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High/Low – Interview with Rob Blake

The Mayor — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:12:26 +0000

It’s been awhile since we’ve done a High / Low piece, one of our popular features during the regular season.

It’s also been awhile since there’s been any new Rob Blake news around these parts…again, also popular during the regular season.

With Rob’s recent retirement, he’s been in the news a little this summer. Yet, let’s face it, within a certain subset of Kings fans he’s always top of mind…for some reason or another.

Rob was kind enough to first stop by MayorsManor back in January for an in-depth interview, covering topics like being drafted by the Kings, going to the Finals in ’93, the trade, resigning the captaincy, coming back to LA and several other items.

Today we look at the highs and lows of his career – in his words – and play a little word association with the 20 year veteran. See what he has to say about Zhitnik, Sandstrom, Robitaille, Carson, McSorley and many more of the guys he laced ‘em up with.

Blake played in over 1,200 regular season NHL games…finishing with 240 goals, placing him 10th among defenseman on the all-time list. He was a six time All Star, won a Stanley Cup in 2001 and the Norris Trophy in 1998.

While playing for Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics he became only the 11th player in history to gain entrance to the uber-exclusive ”Triple Crown Club” – reserved for owners of the three most prestigious titles in hockey: the Stanley Cup, a Gold Medal at the World Championships and an Olympic Gold Medal.

Thus, there’s a lot to choose from when selecting the key highlights of Blake’s accomplishments on the ice. So, how about he does it for us…

Rob, what would you say were the three highs and lows of your career?

For my highs…

1 – Playing my first game in the NHL, that was definitely a high point for me.

2 – Winning the Stanley Cup.

3 – Being named captain of a team at 40 years old. That’s something I didnt think was going to happen again.

I dont really have any lows. There are days that are tough and there’s times that are tough. But, that’s what it’s all about. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’ve wanted to be an NHL player from day one and to have that opportunity has been pretty amazing.

How about some word association – mainly with some of the guys you played with in Los Angeles, but we’ll hit a few Sharks too…

Tony Granato – warrior

Tomas Sandstrom – a little crazy

Alex Zhitnik – fun to be around

Marty McSorley – definitely crazy

Darryl Sydor – worrier, he worries about everything

Charlie Huddy – professional, he was a consummate professional

Jimmy Carson – goal scorer

Kelly Hrudey – competitor…very, very competitive

Luc Robitaille – great goal scorer…the greatest goal scorer for left wings…he could score from anywhere, anytime

Wayne Gretzky – the greatest player to ever play the game

Jeremy Roenick – always something interesting everyday from JR, from the media to the players, it was always something interesting from JR…great teammate, an unbelievable teammate

Dan Boyle – one man breakout…he does it all by himself, he’s unbelievable…I dont know how he does it

Joe Thornton – best vision in the game

There you have it…more candid thoughts from the only Kings player to ever win the Norris Trophy (yes people, for now…).

Although Blake’s career on the ice is over, where he goes from here is still undecided. Coaching, management, broadcasting are all options. And, of course, eventually he’ll be making a trip to Toronto for enshrinement into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Until then, the debate rages on…should Kings fans love or hate #4?

The Mayor
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The Mayor appears courtesy of www.MayorsManor.com – your source for LA Kings news, views and interviews. Below are links to some RELATED ARTICLES you’ll find over there…

Rob Blake – the interview

Reliving ’93 – When Mullets Were Cool

Roy, Melrose and Blake on the ’93 Finals

20 Questions with #20 Luc Robitaille

Interview with Andy Murray

Hockey’s Most Exclusive Club – live from the induction ceremonies

Mike Milbury’s Eurotrash Disco: Comments Override Canada’s Huge Win

BDGallof — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:52:18 +0000

“I was shocked that it was this one-sided. And I was really disappointed that these guys came with their euro-trash game. It was just. No heart, no guts, no nothing there to back it up. I mean Alex Ovechkin was an average player tonight. I know they’re going to bounce back, but to be that poor and to be that intimidated physically by the Canadians, that really shocked me.”

- Mike Milbury, last night after the Canada win over the Russian Olympic hockey team

EUROTRASH (meaning)

Encarta: an offensive term for wealthy or fashionable European people ( slang )

Urban Dictionary: Post-modern, degenerate, trendy, or out-of-style European cultural phenomena masquerading as avant-garde High Art. Characterized by its apparent affluence, worldliness, social affectation and addiction to fashion. Males are characterized by a semi-slovenly appearance (including half-shaven faces), greasy hair, rib-hugging shirts, tight jeans and loafers worn without socks. Thoaw who are products of a sneering, overly-socialized culture who take perverse pride in their stylized, postmodern, lazy lifestyles, and those who would choose to emulate this.

Take one brash failed GM who is looking to excite his third career, bring along a network which has him covering hockey for them during the season, and then add the American vacuum of the hockey cult of personality and audience.

Add a pinch of some extra Olympic eyeballs, and then mix something controversial so that it creates a buzz; negative is irrelevant.

Half-bake all this at a media temperature of 400Fº and watch it rise…

The issue to me is not that Mike Milbury called the Russian game Eurotrash. Milbury’s been making stupid smarmy comments his entire career from player, to coach, to GM, and finally in the studio seat.

The issue is that blatant attempt to manufacture some controversy and create that Don Cherry-like figure for the US television.

Don Cherry, lauded as he is over the Canadian border, would not have the broad-based appeal here thanks to the very US branded politically correct atmosphere which seemed to slap into overdrive post-9/11.

Milbury is making a thinly veiled attempt to channel Hockey Night in Canada's firebrand Don Cherry

Mike Milbury’s crass attempt to emulate Cherry is even more misguided. For all Cherry’s negatives, there is a passion, intelligence, curmudgeonness and sly wink, even. He also has a straight man foil to usually play off of.

Milbury has been trying to hit that “edge” for a while now, performing for some sort of outrage-meter, but he does not have the guile, brains or charisma to pull it off. Nor does he have the network smarts around him to offset blunders.

Nevermind Milbury’s idiotic insinuation (and Roenick agreeing) that Dan Boyle’s slew foot on Alexander Semin was basically acceptable because “Boyle will come after you.” Dan Boyle will likely face suspension for that, hurting the Canadian team’s depth for their next game versus the surprising Slovakia. (Sean Leahy of Puck Daddy reports the opposite…where a spokesman states that they do not usually look at minor penalties)

Announcers being none-to-sharp and apologists for illegal plays and hits are a dime a dozen.

But when you are seeking to rip a Russian team for their poor heartless play and meltdown, looking for a ethnic insult is none too bright and might have serious repercussions.

Moreover, it insults Canadians and their team who really played an A game last night with their outright drubbing of the Russians.

One has to wonder if Milbury’s comments will even phase the Russians since it is more an American piece of trash ripping them for being Eurotrash. With one of their worst Olympic showings, they have much bigger things to consider and mull over than this fodder.

Long Islanders, familiar with Milbury’s antics and soundbites are more up in arms. The NY Islander team, stamped with Milbury’s GM trash-effects, is taking years to turn the corner from his anti-King Midas touch. The hate and derision for him that emanates out of New York is substantial and well-founded. It could be found on twitter last night, as mouths went agape over his comments.

Yet it wasn’t only hockey fans that were dumbfounded. NY Ranger’s player Sean Avery, no stranger to controversy, suspension or criticism blurted out via twitter:

“Did Mike Milbury just say EuroTra$h on CNBC, not good!”

As the Olympics has faced some criticism for tape-delayed prime time spots and the brainless placement of the huge US vs Canada hockey game on MSNBC, choosing Ice Dancing in a clear attempt to pander to an advertising demographic, one has to wonder if Milbury’s comments will be the icing on the cake to make NBC brass blink.

For hockey fans, all too familiar with Milbury’s antics and poor-man attempt to be relevant, we just shake our heads and hope that the game itself gets notoriety, not the idiots who talk about it.