Pittsburgh Sports Media Gibberish: Bombulie to restore order @ the Trib
- Thread starter ColePens
- Start date
- Status
MtlPenFan
Registered User
- Apr 14, 2010
- 15,629
- 754
What pissed me off the most was how the debacle was treated as some sort of anomaly. They basically flipped us off and said "Pfft, one shot deal morons. We'll be fine."
Then came the Boston series. Actually, then came the Islanders series. Vokoun or not, if Nabakov wasn't just a notch below how awful Fleury was, the Isles win that series. Boston was hilarious because Ray gave us all the middle finger by not only not firing anyone, but giving EVERYONE extensions.
In 2012, Sid was 24 ****ing years old. Geno 25 and pretty much entering their primes. But all I heard was "Shut up stupids, we're the Penguins and we know what we're doing" after that Philly series was over. Such a shame to think where they could be now if they'd just showed some balls and/or brains. But keeping the family together was more important. Having continuity was more important for branding and selling tickets than winning ****ing hockey games.
It's funny, because I was on KIRK'S case a lot in 2011 even before the Tampa series. Everyone was on Bylsma's case whereas I kept pointing to Shero as the main culprit because I could smell it all coming, especially the lack of winger help because Ray was more obsessed with stats and bargains than watching the actual product on the ice, especially Dupuis and Kunitz. I also HATED the Michalek and Martin deals at the time. I'd seen enough of playoff Martin in Jersey, especially that one series against the Flyers (the year they reached the final) to know we were overpaying for a guy who was near useless past the center red line. I'll always maintain that Martin got paid the money he did because the Penguins were expecting a minute eater (which he was) AND a 50 point defenseman because he was going to a more high octane team. If you really, really think about it, Martin has had ONE great playoff performance, and that was the lockout year. I thought he was tremendous and worth every penny. 2011 he was terrible, 2012 he was ****ing God awful and I'm ashamed to admit I was happy when Schenn blew him up. Last year he was just...whatever. When I think back on that Philly series, our two best D-men were Nisky and Despres.
LOL I don't know why we do this to ourselves. We just repeat the same **** over and over but it's therapeutic I suppose. For me, the biggest frustration stems from the fact that I honestly think we do a better job scouting using Gamecenter, and have better ideas for team building than the guys who actually get paid big money for it. Such a shame and such a waste what's gone on these last 5 years.
Add the frustration that comes with having an organization that runs itself like a political campaign, the media that enables AND helps them and does a disservice to about 80% of the fans who don't quite see the game the same way we do, and it becomes almost too much to handle.
It's a love/hate thing with me right now. Most of me is frustrated, but a lot of me is reveling in what's happening now. In fact, the only reason I'm not being like Rossi right now is because I care about Sid and Geno's legacy and how history is going to look at them. It's really sad.
Uemoda
Formerly OminousGrey
Agreed. I would absolutely love to read a blog written by you all. ColePens and IcedCapp as our main two.
If it takes off, I can even set up a Twitch feed every few weeks to discuss team news. Skype calls and podcasts. The whole shabang.
There's actually a market for it, if you could believe it. People are tired of this town's media coverage.
BlindWillyMcHurt
ti kallisti
- May 31, 2004
- 36,046
- 30,985
I don't really understand why the refs need "instructions" and things like talking points on wipe boards. I mean... call me crazy (and I know it SOUNDS crazy!) but shouldn't their marching orders simply be "ENFORCE THE GODDAMNED RULES."
As for an HF blog... come on. Nobody is miserable enough to read that stuff except for us. Are they? People don't tend to like the truth, or at least all of it. That's why we've all been "stupid mean dummyheads" or whatever for the last five seasons here at HF. People around here know a lot about the game, generally and calls 'em likes they sees 'em.
That won't resonate with enough people. People like to think they are part of something special. Not part of something rotten.
As for an HF blog... come on. Nobody is miserable enough to read that stuff except for us. Are they? People don't tend to like the truth, or at least all of it. That's why we've all been "stupid mean dummyheads" or whatever for the last five seasons here at HF. People around here know a lot about the game, generally and calls 'em likes they sees 'em.
That won't resonate with enough people. People like to think they are part of something special. Not part of something rotten.
MtlPenFan
Registered User
- Apr 14, 2010
- 15,629
- 754
DK's insider cites conversations with, presumably, Burkle that can be summed up as
Pretty sure he's getting played by his "source" for their own purposes, whatever they are. Penguins quietly let go of the #2 guy in business ops a few months ago. Usually doesn't happen when all is quiet on the Western front.
I don't believe for a minute that ownership is cool with what they've seen this season. I'm much more inclined to believe Til The End of Time's buddy, who says "ownership is furious."
Last year they bristled at the age and, perhaps more importantly, cost of the roster. The GM they brought in made it older and more expensive. They put one precondition on the coaching gig--to play an up-tempo, offensive, puck possession style of hockey. Rightly or wrongly, Johnston scuttled that to play a softer variation of Hitchcock hockey 40% of the way through the season. They're about to get bounced in the first round and many tickets were sold at deep discounts.
I don't care what DK was told; there's no way an owner is pleased in a year in which his revenue dropped and his dictates went ignored by his employees. His reaction would be the opposite of any person I've ever known who owned anything.
Not like this wasn't written more than once already, but again: "And even that one trade that doesn't look good from a hockey standpoint, Ben Lovejoy for Simon Despres, is viewed without regret for reasons beyond hockey pertaining to both men."
It's infuriating for me to read that. It makes me despise the uniform and turns me into one of these guys that just wants to root for individuals rather than the team.
This isn't on DK. Well, maybe part of it is because he was so bullish on the trade that now he has to own it no matter how bad it looks. There isn't a single person who knows even a little about hockey that watches Lovejoy play and doesn't think he's next to worthless, especially in comparison to who he was traded for.
But again man, it's the ****ing ownership group and the gaggle of GM's that make me wish I can punch each and every one of them in the face. It makes a dark part of me wish that the seats are empty next year and that the team I love and have supported from afar for 28 years would move to Kansas City, just to remind the powers that be that they're not as clever as they think they are.
DK is the messenger here, but the organization is the one feeding him and using him as a tool to control that message. I am willing to bet my life that if it wasn't for the fan backlash, as well as the harsh criticism about the trade from the hockey media OUTSIDE of Pittsburgh that we never hear a peep about character issues. But again, "control the message" at all costs.
Funny thing is, as a subscriber I can attest to the fact that this is about the 4th or 5th time DK's brought it up in a column, and I think it has everything to do with the fact that Simon is FLOURISHING in Anaheim and Lovejoy sucks beyond anything they could have imagined. In other words, the "character" issue was going to be brought up once after the move to soften the blow, and that would have been that. But since the trade keeps looking worse and worse as both players go in opposite directions, they need to keep reminding us that "Hey, it wasn't our fault. He wasn't applying himself."
LOL "For reasons beyond hockey." What a bunch of ********. Yeah, I'm sure they don't regret a single thing as they see Simon make an end to end play for a series winning goal two hours after Ben Lovejoy couldn't handle a 5'6" geriatric for an overtime winning goal. I'm sure they wouldn't do it all over again watching Despres register 20 hits against the biggest, baddest team in the league over a 4 game series while Lovejoy looks like he might disintegrate if he even makes contact with someone in an opposing uniform.
To make matters worse, this becomes a double whammy. Not only can they not properly evaluate talent, but they're a-hole spin doctors as well. Either tell us what his off ice "issues" were, or shut the **** up about it.
ObsessedCreative*
Registered User
This organization really does make it easy for a life-long extreme fan to turn heel and loathe this franshise.
SHOOTANDSCORE
Eeny Meeny Miny Moe
- Sep 25, 2005
- 10,952
- 4,675
The thing that makes me even angrier is that they are so predictable in their manipulation. I'm no one special and I called it when the trade was made that we'd be treated to a vague, anonymous smear campaign. Just like the Neal requested a trade and was a cancer campaign.
Coastal Kev
There will be "I told you so's" Bet on it
My question to you is how in the world can you remain a subscriber after his disgusting treatment of Despres. What kind of scum spreads rumors about a kid for profit????
DK is someone I used to like and was about to subscribe to. Now?? He is the lowest of the low. If I ever meet him in the burgh, I will tell him he is ******* for what he wrote about Simon, and I would beg him to do anything about it.
billybudd
Registered User
- Feb 1, 2012
- 22,049
- 2,252
I could really, really do without these smear campaigns. They're so unnecessary.
Have a little class, Penguins.
"Why'd you guys trade Neal?"
"We liked Nealer, but though Hornqvist brought a net front style that was a better fit."
"Why'd you trade Despres?"
"We think Dumo will be a little better and don't have room for both."
"Why trade Kunitz?"
"We felt, as an organization, that we needed to get younger."
Is that so hard?
Are these leaks about guys being bad apples or drunks or feeling there's too much pressure to win really necessary?
Just say its asset management. Every football team does this every year and nobody faults them.
You know what, I'll salute someone publicly saying Sid and Geno deserve better from any circle, even Rossi.
http://triblive.com/sports/robrossi/8238685-74/crosby-malkin-hockey#axzz3YHwpI0MX
It's not that the franchise centers are unhappy. (They are, but they've been that way since last summer). They've lost faith in the direction of the franchise. And I'm not sure what can be said — especially to Malkin — to make things right.
Something has to be done in the wake of the Penguins' 2-1 series-ending overtime loss to the New York Rangers in Game 5 on Friday at Madison Square Garden that eliminated them from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Otherwise, the Penguins might have to sell another early playoff exit and a trade they'd rather not make.
Don't worry, I'm sure that part is idle speculation.
http://triblive.com/sports/robrossi/8238685-74/crosby-malkin-hockey#axzz3YHwpI0MX
It's not that the franchise centers are unhappy. (They are, but they've been that way since last summer). They've lost faith in the direction of the franchise. And I'm not sure what can be said — especially to Malkin — to make things right.
Something has to be done in the wake of the Penguins' 2-1 series-ending overtime loss to the New York Rangers in Game 5 on Friday at Madison Square Garden that eliminated them from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Otherwise, the Penguins might have to sell another early playoff exit and a trade they'd rather not make.
Don't worry, I'm sure that part is idle speculation.
billybudd
Registered User
- Feb 1, 2012
- 22,049
- 2,252
http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/04/25/column-these-penguins-could-still-fly-with-wings/
-Morehouse is the guy who says neither Johnston nor Rutherford are being fired. I'm even more skeptical knowing it's him, but it would be an awful tough sell to fire Johnston, considering how much mileage he got out of a terrible forward group
-says Penguins plan next year is to go young on D. As in, to actually do that this time instead of seeking stopgaps in free agency. Says they know there will be big time growing pains.
-says it's likely Kunitz and Scuderi both get bought out
-says Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Laps are your centers going forward
-says team executives don't like practically any of their wings. Think they're too slow and that it kills them. Says that's number 1 on the to-do list "not with a bullet, but with a rocket." They do like Wilson, which is beyond my understanding based on what I saw. He wasn't terrible, but he was pretty blah, imo. Not nearly fast enough to be as small and modestly talented as he looks to be
-cleans up that Crosby quote about lacking identity considerably from what I think I heard on NHL network
I was on the phone, so it's possible I heard it wrong, but this is not what I heard him say.
-for reasons I cannot fathom, DK believes it's easy to replace a bunch of slow, useless players at wing with burners. It's all well and good to say "all we need to do is get a bunch of fast players at wing," but where the Hell will they come from? They're not in NHL UFA, not in the minors (considering neither Megna nor Farnham were called up) and, if we're not trading Sutter, we have nothing to trade for them. He throws Kapanen out there, but is that guy really ready? Nyquist is similar and the Wings left him in the minors until 23.
-generally DK thinks we're close. I suppose that's true, if we can figure out how to do a thing that seems practically impossible
-Morehouse is the guy who says neither Johnston nor Rutherford are being fired. I'm even more skeptical knowing it's him, but it would be an awful tough sell to fire Johnston, considering how much mileage he got out of a terrible forward group
-says Penguins plan next year is to go young on D. As in, to actually do that this time instead of seeking stopgaps in free agency. Says they know there will be big time growing pains.
-says it's likely Kunitz and Scuderi both get bought out
-says Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Laps are your centers going forward
-says team executives don't like practically any of their wings. Think they're too slow and that it kills them. Says that's number 1 on the to-do list "not with a bullet, but with a rocket." They do like Wilson, which is beyond my understanding based on what I saw. He wasn't terrible, but he was pretty blah, imo. Not nearly fast enough to be as small and modestly talented as he looks to be
-cleans up that Crosby quote about lacking identity considerably from what I think I heard on NHL network
I was on the phone, so it's possible I heard it wrong, but this is not what I heard him say.
-for reasons I cannot fathom, DK believes it's easy to replace a bunch of slow, useless players at wing with burners. It's all well and good to say "all we need to do is get a bunch of fast players at wing," but where the Hell will they come from? They're not in NHL UFA, not in the minors (considering neither Megna nor Farnham were called up) and, if we're not trading Sutter, we have nothing to trade for them. He throws Kapanen out there, but is that guy really ready? Nyquist is similar and the Wings left him in the minors until 23.
-generally DK thinks we're close. I suppose that's true, if we can figure out how to do a thing that seems practically impossible
Coastal Kev
There will be "I told you so's" Bet on it
I just called him out on his site for the Despres coverage. Politely asked for two apologies to the fans he belittled and to Despres for spreading rumors from the Team. He censored the question. HACK
Of course he censored the question. Are you surprised?
Rossi is the only journalist to have written a mature and spot on article tonight. Let that sink it.
- Apr 20, 2006
- 21,268
- 11,189
Does anyone here honestly believe Kunitz is going to be bought out? Like honestly?
I don't see it. It doesn't fit the mold of what this org does.
Colby Armstrong comes to mind as the last time this organization has had to make a legit, tough decision. (in their eyes)
I don't see it. It doesn't fit the mold of what this org does.
Colby Armstrong comes to mind as the last time this organization has had to make a legit, tough decision. (in their eyes)
plaidchuck
Registered User
Laughably, rossi was the only media member who was 100% correct, he said mj and jr would be failures.
billybudd
Registered User
- Feb 1, 2012
- 22,049
- 2,252
Yeah, but Rossi blatantly lies. In case you've forgotten, we're talking about a guy who went on the radio in 2013 and said that Malkin would be traded, then wrote an article chastising "rumormongers" who were spreading false rumors about Malkin being moved. The only person spreading that rumor was freaking Rossi.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
- 56,732
- 49,086
This is such utter ********. Utter ****ing ********.
They said the exact same sort of things last summer, too. Blah blah get younger. Blah blah play the youth. Blah blah priority is to get better wingers for Crosby and Malkin.
They were full of it last season, and until the actually do it, not just ****ing say it, but actually do it, I'll call ******** this year.
I hope he's blatantly lying about Malkin.
But, really, if you think about it, if Malkin had a selfish bone in his body, then wouldn't he be wondering to himself 'I'm trying to play through this with a bad back, and the best they can do to help me is a gimp wristed Blake Comeau'?
Same thing with Sid. The picture of perfection, Jonathan Toews, plays with Saad and Hossa. What's Sid got? Horny? Horny should be the second best winger on a line with Sid, and only the way in which this organization ****** over Geno is more embarrassing than the way in which they ****** over Sid.
Is Rossi lying? Probably. But, would you really be surprised to one day soon see Sid and/or Geno say 'enough is enough'.
billybudd
Registered User
- Feb 1, 2012
- 22,049
- 2,252
Maybe that day comes, but if it does, Rossi will be the last guy to know about it. Especially with Sid. Does Sid even grant him interviews? I generally stopped reading his articles after the "debunking my own Malkin rumor" thing, but before that, I can't particularly remember any Sid quotes in them.
BrunoPuntzJones
Biscuit Scorer
As I keep saying, I'm not sure if I hope the thesis is right or not. My gut feeling is this franchise's only hope is if Sid or Geno asks out, because it might be the only thing to puncture the bubble in which ownership and management live.
Kirk has been saying he can't fathom why Malkin wouldn't want out, not that Malkin wants out. John Hynes would understand the difference.
- Status
Ad
Upcoming events
-
-
-
-
Round of 16 (4) Ocelari Trinec vs (13) Sparta PragueWagers: 10Staked: $765.00Event closes- Updated:
-
Round of 16 (7) Eisbären Berlin vs (10) Sheffield SteelersWagers: 6Staked: $1,826.00Event closes
- Updated: