Comments on: Stark turnaround: Matt Cooke is Pittsburgh’s Masterton nominee

By: nekelund

nekelund — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:53:46 +0000

To paraphrase Lionel Hutz: I don’t use the word ‘hero’ often, but you, Matt Cooke, are the greatest hero in American history!

By: nekelund

nekelund — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:52:09 +0000

I’m happy for Cooke, but moreso for my fantasy team, the Low Blows. Cooke’s reduced PIM’s were killing me, but now I can win my league thanks to the all-important number-of-Masterton-Trophies advanced statistic.

Also, is Chris Pronger nominated? He overcame being a dirty player to heroically injure himself, thereby saving opposing players from dirty hits.

By: alexb64

alexb64 — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:34:45 +0000

Guys who aren’t thugs don’t need to change their game to avoid being sent home for good. It’s quacking, it has feathers & 3 nephews named Huey, Dewey, & Louie, so I’m calling it a duck.

By: kitshky

kitshky — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:24:58 +0000

Love the Cooker … glad to see him back. I think this nomination probably is more indicative of him focusing back on the game and overcoming his off ice / family issues he’s been dealing with the past couple years.

By: sfbookreviews

sfbookreviews — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 05:46:34 +0000

The problem with your commentary is that Cooke has never been “just a thug’. He’s long been a fantastic penalty killer and chips in a dozen goals a year on average over the last few years. Yes, he’s laid more than a few hits that have rightly drawn the ire of opposing fans and teams, but to label him just a thug is hockey ignorance.

By: frankvzappa

frankvzappa — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:48:15 +0000

The only sports personality I hate more is Bernard Pollard.

By: alexb64

alexb64 — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:17:31 +0000

Would you give a community “man of the year” award to a guy on probation doing community service? It is nice that Cooke changed his game to be more than just a thug, but he kind of had to or he may have ended up banned from the league.

By: habsman

habsman — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:11:27 +0000

In related news, The Bruins anounced that their nominee is Brad Marchand.

By: joshuakorr

joshuakorr — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:03:49 +0000

His improvement is to be commended. I do think its an interesting “spin” on the award. I would write the article like this – “After on and off bouts with being an incredible douchebag, Matt Cooke miraculously overcame this disorder and showed some regard for players safety. His magical return to the NHL, was frought with setbacks, like the time he told Kris Letang to cut his hair and Letang said “stop being a douchebag.” Small setbacks aside, Cooke had an excellent season. Mark Savard, who presented the award said in his address ‘I didn’t have the privilege of against playing against the more gentlemanly Matt Cooke, but I can attest, he was really quite a douchebag before his recovery.’”

By: uscthom78

uscthom78 — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:51:18 +0000

He doesn’t want to get knocked out by evander Kane anymore.

By: Jeff Thomas

Jeff Thomas — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:38:29 +0000

I didn’t think it would be Sid because his comeback is still isn’t complete yet. I thought it would be Malkin for coming back from reconstructive knee surgery and probably winning the Art Ross.

By: t16rich

t16rich — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:29:57 +0000

Haters will hate but our hats should go off to him.