Heh, he’s not Dan Aykroyd’s son. From the IMDB entry you’ve got: “Son of director Ivan Reitman and Geneviève Robert.”

Posted by James Mirtle from Toronto on 04/08/08 at 01:58 PM ET

Heh, he’s not Dan Aykroyd’s son. From the IMDB entry you’ve got: “Son of director Ivan Reitman and Geneviève Robert.”

Posted by James Mirtle from Toronto on 04/08 at 02:58 PM

I figure he’s at least as much Dan Aykroyd’s son as the Red Wings are choke artists.

Jason is 30, so 23 years without hockey, and a Canadian too?  Well, that tells me all I need to know.

by Paul

I believe he also said he’s a Kings fan. ‘nuff said.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 04/08/08 at 02:09 PM ET

LOL, that is quite comical...Juno was a good show.

Posted by Bethany on 04/08/08 at 02:21 PM ET

jeez, as a sports fan you have to learn to deal with a little bit of critisism.. everybody likes to have their own opinion, so let them have their moment… if hes wrong, just be excited to prove him wrong…

thats why im still a leafs fan… one of these days were gonna prove those M***********’s wrong

Lets go blue jays!

Posted by dan on 04/08/08 at 07:20 PM ET

The only point i agree with is the Canadian who took 23 years to become a hockey fan.  After that i think that you red wing fans need to take a step back and look at why he may call you choke artists.  Since your cup in 2001-2002 you have won your division every single year (though i believe it to be one of the weaker divisions), you have won the Presidents Trophy 3 out of the 5 true seasons including this year.  In 2002-03 you got swept by the Ducks in the Quarterfinals, in 2003-04 you lost to the 6th seeded Flames in the Semis, 2005-2006 you lost to the 8th seeded Oilers, and in 2007-2008 it appeared your fortunes turned but you choked away the 2-1 series lead in the conference finals to the eventual cup winner Ducks.  Since your great 2001-2002 season you have choked quite a few times so even though good ole Jason Reitman may be fairly new to hockey in Canadian terms his point is valid.  If you want the choke artist label to go away you better win something this year or that will be a lot of domination during the season and some masterful choking when it counts the most.

Posted by AVAHOLIC from Denver on 04/09/08 at 12:19 AM ET

Did we run out of Adrian Dater bashing the Avs articles to run?

Posted by Tapeleg on 04/09/08 at 06:35 AM ET

Tapeleg, I don’t think we have seen the last of those!

AVAHOLIC, By your statement of “If you want the choke artist label to go away you better win something this year...”, does that include the 28 other teams that don’t win the Cup too?  If not, why not?

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/09/08 at 06:50 AM ET

I think because nt all other 28 teams consistently finish top 3 in overall (out of all 30 teams) in terms of record only to lose to an obviously lesser team (regardless of how those teams fared in those respective years).  Even Detriot fans have to admit a little more disappointment Dallas fans would than if, say Dallas were to lose to Anaheim this year. 

I’ve had my share of playoff disappointments as a Pittsburgh fan (’93 and ‘95 playoffs anyone?) so I feel ya.  I’m just trying to valididate the idea that Detriot has “choked” in recent years.  Can’t ignore three cups in such a short span, though.

Posted by Phil M on 04/09/08 at 08:53 AM ET

I think the root cause is an overuse of the term “choke.”

Choke refers specifically to a worse than expected performance due to nerves and mental issues - not to every time a favorite loses due to injuries, poor timing of slumps, the supposedly “lesser” team or player outplaying the favorite, or even overconfidence.

Of course, sloppy verbal usage is a plague on modern society in general, so I realize I’m tilting at a pretty dang big windmill.  Doesn’t mean I can’t wish I could jam Webster’s up the left nostril of people who should know better and refer to every time a team is upset as a choke - when it isn’t.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/09/08 at 10:22 AM ET

I only defend Jason’s use of the word choke because Detroit has been the dominant franchise during the regular season pretty much every season since that cup in 2001-2001.  They dont do good one season and suck the next.  Right now the rest of the league takes second seat because either 1) they are having a great year but are not habitually in the top 3 teams league-wide, every season, 2) they aren’t perennial cup contenders or sure fire playoff contenders, or 3) they haven’t been cup contenders for quite some time.  I just think that being President Trophy winners (of all things) should have shown that you could at least make it past the 6th seeded Flames or the 8th seeded Oilers.  Now last season was a good season for the Wings and they may have turned it all around.  But I stand by Jason calling you choke artists because a team of Detroit’s standing and prestige should be more than capable of being at least making the Conference Finals.  I’m not saying that this year is what will define the Wings as choke artist but I am saying that after winning another Presidents Trophy you should at the very least provide a strong showing to the Conference Final again or that “choke” term will still have its merit.

Posted by AVAHOLIC from Denver on 04/09/08 at 11:32 AM ET

After reading Baroque’ definition of choke I could sort of agree that the word “choke” perhaps doesn’t describe the Wings because I don’t see them losing from nervous agitation or tension.  Suppose I assume definitions too much lol.  Maybe if we exchange the word “choke” for something like “inexcusable upset” it would fit better into context.

Posted by AVAHOLIC from Denver on 04/09/08 at 12:07 PM ET

Wait.  What? 

Jason Reitman has been “directing commercials for the NHL and serving on its entertainment advisory board.”

No, Gary.  Just no.

Posted by jrl123 on 04/09/08 at 08:32 PM ET