OT: My latest blog on Lowetide.ca "Punch up in Piestany remembered"

[Spawn]

Bullshit hypocrisy. Sorry JTS. But you were one of the leading posters in trying poison the well in regards to Taylor Hall. Not only as a player, but as a person as well.

But now you write this big sob story in regards to people not being fair to players in Edmonton?

Give me a freaking break.

 

[shoop]

The op is a well known pot stirrer. His own tag line boasts of his love for 'alternative facts', and carries the out right lie that 'not a single Oiler fan said we won the (Hall) deal'.
Arguing over his badly written, shoddily researched blog is only giving him the attention he wants.

I think you are giving him far too much credit calling his blog "shoddily" researched. That implies he put some effort into researching it.

I don't know why someone would be that desperate for attention.

 

[KingKhron]

Such a terrible argument basing a career on one playoffs. The amount of fantastic players who had a poor playoffs is countless. Maybe they should all get traded or sent to the KHL

And to say most players don't care about their team and city is ridiculous

I actually never based his career on those playoffs. I think this franchise is terrible at moving assets too quickly and for little return. Every team has players who struggle for varying lengths of time, some even years, and they are often rewarded for it when the player comes back to form. Thank God the other GM’s didn’t want to take RNH’s contract for likely practically nothing or we’d have another example of our franchise displaying impatience leading to poor asset management. My argument is that I think it’s not a very mentally balanced person who complains about this type of negativity from fans. How you don’t understand the machine of entertainment you’re part of and how greatly you benefit from it(and that’s compared to the people in the cities they play for, let’s not even get global with this crap) but there are consequences or undesirable aspects to every method of providing for ourselves and our loved ones. I never said “players don’t care about their team” and maybe I shouldn’t have used the word “rare”, although for me it applies, maybe I should have said it’s unusual for a player to actually care about the city he plays in. People are creatures of habit, so after a long time, they come to enjoy their set ways in a city and might like living there but every year, you’ll get 100 examples of a how much they care for you as a city and a fan base when the team(city) that offers them an extra year or that extra 250k is where they truly love to play and we get it. We all understand and talk about how if it was us, we’d take that extra year too because that’s security and that’s for your family. Drai would be loving another fan base just as much as ours if the offer sheet had a higher number. I certainly remember us coming in as the least desirable place to play in a number of player surveys but maybe it’s because they just hadn’t got to know us yet?

 

[McFlyingV]

Boohoo for Eberle. You accept the criticism when you 1) become an NHL player in the public spot light (no one's forcing you to be a professional hockey player), and 2) sign a contract that you never lived up to. If the public criticism is too much, then retire and go find another career where you're out of the public eye.

 

[frag2]

Exactly

These guys are absolutely idolized as Gods. It's only when they fail in their effort, not in performance, have I ever seen this fanbase as a group turn on players. To me it is all justified. And yes there is a line. Jordan Eberle certainly was no where near it.
For this fella, or anyone for that matter, to believe that a professional athlete - who is so sheltered from everyday nuances - is affected by fans booing his performance, is absurd. The simple solution is to perform better. Or in Jordan's specific case, put in an effort.
As well for the author (or perhaps it was other posters) who referenced other players with similar situations, I'll agree. Carson, Shultz, et al were sent packing. Rightly so! Again for the same reason as Eberle. No effort. I remember every single one of those POSs. Loved them too when they were here and worked hard. But happy to see the go if and when they didn't. Entitled asshats. Remember Jason Arnott? He was a brash kid that only spoke his mind truthfully and got run out of town. That was for only being honest about floating through 1 game!!!

If you are that talented, have worked that hard on your body, conditioning, regime, routine, diet, education, commitment, etc by the time you are 17/18 years old, you are from Canada, you have a shot at a lifelong (to that point) career dream, and you don't know what it would be like playing in a hockey hotbed market? That would be rather foolish, ill prepared, or most likely - poor character. Which is what I suspect of all these players who have been shipped out.

I feel the same way I always used to feel when I heard musicians and rock stars talking about their fans or an album that didn't sell very good or something not quite right. They usually said something along the lines of - That's why I hate commercialism, or - We made this album more for ourselves and our fans not the public. What BS. Like you don't want to sell albums and merch and make money. Right. Same as these players then. Go to Europe then if it's so good.

Goodbye.
And grow up.

Oh, and I cannot remember the last time I've ever gotten a $40 ticket to an Oilers game. Honestly do they exist?

And - WhoTF is this 'shoop' guy?!! Dead on with your responses!

I still remember that time Conklin had a long string of bad games and we went through the 3 headed monster crap and media and fans were piling on him. When asked if confidence was an issue and he straight up said, paraphrasing, he’s a professional athlete, this is what they are going to encounter anyway and it’s up to him to turn things around for himself. Never liked Conklin but if there was one thing I agreed with him, it was that remark.

Not boohoo my feelings hurt. I’m gonna disappear and sulk.

 

[Jumptheshark]

My next blog will be up on either Sunday or Monday and will be about going on a road trip organized by the Cardiff devil's booster club

 

[Jumptheshark]

Btw

I am enjoying the engagement some are having with my blogs. A conversation is a two way street trying to find common ground

 

[joestevens29]

Do you recall the Chris Pronger's fire? It was reported the Schultz was shaken towards the end of his tour with Edmonton when he got bood everyone touched the puck

This happens all over in every sport in North America and I assume Europe as well.

Basketball had quite a bit of burning of the jersey's this summer when once heros were traded or signed elsewhere.

We rarely see that in the NHL

 

[RegDunlop]

I still remember that time Conklin had a long string of bad games and we went through the 3 headed monster crap and media and fans were piling on him. When asked if confidence was an issue and he straight up said, paraphrasing, he’s a professional athlete, this is what they are going to encounter anyway and it’s up to him to turn things around for himself. Never liked Conklin but if there was one thing I agreed with him, it was that remark.

Not boohoo my feelings hurt. I’m gonna disappear and sulk.

Forgot about Conklin. Not my favorite goalie but you're right. He absolutely did stand up. Good on him. I remember that.

 

[RegDunlop]

Btw

I am enjoying the engagement some are having with my blogs. A conversation is a two way street trying to find common ground

I will now probably read more of your stuff. I have 'lurked' on HF for years enjoying the posts from you and other contributors for a long time before posting sporadically lately.
Good for you for writing how you see it. I just don't agree. And for the record, I was and am a big J Eberle fan. But he lost me with his level of effort. Again not performance nor outcome. Effort. It wasn't there. I thought he hasn't been the same player since being rocked going to the net (illegally I might add) years ago, and would never recover. However perhaps the change of scenery is all that is required. If so, why s**t on a franchise that gave you everything to begin with?

 

[bobbythebrain]

Boohoo for Eberle. You accept the criticism when you 1) become an NHL player in the public spot light (no one's forcing you to be a professional hockey player), and 2) sign a contract that you never lived up to. If the public criticism is too much, then retire and go find another career where you're out of the public eye.

Point #2 is a big reason why players shouldn't want to play here. Aside from 1 single playoffs, Ebs has lived up to his contract just fine.

Oilers leading point producer in X amount of years. Consistent 20 goal scorer. His lines for years scored something like 70% of the teams total points

Already NYI fans are calling it a steal of a trade. Nobody is complaining about his 6mil when he's on pace for 60+ points and 25 goals there. Guaranteed. And it's not he changed his game either and is some completely different player

Can't blame players for favoring a market where they aren't so scrutinized and expected to be more than they are

 

[frag2]

Point #2 is a big reason why players shouldn't want to play here. Aside from 1 single playoffs, Ebs has lived up to his contract just fine.

Oilers leading point producer in X amount of years. Consistent 20 goal scorer. His lines for years scored something like 70% of the teams total points

Already NYI fans are calling it a steal of a trade. Nobody is complaining about his 6mil when he's on pace for 60+ points and 25 goals there. Guaranteed. And it's not he changed his game either and is some completely different player

He wasn't here. Last year, he almost couldn't hit 50 points. The fact he only got 51 with significant McDavid minutes is disappointing. Coupled with his fly bys and what not, it's hard not for fans/media to criticize his game. He was trending downwards, at least here. Could it be the pressure? Maybe. But why couldn't he just suck it up and work his ass off every night. I think if he had the effort and not the performance, like someone said, this blue collar city wouldn't write him off that quickly.

Honestly, maybe we were just blind as a whole with the trio. Dont get me wrong, guy had talent but after that Johnson check, sure didn't seem like he had heart anymore.

 

[frag2]

Forgot about Conklin. Not my gavorite goalie but you're right. He absolutely did stand up. Good on him. I remember that.

When he came out and admitted that, as much as I didn't like the guy, much respect. Hell, even Schultz ahd kidn words

 

[Senor Catface]

Btw

I am enjoying the engagement some are having with my blogs. A conversation is a two way street trying to find common ground

I think the common ground would be somewhere between English and whatever language that blog was written in.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I think the common ground would be somewhere between English and whatever language that blog was written in.

Sharkanese

 

[McFlyingV]

Point #2 is a big reason why players shouldn't want to play here. Aside from 1 single playoffs, Ebs has lived up to his contract just fine.

Oilers leading point producer in X amount of years. Consistent 20 goal scorer. His lines for years scored something like 70% of the teams total points

Already NYI fans are calling it a steal of a trade. Nobody is complaining about his 6mil when he's on pace for 60+ points and 25 goals there. Guaranteed. And it's not he changed his game either and is some completely different player

Can't blame players for favoring a market where they aren't so scrutinized and expected to be more than they are

There's more to hockey than points. How many goals did he bleed against in that time due to being lazy and never ever devoting himself to learning the defensive game. In fact, he showed when his defensive game was at a mediocre level last season (the best its ever been in his career) he couldn't produce at a 60 point pace. He also got paid based off his unsustainable season.

The main point is that players accept any scrutiny that they get for their play the minute they decide to make more in a single contract than most fans paying their paycheque will make in their entire life. If you can't suck it up and take the criticism then you don't deserve to be making millions of dollars to play a game.

 

[oilers'72]

Overseas players probably don't get the money the pros do but they sometimes get a few perks. I PVRd the Mountfield-Canada Spengler Cup game and a couple of times when I glanced at it, there a lovely attendant in the penalty box offering the offending players a clean folded towel. Don't think you'll see that in an NHL game.

 

[Jumptheshark]

My next blog will also include how the city of Coventry got a long with wade Belak. Got lots of good comments last night

 

[oilers'72]

Overseas players probably don't get the money the pros do but they sometimes get a few perks. I PVRd the Mountfield-Canada Spengler Cup game and a couple of times when I glanced at it, there a lovely attendant in the penalty box offering the offending players a clean folded towel. Don't think you'll see that in an NHL game.

The penalty box at the Spengler Cup as been described as luxurious, as the benches have been replaced with airline seats. Now, courtesy of Helvetic Airways (one of the tournament sponsors), the players also have an attendant with a fresh towel and water.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Lowetide.ca | How the World Junior Tournament became relevant to Canadians

 

[Jumptheshark]

punch up in piestany

 

[Jumptheshark]

Looks like the file I sent LT was slightly corrupted

 

[Jumptheshark]

my next blog is on Wade Belak and the Coventry Blaze and how he is still remembered over ten years after he played for them

 

[oilers'72]

Actually, Canada had a chance to win gold if they had won by 5 goals, as a win would've tied them with Finland, who they tied 6-6 earlier in the tournament, and the next tie-breaker would've been goal difference. Unfortunately, instead of backing away from the Russians, and letting them take the penalties, the team went nuts and forgot what they were playing for.

What may have also helped was that the 1988 tournament was in Moscow. The teams met again in a game that did ultimately decide who won gold (Canada won the game 3-2) but it was actually played in the middle of the tournament. This time there'd be no incident to derail Canada from winning gold.

BTW, the first thing I actually still remember about Canada at the WJHC was when they first won gold in a small rink in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1982. The rink actually didn't have a recording of the Canadian anthem, so the players sang it themselves. No TV that I can recall, just a radio broadcast of the game.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Actually, Canada had a chance to win gold if they had won by 5 goals, as a win would've tied them with Finland, who they tied 6-6 earlier in the tournament, and the next tie-breaker would've been goal difference. Unfortunately, instead of backing away from the Russians, and letting them take the penalties, the team went nuts and forgot what they were playing for.

What may have also helped was that the 1988 tournament was in Moscow. The teams met again in a game that did ultimately decide who won gold (Canada won the game 3-2) but it was actually played in the middle of the tournament. This time there'd be no incident to derail Canada from winning gold.

BTW, the first thing I actually still remember about Canada at the WJHC was when they first won gold in a small rink in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1982. The rink actually didn't have a recording of the Canadian anthem, so the players sang it themselves. No TV that I can recall, just a radio broadcast of the game.

thought is was win by 4 goals to win gold