I didn't post anything on the Jordin Tootoo incident (but feel free to discuss it in the comments to this post), but something else out of Saturday night's Preds/Stars game struck me, namely Dallas Stars owner Jim Lites' indignation about how the host Preds handled a certain NHL milestone:Dallas Stars president Jim Lites has ripped the entire Nashville Predators organization for the 'horrible thing' they did by not acknowledging the Stars' Mike Modano tying and then breaking the record for goals scored by an American-born player Saturday, according to a published report.Aside from Lites' ridiculous over-the-top mock outrage (Failed the game? Horrible?) and hyperbole (Atlanta, a Southern city, last I checked, had an NHL team when Modano was two-years-old), there's this little tidbit:
"Their owner, management, public relations people, coaching staff -- I think they all failed the game," Lites told the Dallas Morning News. "It's because of people like Mike Modano that they even have a team in Nashville. He has helped pioneer the game in the South, and for him to be treated like that in a milestone moment ... it's just a horrible thing."
At the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, Dallas Stars forward Mike Modano said he thought that Nashville and Carolina should be contracted.Oops!
So, Mr. Lites, please forgive the Predators owner, management, public relations people and coaching staff for not stopping the game to fete a guy who, if he had his druthers, would see them all out of jobs.
6 comments:
Since when has a team acknowledge the accomplishments of opposing players in their arenas/stadiums?
So if by sheer chance our own Alexander Ovechkin should ring up goal #500 in Dallas we can expect an acknowledgement of that milestone by the Stars organization?
Agreed, Caps Nut. That's ridiculous. What do you think is going to happen to Bonds if he hits #755 in Philly or Atlanta?
I actually kinda hope that happens.
So if by sheer chance our own Alexander Ovechkin should ring up goal #500 in Dallas we can expect an acknowledgement of that milestone by the Stars organization?
Actually, you probably can. They made a point of acknowledging Recchi's 500th goal earlier this year.
Si.com has a good perspective on the incident.
Had Nashville actually acknowledged the goals, Modano would have been promptly boo'd relentlessly, for his involvement in the Tootoo fiasco.
Speaking of the Tootoo fiasco, I know there's this very tough guy hockey culture out there. But why can't the NHL just do what the NFL does and say hits to the head, and hits to the head, start at a $5k fine and work our way up depending on severity and previous offenses. Using the stick as a weapon is a $10k and an automatic one game suspension.
The only exceptions to the hits to the head are glove dropping fights (leave in the 5 minute major and instigator).
The league could suspend Tootoo for 5 games and issue a $25k fine, while Modano would be given 1 game and $10k for swinging his stick back at Tootoo. If the Dallas enforcer wants to rough up Tootoo next time they see each other that's fine, but why are players and fans so hell bent on wild-west vigilante justice
1) 'Wild west or vigilante justice(self policing) has been the NHL way for decades. It worked just fine until Bettman decided that there was too much 'perceived' violence in hockey
2) The result, less fighting , BUT increased incidents like Tootoo, Simon, Bertuzzi, Jansson, Neil, etc.
3) Eliminate the silly instigator rule entirely. Lets see how often Tootoo/Tucker/Avary/Neil/Holweg, etc go after star players if they have to answer with their fists(not gloves or sticks)
But it didn't work fine. The instigator rule wasn't around for the Bertuzzi incident, it was put in because of that.
Not only that but everyone forgets that Moore fought the Canucks tough-guy in that same game. Bertuzzi sat for 25 games and still hasn't payed for his hit on moore with his fists.
Look I am not saying get rid of fighting, I like it, hockey fans like it and hockey players like it. But there is an increase in pseudo-legal cheap shots like the hit on Drury. I have no problem sending in the protector to get that dirtbag, but hit him in the wallet too.
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