Men’s Hockey Coach’s Speech Goes Viral

 

“When you put on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates. And the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back! Get that through your heads!” 

It seems that there is a video of a present-day hockey coach’s speech to his players that is going viral.

For now, the coach is anonymous (as of my last reading), but I doubt that will be the case much longer. I do pray for him. In our hypersensitive, PC world of lightning-fast offense taking, this type of straight talk is as verboten as the wrong books in Hitler’s Germany. Someone is just waiting to dox him.

“We’re Not Women’s Soccer, We’re Not the NFL!” ….

Well, I applaud this coach. Unfortunately, the behavior of the USWNT and many NFL footballers has forced this issue. There was a day when it did not need to be imposed on any athletic team. But the hyper-sensitivity and hyper-arrogance of the individuals playing sports these days places the most importance on the name on the back of the jersey, rather than the front. Sad.

This coach just took a page out of Coach Herb Brooks’ playbook … Again!

Well done Coach. This Bud’s For You!

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  1. DonG Coolidge
    DonG
    @DonG

    I’ll reuse my quote from another thread (great minds think alike)

    The soccer team could increase their income from endorsements, if they acted with a lot of class. The NFL wrapped itself in the flag and made billions. Tiger Woods stayed apolitical and classy and made nearly a billion. The “Miracle on Ice” guys are still making endorsement/speaking money 35 years after winning gold! Yet, the Women’s team has chosen to be political and trashy and that will cost them. I realize it is not the whole team, but when it comes to endorsements, a team is only as strong as its weakest player. If they don’t care about their team reputation and the program, why should we?

    • #1
  2. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Who do you play for?

    • #2
  3. B. W. Wooster Member
    B. W. Wooster
    @HenryV

    “again.”  

    Terrific clip.  As it ever was, the hardest lessons are the best.

     

     

    • #3
  4. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    I’m looking at the picture at the bottom of the link provided.  All those girls standing with their hands over their heart for the National Anthem.  And that idiot Rapinoe kneeling.  She brought down the whole team and that is a shame.  

    • #4
  5. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    I have always been told that sports was important because it builds character, team work, etc.  For a while I believed it.  Then I tolerate it.  But for now it seems to me that sports basically builds public platforms for the woke to belittle me and mine.  I am tired of the scolds.  If there is a way I would prefer that not one of my tax dollars go to support “sports”.  Any sports.  Not high school football, not college basketball, not the NFL,  NBA or any Olympic team.  I want no US volleyball or US gymnastics team.  Name them something else.  They do not represent me, they do not speak for me, they don’t even like me.  Fine, then they need to exist without me and mine.  No more government money.  No more tax breaks.  No more non profit status.  I want them to go away and since they must exist then be completely separate from me and mine or any support from us.

    • #5
  6. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    DonG (View Comment):

    I’ll reuse my quote from another thread (great minds think alike)

    The soccer team could increase their income from endorsements, if they acted with a lot of class. The NFL wrapped itself in the flag and made billions. Tiger Woods stayed apolitical and classy and made nearly a billion. The “Miracle on Ice” guys are still making endorsement/speaking money 35 years after winning gold! Yet, the Women’s team has chosen to be political and trashy and that will cost them. I realize it is not the whole team, but when it comes to endorsements, a team is only as strong as its weakest player. If they don’t care about their team reputation and the program, why should we?

    That deserves to be posted twice.  

    • #6
  7. Al Sparks Coolidge
    Al Sparks
    @AlSparks

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):
    I realize it is not the whole team, but when it comes to endorsements, a team is only as strong as its weakest player.

    I mostly agree with you, but I will nitpick this.

    It was the Women’s Soccer Team’s strongest player that brought them down, and if the weakest player had tried that instead she would have been ignored or probably cut from the team.

    It was the team’s strongest player that diminished the rest.

    • #7
  8. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    • #8
  9. Al Sparks Coolidge
    Al Sparks
    @AlSparks

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    Miracle is an underrated movie that deserves more attention.  I’m glad it got some here.

    • #9
  10. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):
    But for now it seems to me that sports basically builds public platforms for the woke to belittle me and mine.

    So true.  They think their ability to dunk basketballs or throw touchdown passes makes their opinions on any subject more important than those from us deplorables . . .

    • #10
  11. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    And the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back!

    Words that should be on the wall of every locker room in the country . . .

    • #11
  12. RS711 Member
    RS711
    @

    Badger Bob Johnson.  One of the great coaches in the history of sports.  “It’s a great day for hockey.”  “The legs feed the wolf.”  The one you posted here.  A great man that was lost too early. 

    • #12
  13. thelonious Member
    thelonious
    @thelonious

    DonG (View Comment):

    I’ll reuse my quote from another thread (great minds think alike)

    The soccer team could increase their income from endorsements, if they acted with a lot of class. The NFL wrapped itself in the flag and made billions. Tiger Woods stayed apolitical and classy and made nearly a billion. The “Miracle on Ice” guys are still making endorsement/speaking money 35 years after winning gold! Yet, the Women’s team has chosen to be political and trashy and that will cost them. I realize it is not the whole team, but when it comes to endorsements, a team is only as strong as its weakest player. If they don’t care about their team reputation and the program, why should we?

    LeBron James says cliched woke crap all the time and he seems to be doing just fine. Rapinoe will probably make millions off being a lesbian martyr. The key is knowing how to market themselves. Also Tiger wasn’t all that classy. He’s had a few philandering moments that cost him many endorsements.

    • #13
  14. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Al Sparks (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    Miracle is an underrated movie that deserves more attention. I’m glad it got some here.

    It’s one of my favorites.  Having lived through the Miracle on Ice, I thought it captured the times, the spirit and the excitement perfectly.  One of my arguments as to why the US should not have gone to professional athletes was remembering the time when a group of unknown college boys defeated the world champions.  It would not have meant as much if they had been NHL players, in my opinion. 

    • #14
  15. Buckpasser Member
    Buckpasser
    @Buckpasser

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Al Sparks (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    Miracle is an underrated movie that deserves more attention. I’m glad it got some here.

    It’s one of my favorites. Having lived through the Miracle on Ice, I thought it captured the times, the spirit and the excitement perfectly. One of my arguments as to why the US should not have gone to professional athletes was remembering the time when a group of unknown college boys defeated the world champions. It would not have meant as much if they had been NHL players, in my opinion.

    In ’72 and ’74 there was the Canada Cup Series with Team Canada (made up of NHL players) vs Russia.  Canada won in ’72 (lots to talk about there) and Russia won in ’74.  Many of the Russians on those teams were on the ’80 team that lost to the American Collegians.  So the U.S. winning in ’80 was indeed a miracle.

     

    • #15
  16. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    And ….. Best use ever of this iconic Aerosmith Song …. Dream On …

     

    • #16
  17. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Al Sparks (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    Miracle is an underrated movie that deserves more attention. I’m glad it got some here.

    It’s one of my favorites. Having lived through the Miracle on Ice, I thought it captured the times, the spirit and the excitement perfectly. One of my arguments as to why the US should not have gone to professional athletes was remembering the time when a group of unknown college boys defeated the world champions. It would not have meant as much if they had been NHL players, in my opinion.

    It has been voted as the Greatest American Sports Moment Of All Time …

     

    • #17
  18. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Columbo (View Comment):

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Al Sparks (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    Miracle is an underrated movie that deserves more attention. I’m glad it got some here.

    It’s one of my favorites. Having lived through the Miracle on Ice, I thought it captured the times, the spirit and the excitement perfectly. One of my arguments as to why the US should not have gone to professional athletes was remembering the time when a group of unknown college boys defeated the world champions. It would not have meant as much if they had been NHL players, in my opinion.

    It has been voted as the Greatest American Sports Moment Of All Time …

    No argument there!

    • #18
  19. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    I’m looking at the picture at the bottom of the link provided. All those girls standing with their hands over their heart for the National Anthem. And that idiot Rapinoe kneeling. She brought down the whole team and that is a shame.

    It is on the rest of the team and the coaching staff for letting that prima donna pose, instead of shaming or benching her into common decency and team rather than “me” focus.

    • #19
  20. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    I’m looking at the picture at the bottom of the link provided. All those girls standing with their hands over their heart for the National Anthem. And that idiot Rapinoe kneeling. She brought down the whole team and that is a shame.

    It is on the rest of the team and the coaching staff for letting that prima donna pose, instead of shaming or benching her into common decency and team rather than “me” focus.

    In an ideal world, yes.  I’m sure once she did it, she became a hero to her teammates anyway, and if not, they would be too cowed to say anything in public to ensure that the team didn’t lose their cohesion.  I hope that coaches around the country take a cue from this hockey coach and lay out the ground rules from the first time the team assembles.  

    • #20
  21. Blondie Thatcher
    Blondie
    @Blondie

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Al Sparks (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    Miracle is an underrated movie that deserves more attention. I’m glad it got some here.

    It’s one of my favorites. Having lived through the Miracle on Ice, I thought it captured the times, the spirit and the excitement perfectly. One of my arguments as to why the US should not have gone to professional athletes was remembering the time when a group of unknown college boys defeated the world champions. It would not have meant as much if they had been NHL players, in my opinion.

    I cry every time I watch it. Might have to pull it out tomorrow. I agree with you about not having the NHL guys play. It did mean more when nonprofessionals won. 

    About the soccer thing, I do have to give credit to Kelley O’Hara for picking up the flag. 

    • #21
  22. Chris Member
    Chris
    @Chris

    Al Sparks (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Wow. I went and bought Miracle, just to watch the story.

    Thanks for the steer

    Miracle is an underrated movie that deserves more attention. I’m glad it got some here.

    I’m just glad they produced it when they did.  

    Going down the youtube rabbit hole after seeing the initial clip, I wondered if anyone at Disney would green light such a film today.

    • #22
  23. Mark Wilson Inactive
    Mark Wilson
    @MarkWilson

    RS711 (View Comment):

    Badger Bob Johnson. One of the great coaches in the history of sports. “It’s a great day for hockey.” “The legs feed the wolf.” The one you posted here. A great man that was lost too early.

    That’s Herb Brooks, former coach at the University of Minnesota (portrayed by Kurt Russell).

    • #23
  24. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Mark Wilson (View Comment):

    RS711 (View Comment):

    Badger Bob Johnson. One of the great coaches in the history of sports. “It’s a great day for hockey.” “The legs feed the wolf.” The one you posted here. A great man that was lost too early.

    That’s Herb Brooks, former coach at the University of Minnesota (portrayed by Kurt Russell).

    “To this day [goalie Jim] Craig remembers Brooks as the best coach he ever had.”

    “He cared about people greatly,” Craig said. “He didn’t just make us better hockey players. He made us better men, better husbands, better fathers. He just cared. The biggest compliment I would give Herb is that when he passed away, if someone were to ask every one of us who his favorite was, we all would’ve said ourselves. That’s a hard thing to do.”

    • #24
  25. Al Sparks Coolidge
    Al Sparks
    @AlSparks

    Columbo (View Comment):

    That’s Herb Brooks, former coach at the University of Minnesota (portrayed by Kurt Russell).

    “To this day [goalie Jim] Craig remembers Brooks as the best coach he ever had.”

    “He cared about people greatly,” Craig said. “He didn’t just make us better hockey players. He made us better men, better husbands, better fathers. He just cared. The biggest compliment I would give Herb is that when he passed away, if someone were to ask every one of us who his favorite was, we all would’ve said ourselves. That’s a hard thing to do.”

    I’d say that college hockey encourages humility in its leaders. For one thing, unlike football and basketball, the players don’t have to go to college to become a professional player. Professional hockey has an extensive minor league and plenty of pro hockey players have bypassed college including Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr. College coaches are not gatekeepers, at least not to the extent that basketball and football coaches are.

    And college hockey leagues in the United States are always looking over their shoulders because of the way Title IX mandates funding. Its had a tough time expanding, unlike their equivalents in the still amateur junior leagues and professional minor leagues.

    And that’s not the only reason for the humility. Some of the best hockey in the United States, especially during Herb Brooks tenure, came out of Minnesota and I suspect the Scandinavian influence you see there had a big part of that. And hockey as a whole in the United States has a big Canadian influence. It’s not unusual for today’s college hockey teams have roughly half their players come from Canada.

    Herb Brooks was one of the best to come from that mold, but his fundamental character wasn’t that exceptional amongst college hockey coaches of the time, and perhaps today.

    • #25
  26. Mark Wilson Inactive
    Mark Wilson
    @MarkWilson

    Al Sparks (View Comment):
    For one thing, unlike football and basketball, the players don’t have to go to college to become a professional player.

    On the flip side, they can enter the NHL draft, be drafted, and then play up to four years of college hockey while the NHL team retains their rights and is free to deal them. 

    • #26
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