And I never got to the point where I yelled at the other teams players. More often then not I would talk to the coach or the ref, because the kids were usually just following orders. I can’t remember ever wanting to attack a player though. Now my own kids, that’s a different story.

I sort of misread what you were saying

• Newsday, Friday, August 15, 1997

Newsday (8/15/97)

Harsh Words at Salo Arbitration
By Jim Smith. STAFF WRITER

Harsh words often are exchanged in salary arbitration
cases, but an NHL source said Tommy Salo’s hearing Monday
in Toronto moved the Islanders’ goalie to tears.

The source described general manager Mike Milbury’s brief
on Salo as “the most horrific character assassination ever
seen in an arbitration for an NHL player . . . Tommy broke
down in tears before Mike.”

Arbitrator Rolf Valtin yesterday set Salo’s salary for
1997-98 at $750,000 plus incentives. That was a victory
for Milbury in his first arbitration case as GM, because
it was exactly what Milbury offered before Salo asked for
arbitration. At the hearing, however, Milbury offered a
two-way $550,000 deal with a $100,000 minor-league salary.
Salo requested $1.1 million. He earned $300,000 last year.

Milbury’s hard-line stance sends a message to the club’s
other restricted free agents: Travis Green, Bryan
Smolinski, Scott Lachance and Ken Belanger.

Milbury, however, said it had nothing to do with club
ownership reverting to John Pickett after John Spano’s
July 23 arrest on federal fraud charges. “When we have
leverage,” he said, “we must use it because when we don’t
have leverage, it is used incredibly harshly against us.”

In June, Milbury said of Salo, “He was a good player for
us down the stretch. He was pretty solid. I’d say of all
the players out there, he made the biggest leap forward.”

But in his brief on Monday, Milbury:

-Described Salo, who was 20-27-9 with a 2.82 goals-against
average, as “one of the worst-conditioned athletes on the
Islanders” and said his conditioning led to goals in the
final six minutes of 18 games.

-Predicted Salo would not play as many games this season
as last (58).

-Said Salo’s “mental approach also is suspect,” leading to
him allowing many early and soft goals.

-Argued first-round 1997 draft pick Roberto Luongo or
“steady, promising” Eric Fichaud could emerge as the
starter this year, so “there is a substantial risk Salo
ultimately will be returned to Utah [of the IHL].”

-Asserted Salo’s “inconsistent, troubling performance”
last season was the reason Milbury signed journeyman Wade
Flaherty as insurance.

Salo refused comment on Milbury’s presentation. His agent,
Rich Winter, said, “We’re very disappointed, but we’re
glad it’s over. We’re going to try to work together to
repair the damage done.”

Milbury said, “My brief was strong, but my verbal
testimony was not. In the end, I think the arbitrator came
up with a fair number . . . Obviously, you’re not going to
stand there and say everything that’s great about Tommy -
because that’s what they’re doing. We presented the flip
side. But it’s important Tommy hears loud and clear how
important we feel he is. He’s a good, young goaltender. I
hope he establishes himself as a No.1.”

(i plucked this off of a message board, BTW)

Tough sending them back down when they are actually pretty good and outperforming some of the vets.

without a doubt!
I try very very hard NOT to be one of those parents that screams and yells and trust me, with 4 of our 5 kids that play sports year round, my tongue has been bitten off more than once. Mainly because I do not want my kids to think that is acceptable.

If I don’t want my kids to act like fools, I certainly don’t want them playing for someone that is an even bigger fool!
When you live in a small town like we do, you hope that your kids learn from all the experiences in youth sports and they give back and help coach. Our 17 year old son helps coach our little league challenger division and one of our 14 year old daughters helps with pitching lessons for all the 12U and 9U softball teams.

I can send you a jar of white sand in return? ;o)