Winnipeg is the pits

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Wow, that's classy. You make the same kind of comments about Darryl Sutter's son a few years back?

Your attitude and that comment are what's sad.

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Wow.

It's sad to see a big Jets fan that has a mental disability, hoping to bring joy to sports fans by dancing and getting the crowd into the game. Do you think Joey Moss helping the Oilers on the bench is "sad" too?

Not cool at all..

Yes I find it pretty sad they need to use a mentally disabled person to get the fans going? Or the fact he has to go around dancing in the arena throughout the night? The fact they don't provide him transportation so he has to take the bus every game I can go on...but lets just leave it as sad.

ps - Neither Darryl's son or Joey moss are doing what they're making this guy do.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Yes I find it pretty sad they need to use a mentally disabled person to get the fans going? Or the fact he has to go around dancing in the arena throughout the night? The fact they don't provide him transportation so he has to take the bus every game I can go on...but lets just leave it as sad.

ps - Neither Darryl's son or Joey moss are doing what they're making this guy do.

Are you seriously that obtuse? Or just trying to save face?

No one "makes" Gabe do anything. He's a life long Jets fan that has been dancing at games since the early 90s. He does it because he loves the team, and he became a staple in the community.

He headed up many of the rallies to save the Jets when the team left Winnipeg, and has been brought back by the team when they returned to the NHL.

Your suggestion that he's some puppet that's being forced to do what he does is outright laughable.

Your comments here are in extremely poor taste, just as the ones wishing Matt Cooke to end up in a wheel chair. You're a vile person, and you really need to just stop.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Are you seriously that obtuse? Or just trying to save face?

No one "makes" Gabe do anything. He's a life long Jets fan that has been dancing at games since the early 90s. He does it because he loves the team, and he became a staple in the community.

He headed up many of the rallies to save the Jets when the team left Winnipeg, and has been brought back by the team when they returned to the NHL.

Your suggestion that he's some puppet that's being forced to do what he does is outright laughable.

Your comments here are in extremely poor taste, just as the ones wishing Matt Cooke to end up in a wheel chair. You're a vile person, and you really need to just stop.

Save face? Ya don't think so.

Don't start with personal attacks. I'm talking about the situation, discuss that or just shut up.

Do you know who goes around dancing and trying to get fans into the game all game? the mascots. The Jets are using this mentally disabled person as a mascot. Now that might be his choice but a part of you must believe if he was just allowed to just sit down and watch the game and interact with the fans during intermission he might like that more? Anyways I have no interest in discussing the Jets or their wannabe fan base. It won't be long before they move again thus the No Good!

Btw use the block option if you don't like my posts, quick fix for you.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Save face? Ya don't think so.

Don't start with personal attacks. I'm talking about the situation, discuss that or just shut up.

Do you know who goes around dancing and trying to get fans into the game all game? the mascots. The Jets are using this mentally disabled person as a mascot. Now that might be his choice but a part of you must believe if he was just allowed to just sit down and watch the game and interact with the fans during intermission he might like that more? Anyways I have no interest in discussing the Jets or their wannabe fan base. It won't be long before they move again thus the No Good!

Btw use the block option if you don't like my posts, quick fix for you.

Again, you have no idea what you're talking about, and all you're doing is spewing ignorance.

Gabe does what he does because he loves doing it, and the team has rewarded him for it. It's a feel good story all the way around, and because you're small and ignorant, you're casting shame on it.

Had no idea who you were before today but after mocking someone who's disabled and wishing permanent injury on someone blocking you is a great idea. It's just sad you're being allowed to spew those kinds of thoughts here. It's really quite disgusting.

[Da_Chief]

As an fan of a lousy organization you see it that way. I don't have to agree with it.

[Northendzone]

wow, i can't believe that Gabe is being picked on. the guy has been a fixture at pro-hockey games since the 1990's.

brutal!!!

[JiriHrdina]

I think it's clear that he's not picking on Gabe - he's picking on the team's use of him.
Not saying I agree - but I think that's more the point he's trying to make
Either way - please argue against the opinions being made - not the person.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think it's clear that he's not picking on Gabe - he's picking on the team's use of him.
Not saying I agree - but I think that's more the point he's trying to make
Either way - please argue against the opinions being made - not the person.

His entire stance is in extremely poor taste. From suggesting the Jets organization exploits the disabled, to insinuating Gabe is mindless and allowing himself to be used as a puppet and would rather 'sit down and watch' if he could. It's an insulting take all the way around.

In this case, coupled with this poster wishing permanent injury on a player in another thread, it was pretty easy to point a finger at him. I'll leave it at that, but that's two instances of really degrading comments in one day from this guy.

[saillias]

Hey, he thought the team was using the guy, turns out he might be wrong, but pfft who's going to back down from some blowhard Jets fan playing forum police on CP.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by saillias

Hey, he thought the team was using the guy, turns out he might be wrong, but pfft who's going to back down from some blowhard Jets fan playing forum police on CP.

Awesome job on focusing on the topic and not the poster. Well played.

And for the record, I'm a Flames fan first, and have been since the Jets left in 96. Check my join date. There were no Jets when I joined this forum. None of that, however, means I enjoy listening to bigotry and ignorance.

[GioforPM]

Back OT:

Is it worse to be hated like Edmonton/Toronto/Canucks or just an afterthought, like the Jets/Sens?

What does it say when fans of teams that you should have rivalries with don't even feel like expending the energy to work up a decent dislike? Even when the teams are closer in the standings than the hated ones?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

His entire stance is in extremely poor taste. From suggesting the Jets organization exploits the disabled, to insinuating Gabe is mindless and allowing himself to be used as a puppet and would rather 'sit down and watch' if he could. It's an insulting take all the way around.

In this case, coupled with this poster wishing permanent injury on a player in another thread, it was pretty easy to point a finger at him. I'll leave it at that, but that's two instances of really degrading comments in one day from this guy.

I'm not going to make his argument for him. However, I think there are valid questions about if it is appropriate for people with disabilities to be used in this way. I know it has made people I know uncomfortable as the individual can be perceived to being portrayed as a "mascot".

I think you took his posts in the most offensive way possible instead of understanding what he was trying to say.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I'm not going to make his argument for him. However, I think there are valid questions about if it is appropriate for people with disabilities to be used in this way. I know it has made people I know uncomfortable as the individual can be perceived to being portrayed as a "mascot".

I think you took his posts in the most offensive way possible instead of understanding what he was trying to say.

I think you've got it wrong this time Jiri. I think Da Chief was saying exactly what GoJetsGo believed him to be saying.

I'm no Jets fan and had never seen Gabe before but after watching the video clip, it's clear to me that Gabe does what he does out of love for the team and he get's a lot of personal enjoyment out of it. As he seems to be somewhat of an institution in Winnipeg, so I'm guessing Winnipeg fans don't find it 'sad' or 'offensive' or 'exploitive'.

I find Da Chiefs position and opinion offensive. IMO it showed ignorance and intolerance towards the mentally handicapped and those opinions don't belong on this site.

[Da_Chief]

Thats your opinion longsuffering (sounds like you a Jets fan). Read my posts again I'm saying exactly what Jiri interpreted.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think it's clear that he's not picking on Gabe - he's picking on the team's use of him.
Not saying I agree - but I think that's more the point he's trying to make
Either way - please argue against the opinions being made - not the person.

Jiri, you are correct, and my post could have been worded a lot more better.....

for the record, i am sure that gabe also shows up at both bomber and goldeyes games in wpg. on some level i'd equate gabe to that kid who used to go to the saddledome and mimick all of kippers moves.

i am somewhat certain i read that the team provides gabe and a care giver with free season tickets - but i could be wrong.

here is a link to a little more on gabe: http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/the-man-b...icon-1.2079829

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

That was sad.

So now that you know more about Gabe and that he's a Winnipeg icon, do you want to retract this statement and prove it wasn't in poor taste?

[GioforPM]

Winnipeg had a nice "this guy scored moment" last night.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think it's clear that he's not picking on Gabe - he's picking on the team's use of him.
Not saying I agree - but I think that's more the point he's trying to make
Either way - please argue against the opinions being made - not the person.

What posters that are unfamiliar with Gabe do not know, is he was doing this for years at Winnipeg Blue Bomber games. In fact, I can recall as early as 1983, when I was a small kid, sitting about 5 rows behind him. Every time the music came on, he would dance in the aisles.

This must be a dream job for him, getting free tickets and Jerseys for doing something he loves. I salute True North, (and Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation prior to that) for hiring him.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

So now that you know more about Gabe and that he's a Winnipeg icon, do you want to retract this statement and prove it wasn't in poor taste?

I did not know anything about Gabe before this at all. If this is his dream job then good for him. I did not intend to pick on Gabe at all.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I'm not going to make his argument for him. However, I think there are valid questions about if it is appropriate for people with disabilities to be used in this way. I know it has made people I know uncomfortable as the individual can be perceived to being portrayed as a "mascot".

I think you took his posts in the most offensive way possible instead of understanding what he was trying to say.

And I think you're contributing to the aforementioned ignorance (lack of knowledge or information).

Longsuffering hit the nail on the head, but to expand a bit, Gabe has been a fixture in Winnipeg since the early 90s. We're talking about a low income mentally challenged kid at that time who lived and breathed Winnipeg Jets hockey. He managed to attend every game and when the team was in danger of moving he was front and centre of every 'Save the Jets' rally.

Years later when it was confirmed the Jets were returning many people thought he'd be in-tough to attend games because of the high demand for tickets and the sell outs. The Jets subsequently gave him a season pass.

He's as endeared to the community in Winnipeg and to Jets fans as any former alumni around the league. He's a fixture at games and there's been a lot of talk that Winnipeg's new slogan "Fueled by passion" was inspired by Gabe. He embodies the city's passion for hockey.


http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/the-man-b...icon-1.2079829

So yea, when someone takes a quick look at his story and tosses out a "That's sad"... a lot of people would take offense to that. The Jets organization has been first class in reciprocating to Gabe's passion for the team, and it's a feel good story all the way around.

Chief's comments were the very definition of ignorance.

And as I mentioned to you, if it was just that instance it would be one thing. But hours later the guy essentially wishes Matt Cooke ends up in a wheel chair. It was pointed out several posts later by someone in a wheel chair how poor in taste that was. So when you add it up, it's easy to see why there's some disdain for where this guy is coming from.