The Irreverent SportsNut
The Extra Point: The Irreverent SportsNut likes to initiate critical analyses of any important sports topic such as sports writing/reporting, sports announcing, coaching, league decisions, network/local stations decisions, player conduct or statements.
Example: In the NHL Eastern Division first round playoffs pitting the Florida Panthers against the record setting Boston Bruins, the oddsmakers had the Bruins winning easily. The Bruins set records for most wins and points in a season and went into this series led by their likely Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Linus Ullmark. But Ullmark, got shakier as the series went along and the team’s defense and puck sloppiness were also factors in losing the series. But Ullmark was dealing with an undisclosed painful and debilitating injury that mayrequire surgery in the off season and he didn’t mention it to his coach or other players. The debate e gone with Swayman but he only pulled Ullmark because of his poor performance not knowing he was playing with a severe injury. Dhere is whether a player should be a courageous “dirt dog” and play through injuries for the good of the team or should he have admitted that he was injured, knowing he wasn’t functioning at 100% for the good of the team. If coach Montgomery knew this before game seven he could havo you praise Ullmark for playing through pain or eriticize him for being selfish and not looking out for the team’s best interest? The fans love the ‘dirt dog” play through pain type of playerss but should they be taken off the mantle as heroes and encouraged to do what’s best for the team?