David Puddy said:
Barry Melrose was a stay-at-home defenseman with very little offensive skill. He a scratch at times during his 11-year NHL career. He also played in the WHA with the Cincinnatti Stingers.
A funny thing is that I use Barry Melrose to counter talks of the NHL being "watered down." I state that the influx of quality Eastern European players has more than kept up with expansion. I like to say and write that the Barry Melrose's of the world have been replaced by the Zdeno Chara's of the world.
What generally did he say? I couldn't find anything with a Google search.
After I posted, I wished I hadn't because I don't want to bring up a debate we did to death during last year's playoffs. Please bear with me and stay away a political/socio. debate that in the end doesn't belong here. During the Mtl./Boston series last year, a vocal minority made their presence known by booing the Star Spangled Banner. Considering the timing, I felt it was a hockey/partisan sort of thing, though definitely not something I liked. The issue was resolved when they played a Jean Beliveau tape next game, preaching the need for respect. As happens, the story got legs and was news across the US. Again, I hope no one resurrects the issue. Melrose was doing a radio bit on a St.Louis ESPN affiliate and said something along the lines of, 'don't worry, that's just the French, they hate everything that's English, and the rest of Canada hates everything that's French'. When I see attitudes like that in my country, it kind of saddens me, when I see attitudes like that with a public forum, it pisses me off. Pick a race on your side of the border and generalize about them and good luck with future employment.
I could care lees when a guy has an idiotic opinion, though it annoys me when he presumes to speak for anyone other than himself. Probably not even racist, more pandering to an audience, though he insults the intelligence of the audience. This is just to explain and answere the question. If it doesn't belong here, mods, feel free to give me the appropriate board butt kicking. Sorry to muck up your thread Cropduster.