Guest Hatethedrake! Report post Posted March 17, 2008 I have no doubt that Messier deserves a lot of credit for his sucessful career and the success of the teams he played on, but he did play with the likes of stacked teams. He reminded me of T.O. jumping from team to team trying to find the big trophy. And I hate to compare Messier to T.O., cause T.O. is a p.o.s! But when following his career, I felt he did that. Yzerman on the other hand stayed with 1 team, his team. I am old enough to remember watching the Redwings through the 80's. We were not a very good team, but this guy stuck it out and it paid off big for him. The dude is an icon. And you have to expect a little bias when you are on this site comparing Redwings players to others, but Yzerman needs no special bias or consideration. Just look at his career. And look at him as a man. Messier being compared to T.O. is a terrible comparison. Due to economics at the time it was virtually impossible for that Oilers team to remain intact. They simply could not afford it. It actually began with the Paul Coffey for Craig Simpson trade in 1987. I do expect a bias where Yzerman is concerned. He is my favourite player of all time after all. But I also appreciate other great players who did not play for the Red Wings. I felt the poster I was responding to was selling Messier short on what he did in his career. Especially the comment that his leadership was "media driven." That is simply not true. Messier was a great leader during his career. So was Yzerman. I am thankful I got to see both player's entire careers. What would you say if someone said Yzerman's career was mostly media driven? It would be totally incorrect. The facts do not lie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut40 176 Report post Posted March 17, 2008 I think the Mitch Albom quote summed it up best and it used to be my sig, it was something like, there will be many captain, but only one will have "THE" in front of it! Ooo I like that. I like what Urban Dictionary says about him "He is the epitome of the word "leader". He inspires courage in others to the point where they can't even believe they are capable of such abilities. His is true to himself, and 99% of the world looks up to him." He's simply the best. Better than Gretzky. Stevie had more leadership in his pinky than Gretzky had in 2 of his bodies. I'm glad people other than Red Wings fans are finally realizing this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted March 17, 2008 Yeah. Because Bowman and Yzerman are going to call out Crosby as a bitchy whiner to the public media. And I dont even have an opinion on Crosbys captaincy. Its just stupid to think that Yzerman and Bowman, or anyone else in the league with that kind of respect, would call out a player like that. Ha, yet another conspiracy theory nut. Another way of rephrasing what you just said is to say that both Yzerman and Bowman are too afraid to say anything negative and or that they are liars. Personally, I trust that because they are great character people as you say, that they would speak what they honestly felt. I guess you just don't see Bowman and Yzerman as the quality individuals I do. You think of them as "yes men" who tow the company line (or the NHL's line for that matter). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted March 17, 2008 Ha, yet another conspiracy theory nut. Another way of rephrasing what you just said is to say that both Yzerman and Bowman are too afraid to say anything negative and or that they are liars. Personally, I trust that because they are great character people as you say, that they would speak what they honestly felt. I guess you just don't see Bowman and Yzerman as the quality individuals I do. You think of them as "yes men" who tow the company line (or the NHL's line for that matter). PS: and again with the whining. You do know its been 2 ******* years since players and media were talking about his whining. Jesus Christ, you're like the slow person who still rags on Sean Avery for calling out French Canadians even though he said that how long ago? Move the hell on already. Show me one article talking about Crosby's whining over the past year. Do it. Prove it. Or else quit bringing up old s***. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellarina 1 Report post Posted March 18, 2008 (edited) Messier being compared to T.O. is a terrible comparison. Due to economics at the time it was virtually impossible for that Oilers team to remain intact. They simply could not afford it. It actually began with the Paul Coffey for Craig Simpson trade in 1987. I do expect a bias where Yzerman is concerned. He is my favourite player of all time after all. But I also appreciate other great players who did not play for the Red Wings. I felt the poster I was responding to was selling Messier short on what he did in his career. Especially the comment that his leadership was "media driven." That is simply not true. Messier was a great leader during his career. So was Yzerman. I am thankful I got to see both player's entire careers. What would you say if someone said Yzerman's career was mostly media driven? It would be totally incorrect. The facts do not lie. My opinion is not based on the fact that he was a Wing, in fact I named other players like Stevens and Roy who were not wings. How can you say it was not media driven?? Every article back then was how he could lead. He played for New York...The journalists there...ahhh nevermind. Edited March 18, 2008 by bellarina Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted March 18, 2008 I think they should have retired the "C" that the Captains wear the night Steve Yzermans number went to the rafters. Steve was the only captain to do so much for the league and the game of hockey. I know Messier was Messier, but I hate to break it to people, but he was no Steve Yzerman. I think the "C" should be off of jerseys and replaced with an "L" for leader or something. There was and only will be one Captain and that was Stevie Y! You can't be serious. The entire game and history of hockey should be changed for Steve Yzerman? So now Steve Yzerman is bigger than the game itself. Oh brother, add another slappy to the list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordie Howe hat trick 110 Report post Posted March 18, 2008 You can't be serious. The entire game and history of hockey should be changed for Steve Yzerman? So now Steve Yzerman is bigger than the game itself. Oh brother, add another slappy to the list. I must agree. That would be a bit extreme. Kinda like retiring the name, "Hockey" when Gordie Howe retired. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 18, 2008 True, he is an upstanding player who would never ever so anything detremental to the game. Pronger should be on this list because he's the type of captain that isn't afraid to put his foot down when the team really needs a boost. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordie Howe hat trick 110 Report post Posted March 18, 2008 Pronger should be on this list because he's the type of captain that isn't afraid to put his foot down when the team really needs a boost. God I hate that player... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted March 19, 2008 I know Messier was Messier, but I hate to break it to people, but he was no Steve Yzerman. QFT Hey if I'm not mistaken, the typeface for Impact is Impact. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted March 19, 2008 Ha, yet another conspiracy theory nut. Another way of rephrasing what you just said is to say that both Yzerman and Bowman are too afraid to say anything negative and or that they are liars. Personally, I trust that because they are great character people as you say, that they would speak what they honestly felt. I guess you just don't see Bowman and Yzerman as the quality individuals I do. You think of them as "yes men" who tow the company line (or the NHL's line for that matter). No. They have too much respect for the sport to get involved in petty pissing contests. Why bother? Scotty is Scotty, the greatest coach in any sport of all-time, and Stevie is the greatest captain in hockey history. Crosby is just the most talented kid in the league. Granted, that's not really a "just" sorta thing. Then again, there was a time Feds was the most talented player in the league. And Bure... and Iginlia... and St Loius... anyway. *for the record, Sid is awesome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted March 19, 2008 Pronger should be on this list because he's the type of captain that isn't afraid to put his foot down when the team really needs a boost. THAT is funny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted March 19, 2008 You can't be serious. The entire game and history of hockey should be changed for Steve Yzerman? So now Steve Yzerman is bigger than the game itself. Oh brother, add another slappy to the list. Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away, I was trying to be a little humerous, but it didn't convert to it, in text. wtf is slappy? Is that one of your midwestern slang terms? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
