Phil Parent
Sorel, 'fant d'chienne!
I'm sure that title drew your attention, but I didn't know a better way to name it.
Basically, at the end of World War 2, Emperor Hirohito of Japan was made to publically declare that he was no God in a "Declaration Of Humanity".
Likewise, the Habs are religion to Quebecers. Maurice Richard is seen as the savior, the martyr, the hero, the GOD. For many people, the Habs are Mount Olympus, where our immortals go to reign on us mere mortals living our little lives in our little homes.
But, the time where it was a big deal that Rocket would beat the English and win one for us all conquered weaklings is gone. We're no longer made to sit in fenced off areas in the Forum. Quebecers now run big businesses, and our artists have conquered the world. We are no longer in need of a messiah to show us how to succeed, we had one. We've had many, Beliveau, Lafleur, Roy... Yet, the team is still expected to produce more, and the fans are always putting pressure for them to produce the next "Great Blue Hope" which I think is really a detriment to the organisation and really only serves to maintain a mythology which is taken way too seriously for what it really is: A hockey team.
You can respect the contributions of Howie Morenz and Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur, but there comes a time when that era is dead! It's not the same world anymore.
So I think the Habs should publically make it known that they are not gods to the Quebecers, nor the representatives of the people.
The declaration could be as follows...
- We are not the saviors or representatives of Quebec or the Quebecois.
- We are a business running in an international context and, to ensure our success, we cannot favor Quebecers ahead of foreigners. The only evaluation criteria of our player personnel staff should be talent. We will of course hire the Quebecer if he has the most talent.
- The media should not expect our staff and players to speak French any more than they would expect visiting international music or movie stars to do so.
- We will forever honor our heroes of the past, but we cannot uphold their standard of excellence in the reality of modernity. However, we will always aim for excellence.
I'm thinking it would alleviate some of the pressure on the org. and the players to no longer be expected to be gods on ice.
Thoughts?
Basically, at the end of World War 2, Emperor Hirohito of Japan was made to publically declare that he was no God in a "Declaration Of Humanity".
Likewise, the Habs are religion to Quebecers. Maurice Richard is seen as the savior, the martyr, the hero, the GOD. For many people, the Habs are Mount Olympus, where our immortals go to reign on us mere mortals living our little lives in our little homes.
But, the time where it was a big deal that Rocket would beat the English and win one for us all conquered weaklings is gone. We're no longer made to sit in fenced off areas in the Forum. Quebecers now run big businesses, and our artists have conquered the world. We are no longer in need of a messiah to show us how to succeed, we had one. We've had many, Beliveau, Lafleur, Roy... Yet, the team is still expected to produce more, and the fans are always putting pressure for them to produce the next "Great Blue Hope" which I think is really a detriment to the organisation and really only serves to maintain a mythology which is taken way too seriously for what it really is: A hockey team.
You can respect the contributions of Howie Morenz and Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur, but there comes a time when that era is dead! It's not the same world anymore.
So I think the Habs should publically make it known that they are not gods to the Quebecers, nor the representatives of the people.
The declaration could be as follows...
- We are not the saviors or representatives of Quebec or the Quebecois.
- We are a business running in an international context and, to ensure our success, we cannot favor Quebecers ahead of foreigners. The only evaluation criteria of our player personnel staff should be talent. We will of course hire the Quebecer if he has the most talent.
- The media should not expect our staff and players to speak French any more than they would expect visiting international music or movie stars to do so.
- We will forever honor our heroes of the past, but we cannot uphold their standard of excellence in the reality of modernity. However, we will always aim for excellence.
I'm thinking it would alleviate some of the pressure on the org. and the players to no longer be expected to be gods on ice.
Thoughts?