Booing And Firing And Getting Emo: Be A Blues Fan 2009.
by gallagher on Dec 12, 2009 9:00 AM CST
33 comments
I've never booed the Blues. Never sat in my seat and openly booed a poor performance before. Never sat on the couch at home and booed the team or even an individual player. I've been pissed plenty. Thrown stuff at my own TV. Broken my own possessions. Stormed out of rooms. But never booed the team before.
Last night I helped boo the home team off the ice. I don't feel guilty about it at all.
I think I've never booed the Blues before because even when they were getting killed in games or, like in 2005-06, simply didn't have the talent to compete with the other team most nights, at least there was effort. There was some drive or some sense of personal pride or personal embarrassment. There was some sense that even if they were getting wacked harder than my college roommate's dick on Five Hour Porno Sunday the players were trying their best to make it stop or to stem the tide or just avoid getting completely bent over in front of their fans.
But last night they let the Oilers embarrass them in front of a home crowd which, if not the rowdiest I've ever experienced, was at least behind the team. I'm sure some of those players felt shame in what had happened to them, but I know full well that some of them were over on the east side within an hour, and shame isn't exactly what was making their cheeks burn.
Only one other time have I sat in that building and thought definitively, "This coach is getting fired in the next couple days." that was on the night that Brett Hull's No. 16 went to the rafters and the Blues promptly had their mouths raped for them by the visiting Red Wings. At the time I realized that if the team couldn't get up to play hard on that night, then something had to change and that the change had to be the firing of Mike Kitchen.
Tonight I had the same feeling as that day right before Kitchen's excuse of "I told them what to do, but they just aren't doing it" failed to save his job. Andy Murray is going to lose his job.
As much as he is a likeable guy and as much as I don't want to see any individual lose his job, sports are still a business and this sports team is run by businessmen who didn't get to the position of being able to own a hockey team by making bad decisions. The owner, Dave Checketts, has already said in the media that mediocre isn't going to cut it, a statement that seems to indicate one of two courses of action: a trade or a firing. As I broke down in my overlong article about possible tradeable assets, there just aren't a lot of players that can be moved right now. And that leaves just one other option, an option that is familiar to people who run companies in America. In business, when one division of a company is failing, that division head gets the axe. All the employees get freaked, a new division head is hired with a mandate to kick ass and take names and the division either succeeds or more people get fired.
Andy Murray is that division head. If the new guy comes in and struggles, then we'll see some trades. But Andy Murray is going to be the first guy to fall on his sword for the Blues this year.
Finally, I've written about the Blues' lack of a killer instinct this year. Killer instinct? Holy shit. Maybe I need to write about them being less emo and losing the suicidal instinct they showed last night. Or maybe I have that wrong too. Maybe less suicidal and more of a less-hubris situation. Up by three and just 20 seconds to go until the third period? Wheee! Look at us! We are the bestest!
Dear Blues, Here's what you looked like from the stands last night. Guess which guy is you.
Next game is Tuesday against the Flames, who have like three good players. Brett Hull will be in the building as the Blues honor his career for the 17th time in the last four years. Will Murray still be behind the bench for that game? What happens if they Detroit it up for that one? How long does he get after that?
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i really do hate to see AM go
but you made a pretty valid point. As i have never booed the team before as well i really wanted to last night, and replaced the booing since i was at home with cursing, and actually turning off the game for a bit to calm down, the repeated “here ya go” moments the blues gave the oilers in THEIR OWN ZONE really just pissed me off, and makes me think Murray really has lost the locker room already. and i really do think he will get the axe, and a big name fan favorite will be gone to kick these guys asses in gear, there is absolutely no pride in these guys outside of a handful. I really think the longest tenured Blues need to step up and strike the fear of god into the guys that havent been there long at all.
this team really is struggling with their identity. As no one really from the prior era is left maybe Jackman? none of the youngsters really were apart of a winning tradition as the blues had with their playoff appearences record. A change of coach is needed and time to ditch dump and chase and let the youngsters(oshie,perron,berglund)do what they do. BE CREATIVE
Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat
Are you serious?
That some of them were out having fun after THAT?
If it was kids – then the vets need to take them in hand. If it was vets…then maybe it’s time to ship them out.
BLUE SKIES - new St Louis Blues hockey blog.
"If you prick me, do I not...leak?"
"I could be chasing an untamed ornithoid without cause."
"I am programmed in multiple techniques, a broad...variety of pleasuring..."
RIP Lt Commander Data
i cant even bitch about last night more than i already have
so on another note.. that might be the best video clip i have ever seen
If you have a donkey and i have a chicken and youre donkey ate my chickens feet what would you have.... 2 feet of my cock in youre ass!! haha
Maybe
they really do need to have Brewer in the locker room.
“Next game is Tuesday against the Flames, who have like three good players.”
ahh there it is! the dismissive arrogance of a fan who’s team just blew a three goal lead in 17 minutes to lose a home game!! dont mention that theyre 3 points out of first in the west with 2 games in hand on the sharks right now, its not valid.
good call on the hull thing though, tributes to him are starting to get as tired as that john hamm spot.
G
You just summed it all up for me, 100%. Even when I had the $7 season tickets 3?4? years ago, I didn’t boo because I knew the team was in a tough spot talent-wise. Last night, was a different story.
http://www.stlouisgametime.com/
In 40-plus years of watching this team...
…I have never — never — been more disappointed or pissed off by an “effort” than I was last night.
This team absolutely pissed away two points last night. Just pissed ’em away. And I have yet to hear of anyone taking responsibility for it.
If there was a Barclay Plager or Brian Sutter in that dressing room right now, he would have been in front of the media last night saying that the loss, and the absolutely meltdown of his team, was on him, and that he would address it with his teammates as a man should.
If there was a Scotty Bowman, or an Al Arbour, or a Brian Sutter behind that bench, there would have been no throwing of his young, budding superstar under the bus as The Green Goblin did with Perron last night. There would have been a few brief words to the press, taking responsibilit for his team’s failure to execute on the ice, and there would have been a midnight suicide skate with everyone — including the coaching staff — taking part.
No one would have been “on the east side” getting the same tease and screwing-over that they gave 19000 people in the building last night, and that thousands more watching on TV got.
There’s no excuse for what happened last night, and someone — be it Murray, a single player, or a number of players — needs to step up, grab their sack, and take one for the team.
Because if the name on the back of the sweater means more to these people than the name on the front of it, then these are people that I do not want associated with my St. Louis Blues for another second. That goes for everyone, from John Davidson on down.
B.
"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."
-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851
http://futurenotes.blogspot.com
by Tomorrows Blues on Dec 12, 2009 12:12 PM CST reply actions
Pardon me while I stand up and applaud.
Every. Fucking. Word.
I'm glad that I was listening to midget Mexicans singing karaoke last night.
I mean, I wasn’t the first time I checked the score. The second time I was muy thankful-o.
Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?
Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.
ya could have been watching
midget mexicans defend a three goal lead instead. singing > crying
A strong anvil fears no hammer
by Childhood Trauma on Dec 12, 2009 12:55 PM CST up reply actions
I'll be watching midgets tonight.
But they’ll be midget French Canadians. I’d rather have the Mexicans.
Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?
Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.
In the spirit of not quitting your job until you have another one lined up...
Who do you want to run this team?
One of the current assistants? Of the three, I’d pick Wammer if i had to, but I don’t think he’s a better coach than AM.
John Stevens is available. He was just canned in Philly and he earned his spurs working with the Flyers kids on the Phantoms. People here say he went soft on the grownups on Broad Street.
The head coach at Peoria? I didn’t know who he is, either.
His name is Davis Payne. His bio at rivermen.net doesn’t look like he’s up to it. Yet. He did win the Kelly Cup with the Aces.
Personally, I don’t share the dismay others are showing. Inconsistency is the curse of youth.
Lower your expectations to success, everyone!
As for trading players, the team can only sell low as we sit today. G’s well-written piece on trade-able assets doesn’t exactly make me think we’ll get an asset that will change things here in exchange for #’s 26, 20, 44, 43 and/or 15.
I wonder what you’d get in return for the lot. A top 6 fwd? A top 4 D? Doubt it. Just more of the same flotsam / jetsam, probably.
Lastly, the people running the team don’t strike me as a make a move for the sake of making a move bunch.
if ya can find a human on the planet
try here
A strong anvil fears no hammer
by Childhood Trauma on Dec 12, 2009 5:05 PM CST up reply actions
AM Stays and...
- is released/bought out and Kariya is shipped out.
For some reason, I just see Murray as safe. Just a hunch
North Co! North Co! North Co!
by Answer Man on Dec 12, 2009 5:02 PM CST via mobile reply actions
For some reason it didn't post right
I meant Number 7 is bought out. Just a hunch.
North Co! North Co! North Co!
by Answer Man on Dec 12, 2009 6:37 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
ahl guys w/
head coaching and/or blues connection
blues connected Greg Gilbert/ don lever/ curt fraiser/ Darren Rumble/ Dallas Eakins/ Todd Reirden
etctera etctera etctera
nhl guys Jim Playfair, Kevin Constantine, Kevin Dineen
and that doesnt count peeps like brian sutter coaching in east jesus
home run? perhaps not, lots of “homers” (doh), but anyne thinking the blues wont fire someone just cos they can’t name a jack adams candidate as a rplacement (hey wait a sec bob francis is availble and a jack adams winner!!) are going to miss the point..
the team doesnt have to do anythign untill its bottom line is hosed, but once THAT happens, again, what it will do is likely to be what has been done in the past in the same circumstance. so how bad and how fast will the home crowds demand a move?
checketts knows we’ve been patience. that was yesterday, will we be patient tuesday? friday?
A strong anvil fears no hammer
by Childhood Trauma on Dec 12, 2009 5:19 PM CST reply actions
Just frustrated
You know, I don’t know what the answer is at this point…but the lack of a “killer instinct” it very troublesome. Where does that come from, complacency? Perhaps its from the coach and maybe a change in direction is what will help the team move along, I don’t know
Baltimore Blast - 6-time MISL/NISL Champions
Let's go Blues!
I want to see the players bust there ass every game......
with the C’s and A’s from here on out.
Guys like Perron, Backes, Oshie, etc.
This is their team as much if not more than the vets.
The guys that have that fire and deserve to be the leaders on this team through their actions on the ice instead of just talking off of it.
I see killer instinct in some players, but it definitely ain’t the ones with the letters right now.
I can name the 3 likely choices...
A) Timothy Leif Oshie
B) Patrik Technoviking Berglund
C) Erik Don’t make mistake me with the other Eric Johnson
Wait
You Think David P-Money Perron doesn’t like the only redeeming feature Illinois has to offer? Is this because hes french? Thats sort of nationalistic dont you think?
Well, I didn't boo...
…because I left as soon as the Oilers scored that 5th goal. At that point, I just couldn’t sit through another 3 minutes of that pathetic “effort”. I pretty much NEVER leave early, but I had to last night. If I had stayed until the end, I would’ve had no problem helping everyone else boo the team off the ice though. I don’t know what the answer for this team is, but something has to change, and soon. You just can’t keep finding new ways to lose at home like they’re doing. God, this is frustrating. I’m almost wishing I hadn’t already paid for tickets to every game. Like you guys, I didn’t mind sitting through some of those games back in 2006 because I knew they talent just wasn’t there. But, damn it, back then there was the future to look forward to. Well, that future is supposed to be here now, and THIS is it?!? Fucking hell.
by BlueNoteExpress on Dec 13, 2009 2:16 AM CST reply actions
So I have a theory . . .
Murray is staying at least through Christmas. . .
but the same can not be said for Steen, Crombeen or Perron.
My guess is two of those three are leaving in a two for one, big name deal. . . the question is who are you bringing in?
and why does blues management feel that they can pull the crap they pulled w/ Walt on Perry. If he is traded, does anyone see him resigning during his free agency?
If perron goes in a package and doesn't bring back somebody whose name starts with a K
and ends with an “ovalchuk” I fucking quit as a blues fan (I would also accept Eric Staal and possibly Carter)
He’s an RFA, that team can match any offer we send him or take the massive amount of picks it would take to get him back.
the rumor mills says E Staal
but we are still giving to much. . . and since I just listened to the interview, where Murray seemed to throw the entire 5-3 loss on Perry’s shoulders for a bad choice in the close of the second . . . I seemed to have joined the “Fire murray” bandwagon.
As I said before, I do not blame murray for this loss, but do not blame perron, when every other player out there is not carrying his own. . . of course Perry is going to try to do something fancy at the end of a period, that is the type of player he is (and he is producing more than any other forward) and since he has been in a bit of a scoring funk as of late (could be cause he is no longer playing consistently w/ Boyes and Andy Mac) he was trying to jump start his game again . . .
teach him to learn from his mistakes, because that is what that choice was a mistake, but it in no way accounts for the bad play by the defense and the un-characteristic play of our goalie and the season long lack of hunger i our forwards. . . in fact, there are times when Perron seems to be the only one w/ hunger in his eyes . . . that boy loves this sport, and will be a star anywhere . . . I personally want him here. . . I want this trade to fall through . . . and if it means we need a new coach to do it, then so be it.
My problem with moving perron....
is that you can see he wants to win more than anyone on the ice. He takes shot after shot just to make that extra jab at the net to get a goal. And he always gets back up and keeps going at them. That should be every player’s attitude. And it’s a fucking shame people like Andy Murray want to throw him under the bus for some bullshit reason, when he displays that determination every game.
I can put up with little mistakes if you’ll put forth that kind of effort every night, but apparently AM can’t.
I am with you
I am overwhelmingly angry w/ AM over that, it is unbelievable. . .
As for trades, just read a piece were JD was quoted to to basically say they are not moving anyone . . . YET. So it could be that Perron will be forced to sit (cause AM needs to put Cam in, and he doesn’t like Perry going against him)
I fully expect Perron to be benched.
Murray kind of has himself in a corner here… if he calls out DP, and then doesn’t bench him, he’ll never again be taken seriously as an arbiter of team-centric justice. Remember, it’s Murray himself who has repeatedly claimed that ice time is a function of playing well.
But at the same time, benching the guy who is frequently the Blues’ most dangerous offensive weapon plays right into Calgary’s hands. They’d love nothing more than to grind out a 1-0 win on the road, and if they can face a Perron-less lineup, their odds go up tremendously. It’s not like there are a plethora of offensive options wearing the Note these days. Replacing DP with a guy who has an arrow painted on his stick (to remind him which end goes on the ice) won’t strike fear into anyone.
So… does Murray cut off his French-Canadian nose to spite his Mormon-owned face? I think he will. I think his comments the other night created a situation where “discipline” overshadows everything else, even victory. And in Murray’s mind, if he benches Perron and the Blues lose… well, that’s because of Perron’s selfishness, right? If the kid had done what he was supposed to, he wouldn’t be benched and he wouldn’t have cost his team two points.
If the Blues trade Frenchie
I’ll be kicking the back window out of a squad car somewhere
Some days its just not worth chewing through the restraints
Can't go out to the East Side?
Am I reading this right? These guys can’t go out and blow off some steam? Should they have gone home and watch game video?
Next time you have a bad day at work, take some work home with you and sulk.
There will be no quick fix to any of this. Hard work will be a good start.
North Co! North Co! North Co!
by Answer Man on Dec 13, 2009 2:13 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Murray won't get canned until this weekend.
I sat through Mike Kitchen’s last game, a dreadful 5-1 home thumping by Columbus.
I have tickets for the Lightning on Friday night.
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