(Another alliteration-filled anecdote ) This news story may be for hockey fans, especially Canadian fans in general, but other people may find it interesting. Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver Canucks' superstar, has been suspended for the remaining 12 games in the regular season and throughout the full NHL playoffs for an incident which happened in a game Monday night versus the Colorado Avalanche. Bertuzzi had confronted Avalanche rookie Steve Moore for a fight but Moore didn't oblige. Bertuzzi then became incensed, skated up behind Moore, dropped his stick, tugged on the back of his sweater to slow Moore down, and sucker punched him with a gloved right hand in the side of the head. The blow left Moore unconcious immediately, which made him fall face forward with Bertuzzi on his back, unable to catch his fall. The fall left Moore with a broken neck (he's not paralysed), a broken jaw and deep facial lacerations. It was considered to be a viscious attack which had stemmed from a previous incident involving Moore and Canucks powerforward and captain Markus Naslund a month before. Naslund was going after a loose puck around centre ice and was blindsided by Moore before he had even touched the puck (this is illegal, it's called interference). Naslund, who understandably was not expecting to be blindsided, had to leave the game with a concussion which knocked him out of the Canucks lineup for 3 games, and facial cuts. Bertuzzi had vowed revenge after the game because his best friend and linemate Naslund had received the cheap shot from Moore. The play was not penalized and Moore was not supended, although in the minds of many hockey fans, he should have been. Last night, Todd had a very emotional news conference to apologize for his actions. In between sobs (this is unusual conduct from such a fierce competitor, very heartfelt) he apologized to Moore and family, the Canucks organization and hockey fans worldwide in a three-minute statement. "These comments are for Steve. I had no intention of hurting you, I feel awful for what transpired. To Steve's family, I'm sorry you had to go through this and I'm sorry again for what happened out there. I'm relieved to hear that Steve is going to have a full recovery, it means a lot to me to know that's going to happen." Bertuzzi then went on to apoloigize to Brian Burke, Vancouver Canucks GM and the organization, including staff and his linemates. Numerous times during his address, Bertuzzi choked up, at one time he had to turn his back to the cameras while he was uncontrollably sobbing. He ended the new conference with; ""To the game of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly story. I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person and I'm sorry for what happened." The incident is reminiscent of the Marty McSorley stick-swinging incident againt the Canucks' Donald Brashear in 2002. McSorley was banned for a year after swinging his stick at Brashear from behind in a baseball-esque way, hitting him in the temple and rendering him unconcious. This made Brashear fall backwards on the ice and hit his head. The 1-year suspension ended McSorleys (aged 37) 17-season NHL career. The incident is now being investigated by the Vancouver Police Force. Did anyone else see the hit? If you haven't, hopefully I described it well enough. Todd's a great guy, but he deserves what he got. It all ahppened in the heat of passion and Todd's not usually like that. He was just picking up for his friend and I'm sure he didn't pre-meditate to break Steve's neck. It was a stupid retaliatory mishap. To read more, check out these links; http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/hock...ion.ap/?cnn=yes http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/03/11/canad...zi_update040311 http://www.nhl.com/onthefly/news/2004/03/206088.html
yeah i agree with you mark even though i dont really know him. i think that hes sorry for what hes done and after being banned he'll control his anger while playing. but he isnt banned for ever, is he?
No, just for the rest of this season. His eligibility will be decided before training camp before the 2004-2005 season starts (if there is one).
He can say what he wants to, I still think he shouldnt play untill he really feels bad for it. Of course he's going to cry and whatnot at a press conference...it makes him not look like the bad guy. Point is, he still did it and he should suffer the consequences
He's very torn up about it. That's why everyone's insulting him, because he didn't have this press conference the day after the incident, he was too torn up about it to do the press conference to show he was truly sad. He hasn't slept since the incident. I do believe he's very remorseful about the incident. But the banning was justified, he did something incredibly stupid. I mean, if you broke some guys neck by an accident, (he threw the punch, but didn't want to break his neck, making the neck-breaking an accident) wouldn't you be extremely remorseful over it? I think it took guts to face the media publicly after a moronic mistake like this. he could've made a press release, or just called Steve Moore (which he tried doing beforehand, by the way), but there he is, telling millions of people, live, that's he's sorry. I admire him for it. Besides, he loves hockey, and being torn away from the playoffs for him is a severe punishment. He'll certainly regret this even more if Vancouver gets knocked out.
Mark, what is it with you and topic names. 'Bertuzzi Banned', 'Spain Train...', 'Serial Sniper Sentenced'. ------- I seen that hit, and he deserves what he recieved. That was a brutal hit.
I have to say that he deserved it, even though I do feel sorry for him I play hockey, so I know what its like to be all pumped up...You could tell he wasn't thinking straight at the time. Bertuzzi is a good guy though, and that he'll come back having learned his lesson. All I know is that I have never been for fighting in hockey and this stuff is a perfect example (he was trying to get Steve Moore to fight him at the time and Moore just skated away) of why they should crack down on fighting.
I heard about this from my history teacher this morning. It sent him into a tangent about unnecessary violence in sports, which I thought was rather ironic, considering he also the football coach I don't watch hockey, but from the way it sounds this guy deserves what he got. I know people fight a lot in hockey, but there is such a thing as taking it a bit too far.
He had exactly what he deserved ; getting banned for the end of the season will let him the time to think about what he did. Yeah, the neck-breaking wasn't his intention, however a punch has no place in hockey.
I think it was justified that he got banned. I do feel bad for Bertuzzi and of course for Moore. He didn't intend to break his neck at all. Fights happen all the time in hockey when players get pissed. Not only are they pissed but they have so much energy from playing the game. It's just worse that everyone is blaming him because he does feel so bad about it. The crying is not fake, he did it not only because of what he did, but because he didn't think anyone would forgive him, and it seems some people here don't.
Does anyone else think Vancouver has ANY chance at the cup now that Bertuzzi's out? If not, who do you think will win? I really think Toronto has the best playoff-experienced team in the league and I can't wait to see what they do. E
I think losing Bertuzzi was a huge blow to Vancouver's chances. I certainly hope Toronto wins this year (though I'm not holding my breath since every year I hope that they win and they never do) but I do think the Leafs have a good chance. As long as they don't play New Jersey or Ottawa, they should get to the conference final. I think Bertuzzi deserved his punishment. The hit was completely uncalled for. I do feel bad for him since he seemed genuinely disraught.