Quick question…if you fought with your boss, who also happened to be one of the most respected men in the history of his industry, how long would keep your job? And what if you were also fighting with one of your star employees who also happened to be one of the most respected man in his job too? And after you were let go from that job if you were offered 2 similar jobs in the same industry yet you very publicly turned down lucrative offers how many more offers do you think would roll in after that?
Well that’s the REAL story of Ted Nolan. Ted Nolan was on HBO’s “Real Sports” saying that he believed that racism is the reason why he was shut out of the NHL and why he was not a head coach before getting the Islander job last summer. Huh?? The guy openly feuded with Sabre GM John Muckler (a 5 time Stanley Cup winner including one as head coach), he openly fought with goalie Dominic Hasek, who was one of the only stars the Sabres had back then. And don’t forget Nolan was actually offered an addional year on his contract, something the Sabres didn’t have to do, and he turned them down. After one good season Nolan wanted a multi year extension. And after the Sabres let him go he was offered a job with the Lightning and then he was offered one with the Islanders. He embarrassed both organizations by turning them down.
Are you kidding me? There’s only a handful of NHL jobs out there, you have to take what you can get. Ken Hitchcock forgot more about hockey then Ted Nolan will ever know and when the Flyers let him go he jumped at the chance to coach the pathetic Blue Jackets. Why? BECAUSE HE’S NOT A FOOL!!! These teams don’t owe anyone anything.
So Ted Nolan blamed racism for his being out of the NHL. Racism exists in life and it’s a plague but this has nothing to do with racism. Put yourself in the position of these teams. Nolan fought with his superiors, tried to humilate 2 teams that wanted to hire him, and has been screaming racism at the same teams and league he was also looking to get a job from. Yo Ted!! Pick your battles carefully.
