Flyers Get Wise to Whiny Washington Post Column

By now you've probably already seen Mike Wise's column from yesterday's Washington Post. Several of our fine readers sent it our way yesterday, and we heard 610 and 950 attack its merits with due fervor. But the Flyers have apparently taken it up a notch...

Rhea Hughes reported on today's WIP Morning Show that along with various orange accoutrement, the Flyers will be handing each fan who walks through the door tonight a copy of Wise's column, along with a thank you for being the most intimidating fans in hockey. Well played, Flyers!

Much more after the jump...

We couldn't help but laugh at (certainly not with) Wise's homer perspectives. If that had been a Philly columnist whining about how the league should step in to allow the finer, skillful players in Flyers uniforms skate more freely, we'd have read him the riot act for embarrassing us. It sounds as though Caps fans agree, at least the guys at Japers' Rink, which we recommend. Wise pleads with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to do anything he can to help the Caps and their "LeBron and Kobe" stars to advance, thinking this is best for the NHL, rather than seeing the better team win (a better team that happens to be from a much better hockey market).

Wise complains that the Caps are losing because they're meeting the Flyers at their level, trying to go punch for punch, rather than goal for goal. He's not entirely wrong in that assessment, but it's what he leaves out that makes his column utter BS. He forgets to mention that for most of the season, the Flyers have simply been the better team, and they're outplaying the Caps at every level now. They cut their teeth in a far superior division, and the Caps hot streak came when they played the southeast-heavy portion. Guess what? That doesn't always fly in the playoffs, where every team digs in and plays tighter, with more emphasis on team defense and checking, and the role of a single player can be more effectively minimized.

He paints the Flyers as Neanderthals after their 6-3 destruction of the Caps at home on Tuesday, but you'll notice that not one of the hyperlinked names in his column is that of Tom Poti, who spent the entire second half of the game either in the penalty box or trying to get there. From our seats at the game, we could see Poti trailing behind the play, hacking at Flyers who refused to be goaded into retaliating and possibly squandering their lead.

Wise cries about the fact that the Flyers show fight montages between whistles and have a billboard of Riley Cote on 95. No! Not fights! But does he mention that the Flyers didn't even dress their enforcer for the game, while the Caps did? No... who needs to focus on what happens on the ice when you can point out what happened on the screen above it?

He does discuss the fight between Mike Green and Scottie Upshall, which Green clearly started and promptly lost on a haymaker, then threw a punch after the refs were in place. But he incorrectly states that Green has never been in a fight, which Japers' Rink was quick to call out, citing Wise's own source (HockeyFights.com). By now you knuckledragging Philly fans have read enough of my diatribe and thirst for blood, so here you go:

Did we chant "F#ck Ovechkin" on our way out of the game? You're goddamn right we did. But it had more to do with our disappointment that he took a serious dive, resulting in a bullshit penalty, than it did any true ill feelings toward the star. Truth be told, most Philly fans probably like Ovie as much as one can an opposing team's player. I was amazed by how long (25 minutes) he could stay on the ice and still be even remotely effective while not tiring. But the silver lining of that dive was that it showed that he is seriously struggling in this series. He's not the kind of player who needs to draw penalties to dominate, and other than the end of game 1, the Flyers have kept him frustrated.

But let's not assume Ovie's going to leave town quietly. Dude's got a fire in him, and the Flyers can't let up on their successful style of containment for a minute, or he'll make them pay dearly. So keep up the rowdy in the stands, the goalie-running on the ice, the stymieing defense, and definitely the scoring, and the Flyers will head to DC looking to close out this series.

Comments

[Bryan]

Awesome post!

[gootman]

If the NHL Playoffs ever stop being a gritty, physical display of heart and teamwork then I'll stop watching. The Flyers play in game 3 is what every true hockey wants to see in their team(minus their best defensemen getting injured on a stupid camera).

[sean]

not to ruin everyone's buzz about this team or anything but Wise is right when he says this Flyers team is a relic of the past, most of the teams no longer play this way.

On the other hand it sounds like Wise is whining like a little bitch, to bad he can't lace 'em up

[gootman]

The Stanley Cup winning Ducks played this style of hockey last year. I really hope the NHL doesn't turn into a pansy no rough stuff league, they are starting to go that route in the regular season. They are gonna sacrifice your what your core audience loves to try and bring in new fans, doesn't make much sense.

[bigonetimer]

spot on...Wise doesn't know S%*^-all about hockey, never has. As a Caps fan, it was an embarrassing article to read on the heels of the Flyers win Tuesday.

[DCDave]

I'll agree with gootman. Wise has modeled his entire career after another washington post writer (Tony Kornheiser), except he's not as funny. He doesn't know anything about hockey and hadn't written an article about hockey until probably march. That was the gist of this article, he was trying to be funny. As a caps fan, I think it's pretty lame, and ultimately not funny. But your fanbase sure does get riled up pretty easily. Looking forward to a good game tonight. We've gotten outplayed in just about every way possible, but it's still within reach.

[bobblehead joe]

well said.

[gootman]

Good timing with fight video too, my knuckles were starting heal.

[Loqiel]

Wait.. what's that? Oh my God! It's Dave Schultz's music!

Seriously. Toughen up. This is the playoffs. And that Green fight was downright uproarious.

[johndewar]

Now that the Post has fired KSK's Xmas Ape, maybe they can put this guy on Ape's old WaPo beat. Because he sure doesn't know a thing about hockey.

[Flutiemania]

Most Caps fans don't really care what Wise or Kornheiser have to say about hockey. If you read any WaPo articles on hockey by Kornheiser or Wise, you'll find one theme, hockey's a worthless sport that nobody should care about.

Also, for the Flyers fans complaining about too many calls going against them, wait till you play Pittsburgh. The league has to protect its boy and everyone in the leauge knows this.

I'm pretty much conceding the series, I just don't think the Caps have enough left in the tank. They got worn out by the stretch drive.

Good luck against Pittsburgh, You'll need it.

[dmg]

I'm a die hard Caps fan (I even have a Caps website) and Wise's article made me roll my eyes. Say what? A physical playoffs series in the NHL? And against Philly?! Who'd have fathomed it!

The Caps can either succumb to that mentality or they can suck it up and play some playoff hockey.

On a final note - I think that Wise does an okay job when the covers the NHL, it's just that you have to take it with a grain of salt because he doesn't know that much about hockey in general. I certainly don't think that he uses the NHL as potential humor material or ignores it (like Kornheiser), I just think that he's a casual fan of the sport who hasn't had enough experience with it to talk about it in great detail.

[Shaggy]

It is important to remember that this is the playoffs and as such, anything goes, practically speaking. Now, for Philly fans/press to smear Ovechkin as a diver is unconscionable, for anyone who has watched Ovie play. C'mon - that is a pathetic stretch - Briere is a far more accomplished thespian, particularly when the a goalie retaliates after being hit on the helemt from behind the net.
Props to the Flyers for executing their game plan - but IMO these games have been lost by the Caps more than won by the Flyers.

[Sanganoski]

I couldn't agree more with the poster that said the league is looking out for their "golden child" because that's what it's all about......how many people can we get to see our "premier" players because Bettman damn near said that the other night in the between the periods chat with J. J. and Bill Clement. Nevermind that Ovechkin is showing just how much of a "two way" NOT!!, player he ain't and if the Pens are the next opponent for us, just wait and see how the league will "fine tune" their interest for "Sid the Kid" and what he brings to marketability. Who and when, if ever, has the league showed any interest to a player wearing orange and black, maybe Lindros, but he petered out to quickly. The league has been doing this "market player" protection since the days of Ulf Nilson and that other Swede who first came in the league and signed with the Rangers.

[Capsfan1]

As a caps fan, I'm totally embarrassed by this damn 'article'.'True' Caps fans don't believe in it, this is a joke. Its crap. Shows how much they cover hockey in DC.

I don't want the caps to be 'handed' anything. I want them to earn it.

And I will give flyers credit. Your taking the caps game away from them, and its showing. Nothing more to say about it.

But I'm gonna stay positive, hope for the best, its only 2-1. The series isn't over yet(but easily could be by tonight).

And w/ regards to the 'F Ovechkin' chants that caps fans are not enjoying... us old timers know that this is REAL hockey... I say the same thing about Briere, so I wont be casting stones at you guys.

Its sports, its what we do.

Either way, I enjoy this blog (as much as I can at least since its a flyers blog).

[Johnny G]

I don't see how you can say that the games have been lost by the capitals as opposed to won by the flyers. For both wins, we played our style and made them adjust to it and shut down the leagues premier player in the process. If we had won game 1 I could agree with you but that was a capitals victory in which we lost it... they didn't win it...

Not to overshadow the fact that they came from behind for the victory, but, if we had played as well as we did the first 2 periods for the entirety of the game we would be up 3-0 right now...

btw... ovie and the overachievers is priceless

I am impressed with the capitals fan's that have chosen to comment on this site. Very classy posts which is something we rarely see from opposing team's fans...
*cough* pittsburg *cough*

It's a shame we will have to battle montreal before we get a shot at pitt

[Walklett]

I don't like the way these Caps fans are rolling over and conceding the series. It's kinda scaring me, like a reverse jinx.

They actually seem like pleasant, level-headed people. I think I prefer the mouthy, incoherent Penguins fans.

[tom]

i think the article was written mostly in jest, but think them giving it out tonight to fans is pure genius.

fyi, should the flyers advance they'd face the canadiens in the next round because they'd be the lowest seeded team advancing and the teams get reseeded after each round. but bring on the pens in the conference finals by all means.

[Walklett]

@Johnny G:

You beat me to the comment about caps/pens fans. I was thinking the exact same thing.

[Paul]

The thing that irks me about his comments is how he can criticize hockey teams for having a brutish style of play, but I doubt he would ever rip an NFL team that has a power running game and smash mouth defense. And if he did say that, then everyone would just laugh at him.

[jd]

i live down here in dc, and have gotten to watch a significant amount of caps hockey this year-what ovie did was very out of charcter. the guy plays every shift hard, and is solely responsible for the caps getting into the playoffs. as a flyers fan, i very much appreciate the spirit he brings to the game.

however, the fact that he did use a little theatrics is disconscerting-it's almost like he is compromising the way he is playing out of desperation. i really hope he doesn't continue down that path, because i really enjoy watching him play unlike some other, less ethical captains *cough"crosby*cough.

big ups for greene for at least trying to stand up for his team. for a guy who stays clear of the fisticufs, he picked one hell of a dancin' partner. that takes balls or stupidity. regardless, at least he is trying to inject some passion into his lineup, so bully for him.

the flyers don't play european hockey. never have. we play flyers hockey.

[AP]

I don't like the way these Caps fans are rolling over and conceding the series. It's kinda scaring me, like a reverse jinx.

They actually seem like pleasant, level-headed people. I think I prefer the mouthy, incoherent Penguins fans.

Posted by: Walklett | Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 02:20 PM

That is too funny, I'm a Caps fan, let me say I haven't conceeded anything yet. Don't take Mike Wise as a true representation of what our hockey fan base is, he's a chump. As far as the niceness of some of the Caps fans here, we had a good discussion with a kid calling himself Jeff from Philly over on the WaPo website, so aside from the normal punks who throw out stuff no one wants to hear, he's kept the debate civilized.

[Johnny G]

I have a ton of respect for ovie and the way he plays the game. Young captain who is outright scary when he has the puck and is not afraid to get physical unlike some captains we've grown to hate... No cough necessary...

There would be a lot more focus on him if he wasn't being outplayed by our captain in the waiting Mike Richards. The way that Richards and Carter have stepped up this postseason is mind-blowing. Great young stars that play the best 2-way hockey I have seen in a long time.

[Brandon]

Agree with you that the Wise comment was BS, but Ovechkin did not take a dive.

[Brandon]

Agree with you that the Wise article was BS, but Ovechkin did not take a dive. I thought it was pretty blatant leg to leg contact.

[old time hockey]

Hey, Flyers fans. Neat-o blog. While Mike Green will never be confused with a fighter, I would note that it actually looks like Upshall starts it with his week sneak up the back and trip on Greenie.

Good series so far. I have personally advocated that somebody take a penalty for removing Hartnell's head from his body, which sadly proves that he's doing his job very well. He's Sean Avery with skill.

[Johnny G]

Sean Avery with skill... as much as an insult as you tried to make that... I actually like it...

btw when they call that penalty what do the refs say?

"Avery" 2 minutes

[AP]

Probably more like

"Jackass" 2 minutes

[gootman]

@Brandon: even if he did get tripped, Ovechkin Crosby-ed it up with the extra spin.

Not to look past the Caps, but a Flyers-Habs series would be awesome. The boos for Briere in Montreal would be deafening.

[DrinkingPartner]

Mike Wise is an idiot who should never have taken an interest in the Caps. He's an NBA-er like our dear comissioner and I'm sick of reading him in my paper. The Caps are still the better team, and can win. Whether they will or not is up to them.

So, I may disagree with your team affiliations, but I completely agree that I, and most Caps fans, despise Mike Wise.

[jd]

caps fans-don't feel bad about wise.

how many years were we stuck with stephen a.?

[jd]

sorry to be the bearer of bad news flyers fans, but this was just relayed to me: modry might not be playing tonight; his father passed away earlier, and his status is uncertain.

[Johnny G]

Stephen A. Smith is retarded. Does he ever wipe that "I'm so smart I don't need to argue with you" look off of his face?

That said this thread is hilarious

"Jackass" 2 minutes made me laugh out loud... And I'm on a public computer right now... kind of embarrassing

[AP]

JD - I've sort of come to the conclusion that every city has someone like Wise/Smith.

[Johnny G]

Modry will play. He said he feels the best environment for him will be with his team. Timonen is also playing tonight. Look for modry to have a very spirited game.

[joe l]

LOL "Crosby-ed it up". Is that like pullin' a Homer?

[tom]

i must admit i'm embarassed they're handing out thundersticks in philadelphia. yes, we are better than that.

[Johnny G]

Yeah thundersticks are garbage... we don't need help getting loud...

I know the crowd will be just as into it as they were in game 3... you might not even hear those balloons over the regular crowd noise... and you know the team feeds off that engergy in the playoffs which has been a huge advantage against washington and their fans... I was impressed with the crowd in game 1 but game 2 seemed like neutral ice

If we are able to pull this one out tonight the crowd will be silenced in game 5

[gootman]

Break out the rally monkey! Oh wait he plays for the Caps...

(love the Brashear, don't get uppity on me)

[Johnny G]

I always liked brashear when he played for us but when did he learn to play hockey? seriously

[Gang Green Game Over]

As a Caps fan this series makes me happy despite the dismal play of the Caps and their apparent willingness to take it up the rear.

Philly's hit 'em hard, getting them off of their game. Good. The young guys need this.

Maybe certain players will man up and learn to finish checks (or to actually begin checking) and crash the freakin' net. Less fancy crap=more results (goals).

Oh yeah, f@$# Wise!

[Mike Wise's Agent]

You guys are giving Mike Wise everything he wants. National press, and his chance to get some time on PTI.

I think he thanks you greatly...

[Kevin McGuire]

Terrific post. Thanks for the link to the story as well. It seems to me that this guy thinks that the Caps' only chance to win now is if the refs cheat to help out? Let's go Flyers! And please, remember, if you are going to cheer "Let's Go Flyers!" DO IT RIGHT! I just heard a guy on DNL cheering it the wrong way. Disgraceful!!!

[Jonathan Tannenwald]

Having grown up in DC and lived in Philadelphia, I can proudly say that both towns have fervent fans.

I wish the vulgarities would go away from the pro game.

That is one of the main reasons I write my blog about college sports and the glorious Penn Relays!

[old time hockey]

Yes, it was intended as a semi-compliment.

Everybody hates everyone else's agitator. Avery is a jerk, but he's very effective at pushing buttons and scoring. Ditto the old Claude the Fraud. We all hated him, but he could taunt and play and do both well.

Thundersticks? How will Ovechkin be able to hear you boo his hat trick tonight if you've all got thundersticks?

[Yosh]

Break out the rally monkey! Oh wait he plays for the Caps...

(love the Brashear, don't get uppity on me)

heheheheh...ouch...glad to see a little of Boston has made its way to Philly.

[Michael]

Caps fan here. Wise's column is moronic. Jason LaCanfora is the only WP writer who really knows his hockey and he's unfortunately on the Redskin beat (and he's lousy at it). Most Caps fans found his article whiny, too.

Thundersticks? So you guys are Anaheim Angels fans now? Kinda sad.

And what the hell is Vengeance Now? Vengeance against what/whom? Us for splitting the first two games with you? That seemed like classic Philly anger toward nothing.

[Michael]

Ovechkin dive? As actual hockey fans, you guys have to know that's complete HS. First, Ovechkin has never been a diver. Second, he was circling into an open position at the point with no one around him. Why on earth would he give up that position to draw a penalty (esp. the way our PPs been playing recently)? It makes no sense and you know it.

Ovechkin has you guys spooked and that's completely understandable.

[Michael]

Bummer about Modry's Dad. That stinks. However, as a Caps fan, a spirited Modry does not strike fear into my heart. A smart and solid Tikkonen worries me more.

Oh yeah: Beware Emmy!!!!!

[Johnny G]

So much for all of those classy capital's fans we were praising... I guess everyone else slept in today...

We've actually been using the whole "vengeance" slogan all season to say we are back and will show great force and punishment to show the league that we are not a last place team