MercuryNews- Off-the-cuff comments by Sharks players about the city of Winnipeg that were recently made public have created some hurt feelings north of the border and possibly some friction between the Sharks organization and its broadcast partner, NBC Sports California.
In a since-deleted Jan. 7 tweet on a Sharks-dedicated account belonging to NBC Sports California, Sharks players Tomas Hertl, Justin Braun and Tim Heed all mentioned Winnipeg when they were asked by someone from the network what city was the worst in the NHL to play in. Hertl said, “I think it’s Winnipeg cause every time it’s so cold and dark there. I don’t like there.” Braun said, “Winnipeg. Dark. Cold. Hotel is a little questionable. Internet doesn’t work ever. I don’t know if they have Wi-Fi there yet.” The comments were made in September at the team’s annual media day, prior to the start of training camp. They also appeared on the network’s Sunday broadcast of the game between the Sharks and the Jets in Winnipeg. Asked Tuesday about the comments from the Sharks players, Jets coach Paul Maurice had a simple message: Quit whining....
I can't speak to a contentious past that may or may not exist between the San Jose Sharks and either the current or past reiteration of the Winnipeg Jets. I'm not schooled enough on history of franchises to know of any bad blood, but - if this insanely petty "controversy" is all that remains - then history is all that it is. If we were scoring this 'PG' quibbling by it's worth in eye-rolls, a player coming to the conclusion that he isn't fond of a city because one time he wasn't technologically savvy enough to figure out the WiFi is probably in lockstep with the opposing head coach who scolds those that don't treat every single second in which they are employed by the NHL as if it were their last. Regardless, since the extent of this sniveling between the members of professional sports organizations is regional weather patterns and the daily solar cycle, I am proclaiming this feud deader than the notion that even the most occupationally fortunate don't have places they'd rather not go and things they'd rather not do. Winnipeg probably is the place in which seasonal affective disorder was born, and Paul Maurice's insistence that his appreciation for his position has nevvver, evvver died is not only a crappy defense of his current city, but a prolonging of just about the least 'hockey tough' dispute in NHL history. We - as fans - are all softer for having had witnessed two teams try this desperately to manufacture hostility while playing a violent sport in which animosity is organic.
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