"This was an extremely hard day for this organization and for me personally," Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "Denis is forever a part of our organization. We made a tough decision that we strongly feel is the right one as we continue to evaluate our team and create a championship caliber organization that can sustain success. Joel brings us a wealth of experience and a winning track record that will have an immediate and lasting impact."Far be it from me to question Quenneville's bona fides, but this decision stinks to high heaven.
"To me that's interference," said Savard. "The goalie shouldn't be able to get bumped. I mean what's the difference if the guy goes right at the goalie and runs him right out? I think that's something the league should look at and try to fix that. They need to fix it.
Ever since Chicago coach Denis Savard uttered the words "Commit To the Indian" in his frustrated tirade last week, the phrase has taken on a life of its own. From two competing Cafe Press sites to MSM attention on the phenomenon to a battle over whether this is a culturally insensitive catchphrase or simply a culturally insensitive catchphrase that will replace the Blackhawks' current slogan, which appears to be a celebration of Communism of some kind.I think any momentum that it might foster will soon be cut down by the PC crowd. White people who have no reason to be involved will take it upon themselves to "speak for" some Indian group claiming it's offensive or racist. That said, McDonough acknowledged that it's been getting some decent conversation within the organization. But I think Savard clearly was echoing the idea that the symbol on the front of the uniform is much more important than the name on the back. And in a blue-collar town like Chicago, that especially holds true.The "McDonough" is team president John McDonough, who told the Chicago Tribune he was amazed "how much life" the slogan has been given by Blackhawks fans. A Tribune online poll showed strong support for "Commit To the Indian" as of Tuesday afternoon. I hope the team gives the fans what the want: A formidable, tradition-laden motto for a rejuvenated franchise. Read Savard's comments yesterday about honor and commitment, and you'll see why the PC police need to turn off their sirens.
When Denis Savard and Brent Sutter were teammates on the 1996 Blackhawks, I wonder if they ever thought they'd be coaching in the National Hockey League at the same time. Beyond that, I wonder if they ever imagined they'd throw their players under the bus on the same night. After Chicago's 1-0 loss to Columbus last night, Coach Savard went rip city on a number of unnamed players that the team has committed to via long-term contracts, but whom he feels have not committed to paying the price for victory: "They were very happy when they signed it ... Well, commit to us, commit to the jersey, commit to the people here. They don't want to commit to the Indian, let's go upstairs and get them out of here ...If "Commit To The Indian" isn't the name of a Blackhawks blog within the next 48 hours, I'll seriously question my faith in Chicago puckheads. Savard went on to say: "If you get cut, too bad. It's the way it is. If you go into that locker room, there's nobody wearing an ice pack or having stitches getting done. None of them." I can't imagine which players he's referring to, but I'm pretty sure one of them rhymes with "Smavlat."
The message of (Chairman Rocky Wirtz, President John McDonough and general manager Dale Tallon) is pretty clear: We're here to win the Stanley Cup. If they want to play like that, we aren't going to win the Stanley Cup."
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