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“Disrespect” Breeds Passion

January 3, 2014, 5:31 PM ET [7 Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It’s said that which does not kill us only makes us stronger. Kyle Okposo is taking that to heart when it comes to the disappointment he is feeling about not be selected to the USA Olympic team. He will channel his energy into the Islanders and forget how it felt to watch young skaters present the names of the Sochi Olympic team on New Year’s Day. One by one, they turned around displaying the name on their jersey. They were in alphabetical order. His was not there. Islanders fans everywhere booed at their televisions.

Okposo has taken the high road in how he has responded in the media. The media, however, has displayed very uncharacteristic passion. Would any of us expected a Howie Rose rant on the pre-game show on MSG? After all, the NY Rangers have three USA Olympians. Were the producers, the MSG producers, aware and okay with their employee telling the Olympic committee they dished out an injustice? Was there anyone in Howie’s ear yelling “The cue cards! The CUE CARDS!”

(Kevin Shultz's you tube link that turned off embeding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7VU8CAaTT4&list=TLURRwzA3cDko2wkfVeVqiqDLgvpcqfJy1)


It was good to see either way.

Ex NY Islander and the man who is much closer to understanding exactly how Okposo feels was just as critical both on the air and in his tweets on Twitter.

Butch Goring doesn’t hold back when you engage him in conversation whether it’s on his radio show, at the rink or on Twitter. But I’ve noticed that his post game Tweets come fast and furious and can sometimes be very, very passionate.

His promotion of Kyle Okposo to the US Olympic team began early

Butch Goring ‏@91Butch 28 Dec
#isles #isles I know there will be naysayers but Okposo deserves to be on the Olympic team. His work ethic, board play and stats are for real

I’m not sure if that was supposed to be ‘broad’ play or not.

He followed it up the next night with

Butch Goring ‏@91Butch 29 Dec
#isles what a win for the team, what a great effort by Kyle Okposo. How can they leave this guy off the US Olympic team.

Yes, how could they?
After a New Years’ Eve win, Butch Tweeted;
Butch Goring ‏@91Butch 31 Dec
#isles @nhl Kyle Okposo a super 1st half, on merit alone give him the USA Olympic jersey .Performance should count for something.

He was pleading his case.

And then the ball dropped on Okposo’s hopes, and Butch was livid.

Butch Goring ‏@91Butch 1 Jan
#isles what a joke the US Olympic team selection process.Team was picked a long time ago,Kyle Okposo never had a chance, never mind team 1st


Butch Goring ‏@91Butch 1 Jan
#isles hope US Olympic committee tells Okposo we left u off the team because u can't skate well enough .Yes we know u have talent but sorry


You can hear the anger in his voice when you read it.

Butch also suggested that fans support Kyle,

Butch Goring ‏@91Butch 1 Jan
#isles would love to see fans at game tomorrow give Kyle a greeting he will never forget.


It wasn’t his greeting he’ll never forget, it’s the chills he got following the game winner when the crowd erupted into the “USA!! USA!!” chants.

Picking an Olympic team is difficult, and there are many very talented players that are left off the roster strictly because there just isn’t enough room. I get that. It happens every time USA and Canada have to plan a roster. But for Islander fans, we were hopeful. It makes the Olympics that much more fun to watch. There’s a connection there rather than just a great event.

But Kyle won’t be going, and I say that’s fine. Now we won’t have to worry about anything happening to him. We just have to worry about the Isles continuing to win games, or as Butch said:

Butch Goring ‏@91Butch 23 Dec
#isles let's ask Santa to bring isles 30 more wins for Xmas. That’s pretty close to what they need to get into the playoffs.# runfortheroses

We can hope!
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