Hartley Miller's Slap Shots July 16th, 2010

By Hartley Miller

• P.G. Cougars owner Rick Brodsky was livid when Coach Stan Butler resigned just one year into the job.
• Stewart Malgunas and Ed Dempsey appeared to be close while coaching together with the Cougars and later the P.G. Spruce Kings. However, Malgunas took the high road when he unexpectedly left the Spruce Kings as Dempsey’s assistant over an apparent philosophical difference.
• More recently, Len McNamara’s departure as Athletics and Recreation Coordinator from UNBC was not exactly a celebration between the two sides.
• It may not be a traditional sport, but I doubt there was a nastier divorce in Prince George than when CKPG went on the power play and unceremoniously dismissed Meisner after more than 25 years of yeoman service.
• The animosity involving rival local boxing coaches Bob Pegues and Wayne Sponagle became so tense that the courtroom acted as their so-called ring of honor.

 There are many more local examples, but these break-ups pale in comparison to some of the better-known nasty scraps by famous athletes:

• Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers: Wow! This one still lingers on. When Favre was traded to the New York Jets, there definitely was a sense of bitterness, but a year later, when Favre signed with divisional rival, Minnesota, then the animosity between Favre and management ventured into unchartered territory. The good news is the final chapter remains unwritten.
• Tiger Woods and swing coach Butch Harmon: 10 years together but it sure looked like Woods would rather have a “swinging” coach than a swing one. Actually, the Tiger and Butch divorce was pale in comparison to Tiger and soon to be ex wife Elin.
• Shaq and Kobe: Batman and Robin became Batman and the Penguin, Batman and the Riddler or even Batman and the Joker. LA was not big enough for both of those egos after they won three titles together. One had to leave and that was Shaq. Kobe stayed behind and after trailing 4-3 has come back to take what might be an insurmountable 5-4 lead in the all important “ring” count.
• Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb: The best of friends until T.O. jabbed McNabb in the media. He even questioned McNabb’s performance in the only Super Bowl game they played together. Wait, there could be more. Yes, since no team appears interested in giving Owens another chance, T.O. has suggested Washington would be a good fit since it would re-unite him with McNabb. You have to be kidding.
• Brian Burke and Kevin Lowe: These two were so friendly to each other that Lowe actually helped Burke win a Stanley Cup in Anaheim when he dealt Chris Pronger from the Oilers to the Ducks. That gratefulness did not last as the verbal diarrhea publically between the two became so detrimental to the league that Commissioner Gary Bettman had to step in to end the nonsense.
• These aforementioned break ups are just the tip of the iceberg. There is Joe Torre and the New York Yankees, Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee, Jose Canseco and his ex bash Brother Mark McGwire, Jennifer Jones and her long time ex third Cathy Overton-Clapham, and let us not forget Wayne Gretzky, the Phoenix Coyotes, and their former owner Jerry Moyes. Even tennis great Chris Evert is not on speaking terms with her former love, golfer Greg Norman.

From the Quote Rack:  

And in case you missed it: 

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us