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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/h ... urce=Home&utm_content=2339401

Yes, I know I root for the team that retired Ray Bourque's # for roughly a year+ worth of service, but still...

Um I don't get what we are laughing at. Al was way more of a monster in a Flames uniform (for 13 years). He was an instrumental part of the late 80's Flames power house and won the Conn Smythe during the run to the 89 cup.

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Then retire the damn number, don't do some half-assed raising to the rafters yet keep the number in circulation. What is this "Forever a Flame" crap!?

I guess i don't understand what's wrong with this. I think its better than retiring the number especially for those guys who may have had good careers in a few places, like Macinnis. Perhaps the Avs should have thought of this then they wouldn't have looked so foolish by raising banners of guys that had a cup of coffee with the team.

Good idea Flames.

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Keep in mind they only raised ONE banner of a guy who had a cup of coffee with the team. Yes, it's embarrassing, like all the other overblown gestures the Avs have made when they honor one of their own (the "Sakic's Jock Under Glass" is definitely the worst of these). But I'd still take that over this pointless gesture.

This seems like a cheap way to hock merchandise and sell tickets to a non-event. Yes, I have said before that there are no real "rules" when it comes to retiring--on in this case not retiring--a number, but we all have a right to our opinions, and to me the Flames are merely acting like they're honoring a fan favorite player while at the same time doing nothing of actual consequence.

yeah I suppose to each his own. I don't mind it. The Leafs also have a system like this its called Honored Numbers.....however they are the only other team to do so. The Nordiques have 5 other retired....now unretired numbers. It also happens to be the Avs have 2 of the 6 retired numbers by 2 teams. I won't argue with the Bourque retiring. Sure he had a cup of coffee....but that coffee came from the Stanley Cup.

I guess this opens the door for Players like Theo though. He rightfully deserves the 14 retired in the Flames organization but this is a cheaper way out for the Flames. You're right it does feel like a grab for tickets but at the same time I can understand Macinnis' contributions that deserve some type of tribute.

At the end of the day I am much happier with the Flames doing nothing of consequence than having them make ridiculous moves. I'll take that.

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I'm actually surprised his number wouldn't be retired outright. One of the top few guys ever to play for that franchise.

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Macinnis with shouts at to McNeil and Cliff Fletcher! Rock on Al!

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If your franchise hasn't retired its number two, then everyone will just assume you've had nothing but lousy defencemen.

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which is pretty amazing since they had a tandem of Gary Suter and Al Macinnis.......

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Well obviously you folks aren't alone in your distaste for this program and the treatment of Al Macinnis

http://www.bookofloob.com/

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Yeah, to me this "Forever a Flame" stuff should be reserved for guys like Jim Peplinski or Robyn Regehr (even Kiprusoff) and not HOFers who won your team's only Conn Smythe like MacInnis.

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Injustice? Cobain died and Eddy Fucking Vedder lived to haunt us with his shitty fucking voice, trite lyrics and his Eddy Vedderness.



- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Yeah, what happens when you want to actually retire a number you already raised to the rafters? Does this program mean they're NEVER gonna retire MacInnis's #?