NHL team on the road: millionaires behaving properly

hbarcat · #1 12-15-2008, 07:45 PM

As a contrast to how professional athletes make news when they act like jerks I thought I would post this story. A major league sports team showed a lot of class and actually behaved like "real people". Note that this took place on November 11th and it wasn't reported in any media except a couple of obscure internet sites until a few days ago. The players did this because they thought it was the right thing to do, not to make themselves look good.

...The Chicago BlackHawks players took it upon themselves to stay behind in Toronto after a game against the Maple Leafs on Nov. 22, despite the fact it would cost them a precious day off at home with their families.

The players wanted to show respect to general manager Dale Tallon, by attending the funeral of Tallon’s father in Gravenhurst, Ontario, north of Orillia.

They rented a bus from Toronto for the two-hour drive north...

The GM was surprised and emotional when he saw his players in Gravenhurst.

On the bus ride back to Toronto to catch a flight home, the Blackhawks rolled into the Golden Arches, like kids coming home from a peewee hockey tournament.

The behavior the Hawks exhibited by going to the Tallon wake is behavior that good, normal people exhibit in everyday life. We're surprised when athletes do it.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...5328342.column

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/6901

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28200344/

iamlowsound · #2 12-15-2008, 07:53 PM

The NHL actually has a really strict behavior policy (which Sean Avery just got suspended under), so most of them act like normal people. This is beyond that, but if I were on the the team, I would have tried to make it as well.

lowsound

crimson_basser · #3 12-15-2008, 09:08 PM

thats awesome
good for them

Scarlet Fire · #4 12-15-2008, 09:20 PM

Rich people acting like human beings? Outrageous. Our millionaires are bound by certain moral codes to act like total pricks! I won't stand for this kind of behavior!

**peabody** · #5 12-16-2008, 07:59 AM

I wonder if any of them got a cheeseburger Happy Meal.

fo shizzle · #6 12-16-2008, 08:24 AM

That's hockey players for ya...... If you ever get the chance to meet an NHL player prepare to be surprised by how normal they are. I had the chance to play golf with Marty Turco of the Stars a couple of years ago. He was a delight. Just a really funny, engaging dude.

If he could stop a few more pucks from going in the net that would be great......

TheXym · #7 12-16-2008, 09:08 AM

Great story. What people don't realize is that the vast majority of NHL players are like that. Sean Avery is definitely the exception to the rule. I remember going to a Wings/Isles game during 1998 and I stayed at the same hotel the Wings were having their meal at. I'd followed them for several games on their east coast swing during my school break, and had seats close to their bench for each game. The guys were heading in to eat and people were asking them for autographs. I said to a friend with me (a bit louder than I needed to) that they should wait until after the players ate to ask for the autographs. Yzerman and Draper heard me, looked over with a surprised but grateful look on their faces, and smiled before heading in. (Surprisingly everyone backed off).

After they ate, we were still hanging in the lobby, and Yzerman, Draper, and McCarty came over to us and thanked me. Drapes and Mac actually chatted with us for about 10 minutes, it was quite cool. They were very down to earth. The next day in Philly, they looked back and saw me during warmups and pointed and smiled. Kevin Hodson (backup goalie) called us down and gave us practice pucks.

I've also seen Yzerman take a couple hours to sign for fans after games.

coreyfyfe · #8 12-16-2008, 09:33 AM

I think that due to all the stories about excess and stupidity people get an overall negative image of athletes when for the most part, they are just normal people.

Reminds me of the Rodney Rogers story a few weeks ago. Retired NBA player, went to work for his local DPW and started his own construction business. No one in the area really knew he was a pro-baller for 12 years because he acted like a normal person. Pretty sad set of circumstances for him, sucks how bad things happen to good people.

For anyone who didn't catch the story:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8...after-accident

Holy War · #9 12-16-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheXym

Great story. What people don't realize is that the vast majority of NHL players are like that. Sean Avery is definitely the exception to the rule. I remember going to a Wings/Isles game during 1998 and I stayed at the same hotel the Wings were having their meal at. I'd followed them for several games on their east coast swing during my school break, and had seats close to their bench for each game. The guys were heading in to eat and people were asking them for autographs. I said to a friend with me (a bit louder than I needed to) that they should wait until after the players ate to ask for the autographs. Yzerman and Draper heard me, looked over with a surprised but grateful look on their faces, and smiled before heading in. (Surprisingly everyone backed off).

After they ate, we were still hanging in the lobby, and Yzerman, Draper, and McCarty came over to us and thanked me. Drapes and Mac actually chatted with us for about 10 minutes, it was quite cool. They were very down to earth. The next day in Philly, they looked back and saw me during warmups and pointed and smiled. Kevin Hodson (backup goalie) called us down and gave us practice pucks.

I've also seen Yzerman take a couple hours to sign for fans after games.

not to hijack, but Yzerman is a sick hockey player haha

StanFan · #10 12-16-2008, 10:15 AM

There are plenty of nice athletes out there. When asking for an autograph, treat them with respect and you'll see them at their best. Being a celebrity (actor, athlete, musician, etc.) would take an extreme amount of patience to put up with some fans or those who recognize you and want to chat or get an autograph (not necessarily fans).

I've always based my respect on such people as I would base my respect on anybody: their personality and character. I don't care how many goals you've scored or how many Oscars you've won, if you treat others like garbage then in my eyes you are garbage.

Anyways, I strayed from the OP, big respect for those Hawks players and others like them.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #11 12-16-2008, 10:19 AM

One thing I really miss about hockey is going to games in downtown Hartford, then going out afterwards and chatting with some of the players having a beer in some of the nearby bars and pubs.

Joey3313 · #12 12-16-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peabody

I wonder if any of them got a cheeseburger Happy Meal.

Toews and Kane did, but only because they wanted the toys.

adammazza · #13 12-16-2008, 11:18 AM

Hockey has always seemed the most fan friendly to me. When I was a kid and the Islanders were good, I'd go to their practices all the time. They always took the time to talk to the fans (especially the kids).

Even now I've taken my kids to a few games this year and my kids almost always get a puck or something.

A few years back when Chris Drury was on the Avs, I met him at a bar in Manhattan. He's from CT and it was the off season so I guess he was in town. Anyway he was a really nice guy. I was trying to convince him when he became a free agent he should join the Islanders. Guess that didn't work out too well

Adam