It seems Mr. Kypreos was not impressed with the format of the All Star Fantasy Draft that took place last night to kick off All Star Weekend, as he was a wee bit miffed about the whole Phil Kessel being drafted last thing.
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| Pierre + Kypreos = TSN Dream Team |
"The interest in this year's NHL all-star weekend was for all the wrong reasons. Drafts are supposed to be about who is picked first -- not last, yet that was the focus Friday night in the televised proceedings ahead of Sunday's game. I give the league and the players credit for trying something different, but not at the expense of someone's pride and reputation."
Come on Kyp. I know your brains have been scrambled a couple times over, but isn't the fact that the league generated any interest at all in a brand new 90-minute event that included entirely unnecessary TSN panel cut-aways and a ridiculous pre-draft show something that you, as an analyst for TSN, should be grateful for? Of course nobody gives a shit about who the best of the best are. We all already drafted them in our fantasy leagues in the top five positions. Well, except for Cam Ward, he went a bit later.
The intrigue comes from getting to see what the players think of their peers, and who they want on their teams. There was always going to be awkwardness, but that was the fun of it - to watch a player with a 5-year $27 million contract squirm a bit in his seat. Was he thrilled about it? No, probably not. But neither was I when I was picked last for basketball, but you know what? I got through it.
Phil Kessel's numbers are not astounding. He's a good player. He's one of the Leafs' best players. Arguable is their best (of course, if you argued that, you'd be wrong). But hell, I probably would have drafted him last too.
Kyper, the guy's a professional athlete. He competed for his country in the Olympics and was drafted fifth overall in 2006. If, like you claim, "...the label of 'last player picked' is now something he will have to carry through his career," maybe he should work a little harder. Seriously, he would have to have the most mediocre career in hockey if that's the only thing he's going to be remembered for.
Kypreos goes on to whine that beyond the whole ruined-reputation-for-life thing, it's an even bigger deal because he plays for the Leafs.
"Toronto's market can ill afford to take any more hits. Leaf fans already know where they stand on the scale of respectability, and a Leaf being picked last is another shot at a once-storied franchise. Watching Alex Ovechkin taking a cell phone picture as Patrick Kane announced 'with the last pick,' you start to wonder how many around the league quietly enjoyed Kessel's humiliation."
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| Ovechkin takes a photo of Kessel sitting alone. 'Cuz he's a baller. |
It's cute that Kypreos is so concerned about "Toronto's market," but come on now, where does he think the league got the money to finance the two personalized jerseys for each player and rookie (dependant on who drafted them) and the crazy haze stuff that they all skated through at the beginning of the Super Skills Competition today? Hint: it starts with 'r' and ends with 'evenue sharing'.
More to the point, as a Leaf fan I had absolutely no problem with Kessel going last. In fact, I thought it was pretty funny. Hell, that's the only reason I didn't turn the draft off after thirty minutes.
But hey, if professional athletes can't handle it maybe it's time to redesign recess in elementary schools. In fact, let's also throw out the scoreboards so none of them ever have to know what it feels like to lose.
Grow up, Kypreos.
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