Phil Kessel

[Zee]

Did he give an emotional soliloquy today to the media where he laid out all his hopes and plans for the series?

Haiku-style...

I score goals to win
The star won't leave me alone
Go to hell Seguin

CHESTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How the hell have you been???

 

[chestyleroux]

Did he give an emotional soliloquy today to the media where he laid out all his hopes and plans for the series?

Haiku-style...

I score goals to win
The star won't leave me alone
Go to hell Seguin

CHESTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How the hell have you been???

Good/busy. I pulled a Kessel and decided to go into hiding. Then the Cox/DiManno collaboration brought me back.

Disclaimer: I haven't read either of their articles... but I can image what it's about.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Interview 1

What do you think of another time playing Boston?
Another time we play them. Nothing changes, right? We?re going to have to go in there, they?re a great team, we?re going to have to battle.

Is it a little special for you, then?
It?s the same thing as always, right? They?re a great hockey club, and we?re going to have to play well to beat ?em.

Can you talk about playing against Zdeno Chara, how difficult that is?
He?s a tough player to play against, one of the best in the league, defensive, and what are you going to do, you?re going to have to play hard.

What is it about him that makes him so difficult, Phil?
He?s just a big guy, he moves well for a big guy, no wonder he?s won so many Norris Trophies, he?s one of the best.

Do you realize how important it is for you to do well in a playoff series, given that you?re one of the go-to guys offensively?
I?ve played a couple years in Boston, I?m just going to try to contribute any way I can.

Any of those guys still your friends, going into playoffs?
You know, we?re out there, we?re the Toronto Maple Leafs, and we?re trying to win the game. Good? OK.

Interview 2

Did you miss playing in the playoffs the years when you were out?
Yeah. The playoffs are great and I?m real excited to be back in it. We?re going to be playing a tough team and we?re going to have to work real hard.

How do you build on the last 30 games, where things were going so well for you ? and take that into Game 1?
Keep going. Keep going hard and hopefully get some good bounces.

Phil, you had a great year this year. What do you say to Boston fans that might say your name?
It?s fine. I had a lot of great years there. I love the city, the fans were great to me there. It?s part of the game.

What?s like to get [Tyler Bozak] back?
Bozie?s an important part to our team this year, he?s a great player and I love playing with him.

How conscious are you when you go into that [td Garden in Boston] building?
It?s been four years now.

I know, I can count
Can you?

Yeah, I can. I?m a girl and I can count
It?s another game.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/04/30/leafs-kessel-finally-speaks-but-says-little/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[nutman]

Why don't the clowns in the tor media stand behind our team, instead of all the crap they are doing. I'm surprised anyone wants to play here the way these clowns that cover the Leafs.
Hears a concept for them, how about you write about the positive side of our team, and leave the bad, and neg things for the Boston press.

 

[Zee]

Rosie was trying to bait him, those last 3 questions don't sound as bad live:

http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=797&id=243998&lang=en

 

[nutman]

Why don't the clowns in the tor media stand behind our team, instead of all the crap they are doing. I'm surprised anyone wants to play here the way these clowns that cover the Leafs.
Hears a concept for them, how about you write about the positive side of our team, and leave the bad, and neg things for the Boston press.

I sometimes worry that the Nutman School of Journalism is letting their students down on the Ethics requirement.

I just want them to support our team, and quit digging up dirt. who cares if Kessel wont answer the same ten questions over and over again. so ask another player.

 

[Kin]

I just want them to support our team, and quit digging up dirt. who cares if Kessel wont answer the same ten questions over and over again. so ask another player.

No, I understand. You're confusing the professional responsibilities of journalists and cheerleaders. I'd explain the difference but I don't have any sock puppets on hand.

 

[Leaflifer]

If there's a league fine for refusing to speak, I wonder what it would be.  Kessel may be happy to just pay it and clam up.  Or make a $1000 donation to charity every time he declines to talk after a game during the playoffs?  That would defray at least some of the criticism.  Let's find out how much Phil is willing to pay to not talk!

The problem of it for me, and this wouldn't really be handled by charitable donations, is something that Cox brings up and is 100% right about. Dealing with the media is a chore. Even a guy like Steve Nash, smart and affable, has described it as such. Phil Kessel saying he isn't going to participate in something everyone is obligated to is a little bit like living with a bunch of roommates and saying "I don't like doing the dishes, you guys do it". That's not the right attitude for a teammate, or roommate, to have. You take your lumps.

I don't disagree at all.  The gray area for me, I suppose, is how much  Kessel's shyness veers (or doesn't veer) into what could be clinically considered a mental illness.  I'm no psychologist, and I can't make any pronouncements here.  But assume Kessel is or could be clinically diagnosed with whatever variant or classification of a social anxiety disorder.  Is there a difference between compelling a guy to do interviews when it's merely a nuisance for him versus if it literally causes panic attacks and depression?  Does the (speculative) emotional and psychological harm to an individual warrant putting a guy through that when it's fully known that it will yield no useful information from him?  I'm not answering those questions, I'm just posing them.

It's fine if you just want to say "suck it up" and you're justified enough in saying so.  He's required to make himself available, so if you want to say, "hey, he signed the contract, he has to fulfil all that  goes along with it", you're also justified in saying so.  I just think that at this point, every single media person knows that Kessel has no insight to offer, but many of them just want to force him to talk out of principle.  It's like they're saying "this part of our job sucks, so we're going to make sure it sucks for you, too".

Good point. I have such a disorder and its utterly paralyzing. It takes me days to recover from those situations. I never truly do.

 

[ZBBM]

What I said was "The NHL doesn't get to suspend legislated freedom of speech."

The quote of yours I was responding to was:

You can't suspend (or bargain away) basic rights within an artificial world you've created, contract or no contract.

Which you, again, absolutely can. Another example would be random drug testing which, if the government did it, would be a pretty clear violation of your 4th amendment rights but has been repeatedly upheld as something a private company can do in contract with their employees.

Until it's challenged, they'll write the contract the way the NHL wants them to.

So why would the NHL want to put something in their SPC that wouldn't survive a lawsuit? Why wouldn't they double and triple check that they were in bounds before they wrote up their Media Access policy? I'm sorry man but you don't have a leg to stand on here.

I'll end my part in the argument by pointing out that government-mandated random drug testing is actually not a clear violation of the 4th amendment, which only speaks of unreasonable searches and seizures.  That's why courts allow it for government law enforcement personnel, government employees seeking security clearances, etc. 

As for why would the NHL do it?  Because they think they can get away with it, and to date, they have been quite right.  They are counting on contractors (i.e., players) not wanting to rock the boat.  There's a powerful disincentive not to challenge the status quo, and they exploit it as much as they can and as long as they can.

 

[Zee]

I think to nutman's point, the media looks to create any kind of controversy even where one doesn't exist.  In that video link I posted above, Rosie DiManno asks him if he's conscious when he goes back into Boston to play, Kessel starts to reply by saying "it's been four years.." and she interjects with a snide "I know I can count" comment trying to get a rise out of him.  Why?  Some reporters are beyond ridiculous with their attitudes when asking questions.  I think Kessel handled it very well and just shrugged off her stupid remark with a joke.

 

[ZBBM]

The media could have just interviewed other players, and maybe Kessel would have come out today regardless and we'd not have lost anything.  Or they could have quietly asked someone in Leafs management to make sure he's available.  Instead they all wanted to pile on him and embarrass him.

Seriously. The media is really falling down on their fundamental responsibility to protect Phil Kessel's feelings.

Strictly speaking, their fundamental responsibility is to provide me and all fans with interesting, useful and insightful information.  I expect them to explore more fruitful avenues to find it.  They'll get as much useful information from interviewing Kessel as they would from interviewing a potato.

;D

So true.  And this is where Cox is (as he sometimes does) trying to play both sides of the street.  He is demanding his "right" to get information he knows will be useless.

 

[Kin]

I'll end my part in the argument by pointing out that government-mandated random drug testing is actually not a clear violation of the 4th amendment, which only speaks of unreasonable searches and seizures.  That's why courts allow it for government law enforcement personnel, government employees seeking security clearances, etc.

That's my point. The government can't randomly stop you on the street and make you submit to drug testing. They can if it's for the purpose of, say, your job and that you essentially consent to by means of applying for such a job. 

As for why would the NHL do it?  Because they think they can get away with it, and to date, they have been quite right.  They are counting on contractors (i.e., players) not wanting to rock the boat.  There's a powerful disincentive not to challenge the status quo, and they exploit it as much as they can and as long as they can.

Well that's just nutty. The PA has lawyers. If you think Marvin Miller or Donald Fehr would have allowed something in standard player contracts that wouldn't withstand a constitutional challenge you don't have much of a grasp on the history of sports labour negotiations.

 

[sampson]

Ahhh, so annoying. Phil is right. It's been 4 years. How many years is it going to go on? It's getting old.

I think that if Phil was a better interviewer, or simply handled the questions in a different way, the issue wouldn't exist. I think if he was more likeable of a personality, they wouldn't bother him as much. OR, if Phil dominated Boston instead of being shut down by Chara, things would also be quite different.

 

[ZBBM]

I'll end my part in the argument by pointing out that government-mandated random drug testing is actually not a clear violation of the 4th amendment, which only speaks of unreasonable searches and seizures.  That's why courts allow it for government law enforcement personnel, government employees seeking security clearances, etc.

That's my point. The government can't randomly stop you on the street and make you submit to drug testing. They can if it's for the purpose of, say, your job and that you essentially consent to by means of applying for such a job. 

As for why would the NHL do it?  Because they think they can get away with it, and to date, they have been quite right.  They are counting on contractors (i.e., players) not wanting to rock the boat.  There's a powerful disincentive not to challenge the status quo, and they exploit it as much as they can and as long as they can.

Well that's just nutty. The PA has lawyers. If you think Marvin Miller or Donald Fehr would have allowed something in standard player contracts that wouldn't withstand a constitutional challenge you don't have much of a grasp on the history of sports labour negotiations.

Nik, when people don't agree with you you don't need to resort to name-calling or informing me that I'm ignorant when you have no proof of that.  Doing so doesn't make you more right.

 

[nutman]

I think to nutman's point, the media looks to create any kind of controversy even where one doesn't exist.  In that video link I posted above, Rosie DiManno asks him if he's conscious when he goes back into Boston to play, Kessel starts to reply by saying "it's been four years.." and she interjects with a snide "I know I can count" comment trying to get a rise out of him.  Why?  Some reporters are beyond ridiculous with their attitudes when asking questions.  I think Kessel handled it very well and just shrugged off her stupid remark with a joke.

Yes, yes and more yes. thanks. Now if only Nik could figure this out. the bottom line is our press are a joke. you would think they would get behind there team, and not make things harder.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

This entire conversation is ridiculous.

Why people are so upset that Phil Kessel didn't want to speak to the media is beyond me. If Phil Kessel feels he will play better if he doesn't speak with the media, well then, he doesn't speak to the media. If I was the Leafs, I'd even pony up the fine if it ever came to be.

 

[Kin]

Nik, when people don't agree with you you don't need to resort to name-calling or informing me that I'm ignorant when you have no proof of that.  Doing so doesn't make you more right.

ZBBM, when someone harshly criticizes your arguments and says that a statement doesn't conform to the facts of the matter it isn't tantamount to "name-calling". You shouldn't take criticism of your arguments as criticisms of yourself. Doing so doesn't make you less wrong.

 

[nutman]

This entire conversation is ridiculous.

Why people are so upset that Phil Kessel didn't want to speak to the media is beyond me. If Phil Kessel feels he will play better if he doesn't speak with the media, well then, he doesn't speak to the media. If I was the Leafs, I'd even pony up the fine if it ever came to be.

Right on....

 

[ZBBM]

Nik, when people don't agree with you you don't need to resort to name-calling or informing me that I'm ignorant when you have no proof of that.  Doing so doesn't make you more right.

ZBBM, when someone harshly criticizes your arguments and says that a statement doesn't conform to the facts of the matter it isn't tantamount to "name-calling". You shouldn't take criticism of your arguments as criticisms of yourself. Doing so doesn't make you less wrong.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/29/the-power-of-i-dont-know/?hp

 

[bustaheims]

Yes, yes and more yes. thanks. Now if only Nic could figure this out. the bottom line is our press are a joke. you would think they would get behind there team, and not make things harder.

It's not their job to "get behind the team." It's their job to find stories people will find interesting and report on them. Now, sure, this whole Kessel brouhaha doesn't really qualify there either, but, they're not paid to be cheerleaders or glad-handers.