The Bad, The Worse, and The Embarrassing
February 11th, 2010 | by imber |Word was Florida Panthers GM Randy Sexton was going to give the team one more chance to get things together.
Even before Florida completely blew that chance, the fireworks were already well underway.
Florida has traded Dominic Moore to the Montreal Canadiens for a 2011 second round draft pick. That’s not bad value for an early season UFA pick-up, but the extra year to wait is somewhat annoying. Plus, there’s already rumblings that the 2011 draft is going to be the weakest in years.
There’s not much to write about the game tonight. The Panthers never showed up and looked completely disinterested in the game.
However, one personal matter really bothered me tonight. After the Panthers gave up an embarrassing 2-on-0 shorthanded goal (that’s tough to do) I went into a boo rage and called for one of the player’s or coaches’ heads. The man next to me leaned over and said, “If you hate this team so much, do me a favor and stop coming to games.”
Now wait, the guy that drives 100 miles round trip even on school days, goes to games when he’s ill, breaks television remotes in frustration of a bad call, loses his voice sticking up for his team yelling at refs for bad calls, and blogs for the team, really does hate them and should stop coming.
It’s fans like that, that allow this mediocrity to continue. Perhaps if more people boo’ed a bad play or called for a coaching change (Jim Hulton anyone?) than we’d finally start to see some action with this current sad product. Just because I yell at the team and expect more doesn’t make me any less of a fan than anybody else. In fact, I think those that feel the most anger and call for change are the ones that care about this team more than others.
But I digress – rumors are abound that the Moore trade is just the first of a barrage before tomorrow’s 3 pm mini trade deadline. I, for one, hope that’s true because the team I saw tonight was an embarrassment to the game. I want a much different team on the ice this Saturday against Boston.
Tags: Dominic Moore, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Randy Sexton, Trade Deadline
By Kevin on Feb 12, 2010
After one of the round robin games at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon, I asked a number of players from Team USA for their reaction to Canadian fans rooting against them.
Every single player told me the exact same thing – they’d rather fans boo than play to silence. They’ve played in games with few fans and where fans just sit on their hands. At least with fans booing it adds to the atmosphere and it helps motivate them.
Team USA went on to win the Gold.
Mention that story to buddy who told ya to leave…
By drscruf on Feb 12, 2010
Much booing from 125 especially after the shorty, especially after the second period. AWFUL performance. That’s one goal in the last nine periods at home. Not the way to get folks to renew…
By imber on Feb 12, 2010
Yeah Scruf, my Dad and I just renewed to upgrade to the full season. We must be masochists, but it really is an incredible deal (even if the product sucks). Too many men on a five on three, followed by allowing a 2-on-0 on the PP. Absolutely brutal. I can’t understand people that won’t stand for fans speaking out.
And Kevin – that’s awesome! That dude really annoyed me, but I guess there are some at every game like that. We need to let the team know how we feel, instead of letting the game be played in silence as we watch a terrible effort.