Quote:
Originally Posted by SensibleGuy
Man, some of the players sure are out to lunch in this whole thing. The recent comments over the past few days with players calling Bettman an "idiot" and referring to them as "cancers" and so forth really sound bad to me. I think many of the players have a totally misguided understanding of the general publics perspectives on this. Its like they think all the fans are behind them (the players) and hoping for them to "beat" the hated owners. Of course there are some fans like that, but I think the vast majority recognise that there really aren't good guys and bad guys here and when the players spout off like that they sound like petulant little brats that are mad becuase they aren't getting their way...
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Ayup.
There certainly are anti-Bettman (I still don't really like the weasel and don't blame the players for not trusting him) and anti-owner groups of individuals out there. One only needs to read the comments on any yahoo hockey article to see that. The impression I get though is that those people are ticked there's no hockey and are blaming the owners without examining the situation fully. So anti-Bettman overrides logic or knowledge and a part of me certainly isn't opposed to that.
But reading all the information available I can't help but think the NHLPA wanted this lockout to happen. I can't fathom the reason why. Yes, I know that they wanted to 'reset the bar' for negotiations but this seems an awfully damn stupid way to do it.
I'm still trying to figure out what their end game actually is. I really, genuinely am. I say that because I'll be surprised if they bring an actual, legitimate proposal to the league on Wednesday. Something that actually works in alignment with the league's desires. I'm not saying the players should cave on everything, quite the contrary. But it doesn't strike me that they are being intelligent in approaching this. Fehr and the PA are still playing silly games but the end game is beyond me at the moment.
As for the players, Fehr really should have put a gag order on them. The interwebs in all its glorious forms hasn't been helpful to them. Where guys are just making comments out of frustration without specifics, no problem. I don't agree with everything Ladd has said but I understand where he's coming from - nobody likes to be pushed out of work and be told they have to bear the weight of responsibility. But at least guys like Ladd (or Schneider or Miller) have kept themselves in check. Guys like Versteeg? Guys like White? Guys like Biz or Barch? Shut the hell up, please. You're only damaging yourself and the PA.
