Eurotrash Analysis: Mike Milbury's Comments Override Canada's Huge Olympic Win

"I was shocked that it was this one-sided. And I was really disappointed that these guys came with their euro-trash game. It was just. No heart, no guts, no nothing there to back it up. I mean Alex Ovechkin was an average player tonight. I know they're going to bounce back, but to be that poor and to be that intimidated physically by the Canadians, that really shocked me."

- Mike Milbury, last night after the Canada win over the Russian Olympic hockey team

EUROTRASH (meaning)

Encarta: an offensive term for wealthy or fashionable European people ( slang )

Urban Dictionary: Post-modern, degenerate, trendy, or out-of-style European cultural phenomena masquerading as avant-garde High Art. Characterized by its apparent affluence, worldliness, social affectation and addiction to fashion. Males are characterized by a semi-slovenly appearance (including half-shaven faces), greasy hair, rib-hugging shirts, tight jeans and loafers worn without socks. Those who are products of a sneering, overly-socialized culture who take perverse pride in their stylized, postmodern, lazy lifestyles, and those who would choose to emulate this.

Take one brash failed GM who is looking to excite his third career, bring along a network which will have him covering hockey for them during the season, and then add the American vacuum of the hockey cult of personality and audience.

Add a pinch of extra Olympic eyeballs, and then mix something controversial so that it creates a buzz; negative is irrelevant.

Half-bake all this at a media temperature of 400F and watch it rise...

The issue to me is not that Mike Milbury called the Russian game Eurotrash. Milbury's been making stupid smarmy comments his entire career from player, to coach, to GM, and finally in the studio seat.

The issue is that blatant attempt to manufacture some controversy and create that Don Cherry-like figure for the US television.

Don Cherry, lauded as he is over the Canadian border, would not have the broad-based appeal here thanks to the very US branded politically correct atmosphere which seemed to slap into overdrive post-9/11.

Mike Milbury's crass attempt to emulate Cherry is even more misguided. For all Cherry's negatives, there is a passion, intelligence, curmudgeonness, and a sly wink, even. He also has a straight man foil to usually play off of, tempering what sometimes is overwrought, xenophobic or just poor judgment.

Milbury has been trying to hit that "edge" for a while now, focused on some sort of outrage-meter but he does not have the guile, brains or charisma to pull it off. Nor does he have the network smarts around him to offset blunders.

Nevermind Milbury's idiotic insinuation (and Roenick agreeing) that Dan Boyle's slew foot on Alexander Semin was basically acceptable because "Boyle will come after you." Dan Boyle will likely face suspension for that, hurting the Canadian team's depth for their next game versus Slovakia. (Note: per Sean Leahy of the excellent Puck Daddy blog, they will likely NOT suspend per a spokesman since The International Ice Hockey Federation normally does not review minor penalties in international play)

Announcers being none-to-sharp and apologists for illegal plays and hits are a dime a dozen.

But when you are seeking to rip a Russian team for their poor and heartless play and meltdown, using an ethnic insult is none too bright and might have serious repercussions.

Moreover, it insults Canadians and their team who really played an A game last night with their outright drubbing of the Russians.

One has to wonder if Milbury's comments will even phase the Russians since it is more an American piece of trash ripping them for being Eurotrash. With one of their worst Olympic showings, they have much bigger things to consider and mull over than this fodder.

Long Islanders, familiar with Milbury's antics and soundbites are more up in arms. The NY Islander team, stamped with Milbury's GM trash-effects, is taking years to turn the corner from his anti-King Midas touch. The hate and derision for him that emanates out of New York is substantial and well-founded. It could be found on twitter last night, as mouths went agape over his comments.

Yet it wasn't only hockey fans that were dumbfounded. NY Ranger's player Sean Avery, no stranger to controversy, suspension or criticism blurted out via twitter:

"Did Mike Milbury just say EuroTra$h on CNBC, not good!"

As the Olympics has faced some criticism for tape-delayed prime time spots and the brainless placement of the huge US vs Canada hockey game on MSNBC, choosing Ice Dancing in a clear attempt to pander to an advertising demographic, one has to wonder if Milbury's comments will be the icing on the cake to make NBC brass blink.

For hockey fans, all too familiar with Milbury's antics and poor-man attempt to be relevant, we just shake our heads and hope that the game itself gets notoriety, not the idiots who talk about it.

Read more from BD and his criticism of Milbury on HockeyIndependent.com

 

Follow B.D. Gallof on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bdgallof

Comments

[elan4444]

03:54 AM on 02/28/2010

Nice photo there, and Milbury deserves it. Additionally, Boyle should be suspended, no contest, that was one of the cheapest shots I have seen - and at the Olympics at that!

[Tobeyspeed]

07:19 PM on 02/25/2010

Don't you tell me what cause to champion, I support many different causes and voice my opinion about all of them. And yes Euro Trash is racist. and offensive. And I'm an actual hockey fan, born right here in the good old USA.

[gridpump]

08:10 PM on 02/25/2010

Get a grip. My very good friend and German co-worker laughed about it this afternoon. He said, "We have a big euro trash problem over here!" It's not racist - its a cultural rip - like calling Americans "bloody Yanks" or "trailer trash" or "right wing war mongers." My friend lives in Munich.

His take on the comment and the game the Russians played: "Yes, you have these footballers (soccer), hockey guys and other guys with lots of money and no educational background and they are for sure what we call euro trash, strutting around, hitting clubs and being stupid flashy. You can't be euro trash unless you have new money and you party and jet around showing off. You are thought not to work hard, so that comment seems to fit the way the Russians played last night. All of Europe, except them, are glad they lost. The Russians have a lot of euro trash professional athletes."

So, you're an "actual" hockey fan? As opposed to a what? A posing fan?

[LordDigital Highfixer]

06:10 PM on 02/25/2010

Sorry, but 'Eurotrash' isn't a racist statement. Also, Millbury didn't call the Russians trash, he said they brought their EUROTRASH GAME, which they did hence they lost horribly.

You guys get too excited what colour analysts and sports media pundits say. Find a real cause to champion, like stopping the endless bloodbath in Afghanistan.

[Tobeyspeed]

02:51 PM on 02/25/2010

I think it demands some kind of repercussions. Don't sit around thinking well that's just the way it is, call NBC Sports and complain. Write NBC Sports and complain. I think it's time we did some rebel rousing on this so-called sports broadcaster. What he said is an insult to Russians and Europeans on national television. I'm sure if he said something insulting about Canadians, it would hit the fan. We have a right to complain. Complain about what he said. BUT also tell NBC that you are going to contact its advertisers and tell them (the advertisers) that you are no longer going to watch NBC or buy their products if they continue to advertise on that network. Tell them how one of NBC's sports broadcaster Mike Milbury has made insulting, racist remarks on national tv and you are NOT going to support NBC or the products advertised there. Hit NBC where it hurts. Spread the word!

Here are some basic contact information for NBC Sports.....

NBCSports.com

National Broadcasting Company, Inc.

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY

email: [e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Phone: [phone] switchboard for NBC Sports.

I haven't research who NBC's biggest advertisers are yet. I'm sure you can find it on the internet.

[gridpump]

04:50 PM on 02/25/2010

Complain all you want - 80-90 % of the people who heard what he said are probably willing to send him beers. Why? Because it's what most North American hockey fans think about Russian hockey.

NBC is no doubt secretly loving it. They may come out and make some official apology, who knows? You can't be a hockey follower if you think Mibury offended actual fans - except maybe some Europeans living in the USA.

If his comment had aired live in Canada, they'd ask him to run for PM.

[gridpump]

02:33 PM on 02/25/2010

You're falling into the zone trap. This funny response to the eurotrash comment plays right into his game plan. Milbury gets paid to say crazy stuff on NESN, the CBC and NBC. His show on NESN is called "The Instigators."

The eurotrash comment was hilarious. Mike Patrick and Jeremy Roenik nearly fell over - but, then, Roenik agreed. This sort of intercontinental provocation by guys like Milbury and Don Cherry is one of the few things the NHL has going for it. Let's face it, the game needs anything it can get for exposure. It's fast, cool and more people would like it if it took on some of the social conflict elements you see between rival NASCAR drivers.

Milbury loves to be hated, BTW. He doesn't care how many people call him a failure as a GM. Milbury once climbed into the seats at Madison Square Garden while playing for the Bruins and began beating a Rangers fan (who had taken a Bruins' stick at the end of the game, Terry O'Reilly's, I think) over the head with the guy's own shoe in one of the most famous brawls in NHL history.

Do you think he actually gives a stuff what anyone thinks about him as long as they are tuned in?

He'll probably try to print and frame the pics of him in full eurotrash garb that appear here. Those are priceless.

Bruno would have played a better game than the Russians last night. "Ya, sure."

[bten]

11:13 AM on 02/25/2010

what hilarious pictures in this article. It is very true that obviously the russian hockey team has bigger things to worry about that being called eurotrash! BUt they were beaten by the great canadians so it is not like they were defeated by germany or some bad team-they were beaten by the best

[Frank Smith]

11:09 AM on 02/25/2010

Nabby had a terrible game and they were in a deep hole early. There were also questions about their overall team D going in. The Russians were certainly overwhelmed by the Canadians' intensity and cowed by the fans. But it was still only one game.

Interesting how Milbury never brags on his credentials . . . . "I'm the guy who traded away Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen for a big bag of nothing."