Reviewing HBO's 24/7
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Reviewing HBO's 24/7
By Marc Narducci
The first installment of 24/7 Flyers-Rangers, Road To the Winter Classic on HBO leading up to the Jan. 2 Winter Classic between the two teams at Citizens Bank Park was an interesting behind-the-scenes look at both teams.
There was nothing truly ground breaking, but well worth watching nevertheless.
We learned that NHL players and coaches are one tough breed, many who love to use the F-word as frequently as we see players taking shifts on the ice.
It took less than 30 seconds of the show for Flyers coach Peter Laviolette to drop the first f-bomb and coaches and players on both teams alike fired away during the first installment of the show.
The show didn’t produce many outlandish soundbites, but a number of interesting ones.
Some of the best interaction came with the coaches talking between periods to the players. Rangers coach John Tortorella said this about Toronto’s Phil Kessel.
“Kessel is a good player but don’t sh-t your pants on him,” Tortorella said less than eloquently.
The brutal physical play of hockey was shown, especially when Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto went crashing into the boards.
“F--- am I bleeding?” he asks.
It appears as if the show would like Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to be the go-to soundbite, portraying him as the humorous Russian, who says anything on his mind.
It doesn’t quite play out on the show, even as Bryzgalov gives his views on how the universe was created. Nothing very deep or humorous.
Laviolette describes his goalie best “ He is a little bit different, but I enjoy him.”
In the battle of interesting quotes, Tortorella probably outdid Laviolette, although neither said anything earth-shattering.
Tortortella has no room for anybody who doesn’t measure up to the toughness meter.
“I have trouble seeing players in training room getting rubbed down all the time,” he said.
During one speech between periods he said to his players: “Keep your f---in' discipline, no yapping, no yapping to refs.”
Another player from the Flyers who is always a good quote is Jaromir Jagr, but again, it didn’t translate in this opening show.
He talks about loving Philadelphia, the fans being crazy, nothing unusual there.
The interaction between the players on the ice was a great inside look at the NHL. Here is one pleasantry exchanged by a Penguins player to Flyers winger Scott Hartnell “Hartnell you f—in piece of s—t.”
One interesting Rangers sequence showed Artem Anisimov scoring a goal and then receiving a misconduct for using his stick as a fake gun and pretending to shoot it at the opponent.
After the game, he said to his teammates in the locker room, “Sorry by me.”
One notable tidbit came from Laviolette when he told the Flyers about their required attendance at an upcoming Christmas party.
“The big boss reminds us that the Christmas party is mandatory,” he said.
It was interesting to get the take from Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds, who the show said was among 28 black players in the NHL.
“Everybody walks into dressing room as human being and that is how it is,” Simmonds said. “Any team I have been on, I never experienced anything from teammates anybody acknowledging me being black; it’s pretty obvious. All guys are good about it and obviously it is how it should be.”
The show had a nice moment featuring Rangers captain Ryan Callahan while the team played a game in Buffalo, 70 miles from his hometown in Rochester, N.Y.
Best moment came when he met his 95-year-old grandmother after the game.
“You didn’t deserve that penalty,” she said to him.
The end of the show featured the biggest story concerning the Flyers, the injury to leading scorer Claude Giroux. He suffered a concussion during Saturday’s 5-2 win over visiting Tampa Bay.
While Giroux didn’t say much, the dejection on his face while being treated said it all.
The pictures in this case told the story.
Those who follow the Flyers may not have learned much new, but it is good to see the behind-the-scene access, the interaction between players and opponents on ice.
It was a decent start, but one has to hope that the pace is picked up in the next segment on Wednesday at 10 p.m..
Comment removed.
Put your money where your mouth is. Oh wait...you don't have any money. Enjoy you and your families disappointing Holiday season- Geez Narducci, You think you could be a little more critical of this episode? It's not like the Flyers had final cut. Do you even know what that means? Probably not cause you're a sports writer. What about the part where Bryz said "You know what happens if you kill tiger in China? Death penalty." That's hilarious. Lighten up...there's only three more episodes.— phillyphan11
- I like Lavy even more after watching that tonight.— n62
- I think I'll just take the fact that HBO Documentaries are done first-class, and the point is to enjoy them. Not to overanalyze every little aspect of the show and then ask for more "pace" - how about it's just cool to see the Flyers on 24/7!— IGGLES1980
- Hope Lavy's family didn't watch that show. Loved the F-bombs. Real life in hockey is not all sweetness and light.— RichieLemon
I have to agree about everyone saying, don't be so critical. Just like the winter classic - on it's 5th installment, 24/7 is now in it's second season and the shock and awe element is gone. Look at the series just like hard knocks, which is access to a team for the fans enjoyment. You can't push unnatural habits trying to top Boudreau. If your looking for complete scripted reality go watch E,MTV,or all the countless drone "reality" shows.— sw-sportsfan- real athletes, no babies, not about money money. Hard nose athletes!— fman727
- Jagr's heart told him to come to Philly!?!?! Good gut punch to the Penguins organization. Also loved Hartsy calling out Cooke being the dirtiest player in the league. Oh and some how Narducci left out the awesome locker room dance after they beat the Penguins? How do you write an article and not include that. How much more candid do you want?
- Terrible article. I thought the episode was great and any Flyers fan would appreciate that kind of access, guess your not a flyers fan Narducci.— Flyers2820
- Here is Narducci's problem; he's an as5hole who doesn't know anything about hockey. He would rather write about the pathetic Eagles then give a great article to the best sport in the city- HOCKEY- PHILADELPHIA FLYERS HOCKEY BABY— dufthom
- This was a terrible view of 24/7. Narducci obviously shows his lack of knowledge on the NHL. The Penguins player he was referring to was Matt Cooke, the dirtiest player in the NHL. Anyone with basic hockey knowledge would have known that. Also, Narducci might have been the only person I've heard who didn't think Bryzgalov was hysterical. National Hockey writers were all about that. He also made no mention of Artem Anisimov. Why don't you watch some hockey before you write on it.— EC1981
- This article to me is the reason philly sportswriters get the wrap they do. What did Narducci expect? Jersey Shore hits the ice? This is an unscripted look into two hockey teams. Why does there have to be "ground-breaking" statements. I thought it was great. Especially the "humangous big" universe comment. This article makes Narducci seem bitter to have to watch the show.— frstrm
- I enjoyed it. The best part for me, on several levels, was the locker room celebratory song/dance after the Pens game. That was classic and I will enjoy picturing the team going through that ritual after each win this season!— snipesmorris
- This show is real good. HBO's Broad Street Bullies is a must see.— RobertB
