Hockey

[JimSteel]

I think that Todd Bertuzzi should be banned for life for breaking Steve Moore's Neck

What do you guys think?

[moparpaul]

Absolutely.

I can't believe he actually had the gall to say "I had no intention of hurting you".

Hmm. That must be why he decked him from behind and kept punching away after he fell on top of him.

[Mike M]

It was a sucker punch, no doubt.

But there is NO WAY he intended to break the guy's neck. That was a freak accident, and might have been helped by Moore's teammate piling on (I don't blame him since I probably would have done the same thing, but it looked like it might have contributed).

Bertuzzi doesn't have a history of this type of crap. I've seen much more vicious and mean-spirited attacks than this one (usually involving a stick). Unfortunately for Bertuzzi and especially Moore and his family and friends, this one was unlucky enough to result in a freak injury. I have no doubt that Bertuzzi didn't mean to hurt him like this. He just wanted to beat him up like countless other times it's been done in hockey from juniors all the way to the nhl.

An no, I am not a Canucks nor Bertuzzi fan.

[moparpaul]

I agree with you Mike.

I don't think he intended to break his neck. I probably should have worded it different.

Bertuzzi probably should have worded it different too. Maybe, "I didn't mean to break his neck" or I didn't mean for it to go the way it did."

I just don't want to hear him say he had no intention of hurting him, when hitting someone sure won't make the other person feel good.

Just a poor choice of words IMO.

BTW, is there any truth to what I heard that the order came from the GM or someone in the front office?

If so, then they should be suspended as well.

[Mike M]

That's always hard to say. There's word that the coach or the front office told the guys to "get some payback" for their teammate, but nothing's been proven and I doubt it ever will.

It was the second incident with Moore in the game, as I think that he dropped the gloves with someone earlier in the game.

[Darth Turkish]

Bertuzzi should be banned for life. Suspended for the rest of the year and a submission of $500k in salary is nothing. It is a slap on the wrist. If they want to have people watch the sport, they have to eliminate thuggery. This action scared the players to avoid this, but not as much as if he were gone for good.
People would watch hockey if it were more a contest of skating and speed, and less thrashing and stupid crap like that.

[Mike M]

Actually, if you look at hockey's "numbers" since they tried to legislate out fighting and "thuggery", interest in the sport has gone down (especially relative to the other "big three" leagues). In addition, injuries have gone up, as their has been limited on-ice retribution for cheap shots.

There's a place for fighting in hockey. This incident was a terrible accident, and Bertuzzi should not have taken a shot at Moore from behind. However, what REALLY needs to be eliminated from hockey to make it better is the elimination of stick penalties from a risk of injury standpoint. From a gameplay standpoint, they need to enforce existing penalties (like stick-holding and hooking) that slow down the action and give the defense a huge advantage. I'd also like to see the elimination of the 2 line pass rule, as it basically allows any team to run a neutral zone trap and effectively choke offense out of the game along with the the clutching and grabbing they allow with it.

[Darth Turkish]

As much as I like (read: love) fighting and violence, I dislike during the play of another sport. I watch hockey to see a black disc be tossed around an ice rink. I watch the UFC or prowrestling for fighting. I am sure I am in a very small monirity, and it may be bery surprising to those who know me, but I would reather see what these guys display their hockey skills as opposed to thier boxing skills.


But, hey, I am a rangers fan, so what can you say!

[j]

Moore is a known goon around the league who tried too take out a Canuk in a previous game. Bertuzzi was just getting even (it's been part of hockey for years). I feel bad for Moore and all, but he had to know something was coming and should have been paying attention better on the ice. If you tried to injure one of Vancouver's players in the previous game, you should watch your back at all times especially for a tough guy like Bertuzzi.

For the people who want fighting out of the game, if there was no fighting in hockey Moore wouldn't have been on the ice or even in the NHL because all he's good for is fighting.

keep Bertuzzi out the rest of the year and that's it.

[Darth Turkish]

I could live with less goons.