megfowler.com

I’d edit it, but this email was fantastic all by itself.

My dad is a longtime hockey fan (who lost some of his love when the new NHL rules broke) who has been watching the Canucks organization beat itself about the head during the offseason with no small amount of chagrin.

Here are his thoughts…

***

iDaughter: (ed. note: that’s what he calls me via email)

In the past 24 hours, you have posted items both sad and sweet — but now you need to address something serious: the sad state of your beloved hockey team, and why they have lost their soul and their captain and have done nothing in free agency.

I offer an opinion. (ed.note: I am used to this…)

Ownership once again misfired and hired a GM who has no NHL experience as a GM — and worse, they hired a former player agent. Player agents are essentially parasites who really offer nothing of value to professional sports.

Players tolerate them (but don’t love them) and general managers hate them with a passion because they are responsible for players thinking they are worth more than they really are. Now, some general managers who likely have a serious hate on for Gillis are enjoying payback time and they won’t trade with him, and players likely don’t want to deal with him either.

When the Griffith family sold the team it was the beginning of a slow descent into mediocrity and less.

Come on now! Raise the ire of fans, challenge them to show management how they feel (don’t buy tickets, jerseys, pay-per-view, etc.) and perhaps ownership will realize that the Canucks fans will not continue to pour money into watching a losing team. (ed. note: This is hard for me, because I DO love the sport and I DO love lots of the players — it would be like management ruining things for them TWICE… and I’m not sure the lesson would get through to Gillis and his cronies anyway.)

They need a GM with solid, winning NHL experience — even on an interim basis — and they need a coach with a winning NHL record. They are one of the wealthiest teams in one of the richest markets in the NHL (I believe they rank # 5) so it is time to give the fans the management, coaching and team they deserve for all of their faithful support.

(ed. note: COULD NOT AGREE MORE!)

Amen! (ed. note: he is a Baptist minister. I think this is more of a “selah” moment, but….)

***

When I asked if I could post this “as is”:

“As long as you edit it for style, wit and panache (ed. note: not necessary), and mention that there are likely sports writers and broadcasters in Vancouver who think the same thing but are not permitted to print it or say it.”

Totally agree. And if they could, we might start to see some rumblings of change. But for now, it’s up to my dad to bring it!