Everything, written by Aray is an insulting attack against Theo. But apparently that's ok, yet Theo cannot say what he thinks when asked. Johnny is a nice kid, one day he could become a player, and that day perhaps he will be qualified to make a judgment on Theo's ability to play the modern game.
Yeah, I'm not going to get into who Theo was as a person. As a hockey player before the age of 30, he was elite. Now maybe sexual abuse and other personal problems could be handled with more dignity, but as someone who's dealt with niether I find it ignorant to judge him on it. All I know is if Gaudreau is able to provide the same kind of spark and passion Theo did back in the 90's I'd be surprised if he wasn't remembered as the "face of the franchise" Theo can be called every name in the book, but he'll always be the reason I remained a Flames fan during one of the franchises darkest eras.
Last edited by ignite09; 11-08-2014 at 02:33 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to ignite09 For This Useful Post:
I found the opposite about Theo. Who didn't love him at first? He wasn't polarizing I thought, except at the onset of his career to how successful he could become.
I stopped liking him as a Flame years before he was traded. I just started to see his selfishness on the ice (hogging the puck, and those selfish penalties), the rumors of him and Roberts not getting along and helping to drive out Roberts (well, that and the Flames were wary of the insurance with regards to his health IIRC), a few other things. It slowly made me more critical of Fleury, even though he had absolutely all-world talent.
What made me stop being a fan completely was his comments that I read in the Herald one day about not wanting to practice because he didn't need it, or was talented enough and it was a waste of time - something along those lines. My first thought was "Not a single ounce of respect for the other guys on that team". I thought the team was a much better 'team' without Fleury after he was traded, and Bure (yeah, I know a lot of people don't like him) especially filled-in offensively as he got to hold onto the puck much more.
What he has done and said since leaving Calgary just keeps increasing my dislike for him.
Calgary graciously gave him a tryout and played him in the preseason as recognition of his past successes and how big of a fan favorite he was, giving him the opportunity to 'go out on his own terms'. When they didn't sign him, he goes out and starts slagging the ONLY team that was gracious enough to give him a tryout? Starts openly criticizing both players and management?
I can understand how people love the guy. Great 'feel good' story, and he was a fun and exciting player to watch. I truly get that.
I just don't get how the Flames can honor him with genuine smiles on their faces, and not worry about him saying something stupid during the ceremony given his history.
The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to Calgary4LIfe For This Useful Post:
Without taking this off track, some similar skating to JG...the goal against the Canadiens near the end of the video (the fans going nuts as he's on the breakaway is beauty) is a pretty similar skating style, along with the speed and goalies who were outclassed by that sort of skill (such a pretty goal regardless).
I always forget how terrible the goalies were back then. If Johnny had played in the early/mid '80s I could honestly see him getting 900 goals, 1300 points. Kent Nilsson was a magician, and those plays are all incredible. I can't imagine him being able to pull a lot of them off against modern goalies & tighter defensive systems like Johnny has to contend with.
Such a shame about Theo & his "tell all" attitude these days. When I read the interview from the other day I thought there was a tiny ounce of humility and respect there which I was happy to see. Then this comes out & he looks like a dick again... Oh well!
...Johnny is a nice kid, one day he could become a player, and that day perhaps he will be qualified to make a judgment on Theo's ability to play the modern game.
I hope that Gaudreau will remain self-effacing enough to politely decline to make any such judgments.
Is Fleury right? Is he wrong about Gaudreau? I don't know, and I don't really think that anyone else does either—including Fleury. Regardless of his motivation or his opinion of Gaudreau and the Flames, Fleaury's comments sounds small and bitter. I would have a lot more respect for him if he could make comparisons to others in terms of style and differences that ensured success.
In this case, yes, Gaudreau is skilled, and yes, he is small. But he is not as gritty or as "tough" as Fleury was (I would argue that Gaudreau is actually a very tough player, but in a different sense). These are things that would have made things more difficult for him, but he is a damn tenacious kid who has succeeded at every level. Who is to say that he couldn't have found a way? By the same token, he is succeeding in an era when ALL the players are better, and the game is MUCH faster. In the end, it really is difficult to compare the two players. Why can't Fleury acknowledge this, and leave it at that?
__________________
Dealing with Everything from Dead Sea Scrolls to Red C Trolls
Quote:
Originally Posted by woob
"...harem warfare? like all your wives dressup and go paintballing?"
Everything, written by Aray is an insulting attack against Theo. But apparently that's ok, yet Theo cannot say what he thinks when asked. Johnny is a nice kid, one day he could become a player, and that day perhaps he will be qualified to make a judgment on Theo's ability to play the modern game.
Insulting attack? But it has been truth. What I've learned by the Theo defenders is that if someone says something truthful he should be applauded no matter how hurtful it may be.
I guess "but what he said is true" only applies to Theo.
What he said is incorrect Theo never carried any 250 lbs. players on his back. If anything with guys like Weber who can skate and are monsters it is Gaudreau dealing with "250 lbs defenders."
And for those defending Fleury as speaking his mind when did that become a blanket for being a ######bag?
Fleury could have easily said he was happy to see the hard work and success he had opened doors for guys like Gaudreau. Instead in typical Fleury fashion he can't have positives for others without letting everyone know how much better he is.
Fleury demonstrates yet again why narcissism is so unappealing. Imagine if didn't carry this awful trait around on his back...he would be much better off. Nobody is perfect.
The Following User Says Thank You to greentree For This Useful Post:
In some ways Theo is right; there was more clutching and grabbing in the 80's and 90's, so that would have made life more difficult for Johnny. But, in the 80's especially, there were also WAY more high scoring games than there are today.
Furthermore the 250 lb. players (if there were any) were not as nearly as mobile as the big guys are today.
Personally, I think more guys in Theo's era would have a harder time playing in today's game than the other way around.
__________________
You’ll find that empty vessels make the most sound.
-Johnny Rotten
I think that Theo's ego and the fact that he makes everything about Theo is connected to what a great player and a great Flame he was. You can't separate the two. It is who he is and it is what made him great. I'm not going to get upset by what Theo says. It is how he is wired. I grin everytime I read quotes from him. Theo just wants to be loved!
Theo is narcissism personified.
Everything he did was the toughest #### ever.
If someone else (who happens to be smaller than Theo) gets compared to Theo he has the irresistible urge to boost his own ego.
It's so transparent.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oil Stain
There is no pressure on the Oilers to improve quickly
If you read the comment, it's less about Gaudreau and Theo and more about hockey now vs. hockey then. Theo formulates it in a way that relates directly to himself because that's what he knows. Does he have an ego? Yeah. Does he have a chip on his shoulder? Absolutely.
The thing about Theo that has always shocked me and, quite frankly, saddened me is how quickly people are willing to cut his throat. This is a man who was sexually abused and physically abused as a child. Who came from absolutely nothing. He got out alive and turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with those demons and what do people say? They tell him to go snort another line, that hockey is probably easier if you're high, they mock his addiction. It's absolutely disgusting and embarrassing as a Flames fan to see others do that. He turned to drugs and alcohol because as a way to deal with his past, and he almost ended up shooting himself because of those, and you mock him?
Theo is Theo. He is one of, if not the best player this franchise has ever seen. Does he have an ego? Yeah, he does, because he earned that ego. Does he have a chip on his shoulder? Yeah, he does, because his work on the ice is constantly discredited because of who he was, who he is, and the struggles he's had.
Like him or not, that's fine. He's one of the absolute kindest people I've ever had the opportunity to spend time with. When you ask him his opinion, he gives it as is. He doesn't sugar coat it or soften it, he just gives it as is, and gives it when someone ASKS him for it. But please, if you don't like him, save the shots at his addiction for somewhere else. It's embarrassing.
The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to Chill Cosby For This Useful Post:
Theo is Theo. He is one of, if not the best player this franchise has ever seen. Does he have an ego? Yeah, he does, because he earned that ego. .
Also, that ego comes from his own insecurities. Theo's persona was a way of keeping himself safe from those that would hurt him. Push people away before they can harm you kind of thing. I don't know if he'll ever be able to rid himself of it. He would have a lot more friends without it I'm sure.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SportsJunky For This Useful Post:
Theo for me will always be number one when it comes to the flames. Only reason why the majority of us are here now. Guy is an absolute legend. I'll never take his comment's as seriously as lots of people do, its just the way he has always been. We surely all know that by now....
