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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. Lombardi: Liar, Idiot or something else?
Let's briefly look at his career so far.
Lawyer (labor Law)
Player's Agent
assistant general manager
GM
Western Conference Scout
and GM again.
Yep
Let's briefly look at his career so far.
Lawyer (labor Law)
Player's Agent
assistant general manager
GM
Western Conference Scout
and GM again.
Yep sounds about right. Alll things considered, at this point in time, i'd say he's a bit of all three in every job he's had. The amount of each element varies on the situation.
The cynic voice in my head says that being a Liar, an Idiot, and "something else" are all part of those job descriptions.
The realist voice in my head acknowledges and accepts it as part of human nature and as part of the game...especially when it is done with the best interest of the team at it's heart.
The idealist voice says that it's a crying shame that he has to resort to and be a victim of such weakness and base instincts.
The fan voice in my head doesn't give a **** if Lombardi is any or all three of those options, just as long as the Kings continue to improve and finally turn this organ-eye-zation into what I have always hoped it would be...a contender and most of all a winner!
So having said that; Can he lie to the appropriate people, at the appropriate time, to further the teams's progress...and not get caught? Can he make the idiot decision that actually pays off? Can he be that intangible "something else" every time it's required?
The big question remains and will always remain; can Lombardi blend all three effectively to make the Kings better during his tenure and long after he is gone? That remains the real test of his tenure as the Kings GM.
The jury is still out.
__________________
The Kings will finish 19th to 23rd in the league for the 2008-09 season. Yeah, I hit the Koolaid, so what? You say it...like it's a BAD thing.
Last edited by KingsFan19; August 26th, 2008 at 10:59 PM.
aside from that, being unable to ditch contracts at the deadline seems to be the general consensus (even among many articles i did not cite) on what was the largest factor for his dismissal in San Jose.
believing one side and not the other has been en vogue on both message boards, particularly among those who have some mythological +5 Battle Axe to grind with Lombardi.
so by taking that stance, let us assume that Dean indeed tried to move Blake TWICE...
If that is the case, I don't think DL tried very hard. There have been some reports that Doug Wilson was interested in Blake a number of times over the years, and it was only when he became a UFA that he joined the team in SJ. Unless there was, of course, reservations about trading within the division, to a former team that DL was fired from, or that there wasn't a desire to take on the $6 mill Blake was getting. Although, I don't think that last reason was really the case given that Wilson paid a mere million less than Blake previously made.
__________________ "If Life gives you lemons, stick those lemons in a sock and beat the crap out of Life with it!"
If that is the case, I don't think DL tried very hard. There have been some reports that Doug Wilson was interested in Blake a number of times over the years, and it was only when he became a UFA that he joined the team in SJ. Unless there was, of course, reservations about trading within the division, to a former team that DL was fired from, or that there wasn't a desire to take on the $6 mill Blake was getting. Although, I don't think that last reason was really the case given that Wilson paid a mere million less than Blake previously made.
is there any part of No Trade Clause i need to explain?
__________________ GESCOM:it's never too early to start beefing up your obituary!
Originally Posted by Lombardi in 2006
``He represents a player, with the position he plays and the way he plays it, that is not easy to find,'' Kings president and general manager Dean Lombardi said. ``He totally understands what being a whiner is about.
FTFY
Quote:
Originally Posted by gescom
is there any part of No Trade Clause i need to explain?
Yeah but Blake said that if the team came to him and asked him to waive it he would...because just the act of coming to him and asking him to waive it would tell him they don't want him there...and why stay if they don't want him? ...and why re-sign in the summer with a team that didn't want him.
Blake was being really passive-aggressive and sending messages to the Kings that they better not trade him (or even ask about it) unless they wanted him gone permanently. Make no mistake, Blake would have accepted a trade...but if they did, he would not be back.
What DL should have done was decide before the trade deadline whether he wanted Blake back. Then either sign him to a deal, or if he couldn't trade him and wish him well.
__________________ I'm not lookin' for da best players, Craig. I'm lookin' for da right ones.
---Herb Brooks, June 1979
You don't just put a "C" on a guy's jersey. They have to earn it.
---Dean Lombardi, November 2008
Although I love the sarcasm, I am going to have to politely disagree...
I think young players, ESPECIALLY young D-guys, ESPECIALLY those who skipped much of their minor league experience and went straight to the big league...without a doubt need player-mentors to help be their guides.
The jump from college to the minors to the big in such a quick time frame should be aided and eased by as many mentors as possible. Blake included. As much as I despise the man...I do not doubt the fact that he taught a lot to Jack.
I absolutely agree 100% with everything you just said. HOWEVER...I know you don't think for one fraction of a second that Rob Blake is the only guy in the NHL, fit to "mentor" Jack Johnson and/or the other young d-men...right?
I would even venture to say there are even classier guys out there, that don't bring as much drama, and may even cost less. So again...why all the friggin' fussing over Blake?!? Move on for the love of sweet baby Jesus in the manger.
I absolutely agree 100% with everything you just said. [SIZE=\"5\"]HOWEVER[/size]...I know you don't think for one fraction of a second that Rob Blake is the only guy in the NHL, fit to \"mentor\" Jack Johnson and/or the other young d-men...right?
Of course he's not the only one, he was just the only one who wanted to actually play for the Kings. Of course they could always use Denis "I'm almost as bad as Bryan Marchment when it comes to cheapshots" Gauthier as the "mentor" on the blueline...
Of course he's not the only one, he was just the only one who wanted to actually play for the Kings. Of course they could always use Denis \"I'm almost as bad as Bryan Marchment when it comes to cheapshots\" Gauthier as the \"mentor\" on the blueline...
Wow...you really believe that? The only one that wants to play for the Kings? Even if you believe that to be true there is always the possibility of trading for someone...then they have to play for the Kings. There ARE other options.
BTW if he wanted so badly to play for the Kings I bet he would be. He was in more of a hurry to sign a contract right away and get the guaranteed 5 mil, than to wait around for the Kings. I don't blame him for that, but I sure as hell won't pine for him.
Wow...you really believe that? The only one that wants to play for the Kings?
Well, none of the ones they approached/targeted wanted to play for the Kings, and I doubt anyone else out there is/was willing to play for $1M less just to stay a King. Modry would rather play overseas, Norstrom would rather retire, Stuart signed with the Wings, Blake they never made an offer to, etc. I'd imagine a Carney or Richardson mentor-type really wanted to play here, they'd already be signed, so we'll have to wait and see, but since it's been 2 months since free agency started and nobody HAS signed here, isn't it logical to assume they don't want to play for the Kings? Sure they might if nobody else offers them anything, but if they were gung ho about being a King, they'd already be here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by anjae11eden
Even if you believe that to be true there is always the possibility of trading for someone...then they have to play for the Kings. There ARE other options.
True, and I'm hoping that's what DL does. But Blake could've been had without giving up assets, and if they trade for an older mentor-type dman, it doesn't make much sense to not have just signed Blake for free.
Quote:
Originally Posted by anjae11eden
BTW if he wanted so badly to play for the Kings I bet he would be. He was in more of a hurry to sign a contract right away and get the guaranteed 5 mil, than to wait around for the Kings. I don't blame him for that, but I sure as hell won't pine for him.
It had nothing to do with Blake, Lombardi simply wasn't interested in signing him.
KingsFan19
