Wade Belak found dead

[AlmosGirl]

Battle of the Blades started last night with introductions of all the participants and showing clips of practices.  It was so sad to see Wade on there with that big smile of his and playing around like we've always seen him.  A very nice tribute at the end to him from the other players skating and apparently Russ Courtnal is coming back to skate in Wade's honour for the charity that Wade was skating for (Tourette's) and this season is being dedicated to Wade.

I never personally met the guy but I felt like I knew him, if you know what I mean.  Just having him be a part of the Leafs just makes them much more closer to you without having to talk face to face to them.  It was very emotional watching it.  Still hard to believe that he's gone.

 

[draeko17]

Battle of the Blades started last night with introductions of all the participants and showing clips of practices.  It was so sad to see Wade on there with that big smile of his and playing around like we've always seen him.  A very nice tribute at the end to him from the other players skating and apparently Russ Courtnal is coming back to skate in Wade's honour for the charity that Wade was skating for (Tourette's) and this season is being dedicated to Wade.

I never personally met the guy but I felt like I knew him, if you know what I mean.  Just having him be a part of the Leafs just makes them much more closer to you without having to talk face to face to them.  It was very emotional watching it.  Still hard to believe that he's gone.

I know exactly what you mean.  I feel the same way. 

 

[Tigger]

'Appears to be', 'Treated as', 'Can't say for sure until a post-mortem examination is done.' You're right that these unnamed sources are leaning towards an intentional suicide but it's not definitive yet by their own words so quoting them and defining it as such seems wrong to me yet there it is.

You are inventing ambiguity here. This is what the Star article says:

Police sources told the Star, among many news outlets, that the cause of the ex-NHLer?s death was suicide by hanging.

Not "appears to be", not "treated as". Newspapers will choose their words very, very carefully in a case like this.  There's no "leaning" on the part of the source. Aside from your conjecture about some pretty blatant professional misconduct there's not a ton of wiggle room there.

Attempting to understand the families view is dicey in that they could be looking for reasons but maybe Jennifer knows something we don't?

I'm sure people who know Wade Belak well, like Michael Landsberg, know all sorts of things we don't. But at issue is whether or not a guy like Landsberg is wrong to take these sorts of quotes and put weight into them. I think it's pretty clear that he isn't.

Wow, you've distilled this down to a one article framework? Two of those quotes came from other articles from the Star, ambiguity does not require invention where unanimity does not exist.

You're also the one who's suggesting misconduct, not me, when Belak died there was quite an appetite for discourse on a few topics, depression, fighting, concussions and how they might be related. It's a bit slippery to suggest total invention but c'mon, it's not like they're trying to sell media or anything.

You don't think Landsberg is wrong, ok, I think he could have waited a couple weeks. Agree to disagree.

 

[Kin]

Wow, you've distilled this down to a one article framework? Two of those quotes came from other articles from the Star, ambiguity does not require invention where unanimity does not exist.

Other articles from the star may have used different sources/reported different things. This particular article is using a specific source that says something pretty specific.

You're also the one who's suggesting misconduct, not me,

Come on. That's flat out untrue. "Yes, I'm saying they may have run wild with quotes and reported things that may not be true but I'm not suggesting misconduct". You're not using the word, but that's exactly what you're accusing someone of if they make a conclusion that their source doesn't support.

It's a bit slippery to suggest total invention but c'mon, it's not like they're trying to sell media or anything.

There was an appetite for the stories you mention but that would pale in comparison to the spectre of a mysterious death/sensational one. There's no media appetite for the less sensational story, especially if it's not true. That the reporting on the cause has been as muted as it is, that the police have been as silent as they are on the cause/nature of it is strong supporting evidence of what this was.

You don't think Landsberg is wrong, ok, I think he could have waited a couple weeks. Agree to disagree.

Based on the standards of his profession, he's on solid ground. That family members are having coming to grips with what happened, as all family members will in a case like this, is not anything approaching evidence of a competing theory. It's pretty unfair, after the guy writes a heart-felt article based on sound journalistic principles, to throw mud at him because there are any dissenting voices.

 

[Tigger]

Who is this specific source? I didn't see it.

The initial story did not have any other overtones to it, the family and others did not claim death by mis adventure immediately. Maybe I am saying I don't like the way the media operate here, not sure but it seemed like a perfect storm at the time.

The police have said they're waiting for the coroners report before saying anything so attempting to point to their silence as evidence of anything but that seems pointless.

So does most of this though.

 

[Kin]

Like I said, I'm fine with the desire to want to believe something less awful, especially for those close to him. Nobody wants to believe someone they care about could do something like this.

I do think it's unreasonable to expect people to do that though.

 

[Rick C.]

http://www.canadianthinker.com/2011/09/the_wade_belak_story_has.html

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Jeff O'Neill ‏@odognine2 58m

In a time talking about free agents and money sometimes we forget about real life things. Happy 37 Wade Belak. You are missed dearly.

Nice gesture.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Wade would've been 48 today. So sad. He was such a beauty.
Check out Wade a Minute skits if you need a laugh.
Enjoy this little video(s).

https://youtu.be/u4SBDKnIkbw?si=K7nIBPf8aC4RgRX1

https://youtu.be/7Rf8Bv2QgZw?si=h_oC4gqiJF73ev4-

 

[Sandinius]

I love these videos and think about them pretty often.
I also love the exit interview from when he was traided.
When asked about it he said
"I blame Mats, you know. I hear it's supposed to be Mats's day today but no he pulled out so it's the next best thing.
Loved that guy, great sense of humour.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I love these videos and think about them pretty often.
I also love the exit interview from when he was traided.
When asked about it he said
"I blame Mats, you know. I hear it's supposed to be Mats's day today but no he pulled out so it's the next best thing.
Loved that guy, great sense of humour.

and then he said he was going to get Ian White lol.