Khabibulin Saga: The sentencing

Today in Scotsdale Arizona, Khabibulin was given his sentence for being found guilty on all counts.. His sentence given by the courts he was fined an upwards of $1500 in fines and paying for various services and programs and to serve the minimum sentence of 30 days in jail. Khabby has also enlisted in the NHLPA substance abuse problem. The sentencing went underway at approx. 315pm MT probably in hopes of not having media and reporters present. Immediately following the sentencing Khabby and his Lawyer exercised their right to appeal the sentencing decision.

Immediately after that was made clear back in edmonton at the hockey operations office Oilers GM Steve Tambellini was initially prepared to comment on behalf of the club on the sentencing verdict and the whole situation but he as well was caught by surprise that Khabby was appealing the decision and could not comment on the clubs stance on the issue or what the future holds. Like many oiler fans including myself, he looked frustrated that this has done nothing but drag on and on and that it still leaves his club waiting and not having a decision one way or another.

Okay so that is the logistics now time for my opinion on the matter. Now had I actually written this last night after i heard the news, there would have been a lot of swearing and name calling and disrespectful comments which would have been rude and i think uncalled for in my blog. So after i slept on it this is what i have come up with.

On twitter i expressed before the court proceedings that i wanted khabby to get a little more than minimum sentence so that he can truly take responsibility for his actions and most importantly learn from his mistake because i do truly believe it was that an ill fated decision made in the moment.

I was willing to accept the minimum sentence that he was given and move on but when i heard he was appealing it i flipped my sh** to say the least. I was frustrated because i felt like khabby was getting the "celebrity" treatment and it came off like he thought he was above that sentence and that he deserved to get away with just a "slap on the wrist". Had that been you or me and we got the min. sentence for an Extreme DUI i would be dancing in the streets.

After getting more details about the appeal and the fact that we don't know what about the sentencing he appealed I realized that i can not judge his decision to appeal until i am informed about what actually was appealed. I immediately jumped to the conclusion most probable like many of you without giving khabby the benefit of the doubt.

I DO think that he should have a record because this isn't like any other circumstance that he stumbled after a beer and drove home.. his BA was almost double the limit in the state of Arizona.. as per the explanation that he is on meds for his back then what the HELL was he doing drinking like that?

This is something that really bothers me about "celebrities" and pro athletes is that they are not just a normal joe, you play for the NHL therefore you have accepted the responsibility of being a public figure and a role model to people young and old. and Khabby is not just some 19yr old NHL rookie he is a 37 yr old man who has been in the league for years.

I really more then anything what to hear Khabby's public apology because for Oiler fans and hockey fans in general that is ABSOLUTELY needed..


Well thats all for now!

Off season comes to a close

what started out a slow and long off season for the oilers. First NHL 2010 draft with the first overall pick the edmonton oilers select the one and ONLY Taylor hall.With the intention and goal to make the oilers in the fall Hall as denied invitation to the WJ camp in Nfld. As an oiler fan, i was excited to see him attend the oilers development camp, even though it was really just a conditioning stint it was a good introduction for him and the city. It looks like taylor hall has become the next son of the city. Now that was not the only moving and shaking that happened this summer for the oil and their fans. The team let go of veteran players such as captain Ethan Moreau,patty O'sullivan, Fernando Pisani, Dean Arsene, Marc Pouliot, Ryan Stone, and Robert Nilsson just to name a few notables. Notable Additions to the team returnie Steve Mac, stanley cup champion Colin fraser, veteran character guy Jason Strudwick, both JDD and dubnyk, and newly signed centreman Sam gagner just to name a few. In the off season the oilers looked for big bodies, with a balance of skill and toughness.

5 things were made very clear in the off season:

1) to be on this team to have to have fight, and determination

2) to be on this team you must have PASSION

3) to be on this team you must NOT want to play at the status quo but to RISE above it and destroy it

4) to be on this team you need to want to WIN!

5) to be on this team you have to be commited to the change coming and the process of rebuilding

as the off season comes to a close souray still has NOT been traded and cogliano has NOT been resigned. also khabby was finally given his verdict on the drunk driving case and he was found guilty on all counts which is completely deserved and it will interesting to see his sentence i really hope he does not buy himself out of a tough sentence.

well thats all for now folks..

on a personal note i moved to flames country bleeding copper and blue FOREVER

ps. at least we didn't re sign Jokinen... sorry i just had too