Brad Richards vs. the Summerside Journal-Pioneer
No autographs? Lightning’s Richards angry at P.E.I. newspaper | CP
Richards reportedly called the Summerside Journal-Pioneer this week and told staff he would never do another interview with the paper. The Tampa Bay Lightning sniper was apparently upset about an editorial in the paper that chastised him for not signing autographs at a parade and celebration held in his honour earlier in the week.
Reading ove rthe article I can’t help but see it as pointed towards putting down Brad as a pompous and arrogant player. He won’t sign autographs, he was charging for autographs elsewhere and he talked to the writer of this article via airplane on his way to a golf tournament…
The smear machine is in high gear — maybe this is payback to Brad for keeping Lord Stanley’s Cup from a Canadian team?
August 9th, 2004 at 1:54 pm
Doubtful. 15,000 people showed up to see Richards and the Cup. If anything, the paper would ordinaraly be bending over backwards to support the hometown hero.
I’d suggest that this editorial was pointed more at the CBA negotiations than the fact the Lightning beat Calgary. Somewhere near 80% of Canadians oppose the players in this CBA war, and stories about how fan un-friendly players have become only plays into that cause.
Regardless, that paper obviously had an agenda, and Richards is a dick for refusing to sign autographs.
August 12th, 2004 at 4:43 am
I can understand him not signing autographs at the parade in Murray Harbour but is it true he was CHARGING $50-$80 for autographs in Toronto last month ?!?! Can players even do that????
August 12th, 2004 at 9:23 am
They’ve been doing it for years, Steve, in every single sport