code for boring, personality free conduct. The league badly needs marketable players with personality. One of the reasons Ovechkin is so so popular, talent aside, is his goofy public persona compared to the dull as drying paint, Crosby.
I think there's room for the NHL to move between it's boring as hell player interviews and NFL over the top ridiculousness.
Yeah, Subban is totally cocky and if he chirps NHL vets he better be able to take what he dishes out.
But keeping your head down and earning respect? Pardon my french, but what is this fucking earning respect bullshit?
Why do you have to earn the respect of someone you're trying to win over by any means necessary?
That's what I think is so ridiculous about all of this. Vets don't like a rookie in the NHL because he thinks he's just as good as they are? Well the best players will be the ones that don't let it get to them and actually show up Subban where it matters. With skill. He's a 19 year old kid. What do they expect?
I say this as someone who's wholly non-confrontational and would love to be respected by my opponents if I were a player.
Respecting his teammates is a different matter altogether. That's just fundamental and if that's why Subban was benched, so be it.
But I have to echo tofu about how "professional" the hockey world is. I can't complain about the stoicness of all NHL players - maybe that's just the way these athletes are (I really miss the enthusiasm and candor of Matheiu Schneider, lol). But whether Cam Cole is properly informed about Subban or not, he's right about one thing: I'd enjoy the game even more if I saw some actual emotion.
edit: Beaten to it by Corvus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW1aSTmwrOE
Why can't it be both?
He was quotable. He was fun-loving. He was cocky.
This is not an admirable trait, in anyone, regardless of sport.
Also
He will remain black on the outside, but as colourless, for all that, as everyone else in a game that has pretty much hammered all individuality out of its players, and values vanilla above all other flavours.
Stay classy Vancouver Sun.
But the rest of it is largely true. NHL players are incredibly unemotional off the ice. Is it something the league has done? Is it just the way hockey players are? I'm not saying it's necessarily good or bad for the sport as a whole but whether you like or not, Cole is right: "hammering out individuality" is what it feels like when the majority of players talk to the media.
I don't think cockiness is an admirable trait in anyone. Yet this is a sport that sanctions fighting of the throw down the gloves variety. I don't think that's an admirable trait in anyone I've ever met and yet I cheer when I see Rick Rypien punch someone twice his size. Are we supposed to condemn fighting, then?
I think you should really answer my question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIRqAkqaYUo
Man, I felt so bad for him. If he had scored...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1Z9UspUHqg
I'm thinking about going to see the Wings over Christmas when I'm back in Detroit, should I try for the Stars or the Canucks?
I have 549 Rock Band Drum and 305 Pro Drum FC's
REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS
edit: 2 minutes left in a penalty on flames, best shots on flames goal? tipped away by Perry, lols. Goes to shoot outs.
Both should be good games. Dallas has a much better record than I expected this year. So, both games ought to be highly competitive.
Van/Detroit is pretty much a Swedish National Team inter-squad game. :P
"...they can go fuck themselves."
I don't have a good reason for it, it's not a rational argument to be debated.
Anything I'd say boils down to me being immersed in the culture, playing for 15 years (non pro). It's just not done.
I say leave the Prima Donna antics to basketball, football and be done with it. I don't want my hockey players to be media darlings, ready with a front page quip.
Mario Lemieux is going to beat up on the Caps during an Alumni game on Dec. 31st before the Winter Classic.
I think I might be more excited about that game than the Winter Classic.
On the other hand this was pretty awesome.
I never finish anyth