James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: 4 Months, Tons of Money and a Playoff Race for the Ages Plus Minus is your Grandma's favorite weekly column.

MINUS:Amateur sports are a joke.
- James_Tanner

Damn right, (frank) youth sports. Those kids playing roller hockey in the street and on Wednesday night house leagues are in it for the money. Damn those 6-10 year old, money hungry kids and their lack of passion!

James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: 4 Months, Tons of Money and a Playoff Race for the Ages
Plus Minus is your Grandma's favorite weekly column.
- James_Tanner

So many hot takes, yet you find a way to be on the wrong side of many.

The throwback St. Pats sweaters were great. So you're wrong there because I said so.

Players want to play for their countries in the Olympics because it's the biggest stage for international hockey. Fact, you're wrong again.

The NCAA doesn't have to play the players because they aren't professionals. They are students. If you don't like it fine, try to go across the seas and play a year of professional sports and then come back to North America.(Auston Matthews)

Damn right, (frank) youth sports. Those kids playing roller hockey in the street and on Wednesday night house leagues are in it for the money. Damn those 6-10 year old, money hungry kids and their lack of passion!
- jmatchett383

I agree. It's really the kids who are screwing everything up.

Nintendo classic sold out really fast and Nintendo hasn't made any more yet.

So many hot takes, yet you find a way to be on the wrong side of many.

The throwback St. Pats sweaters were great. So you're wrong there because I said so.

Players want to play for their countries in the Olympics because it's the biggest stage for international hockey. Fact, you're wrong again.

The NCAA doesn't have to play the players because they aren't professionals. They are students. If you don't like it fine, try to go across the seas and play a year of professional sports and then come back to North America.(Auston Matthews)
- tomburton99

1) Gross.
2) I get that, but if you don't get how arbitrary and stupid it is, it's probably the reason why you never agree with me.
3) Also Gross. That's a sick defense of a sick, morally indefensible practice. The NCAA is disgusting, as is anyone who defends it.

Nintendo classic sold out really fast and Nintendo hasn't made any more yet.
- lplafrance

Yes, but are they going to? The guy at E.B games said probably not, but he didn't sound confident.

World cup sucks, it's just a money making gimmick for the league and the players couldn't give a crap about it. The Olympics are where it's at, it's on the world stage and there's nothing like winning an Olympic gold medal. You don't see players whining about the world cup so that should tell you something. Everytime we look back on a players career achievements, an Olympic gold medal is right up there along with a Stanley Cup. Nobody cares if you have a world cup to your resume, it's a joke tournament, like a glorified all star game.

1) Gross.
2) I get that, but if you don't get how arbitrary and stupid it is, it's probably the reason why you never agree with me.
3) Also Gross. That's a sick defense of a sick, morally indefensible practice. The NCAA is disgusting, as is anyone who defends it.
- James_Tanner

It's not arbitrary. Every player if healthy would accept an Olympic invite from their respective countries. The other team you blog for, their Star forward said he'd leave for the duration of the Olympics no matter if the NHL is going on or not. Plus he has the support of his owner. You're flat out wrong.

Your love of Suicide Squad makes never EVERY take anything you write about movies seriously lol.

On the real, Fehr is one of those players falling by the wayside. Fehr was GROSSLY misused by the Pens. The small sample size at center was night-and-day. I know he had some previous success at wing for the Caps, but he's a center.

He's just a different player when at his natural position.

World cup sucks, it's just a money making gimmick for the league and the players couldn't give a crap about it. The Olympics are where it's at, it's on the world stage and there's nothing like winning an Olympic gold medal. You don't see players whining about the world cup so that should tell you something. Everytime we look back on a players career achievements, an Olympic gold medal is right up there along with a Stanley Cup. Nobody cares if you have a world cup to your resume, it's a joke tournament, like a glorified all star game.
- maxbart5

Who cares what people think or what they care about?


It's really simple: Both tournaments can feature the same players, the same rules, the same teams etc.

Only if you play the World Cup, the Players get to keep the money.

I know jocks aren't exactly known for their brains, but I would think this is a concept anyone could understand.

Who cares what people think or what they care about?


It's really simple: Both tournaments can feature the same players, the same rules, the same teams etc.

Only if you play the World Cup, the Players get to keep the money.

I know jocks aren't exactly known for their brains, but I would think this is a concept anyone could understand.
- James_Tanner

Except the players care more about the Olympics. So do the fans.

I personally loved the throwback jerseys. I think they should wear it at least one game a year. Being a kids who grew up in the 80's and 90's I'd like to go back to home whites and road darks again but don't see it happening anytime soon.
As far as Olympics goes yes they might make more money with a World Cup but honestly the players don't give a poop about the World Cup. There more of a emotional attachment to the Olympics than the World Cup.

I personally loved the throwback jerseys. I think they should wear it at least one game a year. Being a kids who grew up in the 80's and 90's I'd like to go back to home whites and road darks again but don't see it happening anytime soon.
As far as Olympics goes yes they might make more money with a World Cup but honestly the players don't give a poop about the World Cup. There more of a emotional attachment to the Olympics than the World Cup.
- NewfieStud

I agree with all of this. Leafs should wear the St. Pats sweaters once a year when they have a game closest to St. Patrick's day.

olympic athletes should not get paid. not any serious amount of money. i really dont want my tax dollars going to support an "athlete" for a sport that nobody cares about. I realize you are a commie who does not understand supply and demand but imagine how pissed off you would be if your tax dollars paid an 80k annual salary plus expenses for those goofs who dance with ribbons so that the other goofs who dance with ribbons can watch them for one week every four years.

As for the womens US team it strikes me as odd that nobody has reported what the men get paid. There is a good chance that it is the same or even less. If it is more than of course the women should get more. Remember that those poor dudes have to have a day job too where they work 24 x 365. It just happens that their unique abilities are in high demand and they get paid fortunes accordingly.

btw womens and girls hockey is intense and highly entertaining but I blame Trudeau for their professional games lack of financial success. Wheres the equality sweet cheeks? Its 2015. time to allow the women to bodycheck. Im certain most of the playerss would agree.

You know Tanner if you just take the Kellyanne Conway approach to reality you can live in a world where the Leafs are first in the Atlantic and you can wake up feeling super duper happy about it.

It's not arbitrary. Every player if healthy would accept an Olympic invite from their respective countries. The other team you blog for, their Star forward said he'd leave for the duration of the Olympics no matter if the NHL is going on or not. Plus he has the support of his owner. You're flat out wrong.
- tomburton99

How can I be wrong? Your evidence is what players say. I don't care what players say. They are also wrong.

Whether or not a player decides that the arbitrary nature of the Olympics means something to him, has no bearing no the FACT that the same players and countries can put the same tournament on, on their own terms, make the money off it and the only difference will be that it's not called the "Olympics."

At this point, I am now realizing that you don't know what "arbitrary" means.

Who cares what people think or what they care about?


It's really simple: Both tournaments can feature the same players, the same rules, the same teams etc.

Only if you play the World Cup, the Players get to keep the money.

I know jocks aren't exactly known for their brains, but I would think this is a concept anyone could understand.
- James_Tanner

Take a shot at those stupid athletes that you are so clearly envious of. We arent talking about wife beating football players here. Most elite hockey players are extremely intelligentbut they also got more girls than you did when you were young so you should totally hold a grudge for the rest of your life.

I personally loved the throwback jerseys. I think they should wear it at least one game a year. Being a kids who grew up in the 80's and 90's I'd like to go back to home whites and road darks again but don't see it happening anytime soon.
As far as Olympics goes yes they might make more money with a World Cup but honestly the players don't give a poop about the World Cup. There more of a emotional attachment to the Olympics than the World Cup.
- NewfieStud

You guys are missing the point: I know damn well the Players care more about the olympics. What I'm saying is that this is a ridiculous - even immature - position.

It literally makes no logical sense.

Anyways, I've made my point. I do agree with you about road teams wearing drak colours. The way they do it now is unnatural and weird.

olympic athletes should not get paid. not any serious amount of money. i really dont want my tax dollars going to support an "athlete" for a sport that nobody cares about. I realize you are a commie who does not understand supply and demand but imagine how pissed off you would be if your tax dollars paid an 80k annual salary plus expenses for those goofs who dance with ribbons so that the other goofs who dance with ribbons can watch them for one week every four years.

It kills me that you can't just have a conversation, you have to be a jerk about it. The irony of course is that your comment makes no sense.

I don't mind the gov't giving out small grants to athletes, but my issue here is not who or what the government funds. My issue is with people who make millions, if not billions, off of amateur athletes while not paying them.





As for the womens US team it strikes me as odd that nobody has reported what the men get paid.

The men all play in the NHL and are millionaires.




There is a good chance that it is the same or even less. If it is more than of course the women should get more. Remember that those poor dudes have to have a day job too where they work 24 x 365. It just happens that their unique abilities are in high demand and they get paid fortunes accordingly.

btw womens and girls hockey is intense and highly entertaining but I blame Trudeau for their professional games lack of financial success. Wheres the equality sweet cheeks? Its 2015. time to allow the women to bodycheck. Im certain most of the playerss would agree.
- Njuice

Passengers was a good movie (great CG, story) but they wrapped up the movie far too quickly with odd editing in the last 10 minutes.

Enjoy your plus / minus articles. Keep them coming.

You know Tanner if you just take the Kellyanne Conway approach to reality you can live in a world where the Leafs are first in the Atlantic and you can wake up feeling super duper happy about it.
- DoubleDown

Kellyanne Conway is a disgusting person who should spend the rest of her life in jail. Preferably one in a country that doesn't have human rights.

How can I be wrong? Your evidence is what players say. I don't care what players say. They are also wrong.

Whether or not a player decides that the arbitrary nature of the Olympics means something to him, has no bearing no the FACT that the same players and countries can put the same tournament on, on their own terms, make the money off it and the only difference will be that it's not called the "Olympics."

At this point, I am now realizing that you don't know what "arbitrary" means.
- James_Tanner

And the huge gap in viewership between the two.

Take a shot at those stupid athletes that you are so clearly envious of. We arent talking about wife beating football players here. Most elite hockey players are extremely intelligentbut they also got more girls than you did when you were young so you should totally hold a grudge for the rest of your life.
- Njuice

Congrats, you just wrote the stupidest post in Hockeybuzz history. I don't know what you win, but it should be something.

And the huge gap in viewership between the two.
- rmdevil313

Yes, but who cares about viewership when the dollars made look like this:

Olympics: zero

World Cup: some