Hockey. Violent? Nah!!!!

[Mike]

Simon Suspended After Vicious Hit Reignites Hockey Violence Debate
Friday March 9, 2007
"March Madness" may be the term coined to describe NCAA basketball's fiercely competitive elimination tournament, but it seems the insanity has made a smooth transition to the National Hockey League over the past few years as well.
With playoff races heating up, tempers have seemingly followed suit. On Thursday night, on the three-year anniversary of Todd Bertuzzi's brutal attack on Colorado's Steve Moore, yet another horrific incident took place on the ice.

This time the culprit was the New York Islander Chris Simon, who levelled Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg with a two-handed slash to the face. Hollweg had just laid a stinging body check on Simon, who retaliated in a truly frightening manner.

Luckily, Hollweg wasn't seriously injured, although he did lay motionless on the ice for several minutes following the slash.

On Friday, the league suspended Simon indefinitely pending a hearing with Colin Campbell.

"He's suspended indefinitely pending a hearing, I can't say anything else," Campbell remarked.

Many are predicting he'll be hit with the longest suspension since Bertuzzi, who sat the final 13 regular-season games and the playoffs after his blindside punch to the head of Moore.

Bertuzzi is now with the Detroit Red Wings, while Moore hasn't returned to the ice and continues to deal with post-concussion syndrome.

Simon's attack reminded many of Marty McSorley's slash to the head of Donald Brashear seven years ago.

McSorley was suspended for the final 23 games and never played in the N.H.L. again.

"You can compare it to maybe the McSorley hit on Brashear," Leafs tough guy Wade Belak said Friday. "If he'd have hit him a little higher it could have been different. It's a good thing he wasn't hurt. He's obviously going to get a hefty suspension."

"Any time you two-hand a guy in the face, it's not good. There's risk of eye injury, jaw, teeth, whatever. It just looked ugly. It looked a lot worse than, obviously, he didn't get an injury but at the same time it's stuff you don't want to see. Stuff like that doesn't happen too often."

Maybe they should build a special prison for these guys and maybe leave room for a basketball section.

 

[Northern Rancher]

No more violent than a baseball pitcher throwing a 100 mile an hour fastball at somebodies head-I wasn't at the game so I don't know the circumstances that led to it. The league will deal with Simon and the sun will rise tomorrow.

 

[Mike]

No more violent than a baseball pitcher throwing a 100 mile an hour fastball at somebodies head-I wasn't at the game so I don't know the circumstances that led to it. The league will deal with Simon and the sun will rise tomorrow.

I saw the video on TV this morning. The guy got bodychecked, blocked, or whatever ya'll call it, and the other guy hit him with a cheap shot when he skated back in his vicinity.

That "Cheap Shot" looks just like all the others I see on the highlight shows.

Makes it look like a "Chickenshit" game if you ask me. Hitting someone in the face with a stick when they ain't expecting it sure ain't my idea of bravery or athleticism.

One thing about the baseball, you got a lot of distance to move out of the way. :lol:

 

[jigs]

you are lucky there is no ice in the south....calling hockey chickenshit could get ol' NR fired up and he would skate down river and body check you into next week!

it is a violent sport....how do you regulate it with out taking away from the game. ....kind of like how the "in the grass" rule and the feet first slide takes away from punishing a QB for taking too long to get rid of the ball.

 

[Mike]

you are lucky there is no ice in the south....calling hockey chickenshit could get ol' NR fired up and he would skate down river and body check you into next week!

it is a violent sport....how do you regulate it with out taking away from the game. ....kind of like how the "in the grass" rule and the feet first slide takes away from punishing a QB for taking too long to get rid of the ball.

I got no problems with the "body checks". None whatsoever. Hey, that's part of the sport.

But when you hit somebody with a stick in the face.........................

Remove them from the game altogether. The league would be better off.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

you are lucky there is no ice in the south....calling hockey chickenshit could get ol' NR fired up and he would skate down river and body check you into next week!

it is a violent sport....how do you regulate it with out taking away from the game. ....kind of like how the "in the grass" rule and the feet first slide takes away from punishing a QB for taking too long to get rid of the ball.

I got no problems with the "body checks". None whatsoever. Hey, that's part of the sport.

But when you hit somebody with a stick in the face.........................

Remove them from the game altogether. The league would be better off.

He WAS removed from the game and is facing disipline and maybe assault charges...if you knew anything about hockey,the rules have been changed quite a bit in the last couple years and theres almost zero tolerance for this kind of hit.

I didn't see the hit or any replay of it but it sounds to me like its being handled by the proper authorities

 

[IL Rancher]

I wonder what the suspension will be.. I don't think you will find a single fan of hockey that says there is a place for this... I think back to the McSorely hit and how he never played again (But than again, wasn't he at the tail end of a career anyways?_ and than the blind side punch.. Bad but at least hockey is trying to do something about it..

Look at Baseball, they never suspend a pitcher past 5 games for hitting someone when it is OBVIOUS that it was on purpose. You have Vincente Paddila basically throwing at a guy everytime they play and he gets 5 games... that is one start and with some juggling if the rotation it means virtualy nothing.. It is a joke. You see the pitcher get lite up for 2 homers and than they throw at someones head.. That guy should be sitting on the pine suspended for a while too.. a 95 mile per hour ball thrown at your head is nothing to laugh at.. Just ask Dickie Thon or a oyung call up like Adam Greenberg a few years ago (First major leauge at bat, first pitch, drilled in the head, sufferef from PCS for 8 months, released by team).

 

[Mike]

you are lucky there is no ice in the south....calling hockey chickenshit could get ol' NR fired up and he would skate down river and body check you into next week!

it is a violent sport....how do you regulate it with out taking away from the game. ....kind of like how the "in the grass" rule and the feet first slide takes away from punishing a QB for taking too long to get rid of the ball.

I got no problems with the "body checks". None whatsoever. Hey, that's part of the sport.

But when you hit somebody with a stick in the face.........................

Remove them from the game altogether. The league would be better off.

He WAS removed from the game and is facing disipline and maybe assault charges...if you knew anything about hockey,the rules have been changed quite a bit in the last couple years and theres almost zero tolerance for this kind of hit.

I didn't see the hit or any replay of it but it sounds to me like its being handled by the proper authorities

I know absolutely NOTHING about hockey and don't pretend to.

But all the highlights I see on ESPN are usually of a nature that I fail to see as athletic. Guys standing there slugging it out with each other is questionable at best. Heck, even boxers are trying to knock each other out, but they do wear gloves.

Zero tolerance?
It seems to me if the punishment had been severe enough in the past this type incidence would not have happened.

I should have known you Canadians would get all riled. Sorry if I've touched a nerve.

But I think this happened in the USA.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

Ummmm Mike...Hockey=Canada...Duh


You know sometimes you remind me of gregs best friend....he likes starting trouble then sits in corner drinking his rum giggling,and watching the action unfold :twisted: :lol:

 

[Mike]

Ummmm Mike...Hockey=Canada...Duh


You know sometimes you remind me of gregs best friend....he likes starting trouble then sits in corner drinking his rum giggling,and watching the action unfold :twisted: :lol:

Look. You've already got curling for a national pastime. Do you need hockey too? :lol:

Besides, don't we have the Champs down here in the Carolinas? :shock:

I do like rum! :lol:

 

[Northern Rancher]

I'm pretty sure Mikey Poo doesn't want to lace them up and get taken to school. Maybe Hollweg was chirping at Simon just like you are on this forum. Was Pete Rose suspended for life for wrecking that young catchers career in a 'NOTHING' all star game. As for hockey sunshine don't even go there lol. Not too worried about a guy in Alabama getting his thong in a knot over our game. By the way hoe many Carolina born players are on Carolina lol.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

Ummmm Mike...Hockey=Canada...Duh


You know sometimes you remind me of gregs best friend....he likes starting trouble then sits in corner drinking his rum giggling,and watching the action unfold :twisted: :lol:

Look. You've already got curling for a national pastime. Do you need hockey too? :lol:

Besides, don't we have the Champs down here in the Carolina

I do like rum! :lol:

1}Curling now theres a dangerous sport :shock:

2}Champs Smamps,half your country doesn't even Know Lord Stanleys cup is holidaying in Carolina this year :!:

3} Me too.... Amber

 

[Mike]

I'm pretty sure Mikey Poo doesn't want to lace them up and get taken to school. Maybe Hollweg was chirping at Simon just like you are on this forum. Was Pete Rose suspended for life for wrecking that young catchers career in a 'NOTHING' all star game. As for hockey sunshine don't even go there lol. Not too worried about a guy in Alabama getting his thong in a knot over our game. By the way hoe many Carolina born players are on Carolina lol.

Never had a pair of skates on. But I'm game for most any other activity, Elmer.

Are you saying the guy hit 'em in the face with a stick cause he was getting chirped at? And it's OK? Did you see the video?

If you want to defend a coward, that's fine with me.

But I won't defend Pete Rose.

In fact, I won't defend any coward where ever he lives.

 

[Northern Rancher]

Looks whose getting stirred up now lol. I'll think I'll pour a rum and watch you call Chris Simon a coward to his face. He was wrong to give that guy a whack but don't chirp on about a game you don't understand. I played hockey before the mask and I'm still pretty so not too worried lol. I saw the video-I've got two handed in the mug before too-it only hurts for a little while lol. Did I think the guys that did it were cowards not really-just maybe a bit madder than I was that particular shift.

 

[nonothing]

Simon did a dumb thing and he knows it.....Defend him? well only if you grew up in the game playing,coaching or watching it....You realize that,the player got up and made his next shift,and thats hockey..Sticks in the face have been around a long time...Granted the manner in which he hit him was that his two hands where high on his stick and he swung it..Had he crossed checked him its two minutes but same result..much like a batter throwing his bat at a pitcher,if he makes contact with the pitcher it is a big story,if the bat goes by with out hitting anyone ,,it becomes a nightly highlite....The irony of it all is simon could of done more damage with his fists and no one would care .....but he swung his stick like a goon and will pay a hefty price. I am willing to bet that NR has seen much worse things during his playing and voluteer coaching career in hockey.......In most arena's in canada,that is a game misconduct and a after game apology,followed by a few beers in the room together....Hey the guy never missed a shift :wink:

 

[Northern Rancher]

EXACTLY!!!! Until you've played the game you can't really understand it-you can't run out of bounds in hockey lol.

 

[Mike]

For anyone to be condoning (even partly) a possibly lethal and/or life altering practice in what is a "Sport" is remarkably inept and ignorant, in my opinion. Especially when you do so with a somewhat "patriotic" excuse.

A "Sport" is for entertainment purposes and is designed to instill competition, fair play, self restraint/control, and physical endurance, respect for rules, among others, into the players and public for use in everyday life.

This ain't ancient Rome.

I was in sports all my life while I was in school and played on a semi-pro football team for a few years after that. I have taken big hits and have given big hits during the course of my athletic events and have never intentionally tried to alter the facial/physical features of an opponent under any circumstances regardless of testosterone levels.

I am all for competition in athletics at all levels.

What this guy did is inexcusable to any true sportsman and only serves to show an uncontrollable barbaric nature that should not be allowed in any competition whether pro or amateur, from badminton to volleyball.

Bluntly, I don't have to understand a sport to see a "Cheap Shot" when I see one................... as this one surely was.

Do not forget that he also had been suspended 5 times previously for similar rule violations, which can only go to show the mentality (or lack of) by the fans and officials.

I see this sort of behavior creeping into other amateur and professional sports, and also see less regard for others in general........... and it can do no good for the young minds watching. This is what worries me.

Yes, I would call him a coward to his face. You betcha I would.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Does this mean College football in the US is going to be a touch no contact game?


Flag Football anyone?

 

[Mike]

Does this mean College football in the US is going to be a touch no contact game?


Flag Football anyone?

Hardly relevant Big Muddy.

But I will say they better get a handle on a lot of sports now. Saw a pro basketball player slug an opponent in the nose the other night.

And the pro football player that put his foot on a defensive lineman's neck this past year was pretty classless too.

Both were way out of line and should have been banned.

It ain't just hockey for sure. The "good sportsmanship" attitude is getting lost in the win at all cost notion universally.

Does anyone else not see this?


Some of these players are acting like punks and thugs.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

I see where your coming from Mike...I hate any unsportsman like conduct,in any sport.If done intentionally to hurt someone...your otta there,I don't care WHO you are to the team. Since I still haven't seen the highlights to this hit I have to reserve judgement.