ISLANDERS’ LEE WON’T BE A PARTY TO THIS NEGATIVE MESSAGE
The Islanders’ Anders Lee was faced with quite a Sophie’s choice last week. A group of disgruntled fans started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a billboard urging the dismissal of general manager Garth Snow. The group raised nearly $6,000, according to the New York Post, and pledged any leftover funds to Lee’s Kancer Jam Foundation charity.
Lee was forced to say thanks but no thanks. In a message posted on Twitter, Lee explained his reasoning.
“Islanders fans are the most passionate, dedicated fan base in the NHL. There’s nothing better than scoring a goal and seeing them erupt in celebration,” he wrote. “For them to want to generously donate to my Kancer Jam Foundation, is extremely humbling, however, I do not feel right accepting money from a movement I do not agree with. The main goal of everyone in the organization is to win games. I know that’s a fact because I live it and see it every day. We all share that same goal. We also share the bond that we were brought here by Garth Snow. He had the faith to draft me in 2009 and I wouldn’t be where I am today without his support, so I do not feel right accepting the donation. I appreciate the gesture from our fans and their efforts to support the Kancer Jam Foundation but ask that they use this money to support another fund that can benefit from this donation.”
Things can be awfully complicated these days.