Open Letter to Shane Doan from a Kings Fan

Here’s a cut and paste from a Kings fans Facebook post about our Captain:

An open note to Shane Doan

Hi Shane;

I just wanted to drop you a genuine note of appreciation from a Kings fan. I’m not thrilled about how you pretty much single handedly beat us yesterday in game 4, but I couldn’t be happier with the wonderful class and sportsmanship you exhibited before the game began.

My seats are on the glass in the visitors end of the rink, and I was really appalled at some of the horrible things people were saying to (yelling at) you before the game. You’ve always played us very tough, but also for the most part cleanly. Your devastating hit on Trevor Lewis two games prior was clearly as much his fault as it was yours. It was inexcusable for some of the LA fans to treat you so miserably. (I’ll certainly boo on occasion, but expletive laced vitriol is inexcusable, especially with the number of young kids present. )

Not only did you take it all in stride like a professional, but in the midst of this, you tried to hand a puck over the glass to a small kid standing in front of me. When the puck bounced off the glass and back into the rink, those same angry fans started riding you even for that. (no good deed goes unpunished) You then skated away. To my surprise, you showed back up a moment later with another puck, and this time you made sure it got over the glass to that little boy.

It was quite a gesture, and it spoke volumes about the kind of man you are to be able to be that kind and considerate in the face of such nastiness. I’ve always respected you as an opponent to be reckoned with on the ice, but from now on, I’m also a very big fan of the guy inside the uniform. You’re a true leader, a great player, and most important… a fine person.

Pro sports and the world in general need a lot more Shane Doans!

God bless.
Drew Gross   (still a Kings fan!)