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[GhostofPotvin29]

I'll tell you what, though - we're all bashing Clarkson but at least he stood there and talked to the media. You may not have liked his answers, but at least he didn't duck out like a certain someone else did.

So?  It's literally meaningless.  No one has yet to demonstrate any correlation between talking to the media and on-ice individual or team performance.  Clarkson could talk to the media until his hair turns gray for all I care.  It won't make him a better hockey player or better leader or better anything other than maybe a buddy to some reporters.

 

[Chris]

I'll tell you what, though - we're all bashing Clarkson but at least he stood there and talked to the media. You may not have liked his answers, but at least he didn't duck out like a certain someone else did.

So?  It's literally meaningless.  No one has yet to demonstrate any correlation between talking to the media and on-ice individual or team performance.  Clarkson could talk to the media until his hair turns gray for all I care.  It won't make him a better hockey player or better leader or better anything other than maybe a buddy to some reporters.

Maybe not, but I think it speaks to a persons character and that can have an effect on teammates.  I don't think it's meaningless but one can debate how important it may be.

 

[L K]

I'll tell you what, though - we're all bashing Clarkson but at least he stood there and talked to the media. You may not have liked his answers, but at least he didn't duck out like a certain someone else did.

There is plenty of literature out there that states that being open, honest and apologizing for your actions goes an extremely long way to adjusting the perception people have of you.  In my field it can mean the difference between a family demanding legal action (regardless of the actual justification for legal proceedings) and a cathartic sit down with resolution.

Outright ignoring something certainly doesn't end well but you know what ends up being the worst outcome?  Standing up and speaking around the issue and not taking accountability for your own actions.  That's what Clarkson did.  There is plenty of literature that actually supports that what Clarkson is doing is actually worse than what Kessel does.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'll tell you what, though - we're all bashing Clarkson but at least he stood there and talked to the media. You may not have liked his answers, but at least he didn't duck out like a certain someone else did.

So?  It's literally meaningless.  No one has yet to demonstrate any correlation between talking to the media and on-ice individual or team performance.  Clarkson could talk to the media until his hair turns gray for all I care.  It won't make him a better hockey player or better leader or better anything other than maybe a buddy to some reporters.

Maybe not, but I think it speaks to a persons character and that can have an effect on teammates.  I don't think it's meaningless but one can debate how important it may be.

How do you think speaking or not speaking with a reporter reflects a persons character?  If they're shy and uncomfortable speaking to reporters is that a knock on their character?  If they're angry at how they're portrayed and don't want to interact with those people, that's a knock on their character?  I'm familiar with a fairly well-known NFL player who either didn't talk to the media (or de facto did not speak with the media) who was one play away from a 2nd straight championship.

I just don't see the impact and it seems to me like it's a creation of a media desperate to stay relevant in the 21st century.

What have you read that makes you think it can have an effect on their teammates? 

 

[Chris]

LOL, OK, how about - they're both guilty, just in different ways.

Besides, what exactly is Clarkson supposed to say? "I suck and don't deserve the contract nor to be playing?" The problem with the team is much bigger and deeper than Clarkson. I maintain that one could easily have singled out Bozak or Kessel or even JVR for the benching. Clarkson may not be very good but to me at least, it doesn't look like lack of effort is the issue. Whereas for selected other players, lack of effort does appear to be a significant issue.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

LOL, OK, how about - they're both guilty, just in different ways.

Besides, what exactly is Clarkson supposed to say? "I suck and don't deserve the contract nor to be playing?" The problem with the team is much bigger and deeper than Clarkson. I maintain that one could easily have singled out Bozak or Kessel or even JVR for the benching. Clarkson may not be very good but to me at least, it doesn't look like lack of effort is the issue. Whereas for selected other players, lack of effort does appear to be a significant issue.

When asked about his benching, he could have talked about his recent shortcomings instead of the team's and by association, his teammates.

As LK said, if you're going to talk, take ownership, otherwise remaining silent is actually the better approach.

Nobody is saying what he said was untrue, they are saying that it is not the correct way to approach things.

"You know, I go out there every game and every practice and really give my all, unfortunately lately my form has escaped me, things that made me successful in the past have not come as easy. This break will give me a chance to see the game from a slightly different perspective and hopefully refocus my game. I view it as an opportunity of sorts. I want to get back to basics, coupled with the same effort I feel that I will be able to turn this around and help the team going forward."

Something along the lines of the generic BS I posted above would have been infinitely better.

 

[Kin]

There is plenty of literature out there that states that being open, honest and apologizing for your actions goes an extremely long way to adjusting the perception people have of you.  In my field it can mean the difference between a family demanding legal action (regardless of the actual justification for legal proceedings) and a cathartic sit down with resolution.

Outright ignoring something certainly doesn't end well but you know what ends up being the worst outcome?  Standing up and speaking around the issue and not taking accountability for your own actions.  That's what Clarkson did.  There is plenty of literature that actually supports that what Clarkson is doing is actually worse than what Kessel does.

To me though, that represents the difference between what you do and what these guys do. The worst thing that would come about with a media scrum is the media writing more articles about you. I would really question any literature that presented the case that what Clarkson did is tangibly worse as a hockey player, a field where 90% percent of what they say in public could be probably be guessed before it leaves their mouth.

 

[Boston Leaf]

In the big scope of things I don't much care who talks to the media and who doesnt. For the most part they are rarely honest and always give the same canned answers. It is one of the reasons I always truly enjoyed listening to John Tortorella. When he answered he answered pationately.. Maybe have come of sounding like an ass but he was usually honest. Too many interviews are the same questions with the same canned repsonses..I am not interested in those

 

[Kin]

In the big scope of things I don't much care who talks to the media and who doesnt. For the most part they are rarely honest and always give the same canned answers. It is one of the reasons I always truly enjoyed listening to John Tortorella. When he answered he answered pationately.. Maybe have come of sounding like an ass but he was usually honest. Too many interviews are the same questions with the same canned repsonses..I am not interested in those

I generally agree and certainly agree that whatever value there is in a player talking to the media it doesn't come from their insightful and forthright opinions usually but I do think there's something to be said for the fact that talking to the media is probably seen as a pain by more players and, as a result, it's probably best for the group dynamics for everyone to take their lumps.

 

[Chris]

Some good points. However, I don't agree with the "poor Phil is shy" argument. The guy plays in front of 20,000 in the stands and millions on television, and is getting paid $64 million to do so. You get over the shyness.

I don't have any studies to cite but in my opinion, it sends a message to teammates about accountability, and another message to teammates and fans that says "I don't give a crap and don't want to be here."

 

[L K]

There is plenty of literature out there that states that being open, honest and apologizing for your actions goes an extremely long way to adjusting the perception people have of you.  In my field it can mean the difference between a family demanding legal action (regardless of the actual justification for legal proceedings) and a cathartic sit down with resolution.

Outright ignoring something certainly doesn't end well but you know what ends up being the worst outcome?  Standing up and speaking around the issue and not taking accountability for your own actions.  That's what Clarkson did.  There is plenty of literature that actually supports that what Clarkson is doing is actually worse than what Kessel does.

To me though, that represents the difference between what you do and what these guys do. The worst thing that would come about with a media scrum is the media writing more articles about you. I would really question any literature that presented the case that what Clarkson did is tangibly worse as a hockey player, a field where 90% percent of what they say in public could be probably be guessed before it leaves their mouth.

Not really though.  It's really all about perception and understanding.  Yes, the consequence of the outcomes are different but the literature isn't really being aimed at "Do you get sued, yes or no".  The focus is more on understanding.  And the target audience isn't so much the media in this situation but more then fans who take that information in.

 

[Highlander]

Herman, in answer to your query, yes the Shanatank is part of the Shanaplan. Adjust, observe, tear down, rebuild with skill and care and expertise. Viola the  Shanaplan.  Tear down is the Shanatank part of the big picture. Man I love this site!

 

[L K]

Looks like MLSE are on the Tank train too

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/kelly-shanahans-scorched-earth-leafs-plan-wins-mlse-support/article22938348/

I thought this was pretty obvious from Shanahan's off-season moves, but it's nice to see it confirmed officiallyish. I feel badly for the players who did pour themselves into the game trying to bring success to this desolate wasteland of mediocrity.

Don't feel bad for them. These players earn more in one season then most of us do in a lifetime. Besides that it is a pure pleasure to play in the hockey mega of the world. I for one feel no sympathy for any of them.

I think we as fans need to take a significant step back from the "It's only Game, why you heff to be mad" angle.  It's really not just a game.  Playing beer league hockey at 1:00AM because that is the only ice-time you can get as a group of guys who can't skip work in the afternoon to play hockey is playing a game. 

 

[bustaheims]

Some good points. However, I don't agree with the "poor Phil is shy" argument. The guy plays in front of 20,000 in the stands and millions on television, and is getting paid $64 million to do so. You get over the shyness.

I've had conversations with people who have had direct interactions with Kessel as sports journalists, and I can tell you that Kessel is still extremely shy/awkward when it comes to giving interviews, and, like most athletes, all you really get out of him are canned answers. The only way to get him to say anything remotely interesting is to catch him off guard. The truth is, when it comes to Kessel, the media isn't all the interested in talking to him most of the time for this very reason. They really only try to approach him when either he or the team are struggling. That sort of naturally lends itself to an adversarial relationship.

Also, it's not as easy to get over shyness/awkwardness as you make it out to be. When Kessel's playing, he's not interacting directly with any of the people in the stands or the millions on TV. He can effectively tune them out. When it comes to giving interviews, he can't. It's a 1 on 1 situation, where he's dealing directly with someone and in a situation he's not comfortable with. The two situations are not comparable.

 

[Kin]

Not really though.  It's really all about perception and understanding.  Yes, the consequence of the outcomes are different but the literature isn't really being aimed at "Do you get sued, yes or no".  The focus is more on understanding.  And the target audience isn't so much the media in this situation but more then fans who take that information in.

Right but again, that's what's relatively unique about a hockey player's interactions with the media and as you say, us. As a fan I don't feel there is an expectation of understanding or a desire to really gain information from that in the way there is with just about any other human interaction.

 

[bustaheims]

Besides, what exactly is Clarkson supposed to say? "I suck and don't deserve the contract nor to be playing?" The problem with the team is much bigger and deeper than Clarkson. I maintain that one could easily have singled out Bozak or Kessel or even JVR for the benching. Clarkson may not be very good but to me at least, it doesn't look like lack of effort is the issue. Whereas for selected other players, lack of effort does appear to be a significant issue.

When you're the one being singled out by your coach, maybe you can take a little responsibility for your part in that instead of brushing it off as a message to the team. It's not that hard to say "I haven't been good enough" or "I have to be better."

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Some good points. However, I don't agree with the "poor Phil is shy" argument. The guy plays in front of 20,000 in the stands and millions on television, and is getting paid $64 million to do so. You get over the shyness.

I've had conversations with people who have had direct interactions with Kessel as sports journalists, and I can tell you that Kessel is still extremely shy/awkward when it comes to giving interviews, and, like most athletes, all you really get out of him are canned answers. The only way to get him to say anything remotely interesting is to catch him off guard. The truth is, when it comes to Kessel, the media isn't all the interested in talking to him most of the time for this very reason. They really only try to approach him when either he or the team are struggling. That sort of naturally lends itself to an adversarial relationship.

Also, it's not as easy to get over shyness/awkwardness as you make it out to be. When Kessel's playing, he's not interacting directly with any of the people in the stands or the millions on TV. He can effectively tune them out. When it comes to giving interviews, he can't. It's a 1 on 1 situation, where he's dealing directly with someone and in a situation he's not comfortable with. The two situations are not comparable.

As someone who's dealt with shyness/awkwardness, it was never an issue playing sports.  I could go out there and have fun and not think about it.  Never once felt nervous.  If I had to stand up in front of the class and talk?  Gave me anxiety, would become extremely nervous about it.

Maybe it's relate -able to a pro athlete, maybe it's not.  That's how it was for me though.

 

[Kin]

It's a 1 on 1 situation, where he's dealing directly with someone and in a situation he's not comfortable with. The two situations are not comparable.

But I don't think Chris is saying it's easy. He's saying that it's something that comes with the territory and that ultimately it falls on Kessel to deal with that. You know, Kessel could have gotten a job in IT somewhere and never dealt with a media member in his life. To a less extreme example, he signed for 8 years in this city fully aware of what it's like.

And, if we're going to take larger lessons from it, the "Yeah, but it's Phil, what are you going to do?" attitude does kind of seem to invade every element of the discussion of Kessel and his imperfections.

 

[Chris]

I've had conversations with people who have had direct interactions with Kessel as sports journalists, and I can tell you that Kessel is still extremely shy/awkward when it comes to giving interviews, and, like most athletes, all you really get out of him are canned answers. The only way to get him to say anything remotely interesting is to catch him off guard. The truth is, when it comes to Kessel, the media isn't all the interested in talking to him most of the time for this very reason. They really only try to approach him when either he or the team are struggling. That sort of naturally lends itself to an adversarial relationship.

Also, it's not as easy to get over shyness/awkwardness as you make it out to be. When Kessel's playing, he's not interacting directly with any of the people in the stands or the millions on TV. He can effectively tune them out. When it comes to giving interviews, he can't. It's a 1 on 1 situation, where he's dealing directly with someone and in a situation he's not comfortable with. The two situations are not comparable.

I know that it's not easy...you're talking (writing) to someone who was so shy growing up that I was known as the "kid who never said a word in class". Literally, I could go through a whole school year and never answer a question or say a word. Public speaking would tie my stomach up in knots to the point of sickness at times. This continued into college. Finally, when I got to grad school I was put in positions where I had to give talks at scientific conferences, to people who were experts in the field. Extremely difficult and I would be nervous as heck but I did it.

Now, some have phobic type reactions and that can be a different story...but for most people, the shyness can be overcome, at least to a degree.

 

[Highlander]

they say there are three main fears inherent in us:
The fear of Falling
The fear of Drowing
The fear of Public Speaking

I had a terrible fear of public speaking, when my job forced me into it, I acutally started to like it and now it is a bit of "when can I do this again"?