Here's a story from Lou Holtz's days at Notre Dame:
"The expectations here at Notre Dame can change a little bit as you go along. When I first started, everybody said they just wanted us to be competitive. That first season in 1986 we went 5-6 and lost five games by a total of 14 points. But people said, 'No, when we said competitive, we meant we want you to win.' So the next year we went 8-4 and played in a New Year's Day bowl. But they said, 'No, when we said we want you to win, we meant win them all.' So the next year we did win them all. We went 12-0 and won the national championship. But they said, 'No, you don't understand, we meant we want you to win big.' That's the way it goes at Notre Dame."
So what's the point? What's the Komets' record right now? 12-7-1 after a 7-2-0 start. What was it last year after 20 games? 12-7-1 after a 7-2-0 start. Three years ago they were 9-5-3 after 17 games. How did those last two years end up?
I would guess if you went back and looked at the blog a year ago and two years ago you'd see the exact same things said by some of the exact same people. Are they playing great right now? No way, and they certainly should be playing better, but does anyone doubt they have the talent? That right there is the problem. The talent is still spinning its skates right now -- just like it did last year and the year before last year. Do you really think these vets won't kick it in? Have you totally ignored the last two springs? There's nothing they love better than someone telling them they are done and have no chance.
Give them a chance to work it out. No wonder all the other teams in the league hate Komets fans. LOL. If things don't get turned around in a month, management will make changes. They always have. Look at all the changes they made last year. The only time Komets management has been shy about shaking things up is always right before CHRISTMAS. They never make changes then unless the player initiates it.
BTW, I love the fact that ``mashed potatoes'' is calling out Kevin Bertram for supposedly running away from Lawmaster. Does anyone else see the irony of someone using a fake name anonymously to call someone else a wimp? Get a life. You're exactly right, he should have jumped him during a one-goal game to give up a power play in the final five minutes.
Last 10 games Bertram is plus-7 and no one else is better than plus-3 and only four players on the whole team are positive (One of those is Syroczynski with one game played). The whole team is minus-22!
I don't like calling out individual bloggers too often but that's ridiculous. "Mashed Potatoes" go to box for a five-minute major and feel shame!
Comments
lol
Blake, +/- is by far the most OVERRRATED stat in hockey. In the past 7 games the Komets have given up 6 PPG and Kevin Bertram has been on the ice for 4 of them.
Oh and Notre Dame sucks
Beg to differ... I think +/- is a very telling stat... It can tell you alot about a player and his overall value to a team...
Dschebig, of course you are! I'm still trying to figure out the best way to do it, but we'll get you in! If my last guest hadn't worked out, I was going to get you in for the Christmas Eve show. We could've both worn Santa hats. ;)
BWOM, mightbite was one of the bravest bloggers I knew. Why? Because he was camera shy, but he stuck it up and faced his fears. You can take that to the bank.
Chuckitt, you are certainly someone that I was hoping to ask. But I know you are still working on that recovery. God speed with that, and I'll be in touch as soon as you feel up to it!
And JR, just so everyone knows, I actually make a point to go over everything with guests in advance so I know what they feel comfortable with and enjoy talking about. It's all about making you look GOOD, not putting anyone on the spot. These aren't those kind of interviews. LOL.
And FMM, trust me, you did great. And I'm grateful that you let me get in the shoutout to the AIHL. It meant a lot, as you know. BTW, did you notice the Australia pin I was wearing that night?
As for the Komets, of course they have their struggles right now. I'm just pretty sure they can work them out on their own. Al's a lot better at that sort of thing than I am. If the K's hadn't won a championship in 10 years or something, that would be one thing.
Just havin some fun Wendy... :)
I dont think you would actually let your fellow K's fans look bad...
Komets have scored 16 even-strength goals over their last 10 games (that's 1.6 per game), and Bertram is plus-7 but plus-minus is over-rated?
Hmm, where to begin. After reading what was originally posted by Blake and then reading the posts, I can understand his frustration when he has to clean up and take off posts that are inappropriate. As I tell my students, you can have any feeling/emotion you want but you cannot always act and say what you want. Some things are better kept to yourself. With that, here I go...
I have posted on this blog that I am not happy with the play of the team overall. I don't see the passion on the ice that should be there, that we are used to seeing during previous games in previous years. I feel they are going through the motions. I don't know what they need to do to change this. I can't motivate someone else, no one can. But, as a paying customer, I'm going to say something. I'm not saying to back up the truck with the whole team. I do feel there are a couple players who are going to be on the chopping block soon if their level of play does not pick up. I agree with HitSomebody with the aspect of losing but playing hard. You cannot be faulted at that time. However, I think we can all agree, to some aspect, that the team is not playing, skating, working to win, to the level that we have grown to expect. Now, I'm sure some on the team are, but it takes everyone to make this work. I'm not a hockey coach, and everytime I ice skate I end up visiting the ER, so these men are doing something that I could never do. However, just like the rest of you, as a fan, I help pay their salaries. As I stated in a previouse thread to this blog, I feel the Komets are not lacking talent, they are lacking passion. Just because you are back-to-back Turner Cup Champions does not mean that the trophy is in the bag. You have to earn the chance to be playing for that award. Passion, determination, and hard work will lead the Komets to victories.
Reasons why +/- is overrated:
it doesn't differentiate offensive contribution from defensive contribution
it doesn't include players drawing and taking penalties and players PP and PK contributions
here's an example of how overrated +/- is
last season Jon Booras was -6, but had 100 points and Mark Versteeg-Lytwynn was +17, but had only 44 points I think you would much rather have Booras on your team
and finally you stated that the Komets are -22 in their past 10 games, but a more telling stat would be their goal differential which is only -2
What Booras' -6 tells me is that he is more of a 1 dimensional player since the opposing teams scored 6 more times against Booras and his line mates than they did in 5 on 5 hockey...
There are all kinds of stats in sports and you cant always look at 1 stat to form an opinion on any given player; but to me +/- is definetly not overrated...
And the K's -22 in the past 10 games while only being outscored by 2 goals in that span tells me that the K's need to score via the PP, while teams are scoring against us in 5 on 5 situations... Sounds like the K's team D needs some shoring up...
if you think +/- tells how valuable a player is to their team then you're pretty much saying Bobby Phillips is the MVP with his team leading +8 rating
The way Phillips has played so far he IS in the top 5 as far as value goes to this K's team at this point in the season...
I never said +/- alone makes you an MVP canidate... I said its an indicator of your value to a team...
I like players who play in all zones, not just in the offensive zone...
Just play hard all 60 minutes! Go to the net...look for rebounds....take the body, you dont have to put the guy through the glass...just make the check. Play hard and win thats fine! Play hard and lose?? Thats fine too!!