Vote for Rory

[hockechamp14 0]

He's still very much correct that this little movement is stupid. I can't even remember the last time I watched the All-Star game with any interest. I like the skills competition (more so when they had the actual team winners involved) but the game itself is brutal.

The movement was actually started as a mean prank. Whoever started it wanted to try to get the worst NHL player into the allstar game, and Fitzpatrick had a -50 for his career.

Once it was actually given some serious media attention is when they changed it to the whole "elect a hard working grinder" shennanigainery.

Isn't the guy who started it friends with rory?

[kosydar 0]

Right now he is second in voting for the West for defensemen, ahead of Lidstrom and Pronger. The whole system is a joke. Alfie, Redden, Satan, Zhitnik, Raycroft, and McCabe all shouldn't be nominated for voting. I can't say much about the West, because I don't watch many of their games, but players should play in the All Star game based on what they've done this year, not based on who they are, what team they play for, or how well they did last year.

[DarkStar50 679]

If Roman Turek, Peter Buzek, Dmitri Yushkevich, and Radek Bonk in 1999-2000; Sean Burke, Jason Allison, Roman Cechmanek, Marcus Ragnarsson in 2000-2001; Mark Parrish, Mike York, Tommy Salo, Jaroslav Modry, Espen Knutsen in 2001-2002; Tom Poti, Jocelyn Thibault in 2002-2003; and Adrian Aucoin, Nick Boynton, and Filip Kuba in 2003-2004 can make the All-Star Game, so can Rory Fitzpatrick!!

[NuggyBuggy 0]

you see what a mockery it makes out of the league

It's not making a mockery out of the league, it's (intentionally or not) making a mockery about the All-star voting system, which is fine by me. If it's wrong to vote in a fan favorite, or if it's wrong for a player to play because of his past credentials and not his current stats, then voting should be abolished and the league should just come up with objective criteria by which players make the team, and have a computer spit out the choices. What's so great about a system which inherently favors teams with a large fan base anyways ?

If we are not willing to live with the fans' choices then the logical alternative is take that choice away.

[jjtt99 0]

In today's local paper (I live in Vancouver) they have an article saying the league is okay with Rory-mania and they are enjoying the spirit of the fans trying to get him in.

Not sure if that's the PR spin, or if they legitimally think it's okay. What the hell, I'm game, I just placed my second vote for him hoping it will make an interesting twist to the usually uneventful All Star game.

[kosydar 0]

If Roman Turek, Peter Buzek, Dmitri Yushkevich, and Radek Bonk in 1999-2000; Sean Burke, Jason Allison, Roman Cechmanek, Marcus Ragnarsson in 2000-2001; Mark Parrish, Mike York, Tommy Salo, Jaroslav Modry, Espen Knutsen in 2001-2002; Tom Poti, Jocelyn Thibault in 2002-2003; and Adrian Aucoin, Nick Boynton, and Filip Kuba in 2003-2004 can make the All-Star Game, so can Rory Fitzpatrick!!

Allison ended up with 74 points in 01, and had 95 the year before. Thats understandable. Aucoin had 44 pts and was a +29 in 04, so its not like he was trash. Those are the two that stick out as deserving to be there out of your list, but there are definitely some on there who didn't.

[DarkStar50 679]

16 for 18 ain't bad! Some of those guys were chosen when they had the stupid World vs North America format. Scotty Bowman coached the World group. How bassackwards is that?

All-Star games are just glorified exhibiton games. We all know that. As silly as it is for Rory to go, but if elected, it adds some laughs to something that should not be taken seriously for one second.

[mack 44]

How many of those players had to be there so their team had a rep at the game too? The one thing I look at this year to show how horrible the selection process is Shanny's sitting at like 17th for forwards.

[Chadd 916]

For what it's worth Cechmanek usually had good numbers as well.

[RadioGaGa 162]

If fans can vote ANY player in...that's fine...but call it the Fan's Choice Game...not the ALL STAR game.

There has to be allowable certainty that the players who play will be Star players...

If Rory truly is a fan favorite in Vancouver and gets in on that merit...maybe the fan voting shouldn't be for the Starters...but for a 6th position. Fan's Choice. Let them (us) put in whoever they want, but for Neidermeyer, Lidstrom or Pronger to lose a starting spot (they will obviously still be going) to Rory doesn't seem right to me either.

The online "campaign" spots are quite clever though...

"Scott Neidermyer calls himself a hardworking Defenseman...But, his skating has been described as 'effortless'. Do you really want an 'effortless' player at the All Star Game? Visit VoteforRory.com"

:lol:

[phshockey53 0]

just finished voting for rory! can't wait to see him in the big game!

[KYHockey3 0]

i saw rorys story on sportscenter earlier. its an awsome idea, i sure hope he makes it!!!

[kobcc 0]

Byline on TSN tonight about how Gretzky doesn't like this idea and somehow wants the NHL to change the voting format so that only deserving players get allowed to play in the All-Star game.

[Alias81 0]

Well Gretzky can sit on it, it isn't like this game is serious.

[Smitty34 0]

I saw the comercial for his website on PTI with Mike Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser. It was a hilarious add.

I do have to say though, I never heard of him until a couple days ago, and I've never seen him play...but the guy has 0 points this season, and he is the second leading vote-getter :o jeeezz

[mack 44]

He may as well take it and top off his outstanding career with being regarded to as the NHL's version of "Lucas."

[TBLfan 25]

Dmitry Afanasenkov for the east next year!!!!!!!!! :lol:

[jjtt99 0]

Gretz isn't too keen on the idea. Here is a short article about it with lots of reader feedback below. Based on many of the reactions, it looks like Gretzky is no longer a man who can do no wrong.

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/hockey_hear...y_irks_gretzky/

[DarkStar50 679]

The heck with 99. As Dick Vitale would say for Rory: "That's awesome, baby!"

[LkptTiger 1]

He may as well take it and top off his outstanding career with being regarded to as the NHL's version of "Lucas."

That made my night.

Sorry, boys: I'm with the Great One on this one. Then again, I do consider him to be my equivalent of the Christian 'Jesus,' so his opinion gives me a warped perspective in the matter.

[DarkStar50 679]

So last night on HNIC, both Cherry and Hrudey were totally anti-Rory. I was a bit surprised with Grapes since he is usually for the grinder guy hockey player. Hrudey was more upset since he never went to a A/S game, why should Rory.

[Chadd 916]

I'm sure he's a great guy but the NHL should "fix" the voting if he's in the top two. It's utterly embarrassing. It's a sad thing when "fans" of a sport seek to publicly mock it for their own amusement.

[dietzie27 0]

I think this whole rory thing is good and bad. It's good for the fact that maybe people will give more "respect" to hard working guys, but it is making a mockery of the NHL. Just my $.02

[Eazy_b97 1]

That hard working excuse is garbage. If you want to give it to a hard worker, try and get someone like Laraque, Kilger, Stoll, etc.. in the allstar game. Don't go for a fringe NHL d-man.

[KC83 2]

rory should not goto the all-star game, but stop the voting process