Quote of the week
 "Basketball is a real sport, and hockey is for... I don't know what hockey is for." - Santa Fe City Councilman Matthew OrtizThe above quote came from this morning's ABQ Journal (it's behind a subscription, else I'd link it). It was buried in the context of a story about the Roadrunners trying to get approved for beer sales in the Community Center. The New Mexican has a similar article, though the quotes here and there are different. The team will meet with the council on Wednesday. Mr. Councilor, the purpose of hockey is to get people like you to make asinine comments. I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest it is working, and am guessing you didn't go to any games at Lake Forest College back when you were a student there. Since you appear to like basketball, how are those New Mexico Style season tickets? I'll bet you have plenty of legroom this season. This isn't just about the Roadrunners. Removing the ice in favor of indoor soccer will destroy the youth hockey movement in the area. Members of the local hockey community circulated their own response today to local supporters, and were kind enough to forward me a copy: Whether or not you support the sale of beer or the Roadrunners, this comment is a call to arms for all hockey players and enthusiasts. The GCCC is going through a time of transition - new director, new interim ice arena manager, recent compressor problems with the rink, need for maintenance that has been too long deferred, etc. Some on City Council have expressed a desire to close the rink to reduce costs at the GCCC - converting it to an indoor soccer field or roller facility. We need to return to "Think Rink" mode. For a City Councilor to say that hockey is not a real sport cannot be tolerated. If we allow this comment to go unprotested, we risk the City believing that hockey players and supporters do not matter in Santa Fe. I ask you to send the Santa Fe City Council and Mayor emails to protest this statement and attitude.Cross your fingers for these guys. |
posted by Marc Foster at 10/10/2006 06:42:00 PM
Comments on "Quote of the week"
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Anonymous said ... (1:45 AM, October 11, 2006) :
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Anonymous said ... (9:23 AM, October 12, 2006) :
post a commentSanta Fe is becoming my new favorite team, just on general principles.
Do they really have to battle such ignorance in a state's capital city? Do they really have to answer to a commissioner who only adds to their challenge of bringing hockey to a new area?
I hope they win the damn league. I'd love to see Krupka hand them the cup and give the obligatory smarmy speech of high praise for all they've done. We could take odds on how far he gets before he chokes on his words.
Afterward, their victory parade could be routed by Ortiz' office.
I've known Scott Langer off and on since his time in Chicago, and I know he'll fight anything thrown his way. He's a winner, a first class person and coach, who believes in the player devolpment aspect of junior hockey fervently. I wish him the best of luck in fighting what seems to be a one man fight to keep his team in Santa Fe, which is a first class town, but will never be mistaken as a hotbed of intellectual activity. Artistic, maybe, but this city councilman shows an ingnorance that sadly most likely permeates the rest of SF.
The Roadrunners ownership has gone above and beyond to get hockey to work in Santa Fe. Im sure they've dumped tons of money into the community as well as the school system, which I'm sure quite a few of the Roadrunners attend. The NAHL is a business and should be supported by the community just like any other business. When counselmen make stupid comments they should be held accountable. If Santa Fe doesnt want you, get your butts down to San Angelo. Be advised// we have our own IDIOTS to
Statements like that made by the councilman could be what led the commish to cite Santa Fe as a bad location for hockey. Not necessarily a slam on the organization, merely an observation that some locations simply don't work for hockey.
From all I'm reading, the ownership there is doing a great job of trying to make it work - if Santa Fe doesn't pan out, hopefully this group gets a shot elsewhere - seems like they deserve that much.
Arts, crafts, rainbow stickers on cars > Santa Fe > Hockey
I listened to Scott's interview and I was just impressed. All of his comments were to the point and from the heart. He pointed out what this league is about (or used to be)and never missed a beat. Coach; your a stand up guy and I applaud you.