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The Sielski v. Voraceck debate is more nuanced than many have given it credit for. Here's where I'm at on it with some critical context of led to a confrontation where the network that holds the Flyers TV rights aired an f-bomb 20 minutes after it was said to the media (1/)
The genesis of the conflict is likely due in large part to a story Mike wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer on Oct. 31, 2019 that included this line (2/):
At that point in the season, the Flyers were 5-5-1, coming off consecutive losses including a 7-1 defeat at the hands of the Penguins. Alain Vigneault broke Flyers coaching tradition by actually naming players in public, which is totally fine from my vantage point. (3/)
That line, however, was done in a way that appeared to be a passive jab at two veteran players the coach was calling on to perform. The juxtaposition of the coach standing with the media voicing that concern while the players were across the room laughing implied dissent. (4/)
Whether that was the intent, which Mike claimed wasn't the case in quotes to @Kevin_Kinkead last night, it was a poor placement of the line, which came off as cynical at best, irresponsible if not discussed with the players at worst. (5/) https://www.crossingbroad.com/2021/01/mike-sielski-explains-why-he-thinks-jake-voracek-called-him-a-weasel-who-writes-f-s.html
Plus, if he were to argue that the headline in the original piece had been misleading, why did he tweet this? (6/)
Mike has also tweeted things in jest like this (7/):
Jakub Voracek is an outspoken athlete in a sport full of players who dish out selfless language and generalities almost as often as that worker at Beth Harmon's orphanage passes out green pills in The Queen's Gambit. (8/)
Voracek is also a guy who is well-aware of what people say about him on social media. Dale Weise told me and @AntSanPhilly on @SnowTheGoalie that some guys spend too much time letting what fans say on social media get to them. Was that a veiled reference at him? (9/)
Voracek has blocked almost as many people on Twitter as Mike Missanelli and that's saying something. The thing that sticks out is that the former clearly searches for his name, not just his handle. That's fine. Everyone has the right to block or mute whoever they want. (10/)
The same people claiming Voracek is a jackass for saying what he said are likely some of the same folks who say they wish athletes would tell the public what's on their minds. You can't have it both ways. (11/)
If Voracek took exception to what Sielski wrote nearly 15 months ago, that's fine. Mike isn't at every game, but I imagine he's been to at least one when Jake has been available to the media. It should've been handled sooner, but it doesn't invalidate how he feels. (12/)
Players and the media should be able to discuss things that have been written, whether they agree or not. Mike doubled down on his interpretation of events, didn't discuss it with the player, and the player addressed it over a year later. They're adults. They'll survive. (13/13)
