Arizona Coyotes: Radio Host Says Shane Doan “Likes Losing”
Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan just re-signed to return for the 21st season to the only franchise he’s ever known. A Sportsnet radio host says that Doan re-upping implies that he “likes losing”.
Shane Doan has been with the Arizona Coyotes through the good and bad, and an objective fan would admit there’s been far more bad than good.
Through the endless relocation and arena sagas, ownership changes, and the lost seasons, he’s remained steadfast in his commitment to growing hockey in the desert.
Last night it was reported by Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports that Doan had signed a new, one-year contract worth up to $5 million to play his 21st season in the NHL.
He’s spent 20 of those years in the Valley.
Despite the fact that the Phoenix area plays hosts to professional football, basketball, and a former World Series winning baseball team, there is no more popular and respected sports figure than Shane Doan.
His decision to continually return to a franchise that has given him so little help in return isn’t popular with everyone, however.
Sportsnet.ca radio host Dean Blundell took umbrage with Doan’s choice this morning, pondering “Have you ever in your life seen a guy in any professional sport that likes losing as much as Shane Doan?”
Skip Bayless, is that you?
Blundell continued his unprompted tirade against Doan with more insults. “I don’t know that there’s another man that’s been as good as he’s been in his sport that’s been not just OK with sucking, but looked forward to it, preferred it, took pay cuts to do it, and is staying and finishing his career in a place he knows he can’t win.”
Perhaps ESPN hired Max Kellerman a little too quickly.
Recently, we’ve seen Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan celebrated for sticking out a career with one team. It’s a rare thing in sports, loyalty. It cuts both ways, and even when the player has it we find that often the franchise does not.
Take the case of beloved Ottawa Senator Daniel Alfredsson, who finished his career as a Red Wing after 16 years of service to the Sens. Fans and talking heads alike bemoaned the Indianapolis Colts cutting Peyton Manning after he rebuilt that franchise. Joe Montana, the greatest quarterback to throw a spiral, finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Shane Doan is mocked on a Toronto radio show for putting his money where his mouth is and showing the very trait fans covet the most.
Loyalty. A desire to spend his entire career with the Arizona Coyotes.
Very few players are given an opportunity to go out on their terms. Fewer still are able to maintain both the level of play and humility that allows them to remain the face of a franchise for the duration.
For his loyalty, Shane Doan will not be feted on ESPN like Kobe or Duncan. He won’t get a year long celebration when he decides to hang up his skates.
He deserves those things, but he plays in the NHL not the NBA.
He plays for a young franchise in Arizona instead of a storied Original Six powerhouse.
ESPN isn’t going wall-to-wall on #19’s final season, if this is to be it.
Dean Blundell knows little of the Arizona Coyotes or desert hockey, the growth it’s seen, or the hurdles and insults this franchise and it’s fan base have suffered to get here. He’s best known for receiving numerous complaints, concerns, and suspensions for everything from defamation to homophobia.
Blundell misses the mark and misses the man entirely.
Shane Doan is loyal because he’s interested in building something in the desert. He’s done an excellent job of it. The 2016 NHL Draft is proof of that.
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He’s built a legacy in the Valley.
Why would he leave to chase a Cup when he’s building something far more important and long lasting right here in the desert?
He wouldn’t. The job is not finished and Doan intends to finish the job. The right way.