"We", and Brad Richards slip-up in context
by John Fontana on Jun 8, 2011 4:46 PM EDT
in Lightning and NHL Rumors
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PrintMaybe it's already spread around the Boltosphere and hockey blogosphere far and wide, but Erik Erlendsson's interview with free-agent-to-be Brad Richards, the Dallas Stars center and former Tampa Bay Lightning member, certainly had a remark worth noting:
"If you get the right owner, a general manager like Steve Yzerman, people who know how to do things, it's great. I think we just needed the right kind of owner to come in here. Um, maybe I shouldn't say 'we,' right?''
I got a real chuckle out of this. Not exactly a confidence chuckle, as the obvious slip up. Before people go goo-goo over the idea of the Bradmaster (my apologies to former NFL QB Brad Johnson, I stole your nickname ages ago and applied it to Richards) returning to Tampa Bay.
Read the full context of the interview. Take it for what it was - Brad's remarks were prefaced with his discussion of attending 2011 NHL Playoff games in Tampa as a fan and seeing the crowd and being part of it; being outside the bubble of playoff hockey that he experienced in Tampa in 2004:
"It was pretty cool to see the town like that, the way it was before,'' Richards said. "When I played with the Lightning (in 2004), I was in a bubble. This time, I could see how people react to the team. It's a good thing going on.
So, hopes may be raised by slipping up on "we", or the reader (yeah, you) can take it as the dilemma that all writers (bloggers, fans, journalists) have when talking about a team they care about: "We" is taboo. You're not a member of the roster, or organization. You just support them.
I'm glad to see Brad cares, but I'll leave it at that.
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LOL
Well it definitely shows his ties to the team.. But does him saying “we” mean that he wishes to be part of the team? That is questionable. But I like hearing it :)
If #26 doesn't get retired. I'm switching teams.
like I said, context. He’s talking about being a fan in the stands one second and approaches the next comment like a fan too — “we”.
Innocent slip. Laugh worthy. I admire it, he’s one of my favorites all-time with this team, but it was innocent enough that I take nothing from it.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
I’m sure hoping there is some freud in that slip :)
Does sure sound like he’s open to taking a home town discount…
Pat Morris will do what he can
…to prevent it being much of one.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
In theory the agent works for the player, but you’d be surprised by how it often works out in reality.
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jun 9, 2011 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions
….and how little players want to know about the details of the numbers, of how it works out, of the extra stuff that’s thrown in. Ignorance is bliss. Just get it done.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
Athletes don’t trust many people – for good reason – but they tend to trust their agents a little too much and a little too completely.
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jun 9, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
That also holds true to the Union adn gettign a “good deal”
Brad upset me in 2004 with his willing ignorance – being told what the deal was without seeing what the deal was himself, and repeating talking points Tim Taylor had issued to the players (even though what played out in the media was contrary to what the NHLPA had told it’s players)
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Jun 9, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Not sure about the degree to which "we" is taboo
But he’s obviously talking as a Lightning fan. Good to know, but doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll sign with us. . . there you go, now he’s got me doing it.
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Go Bolts! Out West, go Preds! Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on Jun 8, 2011 6:22 PM EDT reply actions
I've said it before, I'll say it again.
He’s not coming here unless he takes a major cut from what the Stars offered him in salary. The Bolts simply don’t have the space under the cap after re-signing all the players from this year and giving Stamkos the significant raise he’ll command.
It’s nice to wonder “what if,” but I think a lot of fans are hoping a bit too much. I only hope they’re not disappointed when he signs elsewhere in a few weeks.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
I don't think it's a slip
He’s talking in past tense, about the team he was on when the sale was taking place, while he was still a member of the Lightning…
“I think we just needed the right kind of owner to come in here.”Kudos to Richie for good grammar and for slipping one more shot in at Koules & Company (which is ALWAYS welcome!)
Now HERE'S the line to salivate over if you're rooting for The Return of Richie...
All kinds of intrigue here…
“Maybe you couldn’t get top dollar (in Tampa) that you might get somewhere else, but you consider other things”
Honestly, I think the length of the contract means more to him than the actual dollar figure – but maybe that’s just me.
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jun 9, 2011 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I think signing Richards is doable
You’d have to ask him ( and Stamkos ) how much more valuable they were than St. Louis. Malone and Kubina would also need to be traded. Which they might be anyway. Malone has been too injury prone and could eventually be replace by Carter Ashton. Kubina makes far to much for a 3rd pairihng defensemen and could adequately be replaced by Andy Greene. Gagne would likely take a pay cut to around $3mil for another shot at the cup. Signing Bergey and Purcell will be the key as well as how much Stammer gets. Hedman will be due a raise next year and you’d like to keep Brewer if he’ll take $4mil per. Stevie Y will be busy this summer.
Don in St Pete
No one is going to take Bugsy or Kubina, even if they were to waive their respective NTCs. Both of their contracts are far too high in the price to performance ratio.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
Cannot afford Richards
I was fooling around on Capgeek and there is NO way that Richards will fit on the team without making significant trades that are unlikely to occur. We have no goalie under contract next year and even if they take a pay-cut, lets say out of both goalies we spend 2 mil (which is a VERY low estimate). After that we still have to sign Stammer, which I put at 6 million (again VERY low estimate). I put Brewer for what he is making currently (4.25 mil) I put Purcell and Bergy at around 2 mil each. Added Hall, just cause his contract is at $600,000 which is realistic estimate for a 4th liner. Then I added Lundin on the blueline only cause his contract is only $750,000. After all that we only had 11 forwards and 6 d-men. So we need at least 2 more forwards and 1 d-man, and there was only 5.5 million left to spend. And that is without resigning Gange. So it would be almost impossible to fit Richards. Sorry to be the wet blanket…
Another lil' tid bit regarding the Richards sitch..
Saw the below quote linked over at Winging it in Motown, not much to it, but interesting none the less. Especially in today’s “anything can happen atmosphere”
The Detroit Red Wings, meanwhile, are an intriguing team that has some interest in Richards, but only for a short-term, cap-friendly deal. The pitch from Detroit would be to come and win a Cup. Richards will certainly be fielding more lucrative offers in terms of term and money. Expect the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs, among other teams, to be in the mix.
(Although, this did come from Pierre LeBrun over @ ESPNegative about anything hockey)
Plus, Pierre fails to mention the Bolts as a team of interest and continued to name Toronto as a team of interest… so, who knows? Those are 2 things that I think should have been mentioned, for sure. Especially being that when asked about Toronto, Brad all but said “Ohh HELL NAHH” ..snapped his fingers and walked away. Maybe LeBrun is just a bit behind, haha.
Still think making a return to Tampa would be a great choice, IF it can be done correctly. And we all know what that means, thankfully so do Steve Yzerman and Brad, himself. Basically it all comes down to the key decision, that I’m sure many, many players have had to make.. Pay or Cup? Paycut for Cup? Money or glory? ..you get the picture.
Which you’d think would be a easy choice, most the time. But with a life, family to think about and the unfortunate fact that hockey players do NOT get paid enough, especially when compared to other “sports.” I’m sure it can be extremely difficult …That’s a whole other story, though.
So... if that was just the beginning? Can't friggin' wait to see what's next!! A HUGE Thank You to Mr. Vinik, Steve Yzerman, Guy Boucher & the whole damn Lightning team/organization!! 100% Continued support and respect.
by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Jun 10, 2011 3:42 PM EDT reply actions
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