Richards rips media
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Richards rips media
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON _ For the record, I hate writing about the media, but....
When a player makes accusations that Philly media members "make things up," it strikes a nerve.
That's what Flyers captain Mike Richards did in the latest edition of The Hockey News.
Richards is a terrific, gritty player who has been compared to a young Bobby Clarke. Personally, I would rather write about his on-ice exploits than his whining.
But when he went national and erroneously charged the local media with being dishonest, well, it can't be ignored.
Richards took verbal shots at the local media in The Hockey News, then went on the offensive after the Flyers’ 5-3 loss to Washington Sunday.
Richards is The Hockey News’ cover story, and he is quoted as saying that “when you start losing, rumors start flying and people seem to just make things up to take a negative spin on things.”
After Sunday's defeat, Richards was asked to specifically name a story that was “made up.”
“The articles in the beginning of the year,” he said, surrounded by a media horde in the visitors’ locker room. “The drinking articles and things like that. All the articles _ (it’s) why I didn’t talk to you for a month.”
Asked to elaborate, Richards said, “You didn’t write an article at the beginning of the year that we’re out too much? You asked Lupes (former Flyer Joffrey Lupul) all the questions? Weren’t there articles….that said the players were drinking too much and said Richards and (Jeff) Carter were out all the time?”
Actually, no, although the nightlife issue was addressed because of comments made by GM Paul Holmgren. But we'll get to that later....
On Oct. 10, when Lupul made his first visit to Philadelphia since being dealt to Anaheim, he was asked whether he thought he and Scottie Upshall were traded because the Flyers were trying to break up the players who enjoyed the nightlife, Lupul shook his head.
"Upshall was moved last year at the deadline for cap reasons, and I was moved to get Chris Pronger, so I don't think that had anything to do with it," he said. "We were out a lot . . . but those young guys" - he mentioned Richards, Carter, and Scott Hartnell - "are definitely professionals and know how to handle themselves."
To me, Lupul was complimenting his former teammates _ and not throwing them under the bus.
The questions about the nightlife issue were asked because of comments made by Holmgren in the Bucks County Courier Times last June, and later in The Hockey News in July.
In those stories, Holmgren said, “Am I concerned about it (the nightlife)? Let me say this: The issue has been raised by John (Stevens, then the coach) and myself with all the players.”
In the latest Hockey News story, Richards said: “It’s Philadelphia – when you’re winning there are no problems in the world and you can pretty much do whatever you want. When you start losing, rumors start flying and people seem to just make things up to take a negative spin on things."
“That’s happened so many times this year already. In the first part of the year, nothing was going on, but all of a sudden when we’re losing, the media starts throwing us under the bus and bringing up things from the past that aren’t true. We have a great start and nobody’s saying these things, but we go on a little bit of a skid and everybody’s all over us.”
Veteran defenseman Chris Pronger put things in perspective.
"There’s going to be some negative articles when you're not playing well," Pronger said, "but for the most part, you’re trying to do a job and we’re trying to do a job."
And both sides do their work honestly.
Grow up. I totally agree with Mike Richards.— zigarfa- If you are tired of writing about his media battles, maybe you should stop writing about his personal life and the personal lives of his teammates, you hack. Go cover high school sports, it's easier to intimidate a 16 year old linebacker than a pro athlete.— JSaq
- He can't handle the C. I love the way he plays the game, but give the C to Pronger and let him play.— HandNik
- "Personally, I'm tired of writing about his media battles and would rather be writing about his on-ice exploits." So...stop writing about the Flyers? I'm sure you could cover high school again.— sciraxe
- Next time I hope Laviolette just lets him hit you. Funny, you write a slew of stories that question his professionalism, then go on the attack when he questions yours. Amazing, but you made Brett Myers look good.— JSaq
- What bush league writing! Why don't you write about the game instead of getting involved in rumors regarding the private lives of the players? When I was their age I could party till the early hours of the morning and still get up and go to work without impact, so if, and it's a big if, they are out partying all the time, they can also recover quicker than someone older. I can't do it now that I'm in my 40s but it was nothing when I was in my twenties. Regardless, it's really none of your business and re-hashing something that was talked about last year is tabloid journalism.— MissMolly
- The next time Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer decides to publicly question somebody else's professionalism, I hope he recalls how it feels when somebody publically question his professionalism. Sam, you're a hack and about as professional a writer as my pet turtle— JSaq
- I think Richards can play better. However, you sir are a hack and should stop covering the Flyers. Report on the games, practices, lineup changes, etc. And are you an idiot for bringing this up after a loss to a close rival? What did you expect? If you are going to go all TMZ on us, save it for the morning skate. With all of the other beat writers out there, I guess you need to distinguish yourself by being the absolute worst of the bunch.— wilsonecho91
- Did it strike the same nerve that knocked a bunch of teeth out of Lappy's head awhile back? Toughen up you big baby. The players play in public, they get criticized. You write in public, deal with same.— FlyerX
- Sam Carchidi: the only person who could ever make me feel sympathy for Brett Myers. "Hack" is a very good choice of words. This guy is just a bad journalist.— sil campusano
- Why is the media obsessed with what hockey players do on their own time? When did the collective bargaining agreement mandate what a player does on his free time? If management feels it is an issue, then they should address internally and not in the media. This is just another example of why Paul Holmgren has failed in his position.— downthemiddle
- Richards needs to grow up. Although I do think the "Captain Whine" comment is unprofessional.— phillyfan412
- It's still a hack job, even after your second edit, Carchidi...go back to High school.— JSaq
- I applaud Mike Richards. Its about time someone called out these sensationalist hacks. If it's not the partying, its stirring up a goaltending controversy, or trying to get Emery to snap. It's always something with the media in this town, and it's just not relegated to hockey. These writers/reporters are total drama queens. No one athletes feel the pressure of playing here. Dealing with these clowns on a daily basis would drive me nuts as well. I wish someone could clean house and bring in a completely new medium for the fans.— UncleEddie
- Actually the nightlife thing was started by you jagaloons posting pictures of the guys at a frat. Its funny how when they started losing the media was quick to mention the rumor of carter sleeping with hartnells wife. you are all jokes. you disgrace the name that the team and fans make— SuPrimeau
