Already Enough

OTTAWA--It's not entirely clear whether some fool did indeed yell "Wade Belak" as Zdeno Chara and Joffrey Lupul were deciding on a defenceman to pick Thursday night at the NHL all-star draft.

Videos making the rounds on social media seem to suggest that was indeed the case. Those inside the audiorium at the Casino du Lac Leamy in Gatineau - remember, all mainstream media are not permitted inside the actual studio because it is a TSN event -  said they didn't hear it.

So let's say it may have happened, but either way let's not make it representative of the entire audience that night, although it wasn't anything close to the type of crowd that might attend the NHL awards. Or the draft. This was a more like a pro wrestling crowd, except with a lot fewer women (none?).

The Maple Leafs at the event - Lupul, Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf - were the designated heels and bore the brunt of the crowd's animosity, which surprised no one. What did surprise some was how the fans, or some of them, got carried away, turning the air a bit blue and a bit ugly.

Sure, boo if you want. But it is an all-star game, and by most accounts, these folks went too far. It wasn't fun. It was negative and certainly didn't promote the game. Very small town.

TSN worked extremely hard to overcome that and the fact the draft itself was rather home hum. God Bless James Duthie and his tireless efforts to drum up humour and conversation. They mic'd everyone, but the only noteworthy line they got was from Patrick Kane commenting on the "unbelievable" charms of a young lady working onstage.

But it didn't pack the punch of the first year, and while the players association might like it (why?) there's already a belief this draft concept might be history after only two tries.

There wasn't one notable selection, and what you saw was Daniel Alfredsson picking his pals and countrymen and Zdeno Chara avoiding Vancouver Canucks and both making sure no veteran players were embarrassed like Kessel was last year.

The final pick of Jamie Benn over Logan Couture? Could only have mattered to the Benn and Couture families.

So it's time to tinker again. My idea would be to pick captains and assistants two or three weeks before the game, then hold a TV draft on which they can pick anyone they want for their all-star team, perhaps with a limit of two teammates. Now THAT would be interesting, and actually be a gauge on how NHLers value other players.

Bring 'em together two weeks later in the all-star city and you might have a process with legs.

But who knows. This thing has been changed more than Brett Favre's mind. It just took a step down into the gutter Thursday in Gatineau.

 

 

Comments

[Basshat]

Awwww, the poor Toronto media commentator is sad that fans of a big rival didn't treat the Leaf players very nicely. Good on them; I know that Leaf fans, myself included, would treat Sens and Habs players exactly the same if the draft was taking place here. I guess that makes Toronto a very small town, too though I doubt Mr. Cox would call it that; he saves those types of condescending comments for the smaller Canadian markets.

[Don Steenson , Sr.]

Shows the total lack of class of Ottawa fans. Fairly typical of their whole City.

[Victor T]

It does not surprise me that the booing was relentless. In Ottawa during every game, Leafs or no Leafs, it does not matter, some fans bring out "Leafs suck" signs that fans chant to during a specific cheer. I am both a Leafs fan and an Ottawa fan but I think this is very low class. It is too bad too because Ottawa is a great place to live but when you go to a game it is like there is a bully in the room all the time.

[Allen]

Damien,

You know what? This is a small town. This a town where most fans know where the players live and where one, Jason Spezza, lives in a centrally located neighbourhood, complete with sidewalks where kids from the local public school can walk by and ring the door bell.

This is a small town where real people, not the corporate elite, actually have season tickets on the glass.

So if the All-Star game comes to town and the events are attended by people who wear jerseys, not suits, and they want to let loose and have a good time, I say good on this small town.

[TincupCanuck]

I dont mind the booing and razzing of Ottawa fans...its healthy competition. I played pickup last night after in my leafs practice jersey, and after blwoing a shot a mile wide had my friends, who are leaf fans yelling Leafs suck Leafs suck. Good for a laugh.

But the guy who yelled Wade Belak clearly has issues or is still fuming over the 4 straight playoff defeats by Toronto. Get over it man...life has lots to offer. It is people like him that turn a league event into a Leaf event. Try enjoying hockey instead of hating the Leafs.

[Pat]

I thought the crowd was extremely ignorant and classless. It's an all-star game
to celebrate the best players and was spoiled by their boorishness.

[Jason Macdonald]

You know why that happened - every game that Toronto plays in Ottawa -- they Boo our greatest player - a guy that does so much both on and off the ice. For what - because he hit Tucker 10 years ago and scored - and you call us small town.

That was the way Sens fan (and a good forum) to let them know how much that Booing at Home games P@#^& us off!!!

I will be impressed if you post this comment - but I do not expect to to be posted due to censorship - unlike papers like the Sun - that allows people to comment and only removes comments that have foul language, etc.

[Paul]

only thing it lacked was beer bottles being thrown on stage and maybe if that girl slid down a pole with the jersey's...l think as soon as we all realized that there wouldn't be a Leaf picked last this year it was all down-hill...no story-line!
l think TSN took a nose-dive on this one.

[phadreus]

sad that Ottawa faired so poorly at this event. A truly small Ontario town

[John da Costa]

The strange thing about the booing was the fact that there were few Leaf fans to counter the booing, A lot of media and players chalked it up to the fact that it should be expected in Ottawa, but the point they're missing is that there are loads of Leaf (and Habs) fans here in the National Capital..it's not a one-team town.. The fact that there are often as many blue and white sweaters at Sens-Leaf games at ScotiaBank place makes me wonder if the "powers that be" made sure that for the All-Star Draft the crowd was so one-sided. It's also pretty telling about their fanbase when the anti-Leaf chants badly outnumbered the Go Sens Go chants...cheering against the other team instead of cheering for your own!

[skyblue824]

Well, if I was to be the one to pick an all-star team for the classiest hockey cities Ottawa would be my LAST choice! Then they could fit as many Ottawanians in that winning car that they could and drive off to join the other equally classless city which is Vancouver the home of the 2X rioters.

[steve blue]

A big boo on the people of Ottawa!

[Harpoon]

Embarassing and juvenile. Well done Ottawa! You have managed to make Canada look like a bunch of high school idiots. I'm sure this does a lot to convince our friend Gary that the NHL in Canada will sell well to American audiences. We look like a bunch of hayseeds after that pathetic display from the audience. Better leave stuff like this to the big cities.

[steve blue]

ottawa and vancouver : What poor behavior both cities' fans exhibit! First the 2X rioters and now the ottawa "senselessors."To unleash such rabid venom to the Leaf players during selections shows your ignorance! To invoke the name of Wade Belak , a former Leaf who recently passed away? Beyond ignorance! Be proud host city! The whole hockey world saw your conduct! Be proud! NOT!

[Ron Gillespie]

Seriously? Complaining about the NHL changing their minds around how to pick the all star team? You can't have it both ways Damien. You can't go on the radio and complain how stubborn the NHL is - you frequently comment how the NFL tweaks their rules all the time yet the NHL is stuck but then when the NHL does try to adjust things, you have to make fun of them.

[croozer]

Let's see now.
We have a contrived made-for-TV circus 'event' and the fans are guilty of acting like they were at, oh I dunno, a CIRCUS?
Sorry.
The ASG has been a joke for quite a while. Even many of the players think it's a joke but the NHL/TVmedia put together these lame and embarassing events hoping and praying someone will watch.
What's next?
NHL All-stars vs Celebrity Stars of Daytime TV?
Iron Chef - NHL version?
Don Cherry's NHL Tryouts? - YOU"RE TRADED!
And the fans that attend these idiot events are not supposed to act like idiots?
Yeah right.

[Steve C.]

The reason the format of the Allstar game keeps getting 'tinkered' with is because so many people (hint hint) can NEVER be happy with the game, no matter what. This inferiority complex kicks in hard and drives the forces of needless change. So here we go again, thanks. This current format is actually very good. So it faltered a little bit this year, is it time to give up on it??!?! The players like it - so do the FANS........who else needs to be satisfied here? NBC? ESPN? People who worry about this (hint hint) are the ones who should have no say.

[Sean]

If I could only beat a team in the regular season, and got owned by said team come playoffs, I'd probably act out inappropriately too.... Oh, and you folksy hicks get seats on the glass because you have seats available due to lack of interest.. Except when the leafs come to town.. Your welcome for the revenue though

[P Newton]

I grew up in the Ottawa Valley when there was no Sens team. Moved to Toronto and became a Leaf fan. If someone yelled Wade Belak that person needs professional help and so does anyone who tries to defend it. Letting loose? Leafs fans would do it too? Get real!!! I wouldn't want to know any of them, be they Sens or Leaf fans. Fools like that shouldn't be allowed in public. There ought to be a law.

[William Kennedy]

Get over yourself Toronto ! When you stop booing Alfreddsson and the Sens, perhaps your team will not get heckled ? It's really that simple and surely the Toronto media can find other things to whine about other than so good old fashioned heckling !! And a hardy salute goes out to Lupol who handled the heckling with class and took the ribbing good naturedly, unlike the Toronto media who anoint themselves as the centre of the hockey universe .......SHEESH

[Tree]

Wow, Damien - you sure are spilling a lot of ink about something that really doesn't matter. Ottawa has 4 representatives in a meaningless exhibition game being held in Ottawa - wah! Ottawa fans booed Toronto players (as though that's never happened in reverse) - wah, wah!

The Belak remark - IF it happened ... I was there, and heard nothing of the sort - would be inexcusably ignorant. But that's it. I would be willing to bet money that Alfie will be booed in his own building on Sunday by "small town" Leaf fans. So what? Leaf fans don't like the Sens, Sens fans don't like the Leafs. The sky is blue, and grass is green - who cares? I'll tell you what is sucking the most enjoyment out of this weekend: the media that is constantly harping about this or that. Give it a rest.

[Dave]

Hey jason McDonald I guess you forgot about him shooting the puck at Nedemeyer in the closing seconds of the finals a few years back..He is a rat plain and simple.

[D. Something]

To, P Newton,

I really don't condone booing of any player however I did attend an Ottawa game at the ACC when Alfreddsson was not playing. A bunch of players were sitting up and behind us (a tall wall between us) and Alfreddsson was there as well. A young boy went over to get his autograph and stood on the seat waving a program and asking "Will you please sign my program?". After a minute of being ignored the kid sat down. Alfreddsson and all players of the league are ambassadors of the game and therefore should bend over backwards trying to promote the game.

This is the reason I can't stand the guy.

[scunny]

Perhaps this says less about the city of Ottawa and more about the type of people the NHL brand of gladiatorial "Cherry-endorsed" spectacle the game attracts today.

It is still supposed to be a sport, right?

Sure the paying fans may have the right to "boo" if they want, but perhaps someone should tell them that they themselves are the only ones diminished by the act. Are their own lives so empty that this is the best way they can find to feel a part of something larger?

Sad, eh?

[Sensi-Bill]

Don't like being on the outside, do you Damien? Forced to sit in that glassed-in warmup-shack of a studio perched on the side of the Rideau Canal with your equally negative Sportsnet buddies. Last year, for the inaugural Fantasy Draft TV event, TSN hoped to attract maybe up to 500,000 viewers but was surprised and delighted when the ratings indicated they drew 1.5 million. Wonder what they'll get this year? Including, of course, those who watched just to look for something negative to say --- and to make something up (Belak) if need be. As for the audience --- no doubt pumped up to put on an anti-Leafs show --- it was held in a casino, so what do you expect? At least all the best seats weren't embarrassingly empty until 10 minutes into proceedings.