Hockey Fans: Bertuzzi slugs Moore... opinions?

Hey guys, did anyone else see this? One of the ugliest things i've ever seen in a hockey game. Absolutely brutal. Bertuzzi is a star in this league, and a great player, but the way he went about getting back at Moore was horrendous.

FYI: Steve Moore, a Colorado Avalanche player has broken 2 vertebrae in his neck as a result of a hit by the Vancouver Canucks Todd Bertuzzi. Moore had knocked out the Canucks captain with a clean hit last month, and Bertuzzi was getting "revenge" on Moore. He came up behind him, slugged him in the head, then slammed his head off of the ice; keep in mind, Moore weighs 205 lbs, Bertuzzi 245.

link: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=75668

Saw video replays tonight, absolutely rediculous, quite shocking to watch. It's one thing to be a man about it and "get back" with a good 'ole fashioned fight, but any sort of hit from behind is an extremely bad choice, besides for being unfair and not giving the other play a chance, it can result in serious injury, as you see here.

Granted, I'm sure Bertuzzi didn't intend to break vertebrae, but it sure looks like he was attempting to cause some sort of harm. Although I like Bertuzzi and think he has a lot of talent, something like this should not be tolerated and I'm sure he will face (well deserved) consequences.




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Anyone have a link to the video?

Try the NHL section of ESPN.com, you'll need to download ESPN Motion to view it. If you do not wish to, NHL.com might have it.



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it's disgusting, ruins the game. He needs to be HEAVILY fined, with some of the money given to Moore, with possible suspension.

Bert didn't "slam" his head into the ice. Moore was out cold when Bert hit him (with his glove on at that). If you watch the replay again. He realized Moore was unconcious and let off as he hit the ice. He also protected Moore as the other Av's piled on top of both of them.

I'm not trying to defend the incident. Just want the facts straight.

The NHL should take along hard look at removing the instigator rule. This incedent could have been settled in the original game where Nazzy was knocked out by Moore.

Not to mention the horrible reffing job lastnight. If the Canuks could have mounted a come back. You've got a 5-3 game going into the third. Instead they call two lame penalties against and the game gets out of hand.

BTW the Vanouver Police are looking into the incedent to see if charges should be laid.

Moore's a piece of crap, no doubt. He takes out Naslund, picks on some kid half his size, and refuses to go when Bert wanted to drop the gloves.

But you simply don't skate up behind someone, grab their jersey, and clock them in the temple like that than throw them down to the ice. It was definately dirty and the Tuzzer's going to get a well deserved severe suspension. Crawford in my mind is equally to blame for this.

I'm willing to bet the Colorado players who came in after and landed on Bert did their share of damage to Moore as well.

What's worse now is that he's got to tone down his aggressive play, which is what makes him such an impact player. He hurt his team big time going into the playoffs. Dumb move.

I found some videos incase anyone wanted to see it:

Smaller

Bigger

http://pcutil.home.comcast.net/bertuzzithorpe.jpg
Heya Bert! Buy ya a soda after the game?

Shocking... Saw it on the news a few days ago... Should be sent down for assault, never mind a fine.

Here's another clip for the Vancouver feed:
http://members.shaw.ca/terries/uploa...ehurt.mpeg.mp2

He's been suspended for the remainder of the season. And will need to go thru another hearing to be reinstated next year. Even tho there may be no season next year.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/shown...ntent=h031163A

Totally uncalled for. Forget the season, ban him from the league. Sports figures need to be on their very best behavior 110% of the time. It's one of the few small sacracfices they have to make in order to live that life.

That's a bit harsh. He WAS out of control, but banning him from the sport isn't going to do anything but make players timid.

By that rationale Don Zimmer and Roger Clemens should both be banned from baseball. Hell, half of the wings/avs would be gone from hockey.

Tempers flare in hockey. I think the punishment fits the crime. 'Tuzzer's not a known offender, he really is a big teddy bear...unless he catches you in the corner.

The only thing though about this incident...is that it was a premeditated retalitation for something that happend a month ago....and according to the commentators on the one video link I provided, the Canucks said publicly that they were going to get the Av's back for what they did in the previous game....

I think this goes way beyond just a normal eye for an eye during a game, ya know? This was a planned, team-sanctioned act of aggression. This is the equivalent of Reggie Dunlop putting a $100 bounty on Tim McCracken's head.

I don't know anything about the Don Zimmer or Roger Clemens incident so I can not comment on that.

The sucker punch was pretty bad, but from the looks of the video I don't think he meant to grind his face into the ice, it kind of just happened that way, especially as one of the other Ave's jumped on top of Bertuzzi, who was on top of Moore, it didn't help. It turned out to be a lot worse that what was probably intended, but **** happens I guess.

So how do you think we should punish players? By intent? Or result?

I think the league clearly punishes by intent. Look at the Hossa/Berard incident.

And while the 'Nucks were out for revenge, this was a product of not getting it. In their last game Moore hid behind Peter Worrell's skirt, in this game, he fought someone half his size, then refused to go when 'Tuzzi wanted to drop the gloves.

It's not as if this was the planned form of retaliation.

In summary: Moore is still a piece of crap. Not only the run at Naslund, but hiding the next game, and not facing up to the other team's enforcers in this one.

But it still doesn't justify Bert's actions.

*throws slap shot in the dvd player*

Don't you ever play Lady of Spain again!!!

You know...I think this was an absolutely disgusting act on Bertuzzi's part. This guy is a star in the league and should know what is and is not proper.

heat of that battle and all...whatever. This guy knows better and shouldn't be acting like that.

So, you know where I stand on this...however....

One of the most outspoken guys on this so far is Tony Granato, who, before 'tuzzi, was 9th on the list in NHL's history of the longest suspensions.

15 games: Tony Granato, Los Angeles, February 1994, for slashing Pittsburgh's Neil Wilkinson.

Ain't that the pot calling the kettle black?

RH

Umm, Bertuzzi was punching on the way down, and clearly tried to punch him again had it not been for the other guy joining in. There was no protection of the fallen player by the attacker there at all.

I don't watch a lot of hockey, but I saw the clip a few times on ESPN and quite frankly, anyone that comes even close to condoning that type of action in any sport on any level should be ashamed.

Don't get me wrong, no one likes a bench-clearing brawl more than I do, but to go for blind-sided payback well after the original hit is premeditated assault, not even remotely part of the game.

Rather than the NHL take action, Bertuzzi should be taken to court and face charges.

ban him for life...period.

that will set a much needed precedent...

Had he been known for taking things too far or close, I'd agree with you nords.

But the league isn't going to go banning a premier player.

Hockey players tend to police themselves. I gaurantee there's not a single soul in the league who wasn't horrified at this, or trying to justify his actions. There's no example needed, and banning him isn't going to defer anyone's future actions.

Megatoon's right, the instigator rule needs to go. Even in that game, Bertuzzi would've gotten away with an instigator penalty and a minor suspension if had had been jabberjawing with moore and was standing in front of him with a bit of shoving first.

it's just weird that hockey still allows fighting by giving penalties instead of suspensions. all other sports give suspensions, or at least ejections. why does this have to remain part of the sport? and maybe premiere players should set an example by NOT fighting if they are so 'needed'...

again, i'm not arguing, just asking - i've probably watched a total of 5 hockey games in my life!

on another note, its not the first sucker punch in hockey history. I don't think he have hit him like had he known he was gonna go down like that. I don't watch hockey but by the sounds of this thread that guy was kind of a *****. He fell forward and his feet went backwards causing the attacker to fall on him so it's not like he tackled him. Still uncalled for in any light but that dude shut off like a swtich! :p

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Originally posted by PAlexC
But the league isn't going to go banning a premier player.

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Then the league needs to get it's priorities straight.

Intentionally or not, the guy had his neck broken, and in a very malicious way. What's more important? Ticket sales, or the chance that he could have very easily never been able to walk again?

And how many kids are now saying 'I'll whack you like Bertuzzi'? What sort of message does it send if he gest nothing more than a fine? Not to mention the whole farce that is fining. Until fines become $1 million or more, will any professional sports players really take that as a serious punishment?

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Originally posted by PAlexC
There's no example needed, and banning him isn't going to defer anyone's future actions.

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Admittedly, I don't watch much hockey, but the idea that a lifetime ban would not deter future actions seems crazy. If players knew that the end of their career was awaiting them if the did this stuff, I think you would see it end quick.

The other major sports have lifetime bans for only a few incidents (gambling for baseball, a couple drug offenses in football, etc) and you don't see players committing those lifetime banishement offenses very often.

Hockey players aren't stupid, they aren't going to give up their career and all the money that goes with it to cheapshot a guy.

My 2 cents.

Adam

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Originally posted by jAQUAN
on another note, its not the first sucker punch in hockey history. I don't think he have hit him like had he known he was gonna go down like that. I don't watch hockey but by the sounds of this thread that guy was kind of a *****. He fell forward and his feet went backwards causing the attacker to fall on him so it's not like he tackled him. Still uncalled for in any light but that dude shut off like a swtich! :p

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Moore is certainly no "p***y". He's an excellent open-ice hitter. He also fought a player earlier in the game. When Bert hit him, he was knocked unconscious immediately.

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Originally posted by nordberg
again, i'm not arguing, just asking - i've probably watched a total of 5 hockey games in my life!

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They no comments on the role of fighting in hockey. ;)

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Moore is certainly no "p***y". He's an excellent open-ice hitter. He also fought a player earlier in the game. When Bert hit him, he was knocked unconscious immediately.

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He picked a fight with someone half his size. Hid behind Peter Worrell's skirt the game before, and wouldn't go when someone his size challenged him. He's a punk kid trying to make a name by taking a run at a star player. You can bet your ass if Jovonovski were around that kid would be laid out in a clean open-ice, scott-stevens-aint'-got-nothin'-on-me hit.

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Admittedly, I don't watch much hockey, but the idea that a lifetime ban would not deter future actions seems crazy. If players knew that the end of their career was awaiting them if the did this stuff, I think you would see it end quick.

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Hockey players frown upon cheap shots to begin with. Again, there's no one in the game right now laughing or smiling about this. Being that you don't watch a lot of hockey, I can assume you also don't know much about the attitudes and unwritten rules of the players. Even a guy like Tie Domi respects other players.

I think the punishment is just fine. It cost his team any shot they would have had at the cup. Maybe up the financial fine to a million.

I'm just saying that I think unwritten rules would be forgotten real quick if a lifetime ban from the game was likely...baseball has unwritten rules as well, but I doubt Clemens would throw at anyone's head in retaliation if he knew he'd be banned for life for doing it.

I'm not saying that Bertuzzi should be banned for life, I just think that a punishment that severe would limit these types of actions. It's not like it was a heat of the moment thing...he had time to think about it and would not have done it if he thought it would end his own career.

Adam

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Originally posted by nordberg
it's just weird that hockey still allows fighting by giving penalties instead of suspensions. all other sports give suspensions, or at least ejections. why does this have to remain part of the sport?

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Supposedly, keeping fighting in the game is supposed to prevent more serious incidents such as this...ya know, if the players can scrap a little bit here and there when they piss each other off they will not build up aggression and unleash a very vicious attack like in this case....

Take that for what its worth. That's what I have heard from commentators and the like..it is not necessarily my opinion on the matter. Although, I can see their point.

What else would all those pads be used for? Imagine the sport without contact, it would be almost as boring as soccer... sorry Nord.:p

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Originally posted by PAlexC
He picked a fight with someone half his size. Hid behind Peter Worrell's skirt the game before, and wouldn't go when someone his size challenged him. He's a punk kid trying to make a name by taking a run at a star player. You can bet your ass if Jovonovski were around that kid would be laid out in a clean open-ice, scott-stevens-aint'-got-nothin'-on-me hit.

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PAlex,

You know as well as I do that Moore's a rook trying to make a name for himself. But at the same time, he's trying to stay in the NHL. He's not a vastly talented player, and it's apparent his role in the NHL will be as a checking-line center. What did you want him to do as Nazzy was reaching for the puck? Should Moore have avoided contact all together? Not finishing your checks, whether it's on the best player in the game or against a 4th line plumber, gets you sent to the minors faster than you can say dangle. It just so happened to have been against arguably the best player in the world (I say arguably because I feel Forsberg is better).

Forsberg would school Nazzy in pond hockey, he's got way more grit. Call it a clean hit if you will, the league did. But he was going for the elbow. A good clean hard open-ice hit isn't anything new. This was cheap.