Sharks communications director criticizes reporting of Thornton quote

Vancouver Province reporter Jason Botchford's decision to publish an off-colour joke made to reporters by San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton on Thursday has drawn criticism from colleagues and San Jose Sharks PR.

"I don't think it would be a surprise to anyone in the industry that 'locker room talk' exists," Sharks director of communications Scott Emmert said in a prepared statement picked up by David Pollak of the Mercury News. "Professional reporters understand that concept and respect it."

Emmert continued, describing the publication of the quotes as "a pathetic attempt to generate some page hits and controversy by reporting an off-the-cuff and off-the-record comment made by someone who wasn't even being interviewed at the time."

According to Botchford, Thornton never specified that the quote was "off the record" and said his comment directly to a pool of reporters.