Madferret
6-26-05, 11:16 PM
Roenick goes on tirade over NHL lockout
TSN.ca Staff with KDKA files
The National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association may be off for the weekend from CBA talks, but that didn't stop Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeremy Roenick from offering up another two cents on the topic, ripping the process, the upcoming deal and the fans. Roenick, who was speaking at a Saturday media conference for Mario Lemieux's charity golf tournament, let out all his frustrations on the NHL lockout in a profanity-laced diatribe.
"They could have listened to the players who had an idea of where this was going - myself, (Flyers teammate) Robert Esche, (Calgary Flames captain) Jarome Iginla and (St. Louis Blues defenceman) Chris Pronger," he explained.
"But in February, I didn't think the deal stood up." Roenick was referring to his involvement with Esche, Pronger and Iginla as part of a group that reportedly tried to put forth new, independent ideas for a collective bargaining agreement. Several reports said that some of his fellow players were later upset and angry over his actions.
Roenick also said Saturday that the new CBA will be much less than what was offered to the Players' Association back in February. "If we would have signed that deal in February, in terms of what we're getting now, we would have looked like heroes," he added.
"Right now we look like a bunch of idiots...The deal in February beats the (expletive) out of the deal we're gonna sign in July." Roenick said the labour war has turned into his worst defeat since the 1992 playoffs.
Though both the NHL and NHLPA have had weeks of small-group meetings and intense bargaining sessions, neither side has been specific about when a deal could finally be done. It's believed a tentative deal could be reached as early as next week or after the Canada Day and Fourth of July weekend. The renewed sense of optimism over an impending deal is a stark contrast to the doom and gloom of four months ago when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cancelled the 2004-2005 season.
"It's unfortunate we had to go through a whole year to realize the (expletive) that was going on," said Roenick. "We've hurt our league, we've hurt the reputation of our league and the integrity of our league by sticking up for something that might not have been the right thing to do."
Roenick then made his case for NHL players and what he thought of public opinion up to this point.
"If people are going to sit and chastise pro athletes for being cocky - for being suck asses - they need to look at one thing and that's the deal we're going to be signing in about three weeks," he said. "Pro athletes are not cocky. Pro athletes care about the game. Everybody out there who calls us spoiled because we play a game - they can kiss my ass."
Roenick went on to say that the players didn't want those so-called "fans" at the rink. "I will say personally, personally, to everybody who calls us spoiled - you guys are just jealous... We're trying to get this thing back on the ice and make it better for the fans. If you don't realize that, then don't come. We don't want you in the rink, we don't want you in the stadium, we don't want you to watch hockey."
Even if a new NHL collective bargaining agreement is reached, the 15-year NHL veteran may not make a return to the ice. Roenick told Sporting News Radio on Friday that he has not made up his mind about whether or not he'll lace up his skates again. "I have to see how my body reacts to some really, really, really hard training regimen here coming up in the latter part of the summer," he said.
"It's very hard to get motivated without a deal. Once that announcement comes, I think the motivational factor will definitely be lifted. I have not 100 percent made my decision to play, but to tell you the truth, I have a lot of drive in me and really, really want to continue."
*Quotes from Pittsburgh's KDKA were used for this report.
*single tear*
TSN.ca Staff with KDKA files
The National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association may be off for the weekend from CBA talks, but that didn't stop Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeremy Roenick from offering up another two cents on the topic, ripping the process, the upcoming deal and the fans. Roenick, who was speaking at a Saturday media conference for Mario Lemieux's charity golf tournament, let out all his frustrations on the NHL lockout in a profanity-laced diatribe.
"They could have listened to the players who had an idea of where this was going - myself, (Flyers teammate) Robert Esche, (Calgary Flames captain) Jarome Iginla and (St. Louis Blues defenceman) Chris Pronger," he explained.
"But in February, I didn't think the deal stood up." Roenick was referring to his involvement with Esche, Pronger and Iginla as part of a group that reportedly tried to put forth new, independent ideas for a collective bargaining agreement. Several reports said that some of his fellow players were later upset and angry over his actions.
Roenick also said Saturday that the new CBA will be much less than what was offered to the Players' Association back in February. "If we would have signed that deal in February, in terms of what we're getting now, we would have looked like heroes," he added.
"Right now we look like a bunch of idiots...The deal in February beats the (expletive) out of the deal we're gonna sign in July." Roenick said the labour war has turned into his worst defeat since the 1992 playoffs.
Though both the NHL and NHLPA have had weeks of small-group meetings and intense bargaining sessions, neither side has been specific about when a deal could finally be done. It's believed a tentative deal could be reached as early as next week or after the Canada Day and Fourth of July weekend. The renewed sense of optimism over an impending deal is a stark contrast to the doom and gloom of four months ago when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cancelled the 2004-2005 season.
"It's unfortunate we had to go through a whole year to realize the (expletive) that was going on," said Roenick. "We've hurt our league, we've hurt the reputation of our league and the integrity of our league by sticking up for something that might not have been the right thing to do."
Roenick then made his case for NHL players and what he thought of public opinion up to this point.
"If people are going to sit and chastise pro athletes for being cocky - for being suck asses - they need to look at one thing and that's the deal we're going to be signing in about three weeks," he said. "Pro athletes are not cocky. Pro athletes care about the game. Everybody out there who calls us spoiled because we play a game - they can kiss my ass."
Roenick went on to say that the players didn't want those so-called "fans" at the rink. "I will say personally, personally, to everybody who calls us spoiled - you guys are just jealous... We're trying to get this thing back on the ice and make it better for the fans. If you don't realize that, then don't come. We don't want you in the rink, we don't want you in the stadium, we don't want you to watch hockey."
Even if a new NHL collective bargaining agreement is reached, the 15-year NHL veteran may not make a return to the ice. Roenick told Sporting News Radio on Friday that he has not made up his mind about whether or not he'll lace up his skates again. "I have to see how my body reacts to some really, really, really hard training regimen here coming up in the latter part of the summer," he said.
"It's very hard to get motivated without a deal. Once that announcement comes, I think the motivational factor will definitely be lifted. I have not 100 percent made my decision to play, but to tell you the truth, I have a lot of drive in me and really, really want to continue."
*Quotes from Pittsburgh's KDKA were used for this report.
*single tear*