The Boston Bruins made the curious decision to fire head coach Claude Julien on Tuesday morning. While the subject is noteworthy enough, during the Bruins press conference discussing the move, general manager Don Sweeney was destroyed by the Boston media for calling it during the middle of the New England Patriots Super Bowl parade.
Live: Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney's press conference https://t.co/Z3UsfjIgQX
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 7, 2017
Reporters weren’t happy about the timing of the press conference, openly complaining about the timing of Julien’s firing in relation to the parade (around the 6:00 mark). They took Sweeney to task for failing to plan the move in accordance to the Pats’ big day.
HOLY SHIT THEY'RE TAKING RUNS AT SWEENEY FOR RUINING THE PATRIOTS' PARADE BOSTON NEVER EVER CHANGE #Bruins
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 7, 2017
There's a Boston reporter who's super pissed he's missing Pats parade on his fourth question about the timing of Julien firing. I'm dying.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 7, 2017
Things got so contentious that Sweeney openly apologized during the presser.
"I apologize" says Don Sweeney for making firing announcement now during the Pats Super Bowl parade @CSNNE
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) February 7, 2017
Sweeney’s in a tough spot. Good on him for answering questions immediately after the firing. But Boston fans (and the media, apparently) are relentless. Taking Bostonians away from the Super Bowl parade is a big no-no, even if it’s in their job description to cover the presser.
A live look-in of 9 reporters who are pissed they missed the Patriots victory parade (talked to Don Sweeney instead). pic.twitter.com/n8xqLQtaN1
— Chris Oddo (@thesaucerpass) February 7, 2017
But at the same time, burying the news the same day the Patriots celebrate their amazing win is an obvious PR move to attempt to lighten the news. Sweeney burying the PR team for deciding when to announce the news is also somewhat cowardly. He failed to take responsibility.
Unfortunately for Sweeney and company, Patriots fans never forget. Football will always come first.
