I know. I miss the Bobby Ryan speculation.

He's from Cherry Hill.
- DrMidnite

I actually didn't know that before... but if people hate someone because of their political views, their an idiot. Plain and simple. EVERYONE has their own personal views and beliefs. Same with Thomas last year. All he said was that he wasn't going to attend the White House, and made mention of why. Somehow, the media blew it up, and it's Tim's fault he "made a big deal out of it"...

The guy is a player in the business. What matters is what he does on the ice. What he does off the ice, and what he believes, is HIS BUSINESS.. Just like people at work- you do NOT agree with all of them on everything.. that's a fact. But as long as they DO THEIR JOB, that's all they need to do. People need to get the heck over it and stop being babies.
- WarriorHockey21

My issue with Thomas' views was that it became an obvious distraction for his team. That's when I will have issues with the views of Sestito or anyone else on the team or in sports.

Thomas made his views an issue, not just by skipping the White House, but by continually making facebook posts afterwards and then refusing further comment. The burden then fell on his team to answer for him, and that led to distractions.

I have only ever evaluated him from a hockey standpoint. Don't care about who he thinks should be president. We're all entitled to our own beliefs. If I hated everyone I ever had a disagreement with I'd have no friends or family and I would be much more sour on these threads.
- NickTheKid87

Exactly.. it shouldn't even be an issue at all with people. I don't know what 99.9% of athletes believe... because I don't care. I care what our politicians believe, because that is their job. I care about what my pastor believes, because that's his job. I do not, however, care about what any sports athlete believes because it has no bearing on his job.

That's great, but it's not accurate. It's selective.

Crombeen was already down to one knee in a vulnerable position, and Rinaldo keeps punching. Then he falls from one knee to the ice.

Pause at 0:19 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPzcRrFmz1U

We can argue the semantics all day. Just hate to see someone else (Lecavalier) get torched for retaliating in similar fashion. It's hypocritical.
- bradleyc4

Reminds me of people freaking out every time an opposing player embellishes or takes a shot at another player a la Simmonds on Brodeur early this year. When Simmonds does it, he's the man but if it were Clarkson on Bryz, Clarkson's a scumbag.

Honestly, the casual fan can't handle half the stuff Bill writes because it makes too much sense and doesn't bash Bryz enough or Carle when he was here.
- NickTheKid87

Well carle was the:





See those muffins last night? Horrible.

I have only ever evaluated him from a hockey standpoint. Don't care about who he thinks should be president. We're all entitled to our own beliefs. If I hated everyone I ever had a disagreement with I'd have no friends or family and I would be much more sour on these threads.
- NickTheKid87

If I had no friends and family, I'd be happier. Damned pains in the ass

Exactly.. it shouldn't even be an issue at all with people. I don't know what 99.9% of athletes believe... because I don't care. I care what our politicians believe, because that is their job. I care about what my pastor believes, because that's his job. I do not, however, care about what any sports athlete believes because it has no bearing on his job.
- WarriorHockey21

I do believe however, that athletes should keep these types of opinions to themselves as not to create friction in the locker room or at least I wouldn't push my political beliefs if I were a pro athlete.

If I had no friends and family, I'd be happier. Damned pains in the ass
- Jsaquella

When it comes to the Flyers, I would agree. Watching the games with my dad is a nightmare. He claims he knows the game because he has "2 Cups" and then proceeds to say the Flyers have "no system" (as in they just skate around all willy-nilly because Lavy sucks at coaching) and that Grossmann should be sent to the AHL.

If I had no friends and family, I'd be happier. Damned pains in the ass
- Jsaquella

Kinda shocked you still have both, tbh.

I'd like to see the first PP unit use a few different looks - yes there are a few rotations here or there, but for the most point it's a static look with G on the left half-boards, etc.

I'd like to see the first PP unit use a few different looks - yes there are a few rotations here or there, but for the most point it's a static look with G on the left half-boards, etc.
- wilsonecho91

I thought they looked good the last few games. No goals last night but they were buzzing for sure.

When it comes to the Flyers, I would agree. Watching the games with my dad is a nightmare. He claims he knows the game because he has "2 Cups" and then proceeds to say the Flyers have "no system" (as in they just skate around all willy-nilly because Lavy sucks at coaching) and that Grossmann should be sent to the AHL.
- NickTheKid87

Honestly, the best thing about where I live is that it's fa enough away from most of my family that I avoid the day to day nonsense that makes life stressful.

I do believe however, that athletes should keep these types of opinions to themselves as not to create friction in the locker room or at least I wouldn't push my political beliefs if I were a pro athlete.
- NickTheKid87

As long as they're not using their NHL career as a launching point for political influence, and they're not making bad waves in the locker room, I'm not complaining. It's part of being a professional, not letting these kinds of things interfere with getting the job done.

Kinda shocked you still have both, tbh.
- bradleyc4

The kids don't don;t know any better and my wife pays the friends so she can have time to herself

Honestly, the best thing about where I live is that it's fa enough away from most of my family that I avoid the day to day nonsense that makes life stressful.
- Jsaquella

I'm still at the point where I get dragged to the extended family events where I don't know anybody and have to act like I do. But my mom's side (aunts, uncles, cousins), I am really close with so that's all well and good.

As long as they're not using their NHL career as a launching point for political influence, and they're not making bad waves in the locker room, I'm not complaining. It's part of being a professional, not letting these kinds of things interfere with getting the job done.
- BulliesPhan87

That's true but I would never openly discuss politics in the office so I think that can apply to the locker room as well. But if it really isn't bothering any other teammates then no harm, no foul.

I thought they looked good the last few games. No goals last night but they were buzzing for sure.
- NickTheKid87

i agree - but would be good over the long haul.

I'm still at the point where I get dragged to the extended family events where I don't know anybody and have to act like I do. But my mom's side (aunts, uncles, cousins), I am really close with so that's all well and good.
- NickTheKid87

I'm finally at the point where the aggravation of the extended family visits has worn on the wife, too. We go to NE Pennsylvania for New Year's and Easter, and it's miserable for everyone.

I'm finally at the point where the aggravation of the extended family visits has worn on the wife, too. We go to NE Pennsylvania for New Year's and Easter, and it's miserable for everyone.
- Jsaquella

I have fun with my first cousins on either side but after that it gets awful. I have a second cousin or 1st once removed that I actually know and can talk to. Pretty sure I'll never seen the super extended family again when my parents, aunts and uncles pass.

I have fun with my first cousins on either side but after that it gets awful. I have a second cousin or 1st once removed that I actually know and can talk to. Pretty sure I'll never seen the super extended family again when my parents, aunts and uncles pass.
- NickTheKid87

That's very uplifting.

I have fun with my first cousins on either side but after that it gets awful. I have a second cousin or 1st once removed that I actually know and can talk to. Pretty sure I'll never seen the super extended family again when my parents, aunts and uncles pass.
- NickTheKid87

That will probably be the case for my wife when older relatives pass, as well.

We're at the stage where it's more duty visit, and we never really feel welcome. It's always felt like "They're the Jersey people"...but as soon as somebody doesn;t feel like paying rent at a hotel in Cape May for the weekend...

That will probably be the case for my wife when older relatives pass, as well.

We're at the stage where it's more duty visit, and we never really feel welcome. It's always felt like "They're the Jersey people"...but as soon as somebody doesn;t feel like paying rent at a hotel in Cape May for the weekend...
- Jsaquella

i hear ya...
i'm now farther away to not get into the drama of day to day stuff. Add my commute into the mix and it makes not wanting to travel too often to visit them.

I have fun with my first cousins on either side but after that it gets awful. I have a second cousin or 1st once removed that I actually know and can talk to. Pretty sure I'll never seen the super extended family again when my parents, aunts and uncles pass.
- NickTheKid87

and as you get older it only gets better....
#sarcasm

That will probably be the case for my wife when older relatives pass, as well.

We're at the stage where it's more duty visit, and we never really feel welcome. It's always felt like "They're the Jersey people"...but as soon as somebody doesn;t feel like paying rent at a hotel in Cape May for the weekend...
- Jsaquella

That's sort of how it is on my dad side. They're all from Fairmont in Philly and my mom's from the suburbs so her, my brother and I don't have Philly accents when everyone else does. The act like we're weird at times.

That's sort of how it is on my dad side. They're all from Fairmont in Philly and my mom's from the suburbs so her, my brother and I don't have Philly accents when everyone else does. The act like we're weird at times.
- NickTheKid87

Being weird, I am used to that treatment

we just feel unwelcomed when we go up to NE PA.

It's not that anyone is mean or not nice, but it feels like we have to initiate the conversations and go out of our way to make things more friendly.