The Detroit Red Wings are the classiest team in the NHL. Just ask them. They are so overflowing with class, in fact, that they have some to spare. And they want to share it with the Pittsburgh Penguins! How classy of them!
When Sidney Crosby and his fellow Stanley Cup Champions were busy committing the unimaginable act of celebrating their 1st Stanley Cup since 1992, the veteran Red Wings were quick to point out just how un-classy the Penguins are.
As Kris Draper stated: “Nick (Lidstrom) was waiting and waiting and (Sidney) Crosby didn’t come over to shake his hand. That’s ridiculous, especially as their captain, and make sure you write that I said that.”
Now, as we all understand, Draper is a 4-time Cup winner, so he knows all about the ins and outs of proper celebration etiquette. He was probably just recalling back to last year’s victory when the Red Wings shook the hands of their vanquished opponents before they even dared to touch Lord Stanley’s Mug. If we took a stop-watch to each team’s celebration, we would surely see that the Detroit players respected their opponent so much, that they hurried over to the hand-shake line before the celebration. If only I had a stop-watch.
What’s this? A STOP-WATCH! How convenient. Now, so as to not be unreasonable, we’ll give them some time to enjoy their victory before they grace the loser Penguins at centre ice with their collective winning presence. Ready? Set? CELEBRATE!
From the final whistle to the first handshake, the ever considerate Red Wings celebrated for a mere 2 minutes and 10 seconds.
Now, let’s see how long the rude and provincial Penguins celebrated for. Judging by Draper’s comments, I could probably use a sundial to measure this celebration, but for accuracy’s sake, I’ll stick with the stop-watch.
Hmmm. I must have blacked out during at least 75% of their celebration, because by my measurements indicate that they celebrated for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Well, either way – those are the 5 unclassiest seconds in the history of time.
As Henrik Zetterberg points out, it’s important for the captain to lead his team into the handshakes, as a symbolic gesture of respect. "I think that's one thing you should do. I don't know why he didn't do it, it's disrespectful."
Absolutely – this is why 21-year-olds lack the leadership to be captain in this league. They certainly don’t follow the example of veteran captains like Lidstrom. Let’s rewind to last year’s handshakes. Of course he will be the 1st Red Wing to congratulate the Penguins on their being the most recent team to fall to Detroit in the finals; what a privilege!
Uh oh. It seems my argument about how classy the Red Wings are is falling apart. Lidstrom did not lead the Wings into the handshake following their Cup-clinching victory in 2008.
Certainly Pavel Datsuyk, the reigning 3-time Lady Byng winner - the trophy awarded to none other than the classiest player in the league - has some tips in the press on how the Penguins could be better winners next time: no comment. It's strange for a player as gentlemanly as Datsuyk to not admonish the Penguins on their faux-pas.
What about the snubbed Lidstrom? He can help Crosby out with some correcting words, no doubt! “Sidney was probably caught up in the emotions and everything," said Lidstrom. He also speculated that Crosby would learn from his mistake. Not nearly stern enough for such a slight as the one Crosby granted him after this year’s Game 7.
It seems that, after all these etiquette lessons, the Penguins WERE following in the Red Wings’ ultra-classy footsteps, rather than being the snot-nosed poor sports that Draper and Zetterberg accused them of being.
The Red Wings have shown that they know all about being classy winners, but maybe it's time they learn something about being gracious losers.
***all quotes from the Associated Press.
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"Mats... We Need To Talk..."
The four words anybody who is blissfully in love never wants to hear from their partner. But they are words Cliff Fletcher needs to practice in the mirror over the next few weeks, as former Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin works off the results of a restful summer back in Sweden.
Because as Mats was enjoying his summer deciding whether or not he had the emotional fortitude to wear the Blue and White (or any other colours) this winter, we have been moving on. Ok - we haven't REALLY been moving on. But that's what we have been telling ourselves.
Over the past 4 years, Leafs Nation was held captive by John Ferguson, Junior. During this time, the Front Street Faithful could trust Mats would come through. He always has. Like an old sweatshirt worked in by a loved one, we got comfortable with #13. And he got comfortable with us. We were spending every Saturday night on the couch together, watching movies and eating popcorn, while those poor, pitiful teams like Carolina had one-month flings and embarrassing trysts with All-Stars for their inevitable playoff pushes. We had our star. And we didn't have eyes for anybody else.
- The Future -
But when Ferguson was shown the door, the focus changed in Leafs Land. Leaf fans no longer held onto any pipe dreams of making the playoffs. We wanted a contender, but we had to do it right. In the post-salary cap era, there is no other way to improve than through The Draft.
That's when things began to sour with Sundin. As he put us on his back in the Spring of 2008, our perception of #13 was different. Like a relationship taking a turn for the worse, it started with insensitive jokes. Fans knew that Sundin was going to put the Maple Leafs on his back, but this time we didn't want the ride. We wanted Steven Stamkos. We wanted to be young again.
When he refused to lose and made every Leafs fan believe, even if for just a moment, that we could make the unlikely post-season rush, Sundin was doing what he had done every other year. And we loved him for it. But it wasn't the same. There was the embarrassing trade-deadline squabble when he refused to be rented out and go for a Playoff Run with a contender.
We looked toward the end of the season as a time when both Mats and Leaf fans could regroup. We would have some time apart. Take a break. See if we felt the same way in the fall.
- The Split -
And, surprisingly, we did feel the same way. We still needed time away from Sundin. It hurt, but the season began respectably under new coach Ron Wilson. We upended the Red Wings in the 1st game of the season. So far, so good. We had Mats at the back of our minds, but our first forays out on Saturday nights went alright without him. We got shot down a few times, but this was expected. We were back in the game and it was exciting.
As the air grows colder and we ready ourselves for a long winter, we remember Mats fondly. Like a fresh break-up, both parties are lonely and unfulfilled. It's late at night and Mats is lying awake in bed, thinking about the good times. So he picks up the phone and scrolls down the phonebook to "M". Maple Leafs.
And Leafs fans are doing the same. We're lying in bed with all kinds of new jerseys... not just #13. So when we see our phone ringing at 3:00 am, and Niklas Hagman asks "Who's calling at this hour?" We answer, "Just an old friend." You don't want to rock the boat and shake Hagman, Nik Antropov and Alex Ponikarovsky's fragile confidence. They're performing just fine.
We tell ourselves that we're over Mats. But the truth is: we're not. Ron Wilson's coaching has allowed us to retain some shreds of dignity, but we won't be able to truly smile with joy until we feel the butterflies of a new leader - the same type of butterflies we'd get in our stomachs when we'd see Sundin rush down the ice on a 2-on-1 in April and you just knew he was going to score.
- The One Who Got Away -
We will find out what our future holds in December when Brian Burke replies to the Ducks about his contract extension offer. Henry Samueli has made it clear he wants Brian Burke to stick around, but Burke is tempted by the Thrill of the Chase he would feel as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The time is right: Things haven't felt the same for Burkie in Anaheim. They had very high highs, and some equally low lows. It might just be time.
The reasons are right: Burke's family lives on the East Coast and he has made it clear that the cross-continental trips to visit them are difficult; his wife would be able to work in Toronto; and it is the highest profile job in the biggest hockey city on earth.
Fletcher and Leafs Nation are getting dolled up to make Burke an offer he can't refuse. Until we have "The Talk" with Burke, we aren't really going to be able to get over Mats. When we get those late-night phone calls, we will be tempted to answer even though we know it's wrong. But with Burke in town, it will be easier to see Mats with another team.
And that is precisely what Mats should do - we are trying to move on; he needs to do the same. He should sign with one of those younger, better-looking hockey teams that are currently vying for the Stanley Cup. Sure, he won't feel as emotionally connected to his team and his new fans. It will be really awkward when he first encounters the Leafs on the ice. He might even be thinking about us when he's lacing up his skates.
But when he lifts that Cup above his head, he will be enjoying the moment. It won't matter what jersey he is wearing. He will have earned what he has worked for his entire life.
We will always have fond memories, Mats. But it's time to move on.
Because as Mats was enjoying his summer deciding whether or not he had the emotional fortitude to wear the Blue and White (or any other colours) this winter, we have been moving on. Ok - we haven't REALLY been moving on. But that's what we have been telling ourselves.
Over the past 4 years, Leafs Nation was held captive by John Ferguson, Junior. During this time, the Front Street Faithful could trust Mats would come through. He always has. Like an old sweatshirt worked in by a loved one, we got comfortable with #13. And he got comfortable with us. We were spending every Saturday night on the couch together, watching movies and eating popcorn, while those poor, pitiful teams like Carolina had one-month flings and embarrassing trysts with All-Stars for their inevitable playoff pushes. We had our star. And we didn't have eyes for anybody else.
- The Future -
But when Ferguson was shown the door, the focus changed in Leafs Land. Leaf fans no longer held onto any pipe dreams of making the playoffs. We wanted a contender, but we had to do it right. In the post-salary cap era, there is no other way to improve than through The Draft.
That's when things began to sour with Sundin. As he put us on his back in the Spring of 2008, our perception of #13 was different. Like a relationship taking a turn for the worse, it started with insensitive jokes. Fans knew that Sundin was going to put the Maple Leafs on his back, but this time we didn't want the ride. We wanted Steven Stamkos. We wanted to be young again.
When he refused to lose and made every Leafs fan believe, even if for just a moment, that we could make the unlikely post-season rush, Sundin was doing what he had done every other year. And we loved him for it. But it wasn't the same. There was the embarrassing trade-deadline squabble when he refused to be rented out and go for a Playoff Run with a contender.
We looked toward the end of the season as a time when both Mats and Leaf fans could regroup. We would have some time apart. Take a break. See if we felt the same way in the fall.
- The Split -
And, surprisingly, we did feel the same way. We still needed time away from Sundin. It hurt, but the season began respectably under new coach Ron Wilson. We upended the Red Wings in the 1st game of the season. So far, so good. We had Mats at the back of our minds, but our first forays out on Saturday nights went alright without him. We got shot down a few times, but this was expected. We were back in the game and it was exciting.
As the air grows colder and we ready ourselves for a long winter, we remember Mats fondly. Like a fresh break-up, both parties are lonely and unfulfilled. It's late at night and Mats is lying awake in bed, thinking about the good times. So he picks up the phone and scrolls down the phonebook to "M". Maple Leafs.
And Leafs fans are doing the same. We're lying in bed with all kinds of new jerseys... not just #13. So when we see our phone ringing at 3:00 am, and Niklas Hagman asks "Who's calling at this hour?" We answer, "Just an old friend." You don't want to rock the boat and shake Hagman, Nik Antropov and Alex Ponikarovsky's fragile confidence. They're performing just fine.
We tell ourselves that we're over Mats. But the truth is: we're not. Ron Wilson's coaching has allowed us to retain some shreds of dignity, but we won't be able to truly smile with joy until we feel the butterflies of a new leader - the same type of butterflies we'd get in our stomachs when we'd see Sundin rush down the ice on a 2-on-1 in April and you just knew he was going to score.
- The One Who Got Away -
We will find out what our future holds in December when Brian Burke replies to the Ducks about his contract extension offer. Henry Samueli has made it clear he wants Brian Burke to stick around, but Burke is tempted by the Thrill of the Chase he would feel as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The time is right: Things haven't felt the same for Burkie in Anaheim. They had very high highs, and some equally low lows. It might just be time.
The reasons are right: Burke's family lives on the East Coast and he has made it clear that the cross-continental trips to visit them are difficult; his wife would be able to work in Toronto; and it is the highest profile job in the biggest hockey city on earth.
Fletcher and Leafs Nation are getting dolled up to make Burke an offer he can't refuse. Until we have "The Talk" with Burke, we aren't really going to be able to get over Mats. When we get those late-night phone calls, we will be tempted to answer even though we know it's wrong. But with Burke in town, it will be easier to see Mats with another team.
And that is precisely what Mats should do - we are trying to move on; he needs to do the same. He should sign with one of those younger, better-looking hockey teams that are currently vying for the Stanley Cup. Sure, he won't feel as emotionally connected to his team and his new fans. It will be really awkward when he first encounters the Leafs on the ice. He might even be thinking about us when he's lacing up his skates.
But when he lifts that Cup above his head, he will be enjoying the moment. It won't matter what jersey he is wearing. He will have earned what he has worked for his entire life.
We will always have fond memories, Mats. But it's time to move on.
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