# NHL: January 2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 2, 2012, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131 "2012-01-02T11:27:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/101 "2012-01-23T18:40:36Z")
New lower body injuries: Carey Price, with a cut on his leg or foot. Day-to-day. Me, with a great big bruise on my knee and a sore shoulder and boob from the faceplant I took while passing around a hockey puck with my husband yesterday. I’d put ice on it, but that’s how I hurt it in the first place! :smack: There was a nice big gouge in the ice near where I fell - I don’t know if I created it as I went down (_toepick!)_ or if it contributed to my fall, or if it was entirely irrelevant. Still, other than the searing pain and the faint wave of nausea that lasted a few moments (we went skating just after lunch…I did not want to revisit my cheesesteak sandwich), I had a ton of fun at a rather pretty skating rink next to a river in Drummondville, Québec. We kept skating for another 20 minutes or so after my fall, so things aren’t so bad… I’m just incredibly stiff and sore today! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/102 "2012-01-24T00:00:26Z")
So Tim Thomas is a Tea Partying Glen Beck fan and skipped out on meeting the President of the United States because > [@](#): > > I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. > > This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. > > Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL. > > This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT I can respect his numbers as a goalie, but whatever respect I had remaining for him as a man has pretty much evaporated. I already thought less of him for taking the opportunity to insult his opponents instead of credit his team mates after _winning_ game 7 in the first round last year, but this just seals it - he’s a tool and an idiot and worthy of every boo launched his way. He’s too stupid to realize that it _is_ about politics and his arrogance has tarnished the honour his teammates have earned. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/103 "2012-01-24T00:16:40Z")
Hah - none of the Bruins have class. Tim is like almost the only American on the team too. Total douchebag move by Thomas. The good news is Obama was uninjured. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/104 "2012-01-24T01:29:32Z")
Thomas is a jackass for doing this. I hated George W Bush, but I would not boo him for throwing out the first pitch at a ball game. I’m glad Tuuka Rask is a better goalie. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/105 "2012-01-24T02:25:36Z")
Give it time. I’m sure that the entire Federal government will volunteer to shrink and next year we will all be thanking Tim Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/106 "2012-01-24T02:38:36Z")
Hi Tim, Guess what? I don’t give a fuck about your political beliefs. You earn your living stopping hockey pucks. Get over yourself you unimportant blocker of vulcanized rubber. Take all the “celebrity” opponents of the Keystone and Northern Gateway pipeline and shove them up your glorified ass while you’re at it. Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/107 "2012-01-24T02:47:11Z")
And in other news, Barack Obama is saying “The Boston what?” “Tim who?” “Stanley what?” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/108 "2012-01-24T08:11:02Z")
Meh, I still like Thomas. I think he at least was diplomatic about it, and didn’t say it was because of liberals or conservatives. And he did have a right to do it. However, I do think he really screwed his teammates over. Whatever your politics are, you don’t let down your team, that’s not cool. So I’d say yeah, you had a right to do it, Timmy, but damn, don’t be surprised if your skate laces are cut the next time you come to practice. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/109 "2012-01-24T12:05:21Z")
Yup. I’m a liberal, but I get tired of celebrities making political statements at award ceremonies. I don’t want to hear potshots taken at Bush during the Oscars, I don’t need athletes boycotting White House visits, and I hope Madonna keeps her political comments to herself during the Super Bowl halftime as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/110 "2012-01-24T12:53:38Z")
I don’t know how to express what I am thinking…Turning a team honor into a ‘personal political statement’ sure seems like a douche move to me. Did any athletes do something similar when Bush was president? I’ve heard people say that you have to respect the president even if you agree with his policies. Then again most people do have more common sense than a cinder block. To me, Thomas comes across as an out of work teacher. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/111 "2012-01-24T15:16:19Z")
You have to respect the office of the President _when a Republican that you don’t like_ is President. When it’s a Democrat that you don’t like, you are free to insult, dismiss, threaten and otherwise act like a douchebag. At least, that’s what I’ve understood over the past few years of following celebrity-style American politics. Freedom only goes one way, apparently, and that’s in the direction the Republican faithful want it to go in. Thomas was free to do what he wanted - I don’t think anyone is really advocating he be tossed in prison for this - but we are all free to think he’s a right-wing wingnut with shit for brains. I always thought he looked like a [Lego Man](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qQ6yWvbvQQU/TMlsNoaGJRI/AAAAAAAAABo/RrP7vF-xxGs/s1600/Legoman+1.png)… I just also thought he was more intelligent than one! The Bruins are free to sanction him, though they have said they wouldn’t. I suppose the NHL or NHLPA could as well… I don’t expect they will because it would be a huge political firestorm. Do the Bruins find idiotic players, or is there something in the water down there that turns them into drooling morons? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/112 "2012-01-24T15:38:10Z")
Sorry for the double post, but my [worship of Ken Dryden continues](http://nhl-red-light.si.com/2012/01/23/ken-drydens-anti-concussions-mission/?sct=nhl_t11_a0) (via Stu Hackel). Dryden has it right - we need to be talking about concussions much more seriously, and we need to discuss how to play the game as safely as possible. There are no easy answers, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be asking the questions. I don’t even like Chris Pronger, but watching his wife talk about what he’s going through, how their kids keep asking “when will we go to a game, when will you play again?”… it’s tough to hear. Marc Savard has memory problems, and his headaches have improved to the point where they are “more normal” than before…how sad is that for a description of your life? Keith Primeau still suffers, six years later. The effects of concussion are devastating. How many more players can the league lose in this way before they get off their lazy asses and _do something_? Make an effort, at least. Perhaps we can never prevent all concussions from happening, but we can prevent some, if we care to. Also, something that bothered me in a comment on some article or another… some fans/people seem to think that what Savard and Crosby are suffering now is “a concussion.” It isn’t - this is post-concussion syndrome, the results of the concussion which occurred in the instant of the hit that caused it. I think this misconception played a part in Dr Recchi’s criticism of Pacioretty and in other comments by fans that dislike the player that got hurt… just because there were no long-term effects does not mean there was no concussion. Pacioretty’s brain rattled around enough to knock him unconscious… that is a severe concussion. Same with Nathan Horton, same with Martin Havlat a few years ago. It’s the initial hit that’s dangerous… the long-term effects are just different levels/ability of healing based on the damage done in the hit. Sorry for the rant, but I felt it needed to be said. I’m feeling rather argumentative today! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/113 "2012-01-24T22:53:41Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > I always thought he looked like a [Lego Man](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qQ6yWvbvQQU/TMlsNoaGJRI/AAAAAAAAABo/RrP7vF-xxGs/s1600/Legoman+1.png)… I just also thought he was more intelligent than one! 😃 And I agree about concussions. Maybe it is time to stop referring to them as ‘concussions’ or my favourite, ‘upper body injuries’ and call them what they really are, brain injuries. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/114 "2012-01-25T00:39:11Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Sorry for the double post, but my [worship of Ken Dryden continues](http://nhl-red-light.si.com/2012/01/23/ken-drydens-anti-concussions-mission/?sct=nhl_t11_a0) (via Stu Hackel). Dryden has it right - we need to be talking about concussions much more seriously, and we need to discuss how to play the game as safely as possible. There are no easy answers, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be asking the questions. I’d love to see Dryden take over as commissioner. (At the very least, you wouldn’t hear booing at the Stanley Cup playoffs!) It’s even scarier when you read the history of some of these guys, back in the day. Do we really want to see Savard, or Crosby, or Pronger end up like Bob Probert, or Mike Webster? I mean, how can you NOT realize that banging someone’s head around isn’t going to have a severe problem? Hello, that’s your fucking brain. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/115 "2012-01-25T00:53:43Z")
[Ovechkin skips the ASG](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1037135-nhl-all-star-game-2012-alex-ovechkin-to-miss-mid-season-classic). Dare I hope for James Neal to replace him? (Ovie, get the fuck over yourself) ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/116 "2012-01-25T01:21:48Z")
The majority of the online comments were saying Ovie should not play the ASG while suspended. He was going to be criticized either way. I’m sure he’s not worried about Pittsburgh fans’ opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/117 "2012-01-25T01:25:08Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > The majority of the online comments were saying Ovie should not play the ASG while suspended. He was going to be criticized either way. I’m sure he’s not worried about Pittsburgh fans’ opinion. I don’t think he should play either. (In fact, I’m surprised that the ASG doesn’t have a rule regarding players who are suspended) I’m talking about his passive-aggressive whining. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/118 "2012-01-25T02:20:10Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t even like Chris Pronger, but watching his wife talk about what he’s going through, how their kids keep asking “when will we go to a game, when will you play again?”… I can’t think of anyone I have less sympathy for than Pronger. He did more headhunting with his elbows than the rest of the league combined. I have no doubt he tried to win games by trying to injure players(Red Wings specifically)with head shots so they couldn’t continue in a series. If he never plays again the league is a better place. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/119 "2012-01-25T02:42:35Z")
A Pittsburgh fan complaining about another team’s player whining?? Surely you meant to insert a smiley to show the sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131/120 "2012-01-25T02:48:41Z")
Oh please. The whole “Sidney is a whiner” is so freaking old you need to shovel dirt over it. People said the same damned thing about Gretzky. He may have been early on in his career, but the whole, “Crysbaby” is bullshit. (With the exception of the hat trick complaint. THAT was petty. I mean, give poor Washington their due – they don’t see victory all that often.) > [@wolfman](#): > > I can’t think of anyone I have less sympathy for than Pronger. He did more headhunting with his elbows than the rest of the league combined. I have no doubt he tried to win games by trying to injure players(Red Wings specifically)with head shots so they couldn’t continue in a series. If he never plays again the league is a better place. I have no love for Pronger, but I would never wish a head injury like that on anyone. There are people out there saying they hope Crosby will never play again and it disgusts me. Love him or hate him, but wishing the guy’s career is over? That’s sick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-january-2012/608131.md?page=7)