"LOVE CBC's footage of Chris Pronger stealing the pucks at the end of both games. He is truly a comprehensive dick."
"How childish can you be?"
"Completely classless."
I could go on and on and on, but the point is there. Some people think Chris Pronger is a classless douche bag. They think he is a jerk, crybaby, and every other word you can come up with for someone who is not a good guy to be around. But those perceptions of Chris Pronger are just that. They are perceptions.
And perception is not reality. Reality is reality and the reality is Chris Pronger is not someone who is a classless crybaby. He is a smart. He can be cold, but he is calculating. He is a leader. He knows exactly what he is doing, who he is doing it to, and the repercussions of his actions. Folks that criticize him and call him inane names only do so because they are viewing him from the outside and the perceptions they already have with him. Here is a transcript of a conversation Chris Pronger had in last night's post-game press conference with CSN Philly's Tim Panaccio. In other words, they don't get it and they don't get him.
To those that think Pronger is a hypocrite for that last sentence just do not get it or him.
As the final horn sounded Monday night at United Center and the Blackhawks skated off the ice as 2-1 victors in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Pronger picked up the puck.
Apparently, he did it in Game 1 too.
That annoyed ex-Flyer Ben Eager, who said something to him. Here’s the exchange between CSNPhilly.com and the Delco Times with Pronger:
What happened?
“I couldn’t hear him, I don’t speak gibberish,” said Pronger, who picked up a misconduct penalty at the very end and got into it with Eager.
“He’s been picking up pucks after the game and I just told him he can keep it,” Eager said minutes earlier, before Pronger spoke.
Where’s the puck, Pronger was asked.
“It’s in the garbage,” Pronger replied. “Where it belongs.”
You shot a towel at Eager when he complained?
“So what,” Pronger replied.
You’re collecting pucks now?
“Why not? What’s wrong? It’s sitting there. What else is gonna happen to it? It’s sitting there. Sure, why not. You got a problem with that?”
Are you gonna sell it on eBay?
“I don’t know. Apparently, it got him upset. So I guess it worked, didn’t it? It’s too bad. I guess little things amuse little minds.”
Pronger does not give a damn about what happens to the puck at the end of the game. But he does care about his team, leading by example and getting under the other team's skin.
Let's face facts, what is the biggest story coming out of the Flyers camp this afternoon? Is it Mike Richards lack of production in the series? Is it Claude Giroux's lack of production of the series? No, it's about Pronger. And one thing about Chris Pronger is he is a stud NHL defenseman who has no problem being the center of attention. Because the more someone like him is the center of attention, the less the attention is given to some of the younger guys who are experiencing the Stanley Cup for the first time and are brand new to this atmosphere and pressure. The more Chris Pronger is talked about over a silly non-issue that netted him a game misconduct at the end of the game and a $100 fine, the better it is for the team.
Another thing this does is it pisses off the Blackhawks and more specifically in this case, Ben Eager. Now for those that do not know, Ben Eager is known for taking dumb penalties. The Blackhawks seem to be legitimately upset about this and Chris Pronger may very well be inside of his head now. If Ben Eager tries to get Pronger back by taking a run at him or something and in doing so, has a Ben Eager moment, guess what, it is a Flyers power play all of a sudden. So if/when that needless little scrum at the end of the game costs Eager a penalty and gives the Flyers a PP, then people may think twice before criticizing him and calling him a "comprehensive dick."
By letting Chris Pronger's mindgames get to them, the Blackhawks have opened the Flyers window of opportunity just a crack. It is now up to the Flyers to capitalize.
this is a very sad defense of a bitter player. the point it he didnt need to do any of these childish things to show he is a leader and cares about his team. he's an embarrassment to the very essence of hockey
ReplyDelete@ phil: It's all about the mindgames, Phil. It's about deflecting the media attention away from Leighton, Richards, Giroux, etc. and putting it on himself. Pronger has been here before. And it's about getting into the head of the Blackhawks players, specifically Ben Eager.
ReplyDeleteBitter? No. Calculating? Yes.
Do not at all be surprised if Niemi sees the puck after the series. Pronger has done this before.
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ReplyDeleteIf getting inside Ben Eager's head is the key to a Flyers series win, then the Blackhawks really don't belong in the series.
ReplyDeletePronger is, was, and always will be a "calculating" douchebag.
This is a repost due to a spelling mistake.
Seriously, it is the little things. Getting under his skin can turn into a penalty, a penalty can turn into a goal, a goal turns into momentum, momentum turns into win, win turns into confidence, it is not hard to see how this thing can go.
ReplyDeleteBut it does undeniably deflect attention from actual stories on guys not used to this type of thing to a complete non-story and non-issue.
Trust me, when Chris Pronger is on your team, Chris Pronger is 100% awesome.
I'll give you that this kind of story is a good distraction, but I also think Chicago is just a better team than the Flyers. And Philly has to be as concerned about one of their tough guys doing something equally as stupid tomorrow night.
ReplyDelete