The US coach and coaching staff has caught a lot of flack here in Pittsburgh for not including Phil Kessel on the American roster. I was one ticked off Penguins fan because of it.
However I so proud that this man, and I do mean man, is coach of our national team in this environment.
If this doesn't make you stand up and cheer for Team USA nothing will.
I always stand and cheer for the US. Something tells me our national hockey team is not exactly a hot bed of radical leftist thought.
I’m a Blue Jackets fan, and I questioned the hiring of Tortorella. Was he really the best guy to replace Todd Richards? But I won’t question his patriotism and his heart is definitely in the right place.
It is well within one’s right to stand or not stand for the Anthem and to salute the Flag or even burn it. We aren’t (quite) a totalitarian government. The First Amendment, after all, is ONLY about protection of hateful and otherwise aberrant speech, since non-controversial speech needs no protections.
However, even while respecting the right of these pampered athletes to stand or not stand (whatever), it makes me very, very happy to see a dude like this coach who excercises the Constitutional right of Assembly by promising these idiots they will not play if they don’t stand. I like that excercise of a Constitutional right, too! A lot, in fact.
The one guys saying something about what if they all sit - he can’t not play them all.
Coach walks out and says “We forfeit.”
Represent your country and be proud...
I posted the original story -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3466731/posts
I am also the keeper of the “Hockey Ping List”
So if anyone reading here wants me to add them, please let me know.
I never thought I’d find myself on Tortso’s side; but on this, I’m 100% in support. Coaches give and take ice time for any number of reasons. Being disruptive to the team is high up on the list.