LordKOTL
Abuse of Officials
Personally, from many 2nd hand stories Chelli has the ultimate "holier than thou" uberjock attitute, whatever.
But, what I hate about this stuff is that I would be one of these hated persons if I had their stature in society. I've been in a bar fight or two when threatened and can say if some cab driver locked the rear doors before I could get my wallet out I'd not be happy.
But, even worse, I had a police report for domestic violence filed by an ex back in college. She calls me up one day to give me some money she owed me, I go to pick it up and she wants to rekindle the flame. I have a few honest/choice words towards her "character" and she flips out. First throwing a piece of pottery, then screaming, then arms flailing at me as hard/fast as she can. I put my arms around my face and she swings away for 30 seconds until I calmly push her arms off me then leave her dorm room.
A few hours later a cop shows up at my place. He says he got a call/report of abuse and the girl has bruises. I asked him where the bruises were and he says on her fists/wrists. I asked the guy if he thought a fella twice her size would abuse here wrists so badly. After my roommates chimed in with details of the crazy things she'd done the past few months the officer said "please don't visit her again" and walked off.
But, according the record, I was the bad guy. I'd never laid a hand on her except to push her off of me when she was trying to bash my head in.
You don't know anything until you get the full story. If I was an NHL'er the media would crucify me.
Yep. I think the media crucified Varlamov until they found out his g/f-fiancee-wife was the guano one, not him. Then, they just let the issue fade away. In the political climate today it's not pretty, but it's at least a step forward from the one where *real* domesic violence is swept under the rug.
Personally, I think there's a different litmus test between retiring a number and being an ambassador. As an ambassador you *must* exude the qualities the organization wants to be associated with. To wit: if a player had a GOAT career but simply was not a fan of children, he shouldn't be an ambassador if the team wants to have a child-friendly or family-friendly image.
I have no issues with Chelios' number being retired--although from a "honored 'hawk" standpoint I think Seabs is a bit more deserving with the fact he has so far been a 'hawk his entire career, has the 3 cups, was Captain Clutch and captained the captain. I do think there might be a joint honoring as well. But, given Chelios' history with the 'hawks and their fans I don't think he fits the ambassador mold--he doesn't evoke goodwill from/towards the fans.