The Fucktard of the Week Award (thanks Toasty Joe) goes to New York Islanders forward Chris Simon for his gutless action last night where he baseball batted Ryan Hollweg of the NY Rangers late in the third period of last nights game.
Forget for a minute that the ensuing penalty led to the game winning goal. THe key here is that Simon, who did get hit from behind by Hollweg earlier, should not have reacted in that fashion. Hollweg is a fighter, so Simon should have invited him to drop the gloves if he was so pissed.
Instead, Simon decided to swing his stick towards the head of Hollweg. It nearly hit him in the throat, which could have been deadly. As it was, it hit his chest first, and hit Ryan in the mouth. Given the recent brawl in Buffalo, and other ugly incidents this season and in the recent past, the NHL cannot allow this type of action. I fully expect Simon to be suspended for the rest of the season, and the playoffs. This was reminiscent of the Bertuzzi/Moore incident, and for those who have been fans for longer, the Hunter/Turgeon incident. Just ugly and gutless.
And if the league does not step in, it is incumbent upon Islander Coach Ted Nolan, GM Garth Snow, and owner Charles Wang to see to it that Simon never wears the Islander jersey again. He brought dishonor to the franchise last night. He is a discredit to the game and the team.
My hope is that the Rangers do not try to retaliate. There are two more games left between these teams. I would hate for this to lead to something worse.
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13 comments:
100% agree with everything you said.
I am actually a little embarassed to be an isles fan today, Chris Simon has dishonored the uniform and the franchise.
And we were just starting to turn the tide and getting some real positive buzz about this team n franchise and then this happens.
lets hope the team can recover, I'm concerned. We have such negative karma from this now. We need a big bounceback game.
Here ya go Ed:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xte-Vtxg-m8
Thanks Toasty.
I hate reliving that moment. Just gutless by Hunter.
No problem. I helpfully posted the Simon video over at my place today.
I actually think what Simon did is worse than that hit.
I think using the stick to hit the guy in the face raises it to a whole 'nother level of violence.
As a total outsider (not a hockey fan) but someone who watched the game last night because you guys were so excited about it, I was totally appalled! It was actually frightening to watch.
I don't now how the NHL or Bettman will deal with this, but anything short of gone for the season (including playoffs) would be a big mistake and send the wrong message This a morality issue...not a hockey issue...in my opinion.
Sheadenizen
I actually think what Simon did is worse than that hit.
I think using the stick to hit the guy in the face raises it to a whole 'nother level of violence.
It does indeed. Hockey has enough of an image problem among the people who don't get the sport. The only time major news networks give the sport any coverage is when there's extreme incidences of violence. The brawl between Buffalo and Ottawa last month was the most recent example.
My hope is that the Rangers do not try to retaliate.
Me too. As a Ranger fan, I'd be pissed at them for doing something that stupid. Simon got punished (and is suspended w/o pay pending a hearing) and they got the GW goal on the ensuing power play. They should let the league handle it and focus on making the playoffs.
Buncha' thugs, those Islanders
Now, I'm sure you don't really mean that. Shall I go over the many Ranger issues from the years?
SImon was wrong.
I just bustin, Ed. My ignorance about the Islanders AND the Rangers this season knows no bounds. I just can't even try to follow hockey when the Rangers aren't good.
Plus, with good seasons from the Mets & Jets last year, I have no energy to follow them.
I just can't even try to follow hockey when the Rangers aren't good.
So, except for last year, you haven't followed the Rangers in about a decade. ;)
I read in the paper this morning that Brendan Witt defended Simon. He said something to the effect that if the refs had called the hit that Hollweg gave Simon moments before batting practice, that it never would've happened. So, according to Witt, it's ok to use your stick as a weapon if the ref doesn't call a penalty on the guy that checked ya.
Also, since Hollweg was up and about after the game the hit couldn't have been THAT bad. Apparently, Simon should've only been punished severely if Hollweg's windpipe had been crushed.
Witt seems to forget that this is Simon's 6th suspension and that it's not the first time he's used his stick as a weapon.
Great guy that Witt. Kinda makes it easier to stomach having Avery around.
So, except for last year, you haven't followed the Rangers in about a decade.
Basically.
ded - see, I agree that Hollweg should have been called for boarding, he hit him directly from behind and drove up.
That is not to be confused with supporting what Simon did. It was still wrong, and has no place in the game.
Now SImon is kinda saying "well, I was out of it, and didn't know what I was doing". I call shenanigans. He may have been a little disoriented, but he still knew bringing his stick up and using to to clothesline Hollweg was wrong.
He's done for the year and playoffs, and his contract is up. No more Orange and Blue for him. I hope.
I agree that Hollweg should have been called for boarding, he hit him directly from behind and drove up.
Perhaps. The refs are so damned inconsistent it's hard to say from one game to the next. For example, the hooking calls I've seen lately have been pretty lame. I've seen calls for and against the Rangers that have left me (and the announcers) going, "Really?" Like tonight, late in the 3rd period there was a call against a guy on Ottawa and I was like, "No way. That's a lame call." And earlier, a Ranger slammed a guy into the boards and I thought for sure that it was going to be a boarding call, but they didn't call it. Go figure.
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