When you go up 2-0 and then put it in park and then  allow 4 unanswered
goals and lose the game, sorry, but you choked. Doesn't matter if you
played best team in country or worst team in country. Bottom line: It was
a choke job. Doesn't mean I hate the team; far from it. But to quote a
famous coach who is blinded by the Lombardis, it is what it is. 

--- The Chesleys <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I just have to jump in here.
> 
> Maine did not "choke away a 2-0 lead".  Maine was beaten by the best
> team in the country.  Michigan State's win over BC proves it IMhO.
> (Small "h" because I'm only marginally humble)
> 
> I thought that given BC's amazing goal differential and having watched
> them play, that they were the best team in the country and had a very
> high probability of not being beaten in the tournament.
> 
> I am proud that Maine gave Michigan State such a great game.  And I
> agree with Barry Melrose on his comparison of Maine and Michigan State.
> He said that Maine was an oil painting and that Michigan was a crayon
> drawing.  (I can hear Jim laughing about that one)  Michigan won on
> grit, determination, and stamina against Maine and against BC.  And I am
> proud that Maine was at least beaten by the national champion.
> 
> I have to admit, though, I didn't realize how good Michigan was until I
> saw the championship game.  That game really put Michigan into
> perspective for me.   It is not usual for grit, determination, and
> stamina to overcome skating, passing, stick handling and coaching.  But
> when it happens in two games in a row it is meaningful especially
> against Maine and BC.
> 
> The best team does not always win.  But in this case they did.  And get
> over it people!  Just because you make it to the Frozen Four does NOT
> mean that you are the best team in the country.  Coaches and players can
> do only so much.  When Wisconsin won the championship they were the best
> team in the country and they deserved to win it and no one was likely to
> beat them short of a lot of luck.
> 
> It is not "choking" to be beaten by a better team.
> 
> I am a Maine fan through and through.  But I have watched, coached, and
> played enough hockey (and other sports) to know that it's ok to loose to
> a better team as long as you played your best game.  Second-guessing
> coaching decisions etc. after the fact only subtracts for the overall
> enjoyment of the sport IMHO.  And sometimes it's hard to play your best
> game against a team that you are pretty sure is going to beat you
> anyway.  I've played in games where I knew that we were going to loose
> by 10 goals and it wasn't anything that we had control of.   Well we had
> some control, I suppose over whether the score would be 13-2 or 12-3
> etc. But when we played a team like that and when we scored our
> celebration was as if we had won the game or even the tournament.  It's
> not about "winning".  It's about competing hard and accomplishing more
> than you thought that you might be able to do.  That's where the
> enjoyment in playing sports is.  I wish it were more like that for more
> people who are just watching.   Of course the media doesn't help it much
> with their stupid attitude that the only medal that matters is the gold
> one.   If you really watch competitors you will notice that what matters
> to them is accomplishing a personal best.  Don't let the stupid media
> people influence your attitude and spoil your fun as a fan!
> 
> I feel great about this team and I am so proud that Maine got to the
> Frozen Four yet again and was able to play a really exciting game with
> the team that would win it all!
> 
> I will be sad if Teddy leaves.  I really have enjoyed watching him play
> and I was looking forward to watching him develop into the great player
> that I'm sure he will become.  Maybe he will eventually wind up with the
> Bruins and I can watch him all the time.  :)
> 
> Also, one final note.  You can't change the past.  There is no use in
> worrying and fretting about it.  You can learn though and plan for the
> future.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Maine Hockey Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Deron Treadwell
> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 10:43 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Teddy a goner?
> 
> I love this!!!!  Love.  It.
> 
> I love how on this list if you EVER are anything but a rah-rah fan boy
> (or girl) then you are a "hater" ... (in this case a Teddy hater) and
> rah-rah, everything a player does is correct and everything Tim does is
> great coaching and everything the administration does is great and boy,
> didn't the Zamboni guy do a great job last night?
> 
> Teddy spoke his mind.  Great.  Refreshing, true I agree, but also a sign
> that he was much more concerned about himself than playing in the Frozen
> Four, which of course would have been no problem, except for the fact
> Maine choked away a 2-0 lead and was eliminated.  Play for the name on
> the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.
> 
> It doesn't matter if he gave 400 quotes or not, the fact is he said too
> much.  I hope that his new contract is certainly worth it.  I agree with
> Bob that we can't hold it against players who want pro contracts, but I
> could also make the case that had Teddy stayed another year or two and
> actually got more recognition (perhaps even as a captain/leader), he
> might have done even better with his contract.  Of course, you also run
> the risk that you might not too and that is a decision up to the player.
> Most usually announce it after the season.
> 
> I am a fan of THE University of Maine hockey program.  I want THE
> University of Maine to win all the games it can, including hopefully the
> opportunity to compete for the national championship.  Teddy was an
> important member of the team and I think as fans we have every right to
> feel he let us down here.  Let's be real, he isn't the first one to
> think it or the first one to let it affect him.  He's just the one who
> said it to the press, which was not only a dumb thing to do, but also
> disrespectful to all the fans who have supported him.
> 
> That's my two cents too.
> 
> -Deron
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Maine Hockey Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of james acheson
> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:31 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Teddy a goner?
> 
> honestly, I am glad he spoke his mind.  I am so sick
> of all the BS that people in sports now spew.
> Tim has not EVER said that Maine ws going to take it
> to the next opponent and make them wish they never
> played hockey.  He has also always give the same 3
> keys to the game.  It is right out of a box.  I do not
> blame him, and I understand the desire not to give the
> opponent any more material than they need, but a
> little fire would be ok in my book.
> 
> THe boys always say the exact same canned sppeches
> after a win "boy they sure were a formidable opponent
> and we just got the bounces: and after a loss, at
> least there were the two options, "we were flat and
> they were sharp" or we really have   a lot to be proud
> of, but we did not get the bounces.  Again, I
> understand why they do it, but I for one would welcome
> some more animated and heartfelt speech.
> 
> The boys all say the same stuff  fed to them by Brent
> Williamson or whoever ... it is clear that they are
> always told what to say,
> 
> THis once a kid tells what is on his mind and it is
> "good riddance"
> that's too bad.
> 
> Yes, in the real world, Teddy should have toed the
> line and lied through his teeth, but I for one am glad
> he said what he was thinking.
> Also just for a minute, I would llike you Teddy haters
> to realize that he might have given 300 quotes and the
> reporter took those 4 to the presses, OR consider the
> idea that the reporter took him completely out of
> context.  WHAT do you think the readers of maritime
> papers would like to see in print??? Something about a
> US hockey tournament, or how one of their native sons
> is going to the NHL.
> 
> Remember the Hamilton/Clark police report and the BDN
> and then think about how it was 99% false or
> misleading.
> 
> I wish Teddy luck, and I also wonder how he will do in
> the pros.  He was fast, and a great stickhandler, but
> I saw every game he played in and I remember him
> completely undressing Lowell's defense and Merrimacks
> entire team, but he was just a liitle better than just
> another player out there agaist BU and BC.  He might
> be making a mistake, but it is his mistake to make.
> Perhaps playing with better teammates will make all
> the difference, it sure did for Sidney Crosby.
> 
> Now, I am looking forward to having to sew a C onto my
> Bellamy jersey...
> Rob has asked me a couple times if I wanted my jersey
> autographed, and I have always told him, "yes, in your
> senior year."  So far it looks like I am getting my
> selfish wish, whether it is the best thing for Rob or
> not.
> 
> 
> --- Matt Dewkett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> > Let him go then...  His head obviously wasn't in the
> > game based upon these quotes.  Before reading the
> > article, I was concerned that he was going to leave.
> >
> > I'd rather not have him here next year, thinking
> > about
> > the boundless opportunities out there for him riding
> > a
> > bus in minor league hockey.  He is not going to be
> > an
> > immediate impact player at the pro level.  If he
> > was,
> > he wouldn't be a 21 year old freshman at Maine.  He
> > would have been drafted three years ago.
> >
> > Coaches tell players not to look beyond an opponent.
> 
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