Woolgathering With IPB. Again.
March 16, 2008 by Schnookie
Another Sunday night, another woolgathering session (now with less wool!).
1. One of the most appealing aspects of watching sports, for us, is that it affords us the chance to see human beings excel in acts of individual and team greatness. We’re not athletic ourselves, so it’s hugely compelling to watch people who are, people who perform feats of amazing physical skill. And in our conscious lifetimes we’ve seen all manner of greatness, on all levels of competition. Nothing we’ve seen before has been on a par with the experience of having Marty Brodeur’s career play out on our team. We are immeasurably lucky to have become Devils fans when we did, and as he — ho-hum — hit the 40-win mark for the seventh time on Saturday, we’ve simply run out of words to describe him. It just… Marty. Thank you, Hockey Gods, for giving him to the Devils, and for bringing the Devils to us when you did.
2. Spring is in the air. Pookie saw forsythias in bloom on her drive to work on Friday, Schnookie put her winter coat in storage a week ago, and we killed time between games today by watching the Indian Wells tennis tournament. Along with these signs of the seasons changing comes the giddiness of knowing the Playoffs are really right around the corner. This time of year, though, that corner helpfully blocks our view of all the nastiness that the playoff drive brings (sweating over possible match-ups, coping with the bitterness of losses, finding new reserves of blinding hatred for teams and players we’d never given two thoughts about before they beat the Devils). No, this time of year is all about the happiness, which is why we took a minute to watch some highlights from the 2000 Cup Finals. We shocked ourselves by remembering a lot (that save on Hull, that Elias pass behind the net to a perfectly placed Sykora, Nieder’s gorgeous goal) and shocked ourselves by forgetting a lot (Brylin scored? Twice? And who’s that guy wearing #7? John Madden and Colin White were once rookies? No way!). Good times, Gentle Reader, good times. We should make a habit of watching those highlights more often.
3. The one thing we really wanted to relive from 2000 was Patrik Elias wearing Petr Sykora’s sweater on the ice, and then Larry doing the same. However, we were unable to unearth any evidence of this. If anyone out there has a picture of that, we’d be eternally grateful if you’d email us at interchangeablepartsblog [at] gmail [dot] com. We might even toss in a few IPBucks to sweeten the “eternally grateful” pot.
4. These next few days are the calm before the storm. We are not excited about this “all division, all the time” crap. In case you were wondering if we’ve softened our stance on that.
Spring is in the air. Pookie saw forsythias in bloom on her drive to work on Friday, Schnookie put her winter coat in storage a week ago,
If spring is truly in the air…
…WHY IS IT SUDDENLY SO FUCKIN COLD?!
Seriously, I LOVE cold weather and even I’m sick of this shit. Driving home with the moonroof open the other night was AWESOME. And now it’s like -72 degrees with 2,038 MPH winds. C’mon now.
You know what I think is driving me batty? The earlier springing forward. It used to be three weeks warmer when the time changed! And now it’s light at 7:00 but it still feels like it should be dark early. Stupid changing daylight savings time…
WHY IS IT SUDDENLY SO FUCKIN COLD?!
Not included in this post was the discussion we had a few days ago about Schnookie putting away her winter coat.
Pookie: I’m sick on putting on my winter coat.
Schnookie: I haven’t needed mine in ages! You should ditch yours! I mean, my car’s been nice and warm when I drive to work at 9:15!
Pookie: *death glare* It was 27 when I left the house at 7:30 this morning.
You know what I think is driving me batty? The earlier springing forward.
Wintering forward has totally messed with my head as well. I understand the later falling back, making it after Halloween makes perfect sense…but I don’t get why we have to change the clocks before it’s actually spring.
Next year, I’m going on strike.
It should be pointed out that Pookie parks 15 feet from her building at work and I park almost 1/4 mile from mine.
Ladies, I still have the Sports Illustrated from the 2000 Cup victory. On the page with the contents, there is a pictute of Patty, reclining on the ice, with Sykora’s jersey on backwards and talking (I am guessing to Petr) on his cellphone. I can’t find a pic of Larry wearing it. I can scan the page with Patty for you and send it.
I will say in favor of the daylight savings changes is that winter seemed RIDICULOUSLY short this year. One second it was fall, and then it was dark early for, like, two weeks, and now it’s light at 7 again. Although last week I got into a state of cooking doldrums because the quality of light at work made me think I should be able to go home and sit under the leafy canopy in our backyard while grilling. It was, um, 40 degrees.
On the page with the contents, there is a pictute of Patty, reclining on the ice, with Sykora’s jersey on backwards and talking (I am guessing to Petr) on his cellphone.
SueNJ97, that is EXACTLY the picture Pookie was looking for! Oh my god! I’m so excited!!!
(If anyone has pictorial evidence of Larry with Sykkie’s sweater draped on his shoulders, we’re also still looking for that… :D)
I can scan the page with Patty for you and send it.
Thanks, Sue! That’s exactly the picture I’m looking for! Sweet!
Scanned and sent. Enjoy!! I knew the stuff I have filed away would come in handy sometime.
BTW, If it’s not exactly the way you want it, I can take the PDF of the page and grab a jpg of just the part with Patty, using Snagit. Let me know.
Sue, the email hasn’t come through yet! I’m getting antsy! :P
That’s weird, I sent at 10:35pm. The file wasn’t that big, it should have gone through by now. I’ll try sending via the other email account. That one doesn’t have to go through the mail server in Toronto.
Make sure you’re sending it to interchangeablepartsblog[at]gmail[dot]com. People sometimes forget the “blog” part! :D
EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We just got it! EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
I sent to interchangeablepartsblog@gmail.com in both sends, but, this one isn’t going through the server in Toronto.
We’ll see if this works any better.
So, I’m guessing this was the optonline one that came through…which means I will have to slap my business partners in Toronto around. Not that I mind doing that.
Hee! Sorry to cause trouble for you at work. :P Thanks a million for the picture!
NP. I can point out that, if it’s taking forever for this to go through, what isn’t getting to our clients? Enjoy…I am off to play w/the cats.
Thank you so miuch, Sue! You’re the best! Patty’s such a goofball.
I wanna see the picture!! :)
KG, I just emailed it to you!
Awe how cute Patty. :) Thanks Schnookie.
Oh and I think I found Larry wearing the jersey as well.
http://devilsweapon.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/robinson-larry-cup-061000.jpg
Looking at that picture, I find it very difficult to believe that guy ever became our captain. What a fruitcake. (I say that with love, of course. I mean, he’s our fruitcake!)
But what a cute fruitcake. I mean it was really sweet of him to do that for Sykora.
And I think I found a pic of Larry in the jersey but you can’t really tell. At least in my opinion.
http://devilsweapon.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/robinson-larry-cup-061000.jpg
:/ My post won’t work. I tried twice.
Rats! I pulled both comments out of Senor Spam’s evil clutches, but I can’t get the link to work!
Oh, I got it to work! EEEEEEEE!!!! Such fruitcakes on that team, and behind the bench! Thanks for finding that, KG!
No prob :)
And I also found this:
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080302/i/r3780702310.jpg
Doesn’t Zach look a bit scared of Sutter?
Thanks so much, KG! You’re the best, too! Aw, Larry! I think the team is coach killing him in reverse this season. He’s there like, “Why didn’t you losers play like this in 2005?” Thus the lingering “sinus infection”.
Doesn’t Zach look a bit scared of Sutter?
Hee hee! He’s saying, “I say, Coach, did you just suggest that I did something… *gasp*… wrong?! Whatever can I do to make it up to you? Apple? Fresh piece of gum? Shall I cut Travis from the team? Will that help? Because I can do that. Travis — you’re cut!”
Awe poor Travis. I think Zach resents Travis for not wanting to be his BFF.
That Elias picture sounds hilarious. I want to see!
That Elias picture sounds hilarious. I want to see!
Me too!
Back from Denver! The game was excellent! There were actually quite a few Devils fans in the arena, and we were high-fiving each other on the concourse whenever we passed each other, after the game.
Elias wearing Sykora jersey, laying on ice, talking on phone
I thought I had the one of Larry in Sykora’s jersey too, but I can’t find it.
Good morning!
The one thing we really wanted to relive from 2000 was Patrik Elias wearing Petr Sykora’s sweater on the ice
Why was Elias wearing Sykora’s sweater?
Mara, glad you enjoyed the game and thanks so much for uploading that photo for all to see!
Why was Elias wearing Sykora’s sweater?
Sykora had been concussed by Derian Hatcher mid-way through the game and had been sent to the hospital. So Patty put on his sweater during the celebration so that Sykora would know they were thinking of him (I’m pretty sure he was talking to Sykora on the phone in that picture). A few minutes after that Larry Robinson took the sweater from Patty and put it on over his dress shirt so that Patty could be in the pictures wearing his own sweater. (Also Larry was probably like, “You like kind of like a fruitcake wearing a sweater backwards over your own; let me save you from yourself…”)
So Patty put on his sweater during the celebration so that Sykora would know they were thinking of him (I’m pretty sure he was talking to Sykora on the phone in that picture).
Aww, that’s actually really sweet (and funny).
Thanks, Mara. Glad you had a good time!
Also Larry was probably like, “You like kind of like a fruitcake wearing a sweater backwards over your own; let me save you from yourself…”
Heh. Most people might have thought that Patty had just started drinking from the keg of glory a little early.
But that is incredibly sweet for both guys to have done.
But that is incredibly sweet for both guys to have done.
It is! It’s just part of the grand persona of Captain Hugs.
And to wrap thestory up, after they finished celebrating at the arena in Dallas, at least Larry and Patty took the Cup in a taxi to visit Petr in the hospital. Sykkie drank orange juice out of Stanley, since he was under observation and wasn’t allowed to have anything alcoholic.
Good morning IPB! Happy St. Patty’s Day (for those of you who celebrate it)!
What a weekend for hockey, eh!? Adam Mair with the Gordie Howe Hat Trick!!!!!! That was possibly the greatest thing. of ever.
Heartbreaker in San Jose last night. We had a blast and it was a great game, but seriously, 49 shots and one goal to show for it!?!?! That was the game of Roloson’s career. I was wondering if the Oilers had traded for Luongo without my knowing it.
Everyone else doing well?
Heartbreaker in San Jose last night.
You’re telling me! I lost to the stinkin’ Marauders thanks to Nobokov! I’m sure there’s foul play in there somewhere. I’m sure Schnookie cheated. I mean, there’s no way she won fair and square. NO WAY! She paid the Sharks to throw that game!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has just been brought to my attention, as I am in a forced separation from my beloved team, that the Marauders valiantly outlasted the PanBoxers to claim the ULTIMATE VICTORY in the AmazingLeague. WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHEATER!!!!
Guys, tell Schnookie I’m never speaking to her again. EVER.
“…the Marauders valiantly outlasted the PanBoxers to claim the ULTIMATE VICTORY in the AmazingLeague. WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Yeah, but now you gotta step up to the big leagues. The Horcoffs are going to come out with six-guns blazing! You’ve been warned!
“You’re telling me! I lost to the stinkin’ Marauders thanks to Nobokov! ”
Seriously, what a drag! 0.97 GAA and he still loses the game! What the shit?
Boy, you two were soooo close. The final tallies were almost all within 1 or 2 points of each other.
Boy, you two were soooo close. The final tallies were almost all within 1 or 2 points of each other.
It was a very emotionally trying time for Boomer. It’s always so hard for her to have to pretend she doesn’t like me best.
And please, andrew. You think the Marauders are afraid of the Horcoffs? Dream on!
“It’s always so hard for her to have to pretend she doesn’t like me best.”
HAHAHAHA!!! Too funny!
“And please, andrew. You think the Marauders are afraid of the Horcoffs? Dream on!”
Have you SEEN what the SFHs have been doing all week? I think we had like, 7 hat tricks, or something to that effect.
It’s going to be EPIC.
Heartbreaker in San Jose last night.
It was! For a minute I thought you lost, then I found out you got a point! WAAAAH!
And, you know, congrats and all.
Were you at the game, andrew?
Guys, tell Schnookie I’m never speaking to her again. EVER.
Guys, tell Pookie I don’t want to associate with LOSERS anyway, so it’s no skin off my back if she doesn’t want to talk to me anymore. If she wants to miss out on basking in my reflected glory, that’s her problem.
Have you SEEN what the SFHs have been doing all week? I think we had like, 7 hat tricks, or something to that effect.
It’s going to be EPIC.
Or you’re going to fall flat on your face the way teams ALWAYS do after being on a hot streak. Too bad you wasted your hot streak for a BYE WEEK. :PPPPP
The Raccoon Wives are still in the hunt for 7th! WOOO!
Wait. Maybe I’m thinking of the Sno Cones. They’re both in the (not much) consolation round.
I lost to the stinkin’ Marauders thanks to Nobokov!
If you’re blaming Nobokov for your defeat, I’m blaming Garon for mine. Why did Roloson have to play? Doesn’t Edmonton know that the fantasy hockey playoffs are here?
“It was! For a minute I thought you lost, then I found out you got a point! WAAAAH!”
I know! I was crying that we didn’t get 2!
“Were you at the game, andrew?”
Yeah, we drove down for it. Very fun. They were doing their St. Patrick’s Day charity fundraiser: they sell mystery pucks that have been autographed for $20 each. I bought one, got Patrick Marleau!
Sat next to a couple who were Oiler fans. They were pretty cool. We all made fun of the Flames fan a few rows down from us.
As an aside, I have to say that the Oilers have become one of my secret favorite stories of the season. I love that they’re a team that has no business not being in 30th place (by a mile), but they’ll be damned before they give Anaheim the first overall pick, so they’re playing out of their minds. How adorable!
“Too bad you wasted your hot streak for a BYE WEEK.”
No shit. That’s actually what I’ve been thinking all week. Thanks Kovalchuk, you shitneck.
Sat next to a couple who were Oiler fans. They were pretty cool. We all made fun of the Flames fan a few rows down from us.
That sounds like a great time, indeed! And way to get an autographed puck from a guy you’ve heard of. If the Devils did that, I’d probably end up with a puck from some guy who was a 10-minute callup from Lowell.
Wow, a Marleau! That’s cool. I always meant to buy one of those. Do they do the thing where one is signed in gold or something and that one wins you a meeting with the player?
I love the Oilers! They’re so spunky! Over on CinO, they’ve got up a picture of Burke with devil horns drawn on it with a Sharpie! They’re true fans, those guys.
Over on CinO, they’ve got up a picture of Burke with devil horns drawn on it with a Sharpie! They’re true fans, those guys.
Devil horns? With a Sharpie? Don’t you mean “They’re CLASSLESS fans, those guys”?
If the Devils did that, I’d probably end up with a puck from some guy who was a 10-minute callup from Lowell.
That’s how they keep their callups out of trouble — make ‘em sign pucks all day.
That’s how they keep their callups out of trouble — make ‘em sign pucks all day.
They make them sign pucks “Marty Brodeur 30″ all day. :P
Don’t you mean “They’re CLASSLESS fans, those guys”?
That’s EXACTLY what I mean!
“And way to get an autographed puck from a guy you’ve heard of.”
I know! I was thinking, “C’mon! No Plihal! No Greiss! NoWhammiesNoWhammiesNoWhammies! Stop!”
If the Devils did that, I’d probably end up with a puck from some guy who was a 10-minute callup from Lowell.
I think they only limit those ones to guys on the roster at the time. The Sabres did a pink hat signing for women’s charities, and all 5,000 hats were gone by the middle of the first. Assuming each player signed the same number of hats, that’s over 200 hats each player signed. My hand and wrist hurt just thinking about that.
they’ve got up a picture of Burke with devil horns drawn on it with a Sharpie! They’re true fans, those guys.
I just want to point out that if Buffalo fans did this, we’d be called classless by every team in the league.
It’s hard to see with my measly monitor, but I think there are also bootprints on that picture! They probably stole it from a 9-year-old Ducks fan!
I was thinking, “C’mon! No Plihal! No Greiss! NoWhammiesNoWhammiesNoWhammies! Stop!”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
“Do they do the thing where one is signed in gold or something and that one wins you a meeting with the player?”
Nah, just pay $20, get a signed puck. It is a sweet St. Patrick’s Day puck though, so that’s awesome.
I just want to point out that if Buffalo fans did this, we’d be called classless by every team in the league.
Haha!
I bet even Buffalo fans would get a pass if your classlessness was directed at the Ducks. :P
If you’re blaming Nobokov for your defeat, I’m blaming Garon for mine.
Well I’m sure as hell blaming Legace for mine. This was probably his worst week of the entire season! I guess I should have known he’d choke in the playoffs.
I think they only limit those ones to guys on the roster at the time.
Exactly. And I’d get the guy who was called up on an emergency basis that morning, but who ends up not playing a minute because the player they thought would be out makes a miraculous recovery from his injury/flu. :D
I just want to point out that if Buffalo fans did this, we’d be called classless by every team in the league.
No, you’d be called classless by the idiots down in DC. Everyone else would just laugh.
I’m glad you had a great time at the game, andrew, and I’m sorry to have insinuated that it was more of a drag for me to lose in fantasy hockey than it was for your team to lose in real life. I mean, fantasy hockey is stupid. It’s for losers. Losers who think they’re soooo cool that they won some stupid luck of the draw fantasy hockey thing. LOSERS!!!!
That said, Amy, you are going DOWN! The PanBoxers needed to lose to win, but now that they’ve lost? Watch out! They’re never going to lose again!
“Well I’m sure as hell blaming Legace for mine. This was probably his worst week of the entire season!”
It was a tough week for both us, Meg. Between the two of us, the team with the first goalie to win a game was gonna take it.
Also, is wordpress weird for everyone or is it a problem with my computer?
I guess I should have known he’d choke in the playoffs.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
He realized he wouldn’t be going to actual playoffs, so he used his playoff choke for the fantasy leagues.
i>That said, Amy, you are going DOWN! The PanBoxers needed to lose to win, but now that they’ve lost? Watch out! They’re never going to lose again!
I just want to point out that the PanBoxers are 0-2 against the Mother Puckers this year.
“I’m glad you had a great time at the game, andrew, and I’m sorry to have insinuated that it was more of a drag for me to lose in fantasy hockey than it was for your team to lose in real life.”
No sweat! I was totally and completely prepared for a loss. I was going to the game, how could they not lose!? Jerks.
I knew it was going to a shootout too. I kept yelling atthem “Don’t let it get to a damn shootout!” While it amused the Edmonton fans next to me, it did nothing for the Sharks, who clearly didn’t heed my advice.
Ok, so reading this Timmy article has apparently affected my ability to close tags.
It was a tough week for both us, Meg. Between the two of us, the team with the first goalie to win a game was gonna take it.
You had two wins. TWO. Legace couldn’t even manage one. Also problematic? Fucking role players keep scoring for the Wings. Can’t they just sit there quietly and let their stars get all the points?
Well I’m sure as hell blaming Legace for mine. This was probably his worst week of the entire season!
Wasn’t it though? Fucker. That said, I did win. Well, alix and I tied at 4 each but for some reason I’m now playing Heather in the semis. I lost all the goalie categories though (thanks Turco and Legace! You schmucks!)
“You had two wins. TWO. Legace couldn’t even manage one.”
I hear ya. I had to battle to get those 2! I think Thomas got pulled from 14 games last week before finally winning one.
“Well, alix and I tied at 4 each but for some reason I’m now playing Heather in the semis.”
I was actually in a round of the playoffs? WTF? I just assumed I was the Kings of the amazing league and I was cut. I didn’t even move around my roster.
I was actually in a round of the playoffs?
You were. Consolation tourney. I didn’t find out till like, Wednesday and then fired half my team :P
Not to rile anyone up again, but when is a stomp not a stomp? When it’s done by Pronger! Chris Simon’s pitching a fit about the Pronger rules, and this is what Colin Campbell had to say:
“[Simon's] skate drop on the Pittsburgh player was in a totally different context than Chris Pronger’s,” Campbell told the Pioneer-Press in an email.
“Mr. Simon can state his opinion. Our job is to assess what we feel is fair and right. If Chris didn’t do what he has done, he wouldn’t need to complain about how we handle discipline.”
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=232237&hubname=
In other words, Campbell just told Simon to sit down and shut up.
(I’m not defending what Simon did by any means, but seriously this whole situation is becoming a joke.)
“[Simon’s] skate drop on the Pittsburgh player was in a totally different context than Chris Pronger’s,”
Until Campbell outlines exactly, point for point, he means by this, I say he’s only making himself look worse. I mean, the bottom line is the only context that really matters is that it was done during a hockey game. I don’t care when the whistle blew or any of that crap. It was still an exposed skate blade being used as a weapon on the field of play. If anyone wants to quibble about that… well, I have no idea what to say then.
“I just assumed I was the Kings of the amazing league and I was cut.”
Ha! Poor Kings, they get no respect.
Big game for your boys tonight, alix. You ready for it?
“If Chris didn’t do what he has done, he wouldn’t need to complain about how we handle discipline.”
That is possibly the most assinine retort to a legitimate complaint that I have ever heard.
And I definitely meant ASSinine. I think it makes more sense spelled that way, in this case.
(I’m not defending what Simon did by any means, but seriously this whole situation is becoming a joke.)
I agree, Amy. I normally really hate when this sort of thing happens because I want so badly for everyone to just shut up and move on. I’m always the one sitting there going, “Can’t we all agree this sucked, but put up a united front so the hockey haters out in the bigger sports media won’t be able to make fun of us?” I mean, the thing I hate most about being a hockey fan is having to defend the very notion of liking hockey to fans of other sports. But in the case of this latest Pronger suspension, I’ve finally had it with how screwed-up the league’s handling of its own disciplinary system is. I want Simon to get lawyers involved, I want it to be protracted and ugly, and I want the NHL to be as pilloried by non-hockey sportswriters as Bud Selig has been about Steroids in MLB. I hate this so much.
If Chris didn’t do what he has done, he wouldn’t need to complain about how we handle discipline.
If Simon hadn’t done what he did, they wouldn’t have even LOOKED at the Pronger issue. And that bothers me.
It was still an exposed skate blade being used as a weapon on the field of play.
Correct. And Campbell’s comments aren’t doing much to stifle the argument that Pronger got what amounts to a slap on the wrist because he’s Chris Blessed Pronger.
If Simon hadn’t done what he did, they wouldn’t have even LOOKED at the Pronger issue. And that bothers me.
That’s true. It would have been talked about in Vancouver and maybe Anaheim, but not around the rest of the league.
“If Chris didn’t do what he has done, he wouldn’t need to complain about how we handle discipline.”
I was unaware that doing something wrong meant someone forfeited the right to fair punishment. As it happens, I think Simon’s punishment was fair. But if he got more than three times what Pronger got that stikes me as decidedly unfair.
“Big game for your boys tonight, alix. You ready for it?”
It is a big game! I’m a little nervous because last time they played Phoenix…it was not pretty. I love Bryz and all but I would prefer if he didn’t get shutouts playing the Canucks. Plus the Sedins spent more time on their backs on the ice than actually in front of the net. But the win in Dallas was a good one, so hopefully they can build off that.
Also, the NHL should, in my opinion, count themselves lucky that nothing has been made of the fact that Simon is Native American. I don’t think it’s related, really, but I could damn well make a case about stereotypes of Native Americans playing a role in Simon’s treatment as opposed to Pronger’s. I would think my case was mostly bullshit, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t make it.
Also, the NHL should, in my opinion, count themselves lucky that nothing has been made of the fact that Simon is Native American.
Actually, there was a bit of a racket about that when the Simon suspension first came down, especially considering Campbell made some borderline racist comments about him in the doing.
Not to derail the discussion, but I needed to put this out there before I forget. Mags had mentioned something about a tie in the playoffs last week. I just wanted to post the tiebreaker rules that Yahoo has in place, in case anyone is wondering why they didn’t get to advance to the next round.
In the event that a playoff game ends in a tie, the deadlock is broken using the following system:
Most team goals.
Most team assists.
Lowest team GAA.
Highest team SV%.
Most team wins.
Most team shutouts.
Most team powerplay points.
Most team shots on goal.
Most team penalty minutes.
Most team plus/minus.
Random “coin flip.”
I would think my case was mostly bullshit, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t make it.
I might have tried to say, “Yeah, that would be bullshit” if Campbell hadn’t made racist implications when he levvied the 30-game suspension in the first place.
Actually, there was a bit of a racket about that when the Simon suspension first came down, especially considering Campbell made some borderline racist comments about him in the doing.
I do remember people talking about the his being Native American then–I more meant that they’re lucky it’s not being talked about now in direct comparison to the Pronger situation–but I had missed or forgotten Campbell’s racist comments earlier. My own fault because I try to avoid anything to do with Campbell generally. I guess my argument would be less bullshit-esque than I had hoped/assumed.
I guess my argument would be less bullshit-esque than I had hoped/assumed.
Sad, isn’t it?
I believe that Nolan made more of a stink about it than Simon did. I can’t, of course, remember what Campbell said.
I believe that Nolan made more of a stink about it than Simon did.
Well of course he did. I’m sorry, I think that some of the issues Nolan raises are very genuine and I admire his willingness to stand up for his players, but having heard years of “the Sabres fired Nolan, those bastards and then the NHL blacklisted him, those bastards” supported by Nolan and his claims of racism, I find him incredibly obnoxious. I guess in this case I should take deep breaths and separate the complaint from the complainer.
“If Chris didn’t do what he has done, he wouldn’t need to complain about how we handle discipline.”
So he’s saying only people who haven’t been disciplined have a right to complain about a punishment not matching their own? Because that leaves nobody that can complain.
I just can’t believe that “context” is even a player. When Campbell handed down Simon’s suspension, he had a long quote about how it doesn’t matter what the context is when you’re stomping on somebody’s foot!
And I heard somebody making the point that Pronger’s infractions are always elbow/crosschecking related, but one of them was for kicking. Which is in the same “doesn’t matter why you did it” category as stomping on somebody, in my opinion.
I can’t, of course, remember what Campbell said.
I believe he said something to the effect that Simon would/should be entering into some sort of rehab clinic basically either insinuating or outright saying (I can’t really remember either) that Simon had a drinking problem. Alcoholism and drug use is a big problem amongst Native Americans living on reserves in Canada.
God bless Wikipedia. Here’s Colie Campbell’s comments from the Simon suspension, as posted on NHL.com
While it was fortunate there was no serious injury to Mr. Ruutu as a result of Simon’s action, the deliberate act of kicking an opponent with an exposed skate blade, especially where the opponent is in a vulnerable position, is and always has been a repugnant and totally unacceptable act in the game of hockey.
“In addition, while the act itself was extremely dangerous, the fact that this is the eighth incident requiring the imposition of supplementary discipline on Simon compelled me to impose a very severe penalty in this case. When a player repeatedly evidences the lack of ability to control his actions and conducts himself in total disregard of the rules, as well the health and safety of other players on the ice, each subsequent incident is deserving of enhanced scrutiny and more severe discipline. This response serves not only the purpose of imposing appropriate punishment for the player involved, but also the purpose of deterring the player and all other players from engaging in similar conduct in the future - hopefully creating a safer long-term work environment for all NHL players.”
Wow. I had seen the first part recently, but the rest is even more damning.
…the deliberate act of kicking an opponent with an exposed skate blade, especially where the opponent is in a vulnerable position, is and always has been a repugnant and totally unacceptable act in the game of hockey
Unless you play a lot of minutes. (Apparently.)
Alcoholism and drug use is a big problem amongst Native Americans living on reserves in Canada.
And in the US as well. I seem to remember hearing that Simon had a drinking problem, or at least drank a great deal, in junior and that it was something Nolan helped him through. I wonder if Campbell was thinking of Native Americans in general or just bringing up Simon’s own dirty laundry. Either way, unacceptable.
Unless you play a lot of minutes. (Apparently.)
Or are an MVP.
When a player repeatedly evidences the lack of ability to control his actions and conducts himself in total disregard of the rules, as well the health and safety of other players on the ice, each subsequent incident is deserving of enhanced scrutiny and more severe discipline.
Unless you’re important to your team.
“This response serves not only the purpose of imposing appropriate punishment for the player involved, but also the purpose of deterring the player and all other players from engaging in similar conduct in the future - hopefully creating a safer long-term work environment for all NHL players.”
Perhaps something would serve as a better determent if he didn’t then undermine the example he’d set by showing that there’s one set of rules for Simon and another for more important players in the league.
I had emailed the DMN beat writer with the new video that day it popped up, and today I got a reply from him. He asked me what I thought of the suspension and I told him this:
“For some reason, the League thinks he’s less of a thug than Chris Simon. But I think he’s every bit of one. I don’t know how he gets away with so regularly. And he has no reason to change. He never gets a punishment that would deter him from doing it again. He’ll be happy to elbow his opponent’s best player in the head in the playoffs, because he’ll only get one game off and the victim will be out for the series. Why wouldn’t he do it? “
Unless you play a lot of minutes. (Apparently.)
Or you make a lot ofmoney:
“They’re all hockey plays. It’s plays where he plays too tough, plays too hard, gets carried away. The guy had him in a leg lock. Those are factors and I didn’t do this in a vacuum. I consulted a lot of people. Plus, he loses $600,000 in salary.”
(Dang it, I see a typo. I hate that! Heika’s gonna think I’m an idiot!)
It’s plays where he plays too tough, plays too hard, gets carried away.
WHAT?!?! That’s OUR point! Somebody needs to do something about the fact that he gets carried away!
In that video, the first three yanks to free his foot were plenty. 99% of the players in the league would skate away and then pick on Kesler later. Pronger’s the only one that would feel justified in stomping on the guy. And Campbell agrees with him. He’s saying that it’s Kesler’s own fault for making Pronger mad. But it wasn’t Hollweg’s own fault for making Simon mad, and we KNOW he did.
I want Simon to get lawyers involved, I want it to be protracted and ugly, and I want the NHL to be as pilloried by non-hockey sportswriters as Bud Selig has been about Steroids in MLB. I hate this so much.
I concur. If Simon doesn’t lawyer up to his teeth, I will be totally shocked. And he should.
I would think the league would be interested in maintaining player safety even for purely financial reasons.
The Pandora’s Box that Campbell has now opened is this: people who really obsess over hockey and watch it devotedly know what a joke the league’s disciplinary system is. Casual fans or less hardcore fans may not know as much. All Campbell did was give his arbitrary decisions more light and more press exposure by handing down eight games, and now people are outraged at his decision.
The guy makes the most arbitrary decisions possible, which is why it’s such a bad idea to have one guy deciding all this. The NHL needs to set up some sort of commission or committee to handle this instead of one person, and instead make decisions about lengths of suspensions, etc.
In other words, they need guidelines.
I find nothing more disgusting than saying, “We care about player safety” when your actions tell a very different story. :p
This stomping thing just depresses me more than I can say. The punishment is just too light. Stomping on another player with a razor sharp skate blade should START at ten games suspended.
When Neider the Elder bopped, ah crud I can’t remeber who, on the head with a stick with ten games to go in the season in 2000, he got ten plus the first game of the playoffs. Neidermayer’s stick swing was the lamest hit to the head you ever saw, but NO ONE, Devils or otherwise, argued the suspension because you don’t hit folks in the head with your stick.
What depresses me is that the wild differences in legnths of suspensions (30 vs. 8 is just an example) just gives more fodder to the national media to ridicule the NHL.
It is especially bad when you can make even the shadiest case for racist or favoritism can be made. It is so tough to support such a great sport when it is run by such low quality people.
Plus, he loses $600,000 in salary.”
Oooh! That argument makes me so mad! How can Campbell not see that it’s all relative! I don’t care that $600,000 is a ton of money; it’s such a small drop in the bucket for Pronger! The money is like the ice time — the only metric that matters here is games. GAH!
Also in that article (thanks for sending it, Frisby) Colie says: “Does he not care? Does he not think? Can he not control himself?” I’m sorry, but those questions are just as valid about Pronger as Simon.
I fail to see how Chris Pronger’s financial well-being should be a driving concern for Campbell. He’s giving up a smaller percentage of his salary than Simon did, no? I’m not saying that $600,000 is chump change to Pronger, but it’s not exactly going to change his lifestyle or cause him financial hardship either.
It is so tough to support such a great sport when it is run by such low quality people.
No kidding. So very frustrating.
When Neider the Elder bopped, ah crud I can’t remeber who, on the head with a stick with ten games to go in the season in 2000, he got ten plus the first game of the playoffs.
It was Peter Worrell.
Thanks for brining this up, Morgan! I’m now even more incensed than I was five seconds ago! I had forgotten all about the details of that suspension — other than that he got suspended for the first game of the playoffs. And yes, it was the lamest stick swing ever. The stick bounced so meekly off Worrell’s helmet, I doubt the victim even noticed. (I bet if Neider did that today he’d not even get called for it, nor suspended.)
“The guy makes the most arbitrary decisions possible, which is why it’s such a bad idea to have one guy deciding all this.”
Bingo. I think a 6-8 person panel should be voting on suspension lengths. As opposed to 1 former Maple Leafs goon.
Also, maybe, I don’t know….some frickin’ guidelines?! How about a minimum? 10 games for a stomp, 6 games for a headshot, 1 game for a spearing, etc. Then, depending on the severity of the infraction, start adding on games from there.
I’m not saying that $600,000 is chump change to Pronger, but it’s not exactly going to change his lifestyle or cause him financial hardship either.
This is the same argument that I made when Chris Simon was suspended. Sure, it’s a lot of money. But when people believe that it’s alright, it’s acceptable to injure another player, a lot of times I question how much of a factor money is in the equation, especially when you think about how much money some of these guys make.
Neidermayer’s stick swing was the lamest hit to the head you ever saw, but NO ONE, Devils or otherwise, argued the suspension because you don’t hit folks in the head with your stick.
I was thinking of that the other day, too, Morgan. And that was Neider’s only offense to that point. So how does a guy with no suspension history get 10 games for an inarguably unacceptable transgression, and a guy with a long history of suspensions gets only 8?
It is so tough to support such a great sport when it is run by such low quality people.
Exactly. The NHL makes it hard enough for us to be fans — making us ashamed of them really isn’t helping.
“I don’t care that $600,000 is a ton of money; it’s such a small drop in the bucket for Pronger!”
Shoot, $600k won’t even cover that new diamond encrusted crib he’s had his eye on. It’s chump change!
Peter Worrell! Thanks for the assist Pookie!
BTW, the “Stompin’” Chris Pronger has cost one team the playoffs. Mine! He’s gone from the Kool-aid’ers for the entire playoffs.
Oh well, you deal with the devil…
Bingo. I think a 6-8 person panel should be voting on suspension lengths. As opposed to 1 former Maple Leafs goon.
I KNEW you were the San Jose Caitlin, andrew! (Or vice versa, I am the Dallas andrew!)
Also, maybe, I don’t know….some frickin’ guidelines?! How about a minimum? 10 games for a stomp, 6 games for a headshot, 1 game for a spearing, etc.
It’s tempting to draw up my own guidelines and send it to Campbell like, “Want to keep players safe? Here you go”.
The stick bounced so meekly off Worrell’s helmet, I doubt the victim even noticed.
Oh, come on — don’t you remember Worrell stood there for a second, realized what had just happened, and then (you could see it on the replay) said, “Ow.” It was pretty hilarious (and yes, the suspension levied on it was well deserved).
(I bet if Neider did that today he’d not even get called for it, nor suspended.)
Damn straight.
Shoot, $600k won’t even cover that new diamond encrusted crib he’s had his eye on. It’s chump change!
He was promised the diamond crust makes it flame-retardant.
“He’s gone from the Kool-aid’ers for the entire playoffs.”
Muwhahahahaha! Just in time. The Pronger-less Kool-aiders have a date with destiny….Statbitty Avenger style.
Shoot, $600k won’t even cover that new diamond encrusted crib he’s had his eye on. It’s chump change!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oh well, you deal with the devil…
I knew those of you who willingly turned a blind eye to Pronger’s venal attributes in exchange for some cheap and easy fantasy points would end up paying the price. :P
“(I bet if Neider did that today he’d not even get called for it, nor suspended.)”
“Damn straight.”
Well, he is a Duck now ;)
I think a 6-8 person panel should be voting on suspension lengths. As opposed to 1 former Maple Leafs goon.
If you’re going to take that tactic, then the committee needs to be balanced between conferences, Canada/US and players/management. It could be really interesting to see what kind of decisions were handed down that way.
The NHL makes it hard enough for us to be fans — making us ashamed of them really isn’t helping.
What’s interesting about this whole thing is that outside of TSN and the blogosphere/message boards, no one has picked up on the stomp story. ESPN didn’t even mention it under Prongy-poo’s suspension was handed down by TPTB. Normally, a vicious hockey story is beaten to death by the good folks in Bristol, CT.
“I KNEW you were the San Jose Caitlin, andrew! (Or vice versa, I am the Dallas andrew!)”
So you agree that Craig Rivet’s hit on Morrow was okay!? Sweet! (Of course, I’m totally kidding, I think Rivet should’ve been tossed for that one.)
Hey, did you ever check out that Zombie Ghost Train video I told you about? I’m telling you, it’s goood!
ESPN didn’t even mention it under Prongy-poo’s suspension was handed down by TPTB. Normally, a vicious hockey story is beaten to death by the good folks in Bristol, CT.
I still contend that it would have been beaten to death by ESPN if it had happened in the Eastern time zone. By the time the suspension came down, it was TSN’s story, and that was after a lengthy delay thanks to the game having been aired in Canada on PPV with a late west-coast start time. If ESPN had gotten to it first, there never would have been a delay in the suspension, and the league probably would have been pressured to do more than 8 games. It’s the silver lining of the EC bias. :P
If you’re going to take that tactic, then the committee needs to be balanced between conferences, Canada/US and players/management. It could be really interesting to see what kind of decisions were handed down that way.
Quick, someone call Captain Coffee Klatch! Shanny saved hockey once, he can do it again!
Seriously though, I’d love to see a panel of people convene and then make a suggestion to the disciplinary czar. And then make their rationales public immediately.
What’s interesting about this whole thing is that outside of TSN and the blogosphere/message boards, no one has picked up on the stomp story.
And for once I’m pissed about this!
“I knew those of you who willingly turned a blind eye to Pronger’s venal attributes in exchange for some cheap and easy fantasy points would end up paying the price. :P”
I just happened to have traded Pronger for Malkin a day or two before the stomp. Unbelievable luck.
best.jettison.evar.
“I just happened to have traded Pronger for Malkin a day or two before the stomp. Unbelievable luck.
best.jettison.evar.”
I dropped Pronger for Brent Seabrook, uh moving on…
“If you’re going to take that tactic, then the committee needs to be balanced between conferences, Canada/US and players/management.”
I agree, maybe a few members on the media, an owner or two, a referee…who knows! No matter what, it would be better than what we got now.
“Normally, a vicious hockey story is beaten to death by the good folks in Bristol, CT.”
I know! I brought this up on Friday becuase it just blew my mind that ESPN wasn’t shitting all over the NHL. Crazy.
Morgan, I’ll have you know that Brent Seabrook was a KEY contributor for the Marauders in their stirring playoff victory over the PanBoxers last week. The guy is clutch. Or, uh, at least better than anyone on the PanBoxers.
Hey, did you ever check out that Zombie Ghost Train video I told you about? I’m telling you, it’s goood!
I meant to, and then I came down with the Black Plague, and I can’t remember two or three days of my life, let alone if I watched it or not, so I’ll check it out tonight! Promise!
If ESPN had gotten to it first, there never would have been a delay in the suspension, and the league probably would have been pressured to do more than 8 games. It’s the silver lining of the EC bias.
I wish ESPN would get to it. The NHL needs pressure. They wonder why people are ranking curling above hockey in their favorite sports list, well, this is why. People get sick of being consistently disappointed by the League.
God, now I’m all riled up about the NHL. Stupid League! Can’t you do anything right!?
“Or, uh, at least better than anyone on the PanBoxers.”
Great…..
Morgan, I’ll have you know that Brent Seabrook was a KEY contributor for the Marauders in their stirring playoff victory over the PanBoxers last week.
I sent Zetterberg out with instructions to stomp on Seabrook to injure him but apparently someone is too classy to do that. Jerk. I’m fining Zetterberg $600,000 for not following orders.
Just a random thought. If Greg Campbell - Colie’s son - would have been the stompee or the stomper, would Campbell have to recuse himself from the punishment determination?
God, now I’m all riled up about the NHL. Stupid League! Can’t you do anything right!?
I also totally don’t understand why they go to such lengths to keep Pronger on the ice. It’s not like anyone LIKES him. I mean, this isn’t Sid or Ovechkin we’re talking about. There isn’t a single fan who goes, “Oooh! I wanna watch Chris Pronger play!” Even the fans who like him at this point admit that they really only like the fact that he’s good at hockey and he happens to be on their team, not that they are willingly cheering for him.