Post by Jazz on May 29, 2004 13:49:17 GMT -5
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
If Derian Hatcher can play in the World Cup, why can't Todd Bertuzzi, Steve Simmons asks[/b]
By STEVE SIMMONS -- Toronto Sun
souce: slam.canoe.ca/Slam040527/col_simmons-sun.html
Warning: the following is not intended as any kind of defence of Todd Bertuzzi's indefensible actions.
But in the wake of Bertuzzi's exclusion from Team Canada, some troubling questions remain.
They begin with mixed messages from Team Canada, and a double standard from the National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association.
The assumption from the beginning seemed clear enough -- that Bertuzzi was left off the Canadian team at the World Cup of Hockey for two basic reasons.
One, Hockey Canada wanted to disassociate itself from him after the Steve Moore incident. Two, because of the nature of Bertuzzi's suspension, there was no assurance that he would be eligible to play.
The first reason was made apparently clear when the roster announcement was televised live and almost the first words spoken by a Hockey Canada official was the term "role model."
"We consider all our players to be role models," Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada, said yesterday in an interview.
The first role model announced to the Canadian roster was Dany Heatley of the Atlanta Thrashers. The same Heatley who was the driver of the car last fall that caused the death of teammate Dan Snyder under what still seem to be mysterious circumstances.
The second role model announced was Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins. The same Thornton who was pepper-sprayed by police in southwestern Ontario for his late-night brawling two summers ago.
Apparently, the definition of role model -- and what is and isn't acceptable -- depends on whether the action was committed on or off the ice.
Bertuzzi, dislike him or not, is being held to a different standard from those who were selected ahead of him.
And it isn't just with Hockey Canada. The same is true with the NHL. Bertuzzi, who is suspended indefinitely, is not cleared to play in the World Cup, which is an NHL- and NHLPA-sanctioned event. Derian Hatcher of the Detroit Red Wings, who is suspended for the first three games of the next NHL season, is allowed to play. Why the difference?
The NHL explains it this way: Hatcher's suspension is finite and Bertuzzi's is not. Therefore, Hatcher is cleared to play where Bertuzzi hasn't been.
Hockey Canada has actually asked for clarification, not in the case of Bertuzzi, but in the case of Hatcher. "We'll bring it up again," Nicholson said. "We wouldn't name a suspended player to our list and they (U.S.) shouldn't be allowed to use a suspended player.
"In my view, if you allow Hatcher, you allow Bertuzzi. This is an NHL and NHLPA event. They make the rules. If a suspension holds up, it should hold up for everyone."
The role Wayne Gretzky plays in this scenario is typically fascinating. Gretzky, historically, has been a huge supporter of close friends in trouble, no matter what the trouble happened to be.
Bruce McNall stole from banks. Marty McSorley clubbed Donald Brashear across the head with his stick. Gretzky stood by his friends faithfully.
But he showed an unwillingness to fight for Bertuzzi, possibly because he was concerned about his own reputation being dirtied by the process, or because there is almost no prior relationship between the player and Gretzky.
"I certainly feel for Todd," Nicholson said. "He has admitted what he did was wrong."
And now, his return to hockey is far more about politics than it is about sport.
If Derian Hatcher can play in the World Cup, why can't Todd Bertuzzi, Steve Simmons asks[/b]
By STEVE SIMMONS -- Toronto Sun
souce: slam.canoe.ca/Slam040527/col_simmons-sun.html
Warning: the following is not intended as any kind of defence of Todd Bertuzzi's indefensible actions.
But in the wake of Bertuzzi's exclusion from Team Canada, some troubling questions remain.
They begin with mixed messages from Team Canada, and a double standard from the National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association.
The assumption from the beginning seemed clear enough -- that Bertuzzi was left off the Canadian team at the World Cup of Hockey for two basic reasons.
One, Hockey Canada wanted to disassociate itself from him after the Steve Moore incident. Two, because of the nature of Bertuzzi's suspension, there was no assurance that he would be eligible to play.
The first reason was made apparently clear when the roster announcement was televised live and almost the first words spoken by a Hockey Canada official was the term "role model."
"We consider all our players to be role models," Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada, said yesterday in an interview.
The first role model announced to the Canadian roster was Dany Heatley of the Atlanta Thrashers. The same Heatley who was the driver of the car last fall that caused the death of teammate Dan Snyder under what still seem to be mysterious circumstances.
The second role model announced was Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins. The same Thornton who was pepper-sprayed by police in southwestern Ontario for his late-night brawling two summers ago.
Apparently, the definition of role model -- and what is and isn't acceptable -- depends on whether the action was committed on or off the ice.
Bertuzzi, dislike him or not, is being held to a different standard from those who were selected ahead of him.
And it isn't just with Hockey Canada. The same is true with the NHL. Bertuzzi, who is suspended indefinitely, is not cleared to play in the World Cup, which is an NHL- and NHLPA-sanctioned event. Derian Hatcher of the Detroit Red Wings, who is suspended for the first three games of the next NHL season, is allowed to play. Why the difference?
The NHL explains it this way: Hatcher's suspension is finite and Bertuzzi's is not. Therefore, Hatcher is cleared to play where Bertuzzi hasn't been.
Hockey Canada has actually asked for clarification, not in the case of Bertuzzi, but in the case of Hatcher. "We'll bring it up again," Nicholson said. "We wouldn't name a suspended player to our list and they (U.S.) shouldn't be allowed to use a suspended player.
"In my view, if you allow Hatcher, you allow Bertuzzi. This is an NHL and NHLPA event. They make the rules. If a suspension holds up, it should hold up for everyone."
The role Wayne Gretzky plays in this scenario is typically fascinating. Gretzky, historically, has been a huge supporter of close friends in trouble, no matter what the trouble happened to be.
Bruce McNall stole from banks. Marty McSorley clubbed Donald Brashear across the head with his stick. Gretzky stood by his friends faithfully.
But he showed an unwillingness to fight for Bertuzzi, possibly because he was concerned about his own reputation being dirtied by the process, or because there is almost no prior relationship between the player and Gretzky.
"I certainly feel for Todd," Nicholson said. "He has admitted what he did was wrong."
And now, his return to hockey is far more about politics than it is about sport.