Call it Michigan-bashing if you want, but more than anything else last week
in Milwaukee, I was treated to one of the most insulting, offensive, yet
unsurprising showings by a hockey team that I've ever seen.
 
I'm not talking about any of the on-ice performances -- rather, I'm talking
about the lack of intelligence, respect, and dignity that the Michigan
hockey team (and many of their fans) proudly displayed.
 
Too many people here have already commented on the various quips by just
about every Michigan player and/or coach and their "best team" hangup.
Simply put, the trophy went to the best team in college hockey for 1996-97,
North Dakota. Just like last year, the best team was Michigan.
 
Maaaaaybe for one brief second you can ignore Red Berenson's comments
during the post-game press conference about how "the best team doesn't
always win," "it's hard to be the best and not win," and "there is nobody
more disappointed than the players, because they know they're the best and
they didn't win."
 
It's extremely hard to ignore the fact however that Red did not ONCE
mention anything positive about his opponent. If this game were a result of
horrendous officiating, countless stupid mistakes by Michigan players, or a
plane crash killing Michigan's first line, then perhaps one could let Red's
comments pass.
 
But Red, your team was BEATEN. Period. BU played a physical game that
Michigan hadn't really seen this year. They shut down the Wolverine
offense, clogged ALL the zones -- played a very, very solid hockey game.
 
After the Tiger's loss, Don Lucia showered the Sioux with compliments, and
didn't dwell too much on the fact that after last year's championship, this
loss may hurt some of the seniors that much more. Even Parker commented --
repeatedly -- on how relentless the Sioux was as a team, and how any team
that has won 5 national titles, regardless of how long ago, should be
respected as a tough opponent. Parker added that now that the Sioux have
won 6, perhaps this will bring the added respect to the Sioux that the team
deserves.
 
Yet not once have I read anything, in any paper, web site, or email forum,
concerning a single positive remark towards their opponents -- either
before or after the game -- from anybody associated with Michigan's hockey
team.
 
What could have been even more arrogant that Berenson's comments? Perhaps
the fact that Morrison had to dwell on the same dumb topic of "the best
team doesn't always win" in his Hobey Baker speech. When they played the
video of this during the 1st intermission at Saturday's game, everybody was
very quiet, and mostly respectful of his award... UNTIL that comment. This
caused a very loud, very negative response from the crowd.
 
I've heard far too many times, mostly from Michigan fans both in public and
here on Hockey-L, as well as from Red and the Michigan press, as to how
"classy" and "mature" Morrison is. Perspective does funny things, I guess.
Did anyone hear Morrison congratulate the other Hobey nominees, as just
about any other award recipient does? For his sake, I hope he did, and I
just plain missed it.
 
For the insulting side, how about the thousands of Michigan fans that just
plain LEFT the state of Wisconsin after the "best team" lost? So much for
enjoying a solid weekend of hockey. A hotel doorman had accrued over 100
tickets for the final without paying a cent. He said that half of the
tickets were litterally tossed to the ground as Michigan fans returned from
the game or left to drive home.
 
Not content with instulting the fans of the other teams present, Red
Berenson wouldn't even show up to take part in the NCAA All-50 Tournament
Team honors during the 2nd intermission. This was a pure slap in the face
-- especially considering that many people disagree with his selection to
the team (remember, this team was to honor those that shone as players --
Red's performance was below many others who didn't make the selection, but
I digress). I can't imagine that anyone who spent time organizing the
all-50 celebration could have been too happy in being snubbed by Berenson.
 
Of course, there were also all the Michigan fans who, during Saturday's
championship, couldn't resist yelling in my face (as I am a BU fan) as I
was standing in line for food, souvenirs, or the bathroom. Then their was
the small crowd a few rows in front of us that launched obsenities back
towards our small crowd, and continued to berate me outside the arena.
 
The only thing I could think of to say to these guys was to ask them why
they bothered to stay -- were they waiting for the Michigan-bound traffic
to die down or something?
 
 
 
______________________________________________
Jason Kekoa Greene
[log in to unmask]
Animator, Multimedia Designer, & P.B.
Leopard Communications: http://www.leopard.com
Boulder, Colorado
 
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