Originality

[Bob burns]

I posted part of this in another thread, but I just wanted to bring attention to the fact that more and more it seems that hockey players are losing their originality, and becoming more and more like everyone else. Players constantly blame themselves for the loss, they say the right things all the time, are far too modest, never blame anyone but themselves, and spew pretty much what everyone before them has ever said. I think the league needs more players like Jeremy Roenick who speak their minds, not repeating what everyone else before them has said. I'm so sick of players who will get the hat trick and single handedly win the game for their team downplay their own efforts and give all the credit to their teammates because it is the proper modest thing to do. Thoughts, comments?

And yes, I am well aware that there has not been any NHL action in about a year. :]

[PDO]

So what, you're not a big fan of Smyth.. "We obviously just have to go out and give 110% and make sure that we leave it all on the ice. It's specifically the powerplay, but the boys are givin it their all! It's obvious to everyone that we're not getting the job done. Obviously everyone knows that we got a lot of work to do. But we know if we can just give it 110% then we'll start getting the bounces."

The original cliche machine. He's never said the exact mess I made up, but pretty close :D

Agree with you though, some more personality (ala TO) would be nice.

Robbie Schremp will add some soon. It'll be a long time before I forget watching him score a goal and then turn around and flip off the defenseman.

[leaferfan87]

I would say to you Bob that it isn't everyday that a JR comes along like that who speaks his mind. Not everyone is going to be a flashy personality you know what I mean.

But you also have a point Bob. We have most of the NHL'ers trained like robots to stand firmly behind the Union.

[slapshot™]

I'm so sick of players who will get the hat trick and single handedly win the game for their team downplay their own efforts and give all the credit to their teammates because it is the proper modest thing to do. Thoughts, comments?

They downplay their personal achievments because it's a team sport. Sure, they might have played a stellar game that night but it took 5 other team mates on the ice to help them out.

Slumps will happen and you're only good as your last shift. They are being modest simply because they could run into a slump and ...well...it happens.

Nothing wrong with being humble.

[MadDevil]

Even though Roenick plays for the Flyers, I've always respected him for not being afraid to speak his mind on issues involving the future of the NHL. While players like Roenick are rare, I think some more "colorful" personalities would help the NHL. Not only is the on-ice product uninteresting these days, but so are the players personalities. While I think that the team should always come first, I wouldn't mind players speaking their minds more often, rather than giving us the same old recycled statements.

[a4l]

I agree. I swear they are all handed a script along with their strike pay (or whatever it is). Very few ever say anything original.

[nhldave]

Hey Bob most of us are sheep that follow the party line (all present company excepted of course)in all walks of line. Nothing remarkable about hockey players, just listen to any person accepting accolades for a job well done.

"I couldn''t have done this without the help, guidance, support, inspiration etc etc blah blab blah"

And being Canadian it's even worse.

"I'd like to apologize for bringing attention to myself and thank those who made all this possible, blah blah blah"

[Bob burns]

They downplay their personal achievments because it's a team sport. Sure, they might have played a stellar game that night but it took 5 other team mates on the ice to help them out.

Slumps will happen and you're only good as your last shift. They are being modest simply because they could run into a slump and ...well...it happens.

Nothing wrong with being humble.

Fair enough, but why not come up with something a little more original than the examples that have been given? It is as if there is a rigid line of what players can say to the media, and they must follow that line.

The NFL tries to create such conformity as well by calling acts of 'showboating' as disgraceful and disrespectful to the game. Like when Moss (might have been someone else) fake mooned the crowd in Green Bay last year, that was flippin hilarious yet the commentators on the TV were just harping on the guy so bad. What's the problem? Is originality such an evil thing in a team sport?

[PDO]

I knew my man Robbie wouldn't let me down.

"There is so much hype about it," Knights forward and Oilers draft pick Rob Schremp said.

"It's not like we have never played against a great hockey player before.

"I mean, yeah, Sidney Crosby is one of the best in the world, but so was Mike Richards (of the Kitchener Rangers) and Jeff Carter (of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds). We have done a good job shutting down guys like that all year so it's not like it's 'Oh my God, Sidney Crosby is coming in and what are we going to do?' "

What a guy :thumb:

[Bob burns]

Good stuff :nod: :nod:

[slapshot™]

You've made some good comments, Burns.....here's my explanation (for what it's worth)

Fair enough, but why not come up with something a little more original than the examples that have been given? It is as if there is a rigid line of what players can say to the media, and they must follow that line.

To them it's a job just as you and I have jobs. The networks like soundbytes and the players acknowledge that...that's all you get.

Listen to the radio game day. It's much more in-depth. They have longer convos. With radio you get the dirt and the lowdown without all the glitz. (with me so far....?)

The NFL tries to create such conformity as well by calling acts of 'showboating' as disgraceful and disrespectful to the game. Like when Moss (might have been someone else) fake mooned the crowd in Green Bay last year, that was flippin hilarious yet the commentators on the TV were just harping on the guy so bad. What's the problem? Is originality such an evil thing in a team sport?

The glitz and the showboating go hand in hand. The game is played on ice and boards and glass separate the players from the fans for that total up-close action....It's a wall....as opposed to being at courtside or ringside or catching a flyball and screwing up a World Series or getting nailed in the ...*coff*....by an errant golfball by Tiger or storminmg the field and pulling down the goalposts.

There is always going to be that wall around the rink. Players have the somewhat advantage of playing the game with more focus/intensity. They don't need the hype/gritz/trashtalk to get them pumped.

That is why hockey will never be close to the other sports in non-traditional markets. The majority of those fans can't connect. They can't go beyond the wall.