From: Gonzalez, John
To: Sheridan, Phil; Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Time out
Men's ice hockey is under way and a lot of local fans are complaining that the Olympics are messing up the pro season in general and the Flyers' momentum in particular. (I hadn't noticed the NHL is on break.)
I'm more inclined to watch Olympic hockey than an out-of-market NHL game anyway, so I don't mind this little pro puck pause. How do you two feel about putting the NHL's regular season on hold?
From: Fitzpatrick, Frank
To: Sheridan, Phil; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Time out
Frankly, I'd like to see it delayed until about 2056. Instead of whining, hockey fans ought to be rejoicing to see their sport being played in a setting where, as is rarely the case in the NHL regular season, people might actually pay attention and care.
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Sheridan, Phil; Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Time out
Fitz, you're like the Dave Schultz of Talkin'. Yesterday you hammered Kensington, today you've decided to crush hockey fans into the boards.
I like it.
From: Sheridan, Phil
To: Gonzalez, John; Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Time out
Guess that makes me the Joe Watson. The NHL is so much more fun to watch than the NBA at this point, it's sick. But the NHL is between a puck and a hard place on two levels here. First, it is truly one of those sports where the regular season is a preamble to the playoff tournament, which is one of the best events in sports. Meanwhile, to be a truly international sport, you have to accommodate international competition. The timing of the Summer Games fits the NBA calendar. Baseball is trying the WBC. Hockey has to live with this.
From: Fitzpatrick, Frank
To: Sheridan, Phil; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Time out
I used to love hockey. Got a pen thrown into the back of my head one night in Minnesota during the Flyers' first season when I held up a banner after a Philly goal. So I've bled for them. I just find the goon worship of the fans and, especially, team management to be both tiresome and counterproductive. Consequently, it's soured me on the NHL in general. That and all the lemming fans dressing in orange for playoff games. (Duck now!)
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Sheridan, Phil; Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Time out
You're a brave man, Fitz. When your grandchildren ask what happened to Two Pop, I'll speak well of you.
From: Fitzpatrick, Frank
To: Sheridan, Phil; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Time out
Speaking of dress: I'm watching men's curling and the Norwegians are wearing John Daly pants.
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Sheridan, Phil; Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Time out
I'm also watching curling. The U.S. team just put a stone in the house. Take that, German dogs!
From: Fitzpatrick, Frank
To: Sheridan, Phil; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Time out
I have to watch it - but I'm worried about you.
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Sheridan, Phil; Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Time out
Fair point.
From: Sheridan, Phil
To: Gonzalez, John; Fitzpatrick, Frank
Subject: Time out
I'm just upset that the curling regular season has to be put on hold like this. Who will think of the children here?
