Loading ...
"Look into my face and know, to look into my face is to look into the face ... of EVIL!" so said comic Kevin McDonald of The Kids in the Hall as Sir Simon Milligan. Does the same go for Chris Pronger?
Oh Chris! Yes, I mean the Chris of the Philadelphia Flyers: Pronger. I have to hand it to him for bringing the controversy to the Stanley Cup Finals. I love that in losing efforts he raced over to snap up the “winning” (er, losing?) puck after both games in Chicago, then claimed he threw them in the trash can “where they belong.” Total asshole thing to do? Maybe. But it’s also a dash of genius in a weird, twisted Dr. Evil kind of way.
Pronger has always known how to poke and prod and push his way onto the “hate” lists of opposing players on the ice. Now, here he goes doing the same thing skating off the ice — and I love it.
I am a firm believer that pretty much any press is good press. If this gets people talking about the NHL — great! If it fired up the Flyers for Game 3 (which they did win in overtime) — also great! If it got under the skin of the Blackhawks and caused them to lose focus — way to go Chris. The mind of an NHL agitator works in mysterious ways.
NHL players say Pronger is one of those guys you loathe — unless he’s on your team. Now he’s making off with pucks and infuriating certain members of the Blackhawks (hello Ben Eager!), going so far as to remark to the media (in regard to Eager’s eager interest in his puck-snatching ways) that “apparently, it got him upset. So I guess it worked, didn’t it? It’s too bad. I guess little things amuse little minds.”
Oh Chris! You are truly evil! With such a remark, you zing not just Eager, but all of us who find your unique brand of gamesmanship so amusing.
(No word yet on who grabbed the Game 3 puck.)
So gamesmanship or disgrace? We want to know what YOU think!
Photo: Chris Pronger by The Associated Press.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed!
I always hated that “you hate him unless he’s on your team” label. There are plenty of guys on other sports teams I loathe who I would STILL loathe if they were on my team. Pronger’s one of them.
I don’t mind his off-ice gamesmanship. If he wants sound like a five-year-old, who cares? But when he’s deliberately, illegally attempting to injure other players, THAT’s what makes my blood boil.
There are only 2 guys I hate and would still hate if they were on my team, that’s Matt Cooke and Sean Avery. I hate Tomas Holmstrom, but WOULD love him if he were on my team.
I actually like Pronger and have been chuckling at his antics. What an asshole! I’m sure if it were against my team and he snagged a puck my favorite goalie might want, I’d hate him.
Chris Pronger is a dirty bastard, but that’s what he does best. He’s a big version of Darcy Tucker — he’ll just do anything. He has no conscience and doesn’t care as long as he gives the other team hell. I both admire it and hate it.
It’s hockey. He is big and physical. If he hits someone, he is more likely to cause damage. It’s simple physics.
I like agitators. Look at Sean Avery. That guy’s antics are good for a few victories a season just by getting the other team pissed off.
I hate Pronger. I’m not sure why, but I know I had a good reason at some point. That being said, I love the picking up of the pucks. Clearly it’s got the Blackhawks thinking about it. The NHL needs more of this.
He’s not a dirty player like a Ruutu or even an agitator like Avery. He’s a defenseman. And unless you’re a wimpy offensive defenseman like John-Michael Liles (which is not what a defenseman is supposed to be in my opinion) you’re going to initiate hitting and lots of it. It’s the nature of the position and people are going to hate you.
Pronger isn’t as dirty as he once was, but for those of us remember him in the good old Blues days when he was a drunk (and even before), will never like him. He killed too many of our players with his slash and hack method of defending. (which he still uses today) Is he a great defenseman? Yup! Although, during the season, and even during the Olympics it was fun watching little fast guys zoom past him. His first interview during the Finals I found to be entertaining. Now I just think it’s being a bitch. But then, his coach is acting that way also. :)
His posts went from a bit biting and funny to more whining and annoying. But you know, few guys can pull off the true entertainment, one of your former players being one of them.
Excellent post. Just found it on Yahoo! Pronger is hilarious. Love that guy … Keep up the great work :)