From: seth@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (peter.r.clark..jr)
Subject: Re: Ho hum, more on Eric Lindros...
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 18:21:44 GMT

In article <1992Sep15.114913.1752@ucbeh.san.uc.edu>, rademaew@ucbeh.san.uc.edu writes:
> (I meant to post this before vacation, but..........)
> 
> 
> Well, as long as I've complained about the amount of Lindros posts,
> I might as well add to 'em.....
> 
> Here's Bobby Orr's slant on Lindros, from THN Sept 4., 1992 
> (reprinted w/o permission) :
> 
> "Is Lindros better than Wayne Gretzky?" asks Orr. "Is he going to break open
> games the way Wayne did? I wouldn't give away my team to get him. Remember,
> Gretzky had a great supporting cast when he was winning the Cup in Edmonton but
> he doesn't have that kind of cast in LA and they haven't won. And look at the
> cast surrounding Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe had a great cast around him. So
> did I with the Bruins. If the Flyers make the playoffs after all they gave a
> way it'll be because other teams failed, not because they're going to be a
> whole lot better."
> 
> Hmmm. This quote got me to thinking. Supposing Mr. Orr is correct, AND SUPPOSE
> Lindros eventually fails in the NHL (or does not achieve "Stardom") what will 
> be the consequences of the 
> failure of Mr. Lindros on the NHL? One might argue that his success is
> something the NHL could use right now. If we can get off of the subject
> of HATE LINDROS and LOVE LINDROS for a while, what about the impact of
> the situation on the league? Just thought I'd give y'all something more 
> to toss around.
> 
> Peace,
> !eric!
> 

It's bad enough that people respond to other peoples posts without taking
the time to read and understand, but here's somebody typing in a quote
from Bobby Orr that doesn't even understand the quote. Either that or
the quote is incomplete. There is not a single word in there to indicate
that Orr thinks Lindros will fail. He said that Lindros needs a supporting
cast. That's it! He wouldn't trade the team away to get him because all
of the other great stars have proven that you MUST HAVE a supporting cast
no matter how good you are. And he is absolutely correct. But nowhere in
there does he say he thinks Lindros *himself* will be a bust.

As for your question, though, I doubt it will have any impact on the NHL
if Lindros fails, but the FLYERS are going to be in big trouble because
of all the good young talent and money they gave away for him. On the
other hand, if he should be all that he is supposed to be, he will have
a big impact (IMHO, of course) in helping the NHL move up to the level
of the three other major sports in North America. It's already going to
be Lindros vs Lemieux on ESPN on Oct. 6th. That's how they're billing it.

As for whether or not the FLYERS will be a whole lot better because of
the trade, for this year and maybe next year I tend to agree with Orr.
But the FLYERS are a better team than the Pen's were when they got Mario
and better than the Kings were when they got Wayne. They *DIDN'T* give
away their whole team to get him. It won't take as long to build around
Lindros because there's already a decent nucleus. (although those draft
picks they won't have will certainly hurt to some degree...any Minnesota
Vikings fans out there? :-) )

pete clark jr - r.s.h FLYERS contact
att!hos1cad!seth

4 days 'til Eric hits Spectrum ice!!!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey