Quoting: dogtenberg
"As a Toronto resident sometimes, but not too far away regularly, I can....."
not relevant
"The Toronto media throws "softball" questions to their players, so the media will not alienate themselves from the team. Now social networking especially in the last season was split about three ways on Kessel, but really it wasn't personal attacks but comments on his ridiculously poor overall play. "
I wouldn't call fabricating hot dog stories and incessant personal attacks on his character "softballs." I also wouldn't call being 6th in points among all NHLers "ridiculously poor overall play."
Kessel was hated by the media and fans for a few main reasons :
1. Toronto sucked really really bad during his entire time here
2. We traded the 2nd, 9th and 30 somethingst overall for him
3. He's awkward and not a good quote.
People are pretty bad at separating ability from narratives and Phil Kessel is a prime example of this.
"My last thought on Kessel. Not to often a 27 year old profession athlete "gets it" but IMO that what happened to Phil. Half way through this season and the playoffs, it's like, work harder, smarter and then you win more, man this more fun than losing."
Halfway through the season is exactly when they switched coaches. Its not a coincidence
I think living in Toronto, I can understand the situation well. dogtnberg where do you live and what media to you watch and read.?
To get to three statements and the line processed it.
Kessel was NOT hated by the media and fans. That is such a simple fabrication. Maybe a few fans "hated him". The media certainly did not after Phil. More and more people were unhappy/dismayed/upset at Phil's poor play but it was not hate.
Toronto didn't "suck really bad during his entire time hear". Average at times, but poor usually, and sometimes really poor.
Certainly the media didn't hate Phil because of the trade. Maybe a few fans. Certainly there was really bad vibes around Brian "The Burke" and his collection of idiot executives for being lazy, arrogant and just plain incompetent. Incompetent meaning not being able to evaluate players abilities which lead to poor trades, free agent signing and drafting.
IMO I thought Phil was a good quote, and one reason was because he was awkward.
Oh, if you're going quote me to it correctly.. I did not say his entire stay with the Leafs was "ridiculously poor overall play" It was in the last half of his last season with the Leafs, I made this statement. Only then the social media start to criticize Phil for his poor play and his seemingly lack of effort on and off the ice.
There were not incessant personal attacks on his character. Your just making this stuff up now.