The only issue I have is the "some of our guys" part. If McDavid doesn't want to waste his time fighting a 5/6 defenseman, that's fine. But if that's the case, then you shouldn't have to have someone else fight him, either. Just my take. Other than that, aside from me believing that what's said on the ice stays on the ice, I have no problem with his answer.
- jmatchett383

Yeah that part seemed weird to me too. If I were McD I just wouldn't bring up fighting period, nobody wants him to fight (would be literally the dumbest thing), so when he mentions fighting it just gives people fuel to call him out.

If you don't intend on getting your hands dirty, don't try to judge other's for not getting their hands dirty either. Pretty straightforward.

He told me to ask another question and you have no reason to think I'm into his dad unless part of your repressed sexuality has you fantasising about various scenarios that include two men together.
- LittleRickyV2

Since we are on the topic of sexual fantasies, why do they call you LittleRicky

If we can have a slightly serious discussion about bias, I think it's dangerous for writers to pretend that they dont have one. First and foremost, it's a lie. Going to J School or being hired by a major newspaper/company doesnt absolve someone of all their past experiences and deepest most inner beliefs. To pretend that someone can be unbiased in sports writing is crazy talk.

The only reason we even entertain the idea that writers can and should be unbiased is because they've been pretending to do it for so long it would be rude to let them know we're onto them. It's like telling a kid there's no Santa.

So personally, I've never wanted to lie to anyone about my biases. Now, I also like to support most of my writing with evidence (like testimonial by the league's best player about what was admitted to him by another player, or fancy stats, or logic).

Emotion is also very important. It's pretty easy to be lifeless. I dont want to make every post or every part of a post about numbers and facts. Sports writing in general should convey the emotion of the game because that's what the fan is there to enjoy. I can describe the game using shot attempts but nobody is sitting there yelling "CORSI! DAMN RIGHTS, NUGE. YOU GET THAT BLOCKED SHOT!!!"

As far as being a Homer goes, more than half the entire blog was me ripping the Oilers for their effort. Gustavsson is a fish, Klefbom a broken man, and Nuge got his lunch money stolen from him by the bigger kid in the 5th grade. So a little perspective about the blog as a whole needs to be taken there.

That said, Brandon Manning is still a fake NHL player and not worthy of being in the same league as McDavid.
- Matt_Henderson

Do you have stats to back up Manning not being worthy of being in the NHL?

Any time you call a player out in public, using words like classless, it goes a bit beyond just answering a question. Chalk it up to youth or frustration etc but that's on Connor, not the media, not Manning, not my bias.

I agree, that he shouldn't be fighting, it would be idiotic, but Connor knows that as well I doubt he wants to hide behind Lucic or whomever.
- belcherbd

The media absolutely plays a role in this. There are legit sports journalists and little weasels that troll players with questions. Asking before the game if he has "received an apology yet", is a stupid question and gets things started.

Obviously players need to learn not to react to this post game, but again he is 19 and he will learn from this experience.

Fair


As far as hiding, Connors always willing to engage physically and has been given a rough ride on a few nights. But never backs down an inch. But when the fists come out- he needs to defer
- HB77

I have no problem with a player fighting on behalf of a star teammate. So if Lucic or whoever felt that they needed to settle the score, then I understand, and I think Manning would as well.

However, now, McDavid has publicly stated the "some of our guys" wanted to fight Manning. So, if anything, I think that puts a bit of pressure on certain of his teammates to be obligated to try to fight him again, and I don't think that's fair to them. Not a big deal, and again, he's a 19-year-old kid.

Sorry I don't share those fantasies but to each their own
- LittleRickyV2

You're being a real McDavid right now

You're a big fan of Top Gun aren't you
- LittleRickyV2

I cry every time Goose isn't in the locker room with Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer.

Do you have stats to back up Manning not being worthy of being in the NHL?
- shekkie

Oh for (frank) sakes, don't make him pull out the hero charts and fancy unicorn stats. This thread was going so well.

I have no problem with a player fighting on behalf of a star teammate. So if Lucic or whoever felt that they needed to settle the score, then I understand, and I think Manning would as well.

However, now, McDavid has publicly stated the "some of our guys" wanted to fight Manning. So, if anything, I think that puts a bit of pressure on certain of his teammates to be obligated to try to fight him again, and I don't think that's fair to them. Not a big deal, and again, he's a 19-year-old kid.
- jmatchett383

I'm sure the pressure is getting to them

Fair


As far as hiding, Connors always willing to engage physically and has been given a rough ride on a few nights. But never backs down an inch. But when the fists come out- he needs to defer
- HB77

I'm certainly not saying Connor is hiding behind anyone. He doesn't strike me as the type but if he's not going to go, it means you should probably take the highroad in the public eye.

If we can have a slightly serious discussion about bias, I think it's dangerous for writers to pretend that they dont have one. First and foremost, it's a lie. Going to J School or being hired by a major newspaper/company doesnt absolve someone of all their past experiences and deepest most inner beliefs. To pretend that someone can be unbiased in sports writing is crazy talk.

The only reason we even entertain the idea that writers can and should be unbiased is because they've been pretending to do it for so long it would be rude to let them know we're onto them. It's like telling a kid there's no Santa.

So personally, I've never wanted to lie to anyone about my biases. Now, I also like to support most of my writing with evidence (like testimonial by the league's best player about what was admitted to him by another player, or fancy stats, or logic).
- Matt_Henderson

You don't need to pretend to have no bias. As you say, everyone has a bias that helps enhance and build their opinions and style. My reaction there was the extent you let that bias take over the section about Manning. I'm of the belief that a more level-headed approach would've served to address this issue better without succumbing to the evident emotion surrounding the issue.

Believe me when I say that the last thing I want from you is to be a "journalist" or completely unbiased. There's no excitement or intrigue as we'd all know exactly what you'd have to say about every single issue before you wrote it. There's no joy in that for either side.

As far as being a Homer goes, more than half the entire blog was me ripping the Oilers for their effort. Gustavsson is a fish, Klefbom a broken man, and Nuge got his lunch money stolen from him by the bigger kid in the 5th grade. So a little perspective about the blog as a whole needs to be taken there.
- Matt_Henderson

This is fair and perhaps I didn't account for the rest of the blog enough. I do apologize for my failure to take that more into consideration. I still think you're not placing enough blame on Nuge, but that's likely just my bias talking.

Anyone miss Cloutier or is that name still taboo?
- DeflatedPucks

Oilers need to "help" Nashville by giving them Klefbom and a 1st for Weber.

Since we are on the topic of sexual fantasies, why do they call you LittleRicky
- arichardson22

wouldnt you like to know

I'm sure the pressure is getting to them
- DeflatedPucks

I'm sure that none of the players are at home curled into a ball for fear of fighting Brandon Manning later on. Just that it doesn't seem fair to imply they should do it if you're not gonna do it yourself.

Kinda like the little kid telling the bully, "Just wait until my big brother finds out, he'll beat you up."

Now, I also like to support most of my writing with evidence (like testimonial by the league's best player about what was admitted to him by another player, or fancy stats, or logic).
- Matt_Henderson

Can you clarify, because I'm not sure what your stance is. Do you believe that if Manning said something like "i'm going to break your collarbone again," that that means he is actually confessing to taking McDavid to the boards with the intent to injure on purpose last year? Because I take that as very obvious gamesmanship. And if you see it as gamesmanship, how is saying something like that cowardly? It's all part of strategy as far as I'm concerned.

That said, Brandon Manning is still a fake NHL player.
- Matt_Henderson

Again, not sure what you mean by this. I ripped Manning a lot last year. He made bad reads and treated the puck like a hot potato when it came to his stick. But he has been a very steady #5 type defenseman from late last season through this year. Positionally sound, not afraid to take the body, and he has actually made good reads and pinches above what you would expect of a bottom pairing dman.

The media absolutely plays a role in this. There are legit sports journalists and little weasels that troll players with questions. Asking before the game if he has "received an apology yet", is a stupid question and gets things started.

Obviously players need to learn not to react to this post game, but again he is 19 and he will learn from this experience.
- leonkennedy

Agree with all of this; media role is being downplayed.

(And so what if he reacts? its time the nhl had more jeremy roenicks)

You're being a real McDavid right now
- YuenglingJagr

Agree with all of this; media role is being downplayed.

(And so what if he reacts? its time the nhl had more jeremy roenicks)
- DeflatedPucks

Jeremy Roenick the player or Jeremy Roenick the "analyst?"

You don't need to pretend to have no bias. As you say, everyone has a bias that helps enhance and build their opinions and style. My reaction there was the extent you let that bias take over the section about Manning. I'm of the belief that a more level-headed approach would've served to address this issue better without succumbing to the evident emotion surrounding the issue.

Believe me when I say that the last thing I want from you is to be a "journalist" or completely unbiased. There's no excitement or intrigue as we'd all know exactly what you'd have to say about every single issue before you wrote it. There's no joy in that for either side.


This is fair and perhaps I didn't account for the rest of the blog enough. I do apologize for my failure to take that more into consideration. I still think you're not placing enough blame on Nuge, but that's likely just my bias talking.
- MaximumBone

Is it possible that you are perhaps assuming there was more emotion in the writing, than the writer intended? When a message is communicated, especially in writing, the receiver often times makes assumptions about the intended message based on their own biases.

Anyone miss Cloutier or is that name still taboo?
- DeflatedPucks

I just barely missed those days.

Agree with all of this; media role is being downplayed.

(And so what if he reacts? its time the nhl had more jeremy roenicks)
- DeflatedPucks

If more people could dance on the ice like Roenick could....there....um there would be no ISIS

wouldnt you like to know
- LittleRickyV2

I'm not one of those, "it's the little things in life" people. Sorry for ruining your fantasies.

I just barely missed those days.
- RonPielep

He and that jackaninny that wrote for the Kings, Matthew Barry, definitely made for some interesting reads. They made Garth seem logical and even-keeled.

I have no problem with a player fighting on behalf of a star teammate. So if Lucic or whoever felt that they needed to settle the score, then I understand, and I think Manning would as well.

However, now, McDavid has publicly stated the "some of our guys" wanted to fight Manning. So, if anything, I think that puts a bit of pressure on certain of his teammates to be obligated to try to fight him again, and I don't think that's fair to them. Not a big deal, and again, he's a 19-year-old kid.
- jmatchett383

Solid point

I'm not one of those, "it's the little things in life" people. Sorry for ruining your fantasies.
- arichardson22

that made zero sense.... your kung fu is weak