pogomutt

Really. The NFL just assumed responsibility. I can't imagine the NHL being far behind. They do it to forestall endless litigation against the league itself. As to Moore, I took worse ass-whippings than that as a 10 year-old peewee in Wetaskiwin.

Looks like the consensus is "guilty". So one hockey player intentionally injured another. So what if Bertuzzi is found guilty in a civil court and a large damage award is instructed by a jury? Will this open the floodgates for litigation in the NHL? What if everybody who gets injured in a fight, sues for damages? That's definitely a case of two players intentionally doing bodily harm to one another. I can see why the courts are reluctant to hear cases like this. If you're going to play in leagues like the NHL or NFL, there's a very good chance that you're going to be injured, maybe seriously, and the guy inflicting the injury may be doing it intentionally. That's the nature of "contact sports". I think it should be up to the league to handle these situations. It ought to be a clause in player's contracts that no matter how they're injured during a game, they won't pursue civil litigation. The NFL just ponied up $750 million for injured NFL veterans, players who suffered mainly concussion injuries. The NHL needs to establish a similar trust for its long-term casualties. So where are we heading? "Touch" hockey? "Flag" hockey? Not a chance. This is the era of the goon, and the fans love it. You've got to be a big person to play professional hockey anymore. 6'2" and 210 lbs. is getting to be average, and there are players much bigger than that. Fights? Should we eliminate them altogether? Sure, then you and the other 123 fans who show up, can enjoy all your NHL home games together. I was reminded of the true nature of the NHL during the past player strike, when Gary Bettman was on the NHL Channel discussing fighting. I paraphrase him here. "The NHL isn't a purist endeavor. It's a big money business. It's sports entertainment. We wouldn't have fighting as part of the game if the fans didn't love that aspect of professional hockey". Amen.

This isn't the first time. I remember reading last year about two early lawsuits involving wrongful injury & death that were heard by the courts on behalf of NHL players/family. These went back to the 40's I think. The case involving wrongful injury was thrown out by the jury. The wrongful death case involving a first degree murder charge was reduced to manslaughter, and the player convicted thereof. He'd slashed another player across the chest who died of a heart attack before he hit the ice.

I'm still bummed ooot that the Avs lost game 7 in overtime. But I have to remember that the Avs gave we fans a fantastic year, and I have to remember too that we scored one incredible coach. I see nothing but good things in the Avs future. Thanks for an amazing season, boys.

I agree. It's getting as bad as French soccer. I've so many obvious dives this year and I don't remember any of them being penalized.

Where's Don Cherry when we need him?