Time to forgive Rob Blake (History/Jersey Retirement Chat)

[KINGS17]

Both Gretzky and Dionne had put their time in with the Kings and they were entitled to move on. I didn't have a grudge with either of them because the Kings couldn't meet their demands on a realistic level. Both wanted the team to be more competitive and it was clearly management's unwillingness to do so and completely their fault that they had to leave.

There is no comparison to what Blake did. Neither Gretzky nor Dionne gave up a letter in a tizzy-fit. Neither Gretzky nor Dionne left a generous offer on the table and a chance to be a leader on a team that was on the cusp of turning things around and be a contender. Personally, I don't care one way or the other that Blake got a Cup with another team. The thing that bites me so hard is they way this guy left and his attitude to the Kings and ultimately their fans in turning down a competitive offer and leaving the team in a manner not commensurate with someone who had been his entire career with the one organization.

They are not "exceptions," Ziggy. What you outline are totally different scenarios.

Not to mention Blake's obvious lack of effort and commitment on some nights in his second stint with the Kings.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

What did Bob say?

I forget where he said it (don't think it was on the air), but he mentioned the only player he ever had problems with was Avery. Can't recall the exact words used but Bob made it clear he wasn't fond of Avery. His disruptions towards his own teammates is well documented. The guy is a piece of **** with a Napoleon complex. Overcompensating for being a midget.

 

[Ron*]

I forget where he said it (don't think it was on the air), but he mentioned the only player he ever had problems with was Avery. Can't recall the exact words used but Bob made it clear he wasn't fond of Avery. His disruptions towards his own teammates is well documented. The guy is a piece of **** with a Napoleon complex. Overcompensating for being a midget.

I did a google search and while not a direct quote, I found this:

http://www.insidesocal.com/kings/2008/04/30/ten-questions-with-bob-and-nic/

7. Which former player was the most challenging to deal with off the ice, and why?

Bob Miller: Sean Avery due to his antics on and off the ice and his surly attitude.

 

[Albi]

Time to forgive him because we won another Cup?

No way I'll forgive this moron.

 

[Ron*]

Not to mention Blake's obvious lack of effort and commitment on some nights in his second stint with the Kings.

Yup.

 

[took420s]

To clarify my position as if it matters to anyone here...

I think I am over him leaving the first time, and believe the report that he gave Dean the ok to trade him the 2nd time.

But like the few posters above me what sticks in my mind was how awful he was in that 2nd stint, like he was just chillin in cali without a real interest to put all he had into the team. Maybe he was hurt, or maybe that really as good as he was at that age (another reason to keep his jersey from being retired if thats the quality of hockey he had in him at that time).

All that being said im not booing him any more, and believe me wifey and i booed with all out might. She even moreso since when we first met #4 was her favorite player had all kinds of #4 gear. We have talked abut this subject due to this thread and she is not on my page, still hates the guy and will boo him without me

But I am over it, hope he does his current job well and the Kings see continued success so it just becomes more and more silly to even bother looking back at those times and getting jimmies rustled.

 

[Crown Royal]

Taylor did somewhat salvage his draft legacy by getting Kopitar and Quick in his final draft, but he butchered so many picks.

Take a look at the 2004 selections as an example of everything that was wrong with this organization under Dave Taylor.

 

[Herby]

Blake came back to the Kings to make another 8 figures, live by the beach and play volleyball. There certainly wasn't any fire or anything to his game in the second stint, he just wanted to come home where he was comfortable and make an easy $12 mill.

Ask Jack Johnson how much mentoring Blake gave the young players, it was Jaroslav Modry that was a mentor and solid veteran to atleast Johnson.

 

[Crown Royal]

I LOVE all the kings, even Sean Avery!

It's not easy but I am trying to forgive you for this post.

 

[Herby]

The only players I truly hated on this team were Grant Fuhr, Dmitri Khristich, Ryan Smyth and Kevin Stevens.

It's one thing to be terrible on the ice, but those guys were just all around terrible on and off the ice.

Blake was close, but not quite at that level.

 

[HYORI 1963]

The only players I truly hated on this team were Grant Fuhr, Dmitri Khristich, Ryan Smyth and Kevin Stevens.

It's one thing to be terrible on the ice, but those guys were just all around terrible on and off the ice.

Blake was close, but not quite at that level.

Yeah, Blake was so bad that he was an all-star for 6 years and also won a Norris. You're right, he sucked!

But don't stop there herby, please tell us how much Kopi sucks, and Doughty, and of course your favorite of all times...Stool or Turdby (whom I 've named after you)! You've ragged on Turdby for 3 years, only to finally realize that you've been wrong for all of those years!!!!!

Man, some of you guys holding this grudge is just pathetic, TRULY pathetic!

 

[Ron*]

Yeah, Blake was so bad that he was an all-star for 6 years and also won a Norris. You're right, he sucked!

But don't stop there herby, please tell us how much Kopi sucks, and Doughty, and of course your favorite of all times...Stool or Turdby (whom I 've named after you)! You've ragged on Turdby for 3 years, only to finally realize that you've been wrong for all of those years!!!!!

Man, some of you guys holding this grudge is just pathetic, TRULY pathetic!

 

[Herby]

Yeah, Blake was so bad that he was an all-star for 6 years and also won a Norris. You're right, he sucked!

But don't stop there herby, please tell us how much Kopi sucks, and Doughty, and of course your favorite of all times...Stool or Turdby (whom I 've named after you)! You've ragged on Turdby for 3 years, only to finally realize that you've been wrong for all of those years!!!!!

Man, some of you guys holding this grudge is just pathetic, TRULY pathetic!

I was more referring to Blake's second tenure here on the Kings when he was awful on the ice.

But a bit odd to not understand why some people have a grudge against a guy who took off his captain's C during his first tenure then reportedly refused to waive a NTC and then ended up signing with the team the Kings were trying to trade him to.

Like I said, I am over it, I am done boooing Blake but I still firmly believe his number should not be retired and he made plenty of poor decisions as a player when it came to contract negotiations. I'm sure Rob would tell you the same thing.

btw, I would have thought you of all people would have been a Blake detractor considering he left the first time because he wanted to be paid accordingly and you expect all the Kings star players to leave 20% on the table, I am legit surprised you understood why Blake left.

 

[HYORI 1963]

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Blake came back to the Kings to make another 8 figures, live by the beach and play volleyball. There certainly wasn't any fire or anything to his game in the second stint, he just wanted to come home where he was comfortable and make an easy $12 mill.

Ask Jack Johnson how much mentoring Blake gave the young players, it was Jaroslav Modry that was a mentor and solid veteran to atleast Johnson.

That's why Jack Johnson lived at Blake's house and not Modry's...right?

 

[HYORI 1963]

I was more referring to Blake's second tenure here on the Kings when he was awful on the ice.

btw, I would have thought you of all people would have been a Blake detractor considering he left the first time because he wanted to be paid accordingly and you expect all the Kings star players to leave 20% on the table, I am legit surprised you understood why Blake left.

But a bit odd to understand why people don't have a grudge against a guy who took off his captain's C during his first tenure then reportedly refused to waive a NTC and then ended up signing with the team the Kings were trying to trade him to.

Like I said, I am over it, I am done boooing Blake but I still firmly believe his number should not be retired and he made plenty of poor decisions as a player when it came to contract negotiations.

How does holding a grudge benefit you? It's not healthy, and it just shows how immature you are.

Yeah, I was upset when he initially left, but that was almost 15 years ago. Forgive and forget.

 

[Herby]

That's why Jack Johnson lived at Blake's house and not Modry's...right?

Just saying, ask him who was a bigger mentor to him, the answer was Modry.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

How does holding a grudge benefit you? It's not healthy, and it just shows how immature you are.

Yeah, I was upset when he initially left, but that was almost 15 years ago. Forgive and forget.

Who was not upset when Blake left?

But really he did a lot for the org and always came back. He deserves to be up in the rafters, he's a king and part of our family.

 

[agentfouser]

You know who I miss? Mathieu Schneider. That guy was awesome.

 

[Herby]

How does holding a grudge benefit you? It's not healthy, and it just shows how immature you are.

Yeah, I was upset when he initially left, but that was almost 15 years ago. Forgive and forget.

What about not waiving a NTC to go to SJ and then signing with SJ in the summer?

That was six years ago.

Again, I am not on the boooo Blake or hate him in the organization group, but I can see why some people feel that way, the Kings certainly made some ridiculous and stupid decisions when it came to Blake, but Rob didn't help his cause either.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Just saying, ask him who was a bigger mentor to him, the answer was Modry.

When they spot Johnson and Blake together (which is often), the L.A. players tease Blake, calling him "Dad."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=3071148

What a terrible player and mentor Blake was to be called "dad".

 

[DryIslandBartender]

What about not waiving a NTC to go to SJ and then signing with SJ in the summer?

.

DL already spoke to that.

 

[HYORI 1963]

What about not waiving a NTC to go to SJ and then signing with SJ in the summer?

That was six years ago.

Again, I am not on the boooo Blake or hate him in the organization group, but I can see why some people feel that way, the Kings certainly made some ridiculous and stupid decisions when it came to Blake, but Rob didn't help his cause either.

Who knows how or why the SJ fiasco went down the way it did. But you have to remember, Lombardi was in charge at the time, and if Lombardi's fine with Blake in rehiring him, why would I hold a grudge?

 

[KINGS17]

Blake came back to the Kings to make another 8 figures, live by the beach and play volleyball. There certainly wasn't any fire or anything to his game in the second stint, he just wanted to come home where he was comfortable and make an easy $12 mill.

Ask Jack Johnson how much mentoring Blake gave the young players, it was Jaroslav Modry that was a mentor and solid veteran to atleast Johnson.

...but, but Blake let Jack live at his house, and babysit his kids and play Xbox and stuff.

I can't say with 100% certainty, because I didn't hear it from the horse's mouth, but I am 90% sure that Dean's first choice to mentor the Kings' young defensemen was Aaron Miller, but Dean just couldn't see giving him more than a one year deal with his health issues. Leiweke pushed the Blake signing, and that one I am pretty sure about.

Later on the Kings draft Drew Doughty, and enter Sean O'Donnell.

 

[KINGS17]

Yeah, Blake was so bad that he was an all-star for 6 years and also won a Norris. You're right, he sucked!

But don't stop there herby, please tell us how much Kopi sucks, and Doughty, and of course your favorite of all times...Stool or Turdby (whom I 've named after you)! You've ragged on Turdby for 3 years, only to finally realize that you've been wrong for all of those years!!!!!

Man, some of you guys holding this grudge is just pathetic, TRULY pathetic!

False equivalencies all over the place.

How does holding a grudge benefit you? It's not healthy, and it just shows how immature you are.

Yeah, I was upset when he initially left, but that was almost 15 years ago. Forgive and forget.

How is it hold a grudge if you don't think a player deserves an organization's highest honor. It's a difference of opinion. No one here is saying that Blake doesn't deserve an opportunity or to make a living. If he is good at his current job then fine. Do the job and just be a part of the organization behind the scenes.