Nice of you to show up Alex!

barry33 · Guru

Nice of you to show up Alex!

Jonny G · Senior Member

Hopefully Kovy's and Koivu's great play/desire/grit at the Olympics (so far) will be brought back home.

Power · Veteran Member

Jonny G wrote:

Hopefully Kovy's and Koivu's great play/desire/grit at the Olympics (so far) will be brought back home.

Yep, i agree on this. Hopefully they maintain this form and joy of playing hockey when they are back from olympics.

Chris68 · Veteran Member

barry33 wrote:

You are getting 5 million bucks a year to play, regardless of whether Ronald McDonald is your center.

is that our new 1st line center?????

barry33 · Guru

Chris68 wrote:

barry33 wrote: You are getting 5 million bucks a year to play, regardless of whether Ronald McDonald is your center. is that our new 1st line center?????

If it would make Alex happy and show up lets go get him

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Well I tried watching that game today and, more importantly, Kovalev, unbiasedly today. I have been watching Alex closely the last 2 weeks he played with the habs before the break because, to be frank, he has been starting to really piss me off with his one game on, 10 games off attitude. My conclusion? WHat I saw of #27 today, and in these Olympics, nauseated me. Here is what I saw today: Second and third efforts today. Kovalev went hard to the front of the net on 4 occassions, getting mugged a couple times for his efforts (when was the last time you saw him do that in a habs uni?). On several occassions he actually battled for the puck in the corners. He actually played defense today and backchecked. I was really beginning to think that he did not know where his own side of the blueline was in Montreal (Rumour has it that the other players had to introduce Alex to Theo and Huet at the last party because he never got close enough to them to know who they were). I saw him throw 4 checks! Thats right! He hit someone 4 times! That is 3 more hits then he has thrown all year in Montreal. He passed the puck 6 times!!!!!!!! Not a typo! Alex passed the puck 6 times today!! Who was that masked man? He scored another goal..according to my calculations that would be 4 goals in 6 games. He has scored 10 more then that all season in a habs uniform Now to head some of you off at the pass let me say this. No I am not dumb. I know he was playing with a couple good players. But he has played all year with Koivu who I think is a pretty good player in his own right. And puhhhhlllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeease do not tell me what a good playoff asset our 5 million dollar salary cap eater is. If we do not squeak into the playoffs (and we will not unless Alex the floater plays more like this in a Habs uniform) it is kinda irrelevant isn't it? The extra effort I see from this guy, the sweat, the passion, have absolutely NOTHING to do with his linemates and has everything to do with one word... D-E-S-I-R-E. Some of these guys do not have the desire to put out on a regular basis during an 84 game schedule. Yet they can go to the Olympics and play 3 games in 3 days and look like they are born again. And I really do not want to hear about surrounding these guys with players they like. Are GM's supposed to trade half the team so that you can make one or 2 guys happy with their linemates? You are getting 5 million bucks a year to play, regardless of whether Ronald McDonald is your center. As Habs fans, we should expect more of a guy we are paying this kind of money to. We should DEMAND more. I know eneough about the game to know when a guy has been floating and Alex is the poster child for that. He has more talent then half the habs put together, yet shows 1/10 of the desire most of the time.

Nope. The logic is all wrong. Well though out. But all wrong. These guys play hard in a habs uni...the game is different in the olympics.

No blinders Barry...just logic.

rwp2le · Guru

Barry, have you been watching him closely for the last 2 weeks? If so how come you are not saying it how it is, he has been our best player over the past 2 weeks. HANDS DOWN! I will agree that he has been guilty of not showing up, but for the past 6 or 7 games he has been great. I hope his showing in the Olympics will step his play up, and if your gonna be pissed at anyone make it Koviu, he has been totally invisible in our line up, but it tearing up the Olympics. Damn, you and I are never gonna see eye to eye on this topic. Oh well, that is what makes us fanatics right? Different opinions that are always right. Keep the comments coming Barry.

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: Well I tried watching that game today and, more importantly, Kovalev, unbiasedly today. I have been watching Alex closely the last 2 weeks he played with the habs before the break because, to be frank, he has been starting to really piss me off with his one game on, 10 games off attitude. My conclusion? WHat I saw of #27 today, and in these Olympics, nauseated me. Here is what I saw today: Second and third efforts today. Kovalev went hard to the front of the net on 4 occassions, getting mugged a couple times for his efforts (when was the last time you saw him do that in a habs uni?). On several occassions he actually battled for the puck in the corners. He actually played defense today and backchecked. I was really beginning to think that he did not know where his own side of the blueline was in Montreal (Rumour has it that the other players had to introduce Alex to Theo and Huet at the last party because he never got close enough to them to know who they were). I saw him throw 4 checks! Thats right! He hit someone 4 times! That is 3 more hits then he has thrown all year in Montreal. He passed the puck 6 times!!!!!!!! Not a typo! Alex passed the puck 6 times today!! Who was that masked man? He scored another goal..according to my calculations that would be 4 goals in 6 games. He has scored 10 more then that all season in a habs uniform Now to head some of you off at the pass let me say this. No I am not dumb. I know he was playing with a couple good players. But he has played all year with Koivu who I think is a pretty good player in his own right. And puhhhhlllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeease do not tell me what a good playoff asset our 5 million dollar salary cap eater is. If we do not squeak into the playoffs (and we will not unless Alex the floater plays more like this in a Habs uniform) it is kinda irrelevant isn't it? The extra effort I see from this guy, the sweat, the passion, have absolutely NOTHING to do with his linemates and has everything to do with one word... D-E-S-I-R-E. Some of these guys do not have the desire to put out on a regular basis during an 84 game schedule. Yet they can go to the Olympics and play 3 games in 3 days and look like they are born again. And I really do not want to hear about surrounding these guys with players they like. Are GM's supposed to trade half the team so that you can make one or 2 guys happy with their linemates? You are getting 5 million bucks a year to play, regardless of whether Ronald McDonald is your center. As Habs fans, we should expect more of a guy we are paying this kind of money to. We should DEMAND more. I know eneough about the game to know when a guy has been floating and Alex is the poster child for that. He has more talent then half the habs put together, yet shows 1/10 of the desire most of the time. Nope. The logic is all wrong. Well though out. But all wrong. These guys play hard in a habs uni...the game is different in the olympics. No blinders Barry...just logic.

I am sorry we will not agree on this one. Ar eyou trying totell me that Kovalev has been making a consistent effort in a habs uniform this year? All that talent and 14 goals? I am not buying what you are selling.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

I am sorry we will not agree on this one. Ar eyou trying totell me that Kovalev has been making a consistent effort in a habs uniform this year? All that talent and 14 goals? I am not buying what you are selling.

Mario himself would have trouble producing offensive stats on a team with a sum total of 3 offensive threats( Koivu, Kovalev, Ryder).

Thanks to Ribby and Zednik playing like crap( I always knew Ribby was over rated), this team has nothing to support those guys with offensive talent.

Look for Gainey to make a trade or FA signing to remedy that situation...likely in the off season. But for now, the effort is there, it just does not look like it...it's hard to fly when you are sourrounded by a bunch of turkey's

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: I am sorry we will not agree on this one. Ar eyou trying totell me that Kovalev has been making a consistent effort in a habs uniform this year? All that talent and 14 goals? I am not buying what you are selling. Mario himself would have trouble producing offensive stats on a team with a sum total of 3 offensive threats( Koivu, Kovalev, Ryder). Thanks to Ribby and Zednik playing like crap( I always knew Ribby was over rated), this team has nothing to support those guys with offensive talent. Look for Gainey to make a trade or FA signing to remedy that situation...likely in the off season. But for now, the effort is there, it just does not look like it...it's hard to fly when you are sourrounded by a bunch of turkey's

Like I said Muller I do not buy it. He plays on a line with Koivu who is a great playmaker (at least that's what everyone says on here and I will not disagree), he plays on the Power Play, he plays in key situations. All I hear are excuses. Between Kovalev and Koivu we have 10 million bucks on that line and 2 world class players. If Kovalev shows up more than 25% of the season he should be scoring 40.

Let me ask you this. All I have heard is that koivu needs someone on his line..now you are saying that Kovalev needs someone...it makes no sense.

-- Edited by barry33 at 19:45, 2006-02-22

wright · Veteran Member

barry33 wrote:

Well I tried watching that game today and, more importantly, Kovalev, unbiasedly today. I have been watching Alex closely the last 2 weeks he played with the habs before the break because, to be frank, he has been starting to really piss me off with his one game on, 10 games off attitude. My conclusion? WHat I saw of #27 today, and in these Olympics, nauseated me. Here is what I saw today: Second and third efforts today. Kovalev went hard to the front of the net on 4 occassions, getting mugged a couple times for his efforts (when was the last time you saw him do that in a habs uni?). On several occassions he actually battled for the puck in the corners. He actually played defense today and backchecked. I was really beginning to think that he did not know where his own side of the blueline was in Montreal (Rumour has it that the other players had to introduce Alex to Theo and Huet at the last party because he never got close enough to them to know who they were). I saw him throw 4 checks! Thats right! He hit someone 4 times! That is 3 more hits then he has thrown all year in Montreal. He passed the puck 6 times!!!!!!!! Not a typo! Alex passed the puck 6 times today!! Who was that masked man? He scored another goal..according to my calculations that would be 4 goals in 6 games. He has scored 10 more then that all season in a habs uniform Now to head some of you off at the pass let me say this. No I am not dumb. I know he was playing with a couple good players. But he has played all year with Koivu who I think is a pretty good player in his own right. And puhhhhlllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeease do not tell me what a good playoff asset our 5 million dollar salary cap eater is. If we do not squeak into the playoffs (and we will not unless Alex the floater plays more like this in a Habs uniform) it is kinda irrelevant isn't it? The extra effort I see from this guy, the sweat, the passion, have absolutely NOTHING to do with his linemates and has everything to do with one word... D-E-S-I-R-E. Some of these guys do not have the desire to put out on a regular basis during an 84 game schedule. Yet they can go to the Olympics and play 3 games in 3 days and look like they are born again. And I really do not want to hear about surrounding these guys with players they like. Are GM's supposed to trade half the team so that you can make one or 2 guys happy with their linemates? You are getting 5 million bucks a year to play, regardless of whether Ronald McDonald is your center. As Habs fans, we should expect more of a guy we are paying this kind of money to. We should DEMAND more. I know eneough about the game to know when a guy has been floating and Alex is the poster child for that. He has more talent then half the habs put together, yet shows 1/10 of the desire most of the time.

It would have been nice if the likes of Pronger,St.Louis,Heatley etc would have played with the same passion and intensity that Kovalev played with today. I get your point Barry with regards to Kovalev. It is disturbing how this guy can play when he wants to. Obviously playing for his country is far more important to him than playing for his employer, the Canadiens. Too bad he can't bring himself to feel that passion for the Habs, if he did we would not be struggling for a playoff spot.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Let me ask you this. All I have heard is that koivu needs someone on his line..now you are saying that Kovalev needs someone...it makes no sense.-- Edited by barry33 at 19:45, 2006-02-22

Sure it makes sense Barry. I have been saying all along that NO team can operate with one offensive line. I have NEVER EVER said that Koivu needed help on his line. I have always said that the habs need a true second line.

THEY DON"T HAVE IT!!

Again...2-3 guys don't make a team. Those 2-3 guys are easily isolated by the opposing teams defensive specialists( every team has them). They just leave old Ribby alone to groom his wardrobe or something...

Gainey's patch-up job was to throw kovalev on a line with Ribs...and have Koivu play with Ryder. But then you have weakened both lines.

Simple: Kovalev-Koivu-Zednik

Ryder-Richads/Jokinen-Higgins

Problem solved!

Nil d · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

Nope. The logic is all wrong. Well though out. But all wrong. These guys play hard in a habs uni...the game is different in the olympics. No blinders Barry...just logic.

I half-disagree with you Muller. Koivu always tries hard; I certainly cannot say the same about Kovalev. The two players have almost identical career stats in the PPG category. Kovalev clearly has a lot more talent. The difference is effort, or as Barry puts it, D-E-S-I-R-E.

Ando · Guru

And-o finds it hard to warm-up to very many Russian born players given their obvious half-heartedness when it comes to playing hard 100% of the time in North America.

Just look at the likes of Kovalev (who clearly only plays hard when Alexei wants to).

How can anyone say that this guy gives 100% to the Habs??? That is just silly to even think that Kovalev does give anywhere close to 100% of himself to the Habs!!!

In fact, I think it is safe to say that if Alexei Kovalev played up to his potential in Montreal every night...he could easily score 60 goals a season...EASILY!!!

...no surprises though...typical Russian star mentality!

EVERYONE knew it the day he was signed! Alexei LOVES Alexei!!!

...and he is BY FAR the best Hab...when he wants to be!!!

Nil d · Guru

Ando wrote:

And-o finds it hard to warm-up to very many Russian born players given their obvious half-heartedness when it comes to playing hard 100% of the time in North America. Just look at the likes of Kovalev (who clearly only plays hard when Alexei wants to). How can anyone say that this guy gives 100% to the Habs??? That is just silly to even think that Kovalev does give anywhere close to 100% of himself to the Habs!!! In fact, I think it is safe to say that if Alexei Kovalev played up to his potential in Montreal every night...he could easily score 60 goals a season...EASILY!!! ...no surprises though...typical Russian star mentality! EVERYONE knew it the day he was signed! Alexei LOVES Alexei!!! ...and he is BY FAR the best Hab...when he wants to be!!!

February 22, 2006: Nil d agrees with And-o 100%

macneil · Guru

we shouldnt have to hope they bring this work ethic back from the olympics , bob gainey should demand it .

AB Habman · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Well I tried watching that game today and, more importantly, Kovalev, unbiasedly today. I have been watching Alex closely the last 2 weeks he played with the habs before the break because, to be frank, he has been starting to really piss me off with his one game on, 10 games off attitude. My conclusion? WHat I saw of #27 today, and in these Olympics, nauseated me. Here is what I saw today: Second and third efforts today. Kovalev went hard to the front of the net on 4 occassions, getting mugged a couple times for his efforts (when was the last time you saw him do that in a habs uni?). On several occassions he actually battled for the puck in the corners. He actually played defense today and backchecked. I was really beginning to think that he did not know where his own side of the blueline was in Montreal (Rumour has it that the other players had to introduce Alex to Theo and Huet at the last party because he never got close enough to them to know who they were). I saw him throw 4 checks! Thats right! He hit someone 4 times! That is 3 more hits then he has thrown all year in Montreal. He passed the puck 6 times!!!!!!!! Not a typo! Alex passed the puck 6 times today!! Who was that masked man? He scored another goal..according to my calculations that would be 4 goals in 6 games. He has scored 10 more then that all season in a habs uniform Now to head some of you off at the pass let me say this. No I am not dumb. I know he was playing with a couple good players. But he has played all year with Koivu who I think is a pretty good player in his own right. And puhhhhlllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeease do not tell me what a good playoff asset our 5 million dollar salary cap eater is. If we do not squeak into the playoffs (and we will not unless Alex the floater plays more like this in a Habs uniform) it is kinda irrelevant isn't it? The extra effort I see from this guy, the sweat, the passion, have absolutely NOTHING to do with his linemates and has everything to do with one word... D-E-S-I-R-E. Some of these guys do not have the desire to put out on a regular basis during an 84 game schedule. Yet they can go to the Olympics and play 3 games in 3 days and look like they are born again. And I really do not want to hear about surrounding these guys with players they like. Are GM's supposed to trade half the team so that you can make one or 2 guys happy with their linemates? You are getting 5 million bucks a year to play, regardless of whether Ronald McDonald is your center. As Habs fans, we should expect more of a guy we are paying this kind of money to. We should DEMAND more. I know eneough about the game to know when a guy has been floating and Alex is the poster child for that. He has more talent then half the habs put together, yet shows 1/10 of the desire most of the time.

Barry, I agree with most of what you say except that even when Kovy floats or plays at half his potential, he's still our best player! That's not a good thing!

Also, what will happen next season, when Saks earns more than him, will he play second fiddle and just produce like our second best producer? kovy needs the spotlight on him to shine, as we witness to what he can do with the C on his jersey! This guy wants to be the go-to-guy if the attention and love are thrown his way!

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

Just wait till 2010! Woooooo!!

Power · Veteran Member

I explain it to my self this way. Almost everyone here have a job, right and you like to do that and you give almost 100% almost every day atleast when boss is watching. Think that you was doing that same job for your countrys favour, you do it little better like 110% every day for that time(like 2 weeks) that you do that job your countrys favour. It´s sad for Habs that Kovalev feel that he´s obligated to try harder for his country than his employer, but if I think my self in same situation I would do same because this country has given me free education, health care and when I am old and rusty it will take care of me by giving me place from old folk´s home, these aren´t the same reason as Kovy has but he has his also.

But I totally agree that he should give at least 80 or 90% every day and even time ti time 100% for Habs because he gets so much $$$$$ and this goes for everyone not just Kovy and Koivu

CupJunkie · Member

My $.02 worth

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

RE: Nice of you to show up Alex!

Key Lime · Guru

StuartAlberta wrote:

I'm going to jump in and say that Kovalev's play as a Hab has been disappointing since his return from the injury. But I don't think you can compare his play at the Olympics to his play with the Habs -- one player (either he, or Koivu) can lead the team, but they can't carry the entire load. They need defencemen who can move the puck. Goalies who can stop the puck. Uh, sorry, but Team Russia is playing like a team -- with the whole package, from the net, on out. Our goaltending has only arrived recently. Defence, well, Markov is our best guy and the other gentlemen...? And, as far as the other lines go? Have they been putting out? As Team Canada demonstrated, this is a team sport. Kovalev has +++Ability which is part of: Performance=Effort x Ability. But if you hitch up a race horse with a bunch of plough horses, he isn't going to turn them into race horses. He needs some motivation to make the effort and a lot of the play around him has been demotivating. These last few months I've been rooting for the uniform, not the guys wearing it. BUT, with Huet playing in top form, we have that first component: the net. Next comes the defence, and Markov is playing well and given his ice time, he can improve our D. HOPEFULLY (please Santa, I know it's not Christmas, but...), Kovalev and Koivu can start to pick things up.

Why can't we have more Habs fans like you living in MTL?

barry33 · Guru

StuartAlberta wrote:

I'm going to jump in and say that Kovalev's play as a Hab has been disappointing since his return from the injury. But I don't think you can compare his play at the Olympics to his play with the Habs -- one player (either he, or Koivu) can lead the team, but they can't carry the entire load. They need defencemen who can move the puck. Goalies who can stop the puck. Uh, sorry, but Team Russia is playing like a team -- with the whole package, from the net, on out. Our goaltending has only arrived recently. Defence, well, Markov is our best guy and the other gentlemen...? And, as far as the other lines go? Have they been putting out? As Team Canada demonstrated, this is a team sport. Kovalev has +++Ability which is part of: Performance=Effort x Ability. But if you hitch up a race horse with a bunch of plough horses, he isn't going to turn them into race horses. He needs some motivation to make the effort and a lot of the play around him has been demotivating. These last few months I've been rooting for the uniform, not the guys wearing it. BUT, with Huet playing in top form, we have that first component: the net. Next comes the defence, and Markov is playing well and given his ice time, he can improve our D. HOPEFULLY (please Santa, I know it's not Christmas, but...), Kovalev and Koivu can start to pick things up.

Well the Real Alex Kovalev showed up again for the Finnish game today....Russians got down and he disappeared. They guy never passes the puck unless there are 3 sweaters draped all over him. Geesh a 5 0n 3 and there Alexi is just smoking shot after shot from the point while his teamates holler for the puck. Nice, short, 60 second shifts.

Chris68 · Veteran Member

well, right, it was really not Kovalev's game. Andrej Markov again impressed me, he's really an excellent defender. Btw, same as Kovalev, Ovechkin was not visible today. The Russians could just not handle the Finnish game.

Btw., OUR captain AGAIN showed how much he's worth. Saku, Saku, Saku (I usually don't do that, but NOW I'm even more convinced that we can go allllll the way with our captain)!!!!

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Well the Real Alex Kovalev showed up again for the Finnish game today....Russians got down and he disappeared. They guy never passes the puck unless there are 3 sweaters draped all over him. Geesh a 5 0n 3 and there Alexi is just smoking shot after shot from the point while his teamates holler for the puck. Nice, short, 60 second shifts.

uuuhuhh. So when he does well, he is doing well because he loves playing with his countrymen,,,and when he does poorly...the real Alexi has shown up....I don't know Barry

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: Well the Real Alex Kovalev showed up again for the Finnish game today....Russians got down and he disappeared. They guy never passes the puck unless there are 3 sweaters draped all over him. Geesh a 5 0n 3 and there Alexi is just smoking shot after shot from the point while his teamates holler for the puck. Nice, short, 60 second shifts. uuuhuhh. So when he does well, he is doing well because he loves playing with his countrymen,,,and when he does poorly...the real Alexi has shown up....I don't know Barry

Once again Muller I will explian my point. Kovalev has a history of playing well when things are going well. When the team is ahead or doing well, he shows up and tries. Today his team does poorly and Alex goes into his shell..*sigghhh* next question?

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Once again Muller I will explian my point. Kovalev has a history of playing well when things are going well. When the team is ahead or doing well, he shows up and tries. Today his team does poorly and Alex goes into his shell..*sigghhh* next question?

It's still contradictory overall Barry...sorry. Your point previously being that Kovalev should be ashamed for playing harder for his country and loving his fellow countrymen. So what? tonight he did not love playing for his country?

Hey, I am not generally a big huge Kovalev fan...but I've gotta state what I think about the whole "effort" thing. I think it's bogus.

It's more about the habs goaltending woes and horrid offensive back-up support---it removes momentum...deadly for an offensive player.

plouf · Guru

StuartAlberta wrote:

I'm going to jump in and say that Kovalev's play as a Hab has been disappointing since his return from the injury. But I don't think you can compare his play at the Olympics to his play with the Habs -- one player (either he, or Koivu) can lead the team, but they can't carry the entire load.

They need defencemen who can move the puck. Goalies who can stop the puck. Uh, sorry, but Team Russia is playing like a team -- with the whole package, from the net, on out.

Our goaltending has only arrived recently. Defence, well, Markov is our best guy and the other gentlemen...? And, as far as the other lines go? Have they been putting out?

As Team Canada demonstrated, this is a team sport.

Kovalev has +++Ability which is part of: Performance=Effort x Ability. But if you hitch up a race horse with a bunch of plough horses, he isn't going to turn them into race horses. He needs some motivation to make the effort and a lot of the play around him has been demotivating.

These last few months I've been rooting for the uniform, not the guys wearing it.

BUT, with Huet playing in top form, we have that first component: the net. Next comes the defence, and Markov is playing well and given his ice time, he can improve our D. HOPEFULLY (please Santa, I know it's not Christmas, but...), Kovalev and Koivu can start to pick things up.

All around well said!

barry33 · Guru

plouf wrote:

StuartAlberta wrote: I'm going to jump in and say that Kovalev's play as a Hab has been disappointing since his return from the injury. But I don't think you can compare his play at the Olympics to his play with the Habs -- one player (either he, or Koivu) can lead the team, but they can't carry the entire load. They need defencemen who can move the puck. Goalies who can stop the puck. Uh, sorry, but Team Russia is playing like a team -- with the whole package, from the net, on out. Our goaltending has only arrived recently. Defence, well, Markov is our best guy and the other gentlemen...? And, as far as the other lines go? Have they been putting out? As Team Canada demonstrated, this is a team sport. Kovalev has +++Ability which is part of: Performance=Effort x Ability. But if you hitch up a race horse with a bunch of plough horses, he isn't going to turn them into race horses. He needs some motivation to make the effort and a lot of the play around him has been demotivating. These last few months I've been rooting for the uniform, not the guys wearing it. BUT, with Huet playing in top form, we have that first component: the net. Next comes the defence, and Markov is playing well and given his ice time, he can improve our D. HOPEFULLY (please Santa, I know it's not Christmas, but...), Kovalev and Koivu can start to pick things up. All around well said!

Ahhhhhhh yes..."motivation". How about 5 million reasons? Sorry but I am really tired of this broken record. Motivation? That is the difference between the real hockey players of yesteryear and the spoiled babies of today. Guys like Belliveau and Lafleur and Richard played for PRIDE and the LOVE of the game. (Certainly was not the cash). They did not need "motivated". Geesh..I hope my boss motivates me at the office tomorrow....I will be motivated out the door