I voted for John Scott because ever since I’ve started watching hockey my friends, family, coaches and media have told me that every player in the NHL has lots of talent. I’ve also been told that every hockey player dreamed of scoring a stanley cup winning goal when they were a kid, that includes goaltenders and people like John Scott.
I voted for John Scott, not because it’s a fuck you to anybody in Arizona (or their fans), but because this enforcer, journeyman would be fun to watch under these circumstances and watch him prove what everyone said. (Though i admit that it at least started out mean-spirited for most people.)
John Scott isn’t a child anymore (in fact, it’s his final year) This isn’t a stanley cup winning goal and John Scott will never get that chance, but to see him live out a small part of a childhood fantasy for a man that has lived hockey for so much of his life would be fun for me to watch. The man most closely represents an average man and I was looking forward to seeing him take the ice and perform the challenges with the biggest appreciative smile on his face, tricks up his sleeve, and some really fun interviews.
Also, i wouldn't mind having the ability to be surprised. Remember when fat Kessel stood next to skinny Seguin and people were making jokes or laughing before the race even started? Kessel winning was the most interesting thing of that skills comp.
Let’s face it the players are playing to maybe 50% of their capacity from either being drunk, tired, hungover, or just plain not giving a shit about an exhibition game right before the second half of the season gets underway. Seeing a self-aware John Scott play in his final year with those players in those conditions would be fun for me to watch.
P.S. To those will say this snubs other coyotes players. Doan has already been and is probably more important that he gets rest for the 2nd half of the season. OEL and Domi will both get to be involved in an all star game at some point in their careers unless they are just complete flukes (which doesn't seem to be the case)
P.P.S. To all you “real” hockey fans who speak for the majority. Name the complete roster of the 2002 all star game WITHOUT either looking to other sources or just naming top hockey players from 2002. Go ahead, I’ll wait. What’s that? Can’t do it? It’s almost as if the all star game and the nominations for it mean almost exactly nothing and that fans should be able to get some small say on who plays since it doesn't have a bearing on anything anyway. There is only ONE abnormality in the roster that the fans wanted in a meaningless game which nobody was going to watch before John Scott got involved, and even less people will watch now (even if they all really wanted to see a tire-fire).
P.P.P.S. If there are actually people who can recite the entire 2002 roster then you should determine the all-star roster amongst yourselves, since you care more about the all-star game than the players, fans, owners. Basically you care more about all star weekend than everyone except Bettman who uprooted a person and moved them to another country to protect the bullshit “sanctity” of all star weekend. You know, that thing where players bring silly props onto the ice and use them to score or accentuate a goal.