Rory Fitzpatrick media coverage

Rory Fitzpatrick NHL All-Star Campaign

In late November 2006, an online write-in campaign began supporting Rory Fitzpatrick for the online balloting for the 2007 NHL All-Star game.  In final voting results, Rory finished in third place among Western Conference defensemen with 550,177 votes. The top two finishers got starting spots. Voting ended January 2, 2007.  There has been extensive media and blog coverage of the improbable campaign.

General coverage

I’ve put together a general post on the Rory Fitzpatrick campaign.

This entry covers stories December 1, 2006-present.

It does not cover more than 280 blog posts, for those, go here

Here’s a sampler of general media coverage, with 121 links as of January 14, 2007 (link on left is to the general website of the media outlet, link on right is to the specific story):

(updated January 14)

Delawareonline.com (1/14) Crosby keeping pace with expectations

Slam Sports (1/12) Saluting NHL’s lunchpail crew

MySA.com (1/12) David King: Vote for / votez pour Tony Parker (covers Rory, then links to a French site with both French and English versions boosting NBA Spurs player Tony Parker for the NBA All-Star game, including screensavers, videos, and a contest to win a trip from Paris to San Antonio. Voting ends January 21, if you are suffering NHL voting withdrawal)

Winnipeg Sun (1/12) Moose are ‘cookin

USA Today (1/11) Fitzpatrick glad he missed All-Star mention

The starting lineups for the NHL All-Star Game were announced Tuesday night, but the Vancouver Canucks defenseman had already received word that he wasn’t headed to Dallas. “It’s fine with me,” said Fitzpatrick, who is a lifelong resident of Irondequoit, N.Y., outside Rochester. “It’s over and that’s probably the best. The game will be played and will have all the stars in it.” Fitzpatrick was unwillingly thrust into the national hockey spotlight when Vote For Rory grew from a website message-board suggestion to an obsession for some fans … “It just continued to grow and grow,” Fitzpatrick said. “I didn’t try to encourage it or discourage it. I was more amazed at how it kept gaining momentum.” … He was never quite sure how to react to it all and felt awkward because he isn’t among the NHL’s elite players. But he was hurt when Don Cherry lashed out against him personally on a Hockey Night In Canada segment, calling him a freak and a joke. “That’s his gig. He likes to cause a commotion and he did,” Fitzpatrick said. “But that was just someone who wasn’t informed about the whole thing. It wasn’t my campaign. I wasn’t telling people to vote.”

Sports Illustrated (1/11) The 10 Spot

Edmonton Sun (1/10) Roar for Rory best all-star hype ever

Now that the whole goofy thing is over and nobody got hurt or seriously embarrassed, it’s amazing to step back and recognize that the NHL could have spent millions in publicity and never in a thousand years have gotten so much positive attention for the sport and for the all-star shindig as they did by accident. In a year – make that a century – when the NHL is suffering from the chronic indifference of a large segment of the American public, Fitzpatrick made more headlines south of the border than Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Marian Hossa, combined.

Vancouver Sun (1/10) Rory’s shot a glory was a gory prospect for NHL

SportsIllustrated.com (1/10) Luongo credits Fitzpatrick for All-Star start 

With 24 wins already this season, few would argue that Luongo deserved his place in the Jan. 24 showcase but the Canucks netminder believes he benefited from a rousing grassroots internet campaign to get the unheralded Fitzpatrick voted into the all-star contest. “Definitely, that’s given I think, anybody that’s a Canucks fan and voted for Rory probably threw in a vote for me at the same time,” Luongo said during a teleconference on Wednesday. “I definitely think it had a big influence.” Getting Fitzpatrick into the All-Star game had mushroomed into a North American-wide obsession when a fan set up the voteforrory.com Web site.

Washington Post (1/10) Luongo gets all-star start with a little help from team mate

Calgary Sun (1/10) Sid the Kid’s Star Rising

The Chronicle Herald (1/10) Vote-in candidate Rory Fitzpatrick falls short for spot on Western blue-line

Los Angeles Times (1/10) Niedermeyer elected to start

Canada.com (1/9) vote for Rory circus running out of steam

Edmonton Journal (1/9) All-star conundrum for coaches

usatoday.com (1/9) Internet voters about to weigh in on All-Star game 

cbc.sports (1/9) The Instigator

canada.com (1/9) Vote Rory? We’re so sorry

The Province (1/9) Moment in sun nice while it lasted

Vancouver Sun (1/9) It’s Sorry, Rory, but hello Roberto

Sportsfan Magazine (1/9) Rory Story Ends Short of NHL All-Star Game

Sports Illustrated.com (1/8) Fitzpatrick cuts little ice time

sportsnet.ca (1/8) Rory results unveiled Tuesday

Reuters (1/8) Fitzpatrick to see little ice time if voted to All-Star game

Star-Telegram (1/5) Please Block the Rory Vote

Slam Sports (1/4) There is Still Glory for Rory (reports the week 6 results as if they were final totals)

NBCSports.com (1/3) Winging It: What’s next for the NHL All-Star Game

13wham.com (1/3) Former Amerk at Center of NHL Voting Controversy

espn.com (1/2) This column’s for you, the hockey-mad masses (John Buccigross column)

The Post-Standard (Syracuse) (1/1) Agitator of the Internet

USA Today (12/31) Notes: Orr, Brashear suspended, Fitzpatrick has a point

The Province (12/31) ALL-STAR GAME; 10 reasons to make ‘histoRory’

espn.com (12/30) Sedin’s two goals, assist, pace Canucks past Oilers Game notes (end of story)

tsn.ca (12/28) Hodge on WJHC points, Rory, and Sid

 

Calgary Sun (12/28) ‘Net loss for Fitzpatrick some good Fitzpatrick quotes on Cherry

Canada.com (12/28) Fitzpatrick feels sting from Cherry, falls to third in voting

Canada.com (12/28) If Rory can, so can Woz

Vancouver Sun (12/28) No. 1 in fans’ hearts, No. 3 in fan balloting

Toronto Sun (12/28) Cherry’s comments hurt Fitzpatrick

Chronicle-Herald (Halifax) (12/28) Defenceman Fitzpatrick falls in NHL all-star voting

Kansascity.com (12/28) Write-in candidate slips

Mercury News (12/28) Stars captain sidelined after surgery on wrist

Akron Beacon-Journal (12/28) More injured Ducks

espn.com (12/27) Fitzpatrick falls to third in All-Star voting

sportsnet.ca (12/27) All-star fortunes failing

Sports Illustrated (12/27) Defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick falls to third in NHL all-star voting

The Province (12/27) Fitzpatrick stung by Cherry’s remarks quotes from Rory, reporter calls Cherry mean-spirited

tsn.ca (12/27) Fitzpatrick falls in all-star voting

NHL.com (12/27) Fans have their say on Rory

Victoria Times Colonist (12/27) Hey Cherry, look in the mirror (subscription required for full story)

Globe & Mail (12/26) Fitzpatrick’s campaign still going strong (this story repeat’s last week’s numbers as if they are new, a product of the NHL’s confusing 12/26 news release)

Detroit News (12/25) Fitzpatrick backers have run amok

News & Observer (Raleigh NC) (12/24) “Vote for Rory” critics are kidding … right?

The State (Columbia SC) (12/24) NHL write-in campaign nears its goal

Star-Tribune (Minneapolis) 12/24 Sunday insider and continued

Edmonton Sun (12/24) Grapes says Fitzpatrick campaign is “a joke’

cNews (12/23) Don Cherry blasts fan campaign to send journeyman blue-liner to all-star game

CBC (12/23) Hockey night in Canada Coaches Corner with Don Cherry and Ron McLean (video clip)

Canada.com (12/23) NHL should listen to Gretzky and intervene in ‘Vote for Rory’ Internet all-star game campaign

Los Angeles Times (12/22) He’s a bit out of place as an all-star also page 2 of story

Rocky Mountain News (12/22) NHL Lineup -December 22 (second story)

Dallas Morning News (12/22) All-star campaign reveals system’s flaws

Canada.com (12/22) Online masses embrace Canucks player

Globe & Mail (12/22) Internet rebels boost unlikely NHL all-star (front page story in print edition) A MUST READ

Northern Life (Sudbury) (12/22) Internet campaign revolves around former Wolves captain

Detroit News (12/22) Lidstrom OK with write-in

Buffalo News (12/22) Tallinder should be back soon

Arizona Republic (12/22) Vote for Rory All-Star push irks Gretzky

ESPN TV (12/21) The PTI boys wonder about the Rory Fitzpatrick All-Star campaign (Video clip from the 12/21 PTI TV show)

USAToday (12/21) NHL fans clicking to VoteForRory in waves | THIS STORY ALONG WITH A PICTURE OF RORY APPEARS ON PAGE C-1 OF THE DECEMBER 21 PRINT EDITION OF THE USA TODAY

The Province (12/21) League likes Rory for ‘fun’ factor A MUST READ

CBC Sports (12/21) Rory Fitzpatrick an all-star? So funny I forgot to laugh

Sports Illustrated (12/21) The 10 Spot (Item 10)

MSNBC.COM (12/21) Journeyman has shot to be All-Star starter

Los Angeles Times (12/21) Canuck’s Fitzpatrick is an All-Star with this fan

Ottawa Citizen (12/21)  NHL pulling for Rory, too (subscription required for full read)

Toronto Star (12/21) Internet campaign affects all-star voting (2nd story)

Express-News (San Antonio) (12/20) Click and Scroll: Online campaign for Fitzpatrick successful, but still in jeopardy

Sportsnet.ca (12/20) ‘Vote for Rory’ Gathers Steam 

tsn.ca (12/20) Fitzpatrick 2nd in Western Conference voting

NHL.com (12/20) Joe Thornton leads Western Conference vote-getters … (official story from the NHL that Rory Fitzpatrick is #2 among NHL defensemen)

The Province (12/20) Fitzpatrick makes move worthy of an all-star

NHL.com (12/19) Head to Head two stories: Respect the Process and Get on the Bandwagon

SportsFanMagazine.com (12/19) Rory Fitzpatrick: All-Star Starter

Versus (12/18) All-Star balloting Update. TV coverage of this week’s voting totals. Click on “VERSUS Exclusive – All-Star Balloting Update” for the video. [update 1/3/2007: 12/18 update no longer available online] Screen capture of week 5 cumulative voting totals:

Edmonton Sun (12/18) Let’s hope NHL can have fun with Rory story

NBC Sports (12/18) The Fitzpatrick Campaign Goes Negative (third story)

StarTribune.com (MN) (December 17) Internet gets out vote for journeyman Fitzpatrick

New York Daily News (December 17) Rory Glory (second story)

Toronto Sun (December 17) And Another Thing – Vote For Rory

espn.com (December 15) Rocking the vote (second story on the page)

fanball.com (December 14)  Sid, Alex, and Rory

espn.com (December 13)  Rocking the Boat in St. Louis; Rocking the Vote Out West

espn.com (December 13) Vote early; vote often

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (December 13) Fitzpatrick Gains ground in votes for All-Star Roster

The Province (December 13) Sharks fans take a big bite out of Fitzpatrick all-star drive

Newark Star-Ledger (December 13) Dowd Deflection Nearly Tips Balance

Edmonton Journal (December 13) Letting fans vote online unsatisfactoRory

Westmount (PQ) Examiner (December 12) C’mon, vote for Rory!

nbcsports.com (December 11) The Fitzpatrick Campaign Picks up Speed (2nd story)

Sports Illustrated (December 11) The 10-spot

Maksymum Hockey Radio (Rochester NY based) (December 11) Maksymum Hockey Radio interview with Rory and voteforrory founder Steve Schmid mp3 (60-minute hockey show some discussion at 3:36, interview with Steve Schmid from 13:32 to 19:56, interview with Rory starts at 31:49)

New York Times (December 10) Vote for Rory (2nd part of story)

Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier (December 10) Rory Who? NHL voting giving new meaning to crashing the net

usatoday.com (December 9) Rink Report: Fitzpatrick fans packing All-Star ballot box

Montreal Gazette (December 9) Fan voting for Canuck’s Fitzpatrick latest laugh in joke of an All-Star Game

Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester NY) (December 9) Hockey fan’s All-Star campaign snowballs

Calgary Sun (8 December) Journeyman’s ‘Net’ gainsGlobe and Mail (8 December) Vote for RoryRadioCanada.ca (8 Decembre) La LNH coincée par les internautes (French)nhl.com (December 7) Canuck defenceman Rory Fitzpatrick uncomfortable by all-star voting limelight

tsn.ca (December 7) Fitzpatrick gaining All-Star momentum

Sports Illustrated (December 7) Fanfare for the common Canuck: Web movement making Rory Fitzpatrick an all-star

The Province (December 7) Turns Out We Are All Rory Fitzpatrick

Globe and Mail (December 6) Mirtle: The ‘Vote for Rory’ campaign gains steam

RadioCanada.ca (4 Decembre) Votez Rory! (French)

nbcsports.com (December 4) Winging It: NHL and Fitzpatrick get an All-Star surprise

espn.com (December 1) All-Star Rally

SportsCentral.org (December 1) Rory Fitzpatrick: NHL All-Star?

Canucks.com (December 1) Time to vote

fourthperiod.com (December 1) The Rory Details

Blogs 

This entry does not cover blog posts, for those, go here