And you guys, it's easy to say you've got to be in control, you've got to keep it in check, there...

And you guys, it's easy to say you've got to be in control, you've got to keep it in check, there are rules, but there's a certain part of your being when you're a coach and it's just like being a parent, there's certain things you'll put up with when people slander your kids. And there's a certain line, and that's what happened to John. You can say anything you want to Torts. I know the man. Call him whatever you want. He'll tell you what to do with your horse. But don't get down on the people he cares about. He will fight for them, and that's what he did.

— Jim Schoenfeld shows why writers everywhere hopes he's at some point a coach for longer than one day

9 months ago James Mirtle 8 comments 0 recs |

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I don’t buy it. If this was a player attacking a fan rather than a coach we were talking about, everyone would be saying he’s committed a mortal sin. A month ago when he was hired, Tortorella admitted he didn’t even know the names of many of the players on the team. So now we’re supposed to believe he’s suddenly a loving father figure?

Turning this into some fictional melodramatic father figure story just cause he’s a coach is just that… fiction.

by Costa24 on Apr 26, 2009 10:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Please...

You’re not understanding the point of the statement. Everyone has their breaking point… everyone.

And I think you’re turning into a “fictional melodramatic father figure story.” This is Tortorella’s assistant we’re taking about here. Do you have any idea how much time they spend together a day? Think about your best friend or your family… you wouldn’t fight for them after a while?

Call me a homer, but its all easier said then done when you’re not actually doing the act.

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by Rob Luker on Apr 26, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he hit his “breaking point” and lost control, then he and his assistants need only own up to it, admit it was a mistake brought on by extreme emotion, apologize and move on.

Human beings make mistakes in the heat of emotion. People will usually forgive them for that. It’s a whole lot better than to try to rationalize it with falsifications, which is exactly what’s happening here. Blindly defending someone because they are your friend or coworker for no other reason than that is not honorable.

I’d much rather Schoenfeld said something like “I respect Torts a great deal and despite what happened, I know he’s a good man. I freely admit what he did was wrong, but under the same circumstances, I can’t say for sure that I would have reacted any differently.” We can still argue whether or not that would be the right attitude to take, but at least it would be an honest answer, rather than spin.

by Costa24 on Apr 26, 2009 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair Enough

He probably agrees that it wasn’t the right thing to do, but when everything around the team is going down the drain, I don’t mind that he stood up for his co-worker and friend.

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by Rob Luker on Apr 27, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Breaking point...

Coaches shouldn’t have a breaking point. Especially publicly.

A fan making remarks shouldn’t be enough to get a rise out of a sports professional. Especially one of your own fans in a foreign arena.

by snowburnt on Apr 27, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's spin

nothing more

by From the Point on Apr 26, 2009 11:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It was Lawton's fault

Signed
Bob Gainey
Hockey Genius.

by Exit716 on Apr 27, 2009 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve been part of team for as little as two weeks, but in that time frame there’s already that camaraderie of standing up for each other. Still that doesn’t justify what Tortorella did, and an apology for his actions would be nice.

by auxlepli on Apr 27, 2009 6:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs