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Post by CentreHice on Aug 4, 2009 17:32:33 GMT -5
Just a clarification on SKosty's demotion to Hamilton last year. He was sent down before the "story" broke....not after.
Perhaps Gainey was aware there was trouble and was trying to take care of it by removing him from his brother and the "situation". On the other hand, if Gainey was ignorant of the situation, clearly he noticed something in SKosty's game that necessitated some time in the minors.
I don't remember Gainey (or anyone in the organization) running roughshod over any media outlet when the story broke. I thought they handled it very well.
Although, the stigma is still around....especially with ignorant fans of other teams. Yesterday, I got stuck beside an obnoxious Leaf fan (are there any other kinds?....actually I do know quite a few knowledgeable and amiable ones).
This guy was going on and on about how the Leafs are going to be a lot tougher this year....and I said, "And they should be spending more time in the penalty box, too, if the refs do their jobs." He said, "Well, at least we don't have drug dealers and criminals on our team." How that even applied to the topic is beyond me. I quickly replied that an investigation found no criminal involvement.
His reply, "Yeah, whatever." And this guy was in his 30s.
As I walked away, I heard him say, "Well, as long as we ruin Montreal's playoff chances by beating them up like we did last year, that's okay with me." (referring to Grabovski's hit on Markov).
I didn't go near him for the rest of the get-together. It was like getting pulled into a black hole of hockey ignorance. Or should I say a blue-and-white hole......
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Post by HFTO on Aug 4, 2009 20:23:15 GMT -5
you never can win in those situations CH especially with that kind of fan leaf or any other,but for us Leaf fans are like chewing on broken glass.
Last year at our Christmas party I didn't want to know the score of the Habs game as I was taping it... typically a Leaf fan of one of my co-workers over heard my request and intentionally let me know the Habs lost with great glee.
..and Dis maybe it would make a great thread or book waiting in the pumpkin patch which we have been for a long time.
On the cover we could have caricatures of all the habsrus community waiting in the patch dreaming of the cup aka the Great Pumpkin returning to it's rightfull place.
Well atleast the patch has a little hope as the negative dressing room is all but cleared up.I think Gainey finally ran out of patience and me thinks he won't be so patient in the future if I were the Kostitsyns and they want to stay they will get their act together.
HFTO
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Post by blny on Aug 4, 2009 20:25:55 GMT -5
you never can win in those situations CH especially with that kind of fan leaf or any other,but for us Leaf fans are like chewing on broken glass. Last year at our Christmas party I didn't want to know the score of the Habs game as I was taping it... typically a Leaf fan of one of my co-workers over heard my request and intentionally let me know the Habs lost with great glee. ... and my response to that would have been, "Were you born an a$$hole, or did you have to work at it?" |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Aug 4, 2009 22:12:51 GMT -5
Although, the stigma is still around....especially with ignorant fans of other teams. Yesterday, I got stuck beside an obnoxious Leaf fan (are there any other kinds?....actually I do know quite a few knowledgeable and amiable ones). This guy was going on and on about how the Leafs are going to be a lot tougher this year....and I said, "And they should be spending more time in the penalty box, too, if the refs do their jobs." He said, "Well, at least we don't have drug dealers and criminals on our team." How that even applied to the topic is beyond me. I quickly replied that an investigation found no criminal involvement. His reply, "Yeah, whatever." And this guy was in his 30s. As I walked away, I heard him say, "Well, as long as we ruin Montreal's playoff chances by beating them up like we did last year, that's okay with me." (referring to Grabovski's hit on Markov). I didn't go near him for the rest of the get-together. It was like getting pulled into a black hole of hockey ignorance. Or should I say a blue-and-white hole...... Every team has fans like that CH. This guy was just looking for a response. Problem is guys like him have probably been using the same line since ... oh I don't ... they were in public school ... somewhere around '67 ... I get that here in Kingston from time to time but it's all good-natured bravado ... still, there are some others who haven't left public school. Everyone's got 'em too. Cheers. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Aug 4, 2009 22:21:15 GMT -5
...and Dis maybe it would make a great thread or book waiting in the pumpkin patch which we have been for a long time. On the cover we could have caricatures of all the habsrus community waiting in the patch dreaming of the cup aka the Great Pumpkin returning to it's rightfull place. Well, hopefully I won't be holding a damn blanket! Might faint though, if Gainey pulls off a major deal. Hoping that a new, positive outlook might attract other players to Montreal. We've talked about it before, but I'd have to say it's the off-ice BS that keeps them away more than anything else. All of the other factors we keep hearing, taxes, schooling, language, et al, are lesser factors to me and they could be more easily overcome (well maybe not the taxes) if the working environment were more positive. Very few people want to work in a circus. Cheers. |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Aug 4, 2009 22:24:08 GMT -5
you want to believe that the brother's are guilty. Like many you want a scape goat to blame for last season. Nope. Did not accuse them of anything aside from hanging with the wrong crowd and being called on it. Just wanted to outline that everything is not simply media fabrication. The Kosts, like others, didn't have enough of their mind on the game in my opinion. |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Aug 5, 2009 8:03:18 GMT -5
Very few people want to work in a circus. Cheers. I was actually a bit surprised this summer to see how many players actually did want to sign with Montreal despite the circus coming to a peak last year. There is obviously a wind of change going on and judging by the quantity of guys we were able to land, I'd say the reaction among NHL players is quite positive. |
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Post by blny on Aug 5, 2009 8:14:23 GMT -5
Very few people want to work in a circus. Cheers. I was actually a bit surprised this summer to see how many players actually did want to sign with Montreal despite the circus coming to a peak last year. There is obviously a wind of change going on and judging by the quantity of guys we were able to land, I'd say the reaction among NHL players is quite positive. I think it's a ringing endorsement for Gainey, and a sign that bringing in a guy like Martin has a serious effect as well. |
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Post by HFTO on Aug 5, 2009 8:16:22 GMT -5
I believe you have to look at it that way for sure Doc.
Now if hey can have some moderate success this year especially if Price bounces back and shows signs of being able to be dominant that'll go a long way in turning the trend around.
Winning is the key.
HFTO
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 5, 2009 10:22:24 GMT -5
Montreal really is the best of times/worst of times for players. When the player is playing well and the team is winning, it is the greatest venue in which to play hockey. Fans and media cannot get enough of you. The converse is true as well, and maybe even to a higher extreme. Media and fans will cross the line between on-ice and off-ice issues, and not blink an eye in the process. Those same folks would be truly offended if someone did the same to them in their own life; however, it is somehow justified by the fact these guys are all public figures and there seems to be a heightened sense of entitlement regarding a team so adored by its fans/media (at least while the going is good). That is not for everybody, but many a star has managed to have incredible careers here.
As others are mentioning, and it looks like maybe the city and team are not seen like such a black hole anymore. Gainey and Martin are likely a big reason, as are some of the new players too. I guess Koivu and Kovalev and Coach Carbo were not the big draws as far as attracting other talent. You always hear players talking about their respect for Bob Gainey, but that was clearly not enough on its own. He has now cleaned house and brought in proven experienced coaches and players with winning pedigree, work ethic, and positive attitudes.
For the rest of the gang who survived this purge and who are sitting on a bubble IMO, they should be paying attention. If Bob will make these wholesale changes without a blink of an eye, then there is no way he is sitting on the fence on a guy who underperforms for a second straight year or who gets into more off-ice trouble again this year. My sense is that this year, there will be a coaching staff committed to both on ice and off ice excellence, and more than willing to communicate both with the players and the GM when things are not where they should be...and thus hopefully correct things before they slide too far. When that slide down that slippery slope started last season, noone was able to halt it and pull things back together, not even Gainey. He has made some wholesale changes to try and stop that from happening again. Hope the lads are paying attention!!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 5, 2009 10:31:56 GMT -5
you want to believe that the brother's are guilty. Like many you want a scape goat to blame for last season. Nope. Did not accuse them of anything aside from hanging with the wrong crowd and being called on it. Just wanted to outline that everything is not simply media fabrication. The Kosts, like others, didn't have enough of their mind on the game in my opinion. Individual players, and the team as a whole, have to be a little bit self-policing on that regard. These are highly paid adults, so there is certain expectation of individual and group responsibility and accountability. If that was lacking, then no mere tweaking could correct that ship. New blood and attitude was needed. Honestly, I think guys like Price, Pleky, the K's will all respond positively to the changes. Too me a lot of what seemed to ail them was confidence. I think all the new personnel (on and off the ice) will change the environment in the room and on the bench. |
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Post by HFTO on Aug 5, 2009 10:44:29 GMT -5
NWT I think your right the winds of change are upon us and is long overdue.
No way Gainey stops now if there are any freeloaders or malcontents.
I'm not sure how good we are but I'm excited about the new era and I'm sure most fans are as well,then again that will depend on how good they are but atleast it's not the same old tires to kick.
Go Habs
HFTO
HFTO
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Post by The New Guy on Aug 5, 2009 10:55:39 GMT -5
you want to believe that the brother's are guilty. Like many you want a scape goat to blame for last season. Nope. Did not accuse them of anything aside from hanging with the wrong crowd and being called on it. Just wanted to outline that everything is not simply media fabrication. The Kosts, like others, didn't have enough of their mind on the game in my opinion. But see, you just did it again. You implied that the Kostitsyns were involved in criminal activities (sorry - hanging out with the 'wrong crowd' - the 'wrong crowd' in this case being a reputed mobster) and then blamed their poor play (something that is not supported by the stats, mind you) on the company that they keep. But what are the facts that you're basing this all on? That they were seen in the company of, and had a number of telephone conversations with a sporting goods salesmen. You assume it was his mob ties that they were interested in (or certainly imply it). Because, after all, what possible interest could two young professional hockey players have in a sporting goods salesman. That's it. Those are the only 'facts' you have. Everything else is just speculation - sorry 'educated guesses' on your part. The thing is your guesses, the guesses of the Montreal media and the public at large are completely unfair to these two young men who, as far as anyone - including the NHL and the RCMP - can tell have done absolutely nothing wrong. And that's an injustice. In this society we are to presume innocence until guilt is proven. In this case even the authorities have said "there is nothing here" and you still point your finger. |
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Post by CentreHice on Aug 5, 2009 11:27:45 GMT -5
I see what you're saying, TNG....certainly, innocent until proven guilty in the court of public opinion seems to have fallen by the wayside......but reducing it to two hockey players hanging around with a sporting goods salesman is a bit too far at the other end of the scale, wouldn't you say? These guys aren't bumpkins who fell off a turnip trunk when they arrived in Montreal. They've been "select" hockey players for a long time...and I would assume Belarus and Russia (Andrei played there in 2002) have their fair share of sporting goods salesmen, too.  Believe me, I do not support what the media did, especially La Presse for their front page presumptive headline: Un Criminel Lie au Trois Jouers Du Canadien (A Criminal Link to Three Canadiens Players) as well as a huge photograph of the K bros. I mean, they didn't even use a question mark. .....but, as I said earlier, I heard/read no statement from the Habs that admonished the press for their coverage. At least I can't find anything. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 5, 2009 11:43:32 GMT -5
NWT I think your right the winds of change are upon us and is long overdue. No way Gainey stops now if there are any freeloaders or malcontents. I'm not sure how good we are but I'm excited about the new era and I'm sure most fans are as well,then again that will depend on how good they are but atleast it's not the same old tires to kick. Go Habs HFTO HFTO What frustrated me the most about last season was not the fact that we just snuck in the back door to the playoffs, but more "why" we did after a very good start to the season and a very good season the year before. The biggest issue that everyone notes was the injuries, but I honestly don't peg that as my #1 reason. I would suggest that the single team that cost us the most points in the standings was wearing the bleu blanc rouge. Chemistry and confidence always seemed off. Carey let in untimely and bad goals and then seemed to give up on the game. The team sat on every lead they had, and more than often did not come away with the two points they initially deserved based on their earlier play in the game. The play in their own end was frustrating to watch. No way Komo has to block that many shots if the team has any system whatsoever to get out of its own end and has forwards committed to helping out and dmen who can make that first pass. The team seemed to run out of gas in the third, and not just because they had to play that ineffective trap, but because other teams seemed to outwork them game in and game out. The team also seemed to read its own preseason press clipping and forecasts after winning the conference the season before, and they sure looked like they felt they had already made it. Throw in centenary distractions, media spotlight, ineffective coaching/communications, and those injuries...and that is a ticking time bomb. Gainey has seen this, and has cut to the core of the problem. And not with a surgeon's tweak of a scalpel, with a ruthless hangman's blade. This alone makes me very intrigued by this edition of the Habs. This may not be a team on paper drastically better during the regular season than last year's crew, but I think it is a better playoff team. And, I think it becomes a better regular season team too once all the parts figure each other out and how to work coherently together. That will take some time, but Bob has added a lot of smart parts. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Aug 5, 2009 11:49:33 GMT -5
I see what you're saying, TNG....certainly, innocent until proven guilty in the court of public opinion seems to have fallen by the wayside......but reducing it to two hockey players hanging around with a sporting goods salesman is a bit too far at the other end of the scale, wouldn't you say? These guys aren't bumpkins who fell off a turnip trunk when they arrived in Montreal. They've been "select" hockey players for a long time...and I would assume Belarus and Russia (Andrei played there in 2002) have their fair share of sporting goods salesmen, too. Believe me, I do not support what the media did, especially La Presse for their front page presumptive headline: Un Criminel Lie au Trois Jouers Du Canadien (A Criminal Link to Three Canadiens Players) as well as a huge photograph of the K bros. I mean, they didn't even use a question mark. .....but, as I said earlier, I heard/read no statement from the Habs that admonished the press for their coverage. At least I can't find anything. Good point. What really bugged me about the whole situation was the fact that a trio of ex coaches (Habs/Nords) forgot what is was like on the other side of the fence and shamelessly got caught up in the media sensationalism of the non-story. Way to feed the hungry sharks rather than standing by some of your own. It's no wonder none of them are coaching any more. |
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Post by The New Guy on Aug 5, 2009 12:49:16 GMT -5
I see what you're saying, TNG....certainly, innocent until proven guilty in the court of public opinion seems to have fallen by the wayside......but reducing it to two hockey players hanging around with a sporting goods salesman is a bit too far at the other end of the scale, wouldn't you say? Why not? Do you suppose that a guy who has a day job doesn't know how to hide his illegal affiliations from those around him who might be driven away by them? All we know is that (a) he was seen having a drink with them at a bar (b) they spoke on the phone a number of times and (c) he mentioned them in phone conversations many times as well. To be quite frank it sounds to me like this guy was trying to get the Kostitsyn's to help him hawk something or other. Make sense - minor celebrity provides minor endorsement, sales increase. Even if he's not selling hockey equipment - let's say it's expensive gym equipment. He gets Andrei and Sergei to do a couple promotional videos extolling the virtues of the X-500 Pump-You-Up-alizer, maybe has the brothers show up at a couple of sales pitches. For a salesman the investment in a couple shots of vodka and some time spent building a relationship with the boys (helping them with lease agreements etc.) could have significant returns. And that's all on the side of his massive cocaine empire. What was it - six charges of possession with intent to distribute? If he gets jail time for that it'll be very small I'd bet. These guys aren't bumpkins who fell off a turnip trunk when they arrived in Montreal. They've been "select" hockey players for a long time...and I would assume Belarus and Russia (Andrei played there in 2002) have their fair share of sporting goods salesmen, too. This is going to start out weird, but follow me. There's a point at the end. My father-in-law is a very bright man. He has a masters degree in education and taught for years and years. He's won national awards for his business education programs. He's not some bumpkin who fell off the turnip truck. But a couple of years ago he got an e-mail from a bank manager in Nigeria offering him a share of two million dollars if he'd only pay the $1500 wealth transfer tax. He thought it was a great idea, before my wife and I sat down and explained to him that this was a scam. Smart people can be taken in just as easily a stupid people. They didn't need to be country bumpkins. They needed to be young men with a ton of money who can make mistakes about who they are associated with. Just like anyone else. Believe me, I do not support what the media did, especially for using a full-page photo of the two brothers simply to "catch the eye of the consumer".....but, as I said earlier, I heard/read no statement from the Habs that admonished the press for their coverage. At least I can't find anything. I would suggest that he reserved comment at the time (because if they were found to be involved in anything there would've been more egg on the organization's face) and then when the players were cleared... well.... he might have said something, but the media didn't pay much attention to that event did they? For your consideration though- another belorussian was named in the AXE investigation into M. Magnolia. But local media didn't descend on him like a pack of vultures? Why did this young man escape notice, you might ask? Because Grabovski got traded to a market where the hockey media, though intense and often speculative, is at least nominally sane. |
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Post by CentreHice on Aug 5, 2009 17:45:10 GMT -5
Good points, TNG.
And yes, I am aware that intelligence is not a factor in being vulnerable to scams/shady characters. On-line dating scams are rampant...also based in Nigerian internet cafes.
I was just making a point that, as much as the media was going overboard with their story....perhaps two pro hockey players discussing endorsements with a sporting good salesman is at the other end of the scale. I mean, after all, if that were true, why didn't the Habs and/or the Kostitsyn's agents/lawyers sue for libel? They certainly would've had a case if it was as innocent as that.
My personal belief is that the Habs' organization, (especially the Ks) were wiping their brows in relief that it had ended with nothing serious happening.
You say Grabs was also named....hmmm....wonder if that's why they hate each other....and if that's part (or most) of the reason Grabs was let go?
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Post by LoupDogg on Aug 5, 2009 19:35:00 GMT -5
When was Grabovski linked with all that junk? Hamerlik was named, and he was rightly pi$$ed off, because his contacts with the mafioso were way thinner than the Ks, but I have no recollection of Grabs being named by the paper you despise, TNG.
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Post by The New Guy on Aug 6, 2009 7:53:34 GMT -5
When was Grabovski linked with all that junk? Hamerlik was named, and he was rightly pi$$ed off, because his contacts with the mafioso were way thinner than the Ks, but I have no recollection of Grabs being named by the paper you despise, TNG. He wasn't named by La Presse. That was partially my point. The story - about his relationship with Mangiola in Montreal (which continued, according to his own admission, when he was sent to Toronto) was relegated to where it belongs - the back pages of a newspaper, buried so deep in the sports section you're like as not to miss it (which, surprise-surprise, I think almost everyone did). For the record the article is here: www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/grabovski-linked-to-habs-controversy/article978524/Some quotes from the Grabovski article: |
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Post by The New Guy on Aug 6, 2009 8:11:34 GMT -5
Good points, TNG. And yes, I am aware that intelligence is not a factor in being vulnerable to scams/shady characters. On-line dating scams are rampant...also based in Nigerian internet cafes. I was just making a point that, as much as the media was going overboard with their story....perhaps two pro hockey players discussing endorsements with a sporting good salesman is at the other end of the scale. I mean, after all, if that were true, why didn't the Habs and/or the Kostitsyn's agents/lawyers sue for libel? They certainly would've had a case if it was as innocent as that. For the same reason the National Enquirer doesn't get sued on a weekly basis. Libel is very, very hard to prove. In this case, as Doc points out, none of the sports outlets ever breathed a word of a lie about the Kostitsyns and their relationship with this small-time hood. That's pretty much enough to kill a libel suit right there, because then you get into what the article implied and none of that holds up well in a court of law. Henry Ford (American Law, I know, but the libel laws are somewhat similar in Canada and the US) once sued a newspaper (the Chicago Tribune, I believe) for an article wrote about him calling him, among other things, ignorant. As it happens the entire article was filled with text that Ford could have seized upon as a target of his lawsuit, but his lawyer was none to sharp and went after the whole thing. The Chicago Tribune's lawyers seized the opportunity and humiliated him on the stand - he had almost no education and was functionally illiterate. He was proven to be 'ignorant' (despite the fact the man had revolutionized the manufacturing process) and so the lawsuit was dismissed. My personal belief is that the Habs' organization, (especially the Ks) were wiping their brows in relief that it had ended with nothing serious happening. You better believe they were. Because if there had been even a hint of impropriety there certain members of the media would have lunged like rabid wolverines and tore what little dignity the team had at the end of last season to shreds. Consider, for a second, that Pasquale might have asked one of the Kostitsyn's for a loan or an 'investment'. If that had gone to buy drugs - even if the brother involved had no clue and was just helping a friend - the media would have destroyed the team. You say Grabs was also named....hmmm....wonder if that's why they hate each other....and if that's part (or most) of the reason Grabs was let go? I believe the prevailing consensus is that Grabs was let go because he was an idiot and two seasons ago left the team in Pheonix because he wasn't getting enough ice time. I have read (and I do not recall where I read or how trustworthy a source it is) that the animosity between Grabovski and Sergei is unrelated to both of these things - it's about a girl. |
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Post by CentreHice on Aug 6, 2009 8:39:16 GMT -5
I have read (and I do not recall where I read or how trustworthy a source it is) that the animosity between Grabovski and Sergei is unrelated to both of these things - it's about a girl. Well, at least it was a woman. Imagine the media if it was a guy! Not that there's anything wrong with that....... |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Aug 6, 2009 9:59:49 GMT -5
I have read (and I do not recall where I read or how trustworthy a source it is) that the animosity between Grabovski and Sergei is unrelated to both of these things - it's about a girl. Well, at least it was a woman. Imagine the media if it was a guy! Not that there's anything wrong with that....... ...Last year SK said that the animosity was because Grabs was running his mouth back in the motherland about stuff about him and his bro. Could be about anything really. But that's just another outside story that ended up having repercussion on the team as their personnal feud was making waves during the season. |
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Post by CrocRob on Aug 8, 2009 16:08:10 GMT -5
Just for fun.. Eklund has now twitted that the Habs are "super close" to acquiring Frolov.
There are also rumblings that perhaps Greg Stewart is signed, as capgeek.com has a figure for him (500k two-way). I haven't seen Greg's parents in a while, but I'll ask them next time I do.
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Post by Yeti on Aug 9, 2009 0:23:08 GMT -5
I think that La Presse decided to go on the front page with this (and leeking the story to other journalists to get the ball rolling) because the police found papers with the Habs's logo in Magnolia's apartment and copy of the Kots's visa bills.
They decided to sell the story that the Habs had been infiltrated by the organized crime, with lots of innuendos about things like illegal gambling.
As we all discovered a few days later (clarifications from the police), the facts didn't warrant such an interpretation. The facts were just enough for a short story without big scary headlines in bold... They did hurt the reputation of three innocent individuals (police never suspected them of being involved in criminal activities- even after extensive monitoring of Magnolia's activities).
It was disgraceful. I'm have stopped reading La Presse sports' section. They always twist and spin things very unprofessionally...
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Post by seventeen on Aug 9, 2009 12:37:52 GMT -5
They decided to sell the story that the Habs had been infiltrated by the organized crime, Give how they played much of last year, I wouldn't think there was anything 'organized' about the team. |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Aug 10, 2009 8:41:09 GMT -5
I think that La Presse decided to go on the front page with this (and leeking the story to other journalists to get the ball rolling) because the police found papers with the Habs's logo in Magnolia's apartment and copy of the Kots's visa bills. They decided to sell the story that the Habs had been infiltrated by the organized crime, with lots of innuendos about things like illegal gambling. As we all discovered a few days later (clarifications from the police), the facts didn't warrant such an interpretation. The facts were just enough for a short story without big scary headlines in bold... They did hurt the reputation of three innocent individuals (police never suspected them of being involved in criminal activities- even after extensive monitoring of Magnolia's activities). It was disgraceful. I'm have stopped reading La Presse sports' section. They always twist and spin things very unprofessionally... Actually from what I heard, LaPresse was tipped directly by the police. My opinion on that is that EVERY media outlet would have made a big story with that if they had that scoop and in fact all of them did ride that wave the following days, most of them going way further with their accusations and innuendos than LaPresse ever did. LaPresse simply scooped them all because they had better informants. But when the story proved a little less juicy than originally anticipated, it was convenient for everyone to point the finger at LaPresse. LaPresse looked way worst in the Kovalev affaire (where's the tape?) than they did in this. But again that's just my opinion. |
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Post by Yeti on Aug 10, 2009 11:36:52 GMT -5
Hi Doc.
You are right- La Presse obtained the info from the police. But the police told them nothing else than the fact that those papers were found in Magnolia's apartment and that the three habs players have had phone conversations with that gangster, sometimes several times per day. The info from the police was quite clear that none of the players were suspected of anything illegal. The police had hundreds of hours of phone conversations recorded.
I remember Patrick Lagacé's column from that morning when they broke the news, defending in advance the big splash in the media... The line of argument (and the innuendos) was that gangsters were very close to the Habs dressing rooms and organization and that could mean... (insert scary scenarios here. They spinned and played with the idea that when there is smoke there is a fire, that the facts uncovered by the police may hide something more somber... It turned out that the police had nothing else to say... The Habs's organization had not been infiltrated by the organized crime.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Aug 10, 2009 12:02:52 GMT -5
Hi Yeti The info from the police was quite clear that none of the players were suspected of anything illegal. The original article from Labbé mentioned that too... I know I appear like a LaPresse apologist in this but I just think a lot is being dump on them. That being said, I sure don't feel strongly enough about them to try and stop a motivated lynch mob I know TNG feels Magnolia is an innocent sports goods salesmen / city tour but in reality I believe you have to get guys like that away from your organization and players because the chances of having your image tarnished by a guilty by association situation is very real. As was the case here. Again, to me, it's a question of control and last year it was clearly lacking as some players did get overboard. |
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Post by clear observer on Aug 10, 2009 12:12:21 GMT -5
Hi Yeti The info from the police was quite clear that none of the players were suspected of anything illegal. The original article from Labbé mentioned that too... I know I appear like a LaPresse apologist in this but I just think a lot is being dump on them. That being said, I sure don't feel strongly enough about them to try and stop a motivated lynch mob I know TNG feels Magnolia is an innocent sports goods salesmen / city tour but in reality I believe you have to get guys like that away from your organization and players because the chances of having your image tarnished by a guilty by association situation is very real. As was the case here. Again, to me, it's a question of control and last year it was clearly lacking as some players did get overboard. Yep, people are ALWAYS going to be judged by the company they keep..... .....it's why no-one ever comes to visit me.  |
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