 | Hockey player fired for not signing flag for troops| Politics Discuss Hockey player fired for not signing flag for troops in the Current forums; Whatcha think of this? Going a little far, maybe? I support the troops 100%, but I don't know if ... |
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12-19-2006, 07:07 AM
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#1 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country:  | Hockey player fired for not signing flag for troops
Whatcha think of this? Going a little far, maybe? I support the troops 100%, but I don't know if I'd kick a fella off a junior hockey team just for not signing a flag. It's a bit much. A junior hockey player has been ousted from the Saint John Sea Dogs after he did not sign a Canadian flag that the team was sending to troops in Afghanistan.
Dave Bouchard — a 20-year-old from Jonquière, Que., who played left wing on the Quebec Major Junior team — said he thought someone else had already signed his name.
But Sea Dogs coach Jacques Beaulieu said he did not accept that explanation and cut him from the team after Saturday's game.
"Morally, we have standards with this hockey team and that's a standard that we believe in," Beaulieu told CBC News Monday.
"I mean, if Dave doesn't believe in it, that's fine. But he won't be part of it. He won't be part of this organization. That's the standard that we set."
Beaulieu said he believes in freedom of expression but added that any player who refused to sign would have been kicked off the team.
From: Hockey player fired for not signing flag for troops | 
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12-19-2006, 08:16 AM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Now in PA!
Posts: 637
Country:  | That guy was fired for not believing the same as everyone else?
Isn't that pretty much the kind of freedom we fight for? It's sad, really. | |
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12-19-2006, 08:38 AM
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#3 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
Country: | I think his claim that he thought someone else signed it for him should be investigated. At the same time the kid is playing Juniors - he's possibly on his way to the NHL and unless he's an exceptionally gifted player (I've never heard of him) he should be doing anything and everything (within reason) to stay focused and not create waves. I knew someone kicked off Peterburo because he couldn't keep his mouth shut, but yet his younger brother (who wasn't as good as him) made it to the NHL. Sure, everyone has a right to expression but when it comes to playing junior hockey coach is god unless you have no desire to advance your career.
NS - keep us updated on this - seeing where this kid is from I'm wondering if he was a "sepie."
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12-19-2006, 08:43 AM
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#4 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
Country: | I read the rest of the article... Quote:
Earlier issues with Bouchard, coach says
Beaulieu said Bouchard's decision not to sign the flag was just the latest in a long list of problems.
He said Bouchard had not been performing well and had a bad attitude, even though he has tied for top scorer on the team so far in the season.
Beaulieu said Bouchard was about to be cut anyway and the flag issue was the last straw. | After reading this I don't blame the coach. That kid was in a place where thousands of Canadian and American kids dream about and would of sold their soul for just for a shot. Piss on him.
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12-19-2006, 08:56 AM
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#5 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,822
Country:  | While I agree if he was not playing well, he had no reason to be on the team, but if the coaches reason was because he would not sign the flag, then that is as stupid a reason as I can think of.
As twoeagles said we fight for the freedoms of people and if he held a different view and did not want to sign it then that is his choice.
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12-19-2006, 09:55 AM
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#6 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country: | Hmmm, Joe's probably right. The guy was probably a handful all along, and the flag signing was just the excuse the coach needed to axe him from the team. I mean, in principle being fired for refusing to sign a flag is just flat-out bullshit, but there's undoubtedly a lot more to the story than the media cares to look into. "Hockey player fired for not signing flag for troops" makes for an eye-catching headline after all. | |
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12-19-2006, 10:25 AM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 2,205
Country: | Agreed, media hype.
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12-19-2006, 11:04 AM
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#8 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country: | Hey, it worked on me. 
And I'm usually not easily sucked in by media hype.  | |
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12-19-2006, 11:20 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Campospinoso (PV), Italy
Posts: 655
| Looks pretty demented, goodness only knows what the truth is: if the coach wanted to axe he guy he had 1.000.000 ways to do it without hitting the media.
If the guy had bad attitude etc. BUT was the top scorer of the team, any coach would try to recover rather to axe him.
Don't know hockey, but it is a team sport like soccer, and in soccer you don't become a top scorer unless you are talented AND you have the team supporting you. Axxholes who behave badly and jeopardize the team don't go very far, because the other teammates boycott them.
So it seems unlikely that the guy had such a bad attitude.
All the story seems built on purpose to hit the media, I don't know if in this case the culprit is the journalist or the team communication manager...
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12-19-2006, 02:47 PM
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#10 | | aka Dickcheese
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State
Posts: 10,468
Country: | Frankly I have no problem with his firing. This is a private club, NOT a public/civil service position. If he had said that he supports child molestation would his rights have been violated if he had been fired? The owner should have the right to fire an employee because they dress funny, wear piercings, have visible tatoos, support the troops, don't support the troops, or any other reason that is directly observable by the owners customers. My only beef would be if the owner knew that the guy didn't support the troops when he was hired ...AND then fired him.
THIS IS NOT A GOVERMENT ISSUE! KEEP THE GOV'T OUT OF PRIVATE BUSINESS!!
I'm done now.
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12-19-2006, 03:09 PM
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#11 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country: | But the guy didn't get fired for dressing funny, wearing piercings, or having visible tatoos. He was fired (officially that is) for not signing a flag. That in and of itself is pure bullshit, private club or not. It's a damn hockey team.
Now the real reasons for his firing are no doubt due to performance and overall attitude, like the article implies, but you can't knock a coach for that. | |
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12-19-2006, 03:13 PM
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#12 | | aka Dickcheese
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State
Posts: 10,468
Country: | If I could, I'd fire you for your disagreement with me. 
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"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if
they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.]
Marines don't have that problem."
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12-19-2006, 03:16 PM
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#13 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country: | Ha, ha, too bad! 
In yo' face, yo' mamma!
Joking, by the way.  | |
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12-19-2006, 03:24 PM
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#14 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
Posts: 13,183
Country: | I think its BS as well, and the guys performance isnt the issue, as team leading point scorer proves that moot... His attitude is another matter....
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12-19-2006, 03:26 PM
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#15 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
Country: | I bet the coach was Don Cherry!
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