Even as a Michigan Stater, Dean Lombardi's comments bother me.  Yesterday,
he backtracked saying quotes, "we're taken out of context."  

What?  How can a rant against a school who produces NHL players like
Morrison, Madden, Turco, Ortmeyer, Cammielieri, Nystrom, Knuble, Porter,
Montoya, etc... call the program, "the worst?" and not expect it to hit a
blogger's print?  

Moreover, if Michigan players stunk so bad, why did Lombardi make such a run
at Mike Knuble last year before he comfortably settled here in Washington
along side fellow UM alum Brendan Morrison?  

-----Original Message-----
From: - Hockey-L - The College Hockey Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dave Geringer
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 8:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Jack Johnson

This was published in the Detroit Free press Saturday-FYI.....


http://www.freep.com/article/20100122/SPORTS06/100122041/1053/sports05/Kings
-GM-rips-Red-Berenson-Michigan-hockey

Wolverines
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Outdoors
Posted: 2:26 p.m. Jan. 22, 2010 | Updated: 5:32 p.m. Jan. 22, 2010 
Kings GM rips Red Berenson, Michigan hockey
POSTED BY JAMES JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Buzz up!The college hockey message boards (yes, there are some) are going
nuts over a blog post out of Los Angeles in which Kings general manager Dean
Lombardi lambastes Michigan coach Red Berenson and his program.


The reason U-M even comes up is because Kings defenseman Jack Johnson is a
Michigan alumnus. Incidentally, Los Angeles visits the Detroit Red Wings on
Saturday night. 

The comments, made to frozenroyalty.net, really are quite amazing in their
candidness. Here's a sampling: 

"This guy has never had any coaching (at Michigan)," Lombardi said. "Jack
just did what he wanted. Michigan is the worst. For hockey people, if you've
got a choice between a kid - all things being equal - one's going to
Michigan, and one's going to Boston University, you all want your player
(going to BU). Michigan's players - Red doesn't coach. It's 'do what you
want.' 

"Jack was a thoroughbred out there. But he was all over the place. He was
awful as a hockey player." 

A spokesman for Michigan said Berenson did not feel the need to respond to
Lombardi's comments. 

For what it's worth, Johnson is on the U.S. Olympic team for next month's
Games. Johnson wasn't happy when asked about the comments by the Los Angeles
Times: 

"I'm a Michigan man. I'm very proud of it. I wouldn't want to have it any
other way," Johnson said. "Michigan has produced more NHL players than any
other school." 

Berenson, Johnson said, "is one of the finest coaches and men that I've met.
For my general manager to rip me as a person and criticize me as a person
and as a player and call me an awful hockey player is irresponsible and
unprofessional." 

More is surely to come, especially with Johnson and the Kings visiting the
area Saturday. 

Free Press sports writer George Sipple contributed to this report. 
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