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Truth & rumours

MacLean keeps clutching and holding on to obstruction theory

WILLIAM HOUSTON

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 5:49 PM EDT 07/11/07

CBC anchor refusing to let up ...Read the full article

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  1. greg panke from orangeville, Canada writes: I can't believe MacLean thinks hooking and holding are good for hockey, but I guess any network that thinks Leafs games are all that should be shown fits right along with that kind of belief; the CBC and it's people are ten years behind the times.
  2. King 99 from Ottawa, Canada writes: Of course Maclean wants holding and hooking back, he's a die-hard Toronto fan, and look how far down the toilet that team has gone under the new NHL. This is the same guy who years ago during the sixth game of a Toronto-Ottawa playoff series, with Toronto leading the series 3-2 and leading the game by a goal uttered these infamous words before the third period as Ottawa was pressing Toronto - 'No one wants to see this one go into overtime', to which one analyst rightly replied 'I think some Ottawa fans might'. Pure arrogance. For the life of me, I don't understand why the CBC keeps this guy on, or why it just rewarded him with a big long-term contract. He has weak 'hockey analysis' skills, and his claim to fame is being Don Cherry's lapdog on Coach's corner. You're right Greg, the CBC and it's people are ten years behind the times.
  3. Mike Mike from writes: While I am too getting pretty tired of MacLean (just cause he's been there for too long) he is still way better than any Senators commentators who can't seems to get their noses out of Alfie's derrière. God, you'd think they would marry all the sens players if the latter didn't have hot groupies dragging behind with them.

    I think eliminating clutching and grabbing is a noble thing, however, the league seem to be eliminating a contact from the sport all together. You touch a player (especially a senators player) and both refs are racing each other to put the guy in the box. Pathetic.

    This league is becoming more and more for pansies, like the majority of sens' fans.
  4. Jeff Taylor from Canada writes: Great job by Houston. MacLean has declined from a great host to a pedant and a bore, far to enamoured with his own opinions.

    His tedious droning in favour of the old clutch-and-grab game is turning into an embarrassment. He's using HNIC as a personal pulpit, and his producers obviously don't have the stones the rein him in.
  5. Phoenix Thorpe from Canada writes: You think he would have learned from last year when the NHL let him officiate an exhibition game and he stumbled all over the ice and looked stupid in the process. But no....he's back whining about the officiating over and over and over again.
    However, I can't objectively separate him from the Maple Leafs and that is the underlying reason he irritates me to no end. I view him as nothing but a MLSE shill for the Blue and White being paid by taxpayers dollars.
    Nothing personal, Ron, just my perception.
  6. Rob C from Lakeside, PEI, Canada writes: If McLCean is basing his argument on a Jim Kelly opinion, it says a whole lot about McLean's argument. Kelly is an American print journalist, hasn't been able to keep a job in the print media south of the border - so his opinion doesn't mean much to me. Now he's sponging off Sportnet, who see value in his talent and have chosen to place him over more worthy members of the Canadian media.

    Find someone else to back you up Ron - you're argument is weak enough already. I am so sick of this guy - almost as sick of the whiny senator's fan who posted earlier (what does this McLean issue have to do with the Senators?). How many dozen people watch Senators games anyway?
  7. dallas mcquarrie from regina, Canada writes: MacLean's analysis of this aspect of hockey is just plain stupid! One wonders if some of the idiocy of the buffoon who sits next to him in the first intermission of Leaf games has rubbed off on him. Hockey is a lot better to watch since the league decided to enforce the rules. MacLean is obvious fan of full tackle hockey - and wants it back even if it is boring. Perhaps covering all those Leaf games has left him with no appreciation of skating, passing and shooting - afterall, you don't see much of that in Toronto where hooking, tripping, and interference pass for talent.
  8. A fine gent from Ontario, Canada writes: I'm not sure what people are complaining about; MacLean, Cheery, throwing in Neale and Cole, are some of the greatest 'talent' the marketing branch of the glory day 'Clutch Hold Grapple Hit-from-behind' Leafs have.

    Does anyone actually want CBC Sports hockey coverage to enter this century? Thye are already 10 years behind FOX Sports local affiliate in New Jersey. They just can't compete.

    CBC is a joke. They have some talent, but most of them seem to hang out near the West coast... good luck next time around CTV/TSN!
  9. Proud Canadian from Canada, Canada writes: Rob C. The ones that want to watch the Senators play, do. The ones that have an option to watch them do. In a free country, it is an option to watch whatever game one wants. The only network not allowing us to do it so far is the CBC. McClean is out of date, as is the whole segment of between period stuff on CBC. I was a big fan myself of Coaches Corner and After 40 minutes, but with the new rendition for this season, now we do not watch either.
  10. Terry Oreilly from Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada writes: Oh gee. 9 posts and they all agree with the writer. No surprise there.
    My disagreement was deleted. I wonder why?
    But you try sitting through these OHL games these days, where theres' 20 penalties a game. Most made up by the refs.
    Its bloody brutal.
    The game has swung too far the other way.
    Bettman has made up new rules. He hasn't enforced the old ones.
    Because never in my 40 years of watching hockey was brushing your hand on a guy holding. Or brushing your stick on him with one hand hooking.
    And it ain't these rules that have opened up the game slightly. Its the two line pass, and the touch up offside. Thats what opened up the game.
    But some of those penalty calls are ridiciulous. Its gotten out of hand. The games are downright boring now. They're no intensity anymore.
    I will say they have loosened the rules up a bit. But they gotta let the players play. And keep the refs out of the way.
    Because the best game I've ever seen was Leafs-Wings Game 7 in 1993. And not one bloody penalty called. Under todays rules there would have been 20.
  11. Andrew Bisson from Ottawa, Canada writes: Great work Terry O. Agree with you 100%.
    Today's hockey is not better. Refs are making phantom calls every night. And now shoulder hits are considered penalties?
    There are no rivalries now because refs are instructed to be tighter in games like the Sens vs. Leafs.
    And to the poster who said only the CBC controls who gets to see what; I guess you haven't tried to get Leafs TV in Ottawa. Sens fans and management are so insecure about why people like the Leafs more, it is hilarious.
    It is simple; our fathers were Leafs fan, their fathers were, etc. Same for the Habs. As the Sens franchise gets older, more fans will come on board.
    The fact is, Leafs games outdraw every other team on TV. That is a fact. It is not a conspiracy why Leafs game are on TV more than CBC. Suck it up.
  12. Terry Oreilly from Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada writes: Thanks Andrew.
    I beleive our opinion is the majority, but its the minority who seem to make all the noise. And they're destroying our game.
    There are no rivalries anymore. Tonights Leafs-Sens game may start out great, but then the refs will start making their piquine calls for breathing too hard on the opponent, and the game will become another no touch snorefest.
    Fans want skill, but they also want intensity. And there is no intensity out there. I mean when you see a guy collapse when a stick barely touches him, and the refs arm goes up? I mean what kind of game are we trying to create here?
  13. Andrew Bisson from Ottawa, Canada writes: One more thing - what is exciting about watching power play goals? There are more power play goals now with the obstruction calls obviously.
    Here's how 99% of those goals are scored: one player gets past center ice and dumps the puck in. Forecheckers race to keep the puck in. Once the attacking team has possession, they start throwing the puck around while the other teams maintains its four-man square.
    Inevitably, it is a shot from the point that brings about the goal, but only after 30 seconds of making the same predictable passes. How exciting.
  14. Terry Oreilly from Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada writes: This is Bettmans master plan.
    Contrived offence based on giving teams powerplay after powerplay.
    He thinks thats what the fan in Nashville want to see.
    But it ain't working.
    Crowds are down in the USA, including traditionally strong markets.
    Because fans want rough stuff with their hockey.
    Banging and crashing and intensity.
    Not this Euro trash we're getting now.
    Which isn't the style of game WE invented.
    I've just about quit watching hockey because it is so boring,
    and thats why I am ticked off!
  15. Just The Facts from Canada writes: I'm so tired of MacWhine... the NHL is much more exciting to watch now than it was before the lockout. (The goalie equip't needs to be reduced by 10-15% in size before scoring will increase, however.) Watch a 'classic' game during the very era that Cherry coached (mid/late 70's)... there is very little clutch & grabbing, hooking or holding... because players knew they would be penalized if they did so. So it's ironic that Cherry & MacLean whine about penalties being called. It's up to the refs to be consistent, & the players to not hook/hold. Otherwise it's football on ice - boring. The 87 Can Cup final series was an abberation... incredibly skilled players on both teams... so, yes, Gretzky got away with a ton of hooks & yet still the action was great... however, if guys were hooking like that during a regular NHL game, it becomes boring & very low scoring. (There's a clip on Youtube that shows how Mario's final game goal was the result of several hooks/holds/trips by Canada... although at the time I was ecstatic for Canada, I now see these & they should've been called... actually, takes away from the 'moment' when you see all the Russians being prevented from stopping the goal. It's hockey, not football. Even in football there are holding calls.)
  16. RONNY TALBOT from Canada writes: Thanks Terry and Andrew---your posts have saved me a lot of typing. One other note---the NHL is doing all it can to keep "the refs" anonymous. ---no names on their jerseys and quite often no names in game summaries, and no published stats on their performance.. An obscure "hooking" call for a stick brushing a glove will decide the winner of a game 7--and those zebras will want to be just ananymous "refs". Right now, they have no discernible accountability. Peace, RT
  17. Terry Oreilly from Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada writes: Thats right Ronny.
    A penalty occurs under the rules when you actually "restrain" a player with your hands or stick. No where did the rule ever say brushing a player was a penalty.

    Somehow Bettman has changed the rules of Canadian hockey, and we sit back and let him?

    I mean try watching junior hockey these days. I have London Knights season tickets, and the number of marginal penalties being called there that end up deciding games is ridiculous. Keep up this style of hockey and watch the fan base disappear.
  18. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: There has got to be some middle ground they can find.

    I like Burke's suggestion of being able to grab an apponent when up against the boards.... it would stop the boarding/hitting from behind and be safer for the players. Maybe a two count max before letting go?

    Can't stand the tap with the stick hooking penalties and the have one hand off your stick holding penalties... if there is no obstruction.. there is no foul.

    I also question how the referee at centre ice can call a penalty that occured directly in front of the referee in the zone.... how can he have a better view of the play than the referee standing 5 feet away?
  19. Just The Facts from Canada writes: I disagree that "Somehow Bettman has changed the rules of Canadian hockey".

    Watch a few games from pre-1995... especially pre-1985. There is hardly any clutch & grab, because players knew they risked getting a penalty if they did so. The Oilers came along & soon the GM's eliminated 4-on-4 to "level the playing field". They also told ref's to stop calling "close calls". 15 yrs later, the NHL was like football at times.

    It was the rules committee that suggested the changes, which aren't really changes; they are just the re-enforcement of existing rules. The committee had several players on it.

    It would be a BIG mistake for the NHL to relax the officiating.
  20. Blair Faulkner from writes: The problem is the fact that there is no room for these guys in a standard North American sized ice surface...these guys have outgrown them. Relax the chinsy calls, use Olympic sized ice, and reduce the size of the goalie equipment and we will have 1980's hockey again. And Mr. Houston, your once a week flogging of HNIC is getting as tired as HNIC. You must be able to dredge up something else in The Big Smoke...
  21. Sean O'Reilly from Canada writes: The problem with hockey is the people that cover it. What other sport out there is attacks its own game like hockey people do.

    Everyone has an opinion, everyone has an answer.

    There is nothing positive ever around this game.
  22. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Blair Faulkner from writes: The problem is the fact that there is no room for these guys in a standard North American sized ice surface...these guys have outgrown them. Relax the chinsy calls, use Olympic sized ice.

    You are correct..... but it will never happen.
    Just look at the prices of the seats they would be removing.

    Had any of them been forward thinking.... they would have built all these new arena's to handle olympic size ice..... foward thinking LOL... what was I thinking.
  23. Terry Oreilly from Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada writes: I agree Sean O'relly. (No relation)
    Every time something happens on the ice, we have to change the rules. A player doesn't keep his head up and gets hammered, well lets change the rules!

    And to the person who said there was no clutching and grabbing pre 1985? Huh? The Maple Leafs of the 60's were known for clutching and grabbing.

    Granted some of these expansion teams recently stretched the rules, but Bettman has gone way too far the other way. Proving his lack of knowledge of hockey.

    Let the players get more physical. Maybe have zero tolerance in the neutral zone. But once the puck gets inside the blue line, lets have some battles and some action and some good old time grinding.
    Like the 70's Bruins under Cherry. And keep the refs out of the game!
  24. Just The Facts from Canada writes: I've seen 60's games involving the Leafs (on tape/dvd - before my time!), & there was way less clutch & grab than in the 2004 National Hooking League.

    Maybe the Leafs were, relatively speaking, the "clutch & grab" team of the 60's, but compared to the degradation of hockey that was the pre-lockout years it was nothing.

    I have several 1970's Bruins games on tape/dvd, including many coached by Donald S. Cherry... there was WAY less clutch & grab compared to pre-lockout NHL. It was funny... the puck would be momentarily stopped along the boards/corners, & the refs would INSTANTLY blow the whistle! haha

    I don't like Bettman, but I don't blame him one bit for listening to the competition committee (made up mostly of players, correct?).

    Game on! :)
  25. Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: The game is better for the most part these days. Sure there are going to be marginal calls made by refs but how many of us could make split-second calls? Some they get right, some wrong. Referees don't have the convenience of video replay to review infractions unlike the rest of us 'experts'.

    The action has sped up with the removal of the red line. Obstruction calls are up which they should be as the game should be about watching the skilled players skate, pass, and shoot. Sure, the game's not perfect but it's a heckuva lot better than it was 10 years ago. Back then you had to annihilate someone to get penalized, something that would rarely ever happen if it was an overtime game in the playoffs.
  26. Just The Facts from Canada writes: SHRINK GOALIE EQUIPMENT BACK TO "NORMAL"!! Their padding is still way too huge... look at pics of goalies from just 10 yrs ago... otherwise, the NHL is going to be forced to enlarge the nets, because an average GPG per team of less than 3 makes for a dull game... as soon as one team is up by a goal or 2 it becomes very difficult to come back & win. Zzzzzz.
  27. Derek Holtom from Swan River (I see the cowards are still posting using their fake names), Canada writes: Where's that Poida gone? Looks like more great ratings for the CFL... it took the Pats Colts to beat them in the ratings this week.
    CFL ratings remain a lot stronger than some other sports... I hope they continue to remain steady or even grow...

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