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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Mar 11, 2004 15:11:36 GMT -5
By JEFFREY SIMPSON Thursday, March 11, 2004 - Page A21 No one can fully appreciate the violence of Todd Bertuzzi without understanding the sickness of professional hockey. The National Hockey League is the worst-organized professional league in North America, maybe the world. Its economics are awful, its labour relations are poisonous, its U.S. television ratings risible. Its leader, Commissioner Gary Bettman, is a hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil, see-no-evil owners' mouthpiece who doesn't understand the game and therefore will not protect its integrity. The National Hockey League Players Association reflects militant unionism run wild, a group of Trotskyites in suits. It's hard to find anywhere in the union movement a group whose heads are so defiantly and deeply buried in the sand. Owners and players have created, indeed encouraged, over many decades a subculture of violence that in turn infects how the sport is played across North America, but especially across Canada. - full article |
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Post by franko on Mar 11, 2004 15:59:02 GMT -5
But Jeffrey, tell us what you really think.
The problem with the NHL sitting out a year is that there will be so many people (in Canada at least) going through withdrawl . . . and I fear that AHL (and other leagues) won't slake the thirst, and that the year following all will have been forgotten and it will be back to business as normal. (oops -- left out part of the rant)
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Post by habwest on Mar 11, 2004 16:23:53 GMT -5
I don't always agree with Simpson but on this one I think that he's got it right. The NHL, and probably hockey in Canada as a whole, is in a mess. The League, the owners, the GMs, the coaches, the NHLPA and the players are to blame and, I suppose, the fans too (like myself) who continue to support the product in various ways, such as watching on TV.
I'm really undecided about whether this "sport" is worth supporting anymore- and this from someone who has been an avid Habs fan for over 50 years.
This season starts with the quasi gangster goalie ("gee, my joint bank account with my loan sharking ol' man wasn't used for anything bad was it? You mean the Hell's Angels aren't, like, really angels?") and now we have the last in a long string of very violent, indeed criminal, incidents with no indication at all that the League and the players really intend meaningful change.
Maybe it's time to just forget about the Habs and the "sport" entirely. This is really a sad event.
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Mar 11, 2004 17:04:54 GMT -5
I don't always agree with Simpson but on this one I think that he's got it right. The NHL, and probably hockey in Canada as a whole, is in a mess. The League, the owners, the GMs, the coaches, the NHLPA and the players are to blame and, I suppose, the fans too (like myself) who continue to support the product in various ways, such as watching on TV. I'm really undecided about whether this "sport" is worth supporting anymore- and this from someone who has been an avid Habs fan for over 50 years. This season starts with the quasi gangster goalie ("gee, my joint bank account with my loan sharking ol' man wasn't used for anything bad was it? You mean the Hell's Angels aren't, like, really angels?") and now we have the last in a long string of very violent, indeed criminal, incidents with no indication at all that the League and the players really intend meaningful change. Maybe it's time to just forget about the Habs and the "sport" entirely. This is really a sad event. I myself am a Habs (and hockey) fan of 40+ years. Heck, as a first generation Canadian, participating in the sport was for me in many ways a more valid passport than the paper version. This past summer I coined the term Gangster Goalie (which HA has seen fit to employ occasionally), but not with any pride, no matter how clever a turn of phrase I had thought it to be, and as regulars on this board know I am a smart-ass of the first order. It is one thing to be tough and act with honour, no matter the field of endeavor; respect follows. Simple criminal behaviour is not the same thing at all. Are Todd Bertuzzi's tears truly shed for Steve Moore and his family? Or are they shed for Todd Bertuzzi? No matter to me, because his act was one that had absolutely no honour. It was the act of a punk. And for that the full weight of the law (in whatever court ) should come down upon him. Call me old-fashioned. Call me an a-hole. I don't care. That's how I see it. |
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Post by habwest on Mar 11, 2004 17:39:51 GMT -5
Well Bo, at least there are two of us.
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Post by spotter on Mar 11, 2004 19:35:31 GMT -5
Thank you for posting this article. I think Mr. Simpson has definitely come close to hitting the nail on the head.
I too have followed hockey, especially the Habs, for over fifty years and have been privileged enough to see them hoist the cup some eighteen times. With any luck, I will see them hoist it again in the not-to-distant future. However, my desiire to see my team win the cup has nothing to do with where the sport is today, but rather, it has everything to do with my lengthy love affair for the team.
I agree with Mr. Simpson that the up-coming strike/lockout may be a blessing in disguise. It may give the league the necessary time and opportunity to fix itself and to eliminate the mindset that allowed such a grotesque action as the Todd Bertuzzi assault to occur.
The NHL has lost one player to death this year, which could have been easily avoided had the driver of the car acted more responsibly and with greater respect to society at large. Given the horror show of last Monday's thoughtless deed, the NHL is fortunate not to have suffered another needless death.
Long last the strike - may it bring health to a very sick league!
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Post by Skilly on Mar 12, 2004 12:23:50 GMT -5
Everyone talking about "full brunt of the law".
Even in a court of law they take into account your past discretions before rendering a decision.
Bertuzzi may have acted a couple of times in the past out of hand ... but this is the first time he had to face supplemental discipline. Mr. Marchment is the poster boy for repeat offenders and always gets a slap on the wrist for his wrong doings. That cross check on Ritchie was disgusting and could have also killed him. No suspension, no discipline (a 5 minute penalty was assessed).
The NHL a joke? Yes it is ....but not for the reasons everyone thinks it is. They do what they want when they want to who they want ...... and the NHL offices being in the ACC has no bearing on that do it ? Whatever.
Even DRyden was quoted as saying he would use his influence and walk down the corridor and get the schedule changed to his liking (with regards to the Edmonton franchise) .... it is a joke alright ...and not all men are created equal in it. It is a "what is best for this time to quietthe media" league.
Yes paradise was paved for a parking lot ..... and a big yellow taxi with NHL marked on it puts skid marks on it every day.
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