Headline: "He should compete in the Olympics - in high diving. "
"Dressed in bathing suit and hockey helmet. This is how Peter Forsberg is ridiculed on the Internet for his alleged theatricals.
He ought to compete in the Olympics - in high diving, says Edmonton’s coach Ron Low."
In Colorado, he’s loved for his brillant play. Among fans of other NHL teams, he’s hated. And they will stop at nothing to get him off balance - in the arena and on the Internet.
On a website, several of Colorado’s players are being taunted and subjected to name-calling. The front page carries a photo montage with Foppas face on a board diver. The headline says: “FLOPPA!” Another photo shows Foppa on the ice - but his legs have been replaced with a pair of female legs, complete with heels.
“Forsberg’s greatest accomplishment in the NHL is his diving. If greatness in a hockey player was measured in the number of feet you can throw yourself through the air to get a power play, the number 21 would have to be withdrawn in the entire NHL”, writes the owner of the page.
There are several other forums where people express disgust towards Foppa and accuse him of filming. And on away matches, he’s ridiculed without mercy - for his filming and for foul play.
Everybody wants to disturb him.
After a match against Edmonton, everybody tried to put him off balance. Todd Merchant slashed Forsberg, forcing him to go to the box (?) in obvious pain. Even so, Edemontons coach was hard on the Swedish star after the game: “I have just one thing to say. I think they ought to find a 10-meter diving board for Forsberg, the way he dived on the ice today. Really, he ought to try out for the Olympics.”
Peter Forsberg knows of the tactics used against him by many opposing teams and their fans. “You just have to work through it. Responding in kind just leads to dumb time-outs,” he said after the Edmonton match.
Foppa is among the top 10 in the points league, even though he’s missed quite a few matches due to minor injuries.