Why the Montreal Canadiens can't compete for UFAs...
Posted 6:47 AM ET | Comments 15
During the TSN broadcast, the panelists said it. During the singings, the players said it. When Rivet and Recchi left, they said it. It's no secret, yet everyone seems to miss it.
The problem is not taxes! The problem is not language! The problem is certainly NOT money!
THE PROBLEM IS THE DAMN MEDIA! Players do not want to come here and get their lives ruined by a bunch of vindictive sons o'pregnant doggyes that want nothing more than to stir up controversy. Ryan Smyth and his wife didn't want to play in Montreal. Do you think Ryan's wife gives a damn about taxes? Of course not, she doesn't want her life to be front page news. And I can't say I blame them.
Those bastards will be the downfall of this great franchise. Do I sound bitter? Yes, I am. Every year they get worse, more vindictive! Maybe the press's arguments or stories are acceptable or wanted in Montreal, but outside of Quebec, here in NB, I see them destroying this organisation, and it kills me.
Shame on them. I hope they feel some sort of responsibility with what is happening, but somehow, I strongly feel that the headlines will read that "Gainey is an incompetent GM". I really feel sorry for the guy. He was reportedly offereing more than everyone else, and even Quebec's new favorite son turned his back on us.
I am not an angry person. I don't get upset very easily and I don't use these words often. But when it comes to the MTL press, Hate is a word that comes to my mind.
THF
The problem is not taxes! The problem is not language! The problem is certainly NOT money!
THE PROBLEM IS THE DAMN MEDIA! Players do not want to come here and get their lives ruined by a bunch of vindictive sons o'pregnant doggyes that want nothing more than to stir up controversy. Ryan Smyth and his wife didn't want to play in Montreal. Do you think Ryan's wife gives a damn about taxes? Of course not, she doesn't want her life to be front page news. And I can't say I blame them.
Those bastards will be the downfall of this great franchise. Do I sound bitter? Yes, I am. Every year they get worse, more vindictive! Maybe the press's arguments or stories are acceptable or wanted in Montreal, but outside of Quebec, here in NB, I see them destroying this organisation, and it kills me.
Shame on them. I hope they feel some sort of responsibility with what is happening, but somehow, I strongly feel that the headlines will read that "Gainey is an incompetent GM". I really feel sorry for the guy. He was reportedly offereing more than everyone else, and even Quebec's new favorite son turned his back on us.
I am not an angry person. I don't get upset very easily and I don't use these words often. But when it comes to the MTL press, Hate is a word that comes to my mind.
THF
* standing and applauding *Why do people think Kariya chooses to play in places like St. Louis and Nashville? We always hear how these Canadian farm-boys are down-to-earth... why volunteer to have their lives put under an electron microscope? It ain't worth it.Great blog, THF.
Here Here!!!! I agree with BF again....twice in 24 hours........something is amiss in the force.......Great blog THFy
I can only sympathize with you THF. Well written. Let your little guy blog...I love the heart that was shown in this blog.Good work.SYF
very nice blog THF, but i seriously do not know if this is all true..i mean yes the star player do not come to montreal because of the media, but are the media really that bad? Outside of the Theodore picture that was taken at his house..i dont remember anything that happened. I dont know about Koivu's personnal life, about Kovalev's..all i see in the journal are their on-ice performance..or when Kovy says stuff about my team in russia :p which is hockey related.
hmm...do you remember when Koivu was in the hospital, in a dark room because the light was painful to his recovering eye? Do you remember what the Press did? Do you remember Saku's picture splashed all over the MTL tabloids trying to shade his eye from the flash? If that's not irresponsible and cruel journalism, then I don't know what is. AND, THIS is just one example.
yeah we surely arent the most respectfull..but is it "that" bad?im sure paparazzi are even worst for movie star, but they still do acting for a living..i do think that its part of being a "star". If you play good, youll be a god in montreal and im sure that every player wanna have that feeling but you gotta live with the downside..if you do not perform well, youll be a zero! especially if you are paid alot of money
I agree it's part of being a star. But if you had a choice between playing hockey in a city where you are barely noticed and your life can go on without interference from the press, or a city where you couldn't go to the bathroom without someone reporting on it and making you look bad in the process...what would you chose? Fact of the matter is, in MTL, the press goes the extra mile to make life miserable.
Finally someone who shares the same feelings as I do!!! VERY, VERY well said THF!!! My message is to the players and MEDIA OF MONTREAL in the NHL who do not want to play here in Montreal, "If you can't handle the pressure of being a star hockey player in the NHL and being under constant scrutiny of the media, then retire and sit at home and watch!!!". Hockey is probably the most respected sports in the world and the whiners and babies of the league are what destroy this beautiful sport. Add in the disgraceful media of Montreal and you got a molotov cocktail of epic proportions. I have said it for years that the media is who manages the team, not the organization. Year in and year out, we see the same trend building, worse and worse as the years go by. There are many examples of names who have come and gone in Montreal who were destroyed by our "beloved" media, too many to list here, but the latest tragedies WILL be Kovalev and Koivu. Kovalev, who is one of the most talented players in the game today consistently gets HARASSED by the media about his play and his attitude off ice. Koivu, who is all heart and talent, consistently smothered by the media and during times of recovery in the hospital...DESPICABLE!!! Did these these freaks of nature (the media) ever stop to wonder why these players don't do what their suppose to do on the ice? Did they ever stop to wonder why the other players in the league don't want to sign in Montreal? The media will be the cause of the ultimate downfall of this storied franchise, coveted and respected by the other teams in the NHL for many years. Now, we are just the brunt end of their miserable jokes. My final message goes out to MR. Bob Gainey, and MR. Guy Carbonneau. You both were the backbone of a franchise who once had credibility and respect who lead your team to championships in your days. PLEASE, hand in your resignations TODAY, so that you may keep that image in the eyes of those who remember you that way, before the media makes you the scapegoat for the downfall of this organization. As for you Mr. Carbonneau, you have suffered at the hands of the media once and suffered THEIR consequences. You do not need to have it done to you again. This from a fan who bleeds blue-blanc-rouge for a living.
You're Completely right habsie... this is from Gagnon today.."Mais il me semble que c’est George Gillet lui-même, avec son jet privé garé dans un aéroport pas très loin pour ramener le centre Gatinois à Montréal en grande pompe, qui aurait pu se rendre à L.A.Cela dit, contrairement à l’an dernier alors que le Canadien avait pu prendre tout son temps pour courtiser Brendan Shanahan, il fallait frapper vite et fort hier parce que Brière était l’un des joueurs autonomes le plus en vue dans la cuvée 2007."Do you believe this clown!! he thinks Gillette should've gone to court Briere! He's the cause of all these problems
It's a sad situation to say when the media is at the root of driving a grand organization like the Canadian's into the abyss. Definatley don't see that in places like Detroit, Chicago, or St Louis, but the American media is more interestedin which football player is getting busted w/ illegal firearms or which baseball player got caught using steroids or which Nascar driver got points docked for having thier car configured illegally. Even with all of that dribble, it still sounds like the American media combined isn't as blood lusting as the Montreal media.
The fans and media of Montreal DO NOT forgive or forget, why would anyone in their right mind come to a place that can turn utterly hostile overnight. The zealot fans among us and the media act like it is some sort of privilege to come and play in Montreal. I've got a real bit of news for you media, it isn't. Hockey is hockey no matter where you play it, Montreal may be one of the most storied clubs in all of sports, but it won't make up for the hardships of playing there. Hockey players are not super human, it does not matter how much money they make, they are still affected by what other people say. When those people are screaming it from the rooftops every waking second of your day, it can be a little bit tough to ignore. Montreal will either wallow in mediocrity or they will build through drafting. Free agent building is not something I see us doing for a very, very long time.
Quite simple, its not the media that keeps players from signing in Montreal. The sole reason is that the team is the shits.
Here Here x2 THF!!! I have heard it from my family in Montreal echoing the same thing and I am there almost every month reading the many publications following the Habs. There are just so damn many compared to a lot of other NHL markets. With the advent of the Internet Age and the Real Time Society, the Media Industry is becoming saturated and even more competitive! You have the legitimate Media, the Tweeners and then what becomes the loudest voice sometimes, the BS media that doesn't report the news but "Creates the News" simply to make a name for itself in a saturated market. Let's face it, Rivet stated "He liked the serenity of the San Jose area" and that's due in part to the fact that the Sharks are lucky to even have a couple of traveling beat writers at best! Not that that is a good thing either but the overage in media in the Montreal area is leading to irresponsible journalism and I concur that the players will factor that in when similar money is on the table from multiple NHL markets.
Newfie Dave....gth...talk to me a) when NL gets a hockey team and a viablle economy, and b) When your crappy leafs actually do something surprising one season...like not signing fossils or winning a playoff series...maybe a cup more than once every 40 yrs.
thf the media has to take some share of the blame , I often hear the media say its their job to let the people know well its also their blame for the stuff they print, its about time someone held them accountable.Flamestr