Larry "The Dinosaur" Robinson?

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Jul 23, 1:05 am

Newsgroups: alt.sports.hockey.nhl.mtl-canadiens
From: "earl" <e...earl.com> - Find messages by this author
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 01:05:28 -0400
Local: Sat,Jul 23 2005 1:05 am

Subject: Larry Robinson

Some may have seen Larry Robinson on Off The Record yesterday, and on the program he stated

1) He was surprised that Todd Bertuzzi received a suspension, given that he was probably "sent out" to do what he did to Steve Moore.
2) He would deploy a 1-3-1 forecheck to counter the no-redline rule and plug up the neutral zone.
3) He believes that the biggest contributor to on-ice problems is the protective face and headgear that players enjoy, and the instigator rule which prevents on-ice enforcement.

Now some of this seems Cherrylike, and I was surprised by Robinson's remarks.

However, in a Friday Sportsnet/Fan 590 interview with Colin Campbell there was a remark that Robinson has been outspoken against the proposed changes to the NHL rules , so much so that in a recent League/GM/Coaches meeting Bob Gainey remarked to Larry that maybe he should "not coach in the NHL if he feels that way" about the rule changes.

- tinyurl.com/87dxx

Retire the jersey, but don't hire the coach, sez I.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Larry isn't sophisticated enough to lie like Bettman does. He calls it like he sees it, as you correctly noted, like Cherry does.
What Bertuzzi did was no different than players have been doing for years (Ferguson going after Shack). The outcome was a very serious injury (unusual result in hockey for a gloved punch). If the injury was just a black eye, he would have been given 5 plus 10 misconduct.
Because of the severity of the injury:
1. The NHL abandoned and placed the blame on Bertuzzi's shoulders.
2. The team pretended that going after Moore was all Bertuzzi's idea and fault.
3. The lawyers decided to hang Todd out to dry and protect themselves setting him up as an example.
I no longer condone assault like Bertuzzi did, but I think he was a victim of the system and situation too.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

habsfaninla said:

Larry isn't sophisticated enough to lie like Bettman does. He calls it like he sees it, as you correctly noted, like Cherry does.

The author of the post, not me, made the comparison to Cherry—and it was in no way flattering.