Players Tribune: "A guy like me" - John Scott - Page 5 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

bubbsy · 01-29-2016, 08:14 AM

i hope this is just another dagger in everything "all-star" weekend. It is a stupid gimmick in the first place, and the way the situation has been handled is beyond idiotic, and just puts it over the top for me.

At the end of the year, at the NHL awards, name the all-star team as voted by the NHL Coaches/NHLPA, or by the hockey media, etc.

regardless, this entire fiasco is a blemish on the NHL.

Machiavelli · 01-29-2016, 08:31 AM

"A fan vote, an internet vote — but a vote from among the 700 or so best hockey players in North American professional sports.

And I’m one of them."

Exactly.

The Coyotes and the league should be embarrassed by their actions.

FlamesAddiction · 01-29-2016, 09:08 AM

I think it's cool that he is an engineer and was smart enough to have a good fallback.

But I would be willing to bet that if his story was a well known fact among fans before the voting began, they likely wouldn't have chosen him to be this year's joke entry. It's like those boiler plate movies where the popular kids pick on the nerd by inviting her to social gatherings for the purpose of making fun of her, but then when she takes off her glasses, she is actually really pretty and everyone wants to be her friend.

I am hoping that if anything, the fans that do this every year have learned that these are people that do not deserve to be the butt of their jokes.

Greybeard · 01-29-2016, 09:55 AM

This guys no dummy!!! Engineering degree while plying hockey, not easy!!! Coyotes and NHL should be ashamed! Let him play and Go Scott Go!!!!

Lanny_McDonald · 01-29-2016, 10:00 AM

I guess I'll be that guy and say the sentimentality of Scott's story has no impact on his selection to the All Star game or the actions of the league. Every player has an interesting back story, and given a chance to spin it, will tug at the heart strings. But the reality is that Scott is a talentless thug who has no reason to be in the NHL let alone the NHL All Star game.

The NHL has a responsibility to safeguard the reputation of the game, especially their "show case event," and make sure they present the game as representative of the best in the game. Just because a bunch of Reddit nerds think it is funny and cool to vote the most talentless goon into the game does not mean the NHL should sit back and allow this to happen. I'm pretty sure the member clubs had something to say about this and not wanting Scott representing their product at a very high visibility event celebrating the game of hockey and the best players it has to offer. Scott is representative of an element the league is trying to eliminate, so it makes sense they would do everything in their power to try and head this embarrassment off.

Scott is headed to the All Star game and will be a focus in this game. Every time he is on the ice you can bet your ass that the other players will do their best to set him up for a goal or do their best to bank one in off his body. That is what players do and how they will contribute to sticking it to the league. Scott will become front and center in this game and make it an even bigger farce than it is. Things will change and guys like Scott will never get a shot at the All Star game again, as it should be.

GirlySports · 01-29-2016, 10:05 AM

i think 'talentless goon' and 'part of the game they are trying to eliminate' and 'guys like Scott' is where the argument falls apart.

All 700 guys in the NHL are equally valuable. And if they are not, there is something wrong with the league, not one of the 700 guys.

Trying to eliminate fighting is a cop out, the league could eliminate fighting tomorrow if it wanted to.

Resolute 14 · 01-29-2016, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Era

The NHL has a responsibility to safeguard the reputation of the game, especially their "show case event,"

And they are doing such a wonderful job of that. You realize you are defending an organization that tried to shame him into quitting by seeking to demonize him before his own children, right?

Lanny_McDonald · 01-29-2016, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

i think 'talentless goon' and 'part of the game they are trying to eliminate' and 'guys like Scott' is where the argument falls apart.

All 700 guys in the NHL are equally valuable. And if they are not, there is something wrong with the league, not one of the 700 guys.

Since all 700 players in the NHL are now equally valuable, which Calgary Flames are we trading to Montreal for John Scott? Johnny Gaudreau? Sam Bennett? TJ Brodie? Yeah, all 700 players are not equal. John Scott is only a NHL player because he can punch a face, nothing more. His value is next to nothing.

CorsiHockeyLeague · 01-29-2016, 10:16 AM

It's pretty obvious that his value as a hockey player is less than nothing, since Montreal probably would have preferred that trade if he wasn't a part of it.

I just think this weekend is strictly for fun and entertainment - all hockey is, but this one doesn't even have any arbitrary, made up standings point stakes involved - and Scott's inclusion will make the weekend more fun and entertaining.

bax · 01-29-2016, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Era

Since all 700 players in the NHL are now equally valuable, which Calgary Flames are we trading to Montreal for John Scott? Johnny Gaudreau? Sam Bennett? TJ Brodie? Yeah, all 700 players are not equal. John Scott is only a NHL player because he can punch a face, nothing more. His value is next to nothing.

"Value" doesn't always refer to trade value.

Lanny_McDonald · 01-29-2016, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And they are doing such a wonderful job of that. You realize you are defending an organization that tried to shame him into quitting by seeking to demonize him before his own children, right?

I don't think it was right to bring his children into the mix, but it is an honest question to ask. What are his children going to think when they grow up and can understand what happened here?

This is not going to be something the family looks back on with a sense of pride, this is an embarrassment they are going to have to live down. John Scott made it to the All Star game, not on his own abilities, or even the vote of hockey fans, he made it into the All Star game because a bunch of non-hockey fans identified him as the biggest joke in the game and chose him as their target to make a mockery of the game. Scott will be remembered as the joke. Not something to be proud of.

FlamesAddiction · 01-29-2016, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Era

I don't think it was right to bring his children into the mix, but it is an honest question to ask. What are his children going to think when they grow up and can understand what happened here?

This is not going to be something the family looks back on with a sense of pride, this is an embarrassment they are going to have to live down. John Scott made it to the All Star game, not on his own abilities, or even the vote of hockey fans, he made it into the All Star game because a bunch of non-hockey fans identified him as the biggest joke in the game and chose him as their target to make a mockery of the game. Scott will be remembered as the joke. Not something to be proud of.

Not just that, but his finger pointing at the NHL will get him blacklisted I think. There is a fine line in the NHL for fringe players and pissing off the wrong people will end your career fast.

edn88 · 01-29-2016, 10:25 AM

It is just a story, but before reading it, I had a completely different view of Scott. Like many I assumed he was a goon from the get go. I hated that he was going to the all star game, hated that fans would vote him, hated that the NHL allowed him to get voted in.

This was a great piece, it changed my opinion of Scott and although I still hate the NHL for its stupidity, I am rooting for him.

GirlySports · 01-29-2016, 10:26 AM

If I was his daughter, I'd be really proud.

Street Pharmacist · 01-29-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Not just that, but his finger pointing at the NHL will get him blacklisted I think. There is a fine line in the NHL for fringe players and pissing off the wrong people will end your career fast.

Loved the story and happy for him, but it's his skill that will see him blacklisted

Resolute 14 · 01-29-2016, 10:28 AM

Something tells me, New Era, that John Scott doesn't need you to feel embarrassed on his behalf.

CroFlames · 01-29-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Era

I don't think it was right to bring his children into the mix, but it is an honest question to ask. What are his children going to think when they grow up and can understand what happened here?

This is not going to be something the family looks back on with a sense of pride, this is an embarrassment they are going to have to live down. John Scott made it to the All Star game, not on his own abilities, or even the vote of hockey fans, he made it into the All Star game because a bunch of non-hockey fans identified him as the biggest joke in the game and chose him as their target to make a mockery of the game. Scott will be remembered as the joke. Not something to be proud of.

This is silly.

Of course he is going to be proud, he even said that he will be.

If my old man was in the NHL even as the worst player in the NHL, I'd be nothing but proud. If he got selected for the ASG I would think that is nothing but awesome.

Locke · 01-29-2016, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i hope this is just another dagger in everything "all-star" weekend. It is a stupid gimmick in the first place, and the way the situation has been handled is beyond idiotic, and just puts it over the top for me.

At the end of the year, at the NHL awards, name the all-star team as voted by the NHL Coaches/NHLPA, or by the hockey media, etc.

regardless, this entire fiasco is a blemish on the NHL.

Yes. But it generates a LOT of revenue.

Yamer · 01-29-2016, 10:46 AM

Anyone who thinks that this event is overwhelmingly meaningless need only read Scott's words to know how much it actually means to some players. Even if he admits that he doesn't belong in that group, he's smart enough to recognize the importance and honor of being named an All-Star.

As to the reputation of the league in this whole fiasco, I think a lot of that was already out the window when they opened up the fan vote to be all-encompassing. It's only one side of the story, but I'm inclined to believe Scott on this. I hope the NHL has a sufficiently insufferable rest in the bed they have made for themselves.

The timing of the trade might be coincidence, but the optics are not in Arizona's favor. It's hard to 'hate' the Coyotes over this as it's important to remember that the players had no role in how Scott was treated by the organization. I think the reward of success for fans and players outweighs the reward for unscrupulous GMs and owners.

His family is not going to look back on this with embarrassment, especially since Scott was thrown into this situation with little to no measure of control and handled so (apparently) inappropriately. If Scott were my father and I knew the context of the whole story I would be rather proud that he stood up for me, my family, and himself.

At this point Scott certainly won't be remembered as "the joke", even if that is how a segment of voters intended it. I'm glad the story has shifted in the way it has, and although I was already going to watch the game this weekend all the turbulence will only add to my enjoyment.

Go John Scott!

Lanny_McDonald · 01-29-2016, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroFlames

This is silly.

Of course he is going to be proud, he even said that he will be.

If my old man was in the NHL even as the worst player in the NHL, I'd be nothing but proud. If he got selected for the ASG I would think that is nothing but awesome.

You're right, this is silly. John Scott was not "selected" to be in the All Star game. He was voted in by a bunch of mean spirited people that don't even watch the sport. That is something to prideful about? Scott obviously doesn't understand that he is the butt of the joke, the source of what is supposed to be embarrassment for the league. There is nothing to be prideful about when you receive an accolade that was clearly not meant for you. Scott was voted in not because he was a good player, but because he was the worst player the Reddit community could think of.

This is no different than the #######s who vote for the ugly or unpopular girl for home coming queen as a joke. Do you think that is something that girl is going to brag about for years to come, or do you think that poor girl is going to have to live that down? Being the butt of a a very public joke is usually not something people take pride in. This should have been stopped before it spun out of control.