Maybe this is what Don Cherry was talking about?
On Friday, Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland utilized Twitter’s re-tweet function -- a feature that allows users to share someone else’s tweet with their followers -- for this message:
So...that happened.
Suppose the argument here is that Bolland didn’t write the message himself and was only passing along the frustrations of a fan.
But given what’s implicit in a re-tweet -- and how offside this particular one was -- the counter-argument is that common sense should’ve kept this from ever happening.
As for what it means on a larger scale, Bolland’s actions are just the latest in an ongoing series of anti-Bettman statements from players:
-- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ian White called him “an idiot.” (link)
-- Florida forward Kris Versteeg called him and deputy commissioner Bill Daly “cancers.” (link)
-- Montreal forward Brandon Prust tweeted that “Bettman’s autobiography is in stores now. It’s titled ‘how I destroyed a sport and a nation.’” (link)
Though no longer a part of the NHLPA, ex-player Jeff O’Neill tweeted “Bettman stop talking to the media. I wanna ‘make whole’ in your **** head.”
Finally, it’s worth noting that Bolland hasn’t always shown the greatest judgment when it comes to public image.
Last December, he referred to Daniel and Henrik Sedin as “the sisters” on a Chicago radio station, then said the city of Vancouver was full of “weirdos.”
He later backed off those comments, so don’t be surprised if that happens again.
Update: Surprise! Bolland has deleted the retweet. Or de-retweeted. Whatever.