The Players' Tribune: Patrick O'Sullivan details years of abuse UPDATED with article
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I don't think he owes his dad a reconciliation. And Patrick himself thinks the man is beyond hope.
John Bender to Patrick O'Sullivan: "I think your old man and my old man should get together and go bowling"
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John Price hater
- Mar 20, 2009
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Will never happen and I doubt Patrick ever want's to reconcile.
His Dad is a piece of ****.
What's sad is that this happens in every sport.
CanadienShark
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- Dec 18, 2012
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Holy crap. This is crazy. I know my dad grew up in a time when child abuse was basically the norm, or at least deemed socially acceptable in many forms. Boy am I ever thankful that my dad went into a career that made him essentially the polar opposite of a child abuser. If anything, he was too easy on me and I'm paying for it now in university, trying to finish up my degree. I know there's a difference between school and hockey, but there is obviously a significant overlap when it comes to parental involvement.
Caps Circle
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I first heard about him when reading this article: http://espn.go.com/espn/magazine/archives/news/story?page=magazine-20030623-article25
Absolutely chilling story. Wish him the best.
(Also, Gare Joyce is one of the best damn sportswriters ever)
Absolutely chilling story. Wish him the best.
(Also, Gare Joyce is one of the best damn sportswriters ever)
stempniaksen
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- Oct 12, 2008
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God these are just the best. It's so great to hear truth straight from the athlete instead of the routine cookie cutter bs they are forced to do with PR reps etc.
What a powerful story. Really struck a chord with me as my Uncle went through this to a lesser degree playing baseball for my grandpa (tough man) growing up. Used to teach him not to be afraid of the ball by whipping it at him in the batters box as a 6-8 year old. If he stepped out of the box to dodge the whole process started over. The physical/mental abuse wasnt an every day thing like Patrick here, but it was more than enough. My uncle was scouted by the Tigers/Blue Jays. He was the complete package, could hit better than any kid, had great speed, had a rocket arm, at the age of 15 was one of the only kids that could throw an 87mph fastball (great for his age/time period). However, the scouts went with a less skilled kid as they put it. My uncle fit the saying, "Million dollar arm, and a two cent head". He quit the game of baseball when he was just 16 years old. Became an alcoholic, drug addicted, million bar fights type of guy. I look after him still to this day. He lives in a government assisted building and needs me to take him grocery shopping once a month right when he gets his cheque other wise its spent on the wrong things.
Just amazes me what those types of parents do to their kids. I would almost guarantee though that if my uncle had kids he probably would have been abusive. It's all he knows. Just like I bet Patricks father was abused physically as well. That's why the key is speaking up and stopping it. If we don't, than it will never end.
What a powerful story. Really struck a chord with me as my Uncle went through this to a lesser degree playing baseball for my grandpa (tough man) growing up. Used to teach him not to be afraid of the ball by whipping it at him in the batters box as a 6-8 year old. If he stepped out of the box to dodge the whole process started over. The physical/mental abuse wasnt an every day thing like Patrick here, but it was more than enough. My uncle was scouted by the Tigers/Blue Jays. He was the complete package, could hit better than any kid, had great speed, had a rocket arm, at the age of 15 was one of the only kids that could throw an 87mph fastball (great for his age/time period). However, the scouts went with a less skilled kid as they put it. My uncle fit the saying, "Million dollar arm, and a two cent head". He quit the game of baseball when he was just 16 years old. Became an alcoholic, drug addicted, million bar fights type of guy. I look after him still to this day. He lives in a government assisted building and needs me to take him grocery shopping once a month right when he gets his cheque other wise its spent on the wrong things.
Just amazes me what those types of parents do to their kids. I would almost guarantee though that if my uncle had kids he probably would have been abusive. It's all he knows. Just like I bet Patricks father was abused physically as well. That's why the key is speaking up and stopping it. If we don't, than it will never end.
Sorry to get to bump up an old topic but ask and ye shall receive what was requested.
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/patrick-osullivan-nhl-abuse/
FLYLine27*
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Absolutely gut wrenching.
I hope his pos dad and any other pos like this die lonely with nobody there for them.
I hope his pos dad and any other pos like this die lonely with nobody there for them.
Sky04
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- Jan 8, 2009
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29dryden29
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As a single dad of four kids myself I say things to them and wonder to myself if it may cause them issues. Even the slightest thing like come on kiddo use that brain you know you can figure out this problem without me giving you the answer. Even something as small as that as a parent has me wondering sometimes so I have no idea how someone could be that abusive. My dad used to yell and scream at me from the stands when I played and I would hear about it if I allowed a bad goal but he never hit me to toughen me up.
Oh my god, that’s horrific.
Back when I played hockey, I’d get sickened by the crazy parents on the other team screeching and hollering at their own children with insults and the like when they made any sort of play.
“Pass the ****ing PUCK!â€
“Take the hit for the TEAM!â€
“Faster! FASTER!â€
Man, I can’t imagine getting beaten.
Back when I played hockey, I’d get sickened by the crazy parents on the other team screeching and hollering at their own children with insults and the like when they made any sort of play.
“Pass the ****ing PUCK!â€
“Take the hit for the TEAM!â€
“Faster! FASTER!â€
Man, I can’t imagine getting beaten.
Sky04
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- Jan 8, 2009
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I'm more surprised he didn't quit hockey as a result, that would've been the easy way out. Seriously, to handle that abuse for 10 years, become a #1 pick in the OHL and then into the NHL is amazing.
It’s really unbelievable. If anyone gave me that abuse while I was playing, I’d just quit right there and go into something else.
My Dad yelled at me once from the stands. I told him yell at me again and I'm done. He said sorry and never did again. I got very lucky when it came to how my Dad watched my hockey.
This was infuriating to read but unfortunately it isn't that simple. If his dad would beat him after scoring a hat trick, what do you think he would do to him if he tried to quit playing hockey?
capebretoncanadien
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- Nov 29, 2008
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Tough dude to make it through all that BS he should do a legit book about his experience if he feels up to it.
His Dad sounds like a whacko loser. His poor mother is no doubt a victim of the abuse too. What an animal he should be sent out into the woods to live like one
His Dad sounds like a whacko loser. His poor mother is no doubt a victim of the abuse too. What an animal he should be sent out into the woods to live like one
Cult of Hynes
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I'd be more shocked if there was. He could have went into more depth about what happened to him, that says a lot given how brutal what he put down was.
He probably would have tried to kill him like an abusive partner does to their significant other when they try to leave.
Absolutely brutal and tragic. I respect Sully for coming forward though and hopefully it saves at least one kid out there from going down the same road he did. It's a shame his career went the way it did. I wish him all the best.
Reconciliation??? There should NO reconciliation with that disgusting father. He can spend the rest of his life with shame in his heart and head for what he did to Patrick. He doesn't have the RIGHT to even look at Patrick at all or to even say a word to him.
tsujimoto74
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- May 28, 2012
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What a heart-breaking story, but it's great that he's telling it.
^^That part right there. If that reaches anybody and gives them the nudge they need to act in a situation where they suspect abuse is happening, he could be saving other children from having to endure the kind of trauma he did.
^^That part right there. If that reaches anybody and gives them the nudge they need to act in a situation where they suspect abuse is happening, he could be saving other children from having to endure the kind of trauma he did.
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