The Players' Tribune: Patrick O'Sullivan details years of abuse UPDATED with article

[Mofletz]

You don't have to fight, and if you attack an unsuspecting opponent and beat his skull in you're disciplined, usually heavily, and there might be off-ice implications.

The history of this league is full of ference v stempniak "fights".

 

[Pyromaniac]

I was as well but it was more than from time to time and not on the level this guy is saying happened to him but bad enough I guess, I had people bring it up as well over my life and I also handled it accordingly if at all. I've always been a person who reacts to your intent more than what you're actually saying, so I agree.

I feel like workplace abuse doesn't apply here since trash talking is expected, I think people are over reacting and white knighting because its fun to hate Burrows, its funny, if I say we don't even know if Burrows knew about his history when he made the chirp in junior and could of just been saying it in a red headed step child type remark, people will laugh and act incredulous. never change internet.

The fact that O'Sullivan says that Burrows did it twice debunks that. It was clearly planned and Canucks fans have mentioned in the past that he researches things before hand. It wasn't hard to find things about O'Sullivan, his story was fairly popular.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I was as well but it was more than from time to time and not on the level this guy is saying happened to him but bad enough I guess, I had people bring it up as well over my life and I also handled it accordingly if at all. I've always been a person who reacts to your intent more than what you're actually saying, so I agree.

I feel like workplace abuse doesn't apply here since trash talking is expected, I think people are over reacting and white knighting because its fun to hate Burrows, its funny, if I say we don't even know if Burrows knew about his history when he made the chirp in junior and could of just been saying it in a red headed step child type remark, people will laugh and act incredulous. never change internet.

Homer comes in to defend his favourite team's player, accuses anyone of thinking differently of being a White Knight, pretending to be objective voice in a sea of illogical, irrational haters. Never change internet.

 

[Ceremony]

A) Yea I also think it's ignorant.

B) He was responding to a post about death threats and racism. Nothing in his posts suggests that's the only category, and you shouldn't make that assumption.

C) He never said he condones Burrows remarks, and rather stated that he's not atypical of a lot of other NHL players crossing the line. Assuming facts again and jumping to hypocrisy.

If I misunderstood B then your point about C would be correct and if they are, fine, but it seems slightly disingenuous to say one variety of name calling is okay while another isn't

 

[Phrasing]

If I misunderstood B then your point about C would be correct and if they are, fine, but it seems slightly disingenuous to say one variety of name calling is okay while another isn't

I can't speak for him, and you would have to ask him directly, but race is a protected class under discrimination and part of hate crime. However, "death threats" in the context of a game are of another nature. Death threats outside of the context of a game is also very different. One is criminalized, another is not.

 

[Mofletz]

Just as there is no way of knowing if other players will stoop to that level and bring up dead teammates. You had some guys suggesting that maybe other players have brought it up. Do you have any proof of that?

The things Burrows is saying is trying to get a rise and response from his opponents, and sometimes that response goes far. Remember McSorley on Brashear? Or Bertuzzi on Moore? O'Sullivan played on, didn't say anything of this matter until he was asked questions about players he disliked in a Reddit AMA chat.

So because words don't cause physical harm, anything should be said then? Gotcha.

My opinion is: there shouldn't be fighting and words that cause any pain.

I was posting because I can't believe people are this naive to think that people are good by nature. That's all. I am not surprise people say that on a daily basis in all aspects of life.

 

[Eric Sachs]

I've consistently made the point in this thread that you need to be tough to make it in the NHL. Physically and mentally. You need to be able to take both physical and verbal punishment.

Player A has a bad ankle but is playing. The opposing team knows it and targets his ankle. I've always hated that and I believe it is poor sportsmanship. Is that not as bad as what Burrows allegedly said to O'Sullivan? A player is already injured and you exploit that injury. Seems pretty low to me.

Obviously Player A is at fault here. He shouldn't have hurt his ankle in the first place because you need to be tough to be in the NHL.

Appalling. Simply appalling.

I don't care if you want to defend Burrows by saying he might not have known or whatever but to even imply victim blaming here is abhorrent and a disservice to those who may be in similar positions that use this site. Whether they are NHL players, macho man or whatever, it doesn't matter.

If that wasn't your intention, then please go back and edit your post because it's a disgusting position to take and one that I wouldn't want even subtly attached to my name.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Yes I read the article. Burrows didn't just make this remark, it was made almost 10 years ago? Would he have known everything we know about O'Sullivan's situation now? He probably thought O'Sullivan got smacked around by his dad like many older players used to get smacked around by their dad, how would he know the full story that we now know 10 years ago?

FACT: Parents used to beat the crap out of their kids under the term "discipline", obviously that is wrong but it was totally acceptable not that long ago. O'Sullivan's case is obviously much, much worse but how would any player know that before it was publicized? They probably had some idea his dad beat him but how would they know it's any different from the beatings they may have received?

I'd start by guessing that none of them filed restraining orders, and then subsequently had them reviewed and approved by a court system. If this could be mistaken for some type of discipline that was common, why would anyone be aware of it and why would a criminal justice system act upon it?

As to why in particular hockey players could have been more aware than others:

But despite the restraining order, John O'Sullivan continued to show up at Patrick's games. The police were called on several occasions. With every game he played Patrick wondered if his dad would be there somewhere in the stands.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040428002913/http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/whoselifeisit/story2.html

 

[Chairman Maouth]

Obviously Player A is at fault here. He shouldn't have hurt his ankle in the first place because you need to be tough to be in the NHL.

Appalling. Simply appalling.

I don't care if you want to defend Burrows by saying he might not have known or whatever but to even imply victim blaming here is abhorrent and a disservice to those who may be in similar positions that use this site.

Boy. And I was accused of setting up a strawman.

 

[BB6]

Homer comes in to defend his favourite team's player, accuses anyone of thinking differently of being a White Knight, pretending to be objective voice in a sea of illogical, irrational haters. Never change internet.

Just said people are white knighting, some people who think Burrows is a pos aren't overreacting and others are, like your comment for instance is an overreaction to mine.

 

[Unspecified]

Does NHL contracts contain a morality clause in them? If so the Canucks should distant themselves from this piece of ****. He has been irrelevant since 2011.

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

I've consistently made the point in this thread that you need to be tough to make it in the NHL. Physically and mentally. You need to be able to take both physical and verbal punishment.

Just a question. Are you okay with anything and everything happening on the ice towards players that hurts them mentally or emotionally?

 

[Phrasing]

Does NHL contracts contain a morality clause in them? If so the Canucks should distant themselves from this piece of ****. He has been irrelevant since 2011.

We have one in the sports league I'm general counsel for, and our player agreements were drafted by the same firm that represents the NHL (Proskauer). Not sure if the NHL player agreements have it, but it probably does.

That said, I don't think the Canucks can use it without a fight and will probably run into trouble with the NHLPA. Even then, it's not a recent event which makes it all the more less likely.

 

[Ainec]

happened 9 years ago does the morality clause apply

 

[Chairman Maouth]

Just a question. Are you okay with anything happening on the ice towards players that hurts them mentally or emotionally?

That is the best question anyone has asked me here today. Seriously.

My answer is that if you are hurt by things people say to you on the ice you probably should have chosen a different profession.

 

[Paper]

That is the best question anyone has asked me here today. Seriously.

My answer is that if you are hurt by things people say to you on the ice you probably should have chosen a different profession.

I'm sure O'Sullivan's dad would have had no issue with him quitting hockey.

 

[Unspecified]

happened 9 years ago does the morality clause apply

If it just came to light then i would think so.

 

[Unaffiliated]

That is the best question anyone has asked me here today. Seriously.

My answer is that if you are hurt by things people say to you on the ice you probably should have chosen a different profession.

So it's the best question you've received and you're not even going to give a direct answer?

 

[Chairman Maouth]

I'm sure O'Sullivan's dad would have had no issue with him quitting hockey.

No one said life is easy. We all face challenges, some more than others. In the grand scheme of things, I wish getting chirped on the ice is the worst thing that ever happened to me.

 

[Paper]

no one said life is easy. We all face challenges, some more than others. In the grand scheme of things, i wish getting chirped on the ice is the worst thing that ever happened to me.

So does O'Sullivan!

 

[Rocko604]

Okay, I've been very clear that I do not condone what Burrows said, but are we really going to bring up morality clauses in contracts? Can't it be left at Burrows being a d-bag and him having to deal with the repercussions of it?

IMO, Canucks management has 4.5 million other reasons to get rid of him than this.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

So does O'Sullivan!

Excellent point.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

That is the best question anyone has asked me here today. Seriously.

My answer is that if you are hurt by things people say to you on the ice you probably should have chosen a different profession.

Tough luck for him getting abused. He can't play the game he loves and make a good living because he was traumatized from his abuse. He had no education or training, he probably would have been forced to support himself through a minimum wage job. Do you think that would have been a better outcome?

Burrows is the only one who said anything to him about the abuse. It's not the sport that's too tough, it's that Burrows is a pathetic ***hole for saying that. I'd feel worse for O'Sullivan not being able to play hockey than I would if Burrows (or anyone) wasn't allowed to say whatever he wanted.

 

[Unaffiliated]

No one said life is easy. We all face challenges, some more than others. In the grand scheme of things, I wish getting chirped on the ice is the worst thing that ever happened to me.

I straight-up don't understand the point of this comment.

Has anyone in this thread or anyone mentioned in this thread or anyone even remotely connected to this story ever said that being chirped was worst thing that happened?

What a mystifying post.

 

[HockeyMomx2]

Anyone around O'Sullivan who was aware of this situation had the duty to intervene by calling the police.

Today, yes. Then? Not so much. These things weren't talked about outside of the home. Ever. Period. Those white picket fences need to stay pristine so the neighbors and everyone else in town continues to think you are the perfect family you are trying to portray. For those families who had parents who couldn't hide it in public, it was still seen as 'none of my business'. You could call the cops on a parent beating the crap out of their kid in the parking lot and the cops wouldn't have been able to do a thing back then.