John H writes:
 
> The implication was that they would return this season.  The article said
> that "Walsh convinced them a return would ensure a second straight National
> Collegiate Athletic Association championship".
>
> I've never met Shawn Walsh, and this particular comment isn't attributed to
> Walsh, but to a "source close to the Black Bears".  However, this is the
> kind of press that always paints Walsh as an arrogant jerk.
>
> I'm not passing judgment on Walsh.  I'm sure his larger than life persona
> has been blown up some by the media.  But just ONCE, it would be refreshing
> to see him quoted as saying that he has a good team,  they'll be competitive
> and they have a shot at a title, not that they're God's gift to hockey.
>
 
Since the comment isn't attributed directly to Walsh, I'm willing to give him
the benefit of the doubt on this one.  Things tend to get amplified once they
become second- and third-hand quotes.  I can easily see Walsh saying to these
guys, "I'm convinced we can repeat if you guys come back," and by the time it
makes the rounds he's coming off like Muhammed Ali's less bashful brother.
 
I guess I'm particularly willing to cut Walsh some slack based on his talk
at the UMass-Lowell luncheon which I posted last week.  He was anything but
arrogant.  He was charming, gracious, and I'd drive aways to hear him talk in
the future.  If I didn't know better, I'd have expected to hear him announce
his candidacy for the Presidency and start kissing babies.  :-)
 
And he is hardly dismissing Michigan since I believe his quote was, "Aside from
Michigan, it's a wide open field."
 
> I wonder.  If Walsh were to say something sincere and non-controversial,
> would the media bother to print it?  It wouldn't fit the image (P.T.
> Barnum?) that has been created for him.
 
Well, this media giant posted Walsh's remarks to HOCKEY-L.  I'm not sure if
that's the equivalent of front page on The Boston Globe. :-)
 
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