Rory Fitzpatrick doesn’t have the right stuff

Posted by admin on Jan 23, 2007 in Sports | 0 comments

It appears the Rory Fitzpatrick all-star campaign has resulted in nothing more than a bizarre footnote in hockey history. The journeyman defenceman will be watching the league’s all-star classic from the comfort of his own home, just like the legions of supporters who tirelessly plugged away at their computers in an attempt to push him into the starting line-up.

I must admit that I was a staunch supporter of the Vote For Rory campaign from its beginning. I am not a Rory fan. I am not even a Canucks fan. I voted for Rory because I thought he would be a break from the usual monotony that is the all-star game. Year after year, we see the same players float through an exhibition game that many of them don’t want to be a part of anyway. However, as the weeks passed and the campaign went on, it became clear that including Rory in this all-star game would be the wrong thing to do.

My reasons are not what you might expect. I disagree with the hockey blowhards who claim that Rory Fitzpatrick’s inclusion somehow taints the legacy of hockey’s greats who have played in the game before. Let’s get one thing straight. The all-star game is not a sacred shrine to hockey’s immortal. The likes of Uwe Krupp, Sergei Krivokrasov and Espen Knutsen have graced us with their presence at the NHL’s midseason classic. If these guys can play in the all-star game, then I have no problem with Rory Fitzpatrick playing in one.

The real reason Rory should not be at this year’s all-star game is that he simply is not the right man for the job. He seems like a nice guy, but one who was not eager to be the centrepiece of this joke. Rory was polite when asked about the campaign, but appeared uncomfortable with the whole situation. His personality simply was not the right match. Players such as Toronto’s Wade Belak or Dallas’ Matthew Barnaby, who are outgoing and are not afraid to look foolish at times, if it means giving the fans a good laugh, are examples of the type of player required to make this sort of campaign work.

Picture what the all-star game would have looked like with Rory in it. Rory would be introduced as a starter and take his place alongside the other players, trying hard to fit in. Sure it might be good for a few laughs, but I doubt Rory would have enjoyed this situation much. There is really nothing in it for him, outside of being a source of comedic relief for a small group of fans. The all-star game is not better off without Rory Fitzpatrick. Rory Fitzpatrick is better off without the all-star game.