OK, let's try this one

Wasn't there someone in the league within the last few years who had a rape or spousal abuse thing in their past? That isn't the type of player I would want on my team or in my city/ There are enough quality individuals out there who are quality hockey players that a team like the Komets don't need to go that route.
Now, if you are Flint or another town where putting a winner on the ice at all costs is important and where the publicity of the possibility of being that team which helped turn that players life around is something you can use to help with your image, then sure.

answer=billy tibbetts & bruce watson/I'd tell my SWEET dog to bite him.

Those type of players (even at the minor league level) DO NOT have a place in any sport. Our children look up to them as roll models. I don't think that is right either. I just have no way of stopping it. I don't care who they are or how good they are. They need to find another occupation.

I would say it all depends. If Michael Vick was a hockey player i would absolutely welcome him here. He served his sentence, paid his debt to society, and is now an active spokesperson against dogfighting. He has apologized and appears to be a better person for it. He deserves a second chance and if he was a hockey player i welcome him here. These athletes are under such bright spotlight the media is just waiting for an athlete to mess up...

id agree with enough already. he did his time. let him play. its the parents job to educate their children so they dont look up to the wrong type of person.

Enough Already & me78- After further review I have come to the conclusion I was a little hard on him and people like him. You two have very valid points. I sure don't want the government telling parents how to raise their children. The 2nd chance thing makes good sense but only if they show their repentence. I know I have made mistakes and done things I am not real proud of. Thank you for make your cases.

I agree with the aboved posters Enough Already and Me78. Vick has served his time and paid his debt to society. I for one will be rooting to Vick to do well. Everyone messes up, everyone deserves a second chance....

Dschebig- On August 13th at 12:05 you posted "Alan- Legault will not be resigned by the K's. He may end up in Kazoo. Now you know and can let him go." What was that all about? I don't remember ever posting about Legault (or even if I did at some time) not near enough to bug someone about it. First of all, this is a blog for the enjoyment of Komet hockey fans. I believe anyone can post on here about anything that has to do with Komet hockey as long as it is in good taste. The idea that I am told that "now I know and to let him go" implies that I have either bothered someone to the point of frustration or that I am not mature enough to handle the fact that Legault will not be a Komet. C'mon, lets get real here. Komet players come and go. It is the nature of minor league ( and all sports) hockey. Everyone needs to remember that approximately 25% of the players on opening night will not be here when the playoffs begin. I can't believe that you think I am upset with the departure of Legault. I have, and will continue, to post on anything I want to and do not need anyone (except for Blake since it is his blog) to lecture me on my content.

Alan- That was not my intent. Post away! I always enjoy reading your postings. You know your subject matter. There was absolutely no offense intended. I may have had the wrong person in my "old" head. I think those are called "senior moments"! It's not like I have never upset anyone before. Hopefully not again. But, I wouldn't take a bet on that. My problem may so simple, I type faster than I think. We need to get this season underway. Summers talking hockey is really not the best thing. But than it beats no hockey at all, doesn't it?

Dschebig- No problem. Thanks for posting back. It is always fun to speculate about the upcoming season. I enjoy your posts also. In fact, I think for the most part, there are a lot of dedicated Fort Wayne Komet fans who use this blog. We are lucky to have such terrific people. I know there are a lot of people who read this blog but don't post themselves. I think we are all good hockey fans who use this as kind of an escape until the season begins. Nothing wrong with that. Sometime I hope we meet so I can shake your hand and talk Komet hockey. I sit in section 208. It has great sightlines and I love the people who sit near me. They are long-time season ticket holders who are very knowledgable about the game of hockey. They add to the enjoyment of the game. I've even had friends who have had suite tickets and they come down to watch the game with us. Kind of wild, isn't it. But it is fun to have friends and even more fun when we enjoy a Komet victory.

In the spirit of Jim Hawthorne, Dschebig and Alan 5 minutes each for fighting, 10 minutes each for misconduct and Dschebig 2 minutes for instigation, Mark21 Game misconduct - third man in. Now go to box and feel shame. Time of the penalties; O Dark Thirty.

anyone else want splinters?

First of all, Jim Hawthorne wouldn't even have called the penalties. He is always too busy missing the game. Secondly, the original topic was whether Komet fans would support Vick if he was a hockey player and looking at Fort Wayne as a place to play. Most posts were supportive of him because he had paid his debt to society. So.... if Michael Vick could be forgiven, how come Burgee, you can't forgive Dschebig, Mark21, and myself? Whats up with that? Don't make me come over the boards!!!!

all is forgiven now that you bashed Hawthorne. Remove yourself from box and feel no shame

Hmmmm... Well, I agree that Michael Vick has paid his debt to society. But the question is would I want him playing for the team I support. And yes, I did see something today about him campaigning against dog fighting, which I applaud. The problem is that I don't know enough about it to say with certainty that it is anything more than a gimmick to smooth things over. I don't know enough about it to believe that he has had an epiphany, seen the error of his ways, and truly understands why what he did was so reprehensible. So yeah, I can see where a lot of people would welcome him to their teams, but then again, many of those are the same people who probably don't think that badly of dog fighting to begin with. If they could see the kind of horrors that go on behind the scenes, they might think differently. So yeah, he did his time. Good for him. Doesn't mean that he should be welcomed back to a professional sports team -- a job that is by it's very nature a PRIVELAGED position -- with open arms.

Er... Make that "PRIVILEGED". So much for spell-check. :S

If he's still got the ability to play, he should be able to play. I don't see it being a privelege to play professional.

I think a lot of you don't understand that this isn't Vick's second chance. He's had MULTIPLE incidents, far more than one, which would make this go around his 2nd chance. If you study into the situation further, you'll find that this is not the only big thing he's done. This is the only one we've heard about, but he's had numerous run-ins with the law. He was involved in some of his little brother's activities also if any of you know much about him, you know what I'm referring to. Before someone gives me the "Well what all else did he do?" line to try to defend him I'll say that I do not have his full wrap sheet in front of me.

I guess if you all want to buy into his apologies someone wrote for him and the puppy dog eyes (no pun intended) he gives when he does the dance on ESPN, then go for it. That's your right. I'm just not going to jump on the bus with you guys. I hope Dwight Freeney gets a hold of him in the playoffs and snaps him in half. (And yes I know my beloved Colts are going to be horrible this year.)

So, I guess my answer to this topic is "No, I don't want garbage like that on our team or even in our city to be honest." But, it's not a perfect world, and as I'm reading in this blog, there are a lot more people out there who will vote with their ticket money to look the other way as long as the person wearing your town's jersey can throw a football, make a three-pointer, or shoot a puck.

Blake - Now that the Mad Ants released their schedule, how does that affect the Komets hopes to move games to more weekend dates?

Did anyone notice that Wendy used the words "epiphany" and "reprehensible" in the same post? That was very impressive and I congratulate her. Your prize will be coming in the mail. RK- you are correct. Vick has had some bumps along the road. Seinfeld once said that fans root for "laundry". In a lot of instances it is true.

So, Vick deserves less of a second/third/etc chance than other criminals in our society because he is a famous, priveleged football player who committed a crime? What about all the other convicted felons all around all of you who have been given second chances....people who maybe have gotten DUI charges in the past, people who did dumb things in their youth that they may now regret...I'm certainly not saying what he did was okay by any means. I'm just saying that there are a lot of people in Fort Wayne who have gotten DUI charges, who could have killed someone but did not by the grace of God, and have been given a second chance by this community. How is Michael Vick any worse than those people? I'm not judging anyone, just throwing it out there as food for thought.

Thanks Alan! Is is a major award? I hope it's Italian. ;)

Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on whether it is an honor and privilege to be an NHL quarterback. As I see it, there is more to it than whether you can throw a ball. It is a position in the public eye where little children will be looking up to you. A team and its fans have every right to demand that their players be of a certain character. Vick had his shot, and while he should be able to get on with his life (I'm all for that), he shouldn't be stepping right back into the spotlight as if nothing happened. You talk about second chances, but with most serious crimes, a person never really steps out of that shadow. Like convicted child molesters who have to live with being on a list wherever they go for the rest of their days. Or felons who cannot vote or be elected to public office. In the sporting world, what about Tonya Harding being banned from professional skating because her boyfriend tried to club Nancy Kerrigan in the knee? What about her second chance? My point is that a criminal record follows you for the rest of your days and it does close some doors, like it or not. Playing in the NFL is not Vick's right, no matter how good he is.

NHL quarterback, I thought it was left fielder!

Dear Franke Family,

Please step in on the current situation in Flint, Michigan known as the Generals. Travis Prince needs to be removed that sitaution there before he sinks the ship. At the very least, please make him not speak to the press in any shape or form. This man is an absolute moron. I hope you did not invest very much money into that team for this idiot to run off with and dump down the toilet.

Yours Truly....

Hit Somebody!!!

Link: http://www.mlive.com/generals/index.ssf/2009/08/travis_prince_out_with_the_old.html

Please read that article and ask yourself this question: Is this the right ownership group and person to be at the controls of an all ready failed hockey franchise? This guy is joking right?

Blueline: I don't believe anyone of those types of people you described deserve a second chance. I have no sympathy for drunk drivers at all. If they kill someone, they can die too for all I care. Do the families of those they kill get second chances to have their loved ones back? As someone who has lost someone I'll tell you they do not. So it looks like the only ones who get the second chances are the scum who do the things to start with, the ones who least deserve the chances. Child molesters, rapists: kill them all too. Someone beats his wife, blast him. Any of you know the percentage of people who actually turn their lives around after jail time? It's extremely low. The number of repeat offenders in our system and society today is staggering.
I know I sound extreme and it's a good thing that I have no pull in lawmaking. I'm sure those of you arguing with me love supporting our overcrowded prisons so these people can "be helped" and "rehabilitated" into beneficial assets to our society. I think my tax money could go to a lot more beneficial things than giving this garbage 3 free meals, a rent free place to stay (with cable), and then 50 more chances to do it all again. Put them on the chain again like they did in the old days and on "Cool Hand Luke". God forbid these people do something while they are sucking up our free handouts.
We seriously need some hockey games to start soon. I type way too long of posts on these types of topics ;)

I think Erik K. said it best on ESPN radio today, "If you want to boo Vick, boo him. But don't let him take the joy of watching the Eagles away from you. Don't be the "I'm turning in my season tickets" guy. You don't have to rock the #7 Vick jersey, but still go to the games and cheer your team."

If ________ came to the Komets, I would still go and enjoy the games with my family. I don't need to love everyone on the team, but I cheer the team, not every player on the team!

hey dennis, is it true the boys in blue used to have to go into bars with a k9 a few years ago to get a komet (with the ist name greg)out of the place cause he was too mean and nasty to be removed the regular wway???

Drat. I used to always say "NFL" when I meant "NHL". Now I'm doing the reverse.

Okay, yeah, that's getting pretty far off topic. But yes, I think everyone knows there are problems with the system. For one thing, our jails don't do a very good job of preparing inmates to live in the real world again. When they get out, they don't know what to do with themselves, so they often go right back to their old ways. It's all buggered up.

I can see what the ESPN radio person was saying, Hoss, but I'm afraid that I would have no choice but to be that person who turns in my season tickets in that situation. It's a matter that I feel strongly enough about that I simply could not cheer for a team that had Vick playing for it. But then, that goes for any team that has players who act in ways I don't approve of. That's probably the biggest reason I quit cheering for the Pacers a number of years ago. And yes, I'd have a major problem with it if someone of that sort played for the Komets. Character is very important to me.

I've had some experience giving 'cons' second chances and those that are successful are a very small percentage in my personal experience with them. As far as Vick I really don't have an opinion on him.

Wendy, as Ralphie's father said in "Christmas Story", it is fra-geel-ie. Italian? Does that refer to dinner or ancestry?

musky is putting a good team together/flint is sinking/quad city=no players/bloomington=toughest team in IHL/dayton looks weak/port huron=4th place.