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Dominik Hasek Press Conference from July 29, 1999
Posted: Monday February 14, 2000 08:00 PM
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- One of the reasons he is leaving the NHL after the season, Dominik Hasek said, was because of the constant demands on his time and the infringements on his personal life. Well, then how ironic that the first thing he had to do after his announcement was conduct a half-hour teleconference with reporters. But the reclusive Hasek got through it OK, perhaps buoyed by the thoughts that after this season, he will be just a private citizen. CNNSI.com listened in on the teleconference: Q: In conversations with the Sabres, have they told you that they would not trade you and let you play out the year in Buffalo? And did it enter into your decision knowing that two expansion teams are coming into the league at the end of next season, and that you might get traded or something might happen with Buffalo having two young goalies in the system? A: When I talked to the Sabres management, they never talked about trade, and I never did think about a trade at the time. No, I never thought about some expansion teams. I wanted to finish my career in Buffalo and I think I will. I never got the feeling that the Buffalo Sabres would trade me and I don't feel after I told everybody publicly that I would retire that something would change. I hope I'm going to stay and be part of the organization until the end of season. Q: Did (Sabres general manager) Darcy Regier tell you he would not trade you? Or have you not discussed it? A: No, we never have talked about it at all. There were no questions from me about a trade, and he never said anything about a trade. We talked only about retiring and when and why. He had many questions; I had many explanations. But not one time did we talk about a trade. Never. Never. Q: Did the (groin) injury you suffered this season affect your decision at all? A: No, not at all. It was nothing about an injury. I started thinking about retiring after (the 1997-98 season), so almost nine months before I was injured. I had the decision made before the playoffs. My injury gets better, but the decision was made because of my family and my future. Q: Why go public now? I know you want to take distractions away, but why not at the end of year say, 'I'm done. This was my last game.'?
A: I feel this is the best time to do it. I really don't know a better time (than) one month before camp starts. Also, I'm publishing a book in the Czech Republic, it will be out in two weeks, talking about retiring after the season. I wanted fans and teammates to hear the story from me. I didn't want some media to find out. The decision wasn't just mine. It was me and the organization. We thought the end of July would be the best time. Q: With your family, your son Michal in particular, you have said before how you spoke English with a Czech accent and he had an English accent in the Czech language, and you said at the time that that was kind of disturbing. Can you discuss that and how you wanted him to be raised where you were raised? A: The longer we stay in the States, the more and more difficult it will be for him to adapt living in Czech Republic. So it was a really big reason for me and my wife. Once I retire, we're going back to the Czech Republic, we knew that. I want (my son) to adapt to life in Czech Republic. But I've told him already, 'Once you reach 18 in Czech Republic, you can go anywhere you want. You can make your own decisions.' So, if he makes the decision that he wants to go back to Buffalo, to college, he can go. But he's got to be 18. I want him to share in the culture and the way of life of my family. Q: Was it becoming bothersome when he would speak Czech with an English accent and you could see that the Czech culture was slipping away and he was becoming Americanized? A: Yeah, he's an American boy. And my girl, she's four, if you ask her she'll say, 'I'm a Buffalo girl.' It's nothing bad about it. I respect that and it's fine, but we know if not next year, it will be the year after or two years ... but one day we will go back to Czech Republic and, of course, the kids will go with us and I know every year (that goes by) it's more difficult for him to adjust to life in Czech Republic, our culture, our way of life. So, I made the decision. I told him. We talked about it. He's a happy kid, we have fun together. I think he has fun (in Czech Republic), but, like I said, every year it becomes more and more difficult. Me and my wife, we try to do our best to help him. Next year we'll have a teacher in Buffalo with us, to help him speak better Czech, because language is so important. Q: 1, You would leave a lot of money on the table. And 2, You are an intensely competitive person. How difficult, in light of those two facts, was it to make this decision?
A: Money wasn't an issue at all. I have made enough money to live a nice life, not only for me, but for my kids and my wife. So money was not an issue at all. More of an issue is that I would miss the game, miss my friends, the friendship ... to be with my teammates in the locker room and on road trips. It will be hard. Money is not an issue. (My kids) will go to college and live in the States when they're 18. I'm pretty happy with my life. Someone was asking me if they offered $25 million to play one more season, I'd say, 'No, thank you.'Q: Did someone actually offer you $25 million? A: No, nobody offered. But somebody asked me just for fun. Q: Dale Hunter is also announcing his retirement today. You played against him for a long time, especially two years ago in the conference finals. Could you talk a little bit about him and playing against him? A: He was a great player. I remember when he played for Quebec, but I remember him better from Washington. He was great on face-offs, and he was always in front of me. He's always going for rebounds, I remember very well. He was always bothering me around the crease and worked hard for rebounds. Q: Was he difficult for a goalie? A: He won the face-off in the Game 4 in Buffalo, and Berube scored the winning goal. He won the face-off with about 10 minutes left and they scored. I remember that. Q: I'm assuming when you signed your last contract you probably thought you were going to fulfill the whole contract. Can you tell us when you started to think this year would be your last? A: I was signing about 1 1/2 years ago and I wasn't thinking about retiring. I knew that four years was a long time. But I started to think about it in training camp last year. It was a tough summer for me in Czech Republic after the Olympics and everybody was paying so much attention to me, the media and public. But really, at the time when I signing, I didn't think about retiring. It changed sometime in training camp last season. Q: When you came over from the Czech Republic, what your expectations were and whether you dreamed of reaching the level you have. Also, reflect on what your most proud of, you accomplishments, the MVPs, five Vezinas. A: It's easy. The highest point of my hockey career was winning the gold medal in Nagano. When I came to the States nine years ago, my goal was to become a No. 1 goalie. I usually take my career step by step, so when I came to Chicago, my goal was to make the team. I was the back-up goalie, and the next step was to become No. 1, then came the other steps. When I came to States I didn't think about Hart Trophies or being in Stanley cup finals, this came after couple of years. Q: Was your son born here or in Czech Republic? A: He was born in Czech Republic, but was a half-year old when he came to States. Q: What has been the reaction in the Czech Republic? Are you going to run for president? A: No, I don't know reaction at all. I made a press conference three hours ago and then stayed in the room with friends, so I don't know what the media has been saying. I'm sure it's going to be a little bit of a surprise for people. Same surprise for people in Buffalo, no more or no less.
Q: You talked about being a success in the business world, could you elaborate? A: We established a company, we took my nickname, "The Dominator," to a clothing line, clothing for sport and leisure wear. We are already selling in Czech Republic, and we just last week talked to people from a company in the U.S. We're going to try to sell this stuff in U.S. and Canada.I need to compete in something and I feel that the business would be something to compete in everyday basis like I used to compete in hockey. "The Dominator" clothing line is something I can compete in after hockey. Q: There will be people that insist that this has to do with getting more money from Sabres? What would you say to that? A: Nothing. They can speculate. They always speculate. It's normal. They speculate when I'm injured; it's nothing unusual. But I've said many times I'm going to retire because my of kids and too much publicity from the media attention and nothing else. Q: Does anything come at all close to the gold medal? Going to finals? Would that be next? And how big was winning the gold? A: It's hard to describe. I enjoy playing every day and winning every day. The best feeling is to win the game and when my friends, my teammates come to me in the net after we win and we walk to the locker room. But, of course, I came to the U.S. nine years ago and after a while I become a No. 1 goalie in Buffalo, my goal is to win the biggest trophy in North America for the Buffalo Sabres. It's my goal for next season and I would put it right next to the gold medal. I cannot say what is bigger, Stanley Cup or gold medal. I don't know because I've only won a gold medal. The Stanley Cup would probably be best for people in Buffalo. The Olympic gold medal is best for people in Czech Republic. Q: Would you consider playing for a Czech national team in the next Olympics? A: No, my decision ... I hate to say never. Ninety-nine percent I will never skate and play hockey. But there were people like Guy Lafleur and Marcel Dionne who felt the same way and they came back. But I don't think so. Once I quit, it will be for good. Q: Is that you leaving the door open a wee bit that you might come back? A: No, not at all. No, I won't come back. I made the decision, It's over. Q: You always seemed to handled media criticisms well. But in the past, you were criticized harshly -- fairly or unfairly -- for head games, not being able to play injured. Are those the kind of stories that bothered you more than just media attention? A: Yeah, the first time I had my knee injury two years ago. These things are not just part of my career, but for a lot of athletes. These problems are over for me. It's more like ... I enjoy playing the game, enjoy teammates, but part of my job is to talk to the media. Sometimes, it's something I don't really enjoy. When I go back for summers in Czech Republic, I can't go with kids to the lake, play soccer with them. It's not fun for me. The best thing for me is to stay behind the wall at my property. I don't feel it's the right life. I want to go out with my kids, play soccer with friends. When I retire, I hope it's over and can spend time with friends and enjoy my time. Q: This being your last season, will it take on the aspect of a crusade for the Sabres? A lot of people believe the Sabres' chances will diminish when you're not around. A: It's very simple. It's almost like two seasons. The regular season is 82 games. You have to be ready for that, not just me, but teammates and organization be ready for 82 games. Then come playoffs and you start the next season. There's a lot of pressure on me, a lot of pressure on teammates. I have always believed that was something that makes me play better. But I don't want to make promises; I never make promises. But I believe we can play better and I hope we can win the last game of the season.
Q: You spoke of the adulation you get when you venture out beyond your property. Do you find that's more true in Czech Republic or more true in Buffalo? A: It's the same. I don't see any difference. Q: Why in 1 1/2 years (since signing a contract), has your desire to play in the NHL declined? It has to have something to do with game. A: I still like to compete, like to practice, have fun when I go on ice with teammates. I'm looking forward to seeing them in practice. They make fun of me, I make fun of them. I still enjoy the game as much as I did 10 years ago. I don't feel any differences, but there are certain things why want to retire which I have said many times. I think I still enjoy the games as I did three, five, seven years ago. I still feel competitive fire. Q: Mr. Hasek, could you on if the Sabre players know you no longer want to play? A: It's hard for me to answer the question, you have to ask my teammates. I don't think it's a distraction: I'm going to start season, I'm gong to retire after season. In my career, I never looked two years ahead. It's too far. One year is too far. Everybody should be focused on next season and nothing else. Q: Do you expect to stay involved in hockey in Czech Republic, coaching, owning or staying involved somehow? A: No, I don't think so. I want to stay focused on the business I started. I want to be a little bit involved, I don't know exactly how. Maybe I can talk to young children, educate them, I also am a history teacher. Maybe I can help ... I don't know exactly how. But I don't want to coach or be a GM. No, it's not my goal.
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