Quote:
Originally Posted by Toonage
I'm not sure I have ever, in my 30+ years of watching hockey, been witness to something like the bizarre love affair that some Calgary media members have with a veteran goalie with a marginally above average career behind him who won't even be here next year.
I don't hate Smith, don't love the guy either. But if you look at this from the outside, what has he possibly done to earn this sort of admiration?
Loubardias basically chastised an entire fan base for not seeing things his way last week. Had he been more direct in his speech he would have called all of the listening audience morons.
Wills is doing a similar act.
Its genuinely puzzling.
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It's not that simple though.
Smith had a rough start, and hasn't had a great season. But the emotional reaction against the guy has certainly been over the top from a certain percentage of the fan base.
I think a media member that deals with the team finds themselves pushing back on that extreme because it's been over the top.
We've seen it today on the site. Smith starts and a poster says something like he shouldn't start another game this season; this despite the guy being just short of 20 wins, and better numbers in the second half of the season.
To the rational fan they seem like homers, but I think they're work is against the extreme fan that they feel they need balance out.
All guessing on my part.