I wonder if Dater is self-aware enough to realize that, you know, he wouldn’t have a job if people didn’t care about sports as much as they do.

I mean, my God, do you realize how hardcore a fan you have to be to still read about your team when their primary beat-writer is Adrian freaking Dater?

Posted by HockeyinHD on 11/02/09 at 09:03 AM ET

We could go over the various reasons people care about sports or anything for that matter.  But, suffice enough that people do care. 

We’ve all seen numerous hockey players get that big life-changing contract and then turn off whatever it was that got it for them in the first place.  To say that all players are like that, that once a player gets a contract that will guarantee financial well-being for the rest of his life he turns off the drive and stops caring about individual wins and losses is wrong.

I’m not denying that money is a motivating factor.  Hell, look at the way a lot of guys play in a contract year.  But to say that their competitive drive gets switched off when the money comes is as ludicrous as saying that a fan stops caring about his team after they win the Stanley Cup. 

Dater is accusing his Avs of being complacent in the face of a disappointing and frustrating loss.  That’s nothing new for a fan to do.  He just makes the mistake of thinking that every hockey player out there is like that.  He even explains in his article where this bad idea comes from.  He’s “been around a lot of hockey guys”.  Well, Adrian, you’re a writer.  Rich hockey players aren’t different than anybody else.  You’ve been around guys who have been around the likes of you for most of their career.  Their responses are automatic.  What is spouting off your true feelings to a sports writer going to accomplish?  Likely after a tough loss, you’ll be frustrated with a lot of things.  What can you complain about that’s not going to bite you in the ass later?  Think you got the raw end of a call?  Go ahead and tell a beat writer that you think the refs blew it and you’re mad about it: hello call from the league office and a fine. 

Upset that the coach had you sitting during a crucial moment of the game?  Go ahead and tell Dater in your frustration and see whether your ice time goes north or south.

Frustrated that a teammate didn’t see you wide open in the slot each of the ten times during the game that you were?  Well tell ol’ Mr. Dater and now you’re a malcontent.

Were you distracted all game because you got in an argument with your wife over the phone?  Yeah, I dare you to give a sportswriter that tidbit.  Welcome to your next road game where the opposing fans are holding telephones up to the glass to taunt you.

If players didn’t give a crap about winning, then why are there examples of guys taking less-than-market value for a chance to win a cup?  Is it only because they’re financially set by this time and they’re so bored with all the money they have that they don’t see a good reason to keep piling it on as much as possible?

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/02/09 at 09:34 AM ET