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NHLPA Should Have Talked With Crosby Before Firing Kelly
by Paul on 09/04/09 at 11:58 AM ET
Comments (39)
from Craig Custance of the Sporting News,
He’s been voted the most powerful person in hockey by the Hockey News. He’s one of the few players whose name transcends the sport. His opinion matters, perhaps more than any player in hockey.
But when the NHLPA fired its executive director, Paul Kelly, on Monday, Sidney Crosby said he wasn’t consulted.
“I woke up the next day and saw the news like the rest,” Crosby told SportingNews.com.
That’s a huge lapse in judgment by the players on the executive board. It was a decision that happened in the middle of the night, so maybe they were sparing Crosby a 4:00 a.m. phone call.
Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Sidney+Crosby,
Comments
Wow, what a stupid article, I am not a Crosby hater, we will leave that to the Wings fans on here, but what the hell does Sids opinion have to do with anything.
“okay guys, I talked to Sid, he thinks we shouldn’t fire him, well that’s that, good night”
The NHL may have pushed him as the face of hockey, but it doesn’t mean he is the brains behind all hockey decisions, he isn’t even the team rep.
I shouldn’t have given up my journalism career so early, with hacks like this I could have been huge.
Posted by Roboshow from Calgary on 09/04/09 at 11:08 AM ET
Yeah, this is just ridiculous. He found out the same way that everyone who wasn’t a player rep found out. That’s the way it SHOULD be. Just because the NHL and the media are sucking his cock doesn’t mean that he should be involved in every decision that has anything to do with the NHL.
If he wanted to be involved, he’d be a player rep. He’s not, so he shouldn’t get any special treatment. That’s just ridiculous.
Maybe DirectTV and Versus should’ve called him too, before any decisions were made.
Maybe Vancouver should’ve consulted with Sid before they signed Luongo to that extension.
Posted by Garth on 09/04/09 at 11:17 AM ET
Heh, glad to see I wasn’t the only one who thought this was silly.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 09/04/09 at 11:50 AM ET
Besides, Crosby being consulted in NHLPA matters would be a conflict of interest, as we all know his loyalty is with Gary and the owners (like the one he lives with).
Posted by John W. from Lansing, MI on 09/04/09 at 11:55 AM ET
...oh, and can we maybe get TPSH to do some sabermetrics on this situation to “predict” what the vote would have been if Rosby had been consulted?
Posted by John W. from Lansing, MI on 09/04/09 at 11:57 AM ET
Your comment is awaiting moderation by Sidney Crosby.
Posted by false_cause from DC on 09/04/09 at 11:57 AM ET
I wish the captain of the Titanic had consulted Crosby before deciding to go “full steam ahead"…
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 09/04/09 at 12:10 PM ET
Who’s more overrated...Cindy Crosby or Roberta Luongo?
Posted by kevin from boston on 09/04/09 at 12:18 PM ET
Overrated: Luongo
Overhyped: Crosby
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 09/04/09 at 12:30 PM ET
Craig Custance is an absolute idiot. Way to sneak this little tidbit in there after implying that Crosby was all pissed that he wasn’t consulted…
ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun reported that there were high-profile players who were steamed they weren’t consulted. Crosby said he wasn’t one of them.
Why not be a REAL journalist, find out who the players who actually were “steamed” are, and write an article about that?
Posted by Kstewy16 on 09/04/09 at 12:31 PM ET
Why not be a REAL journalist, find out who the players who actually were “steamed” are, and write an article about that?
Posted by Kstewy16 on 09/04/09 at 01:31 PM ET
Because that’s too hard and takes effort.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 09/04/09 at 12:36 PM ET
C’mon now.
Some of the snipes at Custance here are way off base. He’s a great hockey writer, but one who took this story down a path it probably shouldn’t have gone. I get what he probably figured the news value was, but we don’t get a sense that Crosby is even interested in having a major role in the NHLPA ‘s decisions. (How many superstars did during the lockout?
(He also never mentions that Crosby isn’t even the NHLPA’s rep with Pittsburgh, which I thought was important.)
That said, “Why not be a REAL journalist” ... stop being a child. He’s written for a major metro newspaper and he’s the lead hockey writer for the Sporting News. I think he’s got the real journalist thing down.
Posted by Greg Wyshynski from Washington, DC on 09/04/09 at 12:55 PM ET
But when the NHLPA fired its executive director, Paul Kelly, on Monday, Sidney Crosby said he wasn’t consulted.
He is not in the position to be consulted. He does not represent his team. I believe Matt Cooke is the go to guy for the Penguins.
The average age of the NHLPA player rep is 30. With the exception of Cheli. A few of them are under 30. I would imagine Crosby at 22 is not mature enough to handle that role.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 09/04/09 at 01:06 PM ET
Here is what I think was very strange. Since I don’t know who every team rep is, I would have researched this first, but talk is 10-13 of the reps do not have a contract for the upcoming season.
Maybe that reflects on Kelly in a negative way, at least thinking some of the reps may feel that way.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 09/04/09 at 01:09 PM ET
This may be the single stupidest article that has ever been posted on KK.
Posted by Primis on 09/04/09 at 01:28 PM ET
If he wanted to be involved, he’d be a player rep. He’s not, so he shouldn’t get any special treatment. That’s just ridiculous.
Heart of the matter right there. If he was a player rep, then he would have been involved - since he wasn’t, he wasn’t.
End of (non)story.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/04/09 at 01:31 PM ET
You could hear the sympathy in Crosby’s voice towards Kelly, a person with whom Crosby said he had a good relationship.
Lil’ Gary is going to be soooooo jealous when he finds out his boy has been two-timing him. 
But, hey, I have to say Rosby said exactly the right things about this “issue.” It’s his comments that he was completely satisfied with the way things were handled that made the story itself irrelevant. Too bad Custance felt the need to publish it anyway.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/04/09 at 02:15 PM ET
… stop being a child.
I understand that the wording is dumb, but there IS a good point in there.
The crux of the story is this “I think Crosby should’ve been consulted. He didn’t ask to be consulted. End of story. *delete*”
It’s not a story, plain and simple. I might argue that it’s his editor at The Sporting News who should’ve laughed at Custance for suggesting that this is a piece worthy of being published, but it’s still ridiculous that he even wrote it.
Posted by Garth on 09/04/09 at 03:07 PM ET
Hey, Custance… I’m not sure what to have for dinner tonight, could you give me Crosby’s phone number?
Thanks awfully.
And, Puck Daddy, defending a guy who writes a crappy article isn’t exactly a battle you should be fighting, right? I’m not sure writing for a newspaper, given how much they suck, or writing for The Sporting News, given how much it sucks, are exactly bullet points to establish a huge amount of credibility.
It’s a stupid article. It’s a stupid premise, a stupid series of ‘facts’, and he reaches a stupid conclusion. It was positively TPSH-ian, really.
That doesn’t make the guy a mouth-breathing moron, but Kstewy does have a point when he suggests that CUstance be a real journalist and go a little deeper into the story than he did. It reads like a prretty lazy piece.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 09/04/09 at 03:07 PM ET
Wow..a wtf headline on both kk and the actual article..I’m not all that familiar with union structure, but I’d like to think that somebody who has been elected to an executive board within a union actually has some power, responsibility and decision making duties. If they now have to check in and get the ok from selected stars, then whats the point? Besides, Chelios is the one I’d worry about, not Crosby.
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 09/04/09 at 06:37 PM ET
Heh… Wysh says we should all be nicer to Custance, then picks his article apart for being written from a poor perspective and leaving out vital information.
This is the same stupidity that marred the Damien Cox article about Crosby not being named captain of Team Canada and another bullet in the gun of Crosby haters. Not every story has to be run through the “what about Crosby?” filter.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 09/04/09 at 09:25 PM ET
This is the type of writing that makes some hockey fans hate Crosby. Which he had nothing to do with. It’s red meat for the haters.
Makes me wonder if he knew that Crosby would get the backlash?
Sort of set up him for the blogs.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/05/09 at 02:00 PM ET
This is the type of writing that makes some hockey fans hate Crosby. Which he had nothing to do with. It’s red meat for the haters.
This article isn’t even close to the reason some fans “hate” Rosby. In fact, most of the posters here, including Rosby “dislikers” like myself, have recognized that the kid had nothing to do with this issue and actually said all the right things regarding the article. Save your defense of Rosby for more appropraite situations, Linda.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/05/09 at 05:24 PM ET
@OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids
....and another bullet in the gun of Crosby haters.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 09/04/09 at 10:25 PM ET
OTC, It’s not just me.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/05/09 at 08:27 PM ET
It’s not just me.
Au contraire. Like Obama, it’s always about just you, Linda. JJ was blasting the media, not Rosby. But like your brethren who think Rosby is what hockey is all about, you can’t see any post that mentions his name as anything but a criticism of the boy himself.
Try reading before you post, Linda. It’ll help you avoid any “gravity” that results from your lack of comprehension of what has been posted.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/05/09 at 10:24 PM ET
“gravity”
Are you stalking me?
If YOU read my comment ,you would understand I wasn’t defending Crosby, I was offending the writer also:
This is the type of writing ...
Makes me wonder if he knew ....
If you thought more clearly about what I wrote, instead of jumping through the keyboard (which I think you do everytime you see my avatar) you’ve might have understood it more clearly.
I don’t know what your problem is with me, but If I offended you in the past please let me apologize. I’m sorry.
Oh yeah, I forgive you. 
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/06/09 at 11:23 AM ET
...instead of jumping through the keyboard (which I think you do everytime you see my avatar)…
As I said, you think it’s always about you, don’t you, Linda?
I don’t know what your problem is with me…
Gee, I’ve said it pretty plainly a number of times now, but here it is again. As some others have also noted, I don’t like your cute little passive-aggressive approach to troublemaking. You’re the kind of person who like to “stir the pot” (as you described it) while pretending to be a “peacemaker.”
So, that’s my problem with you, Linda. Plain enough for you?
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/06/09 at 10:19 PM ET
As I said, you think it’s always about you, don’t you, Linda?
I really don’t understand how you came to that conclusion about my original comment. Would you please elaborate?
Furthermore, you’re the one who keeps track of all my comments. I think you might be projecting this whole “it’s about me” thing.
As some others have also noted, I don’t like your cute little passive-aggressive approach to troublemaking.
I know this. You prefer the stalk and whine kind of troublemaking.
And that was one time, J.J. called me out and I accepted it after that.
Now, Maybe I made a couple of jokes and had some misunderstandings (I’m still fairly new internet language, less then a year) , but that’s it.
But I’m not the serial troublemaker like you want everyone to believe.
Now if you don’t like me because my comments on A2Y and don’t conform to your views, that’s fine just admit it. you’ll feel better.
It’s allll good though, and I still forgive you buddy!!!
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/07/09 at 11:16 AM ET
It’s allll good though, and I still forgive you buddy!!!
So magnanimous. Soooo fake. So pathetic.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/07/09 at 11:35 AM ET
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/07/09 at 12:35 PM ET
LOL!! That’s it ? Are we done? Well I am. But I’m sure you’ll be tracking my comments. To the future Cheli !!!
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/07/09 at 01:54 PM ET
But I’m sure you’ll be tracking my comments.
And yet again, it’s all about you, right, Linda? Geez, get over yourself.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/07/09 at 02:48 PM ET
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/07/09 at 03:48 PM ET
LOL!! You‘re hilarious. YOU poke poke poke, and then when somebody defends themself YOU try to make yourself feel smarter with these psychiatric gymnastics. You‘re just whining. No antidotal evidence.
Nice Try.
Me* done, finished!!. me* know me* wrote this before, but you’re to much fun sometimes,to quite.
*me for I - didn’t what to make it about I (or is that me?),
awww darn it ,I just did ,
oh did it again, maybe you‘re right. I’m to self indulgent, yeah that it’s.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/07/09 at 03:56 PM ET
Are we done? Well I am.
Hmmm. Apparently not…
Me* done, finished!!. me* know me* wrote this before, but you’re to much fun sometimes,to quite.
*me for I - didn’t what to make it about I (or is that me?),
awww darn it ,I just did ,
oh did it again, maybe you‘re right. I’m to self indulgent, yeah that it’s.
If you had typed that any faster and with any less thought, I’m guessing you could have sounded even dumber than you just did. There isn’t one part of that nonsense that makes either rhetorical or grammatical sense. The typos alone are monumental.
So I guess we now know who starts “jumping through the keyboard” when the other’s name appears in a post. Here’s a bit of advice for you from a formal medic, Linda. Slow down. You’re beginning to sound menopausal.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/07/09 at 05:27 PM ET
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/07/09 at 06:27 PM ET
I was using me in place of I as to not make it about me. Some convaluted humor. That went over your head.
And didn’t you establish long ago that my english & typing skills are terrible and that your grammer far exceeds mine (being public skooled and all). You already won that battle. now you’re just being a bully.
You may act all elitest, like you’re above all this nonsense, but I believe you like it. Admit it you’re having fun.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/07/09 at 09:11 PM ET
Are we done? Well I am.
Again, I see you’re a woman of your word. Just can’t help yourself can you, Linda?
I was using me in place of I as to not make it about me. Some convaluted humor. That went over your head.
Make up whatever excuse you want. The bottom line is what you posted was pure gibberish. You went off like a Roman Candle when I accurately described you as the passive-aggressive little troll that you are and you reacted as any 12-year-old would. But, hey, at least you acted age appropriately.
And didn’t you establish long ago that my english & typing skills are terrible and that your grammer far exceeds mine (being public skooled and all).
You know what, Linda, even public school gradutes know the difference beteen “to” and “too” and “its” and “it’s”. I’m guessing you do too...when you’re not “jumping through the keyboard” when you see my name appear in a post.
Go on. Admit it. As you love to say, it’ll do you good.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/07/09 at 10:00 PM ET
Uncle!!! Uncle!!!! You win.
Cheli, for your edification: I’m a 41 year old male. My mother’s name is Linda and I’m her oldest child, hence Lindas1st.
Go ahead have at it, Fraud remarks and all. It’s what you do best.
Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/08/09 at 10:28 AM ET
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WTF? Should they just throw out the whole NHL constitution and name Crosby the Supreme Chancellor, with unchecked power over everything? There are hundreds of players in the NHL, and he should be treated the same as everyone else, on and off the ice. I feel like this is an article from The Onion.
Posted by Muero from Ohio on 09/04/09 at 11:03 AM ET