Lets all relax

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all I am going to quote Ruppy Hailey from another thread but I want each and everyone of you to think about what I have to say before responding.

I would like to propose that all of the backhanded comments and the sarcastic remarks end now. There are a lot of things that have happened over the past few months that I totally disagree with and I have bit my lip the entire time. I have decided to continue to take the high road and leave well enough alone. Perhaps we should all bite our lips. My father used to tell me that if I had nothing good to say, don't say anything at all. My father was a very wise man and I'm going to choose to follow his advice. Here's to hoping that everyone will decide to do the same and just simply move forward.

We all need to relax and take a chill pill. As Ruppy said there will be problems with either league. Instead of jumping all over each other we need to be at peace. The inline hockey world is being torn apart as we have all drawn lines in the sand. I am spending numerous time off from the game I love due to some personal issues. We all need to sit back and stop bashing each other. The children who are our future are not going to want to be involved with this sport at the top level of the adult game because we can not behave like adults.

Slinging insults and kicking each other while we are down is not going to help the growth of the sport. The people who ultimately care about the direction of our sport will make it successful. We all need to just stay off of each others backs.

Message to the AIHL PEOPLE: Stay off of the threads relating to PIHA. There is no need to comment on any of their issues as we all know they have their problems but they need to be able to handle them with out constant blasting.

Message to the PIHA PEOPLE: Stay off the threads relating to the AIHL. There is no need to comment on any of their issues as we can see that a problem has arised in the first week of play.

Everybody at some point made a choice. I for one did and will be handling it myself the way I feel is necessary in my life. We all make choices and go down certain roads. Some of the choices we all have made recently have ripped friendships apart and there are people who use to talk to each other weekly that will not even give each other the time of day.

Some of the people I have a lot of respect on here for have taken some shots at others below the belt including myself. Lets all grow up and act like adults and be role models for our future the kids.

The world of inline hockey is small as it is and from hearing from an outsiders opinion last night when I was reading the stuff on hear they made me reflect.
The person I was sitting and discussing this with was my wife. We discussed our future and when we have children would they be playing organized sports and what not. The first thing she said is if the inline hockey world doesn't get a clue about whats important the kids our children will never be playing in this sport. Unfortunately I have to agree with her on this and it sickens me to say that.

So I am asking you all to take your gloves and put them on. Hold hands and have a group hug. Whatever it is necessary to bring peace back to the world of inline hockey.

Take a look at the Nightmare-Lunatics thread. The sanctioning question came up and they all said it was just about playing hockey. Remember those words guys. ITS JUST ABOUT PLAYING HOCKEY. Don't ruin it while you still have the chance.

[PGHhockey]

Drink more beer. Preferably with other teams, with refs, and with other leagues.

Makes things more fun in the end.

[minutemen]

AMEN, to just play hockey and drinking beer. Should be a fun year for everyone.

[swampdonkey89]

There's an old college Rugby tradition that I always found pretty interesting. Whenever a game was finished, the hosting team would throw a party and invite the visiting team to drink with them. In the small world of American Rugby it sort of made sense. Inline Hockey is an even smaller community and in 2 years of playing, there are many familiar faces whereever you go. I always found it fun to see some members from the other teams at bars near the rinks and hotels. Something to stew on....

[-venom-]

Well said, Jeff.

I think the on-the-rink stuff is one thing, totally..... but the friendships and commitment to the game itself are (well, should be) enduring and enough to really get this sport back on the map.

God knows, I've made enough enemies on the rink. Last thing We need to do is all become enemies OFF the rink.

[yokes]

Being that I am one of the people that replied I want it known I could careless about the leagues differences and honestly want to see both succeed cause it can only help this sport. If I had a chance to play in both I would so I lean towards neither being that I have friends in both leagues. To be honest I really wanted to know what had happened, sometimes there are circumstances to situations that are explainable. So in short i was curious to see how things went.

[Doug Jones]

Jeff:


Obviously, I agree and will stick with PIHA and posting only in regard to PIHA. Best of luck to your team this year.

PS Mike Messa is still around?

[quick_dry]

There's an old college Rugby tradition that I always found pretty interesting. Whenever a game was finished, the hosting team would throw a party and invite the visiting team to drink with them. In the small world of American Rugby it sort of made sense. Inline Hockey is an even smaller community and in 2 years of playing, there are many familiar faces whereever you go. I always found it fun to see some members from the other teams at bars near the rinks and hotels. Something to stew on....

Agreed, is this not a common American thing to do because it just isn't 'the done thing' in America (in other sports as well) or due to the nature of American tournamments (or both)?

At our national tournaments, there is always a big party on the last night - be it official or everyone planning to end up at the same clubs.
Similar for international tournaments (worlds or otherwise), you'll end up at the bar introducing each other to the popular shot drink from back home. While the Canadians are there mixing and mingling, the US counterparts seem conspicuously absent.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Jeff:


Obviously, I agree and will stick with PIHA and posting only in regard to PIHA. Best of luck to your team this year.

PS Mike Messa is still around?

I havent seen Mike in a few months and dont miss him at all. (PM me I can give you some info you might want)

Unfortunately as I stated I do not have a team anymore as I had to fold the Fury do to some personal circumstances that I will not discuss on IHC.

Good luck to the pirates this year and if you guys are at Marple this year I will try and shoot down to say hi.

[Mtour71]

Quick..Doubt that. I have heard many stories from the US guys (both FIRS & IIHF). I can say that they are very social with the other countries. In and out of the Bars..

[NLane]

Nice to know the Destroyers had it right in 2000-2001. Met some great people that year around the keg.

[Doug Jones]

I havent seen Mike in a few months and dont miss him at all. (PM me I can give you some info you might want)

Unfortunately as I stated I do not have a team anymore as I had to fold the Fury do to some personal circumstances that I will not discuss on IHC.

Good luck to the pirates this year and if you guys are at Marple this year I will try and shoot down to say hi.

Great look forward to meeting you!

[FrankFrank]

Nice to know the Destroyers had it right in 2000-2001. Met some great people that year around the keg.

Ah the good ole days...

F~F

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Ah the good ole days...

F~F

Frank you really are that old!

[-venom-]

Frank you really are that old!

you kidding me?


In Frank's rookie year they still had square wheels and pucks chiseled out of bedrock