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Alcohol No Longer Part Of The Game
by Paul on 09/06/09 at 09:35 AM ET
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from Doug Fischer of the Ottawa Citizen,
Jimmy Devellano doesn’t want anyone to think of him as a saint.
In 1988-89, when he was general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, Devellano accompanied at least six players—a third of his roster—to Alcoholics Anonymous or drug counselling meetings.
He’s never heard of another GM who’s done that, especially during the offseason, which is when he escorted a young Sheldon Kennedy to AA meetings.
“I needed that like I needed a hole in the head,” says Devellano, now the Red Wings’ senior vice-president. “Spending your summer with recovering alcoholics is no picnic when you don’t have a drinking problem yourself.”
Nor was he particularly happy to make sure Bob Probert, Petr Klima, Steve Chiasson, Joey Kocur and one or two other problem players made it to their meetings.
But Devellano says he did it because he was being paid to win hockey games, and sober and straight players gave him a better chance to achieve that.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jimmy+Devellano,
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Ads for alcohol are shown during ever single sporting event. As a parent I find it mind boggling that there are so many ads that present booze as a way to attract women, and if you are not drinking than how can you possibly have fun?
Substance abuse is an everyday problem, but no drug is more abused than alcohol.Isn’t Bud Lite the official beer of the NHL? I guess that makes it is officially o.k. to get hammered while watching a game.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 09/06/09 at 10:27 AM ET