|
|
Post by CentreHice on Mar 21, 2004 14:06:56 GMT -5
Anyone see the Wade "Paul Bunyan" Belak chop on Colorado's Ossi Vaananen's head on Saturday? Had a couple of Leaf fans over and so we were flipping between the Habs/Leafs games. Timmmm-berrrrr. Both of the Leaf fans said he was trying to regain his balance. Can you believe it? Then I go to a Leafs posting board and most of them are saying the same thing. "Should have more control of his stick, but he was off balance. The guy wasn't even cut...." If he was off-balance it was because all his weight was on one leg to get the most out of the swing. Look for a suspension. EDIT: 8 games, and Leafs fans are furious. www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=77463&hubName=mainMark my words, in the playoffs this Leafs team will be one of the worst "win at all costs" teams we've seen in a long time. Not only are they dirty, they're league-taunting and unapologetic about it. The game would be well-served if the refs kept a tight rein on these boys. Otherwise, players are going to get maimed. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pat Quinn's comments...whining about the ref, surprise surprise... "Pat Quinn agreed with the referee's decision to eject Belak from the game. What wasn't settling well with him is the way the Leafs seem to be getting the lion's share of calls going against them, especially over the last four games. "It wasn't a very good penalty," Quinn said. "We certainly deserve some (of the penalties) but you can't continue to kill penalties off at that kind of time and expect to win games. "This is an emotional game. That's why people come to watch the Maple Leafs because of our emotion. You don't work 82 games to sit in the bloody box." EMOTION?! Another Leafs' buzz word to join "heart" and "grit". It's what the rest of us call gooning, cheapshots, and clutch and grab. |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Mar 21, 2004 17:50:04 GMT -5
He might get 2 games. This was way worse then the McSorley-Brashear incident, yet he will get a slap on the wrist. And the reason? Because Ossi Vaananen was lucky enough to be wearing a visor. What ticks me off is Bryan McCabe ..... "It a part of the game ..... Belak had his legs taken out from under him (was there a smurf tackling him, or did one of the Forum Ghost's that only McCabe could see make their way to the ACC on Saturday night?)....... he wasn't hurt so no big deal, lucky he had a visor on"
Like I said. The mentality is not going to change until the ACT itself is severely punished and not just the result of the act. No visor and Vaananen could have been knocked into next Tuesday.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 21, 2004 18:15:49 GMT -5
Based on the last two days, it is hard to tell that the teams and players have learnt anything from the Bertuzzi incident.
Last night, you had two ugly incidents. The Belak two hander and then the big Calgary-Nashville brawl with three seconds left. Sutter knew what he was doing...he sent Oliwa and fellow knuckle draggers out. Trotz threatens "payback" and "we have long memories". Where have we heard that recently?
Then to top it off, Messier, on what could be his last half dozen games of his career, spears one of the Pens this afternoon.
Well, NHL head office...are you serious or not? I guess we await the judgements on these ones.
|
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Mar 21, 2004 18:20:02 GMT -5
Unfortunately the NHL doesn't just look at the act but also the result. Vanannen wasn't hurt badly so the suspension won't be long. IMO he deserves at least 5 games. Hockey is better off without goofs like Belak. Can you believe this guy was once a 12th overall pick - ahead of Ohlund, Elias and Theodore among others? www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1994e.htmlPS: as an aside if you scroll through this draft list you will find some NHL regulars that were picked very late - including Richard Zednik. He has turned out well for someone chosed in the 10th round. |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Mar 22, 2004 1:21:23 GMT -5
The Belak thing was worse than Bertuzzi's. Bertuzzi used a gloved hand after some 'conversations' between he and Moore. Belak just played Paul Bunyan to the guy's head. If Belak doesn't get the same as Bertuzzi, the NHL will have more explaining to do.
I also saw Belfour trying to cut Gratton's leg in two with another hatchet performance. The refs gave him a mnor, but it should have been a major. He's the only goalie I've seen doing that this year, though likely there are others. The guy wasn't in the crease either. No wonder Belfour sees the puck so well.
|
|
|
|
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Mar 22, 2004 6:59:27 GMT -5
Messier joins the ugly parade by spearing someone.
*Is* it something in the water? It may be time to check that out. Pass the bottle.
|
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Mar 22, 2004 18:39:16 GMT -5
Messier joins the ugly parade by spearing someone. Messier got 2 games for the spear but they have not announced anything on Belak yet. What are they waiting for? Just saw the post by CentreHice. |
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Mar 22, 2004 18:47:29 GMT -5
McCabe reported as saying that Vaaninen had tried to take out Belak's knee and Quinn continues to complain about the refs. Even if that is true ( & I highly doubt it) it does not justify swinging your stick at a player's head. PS: How does Ken Dryden sleep at night. He is quoted at a hockey symposium in Fredricton today as saying that hockey is in danger of becoming an EXTREME sport. Yet the team he "runs" has a history of attempt to injure. Just look at Roberts on Johnsson & Tucker on Peca two years ago. This hypocrite should clean up his own house before telling the rest of the league waht to do. |
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Mar 22, 2004 18:59:27 GMT -5
Even if that is true ( & I highly doubt it) it does not justify swinging your stick at a player's head. PS: How does Ken Dryden sleep at night. He is quoted at a hockey symposium in Fredricton today as saying that hockey is in danger of becoming an EXTREME sport. Yet the team he "runs" has a history of attempt to injure. Just look at Roberts on Johnsson & Tucker on Peca two years ago. This hypocrite should clean up his own house before telling the rest of the league waht to do. Agreed totally. I was just reporting the inane comments of Bryan "big deal I'd do it again" McCabe, and Pat "wah wah" Quinn. Like I said in my edited post above, unless the refs really clamp down on the Leafs in the playoffs, we're going to see some of the dirtiest hockey we've seen in a long time. They are a desperate bunch, half of whom are capable of heinous acts. McCabe, Roberts, Tucker, Marchment, Belak, Berg, Nolan, Domi, even Belfour with his vicious ankle chops. |
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Mar 22, 2004 19:42:47 GMT -5
Like I said in my edited post above, unless the refs really clamp down on the Leafs in the playoffs, we're going to see some of the dirtiest hockey we've seen in a long time. It's not just us that think this way. I was watching the ABC game last Saturday afternoon. The announcer ( can't remember his name) made a comment that "win or lose, whoever comes out of a series with Toronto will be pretty beat up". This is becoming their reputation around the league yet Dryden continues to pontificate about hockey violence while ignoring his own backyard. |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 22, 2004 20:05:18 GMT -5
8 games for Belak, 2 games for Messier, 3 games for Oliwa, $25K fine for Calgary (and a few games for Sutter)...have things really changed?
Dags got two games earlier this year for an accidental stick, way before the high profile Bertuzzi incident. Is Messier's intentional spear of the same magnitude?
Hmmm.
|
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Mar 22, 2004 22:44:34 GMT -5
The biggest problem with the Leafs is that they can dish it out, but they can't take it. Most of them become outraged when they're hit cleanly. They seek out and administer rabid revenge, then yell and scream at the refs when they get called for it.
The Belak situation on the other skate:
If a Colorado player wheeled around and struck a Leaf on the helmet and visor in the same manner, how many Leafs fans/players would be saying that the Av was just trying to regain his balance? Answer: zero. They'd be calling for a lengthy suspension.
Most Leafs' fans' opinions I've heard and read on this matter and others of the same ilk:
"The league has it in for the Leafs." It's the "us against the world" mentality that Pat Quinn espouses.
The Toronto media, for the most part, has been in agreement with the ruling.
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Mar 22, 2004 23:57:02 GMT -5
Belak was trying to regain his balance. He just decided to use Vaananen's head as a 'support'. In fact, he didn't let up at all. From one angle, further away, it looks slightly like he was regaining his balance. From a closer, higher angle, it clearly shows that as his stick got closer, he swung it harder. He had a similar behaviour earlier in the game which I've seen from him in other games. As he angles a forward into the boards (and he's behind because he's so slow) he manages to squeeze the player in, and then instead of just riding him into the boards, he makes this final push or shove with his hand to hammer the player as hard as he can on final contact. Its not taking out the player, its trying to injure him. I had trouble keeping from vomiting tonight listening to Bill Watters make excuses for Belak.
And I really don't see Belak's actions as any worse than Bertuzzi's. The major difference is that Vaananen wasn't injured, while Moore was hurt badly. Doesn't matter that the injury could have happened when the Av players jumped on everyone. Bertuzzi got what he deserved, Belak didn't.
|
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Mar 23, 2004 0:17:52 GMT -5
He had a similar behaviour earlier in the game which I've seen from him in other games. As he angles a forward into the boards (and he's behind because he's so slow) he manages to squeeze the player in, and then instead of just riding him into the boards, he makes this final push or shove with his hand to hammer the player as hard as he can on final contact. Its not taking out the player, its trying to injure him. I had trouble keeping from vomiting tonight listening to Bill Watters make excuses for Belak. Bill Watters also defended Bertuzzi...  Wonder what he'd say if Bertuzzi attacked Tucker in such a manner...or if Vaananen whacked Sundin. And you're right about Belak in other games, and a lot of the time he gets away with it. In the third period of the Habs' 4-3 win, he skated up to Markov at the point and punched him in the face. Markov went down as anyone would. No call. Roberts does the same thing...he races for the puck, backs off at the last second, gets behind, then slams the opponent into the boards. There are too many players on the Leafs who have no intent on getting the puck and just eliminating the man from the play. Instead they intend to eliminate the man from the GAME. |
|
|
|
Post by cigarviper on Mar 23, 2004 22:09:28 GMT -5
Although I didn't see the game, looking at the boxscore I noticed in their loss to TB tonight that there was a penalty handed out at 0:00 of the third period....McCabe for unnsportsmanlike conduct. Yeah, he doesn't like to lose, but, when will this guy be reined in? He makes me puke whenever I see him.
|
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Mar 24, 2004 16:56:02 GMT -5
Although I didn't see the game, looking at the boxscore I noticed in their loss to TB tonight that there was a penalty handed out at 0:00 of the third period....McCabe for unnsportsmanlike conduct. Yeah, he doesn't like to lose, but, when will this guy be reined in? He makes me puke whenever I see him. Yeah, he took a penalty after the second period expired. He is the epitome of unsportsmanlike conduct. When's the lat time you saw a Leaf go to the box without either shaking his head in disbelief or yelling at the ref? And the camera always goes to Pat Quinn, who is doing the exact same thing. I heard Belak on MOJO on Tuesday, and hosts Watters and Marek spent most of the time congratulating him on his "win" over Worrell, and sympathizing with him for not getting the benefit of the "off-balance" doubt. Everything but give him a peck on the ar$e. |
|
Wonder what he'd say if Bertuzzi attacked Tucker in such a manner...or if Vaananen whacked Sundin. 
