BlogsDec 20, 2008Hats Off To DonIt has only taken me a week to make up my mind about Don Cherry's comments on the attire selected by some NHL players - you will remember that he ripped Andrej Meszaros and Mike Fisher - for their pre-game trip to the rink. And i think he's right. Grapes said Meszaros and Fisher looked like "thugs" because they wore a toque to go along with a coat that may or may not have been covering up a shirt and tie. His point was that the toque makes them look more like mugs than millionaires, and that as NHLers they should be more presentable on their way to work. The common cry back is that it's easy to say for Cherry as he sits in the comfort of his Coach's Corner TV studio .... and that it only makes common sense to cover your head against the cold temperatures in the nation's capital. I get that. Some nights walking into an area built in the wide open cornfields of Kanata, you would swear (and swear loudly) that it's the windiest and chilliest place in the whole world. So wear your toque to the rink. But take it off when you get inside the doors. Meszaros and Fisher were well inside the building when caught on camera. They should be jamming the hats in their pockets and go with the hat-head look for the walk down the corridors and to the dressing rooms. Better that than the dress-down appearance that comes with a toque. Besides, it's too warm in Scotiabank Place for head wear - and the way the Senators are playing the heat is only going to get turned up. Comments:
Comment from: DANIEL MURPHY [Visitor]
Don, I agree with your opinion 100%. I thought Cherry's comments on the shoddy and thug like physical appearance of the Sens (Fisher etc...) was spot on. This old geezer is not impressed at all as to how most NHL players dress and carry themselves off the ice.
I thought the Sens looked good during most of the 2nd period. I will go out on a limb and say the Sens have now reached rock bottom and that they will win tonight and play above .500 during the road trip. Murray will make one trade and the Sens will play so so hockey for the rest of the year and make the playoffs. 
20/12/2008 @ 11:37
Comment from: [Visitor]
WHO CARES.
The Senators have lost nine in a row on the road, the owner is delusional and won't make changes and the GM thinks it's 1987. Put some damned pressure on the owner and GM already guys!
20/12/2008 @ 12:53
Comment from: Ja Du [Visitor]
put pressure on the owner and GM to do what exactly?? To make the big trade? Who do you trade and who do you get in return? The problem is with the on ice effort, consistency and performance of the guys! We have a lot of talent in Ottawa - we just need to play the damn game every night.... maybe we will show up against Dallas....who knows.
20/12/2008 @ 14:33
Comment from: Nancy Dddd [Visitor]
Well, if people are so hung up on what the guys look like, how about telling them to dump the Tom Selleck 'stache? They look like extras in a bad 80s cop film.
Or how about telling them to go to a barber and get decent haircuts? The overgrown, just-got-out-of-bed look may work for the teenage crowd, but it doesn't cut it in the adult world. ....and exactly what does this do to improve their on-ice performance again? Some kidding aside, just let the guys wear weather-appropriate clothing out there. That would be all we need right now is for half the team to go down with the flu because they want to look stylish in the middle of Kanata's cornfields (you know, in the rare event they happen to run into Don Cherry trying to steal another outfit off a scarecrow).
20/12/2008 @ 21:37
Comment from: bobby goodman [Visitor]
I am going to bite my tongue off, but I agree with
Dawn. It is all about showing some class which, in sport, dwindles away with each passing year. I saw in another blog (I have no life...really) how people were ranting (can you imagine...people ranting?) how people were upset with Steve Willians calling Micklsen a P$%&k when Heatley can have an accident where someone dies and Bertuzzi can end someone's career. I don't get that...so those episodes are the benchmark? Anything less is trivial? It is all about class in my very humble opinion. Each athlete (roundball is the worst for dress) is representing the franchise and setting an example for millions of kids...what is so damn hard about looking like a professional. Having said that...the so called Rockem Sockem Dum Cherry (he may have played one game in the NHL but I don't think so...his brother played more) dresses like Liberace...maybe he is aditioning for "Queer Eye for The Straight Guy? But...he has always got his shirt and tie er..neck brace and tie.
21/12/2008 @ 08:34
Comment from: JIM BRIDGMAN [Visitor]
It has always amused & amazed me, over many years of watching minor hockey, at the teams arriving at the arena, very well dressed in shirt & tie with matching jackets. These little darlings would say goodbye to their adoring parents & get ready to play. What hit the ice was a bunch of foul mouthed hooligans just trying to injure each other & always looking for any excuse to fight. The game usually became a circus with the stupidity on the ice only outdone by the morons in the stands. After the game the little angels, again well dressed, would return to their loving parents to get their treat for a job well done. This is why when I hear about dress codes, representing your community etc. I just shake my head. The hyprocracy of this simply overwhelms me.
21/12/2008 @ 18:06
Comment from: Nancy Dddd [Visitor]
I understand what you're saying Bobby. You want the guys to act with class and represent Ottawa (and the team) well.
But, for me anyways, I would rather see the guys take as much time as needed to make sure all the kids autopraphs are signed, talk to the fans, get involved in community events and charities, you know, things like that. The clothing they wear is really secondary for me. Even the biggest thug or serial killer can wear a suit and tie. It's a player's actions both on and off the ice and in the community that earn respect. And Jim, oh man do I ever agree. Some things that go on in minor hockey, both in teh stands and on the ice are just horrid. Psycho hockey moms and their kids - who don't even like the game but play because they can get away with bashing another kids head in and get a cheer from the crowd for it - just turn me off. Most days its so much more fun to just watch house league game or the kids playing outdoors on the rink.
21/12/2008 @ 22:41
Comment from: Pavan Singh [Visitor]
I think people are making way too much of a deal over this comment by Don Cherry. The guy is old school we all know that.
Who really cares what they are wearing. I am with Nancy, I rather them be a good person who helps out within the community. They show up at the rink wearing whatever the heck they want.
22/12/2008 @ 07:37
Comment from: bobby goodman [Visitor]
Agreed Pavan, Jimbo and Nancy...but the dress code and behaviour are not mutual exclusive! They are, to me, are part and parcel. In my mind (what a place that is) it is a slippery slope...once you let a dress code go the next thing is conduct. I go to work everyday and wear a suit and feel good doing it...I always believed (and I am old school...body anyway) if youy look good you perform good. I sell IT to the feds and have seen the dress code fall significantly over the years...as has the behaviour...As a kid my hero was Bobby Hull and he wore a suit and always kept the bus waiting because signed as may autographs as he could. That never goes outta style.
22/12/2008 @ 09:27
Comment from: Pavan Singh [Visitor]
Bobby, you make a good point. I wear a suit everyday to work as well. And I do feel good doing it. But...... on the other hand... some of our greatest minds work at Google and they show up wearing whatever they want.....
22/12/2008 @ 09:44
Comment from: DANIEL MURPHY [Visitor]
Pavan, working at Google versus dealing with the public or representing the public in a round about way are completely different.
Dressing down when in reality dressing up would be more appropriate, is in my opinion, a root sign of disrespect for society in general. It always amazes me when I see people (usually males) at Church or worse at funerals, dressed if though they were getting ready to spend an afternoon at the Prescott hotel. Does all this make any difference for on ice performance? I would say not. Call me crazy but I sense a major turn around for the Sens and perhaps come next March 1, we will be debating on who we should trade for to make a Stanley Cup run.
22/12/2008 @ 12:18
Comment from: Pavan Singh [Visitor]
Dan.. I was making a wise crack joke. Its a little hard to tell tone over a post.
Do you really feel a turn around? Lets see how they play vs Philli without Alfie.
22/12/2008 @ 12:30
Comment from: DANIEL MURPHY [Visitor]
Point taken Pavan. Often I think a lot of my e-mails zoom over peoples head.
Honestly, I do sense a Sen turnaround. The only thing I am worried about is that we have Federal Government Departments trying to do the Nation's work using computers sold to them by Bobby G. I should ditch my Commodore 64 and give Bobby a call to see if has any Olivetti 286's available.
22/12/2008 @ 12:43
Comment from: Pavan Singh [Visitor]
Dan....... well with your hockey knowledge most of your emails go oever my heard :-)
22/12/2008 @ 12:57
Comment from: DANIEL MURPHY [Visitor]
Pavan, like most of us bloggers, what do we all really know? I never win at Proline, so there is one clue.
Hockey is a simple game, unlike say NFL football. People talk of systems etc... in hockey and personally every game and every team looks and plays the same to me. The puck is dropped and everybody skates around passing the puck, shooting it in etc...etc... The right winger checks the other teams left winger while the left winger checks the other teams right winger. Take the Sens for example, nobody has a clue why a supposedly good team is doing so poorly. Even ex-players like Eastwood and York can't come up with any plausible and concrete examples of reasons why. The only thing you hear coming from the media and all us so-called hockey experts is that we need a puck carrying defenceman and a 2nd line goal scorer. Duh!!!! I bet you every team in the league could say the same thing. I still say that the Sens, the media and the die hard fans have the likes of Fisher, Vermette, Kelly, Volchenkov, Philips, Donovan, Neil etc...very over-rated with respect to their actual talent. With respect to the big three, as a line they are as good as anyone. Individually I would say that there are probably 30+ players out there who would be picked ahead of them if someone was to start a new team.
22/12/2008 @ 13:08
Comment from: bobby goodman [Visitor]
Daniel...mon ami...I haven't laughed that hard in a long time...fantastic! I love it! I would love to buy y'all a cold one and yap 'bout sports and tell you some stories about selling to the federal government of Canada...you would either laugh like hell or cry. Like the Sens, one department is on a losing trend...I heard tell they have "lost" 60m and shut down procurement. Things like this happen in business and in sports when there is no accountability in your managers! Pavan, is Alfie out tomorrow night?
22/12/2008 @ 13:25
Comment from: DANIEL MURPHY [Visitor]
Bob, I know we all talked about getting together for a brew or two. I say we do it when the bus strikes end.
It would be a gas to see who is actually behind all these blogs. Sadly, Chris Stevenson who interviewed Alfie yesterday could not even tell us what kind of injury Alfie has. Unless his arm is in a sling or he is walking with a noticeable limp, I would guess that he sustained some significant bruising or his neck is all screwed up. You would think a good reporter would have picked up on something with respect to his injury.
22/12/2008 @ 13:34
Comment from: bobby goodman [Visitor]
D E F I N I T E L Y! I would love to meet all of em...even Visitor...but especially, you, Jimbo, Nancy, Pavan and Ja Du. I am sure Alfie has a sub-mid left-regional upper-body injury of some kind. You can't really expect much from the writers short of rudimentary observations that are tantamount to delivering an exhortation on the virtues of flossing at dentist convention. Hell..lets invite the writers to join us for beers...Chris, Dawn and Brucie...waddysay?
22/12/2008 @ 13:48
Comment from: Pavan Singh [Visitor]
Dan...... I understand hockey and rugby.. thats about it.. haha.
Dan.. I think the players on Ottawa have to stop sitting around waiting for something to happen. They have to understand they are not as good as they think they are. We need to work for every win. I hope you are right about the turnaround. Bobby, I think he is listed 'day to day' ... I highly doubt he will play. This is going to make or break the team. I really really really do not seem them beating Philli. Philli will just out score them and hit them.
22/12/2008 @ 13:48
Comment from: Pavan Singh [Visitor]
Oh I am all up for meeting. Should be a good time meeting all the great minds.. and well.. me :P
22/12/2008 @ 13:49
Comment from: bobby goodman [Visitor]
Fantastic Pavan...I will mark this down in my Trash 80...and make this beer fest happen! My word as a salesman! We can't do it now as it is too close to Christmas. Lets do it, if we can, between Christmas and New Years...failing that...we could do it a little later...I can and will make myself available...Nancy, Jimbo, Kevin, Daniel, Ja Du y'all down?
22/12/2008 @ 13:58
Comment from: Pavan Singh [Visitor]
I'm all for it. Let me know when. I am mobile. Not sure what part of town everyone is in, but I am up in the Hunt Club area.
We should try during a game, either the WJC or SENS game. I am off till the 5th of Jan.. so all is good.
22/12/2008 @ 14:11
Comment from: Evil Jaze [Visitor]
Dude, who cares?
What does it matter if they dress in suits or comfortable clothing? The only uniform that matters is the one they wear on the ice. How many people do you see riding the bus or driving to work in their McDonald's or Tim Horton's uniforms? The general trend is to dress less formally over the years. We've come a long way since the Mad Men days where people would come home and change into a less formal suit and tie for dinner! I say begone with suits & bling. Wear what's comfortable and concentrate on the game instead of the look. I can't think of anyone under 50 who actually cares about how they dress on the way to the rink.
23/12/2008 @ 07:02
Comment from: Kevin Freeman [Visitor]
Bobby, as much as I am intrigued by meeting the regulars,I live in Brockville so its not practical,however if the time and place is posted, I can be spontaneous. Given my exchanges with Bruce over the years I will require a bodyguard if the experts are coming.
23/12/2008 @ 17:28
Comment from: bobby goodman [Visitor]
I hear ya buddy! Brockville is a pretty town and sometimes I think I should be committed there! I will post our day, place and time should it happen. I only have committments from Pavan and Daniel so far but love to see everyone. I will throw out Thursday or Friday and see who bites!!!! And we can go to Local Heroes on Bank Steet...waddyallsay?
28/12/2008 @ 12:05 Leave a comment:
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Don Brennan, Bruce Garrioch and Chris Stevenson are Ottawa's all-star hockey writing trio, and all will be regularly contributing to Off The Posts. Their combined experience of more than 60 years as sports writers means they have the sources to get the inside information not available to others on the Senators and the NHL. Check back often for notes, quotes and commentary. They might even disagree with each other once in awhile. Last 10 postsLast 10 comments
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