Well you weren't really crowned, I just let you think you were. And at best it's like the King of England. Pretty mcuh just a cermonial position. We know who really runs the place
- MJL

But you're wrong. I am King of Internet.

But you're wrong. I am King of Internet.
- jmatchett383

Have to agree there. Also calls a lot of people out, who probably have no idea it's even been done.
- MJL

They know, believe me. Paul doesn't care (nor should he) but he's gotten calls and emails when he's called people out.

But you're wrong. I am King of Internet.
- jmatchett383

That's the response I would expect from a King! Don't let anyone challenge your standing!

They know, believe me. Paul doesn't care (nor should he) but he's gotten calls and emails when he's called people out.
- bmeltzer

I'm sorry Bill, but he doesn't come off very well when he's done it. It sounds like sour grapes, especially with the Lindros issue. It doesn't look good on him when he does it.

They know, believe me. Paul doesn't care (nor should he) but he's gotten calls and emails when he's called people out.
- bmeltzer

Seems like hockey has its own version of omerta.

That's the response I would expect from a King! Don't let anyone challenge your standing!
- MJL

But I am King.

But I am King.
- jmatchett383

I'll take a double whopper and large fries to go.

The Lindros thing did it for me. Turk Evers even came out and said he has no idea what Stewart was talking about and said Stewart could call him up to try to clear the air. Guess it's more important to be the good guy and paint the guy you didn't like as the villain instead of getting the story straight.
- jmatchett383

All I will say is this and I will phrase it gently: Turk (who I must say has been nice to me on the couple of occasions I have spoken to him) doesn't have the rep as the most reliable of people. I'll leave it at that. There are multiple eye-witnesses who backed up the key details -- although minor details differ -- of Paul's version. However, I was not there (of course) and don't know for sure what actually happened.

Also, Paul and Turk go way back together to their days with the Philadelphia Firebirds and maybe even earlier.

I don't mind when Stewart calls people out because his stories are interesting and add another element to the sport that is always seemingly lacking in personality.

I'm sorry Bill, but he doesn't come off very well when he's done it. It sounds like sour grapes, especially with the Lindros issue. It doesn't look good on him when he does it.
- MJL

That's your opinion, MJL. A lot of people laud Paul for his candor. There are always three sides to every story, though.

Seems like hockey has its own version of omerta.
- Tomahawk

You don't know the half of it. True story: When Gary Bettman held a press conference at the Wells Fargo Center last season, several NHL employees (non-NHL.com) had one of Paul's blogs up on their computer screens.

Stewy has a strong personal relationship with Bettman and Daly. It's Colin Campbell with whom he has issues.

I also don't doubt that Lindros could be a pain in the ass and a flat out child--look at his interactions at the junior level and then with Quebec--but I will say, on record, that Lindros could be very nice. When I was in first or second grade, I was in the hospital, someone at my school knew someone directly who worked for the Flyers box office and a day after my surgery, I had an autographed puck and Lindros hockey card signed by him.

I have thought nothing of the difficulty of procuring such an item until years later when one of my friends worked as a box office person for a Philadelphia sports organization and said that they didn't have access to the players.

I also don't doubt that Lindros could be a pain in the ass and a flat out child--look at his interactions at the junior level and then with Quebec--but I will say, on record, that Lindros could be very nice. When I was in first or second grade, I was in the hospital, someone at my school knew someone directly who worked for the Flyers box office and a day after my surgery, I had an autographed puck and Lindros hockey card signed by him.

I have thought nothing of the difficulty of procuring such an item until years later when one of my friends worked as a box office person for a Philadelphia sports organization and said that they didn't have access to the players.
- KGBflyers10

I think, like everyone, Lindros has his strengths and weaknesses. I don't know him personally. I just admired him as a player.

I also don't doubt that Lindros could be a pain in the ass and a flat out child--look at his interactions at the junior level and then with Quebec--but I will say, on record, that Lindros could be very nice. When I was in first or second grade, I was in the hospital, someone at my school knew someone directly who worked for the Flyers box office and a day after my surgery, I had an autographed puck and Lindros hockey card signed by him.

I have thought nothing of the difficulty of procuring such an item until years later when one of my friends worked as a box office person for a Philadelphia sports organization and said that they didn't have access to the players.
- KGBflyers10

I went to the Flyers' practices as a kid back the The Coliseum (which was much more fan-friendly than Skate Zone). Lindros would stop and sign and actually pose for pictures with me (and my mullet) if there weren't many people. When the practices were crowded, he would slowly walk to his car, signing items at random as he went. He never refused to sign, and always made kids his priority.

That's your opinion, MJL. A lot of people laud Paul for his candor. There are always three sides to every story, though.
- bmeltzer

I think it's puts a lot of people off. He would be far better received if he also talked about errors and mistakes he made rather then he's always been right, and how others, especially his fellow refs and linemates, have been wrong.

Tonight's game is proudly brought to you by #78, which is the grade GiG got on PnT

I went to the Flyers' practices as a kid back the The Coliseum (which was much more fan-friendly than Skate Zone). Lindros would stop and sign and actually pose for pictures with me (and my mullet) if there weren't many people. When the practices were crowded, he would slowly walk to his car, signing items at random as he went. He never refused to sign, and always made kids his priority.
- jmatchett383

I heard similar stories from several people. He always treated kids very well and was a willing autograph signor.

I don't doubt the story, but I have a feeling those instances were very few and far between.

Tonight's game is proudly brought to you by #78, which is the grade GiG got on PnT
- Giroux_Is_God

I guess PEB has to score then

The Lindros thing did it for me. Turk Evers even came out and said he has no idea what Stewart was talking about and said Stewart could call him up to try to clear the air. Guess it's more important to be the good guy and paint the guy you didn't like as the villain instead of getting the story straight.
- jmatchett383

and he flat out admitted he let the personal encounter affect his penalty calls (or non-calls) during games that Lindros played in for the rest of his career.

i understand that humans are human, and its impossible to remove emotion, but that is pretty messed up, imo.

I think it's puts a lot of people off. He would be far better received if he also talked about errors and mistakes he made rather then he's always been right, and how others, especially his fellow refs and linemates, have been wrong.
- MJL

He never forgets where he came from. He critiques officials in many aspects, though he is more emotional in discussing the ways he feels the NHL has mismanaged officials and officiating for the last 25 years.

I guess PEB has to score then
- PhillySportsGuy

- Giroux_Is_God

I get that. Bravo.

- Giroux_Is_God

Throw Streit off of the Hoover Dam?

and he flat out admitted he let the personal encounter affect his penalty calls (or non-calls) during games that Lindros played in for the rest of his career.

i understand that humans are human, and its impossible to remove emotion, but that is pretty messed up, imo.
- Crimsoninja

Last year, Paul did a lengthy blog -- after he and I talked it over on the phone for about 45 minutes -- on the two-way street of accountability and acceptability in hockey.

According to Paul, officials need to earn acceptability with players, and vice versa. That is how someone can be forgiven for screwing up and the two sides just move on. When the acceptability is NOT earned, neither side gives the other the benefit of any doubt.

Stewart gives this as an example of how acceptability plays out: He once saw Joe Mullen, whom he never regarded as a diver, flip himself on a play. Stewy made no call either way but said something to Mullen. If it were Claude Lemieux, there would have been zero leeway because he embellished so frequently.