|
I have restarted this post a few times. My aim is not to insult anyone, but to express my thoughts.
The fact that Koivu cannot converse in French is too bad. It may help him connect to the "soft" portion of the folks that want the cpt of the Habs to speak French, but it will never appease the hard core, as proved by the comment on Gainey's "West Island French." p.s. it shows that the reporter who said that has never been the west island, Gainey definitely picked up his French in Europe, it ain't an Ontario French or a Pointe Claire French.
If Koivu spends what little personal time he has here in Montreal to raise money for cancer, I think his time is well spent. Should we put language ahead of medical research and relieving the pain of those how suffer from cancer? I suppose that is another debate.
Back to le Journal and TVA…..There is a portion of the population that will never be satisfied. And stirring up that old fight sells newspapers and sparks debate, but does nothing to move this society (or this team) forward.
The reality of the situation is that while the Canadiens have a legacy of being important to the French Quebecers plight, the world has changed. To deny this is to deny that the sun rises in east and sets in the west. To hold on to what is no longer there is just self flagellation. My opinion, and if you want to continue to think this team is more then it is, that is your right.
What is the result of this newspaper marketing ploy? It stirs up old fights, and it tells every hockey player "don't play in Montreal". And if you think it is just the Euros that will be affected, you are wrong. Top tier French players have the luxury of making big bucks elsewhere, and are still heroes at home, even if their team does not make it to the show. They do not come to Montreal. Why? The pressure is not worth it.
So, we get free agents that are holding on for dear life to play pro hockey... the Begins' and Dagenais' of the league. If they are a 1 or 2nd line type player, they get crucified in the press. If they are third of fourth line guys, they become Gods.
Ask yourself, who was the last top tier French player to sign in Mtl.... not be traded here... sign here? Some of you HockeyDB guys might come up with an answer.
So, just what have we accomplished here? We make the CPT of our team wonder why he gives a second effort, and we send shockwaves through the NHL, making sure that the deaf ones now have heard that MTL eats it's own.
Congratulations. Look what you have accomplished. You have not moved forward, proved nothing, and your hockey team is a perennial mid packer.
Pat yourself on the back, you are still le maitre de chez vous.
|