Ovie was on his knees before he was pushed…

Posted by Greg on 02/07/10 at 08:10 PM ET

Gotta say, sounds like the blogger thinks he’s a paparazzi or something. Mike Milbury isn’t available to media requests, you can’t just confront him with cameras and starting firing questions.

This was a deliberate attempt to embarass Milbury, I see no problem in the way he reacted.

Posted by Andrew on 02/07/10 at 08:13 PM ET

Wow. We found a bigger douche than Milbury.

You don’t defeat idiocy with idiocy.

Posted by Osrt on 02/07/10 at 08:19 PM ET

Thanks to Paul for posting. For the record, I didn’t confront Mike with a camera. I asked him an honest question while waiting for the press elevator. He promptly snapped at me, and called me an *#$%@& and a jerk. It was only after his reaction that I pulled out the camera, to see if he was as brave on camera as he was when he thought nobody was recording. I understand that I don’t come off all that great in this situation either, but the video is really only a small snippet.

He made a comment on National Television which essentially said that Sidney Crosby had sex with Ovechkin’s mom (that is how Sid would become Ovie’s Daddy). He was completely inappropriate to make that comment, and obviously looked really silly when Ovechkin made him eat some crow. I just asked him the question about it, giving him the chance to back track or be humble about it. I didn’t expect him to lash out at me.

Posted by Gunaxin on 02/07/10 at 08:25 PM ET

Everyone should have stopped caring what Mike Milbury says when his words stopped creating terrible trades.

Posted by false_cause from DC on 02/07/10 at 08:27 PM ET

I understand that I don’t come off all that great in this situation either, but the video is really only a small snippet.

True. This makes it hard for us (me, at least) to back you.

He made a comment on National Television which essentially said that Sidney Crosby had sex with Ovechkin’s mom (that is how Sid would become Ovie’s Daddy).

Funny interpretation, but come on, everyone knows that he meant Sid dominates Ovie.

I just asked him the question about it, giving him the chance to back track or be humble about it. I didn’t expect him to lash out at me.

Posted by Gunaxin

Humble and Milbury don’t go together. However, you would do well to say how you approached him. Honestly, weren’t you aggressive/ condescending? Given the language of your post, I would be yes.

Posted by Osrt on 02/07/10 at 08:42 PM ET

Phil, the way you describe Milbury’s comment is totally facetious. Obviously you understand the meaning behind Mike’s comment, no? At the time his comment was totally accurate and telling. Obviously at the time Sidney had really came to play, and then after the comment was made, Ovechkin responded in kind. The way Mike described the 1st period was exactly how it looked to me at home, and is it not his job to analyze the game? He’s hired for his personality and the colourful way he described the 1st period is exactly his job and was spot on.

I think maybe you should take a step back, not get so emotionally invested in the game, and think before you play paparazzi next time. If Pierre Mcguire had said; “Wow the Caps are not playing well so far.”, I wouldn’t expect someone to confront him after the game and go, “Wow, bet you feel stupid for making that comment now, eh Pierre?”

Posted by Andrew on 02/07/10 at 08:45 PM ET

Ridiculous Phil….you were able to get your little 15 seconds of fame here…now go away you a-hole.

Posted by jmiller on 02/07/10 at 08:54 PM ET

Dude… what does it matter what Milbury thinks or says? If it was the other way around, would you have even cared? Why do the Caps have such a persecution complex. Did it really upset Caps Nation that Milbury, the man of some of the stupidest trades and contracts in the history of the NHL, said what he said?

Does Milbury come off looking like an ass? Yes but as you say… you do as well, especially the tone in your voice. And since we only see Milbury agitated (big surprise there) how do we know how you asked him the question.

Bloggers are a great thing for this sport, and there are many great ones around, but its amazing that jokes like you can ruin it for others.

Instead of trying to give it to a guy, no matter how much of a dick he can be (however, none the less someone who has done more in his life then you ever will), why not enjoy the great game you saw and take that spite that you have for Milbury and write it down, rather than try to egg him on to stir the pot and create a name for yourself.

No matter what, for the rest of their careers, there are going to be camps of Sid & Ovie, and it doesnt matter what they are doing the camps will argue till death who is better, who owns who,  etc… There will always be a slight edge to Crosby, especially within media and ex hockey guys as Sid has a Cup, and until Ovie, no matter how many goals and points and trophies he collects, wins one, thats the way it will always be. No matter how amazing Mario Lemieux was, they often didnt talk about how truly good he was until he won the cup. Same thing for Stevie Y.

Posted by samsaidhey on 02/07/10 at 08:56 PM ET

Phil I can see why mike didn’t even want to give you the time if day, you are brutal trying to agravate him when your filming him seriously your a tool.

Posted by TorontoFan on 02/07/10 at 09:01 PM ET

Finally, Milbury was right about something.  Why would Phil even mention this? Does he really want people thinking he’s that stupid?  And if that’s not enough, he has video, verifying how much of a moron he is.  I know he’s a Caps fan, but he’s gotta have a little common sense.

Posted by Corey from Philly on 02/07/10 at 09:23 PM ET

the thing I get out of all of this is you’d think a professional sports announcer would be better able to handle an agitating blogger.  obviously professional is a bit of a stretch when describing Milbury.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/07/10 at 09:30 PM ET

Why would Phil even mention this? Does he really want people thinking he’s that stupid?

why not?  if Milbury can’t handle people who disagree with him, he should find another job.  all he had to do was laugh it off and say “yeah, man, Ovechkin was great today” and get on the elevator.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/07/10 at 09:36 PM ET

Both of you are douches. Congrats.

Posted by SAB on 02/07/10 at 09:50 PM ET

Milburys a douchebag, but this blogger/reporter is even worse.  what an *#$%@&.  And your right Paul, it does shed bloggers in a bad light.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 02/07/10 at 09:51 PM ET

Man you guys are quick to bust Phil’s balls. All Milbury had to do was say nothing and do nothing. He was a coach, gm and now brodacaster. He should know how to handle himself with the media regardless of what it said. Was Phil wrong for asking a question? No. We don’t know how he asked it. If I was called and A-hole and pushed I may have decked him.

Posted by ME on 02/07/10 at 09:52 PM ET

From one a-hole to another…

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 02/07/10 at 09:53 PM ET

Just another inexperienced blogger who doesn’t get it and is ruining it for those that at least have some common sense and know what to do and what not to do.

Listen, and this is coming from someone who can’t stand Milbury - it is NOT your job to call him out for making his stupid comments.

Let the professionals who do this for a living take care of it.  I’m sick and tired of attention whores embarrassing the blogging community with such stupid antics. 

For those of you who’ve also been rescued from mommy’s basement and been given access without really earning it like real journalists who went to school for 4 years and got coffee for 4 more before getting their chance:  When you’re invited to press row at a game, just keep your camera turned off and keep your yap shut.  The PROS who are PAID to cover the games ask the questions.

First there was the debacle in Edmonton and now this.  Thanks for setting the possibility of bloggers getting press creds back another 3 years.

Posted by JT Lancer from Hockeyville on 02/07/10 at 10:00 PM ET

JT…why would bloggers EVER get press credentials - this incident aside?  they’re not the press.  they’re the public.  we read them exactly because they don’t have the professional constraints of the press.  if they got credentials they’d cease to be bloggers, and become the press - with all the relevant restrictions.

I’m tired of hearing this “you made it harder for bloggers” crap.  this was clearly a situation with a guy (Milbury) who is such a baby he can’t handle a little guy-to-guy ribbing.  he needs to come down off his throne and grow some thicker skin.

if Phil had approached Milbury with his camera out and asked him the question, I’d agree that he was wrong. BUT HE DIDN’T.  and yeah, if a celebrity (in any situation) acted toward me the way Milbury acted there, I’d get my camera out, too.  the world should know what a jackass he is.  why let him get away with stuff like that behind-the-scenes and try to act like a nice guy when the camera is rolling?

somebody on the gunaxin page commented that Milbury is respected in the hockey world - well maybe that’s because people don’t see him as he really is.

this kind of thing is exactly WHY I like bloggers.  you never get gems like this from the press.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/07/10 at 10:15 PM ET

It’s too bad, really. Hiding behind a “I was just asking a simple honest question” instead of being really honest about it and saying you wanting to antagonize Milbury over something he said on the air.  I would at least respect you having the guts to actually state what you were doing, even if I think it was completely unprofessional.

For those who think Milbury should have just shut his mouth, I would like to see you react in the same manner in the same circumstances. You may not like Mike Milbury, but the guy has a right to defend himself, and if he wants to use some foul language, then there is nothing wrong with that, nor is it so far out of the realm of possibility that that language would be used in a hockey rink.  If Phil was offended, then don’t talk to people or antagonize people.

If Phil was shoved, then that would suck, but it’s he said / she said at this point, and frankly, Phil’s snippet of video and behavior doesn’t really lend much credibility to himself. But hey, now he has some attention. Good for you, Phil. You started it, and you hurt every blogger along the way.

Posted by Tapeleg on 02/07/10 at 10:22 PM ET

there’s gotcha journalism 101 for you

Posted by FlyersFan on 02/07/10 at 10:27 PM ET

Paul - Bloggers can have a perspective that the MSM doesn’t have, ask questions and write stories that the MSM don’t, with press credentials.  It’s not bad for bloggers to have creds, and can help push the MSM a little bit.  If the MSM provided everything hockey fans wanted, then bloggers wouldn’t be needed in the first place. Bloggers with creds aren’t a bad thing, but common sense should be the reigning factor for them.

There are plenty of types of blogs. Some are benifited by credentials and access, some are not.

Posted by Tapeleg on 02/07/10 at 10:30 PM ET

You ask “why would bloggers EVER get press credentials”?  Well maybe you should ask the hundreds of them that are pleading to communications departments all across the NHL on a weekly basis.

I live in a town where the team is very much against blogger access, and this kind of crap is precisely one of the top reasons why.  And they’ve gotten so many requests from wannabe writers who don’t even understand basic sentence structure and are too lazy to proofread their “articles” that this NHL club has actually stopped even responding to these requests all together. 

I always get a kick out of some of these bloggers who act like they’re members of the media.  They refer to themselves as “beat reporters”.  They’re dreamers.  And for the 15-20% of them who are very good (just as good as the pros in some cases), well it’s a shame for them because they’re lumped into the bucket with the bad apples.

I’m aware of at least 5 bloggers in my town that have asked and been not just denied but borderline insulted for even suggesting that they should be allowed anywhere near NHL players and coaches.  2 of these guys would do a good job and behave properly but I’m not so sure about the other 3.  And therein lies the problem.

I’m really curious if Mr. Leonsis will make any comments about this incident and am hopeful for the good blogs in D.C. that their reputations won’t be tarnished because of this incident.

Posted by JT Lancer from Hockeyville on 02/07/10 at 10:30 PM ET

that video shows you why bloggers are considered to be weekend journalists and they dont get press passes.

Posted by FlyersFan on 02/07/10 at 10:39 PM ET

Paul in Miami is taking the words right out of my mouth. I agree with everything he said. I didn’t have my mic, camera, or notepad in my hand when I asked the initial question. Which is why I got a response from Mike that was apparently completely in his character (although unexpected by me). If he doesn’t like the question, he can just tell me so in a civil way, and refuse to answer it. There is no reason to start calling me names, and certainly no reason to push me.

Conversely I disagree with everything that JT said. Look, its the team’s right to credential whoever they want, and if they don’t want me there anymore, that is their choice. That doesn’t mean myself or other bloggers shouldn’t be able to ask questions. The blogs in Washington are of very high quality, and while I admit my site isn’t up to the standards set by some of my peers, we approach the game in our own way. We cover the team and sport in an offbeat manner, and part of that is covering the coverage. There have been many times where I have asked a question of a player or coach and it has ended up in the Washington Post, Associated Press, or on the various TV outlets. I come from a different perspective then the beat reporters, they do game stories, I do not. Our second leading paper in D.C. just shut down its Sports section. Its a new world, and I am my own boss. In fact I do this for a living, and my company is more profitable than many failing newspapers around the country. So I do get paid, and it is my job to report on whatever the hell I want.

Bloggers are criticized for writing things that they wouldn’t say to a player or coach’s face. Still others say that they should be denied access, or not be allowed to ask the questions. You can’t have it both ways. So I’ll cover how I want to cover, and ask the questions I want to ask. You can continue to criticize, since that is your right as well. People have the right to refuse to answer my questions, and I can surely be denied access if I cross some line that has never been drawn for me, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t ask the questions. I have seen plenty of trained journalists for major publications ask far worse things. Conversely I have seen plenty of obvious questions go unasked because reporters would rather maintain their relationships then follow a story.

If Mike Milbury has the right to spew forth whatever he wants on NBC, then I have the right to ask him about it, and call him out for it. What he did however is borderline illegal and if I really wanted to “make a name for myself” I would have filed charges.

Posted by Gunaxin on 02/07/10 at 10:52 PM ET

Milbury should be asked about that.  What type of announcer says in the first intermission of a game that 1 player basically “owns” the other.  Especially if you are talking about Ovechkin.

Has he ever seen a hockey game in the past 4 years enough to know that the game isn’t over until it’s over.  I think if someone asks Milbury about his stupid comments.. he has a number of professional ways to answer:

“Guess I got that one wrong”
“Maybe I spoke too soon”
“Whatever”

Either way, he’s paid to give his opinion to the audience..and when he makes a statement like that, it’s obviously something he should be willing to defend.  Not get pissy about and act like a 3 year old.

Posted by fricknout on 02/07/10 at 11:02 PM ET

If Mike Milbury has the right to spew forth whatever he wants on NBC, then I have the right to ask him about it, and call him out for it. What he did however is borderline illegal and if I really wanted to “make a name for myself” I would have filed charges.

this is embarrassing to read and this incident is a prime reason why other teams like the Flyers and oilers despise bloggers/internet writers.This a person was doing cutting edge journalism to ask an on-air personality why he said one player was better than another, displaying his embarrassing homerism in the process and wanted to shove it in his face that Ovy scored more goals than Crosby.

Posted by FlyersFan on 02/07/10 at 11:11 PM ET

This a person was doing cutting edge journalism to ask an on-air personality why he said one player was better than another, displaying his embarrassing homerism in the process and wanted to shove it in his face that Ovy scored more goals than Crosby.

so it’s OK for a professional announcer on national TV to display his embarrassing homerism and shove it in fans’ faces that Crosby had scored more goals than Ovechkin, but it’s not OK for a blogger to ask him about it?  um, ok.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/07/10 at 11:32 PM ET

You acted and sounded like a punk, which as a citizen you have every right to do. Please don’t pretend it was some kind of journalistic endeavor, though. I think the Caps owner may have blurred the lines slightly with his blogging, making folks like yourself feel a little more important than you are.
I like the bloggers mostly because they don’t have to cow tow to the team management but when you try to become the story it’s a bit much. You sounded squeaky, it would have been better to scrub the sound.

Posted by R.J. Chell from SK. Canada on 02/07/10 at 11:34 PM ET

Milbury is right the guy is an *#$%@&.

Posted by Bo from FL. on 02/07/10 at 11:35 PM ET

What is truly amazing is that your making Milbury the sympathetic character in all this. Wow. Who’d ever think Mad Mike Milbury could be cast as the sympathetic guy?

No one is saying that bloggers should not write their opinions, its how you go about it. Again, you dont detail how you ask Mad Mike your question, and considering how you are in the video,  I would imagine you were just as douchebaggery about it. It even comes across in your writing, you took major offense for some reason because of the comments he made regarding Ovechkin(like Ovie really cares what is said about him), and you wanted to rub his nose in it, you were not asking him a simple question, you were baiting him.  Then you even admit to cutting him off.

Posted by samsaidhey on 02/07/10 at 11:43 PM ET

For once I agree with the majority of posters here. The guy with the camera is the equivalent of a goading troll.

You can be guaranteed that the NHL insiders (ie. not bloggers) will side with Milbury on this and that professional journalists are giddy after seeing a blogger act with such ill regard for decorum.

Posted by blammo from Vancouver, BC on 02/07/10 at 11:43 PM ET

Take a look at the people around Milbury. They are just completely embarrassed for Phil. Phil is making a fool of himself, and they are just giving him the rope to hang himself with.

Posted by Tapeleg on 02/07/10 at 11:47 PM ET

Oh, yeah, and according to an (admittedly not necessarily credible) anonymous comment on his site, Phil may have shoved Milbury back. Still, no video, no comment from the other side. The video doesn’t make Milbury out to be in the wrong here.

Posted by Tapeleg on 02/08/10 at 12:09 AM ET

Milbury’s role on television is to be the American version of Don Cherry.  Plenty of fans have called him out for being a blowhard jerk on air.  If this is a bloggers versus professional media issue, then I chalk this as a victory for bloggers, even if I don’t particularly like the personality or the methods of the guy doing it.

You want to make a story about calling out Mike Milbury for some of the ridiculous stuff he says on air, then I say go at it with the balls and the intent to do it.  Record from the first part.  I don’t have a problem with bloggers, professional or otherwise doing guerrila interviews like that.  I have a problem with picking a fight with a guy and then recording when you become the victim.  That is unprofessional editorializing on a story. 

I can only imagine that the guy is smug from the line about how the guy took the “Sid of Ovie’s daddy” comment literally (hurrrrr, he implied that Crosby had sex with Ovechkin’s mother, hurrrrrrrr…. I don’t understand particularly how slang works).  Going from there, I’m pretty sure the tone used to bring up the problem was confrontational.  Milbury reacted just as a man can be expected to react when they’re antagonized.  As far as the pushing incident?  Yes, it really is too bad that the author didn’t get this “borderline illegal” assault on film as well.  Again, the Gunaxin story reveals just enough to sarcastically absolve Milbury of guilt before calling him guilty of assault.  The story indicates that after the initial confrontation, Milbury was antagonized AGAIN.  By stepping in front of him for the elevator, the challenge is made abundantly clear; it doesn’t take a professionally trained anthropologist to tell you what exact kind of disrespect an act like that entails.  By the way, for full disclosure, I am not a professionally trained anthropologist.  See how easy it is to run an accusation up on somebody while at the same time defeating that accusation?  Does the fact that I’m not an anthropologist really weaken the argument? 

Bottom line is that Milbury was antagonized as a person and responded in a way that a person would be expected to respond.  There were two assholes (at least) in that film, one of them was behind the camera.

Milbury should be taken to task for the ridiculous things he says on air.  I just hope the next person who does it is willing to give us all the facts before trying to steer us towards a conclusion.  I guess a professional journalist would know that though.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/08/10 at 12:23 AM ET

J.J. - I respect your thoughts, and agree with many of them. I don’t want to take it point by point where I disagree, but in general I don’t think my intent was to pick a fight. I don’t take things very seriously, and I didn’t really take Milbury’s comments at intermission very seriously either. However based on fan reaction via twitter and message threads, my audience did take exception to his comments, so that was the reason for the question. I personally didn’t take his comments literally, but I think they were inappropriate for television based on that context. My level of antagonism definitely rose once he called me an *#$%@& as soon as I asked the question.

Tapeleg - Yes after he shoved me from behind I turned around and made contact with him as well. I don’t really recall what was said at that point, or how much each of us was pushing. He instigated the contact, I turned around and I think it is safe to say we both engaged both physically and verbally until some others present separated us. In the absence of people pulling us apart, we would have probably fought.

Video : The video was removed at the request of someone who appeared in it without their permission, as I have noted on my site. As I’ve already said above, I acknowledge the video doesn’t really make me look good either, but Mike basically shut up as soon as I turned it on.

Posted by Gunaxin on 02/08/10 at 12:48 AM ET

Phil - Then you should immediately update your post to include this fact. Right now, your post says:

I obviously turned around to confront him, however people around us persuaded us both to calm down.

Which leaves out the fact that you shoved him back. It’s deceptive at best, and dishonest at worst. This is only serving to damage your own credibility in the situation, as it makes Milbury look like the only one who took it to the physical level. At the very least, it would be telling the truth.

Posted by Tapeleg on 02/08/10 at 01:03 AM ET

What is truly amazing is that your making Milbury the sympathetic character in all this. Wow. Who’d ever think Mad Mike Milbury could be cast as the sympathetic guy?

Posted by samsaidhey

This is certainly the worst part of all this. A giant douchebag will have defenders because someone else decided to be a tool. I don’t know you Phil, but your behavior at this moment is pretty weak as you admit, thankfully. Milbury, however, has consistently been a disgrace to pro hockey.

Posted by Osrt on 02/08/10 at 08:25 AM ET

Wow. We found a bigger douche than Milbury.

You don’t defeat idiocy with idiocy.

Posted by Osrt on 02/07/10 at 08:19 PM ET

Well put, that really sums up my feelings, Osrt.

Milbury is a moron, but there’s no reason for anyone that disagrees with him—blogger or “legit” media member—to stoop to his level.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/08/10 at 08:40 AM ET

but I think they were inappropriate for television based on that context.

So now he has become the FCC.

Seriously? you actually think that was inappropriate for television?

Did you approach him asking why he would say something so inappropriate for television? Not that he chose Crosby over Ovechkin, but rather that the context of his statement is so explicit that kids and good people like you shouldnt ever have to hear that type of language on a national broadcast? That that type of talk is best used after 10pm and only on Showtime or HBO? That what he said goes against the whole moral compass of the USA?

Would your ‘morals’ have been so offended had it been Crosby he was talking about?

but in general I don’t think my intent was to pick a fight

He’s not even sure what his intent was? Really? Im pretty positive you were not looking for a ‘fight’, but you were looking to rub it in and/or antagonize him.

Again, I ask if it was the other way around would you have even cared? Or how about if the Pens held on for the win?

Posted by samsaidhey on 02/08/10 at 09:05 AM ET

Milbury is an idiot.  His appeal and the NBC broadcast as a whole does very little for the average hockey fan that lives south of the Canadian border.  They have dumbed down their approach to broadcasting in hopes of finding new fans, the result has been a failure.

As JJ mentioned earlier, Milbury’s role is to be the Don Cherry of the American broadcast, spending his Saturday nights honing his “skils” on HNIC.

Hockey fans aren’t stupid.  I think the blogger and people who follow hockey outside of Pittsburgh have every right to call Milbury and NBC out for their broadcast performance yesterday.  They are sloppy, ineffective, and agenda based.  More than anything else, it serves to hurt the reputation of the game.  Something that none of us should ever tolerate.

Posted by Leo_Racicot on 02/08/10 at 09:16 AM ET

  By stepping in front of him for the elevator, the challenge is made abundantly clear; it doesn’t take a professionally trained anthropologist to tell you what exact kind of disrespect an act like that entails. 

we all talk about hockey.  we all love hockey.  because Milbury does it on TV he gets “first on the elevator” rights?  uh, ok.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/08/10 at 09:27 AM ET

Bottom line is that Milbury was antagonized as a person and responded in a way that a person would be expected to respond. 

I love how you say Milbury deserves respect because of his position, gets to get on the elevator first because of his position, but isn’t held to a higher standard of conduct because of his position.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/08/10 at 09:28 AM ET

we all talk about hockey.  we all love hockey.  because Milbury does it on TV he gets “first on the elevator” rights?  uh, ok.

Either you misread what I was saying or you’re intentionally twisting it to make it seem ridiculous.

If that’s honestly the point you took from that line, then I’m sorry you so grossly misread it.  Getting cut off is a show of disrespect, whether it’s in traffic or in line for the elevator.  I didn’t intend it to mean that Milbury had the right to be first on the elevator and it takes a lot of stretching to get to that conclusion based on the context of what I said.  The blogger from Gunaxin admits to cutting Milbury off.  That’s another way of antagonizing somebody in a situation that’s already become heated.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/08/10 at 09:34 AM ET

Damn, I missed the video by 6 minutes.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 02/08/10 at 09:37 AM ET

I love how you say Milbury deserves respect because of his position, gets to get on the elevator first because of his position, but isn’t held to a higher standard of conduct because of his position.

When did I say that?  Am I allowed to think that being an a**hole to an a**hole isn’t a good idea?  I never once said that Milbury deserved respect, just that I understand his reaction. (for the record, I use a**hole to keep it off the censor list, as I know that word gets caught while it’s plural, “assholes” gets through.)

Also, while I never said it outright, I thought my point was pretty clear that I think it was right to call Milbury out for being a ridiculous blowhard, just that the methods of the Gunaxin author in not telling the whole story was unprofessional.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/08/10 at 09:39 AM ET

Ok, I thought Mllbury’s comment was completely out of line, and just proved to Caps fans how biased NBC was for Pitt…but then again, why complain when we won? 

I have no problem with harsh comments, but that was personal and unecessary.  I have no problem with someone confronting Milburry about it.  Being agressive about it was also unecessary. 

I don’t remember, but did Milburry make any similar comment on behalf of OV after the hat trick?  I don’t think he did, and thats why his earlier comment was inapropriate…if you are commentating fo both teams then do it right.

Posted by Rachel from MD on 02/08/10 at 09:46 AM ET

More than anything else, it serves to hurt the reputation of the game. 

While Gary is in charge the reputation of the game will always be what it is.

Why there is so much effort put into dumbing down the game, or making things appear NFL-esque is beyond me.

And quite honestly this situation doesnt even seem like its a call out. Its a Caps fan who is trying to embarrass, rile and just plain give it to Milbury because of what he said re: Ovie. If it was said in regard to Crosby he wouldnt have cared. If the Pens won, he wouldnt have said anything. But then to come back and say what Milbury said was inappropriate for a television audience is just plain dumb and quite laughable.

Is Milbury a moron? Yes he is. Although at times he does have some good insight. Its rare but even the biggest buffoons can surprise you at times. I find he is better on CBC where he can tone the idiocy down so as not to overshadow Cherry.

However, again, this whole thing wasnt a protest or call out to NBC for the way they braodcast the games, or of Mike himself. Its just an embarrassing situation in which Phil tries to make Milbury look like an idiot but only makes himself come across that way.

Posted by samsaidhey on 02/08/10 at 09:47 AM ET

Seems like I disagree with just about everyone in this thread except Paul.  J.J., he admitted stepping in front of Milbury, but qualified that he had been waiting for it longer.  I don’t see any unwritten protocol broken here.  I do it every day.  Sure, he could have backed off knowing that Milbury was being pissy, but I doubt I would have.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 02/08/10 at 09:59 AM ET

Honestly, you’re lucky he didn’t beat you with a shoe. Milbury’s a douche. Someone who is supposed to be a professional should be able to handle himself better when dealing with the public.

Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 02/08/10 at 10:02 AM ET

Mike Milbury was at the game as a member of the working media.

Phil was there as a member of the working media.

In my opinion, the wrong forum to question Mike.  Set up an interview with him if need be.

Going after him in that environment was just not right in my mind.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 02/08/10 at 10:11 AM ET

Well, Phil edited the post to include the briefest of mentions that he engaged physically with Milbury as well. I’m done with this. Making a claim of assault is going pretty overboard. I would say provoked into confrontation, and Phil didn’t know how to handle it, so he did what he does best, wrote it up from his perspective on his website. It’s still one of the most biased accounts I’ve read in a while.

Was there a lot of confusion for Phil when the Red Sox were battling the Yankees in 2004, and “Who’s your daddy” was a big catchphrase? Was this a questioning of David Ortiz’s parentage? Come on, an honest question? This only serves to make Phil look more ignorant. It’s bad enough that you are going to engage or ask interview / confrontational style questions of a prominent hockey TV personality without doing any of the research about them. Then you are surprised how they react? Ignorance of facts isn’t an excuse. The guy’s background is there. If you watch the CBC, NESN, other NBC broadcasts, or even the Winter Classic, and think to yourself, “what is this guy doing on TV, and who the hell is he,” then you should find out before engaging him. And if it was spur of the moment, please, learn your lesson, and stop grandstanding.

Posted by Tapeleg on 02/08/10 at 10:24 AM ET

he admitted stepping in front of Milbury, but qualified that he had been waiting for it longer.

I just re-checked the article and it has been re-written since my first comment appeared.  The way it was originally written made it appear as though the blogger deliberately stepped in front of Milbury.  I should have quoted the original line which led me to this conclusion.  That was a mistake on my part.

Of course, re-writing the post after reading the complaints about it is another piece with which I could take issue professionally.

I never intended to imply that Milbury deserved to be first on the elevator.  I don’t feel like I should have to keep repeating that I think Milbury is wrong in this situation.  I think Paul Kukla above me has most succintly put the point I was trying to make with this comment:

Mike Milbury was at the game as a member of the working media.

Phil was there as a member of the working media.

In my opinion, the wrong forum to question Mike.  Set up an interview with him if need be.

Going after him in that environment was just not right in my mind.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 02/08/10 at 10:11 AM ET

If Milbury refuses an interview, then the article can be written from the point that Milbury is a windbag who’s a big and tough personality on air, but is unwilling to back himself up when the comments he makes come back to bite him.  I would respect that article a lot more than one man’s report of how a fight he picked turned out.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/08/10 at 10:29 AM ET

JJ:

Admittedly I stepped in front of him, however I was certainly waiting before him

sounds to me like Milbury wasn’t the first one there, but tried to be the first one on the elevator.  is anyone surprised?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/08/10 at 10:36 AM ET

You’re right on this count, Paul.  I was reacting to the way the article was originally written.  I definitely should have directly quoted because now I don’t remember precisely how it was written.  I will say that I specifically remember the line “however I was certainly waiting before him” was not in there.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/08/10 at 10:53 AM ET

JJ, I have no problem believing the article has been modified since it was originally posted…further confusing the issue.

what I really wonder is if Milbury is aware of any of this and if he’s following it.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/08/10 at 10:55 AM ET

JJ - I guess Alanah had it right. Grab screen captures of anything controversial.

Posted by Tapeleg on 02/08/10 at 10:56 AM ET

The part about me “waiting before him” was definitely in there at first. I think the only thing I changed in that portion was to change “cut him off” to “stepped in front of him” for clarity, as cut him off could also mean verbally (which I probably did as well). The article was written originally right after the incident, and was put together hastily before I left the arena. So I have revised based on some feedback I received about how the situation was presented. I’ll certainly admit that my account is biased, but I don’t claim to be an unbiased member of the media.

As I said, I am not without blame. Criticize my actions all you want, but NONE of them justified what Mike Milbury did, and he shouldn’t be held to lesser standards.

Posted by Gunaxin on 02/08/10 at 11:02 AM ET

I’m a little confused.

Are you implying that you too do not understand literary creativity? When I explain to my family over dinner that during a rugby game, a player on the other team questioned the identity of my father.. They understand that the player called me a bastard. With filters i’m not sure you’ll see that but whatever. The point is when he said that mike implied sid had sex with Ovi’s mom. that was literary creativity.

Besides, we all know the NHL hasn’t perfected Temporal Physics yet.

While I disagree with the use of a camera in such an informal way, I do not see why someone cannot say something just as latently stupid (and it was) in response to Mad Mike.

The pushing and shoving was just juvenile.

however, and I hope this gets through to people wondering if bloggers will be taken away from the press box- the bloggers have given me the most unbiased (as far as a biased blog can) news I have gotten lately on the caps. no one is as critical of a team as the team itself, and by extension, the team’s fans.

Posted by Sentient Cheese from Bowie, MD on 02/08/10 at 11:14 AM ET

As I said, I am not without blame. Criticize my actions all you want, but NONE of them justified what Mike Milbury did, and he shouldn’t be held to lesser standards.

I can appreciate that and this is the last I’ll say on the subject because I think from here, we can only really get into an agreement fight, which turns into a semantics fight, which turns into an ad hoc fight, and I just don’t think I could ever trust the internet again if people started flaming one another for basically no reason. 

I agree, Milbury escalating the issue to a physical confrontation was immature and it was out of line.  I believe both parties hold responsibility for this issue.  It’s especially poignant in a hockey-related article, as we’re all lovers of the only major sport that isn’t soley about fighting, but has it as a part of the game.  I think the concept of “you shouldn’t punch people and people shouldn’t deserve to be punched”  applies as well in hockey as in every day life.  To your credit, you do accept your portion of the responsibility for this confrontation.  I would like to see Milbury respond with his side of the story.  Sadly, I don’t believe he will, as he has a lot to lose by even acknowledging it.  And hey, if some famous names in hockey didn’t ingore problems they created in hopes they’d go away, then it just wouldn’t be the NHL we’re all used to.

Lastly, i want to take some editorial control over my own comments.  Reading back on what I said last night versus what I’ve said this morning, it appears as though I’ve contradicted myself.  Earlier, I said that I don’t have a problem with these types of guerrila interviews.  Then, in agreeing with Paul Kukla, I seemed to contradict that stance in saying that Phil should have requested an interview and then backed off and written the article from the one vocal side versus one intentionally voiceless side.  The truth is that I would have been ok with either of those methods.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/08/10 at 11:27 AM ET

Personally, i agree with you. Many people make some good points on here, and yeah, you could make the argument to just ignore the guy. I get all worked up at some of the stupid comments made by him, Cherry, and for that matter Penguins fans and Flyer fans. You do reach a point where enough is enough. It probably did not help with the way the game was played and handled yesterday to create a very sour mood for the home team. In the first period alone, we watched as Ovie was boarded, Goonitz elbowed Theo to the head (or was that a replay of last years playoffs, not sure), phantom calls were made, and star players got quizzical misconducts for unknown reasons. There unfortunately IS a feeling that when playoffs come around, we will once again be treated as a JOKE, and when assholes like Milbury feed into it, it does leave a fan feeling hopeless. Shall we really go back and count the last 13 times now we have played the penguins including the postseason???  My record has it at 8-2-3,  but yet somehow they have the cup. I dont want to be a whiner, im sure i sound like one, but until someone stops treating the Caps like second class citizens (milbury, cherry) , and in light of the mike donaghy thing that has put doubt into the integrity of sports, then i am all for people standing up for the Caps. Ted has a done a great job of turning around the national perception, but it has not been enough yet. The comment of “who your daddy is” is not even appropriate for me to try to explain to my 10 year old son watching the game. He can say that Crosby must feel like he still owns ovechkin or is still the king or whatever. Why he even needs to speculate WHAT Crosby is thinking is retarded.  Enough is enough. I saw enough from both the commentators (although mcguire was especially and unusually kind to the caps yesterday) and the refs to be disheartened. You get no respect after the first period when you are down 2 goals and have won 13 in a row. Did he really think the Caps would just lay down and play dead??  I mean he really is not even GOOD at his job, to be honest. Anyway, that said, probably should just be the bigger person and ignore the guy. I feel your frustration, i get what you are saying, but its not going to change. He only will dislike the Caps more, it wont change for the better. Im sure he will get enough abuse for this already, and maybe one day he will learn. But i am glad you stood up for the Caps. Im cool with getting outplayed and losing but not for the level of bullshit that was in that game yesterday…There never has been nor never will be again a game where the top line are all sitting out at the same time…and 2 for misconducts?? And the penguins are rewarded for probably suspendable actions by Adams with a PP…Everyone was angry in Caps Nation for a good part of the game, and i think we all wanted to spew all over someone at the end and he made himself an easy target, and deservedly so. Just take the high road next time, arguing with people who are asses never gets you anywhere….Now if you could call up the head of officiating and get that straightened out before mid-April…....

Mark

Posted by mark buttram from fairfax va on 02/08/10 at 11:32 AM ET

Bloggers are a by-product of a still new information medium.  While it’s birth and first step evolution is painful to watch and experience at times, it is no less legitimate than the dying newspaper journalism it is replacing.  The fact that no other “credentialed” journalist confronted Milbury about his comments, or directly challenged the offensively biased broadcast we were subject to by NBC, re-enforced why the old guard is dying.  Sorry you might lose your club badges guys, but you’ve become a bit too snuggly and comfortable with your subject.

Do us all a favor and take over the Blogging community, or any other of the new information mediums, and push the less able out.  We would love to see your professional capabilities improve what we read, see, and understand.  We’ll come in droves (e.g. see Japer’s Rink).

Posted by twizard1 from Virginia on 02/08/10 at 11:48 AM ET

I mean he really is not even GOOD at his job, to be honest.

you got that right, for sure.  I laughed at the “respected in the hockey world” comment on disqus.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/08/10 at 11:54 AM ET

Hockey fans aren’t stupid.  I think the blogger and people who follow hockey outside of Pittsburgh have every right to call Milbury and NBC out for their broadcast performance yesterday.  They are sloppy, ineffective, and agenda based.  More than anything else, it serves to hurt the reputation of the game.  Something that none of us should ever tolerate.

Posted by Leo_Racicot

I just wanted to highlight this comment because 1) it’s echoes my sentiment and 2) the screen name and avatar are Pure Awesome. Wish I had thought of it.

Posted by Osrt on 02/08/10 at 12:53 PM ET

Greg chimes in at PuckDaddy.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 02/08/10 at 01:03 PM ET

As much as I respect Mr. Kukla I’d really like him or someone else that called this blogger a “member of the working media” to clarify that statement.

Just because a blogger gets press creds it doesn’t make him the working media.  If you don’t make a measurable amount of money with your blog then you aren’t the working media - you’re a fan with a web site.

Between what I’ve seen on the website, quantcast, and alexa, I don’t get the impression that this blog is a working revenue generating entity that would qualify him to be in the same class as Milbury or any other commentator or journalist.

Combine that with the fact that he changes his posts to suit his own tarnished image, removes the video when he realizes how bad it makes him look, and tries to defend what he did rather than just apologize, and what you have is a really sad state of affairs if people really honestly consider him a member of the working media.

Posted by JT Lancer from Hockeyville on 02/08/10 at 01:56 PM ET

JT Lancer, If a person is issued press credentials, they are considered a working member of the media.

How you define it may be correct, but in the big picture, they are part of the media. 

Some teams will provide a limited media credential, meaning some people may not have credentials to enter the locker room, etc., but I don’t think that is how it is in Washington.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 02/08/10 at 02:01 PM ET