Dean Lombardi uses that phrase a lot, to describe how he wants the mindset of the Kings to be. That phrase can mean different things to different people, so I decided to put it to Ryan Smyth today and ask him what it meant to him.
SMYTH: “Obviously there are a lot of distractions around, with the beach here and a lot of activities outside the game, but we’re here for one purpose, and that’s to play the game. You’ve got to be a professional and think like a professional and act like it when you’re on the ice. Then good things will happen. It’s a matter of doing our work.
“There’s one thing you can control in your life, and that’s your work ethic. Sometimes you get tired or things like that. All these factors can come into play, but the things you can control are your mind and your work ethic. Sometimes you’re going to outwork teams and sometimes you’re going to get outworked. If you do more than your fair share, you’re going to give yourself an opportunity to win.”
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Daily News, was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B76YGf8zUWI
The Simmonds fight is the second fight on the video from frozen fury
This Attitude readjustment has been needed for a long time in LA! I am glad to see it finally happening! I love to hear the radio and T.V spots running right now. The summer practices were a good start. Let’s just hope they really mean it, and it translates on the ice. The fans have known this to be an issue for a long time. Sounds like someone is listening.
GO KINGS GO!
WOW this guy is what we needed
“obviously”
Does he say this every time you ask a question?
http://kwisp.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/kings-prepare-for-opener-saturday-los-angeles-kings-news/
Sure seems like….
Glad he’s on our team! I hope he brings a good work ethic to the team so the younger players can learn from. Cant wait till tomorrow night! Why does our opener have to be on the third day of the new season? I digress… GO KINGS GO!
Obviously, Cristobal has adopted another screen name attempting to put down a King’s player or member of management. Obviously, some things will never change.
Obviously it’s about time we got a guy like this.
This is like an extended Christmas. 2 Hours ago, I get to read a great interview with Dean Lombardi with lots of insight and answers on all sorts of trades and rumors. Then I come back to Rich’s page and get a great interview with Smyth about a question we all as Kings fans have grumbled and pondered over for years, never really getting any straight answers.
Smyth’s answer was as straight as it gets and damn it….it’s about (frank)in’ time!
So many of us Kings fans can remember just 5 years back, how nearly IMPOSSIBLE it was to get any answers about ANYTHING you heard about this team. All the speculations and rumors would always lead to bickering on boards like LGK and Hockey’s Future. I think the reason Rich’s blog works so well is that we get to discuss REAL information and speculate on that instead of the opinions of others (Which can be fun, but not all the damn time).
Now Matt Barry is just a rookie at this and all, but he does know people and is pulling off a Simmonds in journalism so far, although his passionate opinions kind of show his rookie side. Honestly, as a reader and just a fan though, I don’t mind ‘em because they’re HONEST. I respect that. Matt’s bringin’ it.
Between Rich and Matt, I’m good. These 2 guys and LAKings.com, and I’m good. I don’t know about you all, but these two are really workin’ hard and it’s not even Saturday. I’ve never felt this informed about my team EVER in 30 YEARS! I feel Rich has really been building in the coverage since last year in response to the fans (Which means he’s been listening) which made Luc pay attention. Matt has been a bonus surprise. He’s got a talent for writing, I have to give it to him. He’s no longer the drunk dancing boy.
Sorry for the ramble, but I’m frikkin’ GIDDY! I’ve got a seriously good feeling about this year. At this rate of reporting, I’ll probably know about it BEFORE it happens, which I have no problem with.
Stellar job! Keep it up gentlemen.
P.S.: If Rich ever gets the budget for an assistant, I’d nominate Matthew Barry. He’s rough, so Rich can train him well.
All Smyth had to say was, “The Detroit Red Wings.”
Nice work Reno. WS dropped him. How many guys in the nhl have a left like that?!
Thats not a culture of winning that Smyth is conveying, thats a work attitude. You can’t win unless you have the right attitude. However, a culture of winning means that you expect to win every game and you get upset when you lose and you try even harder the next time out. That’s what I would like to hear from our team, “winning isnt everything, its the only thing.” (maxim attributed to Vince Lombardi)
Culture of winning is not just to win every game, that’s an expectation, not a culture. Culture of winning is accountability, responsibility, doing the right things on and off the ice. It is leadership, mentorship, teamwork. It is a mentality that does not apply only to players, but to coaches, trainers, front-office staff and disseminated throughout the organization including the minor league and/or affiliate teams. It becomes a mindset that is so ingrained in individuals that it becomes second-nature to them. It establishes confidence, solidarity, ethics and a consistently positive attitude to all of an organization’s individuals and groups.
This culture is evident in Detroit. Chicago adopted it as did our Kings. Dan Bylsma talked about changing the culture in Pittsburgh when he took over. For those who get it and most unfortunately don’t, it is an impressively positive life-changing philosophy.
Once you experience it, it is impossible to go back. It is that effective.
DL is doing the right thing.
DL finally has these guys all reading from the same sheet of music – now lets see it in action for a full 60 minutes and 82 games!
Culture of Losing…
I recall seeing the Bruisin’ Boston Bruins come into the Forum, fully expecting to win as usual, but a late Kings goal and some lucky bounces gave us a 3 all tie…
Kings players treated it like a Victory, while Bruins were breaking their sticks over the crossbar, and other acts of disgust…
In those dayz, playing against the likes of Esposito, Orr, Bucyk and Hodge, a tie was a near “Miracle on Manchester”
I know i’m a broken record but…. NO MORE EXCUSES. Win or go home.
Real Lemieux was an original King….not an overly talented player, nor a gifted skater [we often said he spent more time ON the ice than upright, but he had a relentless desire to play hockey, and he would hit anything in sight, usually from the other team....
he was also an outgoing, friendly guy, although he spoke not the best English was willing to talk to and interrelate with fans more than most of that era...
I went to Victoria [I think it was '71] when Kings trained there, just so I could see the players…
I actually had a cup of coffee with Real and we talked for sometime, although there wasn’t much free time during camp….he related his growing-up in Quebec and his desire to play in the NHL….he felt so fortunate to be there….just a great time for me…
Real passed at a still young age, no doubt heart-broken after his playing dayz were over….that’s all he lived for….we remember, Real….RIP