Keith confirms what many thought...

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

"I'm not making any excuses but I didn't feel excited coming back at the start the season," Keith said. "[I'm] just being honest and I'm excited to play hockey now. Once you get off to a bad start and you're not happy with it, it's tough to get out of. It can snowball in some ways. You think you're getting out of it then it comes back and becomes a mental thing. It makes you appreciate having a good start."

Chicago Blackhawks' Duncan Keith: I wasn't 'excited' for 2010-11 season - ESPN Chicago





Call it the cup hangover or whatever, but Keith clearly felt it. Hell, I felt it as a fan. They just won the cup and were celebrated for a full summer. No matter who you are, it has to be hard to get pumped up about trudging through months and months of relatively meaningless games (compared to what you just went through in the playoffs) just to have the chance at making a run again.

Conversely, look at the Flyers. Upset with coming so far after beating impossible odds and falling two games short of winning the cup... is it any surprise they came out on fire for the bulk of the regular season?

Whatever the case, I think it's cool that Keith copped to what a lot of people had assumed for a while now. It's also great that the fire has been re-lit. You have to imagine if the Hawks can't pull off the upset against Vancouver that they'll be a bit more determined next season.

 

[Gunzaan]

Uhhhhh... great, he was honest about having very little motivation this year? Good for him, but that's bullshit. You don't see any Detroit Red Wings doing this after they win the cup. He got a great contract during last year and he doesn't put his all into this year? Maybe he owes the Blackhawks some of his salary back. Say he only was 70% into the season, well he should give back 30% of his contract. And he should give it to the fans who spent tons of money during the regular season, to watch the Hawks play at 100%.

I find that really discouraging. It says a lot about his competitive nature.

 

[DewsSox79]

Uhhhhh... great, he was honest about having very little motivation this year? Good for him, but that's bullshit. You don't see any Detroit Red Wings doing this after they win the cup. He got a great contract during last year and he doesn't put his all into this year? Maybe he owes the Blackhawks some of his salary back. Say he only was 70% into the season, well he should give back 30% of his contract. And he should give it to the fans who spent tons of money during the regular season, to watch the Hawks play at 100%.

I find that really discouraging. It says a lot about his competitive nature.

:clap:

Well said, took my thoughts and wrote them for me. I agree 100%.

 

[Savoir_Faire_18]

That is complete crap... being paid the dollars that he is paid you would think you could get out of bed to go do something so many younger (and older) skaters could only dream of doing. Can we single out Keith tho? Absolutely not. This would have been better received coming from the mouth of Kane.

Champions are made a season at a time... Dynasties are made day by day.

 

[X]

every single player in every single sport half-asses it from time-to-time. Why is this news to you all?

 

[Shawon0Meter]

I think NBA players have an under the table agreement to play at 80% throughout the game unless it's close with 5 minutes left

 

[X]

Uhhhhh... great, he was honest about having very little motivation this year? Good for him, but that's bullshit. You don't see any Detroit Red Wings doing this after they win the cup. He got a great contract during last year and he doesn't put his all into this year? Maybe he owes the Blackhawks some of his salary back. Say he only was 70% into the season, well he should give back 30% of his contract. And he should give it to the fans who spent tons of money during the regular season, to watch the Hawks play at 100%.

I find that really discouraging. It says a lot about his competitive nature.

:clap:

Well said, took my thoughts and wrote them for me. I agree 100%.

in your all's jobs...do you go 100% the entire time? no coffee, no newspaper, no anything that slows production? If that's not the case, do you feel like you should give back some of your paycheck? Hell no you don't. It's kind of part of being human...don't hold athletes to higher standards than you have for people you know and respect...that's just dumb.

 

[Savoir_Faire_18]

in your all's jobs...do you go 100% the entire time? no coffee, no newspaper, no anything that slows production? If that's not the case, do you feel like you should give back some of your paycheck? Hell no you don't. It's kind of part of being human...don't hold athletes to higher standards than you have for people you know and respect...that's just dumb.

People drop a hundo a day to watch you work? Doubt it.

 

[X]

People drop a hundo a day to watch you work? Doubt it.

my boss drops me money that he gains through the services I provide for his agency....yeah....

 

[AE23]

w/e, atleast he was honest about it now, i was wondering where he was at the beginning of the season,...but I cant blame him for not feelin' it at the start, i think knowing that it was by far a different team might have had something to do with it, i know it did for me, but for him thats no excuse, w/e, he doesnt owe us anything after last season, IMO

 

[BigP50]

Cant blame him at all. He won the ultimate prize, the first couple of games were probably boring to everyone, and everyone who has won a Stanley Cup.

 

[Gunzaan]

in your all's jobs...do you go 100% the entire time? no coffee, no newspaper, no anything that slows production? If that's not the case, do you feel like you should give back some of your paycheck? Hell no you don't. It's kind of part of being human...don't hold athletes to higher standards than you have for people you know and respect...that's just dumb.

Wow, making excuses for athletes who have admitted to dogging it and having trouble finding motiviation. That's just great. I'm actually NOT surprised. That really does seem to be the "American Way" in today's attitude.

I've already stated that that type of attitude screws the fan who is paying way too much $$ to watch a game. It also is a big "**** you" and a horrible example to the rest of his teammates. He is supposed to be a leader and that is horrible leadership. I'm sure that can wear off on younger people, *cough Kane cough* and what kind of example is that for all of the new people on the team that didn't win it last year? When your best players are dogging it, it has a domino effect on the entire team.

I personally think it is really asinine to compare an athlete who just signed a 13 year, $72 million contract to your average joe's job. If you want to accept this as standard-quo, then I would say you are part of the problem. No offense, but that type of attutide is prevelant within union workers and it is very lazy thinking. I can think of hundreds of examples in sports where that type of attitude wouldn't be allowed. The Detroit Red Wings, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Atlanta Braves (under Bobby Cox), the Twins (under Ron Gardenhire), the New England Patriots (under Belichek), etc. etc. Notice that all of those teams are multiple winners of regular seasons and/or championships. I could name 100's of individuals, ala Michael Jordan and the rest of the all-time greats in each major sport, but that list would take days to create.

I guess the point is, if you have that attitude, ala Duncan Keith, then get used to winning one championship every 60+ years. If you want to have a team that has a chance to win it 3-6 times in a decade, you need to have a winner's attitude and put the work in, day in and day out. And there are PLENTY of examples of teams/individuals who have done that. It's sad to see that Duncan Keith, and others on this team, decided to settle for the one championship.

 

[ClydeLee]

Blaming that as claiming they're settling or not all in it this year is just a bunch of over reacting whiny excuses.

It doesn't mean anything, Keith can just admit what is the actual truth when many people will hide behind clitches even though all these people have similar realizations. There isn't nor wasn't the same emotional energy from the team, city, fandom, or league for the Hawks.

 

[Gunzaan]

Blaming that as claiming they're settling or not all in it this year is just a bunch of over reacting whiny excuses.

It doesn't mean anything, Keith can just admit what is the actual truth when many people will hide behind clitches even though all these people have similar realizations. There isn't nor wasn't the same emotional energy from the team, city, fandom, or league for the Hawks.

And I can easily claim that THIS is a whiny excuse.

I'm sorry but when you play a professional sport and are paid millions of dollars, in Duncan's case he will make over $100 million from this sport, you are held to a higher standard.

 

[ClydeLee]

What's the excuse? They played poorer outta the gate and in stretches because the team just played poorer? Hardly much to proclaim an excuse. Noting that, reality is what it is, is the exact opposite of any excuse.

You can have your personal standards for anything wherever you want it to be, yet you might wanna realize your standards in situations in sports have no impact, maybe your personal purchase of a merchandise or ticket but that's about it.

 

[Gunzaan]

What's the excuse? They played poorer outta the gate and in stretches because the team just played poorer? Hardly much to proclaim an excuse. Noting that, reality is what it is, is the exact opposite of any excuse.

You can have your personal standards for anything wherever you want it to be, yet you might wanna realize your standards in situations in sports have no impact, maybe your personal purchase of a merchandise or ticket but that's about it.

You have nothing to say other then what I said is a whiny excuse. I don't even know why I'm responding, you have yet to make a point.

If he didn't put in the day-to-day work in the offseason and the beginning of the season, that is weak-sauce, shows poor leadership and isn't what the Hawks signed him for. If he is saying this because all of a sudden he is personally playing very well for the first time all season, that is weak as well. If you just want to defend him or the Hawks because he is your fav player or fav team, that is just as bad.

I'm not saying don't root for him, don't root for the Hawks or anything else. I'm saying that if that was the attitude for Keith and others for the offseason/beginning of the season, that is pathetic and not what the Hawks paid for. If you don't see any sort of problem with it, big or small, then I think that is complacent thinking.

 

[ClydeLee]

I don't find it logical to blast someone who went out giving a whole heck of an effort on a game by game basis for having a less than full on attitude at other times. If it's disrespectful to the fan, the fan has in-humanistic views of the world. It is probably impossible for any person to be into and trying for things as much or even a majority of the ability they possibly could be at any point anyway.

I'm was not making any point because I was making a counter-point to your point in the defense of just caring about reality.

There just truthfully wasn't the same energy, and no it isn't complacent thinking on my part as much as not being so heavily caring about sports championships and records over the timeline. He gave the fans one great exciting season, if you don't appropriate the process of things then its up to you, but some people actually do care for more than the end goal.

 

[DewsSox79]

in your all's jobs...do you go 100% the entire time? no coffee, no newspaper, no anything that slows production? If that's not the case, do you feel like you should give back some of your paycheck? Hell no you don't. It's kind of part of being human...don't hold athletes to higher standards than you have for people you know and respect...that's just dumb.

comparing someone who is a normal worker to an athlete making millions is stupid for 1. If i have an extra coffee or take time to play video games instead of work it costs me money.

So you think it is ok to have that attitude as a player? really? AGAIN tell that to the Lakers, Celtics, Patriots, Red Wings, Yankees.....so please it is a cop out and it is a weak minded player. period.

The biggest concern, if this pussy is admitting it, how many others on this team are the same way but are just keeping their mouths shut.

I didnt see championships stop Jordan, gretzky, zetterberg, datsyuk, rivera, posada ETC ETC ETC just stop because they won 1 title. give me a fucking break

 

[Capt. Serious]

It only took Duncs til we were down 3-0 in the series to show up.

Maybe, he'll show up the ENTIRE season come September/October.

 

[AE23]

it wasnt the same team coming back,... no Byfuglien, Ladd, Niemi, Versteeg, Eager, Sopel, that team was dismantled! maybe he wasnt in it, because he didnt have the help around him, when i was watching the start of the season, I was real curious how the D would play, I saw him all over the place but not doing much.