Obviously outsmarted, the league had to do something to counter the Vote_A_matic. It wasn't done in the best manner, but it had to be done. People who cry that Cheechoo doesn't deserve to be there are using a severe double standard. At least Cheechoo has been an All-Star quality player in his career. Rory hasn't been close.
What they should have done was taken this as an opportunity and created some sort of 'everyman' spot all-star weekend. Everyone loves a story (like Rory's) of the guy who hangs around by working hard despite obvious lack of 'gift'. Every year there must be some guy in the league like him who has been around 10+ years and is well liked, even though not very good. Create some kind of 'everyman's allstar' spot, give it to that person every year, and voila- you give the fans someone they can identify with and as a bonus you never have this kind of craziness ever again.
tieguy's idea is a very good one.
You nailed it, tieguy. This could have been the door to a little well-deserved attention for a lot of guys who will never sniff an All-Star game because they don't score or aren't flashy enough. Hell, you could have called it the Jay McKee Award.
Rorygate? From the article: Now the league has baited, misled, and rejected its fans. The NHL has hit a new low. It's turned the All-Star Gamean event that's supposed to be about giving people what they wantinto a repudiation of the game's most loyal supporters. Isn't this a little bit over the top? It sucks if the league toyed with the numbers, but the Rory-O-Matic wasn't legit in the first place. Can't we all... just... get along? tieguy's suggestion is a good start.
at least..uh...no dangling chads
I like tieguy's idea as well. Perhaps an alternative (although it presumably wouldn't have the same meaning to the player as an "everyman" spot on which fans vote) would be to automatically give a spot to the veteran with the most experience (measured by years played or, to avoid ties and questions of what constitutes a year, games played) who has not (a) won the Stanley Cup, and (b) participated in an All-Star Game.
I agree. tieguy's idea is a damn good one.
If you don't care, vhf.com, don't comment. Some of us kinda like hockey. I don't follow soccer (aka football), so I don't comment on soccer. You should follow that rule. I like tieguy's idea, too. They have the 'special teamer' for the NFL, why not a 'blue collar grinder' for the NHL?
