Manny Loves Gary

The latest episode of "Rederick and the NHL" featured a good dose of Manny Legace. "It all goes back to the commissioner," Legace said Wednesday. "We gave him the groundwork for what should have been a deal, and an opportunity to get back on the ice and playing hockey again. But it's hard to deal with someone as pigheaded as he is." Well, gee, Manny, he was kind enough to take your proposal, study it, make adjustments, and toss it back out. What did you do? Oh, that's right, Nothing!

"When was the last time you saw a hockey player in a national promotion? Why shouldn't a Steve Yzerman be out there nationally, just like any football or basketball player? You don't see any hockey players getting in trouble. A better job should be done making the game more popular. He hasn't done that." Not in trouble? They don't hire hitmen to kill their agents? They don't beat up people in pickup games? They don't drive like fools and kill their friends?

"You really feel sorry for the people who own the restaurants and bars downtown. They're getting hurt economically. The people who work in the arena. It's having a bad impact." said Ole Manny. Like he cares. No one involved with the NHL cares about anything other than money. He's right about one thing, the workers being laid off from the NHL offices are being hurt. What does he offer? Gary Bettman is a bad man. Wow, thanks Manny!

Wow, what an uplifting time we had with our friend Manny. Legace is the wings player rep for the NHLPA. He was loved in Detroit, but probably not anymore. Who can love people who only want to take and not give? Santa Claus should be his role model, but probably isn't. Why doesn't he go rally up a few hundred people to eat at the downtown restaurants? Oh, I forgot, they're negotiation tools. Can't be filling them up if they want to use 'em for their own dirty work.

DetNews.com: Legace rips into Bettman - 12/16/04

-Dan Joseph