annieQ at the peripheral

This gif is literally me:

I'm going to preface this by saying that as a person, I think he's a good man. So, whatever I say isn't an attack on him as a person, but him as a coach.

I think the way he coaches is the bully tactic that's the old men's game, and it's not as effective as the "old men" think it is. There's a lot of yelling, benching players for not performing or performing poorly at practice - even star players who are on the top two lines. John Tortorella* and Patrick Roy are like this, too. They deal with rookies by not allowing any excuses, yelling at them, not really protecting them with the media, and just overall being a bully (in my opinion).

I don't like this style of coaching at all, even though both Cooper and Tortorella have had Cup success with it.

I prefer the style that Jared Bednar and Jim Montgomery have. Be tough when you really have to be, but don't be a bully.

In a workplace where his peers are all former hockey players with high school educations, in comparison he comes off as eloquent, dignified, well put together, and justified in his rage and temper (as opposed to a dick with no handle on his emotions like other coaches seem). His media hits are very well mannered and charismatic, and he's able to clearly and compassionately talk about his players. So everyone loves listening to him and respects him greatly.

Even in a workplace of 99% white demographics, he's got status and privilege. The refs, and rest of the hockey world, give him a LOT of grace because of that privilege because in comparison he seems to be on a higher level of emotional and intellectual maturity. I'm sure other coaches with decades of hockey knowledge have some foresight and analytical thought, but don't have the language and composure to relay it to the media and executives. Those 2 cups in a row hold that much more power over the rest for that reason.

netflix is making a hockey show called "the sticks" that is based on a very real tragedy that occured in canada in 2018.

the show follows a minnesota high school team after their bus crashes and coming back to hockey afterwards.

in 2018, the humboldt broncos' (a junior A team made up of 18-22 year olds) bus was hit by a tractor trailer on a highway intersection. 16 people (10 players, 2 coaches, and 4 team staff members) were killed, along with 13 other players severely injured.

the memory of the humboldt broncos crash is an incredibly sensitive subject carrying a lot of trauma to both the survivors, their families, and deceased's families. the trajectory of hockey in canada was changed significantly after this tragedy.

despite this, netflix has decided to make a show using the death of young hockey players for profit. they did not consult the survivors, nor the deceased's families. they stole a canadian story for a feel-good cash grab.

None of the families even knew about this show until the media started asking how they felt.

It is taking a tragedy and turning it into a cash cow.

This was such a deeply-felt issue that even the truck driver pleaded guilty and has tried to make amends. (And as he is facing deportation after his sentence, some of the families have even started supporting him being allowed to stay in the country.) There is a real story you could be telling about community and resilience that is not just turning one of the worst days for THE NATION into cheap thrills and sensationalism.

I'm a simple simp. I see Nate in thick black glasses, I add it to my page so I can enjoy it forever.