There’s no shame in losing – at least when there is an honest effort to win.  Right? Ever wonder why hockey players specifically (atheletes in general) have the same pat lines following an abysmal showing  at a crucial time?  “Well, you know, we really needed to win, and we’re not happy with ourselves, but, well you know….” ”They were just hungrier than we were”  “We just didn’t show up tonight”.

I am just so sick of hearing these lame excuses every time the spoiled brats can’t be bothered to show up for “work”.  Let them try working in the real world.  How many of us are pampered the way these guys are? Not a lot I’ll bet.  What about the parent who can’t afford a tank of gas for the family car,  let alone buy tickets to take their kid(s) to a hockey game, only to see their heros lose again?  And when it’s all over, hear them spit out the same “we didn’t deserve to win” condescending lines?

There’s no way the team or the players are going to give back the price of a ticket for a lackluster performance.  But here’s a suggestion for the pro teams who want to incite their players to play  their “money’s worth” for each game.

Remove 10% of a players’ game paycheck and give it to charity.  Not the whole team. (Unless the whole team was at fault). But just the ones that couldn’t tell which end they were supposed to shoot at.  I’ll bet you get their attention pretty damned fast.

Just a thought…..