roccowrusso
rwrusso
Bigger Issues than Rule 75
Posted 3:59 PM ET | Comments 22
7 minutes to write this...I apologize if it's not up to my usual standards. But I've been reading and posting to the reactions over the Avery/Brodeur incident, and while I'm just as guilty as everyone else who's voiced an opinion on this, I do have to wonder: How is that a fairly non-dangerous play has merritted an instant statement by the league regarding the interpretation of an otherwise obscure rule*? Correct me if I'm wrong, but are there not more pressing issues in the NHL? Collin Campbell can take the time to address an "embellished" screen but botch every other aspect of his job? Last I checked guys were getting stomped on, cross checked in the teeth, slashed, and driven head first from behind into the boards. I guess that all pales in comparison to the outrage over some antics by a player known for that part of his game. A shame really.
*Edit: Obsure meaning hardly ever called, given what technically falls under unsportsmanlike conduct.
*Edit: Obsure meaning hardly ever called, given what technically falls under unsportsmanlike conduct.
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18 9 to go
18 the Buffalo Blog
19 3/19/08 vs. TB: Need this win
19 3/19 Gamenight: Buffalo vs. Tampa Bay
27 Ryan Miller
Avery's actions are an annoyance to the league, and they want to get it out of the way as quick as possible so they can deal with the "guys getting stomped on, cross checked in the teeth, slashed, and driven head first from behind into the boards"
wow. amazingly true.
Egg - I think we will not see any change in the response time (or avoidance) on those issues.
Its because it was Sean Avery and the NHL loves to make him the goat. Thats all. If Avery picked his nose during a game, it would create an international incident. On the other hand, everybody is looking to justify what Bertuzzi did. Does it make sense, no. Its just a popularity contest.
^^ Says the Rangers fan. It's bush league! The NHL did the right thing! That garbage does NOT belong in the game!!
Says the Sabres fan. Lets ask the Flyers fan: Ek What do you think?If you listened to the Buzzcast, he agrees with me. Now rationally, why does the league care so much about this and not other more pressing issues.
Soory Rags, what Avery did was a complete mock of the game and he should have paid for it. The Devils were smart enough to keep their cool and let it go since it was a playoff game. What the NHL did was right, if you can't respect the game then don't play it. If someone on the Devils had done that to Lundquist your tone would be alot different today.
The problem was that they couldn't have guys going out and doing that as early as tonight. The league obviously seen it as a big enough possibility to address it immediately. No conspiracy theories needed, it was simply an issue that needed to be addressed quickly before action could be repeated.
the rule was in place to put a stop to it previous to today . misconduct penalty with a previous warning.
Well, I guess I'm just going to have to accept the fact that some people just don't get it.
What is not to get, it was a complete mock of the game. If Avery had been facing the puck and attempted to play the game it would be a different story. To stand in front of Brodeur and just wave your hands and stick in front of his face was a joke.
The only thing that is a shame is Avery, not the NHL.
I hadn't thought about it this way but I'm with ya. Its not that the league addressed it quickly, its the fact that they addressed THIS quickly and not other more pressing things in equal fashion. Some goober is acting like a clown on the ice, sure that's an annoyance and stupid, it should be a penalty. What about refs disallowing goals that were clearly good? Bad offsides calls that affect the game? It'd be one thing if they admitted error, but they don't. What about charging calls that never get noticed? They can jump all over one stupid incident like white on rice, but the things that matter get pushed off, ignored, or whitewashed.
arwilson52 gets it.
latorrem1: I understand your point, but you're asking for a league full of Lady Byngs. There are plenty of guys who play with respect, and plenty who don't. There are stars in each of those categories. Would you call a cheap shot playing with respect? If not, then would you call for them to not play the game? Example: Briere speared someone in the groin last year after the whistle. Is that playing with respect? Should he not play the game? I like Briere except for his cheap shots, so I'm not picking on him, just an example that comes to mind as a Sabres fan.
I'm glad the league addressed it quickly, and in my opinion properly. Now they can get on to the more pressing issues like replacing Colin Campbell, establishing consistency in meting out suspensions, and negotiating a TV contract which doesn't include clowns like McGuire and MIlbury
Pocono: Couldn't have said it better myself. I've asked this here before: Why is that any fan with half a brain and some common sense (we all know which of us do and don't) sees the glaring deficiencies with the NHL, and can engage in good debate on how to make change, yet the league can't get anything done right except a rule interpretation? I faithfully watch any hockey that's on yet continue to be disgusted by the supposed leaders of the NHL. They are also ones who don't get it.
rwrusso - I think they had to address this quickly due to the fact that so far it had not caused injury, but that it could. If they hadn't - you could have seen Avery or some other ass clown do it again the next game. With some of the other injuries, you know it is not allowed so should therefore be inclined not to do it. With this, it was a grey area... Just MHO
Kelly: always value your opinions, you add to the discussion and never detract. I actually agree with you here, for the most part. I just think they should handle all issues like they did this one: quickly and decisively, with the goal to be elminating or reducing the grey areas. It frustrates me that this has garnered so much attention, outrage, and discussion, but the more serious issues continue to be ignored. I always hesitate to bring this up for fear of sounding snobish, but having played hockey for most my life, almost every aspect of the game could cause injury. There are far more serious potential injury situations than this, regardless of how moronic it was. You make a good point that certain other injuries are the result of already illegal plays. Yet we continue to see dirty and dangerous plays almost every game, and little done to deter or punish such action. (My biggest point I always try to make is what will the appropriate punishment be for a check from behind when the resultant injury is paralysis or death? I'd love to hear Bettman or Campbell answer me that.)
I thought what Sean Avery did was smart. Obviously neither the NHL nor numerous fans do, but I'm used to being different with my opinions.
I think the NHL acted so quickly because the act is a literal joke in the making. The NHL so desires to be taken seriously that they will go to great lengths to avoid being embarrassed in situations that are border-line ridiculous. I agree that rule changes are normally so painstakingly slow so the league doesn't upset the "purists," that this change is strange for being made so quickly, but I think the purists in question may have had a hand in this one also. Q- If Avery took a bomb to the spine, would the rule have been changed? A- Doubtful, the purists would never change a rule that eliminated violence...lol
The swiftness of the ruling has nothing to do with making more time for deciding on other rule changes. I'd think they'd have plenty of time to make changes to other rules, and this one was a no brainer...The league decided they did not want to see it ever again and decided to address it as such..The league, whether it likes it or not, continues to look rediculous...Just check out 5 minutes of a Versus broadcast..Look at all the other material that receives such high publicity, such as Chris Simon, players being injuried when checked from behind into the boards...I'm also not sure how this increases the odds of injury? Honestly, I think I'd prefer to get hit with a puck in my back, rather than in the front..Taking a puck to your back is much better, IMO, than getting cross checked from behind into the boards