We've all grown accustomed to watching professional athletes sabotage their own reputations through a combination of selfishness & stupidity. Think of Plaxico Burress, Rogers Clemens or Stephon Marbury.
Now you can add
Dany Heatley to the list. Anyone living outside of Ottawa may find it difficult to appreciate just how popular this two-time 50 goal scorer was. Heatley's picture hung on huge banners outside Scotiabank Place and Heatley's jersey was among the favorites of the Senator faithful. On Ottawa sports radio, Heatley was routinely given a pass while fans ripped into Jason Spezza and others.
No more. In the space of 2 months Heatley has turned himself into a pariah. By asking for a trade after playing only one year of a massive 6-year contract that will earn him over $40 million Heatley began the bridge burning process. He poured on a little gasoline by making it known that he wanted out because he didn't like the way he was treated by rookie Ottawa coach Cory Clouston, but that wasn't enough. Next he made it clear that he intended to exercise his no-trade clause by dictating which teams he would be willing to play for, severely constraining GM Bryan Murray's ability to negotiate a fair trade. Just when it looked like things were dying down Heatley really fanned the flames by rejecting a possible trade to the Oilers - twice! To top it all off, in what can oly be described as an act of cowardice, Heatley skipped Jason Spezza's recent wedding in Ottawa, presumably to avoid the media frenzy that would have certainly surrounded his return to the city. Shameful.
If Heatley does get his way, he will never recapture the popularity he had in Ottawa, no matter how many big goals he scores for his new team. Like Alexi Yashin, another former Senator, Heatley will always be seen and portrayed as a player with "character issues."
