Terry Frei: So Right and So Wrong

The Right Terry Frei has this to say (from ESPN.com):

This is one of the great traditions in sports ...

No matter what has happened during the series, generally speaking, they line up and shake hands. Tradition and history suggest that even if opposing players have a mutual hatred that dates back to major junior, or had a falling-out as Binghamton teammates, they shake.

Do it if you want to do it. It remains understood that if you do take part, you're not surrendering or gloating, you're paying homage to tradition. All you have to do is turn on the television, look online or read the paper the next morning to understand that, in the grand scheme of things, this isn't all that important.

Don't do it if you don't want to. No recriminations. No criticism. You're not being a "bad loser" or spitting into the Stanley Cup if you don't.

We live in a world of scrutiny and opportunistic sensitivity. I'd hate it if the handshake tradition becomes infected by it.

The Wrong Terry Frei also has this to say (from the Denver Post):

After three weeks of the NHL playoffs, some observations:

* The league probably wishes the Avalanche had caught Calgary and made the postseason.

Why?

Because the Flames' ridiculous, bush-league actions in the series against Detroit - mostly in the Game 5 that was carried on NBC - was a black eye.

Three years ago, the overachieving Flames came within one victory of winning the Stanley Cup, so it would be folly to say that the mind-set represented by general manager Darryl Sutter - who gave up the coaching reins this season - hasn't "worked" for Calgary in the past.

But this "sending-a-message" mind-set in the late stages of blowouts re-enforces the mistaken view that the NHL is just this side of a pro wrestling ring in terms of legitimacy. One of the league's problems has been the traditional tendency to simply say that image is inaccurate, so those who believe it don't matter.

In other words, denial.

The sort of denial that has helped the NHL remain No. 4.

And on the pragmatic level, when he puts his mind to it and stops trying to be the toughest winger in the league, believing that the "C" stands for "combatant," the Flames' Jarome Iginla - otherwise a class act - is the best player in the NHL.

Sorry Terry. But I can’t help but point out the hypocrisy of your statements. Please note the bolded portion of your Right statements about ignoring NHL tradition by not partaking in the post-game/series handshake.

Then please re-read your Wrong statements about sending messages late in games in attempt to set a tone for the next game. I’m sorry Terry; but jumping on the Jamie McClellan incident is as opportunistic as one can get. And to write that the NHL probably wishes Colorado would have caught Calgary late in the season because of this incident is downright absurd.

Can anyone else smell the envy fermenting from Terry’s writing?

And between you and me, sending messages late in games have been part of hockey tradition as long as the traditional handshake. You really can’t choose to give and take from hockey tradition Terry.

Some just might (correctly) view that as opportunistic.