D-Bag of the Week for 24/05/09

It’s OK for athletes to be controversial–to a point.

But there’s a line that everyone can cross, where they go from controversial to plain stupid.

Thankfully Jeremy Roenick crossed that line to become Douchebag of the Week.

Roenick, a forward for the San Jose Sharks (the poster boy for playoff underachievers in the NHL), was recently spouting off on a Chicago radio show about the Detroit Red Wings/ Chicago Blackhawks playoff series.

In particular, Roenick made baseless claims that Detroit coach Mike Babcock doesn’t like 112 year old defenseman Chris Chelios, going so far as to say that Babcock has a grudge against American players.  Roenick also said that Babcock has said some rather unsavory comments to Chelios.

Turns out it was all a lie.

Chelios has come out publicly to say he has never had a problem with Babcock in the four years he’s played under him…and Babcock has reiterated his respect for Chelios.

Hell, the man has 2 kids who are American born–another reason that Roenick’s words pissed him off.

Said Babcock, “Yeah, it bothered me, because it’s a blatant lie.”

Maybe now Roenick will think twice before opening up his toothless yap again.