Listen to 24:30.
Biz mentions he wasnt going to break the news until he received a text message from a former Babcock player stating:
“You gotta sneak this on the Pod and give these guys [Columbus players] a heads up”
-Mitch Mar…
I mean…
-Anonymous Former Babcock Player
To summarize my understanding of this entire debacle:
1. It sounds like “someone” with a vendetta from Toronto asked Bizz to leak this info on the pod to “warn” or protect (in Biz’s words) the Columbus players about Babcock’s past playbook with regard to cellphones.
2. Then Biz reaches out to Boon Jenner who seemingly “corroborates” the story.
3. Biz shares the txt msg with Whitney and tells him Boone said “Babs asked to see his photos too”.
4. Whitney thinks Babs is STILL reading players texts and scrolling through photos in Columbus and throws it out there on the live Podcast while catching Biz off guard.
5. Biz (being put on the spot) is forced to retell the story he told Whitney on the live podcast, and does so in a manner that insinuates Babcock is still up to the same shenanigans.
6. The podcast episode catches steam, people start gossiping and jumping to conclusions and Babs gets cancelled again for past transgressions in Toronto.
Here’s my Hot take:
Mike Babcock’s past antics are unforgivable imo, but im not convinced (yet) that Mike did anything wrong in Columbus leading to his resignation.
I wish the NHL, PA or the Ohio GM would be more transparent in sharing the details leading up to Bab’s resignation. If it was caused by past BS in Toronto, then just say so. Why let media and fans speculate?
This entire situation has seemingly been mishandled every step of the way and by all parties involved (from the former player, Biz, Whitney, Boone Jenner, the podcast listeners, media outlets, general hockey fans, the Columbus organization, the GM, the NHL and the NHLPA) to a point where things have spiralled out of control.
It sounds like this snowball of a story is still garnering steam as it rolls down the hill and more details trickle in. So ill continue to reserve judgement as i piece this puzzle together.
by WlNNIPEGJETS
