Luongo Makes Tough Choice

[SabresFan526]

Its a tricky situation when you starting comparing entertainer's lives to that of the rest of us. While we all would like to think that we are vital to the success of whatever enitity we are employed by, most of us are in a position were taking a couple of days or even weeks off is not going to effect the well being of said entity. Either there is someone to fill in adequately for us, or our function can be done without for a little while.

Luongo is in a different place. Like I said before, he is vital to the success of that corporation and people's livelihoods are attached to his being there.

 

I don't know what the correct answer is, but it isn't as easy as saying that he is entitled just like the rest of us. That contract comes with some enormous benefits, it also comes with some complicated responsibilities.

It's moot since the baby was born and he was there for it. But, let's not kid ourselves here. Luongo is not some fourth line scrub who's leaving the team for his wife's pregnancy. Luongo is the best player on that team if not the team himself. You upset a goalie, you're really walking a fine line of really messing up the guy who stops the puck from going into the net. Look at how emotionally distraught Miller was earlier this season when he lost his cousin and how that affected his play. Now, you suspend or tell Luongo he can't be with his wife during her delivery, forget about the playoffs cause he'll be upset and will probably tank games like Hasek has known to do if or when he comes back. I would tank games if that happened to me, but maybe I'm not as mature as Luongo, but who's to say he wouldn't? If you're the Canucks, are you ready to hitch your wagons on Curtis Sanford at the risk of pissing off Luongo? Luongo holds all the cards and regardless of the situation, you're better off giving him the time, especially given the fact his wife already had complications with this pregnancy, and come back mentally strong to finish off the season, even if it means missing one or two games. Again, this is all moot, but I'd rather have a guy miss a game and come back happy and mentally strong than have a guy not miss a game and hold the team hostage, especially when that player is my goalie, best player on my team, and perhaps the best goalie in the NHL.

[SCSabresFan!]

SabresFan526 gets it!

 

And it didn't matter as the Wild beat them 4-0 last night.

[Seth Greenstein]

Its a tricky situation when you starting comparing entertainer's lives to that of the rest of us. While we all would like to think that we are vital to the success of whatever enitity we are employed by, most of us are in a position were taking a couple of days or even weeks off is not going to effect the well being of said entity. Either there is someone to fill in adequately for us, or our function can be done without for a little while.

Luongo is in a different place. Like I said before, he is vital to the success of that corporation and people's livelihoods are attached to his being there.

 

I don't know what the correct answer is, but it isn't as easy as saying that he is entitled just like the rest of us. That contract comes with some enormous benefits, it also comes with some complicated responsibilities.

 

I am a little surprised, especially in light of Sabres526's revelation of complications that this is really an issue. My wife went through a pregnancy that was very complicated and when my daughter was born, it was 16 weeks early and I got up and left in the middle of a meeting and didn't show up to work again for nearly a week (yes, i kept my management in the loop of course). I was in the middle of implementing a multi million dollar project for my company, one that was going to really change the way we do business. Clearly, I wasn't the only player, but I was a very important part of that project. My company didn't blink an eye, had some other people fill in as best they could and rolled out the project slightly buggy (which I was able to fix later) and took the heat because they didn't want me to have to hear anything. And I KNOW I'm not as important to my employer as Luongo is to the Canucks! :)

 

I'm very happy that it all worked out well for Luongo, that day for most people is the greatest day of their lives. For me, it was when I got to actually leave the hospital with my daughter 4 months later, but for him, this will be a day he never forgets. If I lose my job, I'll find another one. I'm not finding another daughter. So for me, I'd have questioned if Luongo HADN'T made the decision that he did.

[tom webster]

I am a little surprised, especially in light of Sabres526's revelation of complications that this is really an issue. My wife went through a pregnancy that was very complicated and when my daughter was born, it was 16 weeks early and I got up and left in the middle of a meeting and didn't show up to work again for nearly a week (yes, i kept my management in the loop of course). I was in the middle of implementing a multi million dollar project for my company, one that was going to really change the way we do business. Clearly, I wasn't the only player, but I was a very important part of that project. My company didn't blink an eye, had some other people fill in as best they could and rolled out the project slightly buggy (which I was able to fix later) and took the heat because they didn't want me to have to hear anything. And I KNOW I'm not as important to my employer as Luongo is to the Canucks! :)

 

I'm very happy that it all worked out well for Luongo, that day for most people is the greatest day of their lives. For me, it was when I got to actually leave the hospital with my daughter 4 months later, but for him, this will be a day he never forgets. If I lose my job, I'll find another one. I'm not finding another daughter. So for me, I'd have questioned if Luongo HADN'T made the decision that he did.

 

For the record,

I left in a middle of a very important time in my career to be with my wife for my third and her first child. I do admit to conducting business in the car and in the room with my wife while we waited for our daughter to decide to join us. All of this was done with not only my wife's blessing, but her encouragement. My post's point was that it was a more complicated decision with regards to Luongo's obligations to his company, not the other way around, and it really is a personal matter that nobody has the right to judge no matter what he decided.

[Tarrytown]

missing a hockey game is a tough choice for a new father? um, no...how many of you skipped work the day your first child was born? if you didn't, you should have.

 

Where are our priorities?

[Seth Greenstein]

For the record,

I left in a middle of a very important time in my career to be with my wife for my third and her first child. I do admit to conducting business in the car and in the room with my wife while we waited for our daughter to decide to join us. All of this was done with not only my wife's blessing, but her encouragement. My post's point was that it was a more complicated decision with regards to Luongo's obligations to his company, not the other way around, and it really is a personal matter that nobody has the right to judge no matter what he decided.

My point wasn't aimed at you so if it came off that way, that's my bad, I apologize. But I guess my point was that being a part of the child's birth to me is the most important thing in the world and I would have been very surprised if he hadn't made the decision that he ended up making. That's all my point was... So if it came off like I was attacking you, my bad - no harm intended.

[SCSabresFan!]

Thank you Seth and Tarrytown. I was being to worry about my fellow Sabres fans.

 

Hockey is just a game.

[X. Benedict]

Agreed, but his responsibilty is to his family first.

 

Never had a child, but I would say being there for the next 18 years probably counts more than being

there for the birth. Heck, most hospitals didn't allow men in the room until the early 80's.

[apuszczalowski]

Thank you Seth and Tarrytown. I was being to worry about my fellow Sabres fans.

 

Hockey is just a game.

To the fans

 

But it is a career/employement to the players and the owners. I'm not saying that he shouldn't have done it, just that this is their job, so it is the same as you leaving your work to do it, except that you probably aren't getting paid anywhere near what he is to go to work, and that your job could probably cover and get by without you there for a couple days.

 

No one is saying that they wouldn't do it

[SCSabresFan!]

Never had a child,

 

Exactly! When the time come Hockey Sherpa you will change your mind. It is one of the most amazing things a human being can witness.

[X. Benedict]

Exactly! When the time come Hockey Sherpa you will change your mind. It is one of the most amazing things a human being can witness.

 

Hmm.

 

Sabres in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals vs. The joy of Childbirth

 

Nobody would blame me if I weighed that out, would they?

 

I have fantasized about the cup through 4 decades.

Someday telling my adult son that I heard his voice via cell phone at during the Stanley Cup finals the very second we scored the go-ahead goal...

 

Priceless.

[SCSabresFan!]

Hmm.

 

Sabres in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals vs. The joy of Childbirth

 

Nobody would blame me if I weighed that out, would they?

 

I have fantasized about the cup through 4 decades.

Someday telling my adult son that I heard his voice via cell phone at during the Stanley Cup finals the very second we scored the go-ahead goal...

 

Priceless.

 

I hope you'll have a good relationship with your ex-wife. :rolleyes:

[Seth Greenstein]

Hmm.

 

Sabres in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals vs. The joy of Childbirth

 

Nobody would blame me if I weighed that out, would they?

 

I have fantasized about the cup through 4 decades.

Someday telling my adult son that I heard his voice via cell phone at during the Stanley Cup finals the very second we scored the go-ahead goal...

 

Priceless.

 

I have this awesome thing at my house called a Tivo. What it does is tape things like games on TV and things like that and then, when you get home, you can watch stuff on your own schedule. It's awesome man - I've even tried it once or twice!

[SCSabresFan!]

I have this awesome thing at my house called a Tivo. What it does is tape things like games on TV and things like that and then, when you get home, you can watch stuff on your own schedule. It's awesome man - I've even tried it once or twice!

 

Seth - He doesn't have Tivo but he was the first cool kid with an Atari in fourth grade.

[Bmwolf21]

I hope you'll have a good relationship with your ex-wife. :rolleyes:

LOL, true. And I'd be pretty pissed at my father if I found out he wasn't with my mother for my birth because he was watching a hockey game, first-ever Buffalo Cup or not...