Barry, guys (and dolls)...question

norskipaul · Senior Member

Barry, guys (and dolls)...question

Nil d · Guru

I have no answer, Paul, and asked the same question in a simplified version last night. Why the bias against the Habs? It can't be an English/French thing because the Habs have no more francophones than any other team. Yes, the fans are primarily francophone, but I can't see that being an issue. (Nor is it a major issue in society at large, I don't think. Yes, there are some who are tired of the separatist whinings, but I know probably 100 Quebecois, and I like them all; statistically, some 20 or 30 of them must have separatist leanings.)

So I don't think we should get into a big debate on that point (I'd be out of my element); and I have no answer as to why the refs have a bias (if they do - maybe it's our imagination, and every team's fans feel the same?) against the Habs.

My only half-assed attempt at a reason is that the Habs' success over the years has meant that many fans of other teams really dislike the Habs. Around here, you either love 'em or hate 'em. Perhaps the refs grew up with this same anti-Hab bias and it has stuck with them to this level.

But while this might explain a bias; it is no excuse for unfairness at that professional level. They are arbiters, judges. They must be above that. They are paid to be.

My two cents.

-- Edited by Nil d at 07:02, 2006-04-28

habgirl · Guru

The only thing that makes any sense at all to me is that the Habs have enjoyed such success that some refs can't get past the fact that they've had their favourite teams bounced in the past by Les Boys.

Absolutely no excuse, but it is all I can come up with.

Whatever the reason, last night was an abomination. All day at work today I had Leafs fans, Bruins fans, (of course) Canucks fans approaching me with their concern over Koivu and the officiating last night. Goes to show you that even the hated Booin and Laffs fans saw the horror that passed as zebras last night.

One Canuck fan stated that if the stick that injured Koivu had been the stick belonging to Bertuzzi, he would have been gone for ten games...perhaps an exaggeration, but pretty telling nonetheless. And yet Carolina gets nuthin'.

Sorry, rantng a bit but still

davidb · Guru

Ill tell u why 30 years ago when the Habs were cleaning everybodys clocks, these refs were in diapers rooting for all the other teams.

norskipaul · Senior Member

So the feeling among Canadiens fans is that the refs really are predjudiced agains us...it's not just paranoia?

brooklynhabfan · Guru

norskipaul wrote:

So the feeling among Canadiens fans is that the refs really are predjudiced agains us...it's not just paranoia?

Paranoia in my opinion.

It's simple, a good call goes against us, we have a negative reaction. A bad and unjustified call, and we see red.

A call goes our way, and we're caught up in the PP by the time we've forgotton what the call was for.

I doubt there's even any good qualitative analysis on this subject, let alone quantitative...

-- Edited by brooklynhabfan at 10:28, 2006-04-28

Fatherhab · Senior Member

My take on the biased referring is that it all comes from the top. The NHL brass would never have a final between 2 Canadian teams, so with 4 Canadian Teams in the running, they at most, only want one coming out of Canada to the final. All season long, the Sens have been championed by all the media and so called know it alls to be Stanley Cup'ed bound. Guess who that leaves out

barry33 · Guru

brooklynhabfan wrote:

norskipaul wrote: So the feeling among Canadiens fans is that the refs really are predjudiced agains us...it's not just paranoia? Paranoia in my opinion. It's simple, a good call goes against us, we have a negative reaction. A bad and unjustified call, and we see red. A call goes our way, and we're caught up in the PP by the time we've forgotton what the call was for. I doubt there's even any good qualitative analysis on this subject, let alone quantitative... -- Edited by brooklynhabfan at 10:28, 2006-04-28

I really do not feel that there is a conspiracy. The sport is too big for that with too many checks and balances. Did those guys have a horrible game the other night? No question. It was the worst I have seen in many, many years and I am thankful I was not behind the bench because I would have been tossed. You know. when we play Trawna, they ar ealways whining that the league is out to get them. Cmon guys..there is no conspiracy.

Johnny USA · Veteran Member

Maybe simple is better than complicated.

The refs, plain and simple, screwed the pooch. They sucked. The non-call on Saku's injury - regardless of intent or not - was egregious. It was a poorly managed situation by someone in a striped shirt who was granted the authority to handle such, and he BLEW IT.

There have been other times when you look at a call or a non-call, and you go "Huh?" while blinking your eyes and scratching your head. This was one of those times when you involuntarily leap out of your seat and scream bloody murder at the TV. I saw it the next morning on ESPN's SportsCenter, and I almost threw my friggin' coffee cup through the screen.

No excuses for the boys with the whistles. That was a missed call. It was either a mistake or a blatantly ignored call, but either way the refs got it wrong. No ambiguity. No "perhaps he saw this when it was actually that". They blew it.

And for that they should be ashamed, but I doubt they are.