Neilson says he's not upset with Flyers Associated Press
VOORHEES, N.J. -- Roger Neilson apologized on Wednesday for
criticizing the Phildelphia management when he told a Toronto radio
station that the team didn't want a cancer patient who is a friend
of Eric Lindros behind the bench right now.
| | Neilson said he's ready to coach again, but GM Clarke doesn't agree. |
Neilson said Tuesday's remarks were made in jest and he didn't
intend it to become a distraction for the Flyers, who open their
playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
"We all say things to the media that sometimes don't come out
the right way," Neilson said. "In this case, it was entirely my
fault. I take complete blame for it. I was expecting a light show,
we usually joke around."
Neilson, who is recovering from a stem-cell transplant for bone
marrow cancer, met with team officials this week. After consulting
with his doctor, the team decided to keep interim coach Craig
Ramsay behind the bench and have Neilson assist the team.
"I've been devastated by the publicity it received," Neilson
said. "We should be talking about Pittsburgh and what we're going
to do in round two. Instead it's all been about this."
Neilson said the regular host on the Toronto show wasn't there
and it caught him a little off-guard.
"It was a real poor decision on my part to crack the joke I did
about serious issues. I've always made light of the cancer and the
reference to Eric Lindros there was just to poke fun at the common
idea that because we're friends, it might have some affect on my
coaching here.
"Which is ridiculous. That was all it was. Certainly all of you
know me well enough here that I'm not looking for any sympathy for
my cancer. I never have and I never will. The whole thing was a
joke and unfortunate."
Lindros, meanwhile, said Tuesday that he hopes to be back to
play in the playoffs this year. Lindros is recovering from his
fourth concussion, but was cleared Tuesday to get back on the ice.
"The way they're playing and the confidence this team has
heading into the Pittsburgh series, I look forward -- if everything
goes well -- to be able to compete sometime in that third round,"
Lindros said.
Lindros, who is scheduled to see his doctor in Chicago on
Monday, said it's only a matter of time before he can rejoin the
team.
"I want to play. The average career is seven, eight, nine
years," Lindros said. "When you're on a good team, you compete
seven, eight, nine times in the playoffs. I don't want to miss out
what would be a large percentage of my career." |