Violence in Hockey

The list of people we could blame for this incident includes the NHL, all the players on both teams, and every team, all of Bertuzzi's minor and junior league coaches and everyone involved with hockey including the fans and media. The NHL encourages violence; fighting is not really a penalty because it is always offsetting. All young players are encouraged to play with grit, and often fight in their NHL debut to gain the support of their team.
If violence remains a part of hockey players will occasionally cross the line. What's so hard to understand about that? Never made a poor decision when you had less than a split second to think about it? I have.
I support the suspension of Bertuzzi but when he has served it the hockey world must forgive him and let him play again.
Go canucks.

Now this for you Canucks fans, and sportswriters who have been so quick to distance yourselves from this player. During the quarter finals of the 2001 playoffs, which the Canucks lost 4-0 to Colorado, Adam Foote shadowed Bertuzzi from one end of the rink to the other. At one point, he spent over half a minute sitting on him behind to Avs net, allowing Colorado to play 4 on 4 in the Canucks end, with the defense in because the Canucks were of course offside the entire time. There was no penalty on the play. Against Detroit in 2002, Bertuzzi wore Lidstrom and Chelioses uniforms, every night, in addition to his own. Against St. Loius in 2003, he was hacked speared, mugged in front of the net and cross checked for good measure. During all this I never saw him loose his cool except after the play ended and he took it up with the ref. His competitiveness has been almost the sole reason for what playoff success the Canucks have had. His hit on McInnis in 2003 was the only reason we won that series, and his play in front of the net might have won it against Detriot if he hadn't been called for goalie interference multiple times (those who remember Hull's insurance marker that clinched Game 6 know how one-sided the officiating was in that series).

He is a great hockey player. Anyone who hasn't watched any of his highlight-reel goals lately should do so. Roger Clemens is a great pitcher, who threw his bat at the mound during the 2000 World Series. His intention? To injure the man who hit him with the ball. Does this make Clemens a "mean spirited" player? Does this make baseball a "violent, disgusting" sport? No it makes Clemens a man that made a mistake, and baseball a game that can get ugly at times. Clemens is still one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, and Bertuzzi is still the best power forward in hockey. Moore will recover, so Bertuzzi's detractors can just get over it.

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