Very well said, Bob!
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Woodbury
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Subject: Re: From one Black Bear to another ... [bcc_ADV?][faked-from_ADV?][mx_ADV?]
Anyone who knew Paul while he was here at Maine knows
what he has done during his professional career is totally consistent: 1.
staying all those years with the Ducks, showing loyalty to the team that signed
him and 2. loyalty finally being smaller river than the Stanley Cup, he proved
winning the Stanley Cup is more important to a hockey player than the money,
something he felt he already had in abundance. He may have been the first
player to SAY it and DO it. Totally consistent with the way he presented
himself as Maine hockey player, an individual and a student. We were blessed to
have had him at Maine. We can be proud he was a Black Bear. We can be thankful
he consistently behaves with the highest character.
Deron Treadwell wrote:
I, too, agree Paul made the right choice. I think what people are scratching their heads about is the money. Paulmade (or would have made?) $10 million dollars. He signed for UNDER theleague average at around 1.2 million. Now, obviously, we are all fans of Paul Kariya, but this makes me even morea fan of his because he has proven to not be one of those cry-babyprofessional athletes that need a huge pay day to sign with an organization.He wanted to go with Selanne and they approached Colorado because, again,that is where they wanted to go. That is the way it *should* be, not theseAlex Rodriguez type of player who will go to the highest bidder. The Ducks should indeed look in the mirror because there were comments madeabout Paul, the team saying that they wanted to embrace more of a "team"concept and not committ all their resources to one player. Now, they won'thave to. They can spend that $10 million on a bunch of guys who fit theirsystem. The Ducks also gambled and lost. I think behind the scenes they may havebeen saying, "Hey Paul, you weren't that dominant in the playoffs and wewere winning, so here's a paycut take it or leave it because we went to thefinals last year." In addition, I think they are stunned because they were kind of thinkingthat they didn't really have to work hard to keep Paul, that because of allhe's done for them that he would just make it happen and re-sign. But I think the bottom line is that the Ducks did something to upset Kariya.He obviously showed with his contract in Colorado that he's willing to dowhat it takes to win and be flexible enough with his own contract to helpthe team fill its needs. He could have done that with Anaheim (so theycould have signed Selanne), but he didn't. Why? I have to believe that theDucks did something to push him away or turn him off. -Deron ----- Original Message -----From: "Jeff and Tracy" <[log in to unmask]>To: <[log in to unmask]>Sent: Friday, July 04, 2003 7:20 AMSubject: Re: From one Black Bear to another ...
Cinderella stories only last so long. Paul made the right choice. I
don't think the Ducks would have been there again this year without changingthe roster. The only thing left for the Av'S IS, WHO'S IN NET? I thinkPaul made the right decision....his own.