Gary's NHL

On 2008-02-05, kovy <so DeleteThis @happy.com> wrote:
>
> Oh, I'm sooooo sorry to damage your delicate sensibilities with my boorish
> violence. I'll go right ahead and let you get back to ballet class,
> Katharine.

That's "dyke march" to you.

--keith

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On 2008-02-05, Bender <Jeffrey.S.Morrison DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I misspoke earlier. I don't think they need to be sending Kovalev a
> message (he's not typically a dirty player), but a fine would at least
> send a message to the rest of the league that, even if you get away
> with it in the game, you're not completely off the hook. Fines build
> up, then suspensions follow.

Maybe, but with the current fine structure the message would be
effective only for those not making a whole lot of money. Granted,
those are the same guys who seem to be committing these infractions, so
maybe it's not as bad an idea as I've portrayed.

> I don't think Hollweg intended that to happen. I think he was looking
> to cross check someone in the lower back. The Montreal player turned
> at the worst possible time, and Hollweg caught him in the lower hip
> and catapulted him into the boards. That obviously doesn't forgive
> it, up I don't think his ultimate goal was to hurt someone. His
> ultimate goal was to hit someone, and get into a fight.

I don't think his ultimate goal was to hurt somebody, but I do think his
goal with that hit was to ram his head into the boards. It was slightly
unfortunate that it went into the dasher instead, but he was far enough
off the boards that Hollweg should have pulled back. And yes, I believe
he had the time to do so, too.

> On that same note, I also don't think Kovalev intended to throw the
> elbow. Hollweg moved at the last second, and Kovalev just tried to
> catch him with any part of his body.

I disagree here, too. If you see the replay you can see the elbow
coming up a second or two before he tags Hollweg. I think he meant to
hit Hollweg, in the head, with his elbow.

> Kovalchuk, on the other hand, decided to take a running start, and
> leap into the back of a guy facing the boards. In my opinion, his
> intent was much clearer than Hollweg's.

I have to admit I haven't seen this hit yet. When I am at a suitable
computer I will try to see it. But I wouldn't doubt that Kovalchuk's
intent might have been more obvious--that just means that, if you're
right, Kovalchuk should be suspended 20 games, Hollweg 10.

> Again, that doesn't absolve Hollweg at all, but I think the replay
> indicates the intent, and that's why Hollweg only got 1 game.

We will have to leave it at that, then, since I think the replay clearly
indicates intent to ram an unprotected player into the boards head
first.

If I may be even more cynical, I think the league would have read your
interpretation into Hollweg's play even if they actually agreed with me,
on the grounds that they don't want to be forced to suspend Kovalev, a
player with actual talent, but realized that both players needed a
somewhat equitable punishment. Better for the league to give the
smallest possible punishment to Hollweg, so that Kovalev gets off, than
to suspend Hollweg N games and have to also suspend Kovalev.

--keith

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