Rivet calls out teammates

http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_7304883?nclick_check=1

Given that he's one of the handful that's busting their ass every night,
glad to hear it from him. Because you'd never hear the guy with the "C" say
this:
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Defenseman Craig Rivet hesitated. He chose his words
carefully. The Sharks had just suffered their second loss in less than 24
hours and it troubled him.

"I think they all hurt when you don't come to play and you have far too many
passengers to give your team a chance to win," Rivet said. "And that's what
we've had, not only for the past two games, but what we've had throughout
pretty much our whole season so far."

It was an indirect answer to the question posed: Which was more painful,
Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets or Friday's 5-1 drubbing by
the Detroit Red Wings? But Rivet, who was brought to San Jose last season in
part for his leadership qualities, had something else that he felt needed
saying.

He didn't cite any of his teammates by name. But he wasn't making excuses
for a team with high expectations that has been inconsistent and stumbled to
a 5-5-0-1 start.

"The only people to blame in this whole situation are the players," said
Rivet, who spent all or parts of 12 seasons in Montreal before coming to San
Jose in a trade last February. "The coaching staff gives us a detailed
system to go out and play. It's not difficult. This team's been playing it
for a long time.

"Guys just aren't prepared to work right now and there's far too many guys
that are not giving 100 percent and in turn, not giving us the success that
we want."

On Oct 28, 12:29 pm, "bbison" <bbis....RemoveThis@verizonn.nnet> wrote:
> http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_7304883?nclick_check=1
>
> Given that he's one of the handful that's busting their ass every night,
> glad to hear it from him. Because you'd never hear the guy with the "C" say
> this:
> COLUMBUS, Ohio - Defenseman Craig Rivet hesitated. He chose his words
> carefully. The Sharks had just suffered their second loss in less than 24
> hours and it troubled him.
>
> "I think they all hurt when you don't come to play and you have far too many
> passengers to give your team a chance to win," Rivet said. "And that's what
> we've had, not only for the past two games, but what we've had throughout
> pretty much our whole season so far."
>
> It was an indirect answer to the question posed: Which was more painful,
> Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets or Friday's 5-1 drubbing by
> the Detroit Red Wings? But Rivet, who was brought to San Jose last season in
> part for his leadership qualities, had something else that he felt needed
> saying.
>
> He didn't cite any of his teammates by name. But he wasn't making excuses
> for a team with high expectations that has been inconsistent and stumbled to
> a 5-5-0-1 start.
>
> "The only people to blame in this whole situation are the players," said
> Rivet, who spent all or parts of 12 seasons in Montreal before coming to San
> Jose in a trade last February. "The coaching staff gives us a detailed
> system to go out and play. It's not difficult. This team's been playing it
> for a long time.
>
> "Guys just aren't prepared to work right now and there's far too many guys
> that are not giving 100 percent and in turn, not giving us the success that
> we want."

If there was any truth to a previous pre-season rumor that Marleau
might be headed to Washington for Semin, then we can shake our heads
and mutter, "if only." Patrick's a very nice guy, very fast and can
score some goals, occasionally. But, he's reminding me more of
another Sharks who was fast, but made very little impact on games,
Jeff Friesen.

Whatever, he certainly doesn't have the moxy or command to be captain
of a team much in need of leadership.

Semi-off-topic footnote: I keep watching that little video segment of
Marleau with his cute wife having a swell time at the San Jose Gran
Prix, and I keep thinking, wrongly or not, that these hockey players
sure enjoy the "good life" in San Jose. They're so happy and
relaxed. Maybe, if a few more of them were contemplating life on a
bus in Worcester or Cleveland, they might hike it up a notch.