Why head coach John Tortorella's condescending attitude towards the media has come as such a shock to the hockey world in these playoffs is beyond me. Not only has the coach acted in the same manner throughout the entire 2011-12 season, but this has been his widely-known personality for his entire National Hockey League career behind the bench.
As each playoff round has progressed here, the veteran coach has been less and less revealing in regard to information he is willing to share publicly with the media. He keeps mum on his lineup, he won't single out a player very often whether it's for good or for bad, and he certainly doesn't take kindly to the media trying to portray his team in a way he does not agree with.
Repeatedly being asked if his squad is fatigued or worried about eventual fatigue can get irritating real fast. Being asked why the team's effort was not where it needed to be after a loss - the same loss that same beat writer just spent over two hours watching live - is annoying. Having a newspaper writer instructing you on how to coach your team when you've led them to the Eastern Conference Finals is even more aggravating.
The point I am trying to make here is that the media is just as much at fault as Tortorella is for this growing feud that has developed over the years. The coach offers his time before and after a game (whether that's willingly or not), and you have the media wasting it with useless questions.
And the funny part about this is that the media then takes offense, claims they cannot do their jobs and focuses on the coach rather than the New York Rangers who just barely showed up in a Game 2 loss in front of their home crowd.
Point, Torts.
The biggest argument I've seen from the media is that they are unable to do their jobs without quotes from the coach. That is absurd for multiple reasons.
First, with the questions that are being asked, the media cannot expect story-worthy quotes from any coach, let alone John Tortorella. I think it was in Winnipeg earlier in the season when someone questioned John about why the Rangers roll with just two coaches behind the bench. Seriously?
Secondly, if they cannot do their job without a single quote, then they shouldn't have that job in the first place. Take this blog for example; I never include quotes from the coach in my postgame analysis, yet still manage to produce more truthful material more enjoyable to readers than any of the general 'on-the-surface' crap you read in the newspapers.
What's the matter? You can't analyze a game so you look for the coach to do it for you? Yeah, that's something to be real proud of.
Tortorella is winning and winning big in this situation. He's taking the attention and pressure off of his team by absorbing it himself with the sideshows created in the press conference room. He knows that the media will fuss and whine over his behavior, so that's all the more reason to continue and elevate the tactic.
This is why you read The Rangers Tribune over all other news sources out there. Right?
All that said, below is the greatest Torts video ever created. Ever.....
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