Babcock Interview (Since being hired by Saskatoon) "Something doesn't add up"

[ottomaddox]

Because you're offended by anyone who disagrees with you and you project your own sensitivity onto them.

So I think Babcock is an asshole. Get over it.

Isn't it you who is offended?

 

[ShaneFalco]

Oh boy we’re back to the Spezza thing again.



Please. As if Nick f***ing Shore was some hard nosed and tenacious player.

And Spezza was the furthest thing from egotistical when he signed here, in fact he was quite humble. Showed up to camp early and was willing to play anywhere in the lineup. That Spezza had a good pre-season game and then Babs decided to disparage him in the post game was a huge red flag. That he sat him in the home opener against his former team is even worse and was a massive middle finger to both his GM and a respected vet who had been nothing but receptive and respectful since he had arrived.

And you could tell Babcock didn't want him here and/or was against the signing. You don't disrespect a veteran player like that at the game opener. There was absolutely no reason to sit him other than spite

 

[Joey Hoser]

Isn't it you who is offended?

No. Just because I disagree with you doesn't mean I'm offended.... I just went over that.

 

[gtforepro]

Name one person outside of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin who looks cool addressing themselves in the 3rd person...this dude is a complete moron

Ricky Henderson always pulled it off pretty well.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Babs condition for joining Toronto is he wanted to interview Larry and find out what board authority he would have in running/coaching da team ... Shanny requested Larry to have mtg ... there was da mistake ... mistake by Shanny for allowing it ... mistake by Larry for accepting it ... and it created Babs world ... when I sit as chm of board of my companies I never would accept an interview from a VP of sales for 1 company to make a decision if he wants to join up with us ... why I am paying a president to run it?????????? ... if he can't convince guy to join then it my books it is over ... it created too many divisions ... and Babs looked at Lou as he equal and Shanny as his student and Dubie as kid running analytics for everyone

In dese companies dat you run, do dey have a president and a CEO der too, if you da chairman? What happens if der is a disagreement?

 

[ottomaddox]

No. Just because I disagree with you doesn't mean I'm offended.... I just went over that.

I don't even know what we are disagreeing about. We are on the same side. Why should I be offended by that? I am not on the side of Cancel Culture. Are you on the side of Cancel Culture?

 

[Joey Hoser]

I don't even know what we are disagreeing about. We are on the same side. Why should I be offended by that? I am not on the side of Cancel Culture. Are you on the side of Cancel Culture?

What cancelling? I'm calling Babcock an asshole because he appears to be an asshole. What the f*** are you talking about?

 

[BTP]

I don't get why you can't handle the fact that people don't like Babcock. You're so sensitive.

Sensitivity is allowing someone who you've never met, and has never done anything to you or anyone you know, to upset you so badly that you feel the need to call him a "piece of garbage" when he simply says he loves his wife and kids.

 

[Leafsfan74]

not that I care one iota about Babcock, but he does make a good point, if he is the POS he's being portrayed as why did a former player (Shanahan) of his who saw first hand how he bullied team mates hire him to be the coach of the Leafs? Now there's a question I'd like the Prez to answer..................

I think the belief was that Old School Babcock could get the most out of a talented young group. Get them to play the game the "right" way, bring structure and discipline to a desperate franchise. Feelings be damned, just win and get it right. Cry later after you have a Cup or two.

I never have a problem with accountability of players or coaches. As someone who has been in management, one has to understand that different humans have different styles that they respond to. Never, strip another of their dignity though. Golden Rule for me.

It seems to me, he didn't balance his approach based on the player.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

And you could tell Babcock didn't want him here and/or was against the signing. You don't disrespect a veteran player like that at the game opener. There was absolutely no reason to sit him other than spite

Babcock was an arrogant jerk. I think very few are disputing that.

When a coach is an arrogant jerk and gets fired, everyone should just move on. But that didn't happen in Toronto. The media tried to turn him into a monster for some reason. They dug deep. The "dirt" they found was barely dirt at all. But they still tried to act like it was, and even had many people convinced.

But what were his great sins? Giving low minutes to his star players? Benching some vets? Yelling at a player without knowing he was going through mental health concerns? Accidentally leaking a work ethic player list? These are all 0.0001/10 when it comes to "bad guy" characteristics.

I hear a lot of people say that some players want to avoid Toronto because of the toxic media. Shouldn't we be concerned coaches/management/etc. start to believe in this reputation as well?

Keefe has a very questionable past. But he's been given a free pass thus far because the media likes him so far. If the media ever turns against him and he's eventually fired... watch out. We should all be upset about what the media did to Babcock.

 

[ottomaddox]

What cancelling? I'm calling Babcock an asshole because he appears to be an asshole. What the f*** are you talking about?

It seems important to you that the world thinks Babs is a bad person. It seems like you don't care to forgive him. Maybe I'm wrong, but cancel culture doesn't want to see an apology. A firing is not good enough. You want Babs wiped out and to never coach again. All because of what? He's a prick? Yeah. Did it get him a coaching job in the NHL, a cup, wins, coaching Team Canada, etc? It might have. So what? I don't think he killed anyone along the way, but a lot of sensitive people can't handle that. The Leafs failed and Toronto fans want him to pay dearly. Long after his firing!

 

[TMLegend]

Sensitivity is allowing someone who you've never met, and has never done anything to you or anyone you know, to upset you so badly that you feel he need to call him a "piece of garbage" when he simply says he loves his wife and kids.

Got em.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Babcock was an arrogant jerk. I think very few are disputing that.

When a coach is an arrogant jerk and gets fired, everyone should just move on. But that didn't happen in Toronto. The media tried to turn him into a monster for some reason. They dug deep. The "dirt" they found was barely dirt at all. But they still tried to act like it was, and even had many people convinced.

But what were his great sins? Giving low minutes to his star players? Benching some vets? Yelling at a player without knowing he was going through mental health concerns? Accidentally leaking a work ethic player list? These are all 0.0001/10 when it comes to "bad guy" characteristics.

I hear a lot of people say that some players want to avoid Toronto because of the toxic media. Shouldn't we be concerned coaches/management/etc. start to believe in this reputation as well?

Keefe has a very questionable past. But he's been given a free pass thus far because the media likes him so far. If the media ever turns against him and he's eventually fired... watch out. We should all be upset about what the media did to Babcock.

Keefe acknowledged, apologized, and changed himself as a person with regards to his past. Babcock has doubled down on being a good person and everyone else must be making things up to unfairly target him, he has not changed whatsoever.

 

[ACC1224]

What cancelling? I'm calling Babcock an asshole because he appears to be an asshole. What the f*** are you talking about?

I was lucky enough to call him that to his face on the street in Columbus. Think I used ‘jackass’ though.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Keefe acknowledged, apologized, and changed himself as a person with regards to his past. Babcock has doubled down on being a good person and everyone else must be making things up to unfairly target him, he has not changed whatsoever.

Keefe's level of "messing up" in his past is leagues worse than shouting at players, accidentally leaking a work ethic list, and not giving a lot of ice time to his star players. Don't get me wrong... I personally am completely over Keefe's past. Don't care about it in the slightest. I'm just baffled that people are still so freaking angry at Babcock over things that are so tiny and insignificant.

 

[BlueForever75]

Don't people who claim to have inside sources have to be vetted?

Is that your role on these boards. That every time someone (which isn't me this time thank god), says something factual you throw the "vetted" line in there.

Pretty childish I must say.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Keefe's level of "messing up" in his past is leagues ahead of shouting at players, accidentally leaking a work ethic list, and not giving a lot of ice time to his star players. Don't get me wrong... I personally am completely over Keefe's past. Don't care about it in the slightest. I'm just baffled that people are still so freaking angry at Babcock over things that are so tiny and insignificant.

Why are you taking away intention from his actions? How did he "accidentally" leak a list when it was his idea in the first place and he was the one who brought it up to other players? He forced it on Marner even after he put himself at the bottom of the work ethic list as an easy way out for everyone.

Again, what rubs most people the wrong way is that Babcock doubles down on being an unpleasant person instead of accepting it and bettering himself. It's actually pretty identical to his coaching - if something isn't working it must be everyone else's fault but never his.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

In dese companies dat you run, do dey have a president and a CEO der too, if you da chairman? What happens if der is a disagreement?

My point was you don't run things up to chm to hire a rep ... da prez hires his VP and VP hires his sales reps ... when chm has to have a mtg to hire a rep there is a huge problem in that org ... and of course it will lead to disagreements from day 1 ... it leads to a screwed up situation and it ultimately costs you a lot of $$$ ... sad thing is to MLSE in a normal year it is literally a bug on their back ... but no one likes to lose $$$ and I don't know Larry but I am sure he regrets it and won't make same mistake twice

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Why are you taking away intention from his actions? How did he "accidentally" leak a list when it was his idea in the first place and he was the one who brought it up to other players? He forced it on Marner even after he put himself at the bottom of the work ethic list as an easy way out for everyone.

Again, what rubs most people the wrong way is that Babcock doubles down on being an unpleasant person instead of accepting it and bettering himself. It's actually pretty identical to his coaching - if something isn't working it must be everyone else's fault but never his.

You don't like his coaching style. You don't want him to coach any of the teams you follow. Fair enough. I don't see why it needs to go any further than that.

I think the list thing was a poor coaching strategy. And that's it. An elite super-rich adult athlete being a bit embarrassed by his coach is so insignificant in the grand scheme of things that I'm shocked anybody's thought about it for more than half a second.

I think what he said was a fair point. Essentially "Yeah, sometimes I'm strict when coaching these millionaire adult athletes, but I'm a good father, husband, etc. otherwise." Sounds fair to me. We all don't like his coaching style. The end. No big deal whatsoever.

 

[TMLegend]

Why are you taking away intention from his actions? How did he "accidentally" leak a list when it was his idea in the first place and he was the one who brought it up to other players? He forced it on Marner even after he put himself at the bottom of the work ethic list as an easy way out for everyone.

Again, what rubs most people the wrong way is that Babcock doubles down on being an unpleasant person instead of accepting it and bettering himself. It's actually pretty identical to his coaching - if something isn't working it must be everyone else's fault but never his.

How is Babcock an unpleasant person? Do you know him personally? Or are you pulling shit out of your ass because you didn't like him as a coach and some of the methods he used?

I don't care either way. He did some good things, some bad, got fired, life goes on. But considering you're this invested in the topic of Mike Babcock I have my doubts you're rational about this.

 

[Martin Skoula]

How is Babcock an unpleasant person? Do you know him personally? Or are you pulling shit out of your ass because you didn't like him as a coach and some of the methods he used?

I don't care either way. He did some good things, some bad, got fired, life goes on. But considering you're this invested in the topic of Mike Babcock I have my doubts you're rational about this.

He made the choice to go on TV and talk about it lol, nobody would be talking about this otherwise. He could have just stayed quiet, put his head down, and gone about doing his job instead of doubling down on being right and there being some sort of conspiracy against him.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

You don't like his coaching style. You don't want him to coach any of the teams you follow. Fair enough. I don't see why it needs to go any further than that.

I think the list thing was a poor coaching strategy. And that's it. An elite super-rich adult athlete being a bit embarrassed by his coach is so insignificant in the grand scheme of things that I'm shocked anybody's thought about it for more than half a second.

I think what he said was a fair point. Essentially "Yeah, sometimes I'm strict when coaching these millionaire adult athletes, but I'm a good father, husband, etc. otherwise." Sounds fair to me. We all don't like his coaching style. The end. No big deal whatsoever.

You give too much credit to our media ... how do you think they found out about issues between Mitch and Babs??????????? and really they did not even go into all of da issues even today ... there was no great research there .. it was a dad screaming from da heavens to all who would hear?????????? and most of what he screamed never got reported it was handled Lou style behind da scenes which is best way for all involved ... but folks it got a lot worse than a LIST OMG ... old style coaching teaching a young kid/dad da way of da old world

 

[JT AM da real deal]

You give too much credit to our media ... how do you think they found out about issues between Mitch and Babs??????????? and really they did not even go into all of da issues even today ... there was no great research there .. it was a dad screaming from da heavens to all who would hear?????????? and most of what he screamed never got reported it was handled Lou style behind da scenes which is best way for all involved ... but folks it got a lot worse than a LIST OMG ... old style coaching teaching a young kid/dad da way of da old world

If you are over 45 and played junior or above then you know exactly what I mean ... I give so much credit to Keefer for overcoming what he went through in life ... it is so so hard to let go of da old hockey world which was truly a hard *ss way of life full of concussions, backstabbing, rookie initiations, fighting on da tap, getting drunk, screwing all da puck bunnies, head slappings/fights in pregame in dressing rooms, dressing downs in front of team, wasting of some guys late in games to send a message, bag skates, benchings if you did not follow game orders to a tee ... a totally different game now

 

[Throw More Waffles]

He made the choice to go on TV and talk about it lol, nobody would be talking about this otherwise. He could have just stayed quiet, put his head down, and gone about doing his job instead of doubling down on being right and there being some sort of conspiracy against him.

Some random quotes from this thread.

What an unbelievable lack of self awareness from a real piece of garbage

Such a prick.

Thats terrible stuff and pretty arrogant too

he mentally tortured and scarred grown men

he is a POS

He's a stubborn, control-freak jackass

a combative, vindictive, and uncooperative prick

The man was cancerous.

My goodness. If you were to show just those quotes to a random person, they'd be like "Oh my GOD!!!! What the hell did this person do? Mass murderer? Serial rapists? Did he sell kids into the sex trade? What abomination of a human is this?"

No. He coached privileged millionaire adult athletes and was a little mean to them a few times.

 

[Bluelines]

Him saying that is minimizing a sociopathic action towards Mitch by him. He truly does not get the gravity of his actions. It does not have to be anything more than that, it's not a grand conspiracy. It's just GM's not trusting Babcock.

When you hire a coach, you are trusting him to have the best interest of the team and players at heart. Doing what he did to Mitch could have had severe negative consequences on a valuable young player. What if Mitch was not mentality resilient guy and that action destroyed Mitch's confidence / trust, you just single handedly destroyed a valuable asset.

Not sure many GM's want a guy who plays head games with their assets. If you are a player on Babcock's team and he ask you to do something, are you going to say Okie Dokie coach what ever you say, or are you going to hesitate and say, is this guys setting me up? I've coached in a different sport for many years, close to 30 years, I know from experience. that players tend to learn and do better with coaches that have their back and build their trust. They tend to bail quickly on coaches that they know have a history of "f-ing" with players heads.

Dude is a narcissist, if he can't accept that his actions have him blackballed from the NHL, not sure what more can be said. With that said, he is still an incredibly knowledgeable hockey man, he could probably do a lot for a vet team like Calgary or Montreal.

I posted this before Claude Julien was fired today, with Babcock's connection with Montreal, multiple degrees from McGill and part of the Tau Alpha chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

It sounds crazy but he would get instant improvement with Montreal, rumor's are that Bergeron does not have much runway left with the Molson's, he is going to want to find a coach who gets instant results. Bruce Boudreau would be another one that has a reputation of getting quick results.