Could you hit a 95mph fastball? Would you even stand in the batters box with something that fast coming at you? Could you field a line-drive? A grounder? Could you throw a ball accurately more than 30 feet?

You're way off base about baseball (pun intended).

Let me know when ice skaters compete 162 times per year.
- wolfhounds

I have a way greater chance if hitting that fastball than I would beating a world class swimmet/ runner in a race

There's an element of subjectiveness, but at the end of the day a run is a run, and the team with the most wins. Now stop making me think.
- BulliesPhan87

I guess, to me, that you have to exerting a good amount of physical energy at least half of the time that you are on the playing surface. In baseball, a lot of that time is spent standing around or sitting on a bench. I could argue football, too, but that's a whole different conversation.

Options are another reason I am good with exchange for umby
- nails

I think Umberger can step in and fill a need. They will miss Hartsy's grit and ability to play well on Giroux's line. But Umberger can play more roles and is definitely more disciplined. It also sends a message to the team that they'll need to buy in.

Could you hit a 95mph fastball? Would you even stand in the batters box with something that fast coming at you? Could you field a line-drive? A grounder? Could you throw a ball accurately more than 30 feet?

You're way off base about baseball (pun intended).

Let me know when ice skaters compete 162 times per year.
- wolfhounds

No. I also can't drive a car 200 MPH and maintain control. So Nascar is a sport?

Could you pull of a triple flip on skates and carry around a woman while making a 30 degree turn while skating?

Edit: Figure skaters compete a ton, just not at widely-televised events. Much like tennis, there are more than 4 competitions a year.

And for the amount of money they'd pay me, I could certainly stand in the box.

The tradition in marriage that should change ASAFP is the outdated ritual of buying an expensive engagement ring for the woman.
- johndewar

I think the ring part is ok (not great, just ok), but particularly requiring expensive diamonds is dumb.

I have a way greater chance if hitting that fastball than I would beating a world class swimmet/ runner in a race
- nails

Making contact, or an actual Hit? Cause that's the equivalent in your example, not just doing the activity.

Could you hit a 95mph fastball? Would you even stand in the batters box with something that fast coming at you? Could you field a line-drive? A grounder? Could you throw a ball accurately more than 30 feet?

You're way off base about baseball (pun intended).

Let me know when ice skaters compete 162 times per year.
- wolfhounds

At the same time, what was Poulin's role? Did he handle the financial aspect or was he evaluating players?

In an interview last year, Poulin made comments that suggested Claude Loiselle was the guy who had the cap management side of things

http://mapleleafshotstove...tract-could-develop-soon/

“I would caution one thing. I know there is a website that has become extremely popular in terms of cap knowledge. It’s not exact. There’s a cushion base that’s figured in here… nobody can sit outside our room and tell us exactly what our cap is other than Claude Loiselle, and that’s corresponding directly with the league. The cap number that is out there, while it’s in the ballpark, it’s not exactly accurate.”

Poulin was a very smart player and has an impressive collegiate background. But it's fair to say if he was a prime guy in player evaluation, that he did a poor job with the Leafs.

That's why I was lukewarm to the Flyers hiring him.
- Jsaquella

Well, that's just it, right? We don't really know what Dave Poulin's responsibilities were.

I was just trying to point out that, if there is an ex-player that you might think would be cut out to be a good GM or front office type, it'd be Poulin.

To characterize Poulin as a dopey dinosaur of an ex-player might be premature.

No. I also can't drive a car 200 MPH and maintain control. So Nascar is a sport?

Could you pull of a triple flip on skates and carry around a woman while making a 30 degree turn while skating?

Edit: Figure skaters compete a ton, just not at widely-televised events. Much like tennis, there are more than 4 competitions a year.
- jmatchett383

I did a jump in figure skates once. It didn't go well.

I did a jump in figure skates once. It didn't go well.
- BulliesPhan87

I never tried figure skates, but I did it in hockey skates. It also did not go too well.

I think the ring part is ok (not great, just ok), but particularly requiring expensive diamonds is dumb.
- BulliesPhan87

Agreed.

At the same time, what was Poulin's role? Did he handle the financial aspect or was he evaluating players?

In an interview last year, Poulin made comments that suggested Claude Loiselle was the guy who had the cap management side of things

...

Poulin was a very smart player and has an impressive collegiate background. But it's fair to say if he was a prime guy in player evaluation, that he did a poor job with the Leafs.

That's why I was lukewarm to the Flyers hiring him.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, Loiselle was definitely the cap guy for them.

Poulin seemed more like the sounding-board and mouthpiece... think he GM'd the Marlies over the past year and change... that team was fresh off a Finals appearance, so can't really credit him much for them being good since.

I never tried figure skates, but I did it in hockey skates. It also did not go too well.
- jmatchett383

Don't try figure skates. Ever.

No. I also can't drive a car 200 MPH and maintain control. So Nascar is a sport?

Could you pull of a triple flip on skates and carry around a woman while making a 30 degree turn while skating?

Edit: Figure skaters compete a ton, just not at widely-televised events. Much like tennis, there are more than 4 competitions a year.
- jmatchett383

Nope. Never said I could.

And like almost every person on this board, I can't throw a baseball harder than 70mph or hope to field a nasty grounder on the 2rd base corner and pop up to make the out a first.

Making contact, or an actual Hit? Cause that's the equivalent in your example, not just doing the activity.
- wolfhounds

I could swing and miss. Just like I could flop around and tryo to not drown trying to do the butterfly while Michael Phelps did 20 laps and then smoked some pot.

Nope. Never said I could.

And like almost every person on this board, I can't throw a baseball harder than 70mph or hope to field a nasty grounder on the 2rd base corner and pop up to make the out a first.
- wolfhounds

So...because I can't hit a baseball, it is a sport?

I guess playing the clarinet is a sport.

Also, the things you mentioned are what happens like 1/20th of the time. The rest is either standing still or sitting on a bench.

Well, that's just it, right? We don't really know what Dave Poulin's responsibilities were.

I was just trying to point out that, if there is an ex-player that you might think would be cut out to be a good GM or front office type, it'd be Poulin.

To characterize Poulin as a dopey dinosaur of an ex-player might be premature.
- johndewar

It may well be, but if he was a big voice in the moves that the Leafs made, he might well be a "dopey dinosaur"(I love that wording LOL) in terms of assembling a team, despite being a smart guy.

Prior to his time with the Leafs I was gung ho for Poulin to get a job in Philly. Now, I have apprehension. If he was a key builder of a team that missed the playoffs in 5 of 6 years, I'm going to harbor doubts

Agreed.
- johndewar

I'm also going to go ahead and disagree with jsaq a bit about planning. It really should be more of a team effort, and reflect both persons being married (if they want). Of course, a couple things make that tough:
-Brides with very, very specific visions (which happens sometimes, maybe most times)
-Venues, caterers and everybody else you have to hire only keeping in contact with the bride (which happens pretty much all the time)

Regardless, planning sucks.

Yeah, Loiselle was definitely the cap guy for them.

Poulin seemed more like the sounding-board and mouthpiece... think he GM'd the Marlies over the past year and change... that team was fresh off a Finals appearance, so can't really credit him much for them being good since.
- Tomahawk

It's surprising, because he was a smart player and he did a great job at Notre Dame.

No. I also can't drive a car 200 MPH and maintain control. So Nascar is a sport?

Could you pull of a triple flip on skates and carry around a woman while making a 30 degree turn while skating?

Edit: Figure skaters compete a ton, just not at widely-televised events. Much like tennis, there are more than 4 competitions a year.

And for the amount of money they'd pay me, I could certainly stand in the box.
- jmatchett383

Well, I'm not sure the bar for what is or is not a sport is what you (or any of us) can do. I'm sticking to baseball v figure skating, which I don't doubt is difficult.

I can say I'd block a slap shot as well, for the money, but actually doing it is a whole different thing.

I'm also going to go ahead and disagree with jsaq a bit about planning. It really should be more of a team effort, and reflect both persons being married (if they want). Of course, a couple things make that tough:
-Brides with very, very specific visions (which happens sometimes, maybe most times)
-Venues, caterers and everybody else you have to hire only keeping in contact with the bride (which happens pretty much all the time)

Regardless, planning sucks.
- BulliesPhan87

I was given this advice: don't be afraid to give input, but let her make the final decisions. That way, if it goes wrong, it's not your fault.

Making contact, or an actual Hit? Cause that's the equivalent in your example, not just doing the activity.
- wolfhounds

I have a higher probability of hitting a homer off of clemens on roids than I would ever have of beating Phelps or Bolt in a race.

It may well be, but if he was a big voice in the moves that the Leafs made, he might well be a "dopey dinosaur"(I love that wording LOL) in terms of assembling a team, despite being a smart guy.

Prior to his time with the Leafs I was gung ho for Poulin to get a job in Philly. Now, I have apprehension. If he was a key builder of a team that missed the playoffs in 5 of 6 years, I'm going to harbor doubts
- Jsaquella

Totally agree. It's hard to say what the decision making structure of these front offices look like. I don't think they are all the same.

I'm also going to go ahead and disagree with jsaq a bit about planning. It really should be more of a team effort, and reflect both persons being married (if they want). Of course, a couple things make that tough:
-Brides with very, very specific visions (which happens sometimes, maybe most times)
-Venues, caterers and everybody else you have to hire only keeping in contact with the bride (which happens pretty much all the time)

Regardless, planning sucks.
- BulliesPhan87

I was there as a sounding board, but offered no real opinions, outside of "Jesus, that's a lot of money"

Well, I'm not sure the bar for what is or is not a sport is what you (or any of us) can do. I'm sticking to baseball v figure skating, which I don't doubt is difficult.

I can say I'd block a slap shot as well, for the money, but actually doing it is a whole different thing.
- wolfhounds

You asked me if I can do those things. I could stand in the box, and I could probably get my body in the way to at least knock down a sharp grounder. But why is the ability to master something the criteria for a sport.

Like I said, mastering the Yo-Yo is pretty hard. But that's not a sport, to me. And again, mastering how to keep control of a car going 200+ MPH while making tight turns and avoiding 20+ cars doing the same thing is hard, but it's not a sport.

Yes, it's an incredibly hard set of skills to master, just like blacksmithing. But that's not what makes it a sport.