For those of you who don't know, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Oren Koules is also a movie producer. Why is this important? Because, showing the true wisdom and sense of taste common to nearly all Hollywood producers, Koules has decided that his team's goaltenders would be the perfect billboards for his new movie, "Saw V."
That's right, both Bolt goalies - Olaf Kolzig and Mike Smith - are wearing "Saw"-themed masks for the next few games, until the movie comes out and goes abruptly to DVD, at which time the masks will probably be auctioned off for "charity."
For those who think, "So?" Ponder this: A-Rod stepping to the plate with a "Sex and the City" bat. Brett Favre tossing a "Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys" ball into the hands of Laveranues Coles. To put it simply - it's bad enough we get assaulted by endless ads during professional sports telecasts, no need for the players themselves to shill wares (and, at the same time, their dignity).
This is especially true of hockey. The NHL gets blasted for not promoting the personality of its players, and it's even harder for the goalies. Given the amount of equipment they wear, these guys are lucky to be recognized by their own family once they step out of the locker room. Their only means of self-expression are their masks, and now this is being taken away by greedy owners. Know why Kolzig had Godzilla on his mask back when he tended net for Washington? Because that was his nickname, not because the Caps had a cross-branding deal with Toho. The Toronto Maple Leafs' goalie is called "Cujo" not to promote the recent 20th anniversary DVD, but because his name is CUrtis JOseph.
Koules, you should be less concerned with how "Saw" is going to fair at the box office, and more concerned with the fact that Barry Melrose is currently taking your bloated lot of over-priced free agents on the fast-track to nowhere. Hey, Vinny Lecavalier - how's that long term contract looking now?
