It may be insensitive, but I really have a problem with this.

How CONVENIENT for him that a “comeback” and now these surfacing allegations come at the EXACT time he’s trying to push a book.

I’m in no way defending James, or saying that his comeback wasn’t a legit attempt.  None of us will ever really know.  But I do know it all smells suspicious, and I don’t appreciate it at all.

Posted by Primis on 10/14/09 at 12:01 PM ET

I had the same thoughts Primis.  If he would have made the Flames, would they have delayed the release of the book?

Just imagine the ‘circus’ atmosphere that would have surrounded Fleury in each town, not something any team wants.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 10/14/09 at 12:04 PM ET

Primis:

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Posted by mike from austin on 10/14/09 at 12:16 PM ET

I agree the timing is planned, but considering what he has dealt with, I don’t begrudge him a dime. He has lost everything due to self destructive behavior brought on by this abuse. If he can make some money for himself and his family out of this whole mess, good for him!!!

Posted by Tero from Tacoma on 10/14/09 at 12:21 PM ET

Paul:

Was there any interest in Theo from other teams around the league?  After the Flames released him?  Fleury did pretty well in the preseason, if I remember correctly.

Posted by mike from austin on 10/14/09 at 12:28 PM ET

There may have been some interest Mike, but he made it clear, Calgary only.

So, that ended the story there.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 10/14/09 at 12:30 PM ET

He has lost everything due to self destructive behavior brought on by this abuse.

Did he?  The key here is SELF-destructive.

Yes, if he suffered from abuse it was probably a miserable way to come up   And yes, it probably scarred him for life.

But to say that it was solely responsible for Fleury’s poor decision-making in his life… I can’t roll with that, because they were still Fleury’s decisions and choices.  The guy made the NHL and lots of money—I fail to see what he was denied in his career, opportunity, or financially that we should tolerate him now dramatizing himself to the media to sell a couple books.  He’s been given a whole lot more opportunity and chances that most of us will ever get or have.

Posted by Primis on 10/14/09 at 12:42 PM ET

You might want to check the spelling of ‘James’ in the headline…

Posted by dwgs on 10/14/09 at 12:51 PM ET

Thanks dwgs.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 10/14/09 at 12:53 PM ET

Primis I understand the thinking, however I would never trade his experiences for the opportunities he may have had. His living hell is not worth the NHL career he may have gotten. Also I did say “self destructive” so he had choices, but I wouldn’t want to be faced with those same choices. So IF he has come out the other side and is now putting his life together, and it means making a few bucks off a book, I won’t quibble with that.

Posted by Tero from Tacoma on 10/14/09 at 12:58 PM ET

I agree with a lot of what you said Primis.

But I also find it a damn shame that the sincerity of Fluery’s intentions, to shed light on child abuse in early hockey, is covered by marketing and pr bs.

Posted by Osrt on 10/14/09 at 01:04 PM ET

Back when he was bouncing in and out of the league’s substance abuse program, I remember thinking that this guy must have some serious demons for him to continue to abuse alcohol despite living with Crohn’s disease.  It’s pretty self-destructive to knowingly and willingly neglect—even exacerbate—a serious, pre-existing medical condition.  Now it all kind of makes sense.  Hope the dude can find some peace.

Posted by mike from austin on 10/14/09 at 01:12 PM ET

I think I’ve read that in these kinds of cases going public is actually part of the therapy. I would guess the rationale is that there has been so much secrecy, shame and self-hatred going on that stating what happened publicly helps clear the air. When the victim hears from others that it was the abuser’s fault and not theirs—and sees that their world isn’t going to come crashing down around them like they thought it would if anyone found out—it is a huge release.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 10/14/09 at 03:51 PM ET

Regardless of any kind of convenient timing with respect to his book - it’s important for the abuse to be made public, not just for Fleury himself, but also so it becomes less unusual and more accepted for those who have been abused to speak out instead of assuming that they are alone, they are at fault, or they will be stigmatized or disbelieved.

Sexual abuse, whether by coaches, teachers, relatives, or something like date rape, is still a very secret thing, and many of those who have been abused are very, very reluctant to come forward, sometimes because they are afraid they won’t be believed, sometimes because they do not want to be blamed (women who are victims of date rape often hear this - “she shouldn’t have worn such a low-cut sweater, what was he supposed to think?” or “she got what she deserved, drinking so much that she was insensible”).

The more it becomes acceptable for someone who was abused to speak out, the more likely it is that others will speak out in the future and the blame will be placed where it belongs - on the abuser.  He’s showing a lot of guts, because I doubt that I could tell such a story and open myself up that way if something like that had happened to me.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/14/09 at 06:49 PM ET

Yeah much respect.  Just a sad story if its true.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 10/15/09 at 01:00 AM ET