(Login scuff) forum Admin from IP address 213.122.194.136
theres an email from a 'David Cousins' in toights Greb...basically ranting on that he appears to the only one that still hates Rick Brebant for some stick thing with Ken Priestlay years ago...And why dont we all hate him?
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'Am i alone amongst Sheffield Steelers supporters regarding the reputation of Rick Brebant. Years ago, that man was the most detested player ever to appear at the Sheffield Arena.
Has everybody forgotten that he nearly blinded Ken Priestlay, or has it changed now because he is a Steelers player. There were numerous anti-Brebant banners all around the arena, such as "Rick Brebant - More dives than down town Soho". i admit he is avery good player, but lets not get carried away.
David Cousins (via e-mail)
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sorry folks but this has really piddled me off...
anti Brebant posters? can rmember any of that sort of thing?
you also missed the head butt on Ron shudra when Ricky played for the Devils at the HOS..Well shuds can forgive him and play alongside him...WHY THE CHUFF CANT YOU FORGET..
And to be honest, if it wasnt for him this season there would be a rather large gap twixt us and the 2nd from bottom team...the man has been exemplary in his work rate, ethic and commitment, with no little style this season and last...lets also not forget the off the ice work the man did last season throught the 'troubles'(ask DS about that lot) and also his wotrk with the kids down at Virtual Ice etc...
Mr Cousins...I cannot imagine your point in writing this email..i seriously cant..
For my money Brebant has been the most consistent Steeler this season. The guy works his socks off every shift and is a superb example to the younger players. My only criticism of him would be the fact that he still feels the need to make the swan dive from time to time....no need for that.
He's the kind of player who when he's for you, you love him, but when he plays against you, he's public enemy number1.
If we'd got 10 Brebants, I somehow don't think Belfast would be running away with the league.
Of course the reason that our opinion has changed as to Mr Brebant, but no more than any other player in the league who becomes a Steeler. Brebant was one of the most annoying players and least liked ever to visit the arena......but that was when the was playing against us. He is one of those players you only like when he plays for you, and that shows just how good he really is. I bet we would even like Niekar if he signed for us!!!!!
Scuff I really agree with you here 150% and think that a leter of rebuttal along the lines of your posting should be sent to the newspaper. I would for one be happy to add my "given" name to any such letter and I susupect that meny on this forum would do likewise. To me Rick Brebants commitment to the club, on and of the ice, has been a positve ray of sunshine through this long cold winter season!
Have to say after talking to Rick he is totally committed to you guys.... I would love to see him back over the Pennines tho. Rick is a fantastic player who despite his age of one of the best players in the ISL. Whatever his faults he is definitely someone you want on your team.....
Well said Scuff ! For me, in addition to the general tone and inacuracies contained, I cannot understand why (a) Mr Cousins is writing such a letter now, & (2) why the Green 'Un bothered to print it - I mean it's not as if Tricky Ricky joined us this week is it !!!!
I remember laughing at the 'more dives than downtown Soho' banner, and I groaned when I saw we had signed him last year and thought he would just be trouble, but how can you fail to admire the effort and skill he puts in every game, specially when short benched this year and last. Yes, he can't fall over without bells and whistles, and yes that is irritating when he's playing for the other team, but I am surprised anyone doubts his value to this team. What sealed it for me was when he passed the championship trophy into the crowd last year, even if I didn't get to hold it!
Rick's done nothing but help Steelers since he came, and if people are going to be immature enough to hold grudges, even after the players concerned have forgiven and forgotten, then that's their problem. Fair enough printing it in the Green 'Un (and I didn't read the Green 'Un, so I'm sorry if this is me talking out of my @r$e) but I would imagine that letters were printed to show people's opinions. While (it seems) no-one else agrees with that particular opinion, it's still one person's opinion, so Green 'Un was only doing it's job in that respect. To me, there's no sense in stirring up old stuff like this, especially against a guy who's done so much for the club, and junior hockey (tho I must admit the poster quote is mildly amusing, soooooooooooooo many uses for the "more dives....." line!! =;)
With regards that letter to the Green Un..I've responded by mailing a letter in ricks defence to Bob Westerdale...
I have also taken the liberty of including a few of the comments folk have made on the HOS Forum and the Steelers GB in the letter to emphasise to points, if thats ok with the various postees?
This Cousins guy cannot be a Steelers fan and is obviously one of the sad sods who has not been to see the Steelers this season. If he had been and seen the total commitment of this player to the club he would know was talking from his derrier.
Firstly don't make assumptions about anyone who you don't know, Secondly, if you are prepared to write off the 2,000 + fans as "sad sods" who have chosen not to watch the steelers, where on earth do you expect the Steelers to end up ? Without these fans the Steelers are doomed. These stay away fans are in the main the ones who followed the Steelers home and away week in week out, they have found other things to do already, there is much debate around and about on how to improve attendances, the best way to do that is to woo back the stay away fans if possible. I know you are not representative of Steelers fans, which is just as well, because if you were there wouldn't be the slightest chance of them coming back.
Whilst sad sods is a bit harsh, I for one am sick of the well I used to watch the Steelers, but now they are owned by Norton etc etc blah blah, i'm not going to watch. As fas as im concerned if you dont pay and dont watch exactly what concern is it of your s anymore. Yes the club needs to attract fans back and also new fans but this old martyr routine from the die hard ex fans is getting tedious. No-one can dictate what you spend your money on, but that works both ways. The current paying fans have a damn site more right to discuss the goings on than the stay away fans.
Beacause your post definitely seems to suggest you are, and I quote :-
"As fas as im concerned if you dont pay and dont watch exactly what concern is it of your s anymore"
So, I'll ask you not to comment on something you know nothing about as you will find that I've been to more ISL games this season than most, and it is of concern to me and you'll find that very few new fans have been attracted to the sport this season. That's why I'm saying these fans need to be wooed back because there arent any more coming in. Realise this soon or there wont be any Steelers.
No the point is a generic one not aimed at any individual. The point being if we except we are down by 1500/2000 fans this year, I dont particularly want to hear their views. They have decided to spend their gate money on other pursuits which they are perfectly entitled to do, its their money after all. Its just that there are enough people out there knocking the club at the moment and I really dont want to hear the views of stay away fans, particulalry (and this is purely my opinion) when they stay away due to Norton being in charge, lack of british players etc etc. Ok if the entertainment value is diminished and you no longer want to watch because of that, then fine, no problem but these aother arguments are infuriating.
I'm Shutting up now, as its turning into a rant !
especialy in the eyes of the marketing people..so whether you want to listen to em or not, Their opinions are JUST AS IMPORTANT on this or any other forum..If you dont want to hear them I suggest you skim past the postings and read only the things you want to..
Your attitude to them could be likened to the one you attack them for...
The chap that started this wasnt talking as a stay away, people are surmising this..anyway!!
The stay aways such as me will come back if we feel it is better than staying at home counting the pennies. I am one of the regulars that Gary J referred to, my money is still waiting to be spent, only a naive operation will ignore my views. Shall I spend it in Sheffield or in Manchester or Nottingham or London ? Ignore us ? or Give the customer what they want.
"Woo us back","Give the customer what he wants".To be wooed (sp) back then one presumes the club has to know what the customer wants - or the customer TELLS the club. If the need is a (eg) a different ownership that ,to me, seems unlikely. A successful team ? Well, we all want that. In short, those that have stayed away will need to give a few clues as a sign of possible forgiveness (?)
dont want to get shot in flames here scuff but its blatently obvious that what is wanted in sheffield is a team like last yr that wins everything, the real world isnt like that u take the rough with the smooth and gotta say we have had our share of rough in nottm. If u can support your team when they are crap then thats the mark of a true supporter.
Give it a rest with this sh1t3, it has been said further up this post that the 1000 or so stay aways are not the Johnny Come Lately Glory Seeking Bandwagon Jumpers from last season, its people like me that have been going for years, through the lean years and the good years. Who cares whether or not a person has been there for 10 years or 10 days. Noise is noise, money is money. Remember even the 'true supporters' whoever they are, whoever they think they are, were newbies once upon a time.
...didnt realise it was a qualification of a being a hockey team to have to be unsuccessful for a certain number of years...wonder if yer say the same to Belfast and Manchester in few years time..they did the same as us..forgotten why the ISL was created Tex?
You dont have to be a martyr to watch hockey Tex..that attitude died with Durham...
Lean years..oh yes we've had two and a half..
Don McKee and Darren Brown...not a bad return..i'll live with it..
never said u had to be a martyr just that when fans especially from sheffield say they have had lean years after the money they have spent (spoken from their own mouths and in some cases gloated about under our noses) when in reality they are prob the most successful club in past 10 yrs just P****es me off a little thats all, its very childish "i want go cos of this or that" if u like watching go if u dont they stay away its that simple.
Worried about being mentioned in the same sentence as...
January 8 2002, 12:18 PM
Lionel Blair ! No problem scuff but that supposes that the club aren't bothered with wooing the missing supporters back ! I mentioned before that many ideas have been suggested on this forum and gb (crikey even I have made the odd one !) before but nowt has seemed to change. Maybe the club feel that they will not be able to bring back the missing ones and have some cunning plan to woo new ones!
