Takes and trash talk from both ALL sides of the NHL's most obscure PATHETIC* rivalry

* Thanks, Kevin Lowe!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

One Small Example...

...of the homerism of Brian Hayward:

End of overtime. Michal Handzus has the puck with the clock winding down and shoots it on net with no time remaining. Now, did Handzus shoot the puck after the horn blew? No, he didn't. Did he shoot it when he had no chance to score? Yes, he did. Still, Chris Pronger, because he's protecting his goalie and also being a dickhead, decides to run Handzus into the boards. Then Jack Johnson tries to get in there and separate the two because he knows Handzus isn't a fighter (he's been in 2 fights in his life), but Beauchemin grabs him and prevents him from getting involved. (Lubo and Andy Mac just kind of hold each other while the whole thing is going on. They're like Tony and Maria.) Pronger shoves Handzus in the face, which causes Handzus to return in kind; Pronger then proceeds to drop his glove and rail Handzus in the face 3 times before the ref can separate them.

Hayward's reaction (and I'm paraphrasing here because I'm too angry to process my memory)? "Well, Handzus is asking for trouble there, taking a shot at Pronger."

NOW.

What would his reaction had been if it had been Pahlsson and Blake instead?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

He made another one about John Zeiler. He had just nailed Ryan Getzlaf and, of course, Hayward was crying for a call. Todd Marchant went over and started shit with Zeiler. While Hayward is whining about how Zeiler won't fight, the camera shows him flat on his stomach on the ice, with Marchant punching him in the head. How's Zeiler supposed to fight when he's been knocked down, Hayward?!

Earl Sleek said...

Pronger then proceeds to drop his glove and rail Handzus in the face 3 times before the ref can separate them.

From my vantage point high in the 400s it looked like more than three times.

On Hayward, I'll defer to the experts (those who saw the televised game).

But none of this surprises me. Let's get him off TV. Now that Disney's gone, I think he's the team's biggest black eye.

Anonymous said...

Maybe he should have started fighting before instead of trying to run away from Marchant like a chicken...

Earl Sleek said...

Handzus isn't a fighter (he's been in 2 fights in his life)

I will point out that this is 2 more than the number of people that Todd Marchant has beat up in his life before tonight.

Good on him for standing up for Getz, but get the fuck up, Zeiler. Jeezus it's Marchant!

Anonymous said...

I love pronger and frankie, marchant....i dont give a shit if you not a fighter...then dont shove back walk away handzjob..everyone in there right mind knows the ducks dont take shit from anyone...gonna be a fun game on thursday the queens will be all butt-hurt

dark side:
errg im pissed off earl we gave the queens a point...like acid on my scrotum

bright side:
3 shootout wins...is that correct?
waa?

Earl Sleek said...

pahlsson would have stuck up for himself are u kidding me?...

I don't think that's Rudy's point. I'll tell you if Pahlsson is exchanging punches with Rob Blake that I'm pissed; Moen's not doing his job.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Ya I guess Zeiler should have skated by and stole Giguere's stick; and Brown should have been helped off the ice and not played for a period after he took a hit; And Visnovsky should have looked like the little douche that is John Conner's friend and the begining of Terminator 2. Oh wait, thats Corey Perry. Because Corey Perry is a bitch.

Anonymous said...

naw i didnt mean phalsson would throw punches...i meant he wouldnt curl up like a baby al la zieler on the ice....

when u hit players like getz high..or shoot the puck after whistle...then expect consequences...

perry does dumb shit like that too...and knows hes gonna get a glove or shot in the face...to his credit he pushes and fights back...

bottom line in all this...kings players are a bunch of pussies...and there fans are jealous cuz there players dont fight back...soo..u get a bunch of whining...when they should really be mad at there own team for not having balls

idiot fans...all excited perry got hit with a great hip check..cheered when he was taken off the ice...but then cry when there guys get throttled...P-U-S-S-I-E-S

Earl Sleek said...

Yeah, no need to really convince me about hating Pronger; I've spent way more years cheering against the guy than for him.

That said, tough to keep hating a guy when his brain-seeking elbows get directed towards the opposition instead of at our heads.

Basically, I love that you hate Pronger. Means he's still doing his job.

Julian said...

You seem to have a strong sense of self-loathing going with these Ducks, Sleek.

You alright there?

Earl Sleek said...

You seem to have a strong sense of self-loathing going with these Ducks, Sleek.

Hm, really? I dunno--I guess I'm a bit honest when it comes to the personnel. I'll root hard for the team in any contest, but that won't mean that I'll love each player unconditionally (or pretend that there are no villains on the team).

I'm way way way way happy that Pronger's on the Ducks. Doesn't mean I think he's a class act for skipping out on the Oilers or throwing playoff elbows around.

You alright there?

Actually, yeah. The last week or so I've been way too optimistic, actually. Maybe it's not coming through very well in the comments and cartoons.

Anonymous said...

You know, someone could do a spinoff blog devoted to ripping Hayward, something like www.firebrianhayward.com.

Except, that I wouldn't wish it on anyone to have to suffer through that wanker night after night. I believe the ICC recognizes it as a crime against humanity.

And you have no idea how disappointed I was when I saw the Tivo caught the feed with Hayward commenting, instead of the rinkside view with ice-level audio. When I heard they were doing those two feeds, it made me wonder if it was a test to see whether more people would tune in to hear Hayward or just ice-level microphones. It would seem like a no-brainer.

RudyKelly said...

First, let me apologize for this post a little bit; it's never good to post drunk or angry, and I was very angry last night.

But the point remains, Pronger is a ridiculous son of a bitch and Hayward just refuses to recognize it. How many times have you seen a two guys shove each other and then separate? Pronger knew there were only three Kings on the ice and he could therefore get a few cheap whacks in on a guy without hurting his team because the game was over. Hayward just dismisses it like it's no big deal, just like he dismisses Corey Perry's antics or Brad May's thuggery.

I didn't see Zeiler, but he doesn't know how to fight so that doesn't surprise me.

Earl Sleek said...

it's never good to post drunk or angry, and I was very angry last night.

Blasphemy! It was fine.

But the point remains, Pronger is a ridiculous son of a bitch and Hayward just refuses to recognize it.... Hayward just dismisses it like it's no big deal, just like he dismisses Corey Perry's antics or Brad May's thuggery.

Yup. And while Hayward's homerism is pretty much off the charts, he's just not a very good announcer either. His hockey lessons are designed for third-graders, he loves calling a meaningless 2nd period play as the "play of the game" or the "save of the game" without ever pausing to reflect how wrong he is, and he's got little-to-no connection with any players any more.

Maybe I just got my idea for my next "two guys who should switch jobs" post.

RudyKelly said...

Sorry, Earl, I should have pointed out that I shouldn't post when drunk; your drunken posts are a thing of beauty.

Also, does Pronger get suspended for the next game because he got an instigator in the last 5 minutes? I forget how that rule works.

Anonymous said...

the answer is no:

look here:

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=222845

Anonymous said...

Hayward is an egotistical shit. He thinks he's a real analyst. He is...if you take the "yst" off "analyst". How does he still have a job? They should fire him and the other guy and bring Madsen back.

Earl Sleek said...

Also, does Pronger get suspended for the next game because he got an instigator in the last 5 minutes?

The rules are in place, but I doubt it. An instigator in the last five minutes should be a suspension and a fine to the head coach, but I've seen that waived a bunch.

The first time it happened to the Ducks, Shane Doan beat up Vishnevski (IIRC) in the last five minutes of a game, but there was nothing levied against Doan or Gretzky. Basically, Gretzky was able to make the point that Doan is a star, so it's not like he was throwing a goon out in the last five (despite the fact that he would end up gooning someone).

So it's a possibility (Gretzky and Boynton have been hit for their mess against Steve Bernier), but I doubt that it goes down. Yeah Pronger is a repeat offender (of a different offense), but there's plenty of argument to be made that he is a star that should be playing at the end of OT. Not a goon with a message (again, despite his actions).

We'll see what the NHL does, but my guess is "nothing".

Unknown said...

I hope he is there next game, so somebody can elbow a bigger gap in his teeth, or perhaps snap a knee or two. Now I really wish Blake didn't shoot Ivanans in the face.

Anonymous said...

"Now I really wish Blake didn't shoot Ivanans in the face."

I was thinking the exact same thing Doc.