News & Notes XXXVIII: where teams claim covid to duck playing us

[To Be Determined]

Appreciate y'all as always for keeping it real. I just read the whole Reddit thread about myself and had to laugh. Like, if you want to hate me that's fine but it's journalism 101 that I'm not supposed to root for the team. I was harsh and defensive in my response because it's such a pet peeve of mine when people call me a homer, now I have people on reddit saying I've always hated the team lol.

I think we all know how much I respect and appreciate Rod and have loved covering the guys. Tripp has become a dear friend and there are many ties to the organization I will always hold dear. I didn't even mean that I don't like Tony. Tony and I have actually had a few conversations and have learned we have some mutual friends outside of hockey. I just don't like all the insinuations that since I cover the team I enable and sign off on every decision. It's like people don't even read my work then have these full blown opinions on who I am and what I believe. Sometimes reading things about myself can really get to me, which is why I probably need to learn to just log off.

EDIT: I also want to say sometimes the reason I CAN'T just log off and let things go is because I actually do care so much. I care about all of the fans who have made this such a great experience and took me in here for the past four years, I care about getting things right for them. I am not a fan of the team but I am a fan of the Caniacs

people that believe reporters have to be fans of the team they cover remind me of that person (we all likely know at least one) that goes to the strip club and truly believes the dancer is really into them.

good luck convincing them otherwise.

just be objective, which i think you've done fwiw.

 

[Lempo]

Yeah, okay, but Sapphire really is.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I suspect the social media giants have thought about it and concluded naah, the current situation is better for our revenue.

Even with the probability of civil war factored in.

Yes. I suspect you're right.

I think it's the one thing that might be good if Musk were to buy Twitter -- I think he'd do it because he thinks trolls are bad for business in the long run.

 

[LakeLivin]

Yes, I agree and I think the phrase "not a fan" might be tripping people up. Like, I wasn't trying to use that phrase in the colloquial sense, I meant I am literally not a fan as in Caniac. Of all the things I say I was just a little surprised to see that take off

I'd bet you're right. The phrase "not a fan" has somewhat of a negative connotation, so if some thought you meant "I don't like the Canes" . . .

 

[Lempo]

I'd bet you're right. The phrase "not a fan" has somewhat of a negative connotation, so if some thought you meant "I don't like the Canes" . . .

A horrible turn of words actually:

10 Formal Ways To Say "I'm Not A Fan Of"

“I’m not a fan of” is a good phrase we can use informally to show that we care very little about something. However, it is too informal to be used in many professional circumstances. This article will share some more appropriate alternatives that work in formal situations. What Can I Say Instead...

grammarhow.com

Almost like the words "not being a fan" really doesn't carry the literal meaning of, well, not being a fan (even when it's something like a sports team that generally has fans).

Back in the early 90', I used to have a Tampa Bay Lightning cap and a Los Angeles Kings backpack, so very literally fan merch which both I wore to the point of wearing them out, but I never was a fan of either, or even the NHL.

Back in 2010, after the Soccer World Cup, the local bargain market loaded off their not-official soccer gear and I bought the caps for three different countries because they were dirt cheap for a cap (1 euro per piece), but the purchase also had a post-ironic undertone at that time. I wasn't a fan of any.

The first cap I bought was England. My wife, who is a big fan of Germany, yelled me a lot when she learned that I actually had had an option to buy anything else but England.

 

[To Be Determined]

The first cap I bought was England. My wife, who is a big fan of Germany, yelled me a lot when she learned that I actually had had an option to buy anything else but England.

i hope you explained that seeing the england hat, your immediate first thought was "it's coming home"

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Words have meaning but we want to react instead of understand. Either way it really doesn’t matter if the writer isn’t a fan or not. How is the coverage, that is the question.

Sometimes fan writers won’t ask the tough questions because they want everything to be rosy. Look at the last 25 years of Braves media coverage. The writers from the AJC and now the Athletic, don’t criticize or ask the tough questions.

 

[CandyCanes]

Appreciate y'all as always for keeping it real. I just read the whole Reddit thread about myself and had to laugh. Like, if you want to hate me that's fine but it's journalism 101 that I'm not supposed to root for the team. I was harsh and defensive in my response because it's such a pet peeve of mine when people call me a homer, now I have people on reddit saying I've always hated the team lol.

I think we all know how much I respect and appreciate Rod and have loved covering the guys. Tripp has become a dear friend and there are many ties to the organization I will always hold dear. I didn't even mean that I don't like Tony. Tony and I have actually had a few conversations and have learned we have some mutual friends outside of hockey. I just don't like all the insinuations that since I cover the team I enable and sign off on every decision. It's like people don't even read my work then have these full blown opinions on who I am and what I believe. Sometimes reading things about myself can really get to me, which is why I probably need to learn to just log off.

EDIT: I also want to say sometimes the reason I CAN'T just log off and let things go is because I actually do care so much. I care about all of the fans who have made this such a great experience and took me in here for the past four years, I care about getting things right for them. I am not a fan of the team but I am a fan of the Caniacs

Sara Civian is a HUGE fan of the Caniacs

 

[saraciv420]

Count me as somebody who was pretty nonplussed by it, I knew what you were saying.

But especally given your position as a skeptic, I really would like to hear more about what you think of TDA and his journey these days having gotten to know him personally. I've heard rumblings from a Brind'Amour family friend that Rod has made mentoring DeAngelo a real priority, and while I get that that stuff might get very personal for both of them, if it's something you can shed any light on, it's stuff I think a lot of people would like to learn about.

It's interesting stuff, for sure. I don't know how much I want to/can say about it, it was a private conversation and I respect that. but I did have a conversation with Rod at the time of the signing. I expressed I was disappointed and that I have learned a lot from him (Rod) about culture and values since meeting him. I asked him a few things for my own peace of mind to be able to continue covering him with the respect and admiration that I have for him, and I could tell he really took it -- and the situation at hand -- seriously. He asked me to give Tony a chance and said maybe we could help him.

I got angry at the maybe we can help him thing at the time because 1. it's not on me to help someone who once said a slur directed at MY people, and 2. I am not on the payroll. But I kind of understand what he meant more now.

I still want to see more from Tony about how he's changed and what he's done to get help himself and what he's done to help communities he's disparaged. I will never agree with his politics and I won't forget the awful things he's said on twitter about various communities, denying covid, etc. And I do think we're sort of forgetting about all of that because he's sitting down and shutting up.

But I will say he sort of reminds me of myself in the way we both can't shut up and it gets us into trouble. And interviewing him in person has really made me see that more than anything -- at least in my experience, I've gone hard on him and ask critical questions basically every time I interview him, and I think he is good about answering them and not shying away. I think we're similar in the way people meet us and they're surprised we aren't like screaming at them or something, lol, and that we're willing to have a conversation. I think that has surprised me about Tony and has made me think about the way we all talk to each other. And I still think it's fair to hate someone who has said gross things online, but I also think it's fair to hear them out in person.

So while I haven't heard much about their relationship since and as you said it's probably a private thing, I think Rod has genuinely tried to help him instead of doing the good cop bad cop thing, and I think that has struck a chord with Tony. If you listen to his exit interview he touches on this a little -- he says the Canes didn't say "we're putting you on a short leash," they welcomed him.

I'll never be the one to write a redemption arc based on him deleting his twitter and putting up points on the ice, and I wonder what welcoming him meant behind the scenes, or if he's involved in any initiatives. And, again, I won't be the one to help him. But I am willing to consider that he isn't irredeemable, and I don't think being hard on people (or yourself) creates genuine change. So I don't think it's impossible that Rod's approach was what finally got to him, but I need more info

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

If anything, I actually like that Mike and Tripp make the broadcast feel more home grown than Forslund did. It always felt like JF was using the broadcasts to polish his national calls rather than speak to the local fans

John Forslund was brand ambassador for this team for decades. He would do meet and greets, go to watch parties for the playoffs/national broadcasts, and was the voice of the org in local and national media/talk radio.

He was forced out because they didn't want to pay him when they could pay a talk radio refugee a tenth of his salary while not taking much of a hit in revenue. I didn't like it, but they're not wrong. In fact, that the team, while broke, was paying top dollar for Forslund and Kaiton is actually kind of insane if you think about it.

To imply he was always one foot out the door, only viewed thus job he had for decades as a temp gig on his way up is just flat out rewriting history. That's someone like Joe Ovies.

One of the biggest pet peeves I always had with both of Kaiton and Forslund was that if you weren't actively watching the game and someone scored, you often didn't know which team did

I agree, but I'd observe that under Mike, if I'm listening but not watching the game it's difficult to tell if someone scored or not (or often who has the puck, or what's going on in a game). But you get what you pay for, and Mike is not a trained nor experienced pbp guy.

I'll also add that while I've been harsh on Mike, I feel he's done much better recently, and 24th oa in the League is a fair ranking. Slightly below average but he clearly belongs in the League.

 

[saraciv420]

John Forslund was brand ambassador for this team for decades. He would do meet and greets, go to watch parties for the playoffs/national broadcasts, and was the voice of the org in local and national media/talk radio.

He was forced out because they didn't want to pay him when they could pay a talk radio refugee a tenth of his salary while not taking much of a hit in revenue. I didn't like it, but they're not wrong. In fact, that the team, while broke, was paying top dollar for Forslund and Kaiton is actually kind of insane if you think about it.

To imply he was always one foot out the door, only viewed thus job he had for decades as a temp gig on his way up is just flat out rewriting history. That's someone like Joe Ovies.

While I am here (and I am about to get out of y'alls hair, don't worry), Forslund was with this team since the Whalers days. Sometimes things end bitterly because people care so much. He wanted to make it work -- his whole family is still here, after all -- but the offer they gave him and Tripp was flat out insulting. Not about the money, more about the term.

I got drinks with John in Seattle and it was so nice to see him genuinely smile and look at peace. That's worth more than the money.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's interesting stuff, for sure. I don't know how much I want to/can say about it, it was a private conversation and I respect that. but I did have a conversation with Rod at the time of the signing. I expressed I was disappointed and that I have learned a lot from him (Rod) about culture and values since meeting him. I asked him a few things for my own peace of mind to be able to continue covering him with the respect and admiration that I have for him, and I could tell he really took it -- and the situation at hand -- seriously. He asked me to give Tony a chance and said maybe we could help him.

I got angry at the maybe we can help him thing at the time because 1. it's not on me to help someone who once said a slur directed at MY people, and 2. I am not on the payroll. But I kind of understand what he meant more now.

I still want to see more from Tony about how he's changed and what he's done to get help himself and what he's done to help communities he's disparaged. I will never agree with his politics and I won't forget the awful things he's said on twitter about various communities, denying covid, etc. And I do think we're sort of forgetting about all of that because he's sitting down and shutting up.

But I will say he sort of reminds me of myself in the way we both can't shut up and it gets us into trouble. And interviewing him in person has really made me see that more than anything. I think we're similar in the way people meet us and they're surprised we aren't like screaming at them or something, lol.

So while I haven't heard much about their relationship since and as you said it's probably a private thing, I think Rod has genuinely tried to help him instead of doing the good cop bad cop thing, and I think that has struck a chord with Tony. If you listen to his exit interview he touches on this a little -- he says the Canes didn't say "we're putting you on a short leash," they welcomed him.

I'll never be the one to write a redemption arc based on him deleting his twitter and putting up points on the ice, and I wonder what welcoming him meant behind the scenes, or if he's involved in any initiatives. And, again, I won't be the one to help him. But I am willing to consider that he isn't irredeemable, and I don't think being hard on people (or yourself) creates genuine change. So I don't think it's impossible that Rod's approach was what finally got to him, but I need more info

Posts like this really illustrate the difference between HF (several paragraphs of nuanced delivery) and Twitter (bullet-like zings of information, often out of context). I get so much more out of a post like this.

It would really be fascinating to know the answers to the questions you're asking in that last paragraph. This is a little microcosm of what we're going through as a society -- the politics, the social media drama, the lingering resentments, and somehow having to also be pulling in the same direction toward larger goals. Nobody really knows how to do it, especially under the circumstances of the past decade, and part of the reason it's so hard is that most of us don't have a Rod Brind'amour in our lives. It's not on a hockey coach to solve grand global problems for the rest of us, but it would be really interesting to know whether he's found some sort of insight that might help.

As an aside, I trust and hope you're cataloguing your day-to-day notes somewhere safe and well-organized. People always say "wow you should write a book" about inane things, but you are actually in a position to someday write a book about this group starting in late 2018 and going through *waves hands*

 

[saraciv420]

Posts like this really illustrate the difference between HF (several paragraphs of nuanced delivery) and Twitter (bullet-like zings of information, often out of context). I get so much more out of a post like this.

It would really be fascinating to know the answers to the questions you're asking in that last paragraph. This is a little microcosm of what we're going through as a society -- the politics, the social media drama, the lingering resentments, and somehow having to also be pulling in the same direction toward larger goals. Nobody really knows how to do it, especially under the circumstances of the past decade, and part of the reason it's so hard is that most of us don't have a Rod Brind'amour in our lives. It's not on a hockey coach to solve grand global problems for the rest of us, but it would be really interesting to know whether he's found some sort of insight that might help.

As an aside, I trust and hope you're cataloguing your day-to-day notes somewhere safe and well-organized. People always say "wow you should write a book" about inane things, but you are actually in a position to someday write a book about this group starting in late 2018 and going through *waves hands*

Ok last post before I log out of here, but I agree with you on your first point, but I think even more than that it's about not performing for an audience. Obviously word count is an issue with Twitter, but it's also pressure and then the audience. For every tweet I do at this point I'm expecting at least 2 people to respond calling me ugly, three people to respond in good faith in a way that still pisses me off, 50 percent of people to completely misunderstand what I was saying, then 20 percent of that 50 percent was intentionally misunderstanding to mean the worst possible version of what I could have meant.

To your second point, maybe I will have that conversation with Rod over the summer. I think we could have a great conversation about so many things one-on-one away from the cameras. He's someone I hope to know for years into the future.

To your last point, I was still traveling on the team plane when that Devils game got cancelled in March 2020. I remember asking my brother who lived in NYC at the time if I should just uber to him, he said that was a terrible idea and in retrospect that might be the first thing he was ever right about in his life. I remember at one point we just all gave up and met in the lobby of the hotel the team was staying at, the plane was somewhere else and was turning around to pick us up. We're all sitting there watching the news at this Mexican restaurant in the hotel lobby area, I'm handed a corona from god knows who. during this time I got a text from a higher up at The Athletic "remember you could write a book about this one day"

The next thing I remember is waking up in me and Abby's apartment. I had a notes app memo titled "The Book" the two bullet points are

"It's the end of the world as we know it - REM"

"Have a good summer - Joel Edmundson"

Not a great book, but maybe we'll take another crack at it

 

[Svechhammer]

It's interesting stuff, for sure. I don't know how much I want to/can say about it, it was a private conversation and I respect that. but I did have a conversation with Rod at the time of the signing. I expressed I was disappointed and that I have learned a lot from him (Rod) about culture and values since meeting him. I asked him a few things for my own peace of mind to be able to continue covering him with the respect and admiration that I have for him, and I could tell he really took it -- and the situation at hand -- seriously. He asked me to give Tony a chance and said maybe we could help him.

I got angry at the maybe we can help him thing at the time because 1. it's not on me to help someone who once said a slur directed at MY people, and 2. I am not on the payroll. But I kind of understand what he meant more now.

I still want to see more from Tony about how he's changed and what he's done to get help himself and what he's done to help communities he's disparaged. I will never agree with his politics and I won't forget the awful things he's said on twitter about various communities, denying covid, etc. And I do think we're sort of forgetting about all of that because he's sitting down and shutting up.

But I will say he sort of reminds me of myself in the way we both can't shut up and it gets us into trouble. And interviewing him in person has really made me see that more than anything -- at least in my experience, I've gone hard on him and ask critical questions basically every time I interview him, and I think he is good about answering them and not shying away. I think we're similar in the way people meet us and they're surprised we aren't like screaming at them or something, lol, and that we're willing to have a conversation. I think that has surprised me about Tony and has made me think about the way we all talk to each other. And I still think it's fair to hate someone who has said gross things online, but I also think it's fair to hear them out in person.

So while I haven't heard much about their relationship since and as you said it's probably a private thing, I think Rod has genuinely tried to help him instead of doing the good cop bad cop thing, and I think that has struck a chord with Tony. If you listen to his exit interview he touches on this a little -- he says the Canes didn't say "we're putting you on a short leash," they welcomed him.

I'll never be the one to write a redemption arc based on him deleting his twitter and putting up points on the ice, and I wonder what welcoming him meant behind the scenes, or if he's involved in any initiatives. And, again, I won't be the one to help him. But I am willing to consider that he isn't irredeemable, and I don't think being hard on people (or yourself) creates genuine change. So I don't think it's impossible that Rod's approach was what finally got to him, but I need more info

Good perspective.

Look, I hated the signing at the time. Still don't love that he's on the team, but I've also realized that there are far, far worse people than what even the most pessimistic viewpoints think of TDA are who are working in positions far more influential in our society as a defenseman on a very good hockey team. And at the end of the day, before the season I said I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as long as he earned it, and while I don't necessarily know if he's gone out of his way to earn praise, he hasn't done anything here to make you think he hasn't learned. (as an aside, over the course of the year, I've also come to believe that the so-called burner that everyone thought was TDA when everything went down in NY is most likely a very unhealthy and obsessed fan that is absolutely hell bent on wrecking his reputation).

As an aside, seeing as how it appears you have some things going on in your personal life, if you do end up moving on from covering the team going forward, I wish you all the best in the future. You're always welcome back on here if you ever want to shoot the shit, even if you aren't covering the Canes anymore.

 

[Tryamw]

You're always welcome back on here if you ever want to shoot the shit, even if you aren't covering the Canes anymore.

Here here. Just remember we aren't all completely rational. (Only speaking for myself but a few more probably qualify)
Enjoy you summer @saraciv420 .

 

[tarheelhockey]

(as an aside, over the course of the year, I've also come to believe that the so-called burner that everyone thought was TDA when everything went down in NY is most likely a very unhealthy and obsessed fan that is absolutely hell bent on wrecking his reputation).

I agree with that conclusion. When TDA scored his first goal as a Hurricane, whoever runs the account couldn't help getting on there are doing a victory lap just a few minutes later. I guess it's plausible that Tony raced to the dressing room to get his phone out and talk some shit within the first few seconds of intermission (which if true would be one of the most insane things I've ever heard of an NHL player doing) but it seems much more likely that this person got a little too excited and tipped their hand by posting a little too quickly.

Which, in the context that every other tweet on that account has been carefully timed to occur in between games or immediately after the conclusion of games, and carefully crafted to give off vibes that it could maybe possibly be the real TDA, makes you realize how ****ing weird the account owner must be.

 

[NotOpie]

@saraciv420 I certainly hope you continue to check in from time to time. I also hope that TDA ends up being a true story of redemption and that he does get involved in the community, proving even to himself that there's a better man in there.

I yearn for the days when we could agree to disagree with grace and humor. We've lost a lot of that, not just in politics but everywhere. Sports fandom actually feels like a microcosm of the larger world, often more spiteful, unyielding, and resentful....and I'm not just talking about shit talking, that's always been a part of it, usually in a good natured way (Philly fans and their treatment of Santa excepted).

When Tony came on board I was very concerned and "scared" that I would be disappointed in my favorite team. I emailed Don Waddell my concerns. Those concerns were twofold: lockerroom issues and public perception of my team as "good guys" (and my perception of what was "doing right"). I'm happy that my first concern appears to be unfounded. I'd hope that the team would continue to do more in the community, specifically trying to embrace underserved/minority populations more and more. There are apparently a lot of things done behind the scenes, but being part of the solution to bring the community together, I'd hope, would take a larger, more obvious role.

Enough of my rant....good luck in the future @saraciv420 . I hope to see you around here and the rink in the future.

 

[moses malone 12]

It's interesting stuff, for sure. I don't know how much I want to/can say about it, it was a private conversation and I respect that. but I did have a conversation with Rod at the time of the signing. I expressed I was disappointed and that I have learned a lot from him (Rod) about culture and values since meeting him. I asked him a few things for my own peace of mind to be able to continue covering him with the respect and admiration that I have for him, and I could tell he really took it -- and the situation at hand -- seriously. He asked me to give Tony a chance and said maybe we could help him.

I got angry at the maybe we can help him thing at the time because 1. it's not on me to help someone who once said a slur directed at MY people, and 2. I am not on the payroll. But I kind of understand what he meant more now.

I still want to see more from Tony about how he's changed and what he's done to get help himself and what he's done to help communities he's disparaged. I will never agree with his politics and I won't forget the awful things he's said on twitter about various communities, denying covid, etc. And I do think we're sort of forgetting about all of that because he's sitting down and shutting up.

But I will say he sort of reminds me of myself in the way we both can't shut up and it gets us into trouble. And interviewing him in person has really made me see that more than anything -- at least in my experience, I've gone hard on him and ask critical questions basically every time I interview him, and I think he is good about answering them and not shying away. I think we're similar in the way people meet us and they're surprised we aren't like screaming at them or something, lol, and that we're willing to have a conversation. I think that has surprised me about Tony and has made me think about the way we all talk to each other. And I still think it's fair to hate someone who has said gross things online, but I also think it's fair to hear them out in person.

So while I haven't heard much about their relationship since and as you said it's probably a private thing, I think Rod has genuinely tried to help him instead of doing the good cop bad cop thing, and I think that has struck a chord with Tony. If you listen to his exit interview he touches on this a little -- he says the Canes didn't say "we're putting you on a short leash," they welcomed him.

I'll never be the one to write a redemption arc based on him deleting his twitter and putting up points on the ice, and I wonder what welcoming him meant behind the scenes, or if he's involved in any initiatives. And, again, I won't be the one to help him. But I am willing to consider that he isn't irredeemable, and I don't think being hard on people (or yourself) creates genuine change. So I don't think it's impossible that Rod's approach was what finally got to him, but I need more info

Thanks for providing some excellent context Sara.

 

[raynman]

Anyone know where the prospect tourney is this summer? I swear I read the Canes were hosting but I can’t find anything about it

 

[LakeLivin]

people that believe reporters have to be fans of the team they cover remind me of that person (we all likely know at least one) that goes to the strip club and truly believes the dancer is really into them.

good luck convincing them otherwise.

just be objective, which i think you've done fwiw.

Wait, what are you implying? (asking for a friend)

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I got drinks with John in Seattle and it was so nice to see him genuinely smile and look at peace. That's worth more than the money.

"The money only wipes away so many tears" is how a good friend of mine always put it.

 

[MisterEd89]

Anyone know where the prospect tourney is this summer? I swear I read the Canes were hosting but I can’t find anything about it

Waddell mentioned we are hosting it at the press conference for the WCC practice rink being named Invisalign Arena.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Young RBA looks less like a bodybuilder and more like a stoner.

 

[hblueridgegal]

Key 2022 Offseason Dates For The Carolina Hurricanes​

Getting your calendar ready with all the imperative dates of the summer​

 

[raynman]

Key 2022 Offseason Dates For The Carolina Hurricanes​

Getting your calendar ready with all the imperative dates of the summer​

No mention of the buyout period. Classic misdirection