Is Bertuzzi's sentence strong enough?

[fw3308]

Text

I truly believe deep inside that he is very remorseful for what happened. I really feel bad for Steve Moore and more so for Todd Bertuzzi. Not that he will be out for the season and playoffs but that he now has to live with this stigma of what he did. This is different than the Mcsorely incident strictly due to the fact of how it happened and the fact that Bertuzzi still is a young guy with a lot of hockey left to play in his life. He certainly dug himself a hole that will not be easy to get out of. Best of luck to Steve Moore on his recovery and to Bertuzzi on dealing with this horrible lapse of judgement.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

If this had occurred outside of the context of a hockey game, this would be a felony assault.

 

[BigToque]

Well, I've seen the replay many times and I saw his press conference this morning. He seems very sorry for what he did. He broke down into tears.

I think that the penalty is fair. They are making an example of him and IMHO, it's about time. It is unfortunate that such a high calibre player did this, but this stuff ruins the game and needs to be dealt with harshly.

I am all for letting the players have the ice to settle their differences. It is a self regulating game. That is what hockey is about, and that is what makes it such a good sport. It is the respect players have for the game and for others playing the game. You do something stupid and you will get what is comming for you. Something like this goes beyond having respect for other players on the ice and as such should be dealt with by the league officials.

 

[murphy55d]

Absolutely not. The NHL needed to send a message that thuggery will not be tolerated whatsoever, and this was not the message. Even though Bettman will decide whether Bertuzzi plays next year before training camp, it wasn't enough. Should have been a full calendar year. It's no wonder the league I love is going down the tubes.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
If this had occurred outside of the context of a hockey game, this would be a felony assault.

So would boxing...

 

[ibintegra]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
If this had occurred outside of the context of a hockey game, this would be a felony assault.

That means nothing. A lot of what "happens on the ice" could be a felony assault. Are you allowed to bodycheck people into walls while skating full speed? I don't think so.

 

[minendo]

What if Moore had not suffered a broken neck?

Do you think the sentencing would be different or even any at all?

 

[Siddhartha]

I am not a hockey fan. I did not grow up with it. I did see a Devils' game once was really impressed with it. It is a much more entertaining game in real life than on TV. But this attack and how it is being treated has convinced me to never support this sport until fighting is no longer tolerated and considered "part of the game".

If the NHL has any hopes to grow their fan base they are going to have to clean the sport up. But then professional wrestling is very popular....

 

[ShOcKwAvE827]

Originally posted by: minendo
What if Moore had not suffered a broken neck?

Do you think the sentencing would be different or even any at all?

I think if Moore didn't get injured at all, it would have been nothing but a penalty. And if it was only minor cuts and bruises it would have been a few games suspension. Since the guy was out cold and broken vertabrae, it's a little different.

For example, if you crosschecked someone from behind into the boards, and the player wasn't hurt, it would just be a major penalty. But if you did that and the guy got paralyzed, what do you think would happen?

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: ShOcKwAvE827

Originally posted by: minendo
What if Moore had not suffered a broken neck?

Do you think the sentencing would be different or even any at all?

I think if Moore didn't get injured at all, it would have been nothing but a penalty. And if it was only minor cuts and bruises it would have been a few games suspension. Since the guy was out cold and broken vertabrae, it's a little different.

For example, if you crosschecked someone from behind into the boards, and the player wasn't hurt, it would just be a major penalty. But if you did that and the guy got paralyzed, what do you think would happen?

That is my point exactly. They should be both penalized equally.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: ibintegra

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
If this had occurred outside of the context of a hockey game, this would be a felony assault.

That means nothing. A lot of what "happens on the ice" could be a felony assault. Are you allowed to bodycheck people into walls while skating full speed? I don't think so.

Exactly... Fighting is part of the game. I agree that his fighting style was bad, but those are fully growth mature adults, playing a game that is on the highest level. There are rivalries and fights... get over it.

Did Mike Tyson get arrested for eating Holyfield's ear? No.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: ibintegra
A lot of what "happens on the ice" could be a felony assault. Are you allowed to bodycheck people into walls while skating full speed? I don't think so.

If I had my druthers, that wouldn't be allowed either, but since I don't go to hockey games, the league doesn't care about my opinion. I'm just saying that the sport either condones violence or it doesn't, and that suddenly, everyone's concerned about someone getting hurt in what amounts to sanctioned brutality.

 

[fw3308]

The league needs to be able to police itself, not the local Vancouver PD. Also the instigator rule needs to go so the game can police itself. Also Gary Bettman needs to go. The game has not gotten better during his tenure.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Stefan
Well, I've seen the replay many times and I saw his press conference this morning. He seems very sorry for what he did. He broke down into tears.

I think that the penalty is fair. They are making an example of him and IMHO, it's about time. It is unfortunate that such a high calibre player did this, but this stuff ruins the game and needs to be dealt with harshly.

I am all for letting the players have the ice to settle their differences. It is a self regulating game. That is what hockey is about, and that is what makes it such a good sport. It is the respect players have for the game and for others playing the game. You do something stupid and you will get what is comming for you. Something like this goes beyond having respect for other players on the ice and as such should be dealt with by the league officials.

I imagine alot of murderers are in tears after they get caught as well. Is they crying for what they did or the punishment they know they will receive.

What he did was inexcusable. It was a cheap shot from behind. I say ban the ftard from hockey. Fighting is fighting but what he did was like kicking someone in the nuts during a boxing match while they are still in their corner.

That NHL penalty was almost as bad as the 21 game suspension that they slapped on Hunter after he took out Turgeon from behind after Turgeon scored a goal. Both Hunter and Bertuzzi should have been banned for life. Granted Turgeon didn't get a broken neck, but he could have easily. Hockey has no room for cheap shot artists.

 

[Czesia]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw

Originally posted by: ibintegra
A lot of what "happens on the ice" could be a felony assault. Are you allowed to bodycheck people into walls while skating full speed? I don't think so.

If I had my druthers, that wouldn't be allowed either, but since I don't go to hockey games, the league doesn't care about my opinion. I'm just saying that the sport either condones violence or it doesn't, and that suddenly, everyone's concerned about someone getting hurt in what amounts to sanctioned brutality.

There's a huge difference between giving someone a few shots and putting someone out of the game with a broken neck. It is the responsibility of the league to draw the line somewhere, and I think that this penalty was well deserved. I'm also glad to see that Bertuzzi seems to be sincerely sorry for what he's done, and he is accepting full responsibility for his actions.

 

[zer0burn]

its a fair sentence.

Because with him in the playoffs they had a shot at the cup. Now they dont. Second he loses about 600,000 in pay. Lastly others for the same type of action have only gotten 10-12 games...

I think its fair.

 

[makessense]

Originally posted by: edro13

Originally posted by: ibintegra

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
If this had occurred outside of the context of a hockey game, this would be a felony assault.

That means nothing. A lot of what "happens on the ice" could be a felony assault. Are you allowed to bodycheck people into walls while skating full speed? I don't think so.

Exactly... Fighting is part of the game. I agree that his fighting style was bad, but those are fully growth mature adults, playing a game that is on the highest level. There are rivalries and fights... get over it.

Did Mike Tyson get arrested for eating Holyfield's ear? No.

How the fak can you compare Holyfield's ear to someone getting hit on the side of the head, getting knocked out and breaking a neck? This is not a question of rivalry, what bertuzzi did was brutality.. which is NOT part of the game.

 

[JoeKing]

I only saw a real quick clip on espn, anyone have a link to a video of the incident?

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Joeyman
I only saw a real quick clip on espn, anyone have a link to a video of the incident?

There were a few posted here.

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Stefan
Well, I've seen the replay many times and I saw his press conference this morning. He seems very sorry for what he did. He broke down into tears.

I think that the penalty is fair. They are making an example of him and IMHO, it's about time. It is unfortunate that such a high calibre player did this, but this stuff ruins the game and needs to be dealt with harshly.

I am all for letting the players have the ice to settle their differences. It is a self regulating game. That is what hockey is about, and that is what makes it such a good sport. It is the respect players have for the game and for others playing the game. You do something stupid and you will get what is comming for you. Something like this goes beyond having respect for other players on the ice and as such should be dealt with by the league officials.

I imagine alot of murderers are in tears after they get caught as well. Is they crying for what they did or the punishment they know they will receive.

What he did was inexcusable. It was a cheap shot from behind. I say ban the ftard from hockey. Fighting is fighting but what he did was like kicking someone in the nuts during a boxing match while they are still in their corner.

That NHL penalty was almost as bad as the 21 game suspension that they slapped on Hunter after he took out Turgeon from behind after Turgeon scored a goal. Both Hunter and Bertuzzi should have been banned for life. Granted Turgeon didn't get a broken neck, but he could have easily. Hockey has no room for cheap shot artists.

He is not a murderer. He was frustrated and hit the guy. He may have wanted to hurt the guy, but he didn't intend to knock him unconscious or have him break his neck when he fell. It is just a horrible result and he is getting pussished for his mistake. IMO, the incident with McSoreley was much worse. (however you spell his name )

 

[Balt]

I think that was the lightest penalty they could have given him (though it does say they may extend it). If it had been anything less than rest of the season + playoffs, people would have been outraged.

I'm sure he didn't intend to break the guy's neck, but it looks a lot like he intended to drive Moore's head into the ice. He's responsible for his actions.

I think the coach should have been fined and the team should have been fined more than they were. The coach had a chance to tell his players to stop mouthing off to the press about how there was a bounty on Moore's head, but he didn't. He just sat there with his thumb up his ass, just as he did when Granato (Av's coach) was about to come over and beat the crap out of him after the Bertuzzi hit.

 

[BeauJangles]

I really think he should have been banned from playing in the NHL. Hockey is a physical game, but come on guys, that hit was totally illegal and unnecessary. If he had hurt someone with an extremely tough LEGAL check, then it would be a different story, but this was just horrendous and he should be banned for life.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Didn't deserve the sentence. Maybe a 3 game suspension and a smaller fine. This is BS.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
I really think he should have been banned from playing in the NHL. Hockey is a physical game, but come on guys, that hit was totally illegal and unnecessary. If he had hurt someone with an extremely tough LEGAL check, then it would be a different story, but this was just horrendous and he should be banned for life.

Cheap shots are taken every hockey game. Do you plan on banning all of the offenders for life?

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Didn't deserve the sentence. Maybe a 3 game suspension and a smaller fine. This is BS.

I agree.