Gentlemen,
I use that salutation hesitantly. The game of hockey is no longer a gentlemen's game. It was a game played on frozen ponds in sub freezing temperatures by young boys dreaming of being the next Rocket Richard, Bobby Orr or Wayne Gretzky. The love and passion for the game has been replaced by a band of thugs and criminals validated enabled and enticed by the likes of Gary Bettman and Don Cherry.
The violence of the game has gotten out of control. What should be a show of speed and skill, hockey has become the modern version of Roman Gladiators. The players have become bigger and stronger and the dirty hits are now causing severe concussions and possible paralysis. The c NHL should be held responsible for allowing this sort of behaviour to happen, and not ensuring a safe work environment for the employees of the NHL (the players).
The cheap hit that was given to Max Pacciorety literally made me sick to my stomach. I was watching the game with my boyfriend, who is a lifelong Habs fan. It was against the Boston Bruins. Before the game, the Bruins players were already trash talking in the press about how they were going to destroy the players from the Canadiens. The last time the Bruins played the Habs, the Bruins were on the warpath to maim PK Subban. Their actions were premeditated.
Max Pacciorety is in a Montreal hospital with a severe concussion, a fractured C4 vertebrae and there are people out there continuing to trash talk him and the Canadiens. The player who clocked him onto the pole didn't even get a game suspension or a fine. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Luckily, the Montreal police is opening up an inquiry into the incident and charges may be laid.
Just because they are playing in a rink, this doesn't exonerate them from personal responsibility.
The NHL needs to stop the madness. This is Canada's game and as a Canadian I am disgusted by what hockey has become. It has morphed into a blood bath to appease American audiences.
I am not a lawyer but any intelligent person will agree with me on the following:
1. The NHL should be fined for breaking labour laws by not ensuring a safe workplace.
2. Players involved in cheap shots and hits should serve the time equivalent to the time the injured player is out of action. In the case of Pacciorety, the hitter, Chara, should be suspended until Pacciorety is able to play again.
3. Commentators must stop enticing and promoting violence in the NHL.
Clean up the game once and for all!!!! Bring back the game of speed and skill that is hockey!
Showing posts with label NHL Hockey Night in Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NHL Hockey Night in Canada. Show all posts
Thursday, March 10
Friday, November 12
Fashion and Sports..the connection
I have said this many times over, there is definitely a link between professional sports and the fashion business. Yes, we all know that ubermodel Gisele Bundchen is married to the All American greatest football quarterback ever, Tom Brady, but this theory goes beyond just the model/athlete liaison.
Last night I was watching the Montreal Canadiens play the Boston Bruins. The 'Habs' won wholeheartedly 3-1. Here is a little background. Both teams are part of what is known as the 'Original Six', the original six teams that made up the NHL. The other four teams were the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers, the Detroit Red Wings,and the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1967, the orignal six became 12. By 1997, there were 30 teams in the NHL.
In the fashion business, there were only a small handful of magazines that were the 'Holy Grail' of the fashion biz. They included French Vogue, French ELLE, British Vogue and American Vogue and French Marie Claire. To get the cover of one of these magazines was akin to being a young hockey player being signed to the Montreal Canadiens or any of the 'Original Six' teams.
What has happened? By 1997, there were 30 teams in the NHL. In 1997, there were numerous national editions of Vogue, ELLE and Marie Claire. ELLE is available in 39 international editions now. Vogue now has 18 international editions.Marie Claire can be found in 24 languages.
A hockey team fields about 22 players. 6 X 22=132. There were 132 NHL hockey players up until 1967. Now with 32 teams in the NHL and a season that goes until basically July, there are at least 700 NHL hockey players on the playing roster.
More NHL teams for players, more magazine covers for models. I think that fashion has become dull and boring and it lacks the pinnache of the days of the exclusivity of the coveted magazine covers. The girls all look the same. Cookie cutter looks with little to no personality. Hockey players are the same thing. Wayne Gretsky was the last of the 'Great ones' that skated with personality.They all look like a bunch of lugs that are just there for the paycheck, not the love of the game.
In the end, too many players and too many models, and little to no excitement.
Last night I was watching the Montreal Canadiens play the Boston Bruins. The 'Habs' won wholeheartedly 3-1. Here is a little background. Both teams are part of what is known as the 'Original Six', the original six teams that made up the NHL. The other four teams were the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers, the Detroit Red Wings,and the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1967, the orignal six became 12. By 1997, there were 30 teams in the NHL.
In the fashion business, there were only a small handful of magazines that were the 'Holy Grail' of the fashion biz. They included French Vogue, French ELLE, British Vogue and American Vogue and French Marie Claire. To get the cover of one of these magazines was akin to being a young hockey player being signed to the Montreal Canadiens or any of the 'Original Six' teams.
What has happened? By 1997, there were 30 teams in the NHL. In 1997, there were numerous national editions of Vogue, ELLE and Marie Claire. ELLE is available in 39 international editions now. Vogue now has 18 international editions.Marie Claire can be found in 24 languages.
A hockey team fields about 22 players. 6 X 22=132. There were 132 NHL hockey players up until 1967. Now with 32 teams in the NHL and a season that goes until basically July, there are at least 700 NHL hockey players on the playing roster.
More NHL teams for players, more magazine covers for models. I think that fashion has become dull and boring and it lacks the pinnache of the days of the exclusivity of the coveted magazine covers. The girls all look the same. Cookie cutter looks with little to no personality. Hockey players are the same thing. Wayne Gretsky was the last of the 'Great ones' that skated with personality.They all look like a bunch of lugs that are just there for the paycheck, not the love of the game.
In the end, too many players and too many models, and little to no excitement.
Sunday, October 25
Playing with Fire- Theoren Fleury
I just finished reading the memoirs of Theoren Fleury. For those of you who have never heard of him, he was probably one of the greatest hockey players to play in the NHL.
The book is written in a very raw and in your face kind of way. He is no James Joyce, but the way it is written draws you in regardless. It's almost like he is sitting down with you over a cup of coffee and telling you his story.
Believe me, what a story!
Originally from Russell, Manitoba, Fleury worked his way through the ranks of minor hockey to be part of the 1989 Flames team that won the Stanley Cup. His experiences as a young player were tarnished by the sick pedophilic advances of his coach when he was 14 years old. The damage left behind on Fleury's psyche from the sexual abuse continually haunted him and caused him to spiral down and literally blow away millions of dollars on drugs, gambling and strippers. He recounts how he would party all night, come back at 6 a.m, and score a hat trick that night on the ice.
I remember when the fashion shows were happening in Milan, the professional soccer players were always backstage hanging around. They wanted to see and be seen with the gorgeous women wearing the fabulous clothes. I met a few, both in Italy and in Brazil and there was always one vein that was common to them all. They were just normal guys with the same insecurities that people have, thrown into the spotlight and having to perform for huge crowds weekly. They were passionate about the game, its all they really knew. Unfortunately, there were always the 'dark' elements waiting for them to bring them down, the hangers-on, the 'entourage', the money hungry gold diggers. I saw this so many times I have lost count.
There is a parralel between pro athletes and fashion models and the fact that they end up going out with each other is because they 'get it'. They both have to deal with the same 'dark' elements. How many young girls in Paris starting out as models were abused by their agents? More than anyone will ever know. I know of a few and I had to fend off my agent when I was 17. Reading Fleury's book brought that memory back to me. The same fear factor that Fleury's coach used on him was used on me and other girls in Paris. Luckily I was able to get out the situation before it became severely damaging to my psyche and moved on with my life. I didn't go down the same path as Fleury, but I know a lot of girls that did.
Young, far from family and familiarity. A recipe for disaster and perfect for the soul stealers and vampires to pounce.
Fleury has beem clean and sober for four years. He tried a comeback with the Flames, but was cut from the team. He retired a Flame.
He wrote that the reason he wrote this memoir was to bring to light the abuse that happens on a daily basis in the sports world. He is to be commended for comng forward and exposing parts of his life to total strangers.
I always loved how he was a tough cookie on the ice and was fearless against the 'goon squads' of the NHL. His tenacity is his greatest strength.
Thank you Mr. Fleury for sharing you life story. If your book stops even one child from being abused in the future, you have scored the best goal of your life.
The book is written in a very raw and in your face kind of way. He is no James Joyce, but the way it is written draws you in regardless. It's almost like he is sitting down with you over a cup of coffee and telling you his story.
Believe me, what a story!
Originally from Russell, Manitoba, Fleury worked his way through the ranks of minor hockey to be part of the 1989 Flames team that won the Stanley Cup. His experiences as a young player were tarnished by the sick pedophilic advances of his coach when he was 14 years old. The damage left behind on Fleury's psyche from the sexual abuse continually haunted him and caused him to spiral down and literally blow away millions of dollars on drugs, gambling and strippers. He recounts how he would party all night, come back at 6 a.m, and score a hat trick that night on the ice.
I remember when the fashion shows were happening in Milan, the professional soccer players were always backstage hanging around. They wanted to see and be seen with the gorgeous women wearing the fabulous clothes. I met a few, both in Italy and in Brazil and there was always one vein that was common to them all. They were just normal guys with the same insecurities that people have, thrown into the spotlight and having to perform for huge crowds weekly. They were passionate about the game, its all they really knew. Unfortunately, there were always the 'dark' elements waiting for them to bring them down, the hangers-on, the 'entourage', the money hungry gold diggers. I saw this so many times I have lost count.
There is a parralel between pro athletes and fashion models and the fact that they end up going out with each other is because they 'get it'. They both have to deal with the same 'dark' elements. How many young girls in Paris starting out as models were abused by their agents? More than anyone will ever know. I know of a few and I had to fend off my agent when I was 17. Reading Fleury's book brought that memory back to me. The same fear factor that Fleury's coach used on him was used on me and other girls in Paris. Luckily I was able to get out the situation before it became severely damaging to my psyche and moved on with my life. I didn't go down the same path as Fleury, but I know a lot of girls that did.
Young, far from family and familiarity. A recipe for disaster and perfect for the soul stealers and vampires to pounce.
Fleury has beem clean and sober for four years. He tried a comeback with the Flames, but was cut from the team. He retired a Flame.
He wrote that the reason he wrote this memoir was to bring to light the abuse that happens on a daily basis in the sports world. He is to be commended for comng forward and exposing parts of his life to total strangers.
I always loved how he was a tough cookie on the ice and was fearless against the 'goon squads' of the NHL. His tenacity is his greatest strength.
Thank you Mr. Fleury for sharing you life story. If your book stops even one child from being abused in the future, you have scored the best goal of your life.
Wednesday, June 11
Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song ...Update
In a last minute coup, CTV closed a deal with the composer of the HNIC anthem, dealing a blow to the CBC.
Note to the CBC....Get with the program!!!
Note to the CBC....Get with the program!!!
Friday, June 6
CBC May Drop Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song
Yes,its true...As it turns out, there is a dispute between the CBC and the original composer of the HNIC jingle. The deadline is today...
The thought that the theme song will change is very disconcerting. It has been part of a national identity for 40 years!!!
The thought that the theme song will change is very disconcerting. It has been part of a national identity for 40 years!!!
Thursday, May 29
Football in Brazil..What is Your Team?
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me what my team was, I would be up there with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
Being a fan for a certain team is a decision that will rule your life. Once chosen, one cannot change teams, as that would be akin to treachery and treason. I find this tribal obsession of being a fan of a certain team quite amuzing. For my children, they suffer from a dilemma. Their father is a fan of the Fluminense team (as the club is based out of the neighborhood where their father grew up)and their grandfather is a Flamengo fan. I, on the other hand, could care less. For me,in the moment that there are two teams on the field, I will chose who to cheer for at the opening whistle (usually based on how fab their uniforms look). I just like to watch a good game being played.
Brazil is due to play against Canada in a friendly match....now I am in a dilemma....
Saturday, March 22
Hockey Night in Canada
I AM CANADIAN....Born and raised in Calgary, every Saturday night was, and still is Hockey Night in Canada.Before Calgary got the Flames, we were stuck with cheering for either of the only two Canadian teams in the NHL,the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Montreal Canadiens. Back in the 70's, 99% of the players were Canadians.Nowadays one needs a phonetic dictionary to help pronounce the names of players who hail from Russia, Finland,Czechoslovakia(ooops.the Czech republic...)The best defenceman of all times,Bobby Orr, just turned 60 yesterday...God I feel old. I remember watching hockey with my family on CBC. My mother is the ultimate hockey fan. She yells at the players, warning them of imminent checks,cursing them for penalties, admonishing the referees for '`unjust`calls. Its hilarious. If you were to meet my mom in any other situation, you would never believe that she is the same person that transforms when the Flames are on the ice.
Hockey is to Canada the same way that soccer is to Brazil...
Go Flames GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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