Should sports stars speak the official language of the team's country?

As far as hockey goes...

I think players should make an effort to have a basic understanding of the language they're going to use to communicate with their teammates. That's it. They're in the NHL to play hockey.

Outside of hockey, that's all politics and the media.

I think it's unfortunate that anyone would question Saku Koivu's commitment to Montreal based on his ability to speak it's official language, and not what he's done for the community and the city on or off the ice.

I'd love to hear Evgeni Malkin do interviews in English. I'm not really bothered that he hasn't learned the language as quickly as maybe Alexander Ovechkin though. If he never did an interview in English, I'm not going to be presumptious and assume it has anything to do with his attitude towards the US or even Pittsburgh. I've never heard anyone in Pittsburgh say anything negative about Malkin for reasons of him not speaking English.

LMAO@2eighty8

Number one, engage, make it so.

Perhaps M. Bertrand has high hopes to open a spot on the Canadiens roster for a family member by turfing out Koivu.

I think a player should try to learn the language but not everyone is smart enough to do it. People who can fluently speak two or more languages are smart and smart people don't necessarily play hockey. They own the teams. Should the owner M Gillette also speak French under M Bertrand's ideals?

What next, must the dog say 'le barque' or the cats must say 'le mieux?' (That one's for Erica).

Merci Salain.

With the amount of time many players stay with a team I would say no. It would probably be comfortable to speak the language if you live there but I don't see why it's that important as a player. Being a hard worker should be enough to satisfy most fans.

Absolutely not. I bet I could be interviewed on TV, hold up my middle finger to the camera, and tell the French speaking multitudes to kiss my *** in English and they would all understand me.

I can't stand the Liberal Quebecois', they remind me of the short terrible time I endured while I lived in California and had to straighten out a few delusional hippies.

In all seriousness, I think that anyone that forces the issue is being autocratic and narrow-minded. They should learn English and be happy that I'm not playing for Montreal.

BTW, great game by the Habs.

You said "country" so the rest of what you put down is irrelevant seeing how Quebec is a province and most of what they say politically doesn't matter. And that includes Stephane Dion (this coming from a Liberal).

Anyways, Koivu himself said it best in today's Toronto Star article: "Players in the Finnish Elite League isn't required to speak Finnish." Enough said.

CME, of course Picard would've made a great captain. The guy used to command the Enterprise, fought the Borg and their Queen, WAS a Borg, the first Starfleet captain to stand in the Romulan Senate, made up the Picard Maneuver on the fly, one of the few humans honoured by the Klingon High Council....

Sorry, I really couldn't help myself there...lol

Picard would make a great captain.

Something tells me, Montreal getting all the French players and the other 29 teams competing for the English players, with no European players unless they speak fluent french or english, isn't going to gain a lot of support.

1. Mandarin 2. English 3. Arabic 4. Hindu 5. Spanish 6. Portuguese 7. Bengali 8. Russian 9. Japanese 10. Punjabi

Not at all. The only communication that needs to happen in hockey is between the players and coaches. If they want to learn the home language that is on them. Unless it presents a problem on the team then it is a null point.

Personally I think they should simply for respect, or you received the money on your own currency?

I also live in Montreal and french it´s not my mother language but I try to speak it, just for respect to the people that live here, or do they play hockey 24/7.

My advice to Saku Koivu get a dictionary

I'm a Quebecer and believe me, M. Bertrand is known for saying stupid things... And Saku Koivu presented his team mates in French tonight...