Tocchet Rocket, The Gambling Ring and Some Thoughts....
Sorry that I haven't posted anything for this week up until this point. We have been suffering that great Super Bowl hang over here in Pittsburgh, plus I had a couple personal issues to attend too. On to the Blog!
In light of the allegations that Rick Tocchet is facing, I thought that I would share a couple thoughts on the matter. As of right now, no one is really certain what is going on. There are many rumors and supposed links floating around, but the bottom line is no one really is in the know aside from the investigators in New Jersey working on "Operation Slap Shot." This could be something that really cuts to the heart of the NHL, especially when they have already thrown the NHL's biggest name into the ring: Wayne Gretzky.
Dicky Tocchet is one of my all time favorite NHL players, as well as Pittsburgh Penguins. I don't think that it is fair to completely slander or judge him until the full story comes to light. I doubt that there are many among us who have not placed a bet or participated in a poll of some sort, granted this is on a much larger scale. Some may ask, why would a man who is as much in the public eye with the world in the palm of his hand, get himself involved in something like this. Well, some times you just fall into a situation and don't even realize the consequences. Could it be that some people have gotten busted in this ring and are offering up Rick Tocchet to try and get out of it themselves. These and many other questions may never fully be answered. I just think that it must be treaded on very lightly. Rick Tocchet has ties to many influential people in the NHL, and it is a shame that their names are being thrown around carelessly as being involved. Mark Recchi and John LeClair have already retained an Attorney to help them either stop the slander or to bring lawsuits against those who are spreading the rumors. The Attorney, Bob Del Greco, has categorically denied the involvement of Recchi and LeClair. He has also gotten most of the previously reported news retracted. The coming weeks will really tell the story in this case, but until the facts come to light, it is definitely wise to sit on any names that may be thrown around. Something like this can stick with a person, and to have it attached to those who may not be involved isn't right. I am sure that we will be talking about this for the foreseeable future.
I sort of feel like I am in the movie "Groundhog Day," after each Penguins loss. That is 17 of 18 at last count! As my alarm goes off playing the sonny and Cher tune "I've Got You Babe" each morning....dreading that, not unlike Bill Murray playing the Pittsburgh newscaster who has to report on Groundhog Day again and again, I have to hear, talk, read, and report on another Penguins loss!! This time a 3-1 sleeper against the Boston Bruins. The Penguins managed 17 shots and most of them were not even worth considering scoring chances. This was one game in which Boston goaltender Tim Thomas could avoid his post game shower all together if he chose. Though it was so cold in Pittsburgh last night, he probably needed it to warm up, after not coming close to breaking a sweat during the game.
This is a very dark time in Pittsburgh. The future of our team is in question, we just lost the most beloved player in our history, most of our future stars are being subjected to the most humbling situation in their young careers and even our brightest hope, Sidney Crosby, seems to be getting discouraged. There is some good news though, and it definitely does not involve my care insurance! The fact that we have these young superstars, Marc Andre Fleury, Ryan Whitney, Eric Christensen, Michel Ouellet, Colby Armstrong, and most importantly, Sidney Crosby, bodes very well for our team moving forward. The experimental jump start of the rebuilding process in Pittsburgh by signing a bunch of vets and grey beards has failed horribly, but we still have our dynamic youth. We also have the much imminent arrival of Evgeni Malkin as soon as next year. I for one cannot wait for that day. It also stands to reason that the Penguins will have a top 3 pick again this season. The world will be their oyster with that one. What would you do, pick up another possible star in Kessel, Johnson or Staal, or trade the pick. I think it comes down to how badly people in the league want one of these youngsters. I personally have given a lot of thought to this, and if you can get the right deal for the pick, an nhl ready prospect or 2 plus remain in the top 10, it has to be considered. Though I fear what Craig Patrick will do if this all takes place on his watch, but it seems like a slam dunk either way.
Mighty Mite Penguins forward, Tomas Surovy, has been added to the Slovakian National team's taxi squad. There is no guarantee that Tomas will get to play in Turin, but he has a chance. Congrats Tomas! Now if you can only learn to lift a puck! This kid is a 40 goal scorer waiting to happen. He has great hands, but he shoots everything along the ice, especially at close range.
The thinking around town is that a different Penguins team will take the ice when the Olympic break ends. It has been speculated that a lot of GMs around the league were waiting for after the games to pull the trigger on their deals. This was due to many teams not being willing to pay for a new player while he was participating in the Olympics, or sits at home during the games. Who could be gone? My picks are as follows: LeClair, Recchi, Cross, Malone(for the right deal, though he well removed from the dog house now), and maybe Sergei Gonchar. Let the games begin.
In light of the allegations that Rick Tocchet is facing, I thought that I would share a couple thoughts on the matter. As of right now, no one is really certain what is going on. There are many rumors and supposed links floating around, but the bottom line is no one really is in the know aside from the investigators in New Jersey working on "Operation Slap Shot." This could be something that really cuts to the heart of the NHL, especially when they have already thrown the NHL's biggest name into the ring: Wayne Gretzky.
Dicky Tocchet is one of my all time favorite NHL players, as well as Pittsburgh Penguins. I don't think that it is fair to completely slander or judge him until the full story comes to light. I doubt that there are many among us who have not placed a bet or participated in a poll of some sort, granted this is on a much larger scale. Some may ask, why would a man who is as much in the public eye with the world in the palm of his hand, get himself involved in something like this. Well, some times you just fall into a situation and don't even realize the consequences. Could it be that some people have gotten busted in this ring and are offering up Rick Tocchet to try and get out of it themselves. These and many other questions may never fully be answered. I just think that it must be treaded on very lightly. Rick Tocchet has ties to many influential people in the NHL, and it is a shame that their names are being thrown around carelessly as being involved. Mark Recchi and John LeClair have already retained an Attorney to help them either stop the slander or to bring lawsuits against those who are spreading the rumors. The Attorney, Bob Del Greco, has categorically denied the involvement of Recchi and LeClair. He has also gotten most of the previously reported news retracted. The coming weeks will really tell the story in this case, but until the facts come to light, it is definitely wise to sit on any names that may be thrown around. Something like this can stick with a person, and to have it attached to those who may not be involved isn't right. I am sure that we will be talking about this for the foreseeable future.
I sort of feel like I am in the movie "Groundhog Day," after each Penguins loss. That is 17 of 18 at last count! As my alarm goes off playing the sonny and Cher tune "I've Got You Babe" each morning....dreading that, not unlike Bill Murray playing the Pittsburgh newscaster who has to report on Groundhog Day again and again, I have to hear, talk, read, and report on another Penguins loss!! This time a 3-1 sleeper against the Boston Bruins. The Penguins managed 17 shots and most of them were not even worth considering scoring chances. This was one game in which Boston goaltender Tim Thomas could avoid his post game shower all together if he chose. Though it was so cold in Pittsburgh last night, he probably needed it to warm up, after not coming close to breaking a sweat during the game.
This is a very dark time in Pittsburgh. The future of our team is in question, we just lost the most beloved player in our history, most of our future stars are being subjected to the most humbling situation in their young careers and even our brightest hope, Sidney Crosby, seems to be getting discouraged. There is some good news though, and it definitely does not involve my care insurance! The fact that we have these young superstars, Marc Andre Fleury, Ryan Whitney, Eric Christensen, Michel Ouellet, Colby Armstrong, and most importantly, Sidney Crosby, bodes very well for our team moving forward. The experimental jump start of the rebuilding process in Pittsburgh by signing a bunch of vets and grey beards has failed horribly, but we still have our dynamic youth. We also have the much imminent arrival of Evgeni Malkin as soon as next year. I for one cannot wait for that day. It also stands to reason that the Penguins will have a top 3 pick again this season. The world will be their oyster with that one. What would you do, pick up another possible star in Kessel, Johnson or Staal, or trade the pick. I think it comes down to how badly people in the league want one of these youngsters. I personally have given a lot of thought to this, and if you can get the right deal for the pick, an nhl ready prospect or 2 plus remain in the top 10, it has to be considered. Though I fear what Craig Patrick will do if this all takes place on his watch, but it seems like a slam dunk either way.
Mighty Mite Penguins forward, Tomas Surovy, has been added to the Slovakian National team's taxi squad. There is no guarantee that Tomas will get to play in Turin, but he has a chance. Congrats Tomas! Now if you can only learn to lift a puck! This kid is a 40 goal scorer waiting to happen. He has great hands, but he shoots everything along the ice, especially at close range.
The thinking around town is that a different Penguins team will take the ice when the Olympic break ends. It has been speculated that a lot of GMs around the league were waiting for after the games to pull the trigger on their deals. This was due to many teams not being willing to pay for a new player while he was participating in the Olympics, or sits at home during the games. Who could be gone? My picks are as follows: LeClair, Recchi, Cross, Malone(for the right deal, though he well removed from the dog house now), and maybe Sergei Gonchar. Let the games begin.
posted by Bmetzer66 at 10:35 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks Vetts! Sid has started to cool off. The sad thing about it is that he hasn't cooled as much as he is now trying to do way too much! He is trying to move around guys, where he used to pass. He is looking to set up a perfect play, where he could shoot and possibly score. It just stinks because it seems that he is beginning to lose confidence in his linemates....right or wrong, that seems to be the case. When a great player is in that situation, they tend to over think every play. Let's just hope that the Pens get this young man some one to play with...and soon!
As for MA, I am not sure how he is going to react. He seems to be keeping a pretty lighthearted mood going, which is good. I know that he is getting frustrated with the losing....he was quoted in the paper today as saying: "I am not used to letting up this many goals." I still think that he is having fun though. I know from hearing and reading his thoughts that he loves a lot of shots. I was also happy to see this quote from therrien in the postgazette: "He's young," Therrien said. "He just turned 21 three months ago. Yes, we want him to make the key save at the right time, and he's doing that most of the time. There are going to be games when he's not able to make it, but that's part of developing young kids. If you don't put him out there, he's not going to get that experience." As long as they keep letting him go back out there I think he will be fine. Seems that his confidence is shaken more when he thinks the organization is down on him. I also think that it will be beneficial to let him go down and win a Calder Cup. They could easily send some of these kids down for some success after a horrible NHL season. The WBS Pens seem to have the team to do it this year....
In my opinion, Gambling is something that
every human being has the right to do, and politicians should keep their noses
out of what people do for entertainment or within the comfort of their own homes.
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