Avs don't blame Johnson
Here's a bit more of the aftermath of the Johnson-Smyth incident from last night, as reported by Rick Sadowski of the Rocky Mountain News (you might remember his coverage of the Kings at the Daily News, way back when...)
Joe Sakic: “It wasn’t a dirty hit. (Smyth) hit the corner of the glass and that’s a dangerous spot. It’s just unfortunate where it was.”
Jack Johnson: ``It’s just unfortunate that (Smyth) hit the turnbuckle,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to hurt anyone out there. Obviously I feel bad. I just hope he’s OK and can get back to his (Stanley) Cup run.''
You can read Rick's full game story here.
Also, Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla essentially calls out Avalanche fans for the way they booed Johnson and wanted him to be attacked after the incident. It's a great read, whether you agree with it or not, in which Mark talks about the bigger picture, the culture of violence within the sport.
In response to Mark Kiszla's comment about hockey's goon culture, I have this to say. At least hockey has a code that it stands by whether he likes it or not. How come he's not bitching about the bench clearing episodes in baseball when someone gets hit by a pitch or intentionally thrown at? Maybe MLB should allow the pitcher and batter to settle it like men instead of allowing 60 men to rush the field in a mini riot. Hockey stopped the benchclearing brawls of yesteryear but still allows players to settle the injustices on the ice themselves. I'm not condoning violence on the ice because hockey is a beautiful sport with all of the skills needed to play it, but if you've never played it don't bitch about what players do to settle a score. Why doesn't this jerk go write an article about Ultimate Fighting where they beat the shit out of each other? God forbid a network show a hockey fight (thanks to our liberal friends who think dodgeball is degrading and the U.S. is a terrorist state), but UFC is O.K.
I hear this anti-fighting argument a lot. "Stop the fighting. It's a goon mentality. It serves no purpose."
Well, real hockey fans know that it DOES serve a purpose, and it's got little to do with entertaining the fans. Hockey is one of the most physically dangerous sports, and people get hurt. Fighting is the game's way of sending messages that penalties, suspensions, and fines can't. That if you hurt our guy, you'll have to pay a price.
Now I'm NOT advocating a bloodsport. I would have had no problem if Jack Johnson fought Lappy or Parker or anyone else on the ice.
The issue that everyone ignores is there's a difference between fighting and mindless violence.
A "retribution fight" for a hit on a player belongs in the NHL. Todd Bertuzzi's hit on Steve Moore doesn't. Nor does Chris Simon. Nor does Marty McSorley using his stick as a baseball bat vs. a guy's head.
Eliminate the senseless violence. Keep the fighting.
And regarding the Avs fans booing Johnson the rest of the game, it didn't surprise me one bit. They've never had any class. Last night was just another example.
I was at the game -- wearing a Kings jersey, no less -- and it got pretty hairy after the Johnson hit. A woman four seats away from me was SHAKING with rage, screaming, over and over, "KILL HIM!!!!"
And my friend's wife summed it up best when the crowd started chanting "We want Parker." "Why don't they just chant, 'Bloodlust'"