Larionov turns down job for Sochi Olympic GM

[Original-Six 254]

Larionov turns down job for Sochi Olympic GM

Igor Larionov was clearly very interested in the position of Russian GM for the Sochi Olympics because his negotiations with Russian Ice Hockey Federation head Vladislav Tretiak lasted for about six months.

But just last week the Wayne Gretzky of Russian hockey turned down the job. He did so for all of those traditional reasons that can bedevil the country's hockey program. The way Tretiak had outlined the job, he would have had all the pressure but with no control.

“Before I did the job, I wanted to make sure I had the decisions on the team and the coach but that was not going to be in my control,” said Larionov from his home in Detroit, where later this week he will set off with 12-year-old son Igor Jr. for the internationally favored pee-wee tournament in Quebec City. “We talked back and forth for a long time and I told him he should have had someone in place before this. But in the end I had to say no. If you can't make the decisions, you can't do the job. And right now, I have no idea who will take the job.”

[Konnan511 1,736]

I wouldn't want to manage a team where i couldn't pick the coach or players.

[Original-Six 254]

I wouldn't want to manage a team where i couldn't pick the coach or players.

I know whats the point of having a manager then?

Things aren't looking much better from Russia in 2014.