WTMM ‘Hockey Hater’ Sets Record Straight [NoeBrainer]

I have recently been portrayed as a hockey hater by Don Ferlazzo of the Albany Times Union and by a national blog on Yahoo.  I'm here to set the record straight.

Puck Daddy is a national sports blog on Yahoo! They picked up where local Albany writer, Don Ferlazzo, left off.  Don Ferlazzo contacted me with an idea of expanding WTMM's postgame coverage of Albany Devils' hockey.  After informing Don that we currently are not planning on extending our postgame coverage at this time, he responded via email and Twitter.

I responded in an inappropriate and unprofessional manner by sending a tweet to Don saying, "Get a hobby."  I should not have responded like this.  It wasn't the right thing to do and, unfortunately, a direct comment to one person was portrayed as a comment to all hockey fans.

It's very unfortunate for numerous reasons.  It's regrettable that the Albany Devils are about to start their season with this type of negative attention.  We should be excited for an upcoming season, not dealing with a mess that I have a role in.  I apologize to the Devils.

It's very unfortunate that readers will take headlines like, "WTMM program director to hockey fans: 'Get a hobby'," as gospel.  They believe the headline entirely when this was never the case.  I told one person to get a hobby, not all hockey fans.  Not only do they believe it, many have reacted in a harsh and hateful manner via Twitter by basing their feelings on an inaccurate headline.

I'll take the high road, which is what I should have done in the first place, and just accept responsibility for my part of the story.  I would hope that those responsible for misrepresenting and inaccurately embellishing a comment would have enough integrity to do the same.

Brian Noe is the Program Director at 104.5 The Team, ESPN Radio in Albany, NY.  "The Noe Show" airs weekdays from 1-3pm ET on WTMM.