Sadly, only half of that headline is false.

OTTAWA — Jason Spezza may have plenty of critics in Ottawa, but he has just as many fans, and on Saturday more than 100 will show their support for him during a rally on Parliament Hill.

The aim of the rally will be to convince the Ottawa Senators to keep the mercurial centre instead of trading him before his no-trade clause kicks in on July 1.

“Every time something goes wrong with the Sens, it seems like there’s a need for a whipping boy and we’re sick of it,” said Louise Tremblay, who is organizing the rally. “Jason Spezza is our No. 1 centre and we don’t want to see him go.”

 

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Sens+fans+rally+support+Spezza/3153932/story.html#ixzz0r2CPbL27

My reaction after the jump.

How did it come to this? While I agree that Ottawa should be supporting Jason Spezza, lest he be the 2nd "Franchise Player" in as many summers to request to leave Ottawa, I think that a rally of "about 125 participants" is, at best, of dubious merit, unless Spezza is possessed of a very strong sense of irony.

All things considered, I find this whole venture ill-advised.