Photos were taken after loss to Canucks
About those pictures.
You've probably noticed by now the Daily Herald’s editors decided not to publish the photos that appeared on the Internet of shirtless Blackhawks Patrick Kane, Kris Versteeg and John Madden partying in a limousine with several fully-clothed women in Vancouver.
The reason? There were no laws broken or team rules violated. It was three athletes going out on their own personal time away from the rink. If they are guilty of anything it's using poor judgment to allow photos to be snapped, especially from Kane considering his incident with a taxi driver last August.
It should be pointed out that the Hawks confirmed the pictures were taken on Saturday night AFTER the team's 5-1 loss to the Canucks and with the players knowing coach Joel Quenneville had given them Sunday off.
Anyone who thinks the players should have gone back to their hotel room, ticked off because of the loss, turned on the TV and ordered room service is living in a fantasy world.
The Hawks were angry with themselves for losing. I was in the dressing room at GM Place and saw it. But it was game 52 in an 82-game schedule, the fifth stop on an eight-game, 15-day road trip. Isn't this a team that has proved itself time and time again this season to earn the benefit of the doubt from fans for an occasional loss? Look at the body of work here. It was one loss in January.
These were three players on a 21-man roster photographed. Where do you think the others were that night? I guarantee you most of them, if not all of them, were out on the town as well. All that is missing is the photo evidence.
This just in: Pro athletes like to go out on the road. Stop the presses.
And one last thing: For anyone to even remotely compare these limo pictures to Theo Fleury getting beat up in a Columbus strip club in January 2003 as leading to a possible collapse by the Hawks here is as off base and shows a complete and total lack of knowledge of either situation.
As long as they perform on the ice I could care less if they perform all night long off the ice and lets face it guys "wouldn't it be nice to be on the scoresheet all the time. I am beginnig to really like Kaner because he is a leader on the ice and a real clamsmasher in the extra sessions. You only live once in this life and if smashing clams is on the agenda, more power to them. I do agree though that I think the clams could have been a little better looking. OH well, at 2 am they all look pretty good!
I agree with everything Tim S. said regarding the pictures. It was nobody's business what they do in thier spare time as long as it was legit. What they did was not illegal and quite frankly normal for kids thier age.
The guy is the sun-Times that compared this event to the Theo Fleury incident is nuts!!!
Good Job Tim!!!!
2 things:
1) Tim had to report on this story, regardless how much a non-issue it really is in terms of the team and their play. Every other outlet reported on it and the decision by the DH not to publish the pics shows that they clearly weren't looking to blow it out of proportion. And...
2) As far as I'm concerned, after last night's effort I think EVERY Hawk needs a spin in the limo with some "fans" and the Gun Show after all games!
we know they all feel better after their devasting loss and feel better emotionally and, erm, physcially!
You have to attribute that win to the Toews line last night. After that 3rd goal was scored, their line game out and had a wonderful shift in the SJ zone to help swing the momentum...after that, the other lines came out with the same pace and took over the game. Huet had a huge stop on a Heatley blast and I was relieved they were able to make it out with 2 points.
They were jacked up after that overtime winner. Carolina is playing good hockey right now so tomorrow night is not going to be a push over. I can't wait for them to get home. Vancouver has one hell of a test coming their way.
I couldn't get over how many turnovers the Sharks created from their forecheck....
The finest writer in town, Tim Sassone, wouldn't stoop to even mention this nonsense. It's beneath you, Tim.
I'll bet the guys who played in the 60's, 70's and 80's get down on their knees and thank the heavens that there was no internet or media overkill when they played. Bobby Hull would have ended up in pictures on Facebook everyday for a variety of reasons. Dino Sucks would have needed several assistants to handle the mountain of press releases.
As long as young professional athletes have free time they will always go out on the town. Big deal.
This is not a new abhorent behavior or anything different than Hockey on the road has seen forever.
Let the rag paper that owns FoxNews waste their space to cover it, and we will just find any garabge we want to fill our days with on the internet without their help, thank you!
Good call Timothy!
You know those girls said, "We'll take our shirts off, but you have to take yours off first." So, being gentlemen, the guys obliged. Unfortunately, we ended up having to look at the wrong set of photos. Where are the tatas, ladies?
these guys get pushed around; they are soft! get on those weight machines! bench presses! come on!
These guys are minor league. The guys from the 70's & some from the 80's make these guys look like the kids that they are. I wish all this was before the game, because we would have an excuse for the ugly loss.
3 thoughts here.
1) On a serious note. John Madden is married, no? Imagine how the Mrs. feels. John's got to answer to her. His least concern on this are the fans opinion.
2) What exactly did they do that was so wrong? Not a lifestyle I agree with, but c'mon people!
3) Biggest issue, as others have noted. What's with the girls here? I mean, c'mon guys. You're professional hockey players, IN Canada! And that's the best you can do? Seriously? Now, that's where the fine should come from. "Guys, we're fining you each $1,000 for lack of taste" - Joel Quenneville
If Tim wasn't in good with the boys and the organization....this will certainly help. This saves some aggravation courtesy of a Sassone life vest. lol
They're havin' a blast. So what. I will say, those people in Vancouver must really hate the Hawks. Do they do this with every team? If they do they need a life.
probably so, mike,you know the deal, how's things been out west lately, you get a kick out of the way these guys tee off on me just because i ask that they get some guys with a case of the red ass, when you sit behind a desk all day ,you don't appreciate good old fashioned hard work! stay safe, we'll run in to you soon, scroll down and see what some of the guys replied to my comments about being more respectful of the hardworking fans money, some of these guys probably burn money to keep their fireplaces going in the winter! later buddy!
I don't know whether to laugh or cry
It does make me feel better knowing that it was after the game. The fact that these guys are blowing off steam and having a good time and it has become a "story" is garbage. Who doesn't let their hair down every now and then? Even if pictures are taken. Big deal. All of these guys know that come playoff time, the partying will stop and the focus will be 100% on whichever team they're trying to take out.
It's the Canucks who were trying to make the biggest deal about it. Enjoy the win Nucks. You can win all the regular season games you want. Come playoff time, you belong to the Hawks!
Really JJ?
How in the ^%#$ are the canucks responsible? Did they send out a tabloid photog'?
It showed up on the Kurtenblog because it was funny.
Stop trying to turn everything into an us vs them thing.
I gave Timmy the stick because I thought he was wrong before...give him credit here.
100% bang on Timmy?
This is nothing.
They were in a limo...not drinking and driving.
Hockey players are allowed to have fun too!
It was in the column titled, 'Ladd Laughs Off Kesler Comment'. It was directly issued to you, and you backed away....while I/we waited for your response.
How are we supposed to take you seriously when you cannot respond to a direct challenge?
This is not MSNBC, dude.
Go read the challenge and respond.
No animosity. Just curiosity.
Here we go........
Spot on Tim. They were on there own time and frankly it's none of our business. The morality police really need to get off their high horses.
what ever you say tim! we'll all go out and blow off steam when the invoices come in the mail and there is a 100% increase in season ticket prices next year, better yet in 2 or 3 weeks when the playoff tickets come! thats right, most of us are in the 50-70 large a year with families, but thats ok, the mindset now is if you drop out somee 100 k a year lakeview yuppie will jump right in. good for the guys to have some fun, but how about being discrete and smarter. 2 times in 1 year pat, ain't that like rubbing dog crap in the fans faces who go out and work in below zero weather some in the trades others who are in utilities, not to say the fans who strap a gun on their side or go into burning buildings everyday,possibly not coming home to their families after there shift. these are the true fans who pay these kids way! on second thought you played like a bunch of -----y's against the canucks so i guess have at it! all you hard working fans that love this team understand where i am coming from, we don't want this kid to turn into another mark bell or tank johnson>
Don't rep the rest of us by saying "here's our take".
And second of all, Lighten up Francis!
.....and I'll bet you've followed a bad day at work with a fun evening/weekend.
What is with busting on Lakeview "yuppies". If you can't afford to live in Lakeview it's no one's fault but your own. Give it a rest. That's the second post citing "lakeview yuppies" What are you a plumber from Alsip- who cares??? AS far as the limo- again these guys did nothing wrong but exercise poor judgment in being photographed(Tim said this) P.S.- I don't live in Lakeview. (anymore)
not quite buddy, i'll give you a hint...it's very hot and can kill...been doin' it for 35years, might add in most of the cities worst area's, i agree they did nothing wrong ,just frustrated because it appears they're pricing some of us right out of the game,already moved from the 100 to 300 level,and you see this crap in the papers.you know the drill.3-1 after 1,let's see if we can hold it.
So what you've been doing for 35 years, if the market dictated that most of your peers were making 25-50% over what you were making, you'd suck it up and continue to be underpayed for the 'little guy'? When's the last time you turned down a pay raise or cost of living increase? I'm a 300 level season ticket holder that I split w/friends and am in the 45-60k/year range depending on the year. Put someone like us in the same situations, we'd most likely be enjoying the fruits of our labors, too. I just get sick and tired of this holier than thou crap and the, "If I were making that much money, I'd do things differently..............". Save it! You're not and you can't pretend to know what it's like to be a world class athlete! Enjoy the fact the Hawks are a great team and are playing great hockey this year. Period!
My wife and I used to live in Lakeview; worked our butts off. City taxes are cheaper than the burbs if you don't have kids in school yet.
Not how they party in their free time. Sounds like they were de-stressing after the game. Have fun boys! You only live once!
Is the ugly chicks in the limo with the boys. Now that's embarrassing. I could do better on a three day bender without a shower than the action they picked up in that limo.
I could care less that 20+ yr olds on a non game evening. As long as the partying doesn't conflict with their abilities to perform on the ice I could care less what these guys are doing as long as they aren't being outright hooligans.
Let's beat San Jose!
... might have turned them down.
There are PLENTY of hotter women in Vancity too!
That was actually the first thing I thought when I saw them...that's the best a millionaire hockey play can do?
Maybe if you're a millionaire, you get tired of the hot chicks. You want someone who appreciates you and not just your money. \m/
Amazing we never heard from you until the victory over our tired team!!! Not one response during the playoff oust and the games the canucks lost to the hawks this year!
After the 14 game road trip ...i have no doubt youll slither back under that rock!!
>Thanks for another excellent update Tim
>Technology is suffocating today's pro athlete and to a lesser extent, all of us
>Harmless fun can now be an instant scandal
>What a waste of time, energy, and attention
>The "Greek chorus" sits in endless review of the actions of others -- until they are caught in the act themselves -- and then beg for compassion
Dont care what players do on their own time and It is their lives and no one owns that part of them. Its up to them to manage their own lives and they only owe the NHL the effort they put in!
Im envious that a 21 year old has the bucks and women but hey all the power to them! (When i served for my country i was doing the same thing and in many different countries)
Im surprised Tim S wasnt caught in a compromising position too so far away from home...lol
Anyone think that the 1960s teams were any different? They just didn't have the internets back then. Bobby could probably still drink these guys under the table and then play better!
Aint it the truth!! Magnuson probably stayed up for 2 days on a bender and never remembered the game in between!
First post here...
These pictures aren't even close to as bad as anything that any high school or college student posts on Facebook on a daily basis (pictures of underage drinking/partying, throwing up, beer bongs, smoking drugs, etc...).
Yea they're athletes...so what. They go out and enjoy themselves too. What I'm more upset about is the quality of women the pictures were with. I know Kane and Versteeg can do better than that.
I don't care if they have a "Animal House" party after every game. Just get the goaltending up to snuff (Huet) and they can party like it's 1961.
Guys blowing off steam. This is no big deal. The only one the may have some consequences is Madden... if he is married. All this is is fodder for people who have no clue or no life. Boys will be boys. Especially young ones. These kids ( most of the team except for Madden) are in the early 20's. How many of us did things we wouldn't want published at that age? Just because they are professional athletes does not mean they do not do some of the things the rest of their age group does. GET OVER IT. Better yet, IGNORE IT. I haven't seen the pics and have no desire too. I just hope they had some fun!!
They had a let down after Detroit and now are looking at the Sharks. This team is talented and resilient.
That is why I come to the Daily Herald to read up on the Hawks... unlike the Sun-Times, who now decides to jump in on the Hawks PR blitz and post those pictures all over the place today... that is disgusting.
Hawks players going out after a loss with the next day off? Who cares, I would've done the same.
Let he without sin cast the first stone. Great to know it was after a game with the next day being a day off. I might be more worried if they didn't cut loose. We surely don't need alcoholics and other types of addictions on the team, but there is absolutely no reason to believe that's the case. While athletes need to be held to a slightly higher standard, it doesn't mean that they're not people. Kane was great in Edmonton...the next game after the "limo".
Take it easy sixthandeight. If you start quoting scripture around here you are going to get voted down and ridiculed like poor ol' Scards. Decent hockey options never see the light of day if you correlate Pucks to any 'dreaded scripture' :)
BTW: The chicks were dogs...but everyone needs to go slummin' once in awhile. Ahhhh to be young and rich...
Dead on.