WOW go off to NYC for a day's business trip and the Arena's ice melts and the locker room doors are blown off their hinges.
Never being anyone to run and hide, I am the one that uttered the phrase, "down goes Frazier". If I had to do it again, I probably would not have got caught up in the moment. It was done in a celebratory way after the open-net goal was scored. It was not intended to taunt. It was done to celebrate the victory in my best Howard Cosell impression. I was ecstatic of what just happened. Not a miracle on ice but a very unexpected result in my opinion.
Beating EP is always a very big and unexpected event here in Chaska and if you recall, my expectations of any hope were very low based on how the boys were DOA against Burnsville and the fact no one in D6 had beaten EP Red. I am not always a stoic Norwegian
You can take any position you want regarding my actions. I'm perfectly ok being called immature, a jerk, classless, or whatever you want to call me since my action may warrant it. It was an remote incident. I am not a very politically correct person and I would rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not. As you are throwing stones and rotten tomatoes, just remember the shelter you live in or the clothes you wear or the unknown personal actions one will take on the path each of us walk everyday.
Jim Buffet sings it well for wrong actions taken:
" There's a fine line between Saturday night and Sunday morning"
In most people's minds posting here, I ended up staying too long in the Saturday night portion and I wished now that I would have just gone on to Sunday morning.
The wrath of my wife is the only punishment I am really concerned about.
I truly can't believe the uproar and how some components are already distorted. Lets see it wasn't done to taunt, there was no name-calling, no vulgarity, there was nothing shouted prior during the game against or at any of the players or coaches. Though I wish now I wouldn't have said it, I truly believe the anger and disgust behind the opinions are due more to the loss then what I said or did. 74 minutes of good behavior and 30 seconds of poor judgement that I am now responsible for - I think it was more an isolated incident of poor judgement than an intentional act of provocation.
I would advise the all hockey players, parents and, coaches to toughen up a bit. It gets much worse in HS sports. Of course it is coming from immature students rather than idiotic parents (me). It can be brutal on the soccer sidelines. You know how I disfuse that situation? I will turn around, smile at the section, and applaud, and ask them to do it again because it was so good. After the game I tell them that their team is lucky to have fans that support them and I shake their hands.
I typically take it in good fun or say nothing knowing someday my team will exact revenge on the field.
I grew up with grandpa telling me that sticks and stones might break your bones but words will never hurt you (unless you let them). I didn't anticpate such an interpretation of hurt behind those words.
The point is I don't take myself too seriously and I'm always the first one to poke fun at myself before others. I am also typically one of the few parents congratulating the opposition as they leave the arena if they have beaten Chaska. When Edina Green came back and tied Chaska in their first game I was the guy congratulating them all as they left the building on out working us in the 3rd to get the tie.
So to get the facts squared away
1) yes I was the dolt that twice uttered the phrase, "Down goes Frazier"
2) I am not a hockey coach for Chaska, just a double-wide trailer park parent from hicksville. I was born in a basement and never brought up.
2) I always stand far end right side from our goal (blueblood knows why - we will just leave it at being supersitious) the position is never taken to incite or taunt the opposing teams. I respect the efforts that all players put forward (see past posts)
3) I typically stand alone - I had a friend next to me this time. Maybe having someone to celebrate with was the added ingrediant that sent the foam over the top of the glass.
4) I never approached the EP coaches to confront them - I had to walk past the benches to get out of the arena since the Zamboni was blocking my other escape route. Fortunately the other Ep coaches had better self control.
5) for those of you who believe that my brain matter is that of the fecal substance found in soiled diapers, you should know something. I will never ever start a fight, but I will never ever back down from defending myself from bullies of any size or IQ. I am highly skilled and extremly confident in being able to defend myself in most situations. For those instance where I might fail, my lawyer's number is on speed dial as are my Sopranos connections in NYC/NJ ( ok that was satire don't take it seriously).
6) The the threat of bodily harm can be dismissed, There is no need for any reports to D6. I never felt in harm's way and the invitation into the parking lot I believed to be an invitation for a beer (that's how it's done in soccer) . Yeah, Zindane and the Italian defender he head-butted went out for beers afterwards...didn't you know that? The hot head is EP's concern not mine. That's how we do it in soccer. If the Ep coaching staff wanted to sit down and discuss the subject over beers and get an apology from me I would have no problem doing that and would expect that we would have a good time (as long as they acknowledged it was a pretty original line). I'll even buy the first round
(just to make sure nothing is added to my beer)
7) What I am most regretful of is the fact this overblown action takes away from the great effort and result achieved by these boys against a team that I consider to be one of the best in the state (see earlier post comments about them) It was a very good game.

also regretful that now this action can be used as incentive for EP Red if the teams meet again in districts. I know as a player it would fuel my fire. So much for wanting to fly underneath the radar.
9) no one from chaska previous to this game had ever been singing high praise for this team. My comments have always been one of under achievers that had great ability but refused to play as a team and make each other better. My comments on Red have always been positive on their play.
I'll bring duct tape to the next game and let my wife use the dog's training collar on me if need be. This was an not the norm for me, however my moniker tomASS was taken for a reason, because I know at times I can be considered a smart-a** for my cutting comments. If you know me, you know I speak my mind and do not sugar coat things - this time, my timing and volume was used in poor judgement in a bad location.
Burnsville vs. Tonka will be a very good game to watch. That will be a very good match-up. The Blaze always float the weak side wing and try to hit the long cross ice passes. Their breakouts are like the old Green Bay Packer sweep - you know what is coming, now try to stop it! Very predictable but executed extremely well - done with precision and speed. Screw up their timing and you can create turnovers. Is it at Tonka or Burnsville?
PS - closed circuit to #19 - Chaska has no reason to be talking smack - one game does not make you better than your dismal performance in Burnsville. Celebrate the victory but, it is now history, it is what you do in the remaining games that will matter. Do it every game consistently until your season is finally over before judging your ability. One game does not make you a great team it only says you played well that game and that game alone. Play that way the rest of the season and my opinion will change, but you have done nothing of sustained substance to have earned anything yet ( just a soccer coach to a hockey player).
You will only gain what you are willing earn on the ice game in and game out.