It’s been on my mind for a while, but last night’s humiliating spanking at the hands of the Halifax Hurricanes was all the proof I needed to confirm my suspicions. The method and depth of the capitulation of the team combined with the obvious shortcomings told me everything I needed to know.
The problem with this team is Carl English.
In these parts, that sentence is almost treasonous. You do not attack Newfoundland sportsmen in front of Newfoundlanders, especially not when they are playing for their hometown team. Last season, Carl was the driving force behind much of the success of the Edge and carried us (with help from a very strong supporting cast) to the playoffs.
We don’t have last year’s Carl. Despite saying in the off-season that he was in the best shape of his life, Carl has not found his shot all year. Worse yet, he has forced shot after shot and been the ball stop that he was all last season, without the points to mitigate it. Worst of all though, the Edge is just a better team when he is not on the floor. That’s the most damning thing here: our former star player is actively hurting his team.
Carl is no longer the star on this team, Glen Davis is. He’s not the best shooter, Jared Nickens is. Dez Lee has been consistent and a creator, Maurice Jones more dynamic, Jerryn Skeete and Glen Davis as popular if not more so. There will always be a place for the hometown hero on this team, but the time has come for him to realise that it might not be as the starter and primary focus right now. At least not until his prodigal shot stops being profligate.
Last night was not his fault. Not entirely, at least. As a team the Edge was cold from deep, but kept firing away. The refereeing was abysmal. Tempers flared. The team fought valiantly in the third quarter with some of the best defence I have seen at any level, but an inability to do that at literally any other time was their downfall. That and woeful rebounding and shot selection.
Perhaps the most unforgiveable crime was the performance in the last five minutes of the game. Elsewhere on social media, I called it a shameful performance. After Halifax went on their run in the early 4th the Edge just looked like they wanted to go home. Fans know we're going to lose games. We know we're going to get blown out. That's ok. Those games happen.
What isn't ok is playing like you don't care. You can't give up. That's not what the fans pay to see. Frustration, anger, disappointment...all valid. Show some passion, show some pride! The letters on your chest MEAN something to the fans, and if nothing else they mean a paycheck to you. At least play like you care.
And for heaven’s sake, don’t force-feed us more Carl English pull-ups. I know English Paving is a sponsor, but we don’t need to provide them with bricks as well as advertising.
