Gervais on the Podcast

[ReHabs]

I get what he's doing.

I'm just looking forward to his 15 mins of fame running out.

I wasn't parched for this kind of information personally. Zero interest in purchasing or reading that book.

Yeah who needs insight into the team when we have Eric Engles writing PR pieces hyping the Habs every week

 

[CHwest]

Can this guy shut the f*** up? Kovalev didn't love hockey? You don't have such a long and great career without being impassioned by the sport. I still remember the tapes Kovalev made to help young kids develop their skills. It's ridiculous how much of an attention-seeker Gervais is.

Anyone who watched him play knew that most of the time he was disinterested. World class talent but not world class drive.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Kovy loved the game, he just didn't love the reality of what it took to be an NHL player. But he loves the game, that's why he coaches.

Richer was depressed, but he loved the game.

I respect Gervais, but his takes on certain situations seem quite reductive.

 

[417]

Yeah who needs insight into the team when we have Eric Engles writing PR pieces hyping the Habs every week

I don't lol.

I'm good with whatever happens in the dressing room, stays in the dressing room. I really don't need that kind of insight, which really isn't insight, it's one person's perspective.

It doesn't make it gospel.

Only in Montreal could an equipment guy (sorry, no offense to his profession or value to the organization over his long career) have this kind of platform to write a "tell-all book".

 

[sheed36]

Gervais was also on Melnick's show last week. Melnick asked him about a story he had heard from a very good source and if it was true since it wasn't in the book but Melnick didn't say the players name.

Melnick's story was that at the end of each season as the players packed up to leave they would tip the training staff and equipment managers and every player would tip expect one veteran player. Gervais laughed and said yes that it was true and that the player was Russian and wore #79. Gervais laughed again and said that even though Markov was making good money he was very tight with his money.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

Kovalev was most talented hockey player Gervais seen play for Montreal. But he never loved the game.​

​

Yeah, this one doesn't seem to jive with everything that we've seen from Kovalev; one does not continue to play in a relatively backwater league for a couple of years after an NHL career, and then move on to coaching, without any love for the game, unless he's in serious financial difficulty and scrounging up anything that he can.

Edit: Ah, I see that almost everyone else had hit on that one as well.

 

[ReHabs]

Only in Montreal could an equipment guy (sorry, no offense to his profession or value to the organization over his long career) have this kind of platform to write a "tell-all book".

He's pretty much the most legendary equipment manager in the sport but I get your point. I think you're mistaken though, this is neither a 'tell-all' style book nor is it filled with gossip. It's repeatedly said: it's his perspective based on his story being in the game for 30+ years.

 

[417]

He's pretty much the most legendary equipment manager in the sport but I get your point. I think you're mistaken though, this is neither a 'tell-all' style book nor is it filled with gossip. It's repeatedly said: it's his perspective based on his story being in the game for 30+ years.

Also my point lol.

Let's just say he's in the right market for this kind of thing.

Also if that wasn't "gossip", then what was it?

Writing a book and spreading information on someone's character because that's how YOU perceive them, IS gossip.

 

[Whitesnake]

I don't lol.

I'm good with whatever happens in the dressing room, stays in the dressing room. I really don't need that kind of insight, which really isn't insight, it's one person's perspective.

It doesn't make it gospel.

Only in Montreal could an equipment guy (sorry, no offense to his profession or value to the organization over his long career) have this kind of platform to write a "tell-all book".

You think? That an equipment managers wouldn't have such platforms from NFL, NBA or even Top Football leagues in Europe?

 

[417]

You think? That an equipment managers wouldn't have such platforms from NFL, NBA or even Top Football leagues in Europe?

Nope...because all of those guys are nameless/faceless.

I don't even think it would happen in other NHL cities. Can you name me the equipment guy in Washington? Or Carolina? Or Edmonton?

Only in Montreal does an equipment manager, as legendary as he was and said with no disrespect to his profession, have that kind of platform.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

Also my point lol.

Let's just say he's in the right market for this kind of thing.

Also if that wasn't "gossip", then what was it?

Writing a book and spreading information on someone's character because that's how YOU perceive them, IS gossip.

Thank you. These quips, opinions and quotes from Gervais are gossip, and the fact that Gervais is revered for releasing such a book is a bit unnerving. I see an old man trying to be in the spotlight after having retired and not saying anything of substance. I really don't understand the need for these things to be public.

 

[Lshap]

Also my point lol.

Let's just say he's in the right market for this kind of thing.

Also if that wasn't "gossip", then what was it?

Writing a book and spreading information on someone's character because that's how YOU perceive them, IS gossip.

Agreed, it's pure gossip. Which is fine for those who want to read it, but let's not kid ourselves about what this book is and isn't – Gervais isn't sharing his expertise as an equipment manager. People aren't buying the book for information on sticks and jerseys and skates. They want dirt, the whispers, the grudges, the personal faults, the fights.

 

[ReHabs]

Writing a book and spreading information on someone's character because that's how YOU perceive them, IS gossip.

If he had divulged things that showed people in a bad light I think I’d be more sympathetic to calling this gossip.

What this is, is filling in the gap of having a half dozen beat reporters who didn’t report beats on the Habs for many years.

 

[417]

If he had divulged things that showed people in a bad light I think I’d be more sympathetic to calling this gossip.

Unless you have proof, it's gossip and even then.

You write a book and offer up your opinion that Player X doesn't care about the game or Player Z only cares about himself, without actual proof, then it's gossip.

Not sure why this is even a debate...

What this is, is filling in the gap of having a half dozen beat reporters who didn’t report beats on the Habs for many years.

This isn't beat reporting...filling in the gap with his OPINION about people is gossip.

There's an appetite for this, clearly. Which is fine.

Not my cup of tea personally.

Like I said earlier, I'm looking forward to when this guy’s 15 mins of fame are up.

I don't need Habs beat guys to tell me who likes who or who's a good guy or who tips them etc.

I'm only interested in what happens on the ice, the rest of that stuff doesn't move me.

But I get it does for some. I mean people still buy the National Enquirer even though its trash.

 

[the valiant effort]

Props to Markov for imploring the Habs to raise Gervais’s wages and shunning our weird tipping culture.

 

[The Real Timo]

So the great Bergy who always wins his trades consulted an equipment manager re Subban/Weber trade? That's price-less.

 

[jellybeans]

Lol @ at the Weber/Subban trade.

He called the equipment guy to ask if the trade was good , Norris winner with full value at his peak age for a declining d-man.

Im laughing hard right now.

Also about Pacioretty , no one is surprised by that. The guy had less emotions than Plekanec and Markov combined.

Also calling Kovalev someone that doesnt love hockey is just...

You do realise that he was the equipment dude for team canada and Weber was also on the team.

 

[Whitesnake]

Nope...because all of those guys are nameless/faceless.

I don't even think it would happen in other NHL cities. Can you name me the equipment guy in Washington? Or Carolina? Or Edmonton?

Only in Montreal does an equipment manager, as legendary as he was and said with no disrespect to his profession, have that kind of platform.

But it's not about a name. It's about a guy who was equipment manager and has inside stories. Who cares about the name? One thing is certain....whether what me, you or others think, the guy was seen to be THE best to be called with Team Canada to be their go to guy. I guess it makes sense to remember his name.

 

[Whitesnake]

I can't imagine the outrage if Gervais would have actually tell everything he actually knows....if people think that he actually tells everything he knows in it....

Fun part is that nobody talks about the Niniimaa incident when it's actually the most degrating thing in it....I guess the outrage factor goes depending who you like and dislike as a player which makes you either agree or disagree with Gervais's take.

 

[salbutera]

So the great Bergy who always wins his trade consulted an equipment manager re Subban/Weber trade? That's price-less.

That’s called doing one’s homework (“dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s”), unfortunately I don’t think the same level of due diligence detail was performed on Drouin before pulling the trigger on the Sergachev deal

 

[417]

But it's not about a name. It's about a guy who was equipment manager and has inside stories. Who cares about the name?

You're missing my point when I say "nameless".

Everyone who has access to a team dressing room has inside stories. Literally the cleaning crew of the Montreal Canadiens could decide to write a "tell-all book" tomorrow.

But of course, that would never happen because they don't have the platform. No one would validate whatever information they have to divulge.

And IMO, it's the same for equipment managers in all other NHL cities, or NFL, or NBA or MLB.

It's is only in Montreal, where we've elevated an equipment manager to that level where we've made him feel validated enough to have the, sorry going to use a pointed word, audacity, to write a book where he's essentially intertwining his subjective opinion with his witness accounts.

I haven't read this book nor do I plan too...I read the recap at the beginning of this thread and a lot of it I really don't care or needed to know, but the John Kordic note made me especially uncomfortable.

He's not alive to speak his truth and we all know he struggled with drugs/addiction. What's the point of writing that?

Like I said, you want to write a memoire-style book after your career, there's a way to do it.

Based on the little i've heard about the content of this book...comes off more as a gossip column.

One thing is certain....whether what me, you or others think, the guy was seen to be THE best to be called with Team Canada to be their go to guy. I guess it makes sense to remember his name.

I don't care personally, him being the best equipment manager matters to players and team management.

I couldn't careless lol sorry, don't mean to appear callous but him being the THE best Equipment Manager just makes him THE best Equipment Manager.

It doesn't make him qualified to evaluate the psyches of players.

 

[Mcdonaldz]

So it’s okay for posters to say Bergevin, Therrien, Ducharme etc are scums, assholes, some of the worst human beings that walked the earth.

But to saaayyy Kovalev didn’t like the game and Weber was better for the team… that’s a no no lolll

 

[Whitesnake]

You're missing my point when I say "nameless".

Everyone who has access to a team dressing room has inside stories. Literally the cleaning crew of the Montreal Canadiens could decide to write a "tell-all book" tomorrow.

But of course, that would never happen because they don't have the platform. No one would validate whatever information they have to divulge.

And IMO, it's the same for equipment managers in all other NHL cities, or NFL, or NBA or MLB.

It's is only in Montreal, where we've elevated an equipment manager to that level where we've made him feel validated enough to have the, sorry going to use a pointed word, audacity, to write a book where he's essentially intertwining his subjective opinion with his witness accounts.

I haven't read this book nor do I plan too...I read the recap at the beginning of this thread and a lot of it I really don't care or needed to know, but the John Kordic note made me especially uncomfortable.

He's not alive to speak his truth and we all know he struggled with drugs/addiction. What's the point of writing that?

Like I said, you want to write a memoire-style book after your career, there's a way to do it.

Based on the little i've heard about the content of this book...comes off more as a gossip column.

I don't care personally, him being the best equipment manager matters to players and team management.

I couldn't careless lol sorry, don't mean to appear callous but him being the THE best Equipment Manager just makes him THE best Equipment Manager.

It doesn't make him qualified to evaluate the psyches of players.

Whate platform did Gervais had before he wrote his book? The platform he has is that he was there for 25 years. Who stays with the same organization for that long? And couldn't care less if they lose a couple of friends down the road? There are TONS of books that talks about the inside of this or that. Not sure what the difference is for this one. As far as Kordic is concerned, it's nothing we didn't know already.

But in the end.....you haven't read the book. Strange to have such a strong opinoin without having read the subject of the said opinion. That's like reviewing a movie without seeing it.

In the end, Gervais said WAY MORE great things about people than he said bad things about them. Yet, NOWHERE do we read about that.

I think it's false to say that we don't want to know what's happening inside a room. Especially when in this very board, we keep being bashed for having opinions WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL CONTEXT or without BEING INSIDE THE ROOM. Having said that, most understand that it's still only his opinion. I guess we can then easily agree or disagree with it. Just don't understand the outrage about it.

As far as nameless....I didn't misread your point. You essentially asked me if I could name an equipement manager in Washington. Just curious when you keep repeating that nobody else has a platform? That I don't get. You mean only in Montreal we are gossip lover? Everybody else on every other sport don't care about it? If an equpment manager would have a book about the inside of Ronaldo life, nobody would buy it? Why is it that there's SO many books about Donald Trump out there? I think platforms are there. You just need a popular subject. Pretty sure Montreal isn't the only city with that kidn of subject.

 

[BLONG7]

I am a little surprised he is taking his 15 minutes to the max..............has any other equipment manager of any other sports organization done this??
Confidentiality once you retire means nothing? I get what he is doing, just surprised, and not impressed......but hey it's the habs so he can make some extra $$$

 

[417]

Whate platform did Gervais had before he wrote his book? The platform he has is that he was there for 25 years. Who stays with the same organization for that long? And couldn't care less if they lose a couple of friends down the road? There are TONS of books that talks about the inside of this or that. Not sure what the difference is for this one.

The one where he's known as the best Equipment Manager in hockey, a title and honor bestowed upon him by people in hockey circles.

Also, there are plenty of behind the scenes folks who were with an organization for 25+ years and no one knows about because well...no one cares lol.

Eddie Palchak was the Montreal Canadiens Equipment Manager for 31 years. Maybe even more legendary than Pierre Gervais.

This past summer there was an Equipment Manger with the Arizona Cardinals who retired after 41 years. I repeat, 41 years.

I agree, not sure what the difference is for Pierre Gervais...except for when you're told your the best at what you do, you think people want to hear what you have to say.

But most Equipment Managers know that they're privilidged to have a certain access to player's daily lives and 99% of them would rather keep that "sanctity" unblemished.

Gervais thought otherwise and that's his right.

As far as Kordic is concerned, it's nothing we didn't know already.

Exactly. So what's the point? Just throw more dirt on his name?

Cool. Anything for a few bucks I guess.

But in the end.....you haven't read the book. Strange to have such a strong opinoin without having read the subject of the said opinion. That's like reviewing a movie without seeing it.

You find my opinion strong? Odd.

My original post in this thread just stated that I was looking forward to when his 15 mins of fame were over. I don't have interest in this kind of stuff. I don't need to know what happens in locker rooms to be honest. Who likes who, or who doesn't get along, or who is cheap or who did drugs or who was a humanitarian, etc.

I'm only interested in what happens on the ice.

In the end, Gervais said WAY MORE great things about people than he said bad things about them. Yet, NOWHERE do we read about that.

Not all that surprising. It's the juicy gossip that gets folks talking and the real reason anyone buying his book.

Do you really think people are buying his book to read about how great a guy Saku Koivu was?

I think it's false to say that we don't want to know what's happening inside a room. Especially when in this very board, we keep being bashed for having opinions WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL CONTEXT or without BEING INSIDE THE ROOM.

Speak for yourself. Unless it's related to what's happening on the ice.

I have zero interests. I don't like gossip and people's perceptions of other people don't mean anything to me. I'm not friends with the players, I just watch them play a sport that entertains me.

It's not that deep.