Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - McGratton: Fighting will be gone in 2-3 years

curves2000 · 09-21-2016, 07:47 PM

A few takes I got from the interview.

1) I agree with Big Ern that the game has changed in a lot of ways, sometimes not for the better.

2) I SUSPECT the rule or respect factor when it comes to the vet's and the elevator at the hotel is as follows. When the 2 buses arrive with players, coaches, management, press, trainers etc your talking about 40-50 people. The idea is for the young guys to wait until the veteran players have all been able to get up to their floors. If every rookie went on his own one or two at a time, it would take forever to get upstairs with a few elevators. I am not saying I AGREE with this but sports and life in general has lessons and little rules that people follow.

3) The statement about the AHL was partially valid in a lot of ways. He played last season in San Diego for $600k, a city that is fantastic and the travel isn't so bad. I suspect some of the bitterness may be for not being able to secure a more lucrative deal elsewhere in the AHL or in Europe. Making $300k a year in the AHL or in a gorgeous city in Europe for a large club is a different scenario than making $50 000 CAD in the Brittish Elite League. I do suspect that if the San Diego Gulls were offering him a $300k a year deal than he would have signed and traveled to Stockton.

I am a big fan of Brian McGrattan but sometimes I think he has a challenge letting things go. I had mentioned in another thread about his twitter feud with Damien Cox. Even during the interview when Boomer asked him about continuing to fight after getting knocked out, fully knowing the health effects and the fact that he has a 1-year-old, he deflected to never backing down. I am a pro enforcer, am ok with fighting and am a big fan of his but sooner or later you got to look after yourself and your family health wise. Before anybody question's my thoughts on this, understand that the league he is going to play in for the next 2 years is a full on fighting league. His role there is to sell tickets, get the crowd into the games and to intimidate opponents. He is going to be getting into scraps all the time and at 35 and counting, with all the battles he has been in, you got think that he should be careful.

In any event it's his business. I am really looking forward to the documentary coming out this weekend though.

09-21-2016, 07:47 PM	#54
curves2000 First Line Centre Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Calgary, Canada Exp:	A few takes I got from the interview. 1) I agree with Big Ern that the game has changed in a lot of ways, sometimes not for the better. 2) I SUSPECT the rule or respect factor when it comes to the vet's and the elevator at the hotel is as follows. When the 2 buses arrive with players, coaches, management, press, trainers etc your talking about 40-50 people. The idea is for the young guys to wait until the veteran players have all been able to get up to their floors. If every rookie went on his own one or two at a time, it would take forever to get upstairs with a few elevators. I am not saying I AGREE with this but sports and life in general has lessons and little rules that people follow. 3) The statement about the AHL was partially valid in a lot of ways. He played last season in San Diego for $600k, a city that is fantastic and the travel isn't so bad. I suspect some of the bitterness may be for not being able to secure a more lucrative deal elsewhere in the AHL or in Europe. Making $300k a year in the AHL or in a gorgeous city in Europe for a large club is a different scenario than making $50 000 CAD in the Brittish Elite League. I do suspect that if the San Diego Gulls were offering him a $300k a year deal than he would have signed and traveled to Stockton. I am a big fan of Brian McGrattan but sometimes I think he has a challenge letting things go. I had mentioned in another thread about his twitter feud with Damien Cox. Even during the interview when Boomer asked him about continuing to fight after getting knocked out, fully knowing the health effects and the fact that he has a 1-year-old, he deflected to never backing down. I am a pro enforcer, am ok with fighting and am a big fan of his but sooner or later you got to look after yourself and your family health wise. Before anybody question's my thoughts on this, understand that the league he is going to play in for the next 2 years is a full on fighting league. His role there is to sell tickets, get the crowd into the games and to intimidate opponents. He is going to be getting into scraps all the time and at 35 and counting, with all the battles he has been in, you got think that he should be careful. In any event it's his business. I am really looking forward to the documentary coming out this weekend though.