James Engquist gives his first interview following the Rick Rypien incident. Credit to KSTP Channel...

James Engquist gives his first interview following the Rick Rypien incident. Credit to KSTP Channel 5 for the video.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S1801425.shtml?cat=1

over 1 year ago TonyO 15 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Nothing like getting your 15 minutes of fame and trying to turn it into 30…

"If I'd written the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people—including me—would be rotting in prison cells from Rio to Seattle today. Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism."

—Rolling Stone, February 15, 1973 Hunter S Thompson

by vancitydan on Oct 20, 2010 10:52 PM CDT reply actions

Not trying to be rude or anything but...

this guy seems kind of like an airhead.

"Danny Valencia is a fricking stud! Hide your daughters!"
-Denard Span

by taralynn09 on Oct 20, 2010 11:00 PM CDT reply actions

Wow apparently I can't type today...

I meant “this guy seems like kind of an airhead”.

"Danny Valencia is a fricking stud! Hide your daughters!"
-Denard Span

by taralynn09 on Oct 20, 2010 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh…and this interview is disgusting. The smirking and softball questions…and dude was not pulled over…what a total douche.

You guys are going to make a hero out of this guy?

Possible legal action? I definitely felt threatened? Good god James…you are obviously trying to milk this.

Sorry guys…thought I was over this until watching this. It is absolutely disgusting watching an utter twit get to think he is actually “the man”.

He has only mentioned being happy with his "celebrity 3 times at least!

BTW…I think Wild fans are awesome. Reading the comments onthe Trib/Russo story filled me with warm fuzzies for you guys.

Don’t make this guy some folk hero. Please. Definitely not worthy.

—Rolling Stone, February 15, 1973 Hunter S Thompson

by vancitydan on Oct 20, 2010 11:01 PM CDT reply actions

I’m one of quite a few Wild fans not making the guy into some sort of hero. I’m watching the video right now and the first couple of seconds with him smiling kind of made me sick to be completely honest. My personal opinion is that he’s trying to make a quick buck out of the entire thing.

by Call of the Wild on Oct 20, 2010 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

That’s certainly the case, this incident has everything to do with Rypien being a moron, and nothing to with him.

by CitySlicker on Oct 21, 2010 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree. From TSN, link here: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=338024

“Due to the fact that it will be an in-person hearing, Rypien can expect a suspension of at least five games.”

Not saying for sure that he’ll get 5 games for this, but what if he actually did? Would this really be what it’s come to with the NHL and inconsistent suspensions? He sucker punched a player, put his hands on a ref when all the ref was doing was separating everyone, and then attacked the fan. 3 incidents all rolled into 1 bigger incident. Hoping the NHL suspends him for quite awhile for this.

by Call of the Wild on Oct 21, 2010 12:58 AM CDT up reply actions

I definitely don't

I mean, son of a bitch took me of the air. I was supposed to be in that timeslot, but NOOOOOOOO. He had to have his name released.

Dick.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Oct 21, 2010 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Not to be bitter, but since every post you have made here, on NM, and on Twitter has been to try to back up Rypien, why should we care what you say about this guy? Everything you have tried to argue thus far says that Rypien had a “reason” to do this, and now you come out swinging for the fan.

The video is very douchey. That’s why we posted it. We want the whole story to be out there. However, no matter how big of a douche he may be, or what you may think of him, the point remains… Rick Rypien is the only one who has done anything wrong.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota Owner: Komissaari erämaa

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Oct 21, 2010 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Dude. You are just wronf there. I think maybe I should change my sig or something. I don’t really care if you agree or not.

But the time it happened, and since, I have been very consistent. I will try one more time for you.

I think, strongly, that Rypien was wrong and should have been punished.

Therest is trying to flesh out the story. It is a fascinating one. There is the possible design flaw there ( though you guys disagree there…see…another element? )

There is the dude above milking his 15 minutes.

The “spin the wheel” aspect of NHL justice.

Of course Ryp is the one that did wrong. I NEVER said otherwise. Jesus. All I said after that was asking questions that need to be asked…especially if Jimmy Boy follows through on litigation.

Hardly coming out swinging at a fan to comment that you should not make a hero out of this guy.

Nor blow this out of proportion.

His shirt was ruffled. That was it. Its hardly worthy of the angst and hate here and in some other places.

Hell, Barnaby’s was worse. you see that one? a 75 year old with his dukes up at Mathew?

I have not "tried to argue "anything, my friend, Just facts. They get interpreted two ways sometimes…like this one.

Peace.

—Rolling Stone, February 15, 1973 Hunter S Thompson

by vancitydan on Oct 23, 2010 1:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

This guy should just be embarrassed. Rypien was absolutely wrong in what he did, but Engquist is NOT helping himself with the talk of unnecessary legal action.

by fischean on Oct 21, 2010 11:01 AM CDT reply actions

What Rypien did was stupid, and it certainly wasn't a warranted, reasonable reaction to anything that happened.

He certainly deserves to be suspended for a number of games for touching a fan in an aggressive and intentional manner. That all being said, the guy comes off terribly on that interview. He certainly isn’t a sympathetic personality. The implied threat of legal action is just sad.

by Krotz the Wall on Oct 21, 2010 11:37 AM CDT reply actions

Just one counterpoint

I have a feeling if something like this happened to me I’d have a statistically significant number of people coming up to me and telling me I have a case for a lawsuit. I also get the feeling some of the questions in earlier interviews had leading questions like “It’s obvious the next course of action is to get legal representation and discuss options, are you going to do that?”

Peer pressure causes people to do stupid things, so I’m not going to declare him a douche just yet. It’s not like he’s actually filed a lawsuit or anything yet.

by SpaethCo on Oct 21, 2010 6:11 PM CDT reply actions

I can guarantee you....

That is the case. See my below post.

by Jolonco on Oct 21, 2010 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I went to school with James...

He’s a good guy, a bit on the hyperactive side back then, but a good guy nonetheless. I find it supremely funny that it was him. I know he didn’t say anything more than way to be professional, because that’s Jimmy. It would have been dripping with sarcasm though. I know of a few teachers that were willing to go all Rypien on him….

by Jolonco on Oct 21, 2010 7:24 PM CDT reply actions