Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour updated reporters on the health of several of his players Tuesday.
He just happened to do so while channelling Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson on the anniversary of one of the most infamous North American sports speeches of the 21st entury.
When asked why forward Jordin Martinook was absent from the team’s practice, Brind’Amour explained the 26-year-old is in “maintenance mode” while dropping Iverson’s classic line.
It was 17 years ago to the day that Iverson, a 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, went on an epic rant about practice that has remained in the sports lexicon ever since.
One has to wonder if Brind’Amour, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers when Iverson broke into the NBA with the 76ers in the mid-1990s, was aware that Tuesday marked the anniversary of the quote.
Brind’Amour also addressed the absence of Micheal Ferland from his team’s skate.
“Today he went to see a doc, so he was getting checked out,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m hoping that will be the last time we have to talk about that, and he’ll be ready to go.”
Ferland hasn’t suited up since Game 3 of the opening round against the Washington Capitals due to an upper-body injury.
Despite all the injuries the Hurricanes have faced this post-season, the team managed to sweep the New York Islanders after eliminating the defending Cup champion Capitals. They are now set to play the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final with Game 1 set for Thursday.
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