"... I just read Tom Poti’s comments and am very concerned. We are truly working these matters. We...

"... I just read Tom Poti’s comments and am very concerned. We are truly working these matters. We are very detailed about what we need to do as to temperature, timing, humidity and the like.... We are on it as is the building.... We are doing our best. We are making progress but we want to have great ice NOT acceptable ice and I hear Tom Poti loud and clear."

- Ted Leonsis, via Ted's Take

over 3 years ago J.P. 11 comments 1 recs |

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Comments

So much for the “What’s complaining about ice quality in the media going to solve?” theory.

by David Getz on Feb 8, 2009 4:27 PM EST reply actions

Apparently if you do it enough it will work as effectively as acting like an adult and a professional. By the way, this is solved?

Russian Machine Never Breaks

by macvechkin on Feb 9, 2009 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

I didn’t say the problem was solved, I said that assuming Poti’s comments weren’t going to solve anything turned out not to be right. It got Leonsis to admit that the ice is a problem and, assuming he follows through on his word, is giving him extra motivation to do whatever’s possible to fix it.

And I don’t think it’s tsk-tsk at Poti for not “acting like an adult and a professional”. We’re talking about not only the potential difference between winning and losing but the impact of the health and livelihood of the players. It’s entirely possible that, in addition to having to suffer through an injury, the poor ice leading to injuries could cost someone millions of dollars in earnings, if it hasn’t already. That, coupled with Leonsis’ previous “the ice is fine, we don’t need to do anything, if it were an issue people would be talking about it” approach makes Poti’s comments more than acceptable.

by David Getz on Feb 9, 2009 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

I’m glad the players, owner and presumably the GM are on the same page now. I cannot be convinced that there wasn’t a classier way of handling it, i.e. players confronting management directly, in a more professional manner. If any of us had an issue with the workplace would we not sit down with our boss and discuss our concerns? That is my contention. I will now abstain from discussing the ice surface at Verizon Center until the 2009-2010 season.

Russian Machine Never Breaks

by macvechkin on Feb 10, 2009 12:59 AM EST up reply actions

But we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. We don’t know if Poti and/or other players have talked to Leonsis, the coaching staff, or whomever the liaison between the locker room and the owner’s box is. All we know is that there has been an obvious problem, Leonsis has insisted it isn’t there, and it hasn’t been fixed. Given what’s at stake for the players, I think whatever means is necessary to get it fixed is acceptable at this point.

by David Getz on Feb 10, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

That’s a change of tune from “it’s not an issue”, isn’t it? Well, it’s a welcome one – when opposing players and coaches say that the bad ice tilts things in their favor, and the players complain as openly as Tom Poti did … it’s got to have an effect. Let’s hope something actually gets done. I’ll accept not having activities on the ice between periods if it means that the ice will be better for our boys.

Of course, if Las Vegas can manage good ice, why can’t we?

by gotsparkly on Feb 8, 2009 7:38 PM EST reply actions

Amen…seriously – i know they love the sunday night game, but with 7 nights in the week I still think they can schedule the Caps, Wizards, & Hoyas so they don’t play on the same day…or shit, put the wizards at night when there’s no such thing as “bad floor” (except there was that college bball game in Richmond once where the floor was sweaty because of the ice). It’s despicable – I wouldn’t care if every player on our team didn’t either bitch about it or get injured on it. Fix the ice!

by sincitycapsfan on Feb 8, 2009 8:02 PM EST reply actions

In all honesty, fuck basketball. It’s a boring sport to watch, and there’s simply no reason that arguably the worst team in the NBA should get priority over arguably the best team in the NHL. Georgetown, you’re ok, in my book. I’ll let you slide. But really, I could care less about basketball, especially Wizards basketball. It’s a billion times easier to just put the plywood on the floor than ice. Basketball games should not be before hockey games. Get out, basketball. Move the Wizards to Hamilton. I hear they want a pro sports team.

Football's boring. Get over it.

by Whiter Mage on Feb 9, 2009 2:08 AM EST up reply actions

I don't remember anyone

offering to move the sorry last place Caps out of the Wizards’ way when Jordan was here drumming up sell-out after sell-out. Its good for the city to have multiple pro-sports teams, we just need to work out the logistics.

MILLIONS of people watch Basketball. Sounds like you are not one of them (nor am I outside of a few college games), but “boring sport to watch” is a bit skewed.

The Verizon/MCI Center has been host to the rent-paying capitals for all these years when we were lucky to fill 60% of the seats on a good night. Now that we’re the ones getting the attention and the fans doesn’t mean we get to tell everyone to get the fuck out of our way.

by Wisper on Feb 9, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

Well, they have scheduled every Sunday game

for the rest of the season as a 3:00 PM start, so maybe that’s what they are going for with that.

And, well… I think its safe to bet that the Wizards won’t be making the playoffs, so any home games in the Caps’ post-season should hopefully be better.

by Wisper on Feb 9, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions