May 11, 2009 Fans Drive Franchises to Highs
and Lows
[Pittsburgh, PA] -- After reviewing the
2008-09 regular-season, one can easily conclude there exists several
distinct fan cultures across the NHL, which have affected their
beloved franchises. In cases like St. Louis and Columbus, fan bases
supported and loudly cheered under-talented teams to the post-season.
However, in more cities, like Philadelphia, Montreal and Toronto, fans
have created atmospheres which make it more difficult to attain the
very thing they demand: The Stanley Cup. Whether it is ownership
directed or has become organizational culture, those franchises stand
out as most beholden to the ticket buyers.
According to Jay Feaster, the GM of the 2004 Stanley Cup winning Tampa
Bay Lightning, "The minute you try to start managing for the purpose
of garnering favor with the public or winning a popularity contest you
have taken your eye off the main objective."
Perhaps the most symbiotic relationship between organization and fan
base exists in Philadelphia. Since 1974, the Flyers have been known as
the Broad Street Bullies. Since 1975, they have been a successful
regular-season franchise, having too often sacrificed talent for
over-the-top toughness to achieve playoff success.
Did the Flyers really need to acquire league PIM king, Daniel Carcillo
at the trade deadline? Were their forwards, including Scott Hartnell
and Mike Knubble, lacking toughness or grit?
With Philadelphia leading 3-0, it was Carcillo who unwisely accepted a
fight with Pittsburgh forward Max Talbot in Game 6 of their Round One
series. Less than 30 seconds later, the Penguins scored their first of
five unanswered goals, en route to a 5-3 series-clinching victory.
Propelling the Flyer philosophy are the Philadelphia fans whose blood
lust would make emperor Nero's court blush. Philadelphia's greatest
goalie in franchise history, Ron Hextall, was the meanest backstop
this side of Billy Smith. Even the ECW began and flourished in a
Philly bingo hall! (I'm of course referring to the old, kendo stick
swinging ECW of Paul E., not the current Saturday morning cartoon
version owned by Vince McMahon)
Do the Flyer fans hold the franchise back? As a test, ask yourself how
Flyer fans would treat Sidney Crosby if he wore the orange and black.
Enough said.
There are other recent examples of other franchises playing to the
fans to poor results; the 2005-2007 Maple Leafs refusal to rebuild,
the Florida Panthers not dealing Jay Boumeester at this year's trade
deadline and the Montreal Canadiens pursuit of French Canadian
superstar, Vincent Lecavalier, which ultimately ruined their season.
Shouldn't a franchise make moves to please a fan base? They do, after
all, buy tickets and merchandise, becoming defacto employers.
"Fan pressure and popular opinion are rarely, if ever, the right
reasons," Feaster said.
The future of Carey (Jesus) Price in Montreal could also be determined
by fan pressure.
Any who watched the Habs-Bruins series finale could easily imagine
Montreal fans constructing a track on which to run Price out of town.
Few doubt Price's ability to grow into a championship calibre
netminder, but will Montreal management be allowed to wait for the
maturation? Perhaps Price will ask Mike Ribeiro about life after
Montreal.
Other players have offered backhanded assessments of Price's
treatment. Georges Laraque mockingly referred to the Montreal
"faithful" in post-game comments.
The results of fan-beholden franchises also speak for themselves. In
addition to the Flyers' championship drought, they've been to only one
Cup final in1987, since the glory days of the Bullies. Montreal has
had the most recent success, winning it all in 1993, however,
consistent success has also been elusive since the 1970s.
Woodstock, the moon landing, and the Rolling Stones first farewell
tour are more recent than the Maple Leafs last Stanley Cup.
"I truly believe that the minute organizations start bending to fan
opinion or pressure, they are doomed," Feaster said.
Judging by the results, it's hard to argue.
Daniel Kingerski, host of The Fourth Period Radio Show,
is the Pittsburgh Correspondent for
The Fourth Period Magazine and a Columnist for TheFourthPeriod.com.
