Montreal Gazette Update
In his editorial, Jack Todd inexplicably sides with "Richard" Pound.
Personally, I can't see one third of NHL players using illegal performance enhancing drugs. It's not that I think NHL players are all that clean-cut, or are above using 'roids. Look at the Sudafed epidemic, or the brief nose-strip breathing aid fad (by the way, is Peter Bondra still wearing one of those?). Maybe performance-enhancing drugs just don't benefit hockey players much. Look at the sports where doping is a problem: sprinting, football, weightlifting, swimming, cycling, cross-country skiing... sports that seem to emphasize explosive power, or strength/endurance of a single motion. Hockey, basketball, tennis have not had doping problems. Perhaps the combination of physical abilities - dexterity, strength, and endurance - does not lend itself to doping.
Like everyone else, Todd also weighs in on the "Team Quebec" topic by criticizing their potential defense. I'll just say this: Yes, a Quebec team would be weaker than a "Rest Of Canada" team, but a Quebec victory over Canada would surprise me much less than the Belarus victory over Sweden.
~~~
In a more interesting article, Pat Hickey wrote a very interesting piece on the visor debate. It includes the thoughts of many Montreal Canadiens on the subject. Craig Rivet comes clean:
"If you want the truth, it's the macho thing," Rivet admitted. "Guys are trying to show how tough they are. It's part of the image."
There you have it. A visor-wearing player couldn't exactly come out and say this. I presume Rivet goes shield-less because of his occasional need to drop the gloves. Check out the hockeyfights.com description of his tilt with Bryan Marchment - the '03-04 Fight Of The Year.
Now this is a surprise:
"There are still some NHL teams which discourage the use of visors. The Canadiens aren't one of them and, surprisingly, neither are the Philadelphia Flyers. While the Flyers have a reputation for toughness, general manager Bob Clarke requires rookies to wear visors."
For all his flaws, Bobby Clarke is not the idiot many make him out to be.
Personally, I can't see one third of NHL players using illegal performance enhancing drugs. It's not that I think NHL players are all that clean-cut, or are above using 'roids. Look at the Sudafed epidemic, or the brief nose-strip breathing aid fad (by the way, is Peter Bondra still wearing one of those?). Maybe performance-enhancing drugs just don't benefit hockey players much. Look at the sports where doping is a problem: sprinting, football, weightlifting, swimming, cycling, cross-country skiing... sports that seem to emphasize explosive power, or strength/endurance of a single motion. Hockey, basketball, tennis have not had doping problems. Perhaps the combination of physical abilities - dexterity, strength, and endurance - does not lend itself to doping.
Like everyone else, Todd also weighs in on the "Team Quebec" topic by criticizing their potential defense. I'll just say this: Yes, a Quebec team would be weaker than a "Rest Of Canada" team, but a Quebec victory over Canada would surprise me much less than the Belarus victory over Sweden.
~~~
In a more interesting article, Pat Hickey wrote a very interesting piece on the visor debate. It includes the thoughts of many Montreal Canadiens on the subject. Craig Rivet comes clean:
"If you want the truth, it's the macho thing," Rivet admitted. "Guys are trying to show how tough they are. It's part of the image."
There you have it. A visor-wearing player couldn't exactly come out and say this. I presume Rivet goes shield-less because of his occasional need to drop the gloves. Check out the hockeyfights.com description of his tilt with Bryan Marchment - the '03-04 Fight Of The Year.
Now this is a surprise:
"There are still some NHL teams which discourage the use of visors. The Canadiens aren't one of them and, surprisingly, neither are the Philadelphia Flyers. While the Flyers have a reputation for toughness, general manager Bob Clarke requires rookies to wear visors."
For all his flaws, Bobby Clarke is not the idiot many make him out to be.
posted by Jeff J at 12:10 p.m.
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