Friday Morning Fly By: Winter Classic hype grows, Richards shuns reporters, Sbisa likes Ducks

I think the issue has more to do with the pictures that have surfaced than the actual drinking of beer. It can’t reflect well on the team when its captain and other stars are seen crashing frat parties, having porn stars hang off of them, etc. Plus, there are other stories out there of random people hanging out with these guys at bars, concerts, etc. In every story I’ve read about the Flyers on the town, they are always described as friendly, “chill” guys, so it’s not like they’re going out and being drunken assholes.

But Holmgren’s been there plenty of times, and he can recognize whether or not something is up with his players. The fact that he called attention to it last summer let the media know that it was an issue. This can be a good AND a bad thing. Perhaps Homer figured that, if people outside of the organization are going to be on top of his players about their social lives, maybe they’d keep themselves in check. But I think the bad outweighs the good.

Since the media is the media, it needs news. To them, the Flyers’ social lives are indeed newsworthy because both Holmgren AND the players themselves have made it so. By the same token, the Flyers are human beings who deserve the right to lead their lives the way they wish. Assuming that none of the players are alcoholics or addicts, they all should be able to handle themselves without outside interference. If they cannot, then we have a problem. But as long as they are maturing, as Homer said they needed to do, then this should not be an issue.

(Side note – Maybe Richie took a cue from Andy Reid’s “You media guys broke our pact” rant this past summer. Richie asked the media not to discuss the Flyers’ nightlife and they did.)

It seems that Richie and Homer have been butting heads on several issues. A situation like this, which Homer exacerbated last summer, cannot help things. I hope that their relationship does not eventually turn into the Lindros Saga Part 2.

they broke up the brat pak!

This is one thing that I just don’t think we should be told. It’s their personal life and they’re just hockey players. They aren’t politicians, they’re private citizens. If it’s an issue, it should stay in house, and I think Homer was wrong to publicize it last season.

Of course, our pop culture obsessed society demands this stuff, so its never going to go away.

I love the comments on the Broad Street Bull page. Anyone who thinks a team captain has any responsibility to talk to the media after the game dead wrong. There job is to do what is best for the team. Is discussing off ice issues with the public good for the team or questioning other players work ethic and professionalism helpful in someway the ultimate goal of winning the cup. Nope, so if you are going to ask stupid question you get stupid answers the team has more important things to worry about. Asking Lopul if he thinks he got traded because of nightlife is irresponsible journalism. It is not like we traded him a bag of pucks, we got a highly coveted future hall of fame defensemen and couldn’t afford him in the salary cap, same goes for Upshall cap casualty. He said he wasn’t going to talk about that stuff and he obviously wasn’t lying. That what makes him a great captain he like Primeau before him is going to take some heat from the media so the TEAM doesn’t have to well done.