Katz's comments about MacT due to his anger from talk radio shows
http://communities.canada.com/edmont...-no-1-fan.aspx
Daryl Katz, No. 1 Fan
By John MacKinnon 04-03-2009 COMMENTS(7) Sweatsox
Filed under: Daryl Katz Edmonton Oilers Craig MacTavish Kevin Lowe
Oilers Nation got a glimpse Thursday — via text message, of all things — of the passion Oilers owner Daryl Katz feels for the NHL team he owns.
Not to mention the fact that his passion can sometimes trump his media awareness.
Apparently while driving to Rexall Place with his wife, Katz was growing increasingly agitated listening to endless chatter about the future of Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish on the CHED's pre-game broadcast.
So, he texted host Bob Stauffer, as follows: "MacT isn't going anywhere."
An ambiguous message, albeit one of support for MacTavish, whose Oilers lost 2-1 to the league-leading San Jose Sharks in an entertaining game Thursday night.
Asked about the seeming vote of confidence during his post-game news conference, MacTavish said: "I'm not going to even comment on it.
"It's the first I've heard about it, coming through here. I've had enough discussion on my future. We can talk about (that) at the end of the year.
"It has taken a life all of its own and I'm not going to do anything to contribute to my criticism any more. I just want to talk about the hockey team from here on in and I think that's fair."
Consider this an unforced error by the owner. MacTavish had skillfully dealt with the issue after the Oilers practice on Wednesday. He fielded questions, responded professionally and with his customary wit.
In effect, the media-savvy MacTavish had achieved closure on the matter, at least until the season is over for the Oilers.
Then the owner chirped in with his impetuous thoughts on Thursday night and rekindled the entire discussion. So, the Oilers rushed to squelch the debate again.
Oilers president Kevin Lowe, visibly irritated by the whole affair, made a brief statement on the kerfuffle after MacTavish left the media conference room.
"First of all, I want to say that Daryl is extremely passionate and emotional about the game and I think that's why the fans are going to love this guy," Lowe said in his brief statement. "He said that he was extremely disappointed and somewhat frustrated by the fact that we're in the middle of a playoff race and all the discussion and the focus was on the future of our head coach.
"He just found that rather odd. And, ( he found it odd) . . .that it was on our pre-game show that he was listening to the future of our head coach and he just wanted to suppress that once and for all. Simple as that."
What did the message mean? Lowe was asked.
"I think I answered that in the statement," Lowe said. "The fact that he's an emotional guy, he's driving to the rink, he was listening to the radio show and heard all this discussion . . .
"He's excited, like the fans are coming to the game. He wants to hear discussions about the players and the playoff race and what-have-you, not about the future of the head coach."
Asked to parse the meaning of Katz's words "not going anywhere," — might it mean MacTavish would remain with the club in another capacity? — Lowe said: "I think you can probably ask that to Daryl at the end of the season, but I'm not going to delve into that.
"It's exactly the way I described it. He was feeling a lot of emotion, riding with his wife to the game and hearing all this talk about the future of the head coach.
"And, quite frankly, I'm finding it kind of odd myself when there's five games left in the season and that's consuming the airwaves or the news waves, but I'm not going to tell you guys how to do your job."
One reporter asked Lowe whether he was saying that the camera-shy Katz would meet with reporters at the end of the season.
Lowe chuckled and said: "I can't promise that. I know (Katz) loves the team, loves the city. You can't find a guy who's more passionate about the team right now and I know . . . if he feels a need to talk publicly, he will. But I think he spoke volumes about his passion, represented his passion about everything this evening with what he said."
Curiouser and curiouser.
Daryl Katz, No. 1 Fan
By John MacKinnon 04-03-2009 COMMENTS(7) Sweatsox
Filed under: Daryl Katz Edmonton Oilers Craig MacTavish Kevin Lowe
Oilers Nation got a glimpse Thursday — via text message, of all things — of the passion Oilers owner Daryl Katz feels for the NHL team he owns.
Not to mention the fact that his passion can sometimes trump his media awareness.
Apparently while driving to Rexall Place with his wife, Katz was growing increasingly agitated listening to endless chatter about the future of Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish on the CHED's pre-game broadcast.
So, he texted host Bob Stauffer, as follows: "MacT isn't going anywhere."
An ambiguous message, albeit one of support for MacTavish, whose Oilers lost 2-1 to the league-leading San Jose Sharks in an entertaining game Thursday night.
Asked about the seeming vote of confidence during his post-game news conference, MacTavish said: "I'm not going to even comment on it.
"It's the first I've heard about it, coming through here. I've had enough discussion on my future. We can talk about (that) at the end of the year.
"It has taken a life all of its own and I'm not going to do anything to contribute to my criticism any more. I just want to talk about the hockey team from here on in and I think that's fair."
Consider this an unforced error by the owner. MacTavish had skillfully dealt with the issue after the Oilers practice on Wednesday. He fielded questions, responded professionally and with his customary wit.
In effect, the media-savvy MacTavish had achieved closure on the matter, at least until the season is over for the Oilers.
Then the owner chirped in with his impetuous thoughts on Thursday night and rekindled the entire discussion. So, the Oilers rushed to squelch the debate again.
Oilers president Kevin Lowe, visibly irritated by the whole affair, made a brief statement on the kerfuffle after MacTavish left the media conference room.
"First of all, I want to say that Daryl is extremely passionate and emotional about the game and I think that's why the fans are going to love this guy," Lowe said in his brief statement. "He said that he was extremely disappointed and somewhat frustrated by the fact that we're in the middle of a playoff race and all the discussion and the focus was on the future of our head coach.
"He just found that rather odd. And, ( he found it odd) . . .that it was on our pre-game show that he was listening to the future of our head coach and he just wanted to suppress that once and for all. Simple as that."
What did the message mean? Lowe was asked.
"I think I answered that in the statement," Lowe said. "The fact that he's an emotional guy, he's driving to the rink, he was listening to the radio show and heard all this discussion . . .
"He's excited, like the fans are coming to the game. He wants to hear discussions about the players and the playoff race and what-have-you, not about the future of the head coach."
Asked to parse the meaning of Katz's words "not going anywhere," — might it mean MacTavish would remain with the club in another capacity? — Lowe said: "I think you can probably ask that to Daryl at the end of the season, but I'm not going to delve into that.
"It's exactly the way I described it. He was feeling a lot of emotion, riding with his wife to the game and hearing all this talk about the future of the head coach.
"And, quite frankly, I'm finding it kind of odd myself when there's five games left in the season and that's consuming the airwaves or the news waves, but I'm not going to tell you guys how to do your job."
One reporter asked Lowe whether he was saying that the camera-shy Katz would meet with reporters at the end of the season.
Lowe chuckled and said: "I can't promise that. I know (Katz) loves the team, loves the city. You can't find a guy who's more passionate about the team right now and I know . . . if he feels a need to talk publicly, he will. But I think he spoke volumes about his passion, represented his passion about everything this evening with what he said."
Curiouser and curiouser.
Comment