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.
> Teddy was looking beyond this season and this team.
> Good riddance.
>
>
>
>
>
> --- William <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Thinking is one thing, saying is something
> > completely different. If he
> > wasn't media-trained, I'd like to know why he
> > wasn't. He isn't a freshman
> > in october; he's a freshman in April. Big
> > difference. It was a poor choice
> > on his part. Who talks about retiring from the
> > college game prior to the
> > Frozen Four?
> >
> > He says, "I'm happy with the decision to come
> here,
> > but I feel now that
> > there's more opportunities out there for me, and
> > it's kind of hard to say
> > no to playing hockey at the next level."
> >
> > Hello? He said this with games still to be played?
> I
> > read this and I
> > wonder just how important it was for him to win a
> > national title at
> > UMaine.
> >
> >
> > --- james acheson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > well, either that or he is just like everyone
> else
> > in
> > > what he is actually thinking and he was just
> not
> > > trained in what to tell the media
> > > --- Bob Fitta <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Wow! I respect any kids choice to sign and
> take
> > > > that next step in
> > > > fulfilling their dream. It means security and
> > > > opportunity that would
> > > > be at risk were they to get injured.
> > > >
> > > > Having said that, this is the most
> disappointing
> > > > interview I can
> > > > remember reading. Clearly Teddy had other
> > things on
> > > > his mind, and it
> > > > showed the second half of the season. What
> > Teddy
> > > > should have been
> > > > saying is, right now I'm concentrating on
> > helping
> > > > Maine win a
> > > > national championship and everything else is
> > > > secondary. Clearly one
> > > > thing Teddy did not do this year is mature!
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for sharing this William.
> > > >
> > > > Bob Fitta '83
> > > > On Apr 10, 2007, at 8:13 PM, William wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hmmmm. Maybe I read his quote wrong, but it
> > sounds
> > > > to me like Teddy
> > > > > is as
> > > > > good as gone ....
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> >
> http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=20848&sc=83
> > > > >
> > > > > Excerpt from story, which ran prior to
> Frozen
> > Four
> > > > ....
> > > > >
> > > > > "Right now, I'm looking at retiring (from
> the
> > > > NCAA) after the next few
> > > > > games, but that's kind of hard to think
> > about,"
> > > > Purcell said in a
> > > > > telephone interview from Orono, Me., this
> week
> > > > before leaving for St.
> > > > > Louis.
> > > > >
> > > > > "You want to concentrate on your own team,
> but
> > > > those things are on the
> > > > > back of your mind because they affect the
> rest
> > of
> > > > your life.
> > > > >
> > > > > "It's a big decision to make, but it'll come
> > down
> > > > to which team is the
> > > > > best fit. I'll decide pretty quickly after
> > this
> > > > weekend. I'm trying
> > > > > to see
> > > > > where the most interest and opportunity is
> for
> > me
> > > > and I think I have a
> > > > > pretty good grasp on it now, but there are
> > still
> > > > three or four
> > > > > teams in
> > > > > the mix."
> > > > >
> > > > > Purcell is expecting to hear from more teams
> > once
> > > > the season ends
> > > > > because
> > > > > some franchises choose not to contact
> college
> > > > players while their
> > > > > season
> > > > > is ongoing.
> > > > >
> > > > > And in any case, he's got other fish to fry
> > this
> > > > week.
> > > > >
> > > > > "It's real tough to concentrate, but luckily
> > I've
> > > > been going
> > > > > through it
> > > > > since January when the option of a pro
> > contract
> > > > was there, and my
> > > > > parents
> > > > > are doing a real good job of helping me out
> > and
> > > > talking with me,"
> > > > > Purcell
> > > > > said.
> > > > >
> > > > > "But that stuff can wait for another little
> > while.
> > > > It's a once in a
> > > > > lifetime opportunity to get to the Frozen
> Four
> > and
> > > > it's a really
> > > > > exciting
> > > > > week and I have to be mature about it and
> keep
> > > > things in
> > > > > perspective and
> > > > > concentrate on the task at hand."
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- james acheson <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> Sorry, i did not mean to mislead, or lead.
> > > > >> Levs is going to sign, i am sure... he is
> > just
> > > > too good not to.
> > > > >> derek
> > > > >> played last season in Lowell just as soon
> as
> > > > maine lost in the Frozen
> > > > >> Four and I think that Michel has all of the
> > > > talents that Derek had
> > > > >> and
> > > > >> then a little more, Michel should get some
> > sort
>
=== message truncated ===
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