Hockey people you don't like...

[Marcus-74]

...and the reason why

Sorry for being so negative but there's just too much positivity around the world at the moment, right? Here are some guys who won't get a Christmas card from me (!)

Phil Esposito

Not grazy about his playing style plus I don't like the way he overemphasizes the political aspect of the Summit Series, and his "commie this, commie that" jibe. Yeah, it was cold war going on and blah blah blah, but for me the happenings on the ice (the different style of play, all the brilliant individual efforts etc.) were million times more interesting than anything off it. And hey, if Team Canada's win was "a win for our society over theirs", what were Challenge Cup and Canada Cup '81 in that case?

Vladislav Tretiak

Can you spell W-H-I-N-E-R? I mean, he had a brilliant (though overrated IMO) career and most people consider him to be the greatest goalie of all-time and yet he doesn't seem to be able to let some things of the past go (Lake Placid, Summit Series...). The only thing he has a good reason to be bitter about is that they didn 't let him go to play in the NHL. But of course there's a possibility that he would have flopped there, so maybe even that was a blessing in disguise, who knows?

Harold Ballard (RUST in peace!)

I guess that if it had been up to him, no Canada/NHL Team vs. Soviets game would have taken place plus no Russians would have played in the NHL. And why? Simply because he didn't like Russians. I bet that neither did fellow crook Alan Eagleson, but at least he gave the hockey fans what they wanted to see. Also, quite horrible period for the Maple Leafs when Ballard was the owner.

HM's

Peter Stastny

Tired of seeing him being interviewed on Finnish TV during the World Championships and urging Finns to root for Team Slovakia (Why should I? Don't give a damn!)

Mark Messier & Gordie Howe

Great players and all, but they just had that Canadian tough SOB approach to hockey that I don't care for. Menacing looks, elbows in the face and other dirty tricks. I bet they were great players to have on your side, but...

On a lighter note...

Hockey fans who think that rock'n roll and fights are a MUST in a hockey game

Just disappear you dorks!

Gretzky

Just couldn't stand his girlish hair

Click to read more...

 

[Chilly Willy*]

Gretzky

Someone that nice and everything usually has the most issues that are hidden away in the closet, he could be a bigger freak than Michael Jackson and we would never know because he had a Master lock on his closet door chock full of his weirdness. Also pisses me off how he is considered great, the guy was sheltered on the ice and scored bunches in an era where scoring was the biggest joke, of course he would get 200pts no one freakin touched the guy. He was literally playing pond hockey with body guards protecting him. You can kiss my you know what if people have a problem with me not liking "The Great One."


Goodenow

He's just an absolute ass, he thinks he knows everything and well look at what his intelligence as caused us fans and the players. A season and a bunch of headaches all because he couldnt get his own head out of his ass to see the offers clearer. It still amazes me on how much people still support this moron.


Clarke

He thinks he's the toughest sob because he played with diabetes or whatever, big F'n deal, if you love the sport you'll find a way. Yes i think he is a tough guy to play with the ailment but the way he goes about his business with hockey is just stupid. If he were to learn the "respect is a 2way street," there would still be a chance that Lindros would return and retire a Flyer.


Chelios

Needs to learn to shut up, i wish a player would just flat out lay him out. It would literally knock some sense into him.

Maple Leafs Media, Staff & Fans

My real comments would get me banned.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Clarke
He thinks he's the toughest sob because he played with diabetes or whatever, big F'n deal, if you love the sport you'll find a way. Yes i think he is a tough guy to play with the ailment but the way he goes about his business with hockey is just stupid. If he were to learn the "respect is a 2way street," there would still be a chance that Lindros would return and retire a Flyer.

#1. Clarke never ever brings up anything abot him having diabetes. When he wa a player he'd refuse to discuss it, because he neevr wanted reportes to bring it up if he had a bad game.

#2. Why would the Flyers want Lindros back at this point ? Wer'e much bettre off with the pieces we got for Lindros.

.. there are plenty of reasons to get on Clarke about, mostly because he doesn't care about being politically correct and gives honest answers, but your reasons above need

 

[Roger's Pancreas*]

...and the reason why

Sorry for being so negative but there's just too much positivity around the world at the moment, right? Here are some guys who won't get a Christmas card from me (!)

Hockey fans who think that rock'n roll and fights are a MUST in a hockey game

Just disappear you dorks!

No, and I'm not too upset about your crappy Christmas card either.

 

[octopi]

Gretzky

Someone that nice and everything usually has the most issues that are hidden away in the closet, he could be a bigger freak than Michael Jackson and we would never know because he had a Master lock on his closet door chock full of his weirdness. Also pisses me off how he is considered great, the guy was sheltered on the ice and scored bunches in an era where scoring was the biggest joke, of course he would get 200pts no one freakin touched the guy. He was literally playing pond hockey with body guards protecting him. You can kiss my you know what if people have a problem with me not liking "The Great One."

I don't think he' s a weirdo(then again, nobody suspects the real freaks, right?), however I completly agree with the last half of your statement. I'll add...couldn't play defensive hockey to save his life.
Thats why, call me crazy, I'll never acknowledge Gretzky as the greatest hockey player of all time.Greatest scoring forward of all time? Well, duh. But hockey is a more complete game, and involves physical contact. There's players on the national woman's team who have had more physical careers than Gretzky(probably most of them).

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Boy, the feeble brothers are going to enjoy this thread..

 

[Chilly Willy*]

#1. Clarke never ever brings up anything abot him having diabetes. When he wa a player he'd refuse to discuss it, because he neevr wanted reportes to bring it up if he had a bad game.

#2. Why would the Flyers want Lindros back at this point ? Wer'e much bettre off with the pieces we got for Lindros.

.. there are plenty of reasons to get on Clarke about, mostly because he doesn't care about being politically correct and gives honest answers, but your reasons above need

Never said he spoke about his diabetes, maybe you need help reading?

I give him credit for being a tough ass cuz he had diabetes and played the way he did, i just don't like him or his personality. Better for you, oh but your a flyers fan, you love the guy so there is no good enough reason.

 

[Ogopogo*]

1. Eric Lindros - The Quebec incident. Believing that you are bigger or more important than the game completely repulses me.

2. Trevor Linden - His 'carnival' comments during the 1994 lockout were absolutely disgusting and a complete slap in the face to the fans. He is also very overrated as a player

3. Patrick Roy - He played for the Habs and I don't like them so, it just kind of developed that way. A great goalie but he is a bit arrogant and overrated. Hasek was superior during the 90s.

4. Georges Laraque - His comments during this lockout were complete stupidity

5. Bryan McCabe - If he doesn't retire, I will ride his sorry ass for the rest of his career. C'mon Bryan I dare you to take calls on the Fan590.

6. Darcy Tucker - I desipse the Kamloops Blazers, Toronto Maple Leafs and cheapshot artists. Tuckers loses on all 3. If I was Tucker's own father I woud tell him not to come around during the off season.

7. Tie Domi - Arrogant, cheap shot artist and a Leaf. It was nice when Dave Brown pounded on him

8. Mario Lemieux - Not coming down to shake hands or put on the Penguins jersey on draft day was very immature. His continual comments and whining about not winning Hart trophies and how he will back off an let "marginal players" promote the league showed us how selfish and arrogant he really was. Mario has said many jackass things, perhaps he has matured some since he has become an owner? Probably still quite selfish but doesn't voice his selfishness any more.

9. Bob Goodenow - Completely responsible for the lost season. He is like a cult leader that got the players to believe in his agenda. His entire plan was based on the owners lying about losses. Guess what Bob? It was all true. It took you to burn a full year to admit it. Everybody hates you now, even the players.

10. Al Strachan, Glen Healy, Nick Kypreos, Tony Gallagher - I think the term 'clueless socialists' would apply to this crew.


There are probably a few more that I am missing but, these are the main ones.

 

[Mothra]

anyone that says "in this league" as in....

he will be a good player in this league

 

[Ogopogo*]

Gretzky

Someone that nice and everything usually has the most issues that are hidden away in the closet, he could be a bigger freak than Michael Jackson and we would never know because he had a Master lock on his closet door chock full of his weirdness. Also pisses me off how he is considered great, the guy was sheltered on the ice and scored bunches in an era where scoring was the biggest joke, of course he would get 200pts no one freakin touched the guy. He was literally playing pond hockey with body guards protecting him. You can kiss my you know what if people have a problem with me not liking "The Great One.

I have no problem with you not liking Gretzky. Just admit the real reasons.

He pounded the crap out of the Canucks every time he stepped on the ice with them. It was embarrassing to watch the Oil and Vancouver in the 80s. I remember the 13-0 games. Stan Smyl and Thomas Gradin were helpless against the Gretzky onslaught.

You are jealous that Edmonton had the greatest player in the world and he beat you to death year after year after year.

There are actually nice, decent people in this world. Trying to conjure up some stupid Michael Jackson syndrome just shows the extreme level of your jealously. It's OK, you are not alone in that.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Never said he spoke about his diabetes, maybe you need help reading?

I give him credit for being a tough ass cuz he had diabetes and played the way he did, i just don't like him or his personality. Better for you, oh but your a flyers fan, you love the guy so there is no good enough reason.

I could care less whether you like him or not, but why even bring up the diabetes, which has been a non-issue since draft day in 69 ??

 

[Ogopogo*]

I don't think he' s a weirdo(then again, nobody suspects the real freaks, right?), however I completly agree with the last half of your statement. I'll add...couldn't play defensive hockey to save his life.
Thats why, call me crazy, I'll never acknowledge Gretzky as the greatest hockey player of all time.Greatest scoring forward of all time? Well, duh. But hockey is a more complete game, and involves physical contact. There's players on the national woman's team who have had more physical careers than Gretzky(probably most of them).

You don't really understand the game, do you?

If a player is that talented offensively, what is to be gained by playing defensively? How would it possibly have benefitted his team to have him playing a Bob Gainey style of game?

When a man can score like Gretzky could, asking him to be great defensively is a complete waste of his talent. Forwards are on the ice to score, Gretzky did that better than anyone. The defense and goaltender are there to prevent goals.

Jealously becomes quite obvious with posts like these.

 

[mcphee]

Ogo,cut Mario some slack. He said some stuff as a kid that was ill advised, but he's grown up and become a preety good guy,at least as far as I can tell. Gretzky got onto the IMG style soundbite early in his careeer and it gave hima pretty good shield. Never say anything meaningful onto until you're bulletproof. There were exceptions,but few of them. I don't blame athletes for taking this route,saves them a lot of headaches, but it's not for me. I'd rather have lunch with Bill Lee than Michael Jordan,Tiger Woods or Wayne Gretzky.


Who do I hate ? Mike Milbury always struck me as a complete jackass. I despise the dog and pony show the current Leafs put on after every penalty or non call. They pass off the histrionics as being a fiery player, I guess they take the example from Quinn, but I hate that stuff. I used to hate everything Nordique related, specifically Hunter and Bergeron, I guess. I try and limit my hatred.

My father was always kind of amusing with players that would piss him off. For some reason, he singled out Jean Guy Talbot when I was a kid, simply hated him. After Talbot, he couldn't stand Carol Vadnais, again, no explanation. Now, he can't remember the names of the guys he hates,but he knows 'em when he sees 'em.

 

[Mothra]

You don't really understand the game, do you?

If a player is that talented offensively, what is to be gained by playing defensively? How would it possibly have benefitted his team to have him playing a Bob Gainey style of game?

When a man can score like Gretzky could, asking him to be great defensively is a complete waste of his talent. Forwards are on the ice to score, Gretzky did that better than anyone. The defense and goaltender are there to prevent goals.

Jealously becomes quite obvious with posts like these.

I agree that you dont take a player like 99 and force him into a defensive style......but....if you are saying that 99 is the greatest of all time and those that dont agree dont understand the game, then I disagree.....Orr was the best I ever saw

 

[Zopust]

It's the media-types who really annoy me.

Al Strachan:

Sometimes he has interesting points, but his wisdom is hidden behind ridiculous rumor-mongering from his "special inside sources" and his arrogant, condescending and smarmy writing style is just annoying.

Leaf Media:

Every year is the Cup year! The team is either the worst team who ever played or the best bunch of guys to ever lace of the skates. Moderation or rational thought doesn't usually enter into any discussion of the Leafs. It's either unrestrained arrogance or self-deprecating abuse. There's no middle ground.

Glenn Healey:

This SOB is so cocky and arrogant when going up against a superior intellect like Brian Burke on TSN. His arguments are ridiculous, he's basically just a big cheerleader for the players and his combative style just comes off as ignorant and stupid. Now that Burke is gone, who is going to shut this idiot up?

Michael Landsburg:

His ego has its own Member of Parliament.

Dave Hodge:

I don't think this guy has read a newspaper or looked at any stats since 1988. He has no idea what the current environment of hockey is like, and lives in the "golden age" of his past. Turf this guy as he's basically useless.

Who do I like?

-John Davidson, Ron MacLean, Pierre McGuire, Gord Miller, Chris Cuthbert, Kelly Hrudey, James Duthie

 

[Ogopogo*]

I agree that you dont take a player like 99 and force him into a defensive style......but....if you are saying that 99 is the greatest of all time and those that dont agree dont understand the game, then I disagree.....Orr was the best I ever saw

That is debatable. Orr could be the best player in his prime but, Gretzky had the greater career. Orr's injuries robbed him of a career that could have been as great as Gretzky's.

I will not say that Orr was not better in his prime, that is quite possible. It is a good debate.

 

[Mothra]

That is debatable. Orr could be the best player in his prime but, Gretzky had the greater career. Orr's injuries robbed him of a career that could have been as great as Gretzky's.

I will not say that Orr was not better in his prime, that is quite possible. It is a good debate.

I agree....its a good debate....and to be honest 66 can be thrown in as well

 

[octopi]

You don't really understand the game, do you?

If a player is that talented offensively, what is to be gained by playing defensively? How would it possibly have benefitted his team to have him playing a Bob Gainey style of game?

When a man can score like Gretzky could, asking him to be great defensively is a complete waste of his talent. Forwards are on the ice to score, Gretzky did that better than anyone. The defense and goaltender are there to prevent goals.

Jealously becomes quite obvious with posts like these.

When a man can score like Yzerman used to, you can ask him to become a defensive forward. 10 years later, he's gone from 0 Cups to 3. Yzerman was only behind Gretzky and Lemieux in the latter part of the eighties, early nineties. And he did very nicely becoming a defensive forward. Now,Gretzky did win four Cups in Edmonton, so for that his scoring was obviously the most important thing. But what about when he left Edmonton? Somewhat of a defensive liability, wasn't he? IMHO, defense is a team responsibilty. I'm not saying everyone should be like the Devils...oh, wait, thats worked pretty well for them now, hasn't it?

 

[Ogopogo*]

When a man can score like Yzerman used to, you can ask him to become a defensive forward. 10 years later, he's gone from 0 Cups to 3. Yzerman was only behind Gretzky and Lemieux in the latter part of the eighties, early nineties. And he did very nicely becoming a defensive forward. Now,Gretzky did win four Cups in Edmonton, so for that his scoring was obviously the most important thing. But what about when he left Edmonton? Somewhat of a defensive liability, wasn't he? IMHO, defense is a team responsibilty. I'm not saying everyone should be like the Devils...oh, wait, thats worked pretty well for them now, hasn't it?

Yzerman was certainly not in the same category as Gretzky and Lemieux. Those two were worlds above anyone. Yzerman was a very good offensive player but nowhere near Gretzky and Lemieux. His situation was very different.

Would you tell Bob Gainey or Guy Carbonneau to play all out offense and not check? No. You let a player use his skills to help his team win. Some people seem to think that it is better for a player to be defensive than offensive. Somehow you are a better hockey player if you can check better than you score. Not true at all. It is a different way to play, not necessarily better.

Gretzky won plenty in Edmonton. He played on much weaker teams in LA and NY. Blaming him for not winning cups in those cities is very misguided. They were bad teams. I credit him for bringing the Kings to the finals in 1993.

 

[GagneScores12]

Paul Henderson

The man thinks he had a hall of fame career out of three goals and then has the audacity to blast one of his teammates on national tv years later. He's a mark for his own publicity. If he had a problem with what Clarke did, why didn't he say something then? As what Doug Weight said, it's easier to be an arm chair quarterback once everything is said and done. I hope that people see Henderson for what he really is and that is a fraud who got lucky.

 

[octopi]

Yzerman was certainly not in the same category as Gretzky and Lemieux. Those two were worlds above anyone. Yzerman was a very good offensive player but nowhere near Gretzky and Lemieux. His situation was very different.

Would you tell Bob Gainey or Guy Carbonneau to play all out offense and not check? No. You let a player use his skills to help his team win. Some people seem to think that it is better for a player to be defensive than offensive. Somehow you are a better hockey player if you can check better than you score. Not true at all. It is a different way to play, not necessarily better.

Gretzky won plenty in Edmonton. He played on much weaker teams in LA and NY. Blaming him for not winning cups in those cities is very misguided. They were bad teams. I credit him for bringing the Kings to the finals in 1993.

You left out St Louis

NY was not that bad a team, they were a few years removed from a Cup. He was paired up with Messier.

I don't blame him for anything. One player cannot do everything.Of course there are different styles of playing, and hey, whatever works...I simply do not count Gretzky as a "complete package" player(Forsberg,Yzerman,Sakic), I count Gretzky as essentially as a one way player. I guess in all fairness, I should point out I believe very few players can be classified complete package...In your opinion that is a good thing for him. In my opinion, that was also a good thing for him, sometimes, but not always good for the team....hmmm, I guess the best way to explain this is to say hockey has aspects that occur away from the play, or not directly tied up by points...

 

[mattihp]

Don Cherry - Why would anyone who knows hockey respect him?

Jaana Niinimaa - Childish. Just plain childish. If you play like a wuss, you shouldn't whine for more minutes.

I'll fill in more later

 

[arrbez]

When a man can score like Yzerman used to, you can ask him to become a defensive forward. 10 years later, he's gone from 0 Cups to 3.

He did become a more complete player, but having a team stacked with future hall of famers is probably the more likely reason for the jump from 80's futility to 3 cups

 

[Habsfan 32]

Glenn Healey

 

[God Bless Canada]

A few quick notes:

*Why would anyone who knows hockey respect Cherry? A Jack Adams Award, a terrific winning percentage as a coach, beloved by his players? Does that mean anything to you? He isn't as entertaining as he used to be, but he can still pick apart a game and analyse it when given the chance, and he's sort of the bastian for gritty, hard working players.
*Paul Henderson. I've never heard Henderson claim to be a Hall-of-Famer. I've had the pleasure of meeting Henderson, and I've found him to be a classy, honest, well-spoken individual, and a great story-teller. (He even makes light of his game-winning goal in Game 8). He's a little stubborn (but many people are), and the Clarke remarks were rather unfortunate, but everyone has said something stupid at least once in their lifetime (Ogopogo is right when he said that Linden's remark in the 1994-95 lockout was unfortunate) but in the case of Linden, Henderson and many others, I don't think that one stupid remark should cancel out
*Phil Esposito. Summit on Ice was a political series, especially for the Soviets. The founder of Soviet hockey was an ardent Communist, and his beliefs were reflected in how the team played and how they conducted themselves off the ice. It was a hallmark in their hockey for years. In this day and age of sports, people like Esposito are a breath of fresh air: they say it exactly as they see it, they say it articulately and with authority, even if they know a lot of people aren't going to like it. (And it's not like we've seen Espo proclaiming the virtues of Hitler or anything like that).

There are obvious choices for this: Bettman, Goodenow, Milbury, Ballard, etc. I think the name Gil Stein has to be right up there. Stein was 1,000 times worse than Bettman is. (I think I'm the only person who hasn't erased the Stein suspension from my memory). Stein's largely responsible for the albatrosses hanging around the NHL's neck that are Anaheim and Florida.

I'd put Claude Lemieux on this list. I still rate Lemieux/Draper incident as the worst I've ever seen. "Claude the Fraud" is a notorious cheap shot artist and faker of injuries. (Diving I can handle. Ray Bourque was a master at it. Claude dived, a lot, but he faked a lot of injuries). Herb Brooks called Claude "a cancer" back in 1993.

Graham James and Billy Tibbets have to be on this list - for obvious reasons.