NHL Offseason 2011

[10spro]

The sheriff is back at it. It's only pre-season, not sure what some players are thinking.

[pk500]

I'm all for blind justice, but I also shed few tears to see Clutterbuck get nailed.

Still, that's a heavy penalty from Shanny. Dude means business, which is great for the game.

[toonarmy]

I'm all for blind justice, but I also shed few tears to see Clutterbuck get nailed.

Still, that's a heavy penalty from Shanny. Dude means business, which is great for the game.

Very true. As long as he stays consistent I will be very happy. So far, based on his videos, he appears to be robo-judge. He's not messing around with his decisions. He doesn't seem interested in making exceptions to the rules. If he continues down this course then the players will learn very quickly to respect the rules and not hope to get away with crap. Think about how many times under the moron that Shanny replaced that fans of a player that got suspended could point to half a dozen instances in which players from other teams did the exact same thing and never got penalized. Consistency will do wonders for the sport.

[pk500]

Interesting timeline of Crosby's concussion saga from Grantland:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/702 ... -lost-year

[toonarmy]

Looks like Simmonds will not be penalized for calling Avery a "f***in f*ggot," due to a lack of evidence. Likely a good decision even though anyone who can remotely read lips knows what he said. I guess I may be on the non-PC side of things here, but I think this issue is being blown way out of proportion. If Avery was known to be gay then I would be all for laying down the law on Simmonds, however terms like "homo" and "f*g" are used a ton in a manner that has nothing to do with demeaning the gay community. They are just words that have been used for decades now as an insult not relating to a person's sexual orientation. Pests like Avery try to get reactions from other players and all Simmonds was doing was yelling back at a pest with no thought about anyone's sexual orientation. Hockey players at all levels use those aforementioned terms constantly. This kind of thing is PC gone overboard IMO.

Also, it looks like the guy who threw a banana is denying it was racist and claims to be "mortified."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=A ... nathrowing

Perhaps he had no racial intent, but he's going to have a hard time convincing people of that given that he threw a banana on the ice at the only black player in the shootout for Philly. It is odd that he even had a banana at a hockey game. He would have had to put some serious forethought into thinking there would be a shootout and a black player would be in that shootout so that he could throw a banana to make a racist statement. Either way it was a sheer act of stupidity on his part and it looks like he will be fined for his actions.

[vader29]

Looks like Simmonds will not be penalized for calling Avery a "f***in f*ggot," due to a lack of evidence. Likely a good decision even though anyone who can remotely read lips knows what he said. I guess I may be on the non-PC side of things here, but I think this issue is being blown way out of proportion. If Avery was known to be gay then I would be all for laying down the law on Simmonds, however terms like "homo" and "f*g" are used a ton in a manner that has nothing to do with demeaning the gay community. They are just words that have been used for decades now as an insult not relating to a person's sexual orientation. Pests like Avery try to get reactions from other players and all Simmonds was doing was yelling back at a pest with no thought about anyone's sexual orientation. Hockey players at all levels use those aforementioned terms constantly. This kind of thing is PC gone overboard IMO.

I don't believe Kevin Stevens was punished for saying it in the '91 Cup Finals:

[pk500]

That video is an all-time classic. I never tire of hearing Trottier chirp, "You f*ckin' titf*cker."

[toonarmy]

Looks like Simmonds will not be penalized for calling Avery a "f***in f*ggot," due to a lack of evidence. Likely a good decision even though anyone who can remotely read lips knows what he said. I guess I may be on the non-PC side of things here, but I think this issue is being blown way out of proportion. If Avery was known to be gay then I would be all for laying down the law on Simmonds, however terms like "homo" and "f*g" are used a ton in a manner that has nothing to do with demeaning the gay community. They are just words that have been used for decades now as an insult not relating to a person's sexual orientation. Pests like Avery try to get reactions from other players and all Simmonds was doing was yelling back at a pest with no thought about anyone's sexual orientation. Hockey players at all levels use those aforementioned terms constantly. This kind of thing is PC gone overboard IMO.

I don't believe Kevin Stevens was punished for saying it in the '91 Cup Finals:

LMAO! One of my favorite hockey clips. Good stuff.

[LAking]

Looks like Simmonds will not be penalized for calling Avery a "f***in f*ggot," due to a lack of evidence. Likely a good decision even though anyone who can remotely read lips knows what he said. I guess I may be on the non-PC side of things here, but I think this issue is being blown way out of proportion. If Avery was known to be gay then I would be all for laying down the law on Simmonds, however terms like "homo" and "f*g" are used a ton in a manner that has nothing to do with demeaning the gay community. They are just words that have been used for decades now as an insult not relating to a person's sexual orientation. Pests like Avery try to get reactions from other players and all Simmonds was doing was yelling back at a pest with no thought about anyone's sexual orientation. Hockey players at all levels use those aforementioned terms constantly. This kind of thing is PC gone overboard IMO.

Also, it looks like the guy who threw a banana is denying it was racist and claims to be "mortified."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=A ... nathrowing

Perhaps he had no racial intent, but he's going to have a hard time convincing people of that given that he threw a banana on the ice at the only black player in the shootout for Philly. It is odd that he even had a banana at a hockey game. He would have had to put some serious forethought into thinking there would be a shootout and a black player would be in that shootout so that he could throw a banana to make a racist statement. Either way it was a sheer act of stupidity on his part and it looks like he will be fined for his actions.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you here. Do you honestly think that calling someone a f*g has nothing to do with sexual orientation? People use that term as an insult precisely because being labeled as gay is supposed to make someone feel like less of a man. Homosexuals have been looked down upon for most of human history. To call someone a f*ggot is to try to insult them, because historically there is nothing more insulting to a man than to be called a homosexual.

I agree that Simmonds shouldn't have been suspended because you can't prove without a doubt that he did it, but I completely understand Avery's point. Avery has said some pretty dumb things in the past, including allegedly using racist insults, but that doesn't mean that he can't be right in this situation.

I'm sure he's been called f*g on many occasions. He's not shy about his love for women's fashion and his support of gay rights. My theory is that he saw this as an opportunity to make a statement about the use of "f*g" as a completely acceptable form of insult, on the same level as just calling someone an asshole. He may have wanted to point out the parallels of what happened to Simmonds the other night and the use of the word f*g.

It shouldn't be acceptable to call someone a f*ggot, or cock sucker, or whatever, just as it's not acceptable to call someone nigger or kyke. You rarely hear those terms because they are no longer accepted by society as a whole and I don't think it's unreasonable to think that words used to demean homosexuals should join them in the dust bin of history.

Sorry this is pretty off topic but I feel like I had to say something.

[toonarmy]

Looks like Simmonds will not be penalized for calling Avery a "f***in f*ggot," due to a lack of evidence. Likely a good decision even though anyone who can remotely read lips knows what he said. I guess I may be on the non-PC side of things here, but I think this issue is being blown way out of proportion. If Avery was known to be gay then I would be all for laying down the law on Simmonds, however terms like "homo" and "f*g" are used a ton in a manner that has nothing to do with demeaning the gay community. They are just words that have been used for decades now as an insult not relating to a person's sexual orientation. Pests like Avery try to get reactions from other players and all Simmonds was doing was yelling back at a pest with no thought about anyone's sexual orientation. Hockey players at all levels use those aforementioned terms constantly. This kind of thing is PC gone overboard IMO.

Also, it looks like the guy who threw a banana is denying it was racist and claims to be "mortified."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=A ... nathrowing

Perhaps he had no racial intent, but he's going to have a hard time convincing people of that given that he threw a banana on the ice at the only black player in the shootout for Philly. It is odd that he even had a banana at a hockey game. He would have had to put some serious forethought into thinking there would be a shootout and a black player would be in that shootout so that he could throw a banana to make a racist statement. Either way it was a sheer act of stupidity on his part and it looks like he will be fined for his actions.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you here. Do you honestly think that calling someone a f*g has nothing to do with sexual orientation? People use that term as an insult precisely because being labeled as gay is supposed to make someone feel like less of a man. Homosexuals have been looked down upon for most of human history. To call someone a f*ggot is to try to insult them, because historically there is nothing more insulting to a man than to be called a homosexual.

I agree that Simmonds shouldn't have been suspended because you can't prove without a doubt that he did it, but I completely understand Avery's point. Avery has said some pretty dumb things in the past, including allegedly using racist insults, but that doesn't mean that he can't be right in this situation.

I'm sure he's been called f*g on many occasions. He's not shy about his love for women's fashion and his support of gay rights. My theory is that he saw this as an opportunity to make a statement about the use of "f*g" as a completely acceptable form of insult, on the same level as just calling someone an asshole. He may have wanted to point out the parallels of what happened to Simmonds the other night and the use of the word f*g.

It shouldn't be acceptable to call someone a f*ggot, or cock sucker, or whatever, just as it's not acceptable to call someone nigger or kyke. You rarely hear those terms because they are no longer accepted by society as a whole and I don't think it's unreasonable to think that words used to demean homosexuals should join them in the dust bin of history.

Sorry this is pretty off topic but I feel like I had to say something.

I 100% respect your opinion on the matter and know where you are coming from. I also appreciate Avery having the balls to stand up for his beliefs on gay rights. If someone uses an anti-Jewish or anti-black slur then it is generally used with malice toward those groups. My point is that in hockey culture slurs such as homo and f*g don't usually have the intent of directing malice at gay folks. At one point calling someone a moron was a really bad thing because it was a slur against people with low mental capacity. However, now it is not nearly as unacceptable as calling someone a retard. When someone calls another person a moron it has nothing to do with trying to show malice toward people with retardation.

[Diablo25]

Pronger playing against the Devils for the frst time this pre season. Looks decent. MLB Playoffs and the NHL regular season starting soon. Good stuff.

[Lancer]

LGBT slurs have to stop if we are to get any kind of rights in this country.

We are way behind most of the Westernized world when it comes to LGBT rights.

My partner and I should have the same protection under the law as any heterosexual couple here in this country.

I'm not even going to get into Marriage as I know that will start a whole new argument.

I guess this is sort of political and I apologize but I had to stand up and say something.

I know Avery has a lot of LGBT friends in the NY area and has courage in my opinion saying that as a hockey player on many interviews.

I dont know about his sexuality and it's really none of anyone's business , but at least give the guy some props for being brave in addressing this.

[Naples39]

I think there has to be a reality check here regarding Simmonds.

Incredibly vile trash talk is part of the culture of hockey, and what these guys say to each other on the ice always stays on the ice. None of it is fit for public consumption. Off the record NHL officials have admitted they hear language like Simmonds about 10x a game.

Avery is also the wrong messenger for this. Twice in the past he's been accused of calling black players monkeys, he's mouthed off about his sloppy seconds to the media, has raised the ire of other players by going after wives and kids which is considered over the line, and quite frankly his MO on the ice is to agitate verbally and physically, then turtle in a fight and whine to the refs and dive when it comes back his way. This game he threw cheap shots, repeatedly threatened to "f*cking kill Giroux", then turtled in a fight with Simmonds and instead of appealing to the refs for trash talk he takes it to the media after the game.

It's double talk to suddenly get on the high horse about trash talk between the players. Should we suspend players everytime they call each other pussies or c*** because it's degrading to women too?

It doesn't make it right, it doesn't justify it, it's just the way it is.

[Diablo25]

I think there has to be a reality check here regarding Simmonds.

Incredibly vile trash talk is part of the culture of hockey, and what these guys say to each other on the ice always stays on the ice. None of it is fit for public consumption. Off the record NHL officials have admitted they hear language like Simmonds about 10x a game.

Avery is also the wrong messenger for this. Twice in the past he's been accused of calling black players monkeys, he's mouthed off about his sloppy seconds to the media, has raised the ire of other players by going after wives and kids which is considered over the line, and quite frankly his MO on the ice is to agitate verbally and physically, then turtle in a fight and whine to the refs and dive when it comes back his way. This game he threw cheap shots, repeatedly threatened to "f*cking kill Giroux", then turtled in a fight with Simmonds and instead of appealing to the refs for trash talk he takes it to the media after the game.

It's double talk to suddenly get on the high horse about trash talk between the players. Should we suspend players everytime they call each other pussies or c*** because it's degrading to women too?

It doesn't make it right, it doesn't justify it, it's just the way it is.

Bulls eye to our boy Naples. If I told you some of the s*** I saw/heard on the field, in the clubhouse, etc. when I was in the minors you would be shocked. It stayed there. The PC society we live in is getting out of control. Bullwinkle writers are getting a hell of a lot of mileage out of a nothing story.

[Diablo25]

Here is our brave trailblazer Mr. Avery in the same game where the "slurs" occurred. For the record I don't have a problem with this kind of talk on the ice. He is just making a point to the officials. Taken in the context of the game I don't have a problem with it.
NSFW.

[Lancer]

ok i didnt know about his racist comments. What a scumbag hehe.

[XXXIV]

Dude means business, which is great for the game.

Shanny setting the tone early...Im all for it!

Its about time to ignore the lowlife fan contingent this sport has to carry and take care of s*** before someone gets killed. Too many asshole gorrillas getting away with far too much for far too long.

[Naples39]

More good work by Shanahan, tough punishment on a hit that doesn't need to be dangerous but could lead to serious injury.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=125539

[LAking]

I think there has to be a reality check here regarding Simmonds.

Incredibly vile trash talk is part of the culture of hockey, and what these guys say to each other on the ice always stays on the ice. None of it is fit for public consumption. Off the record NHL officials have admitted they hear language like Simmonds about 10x a game.

Avery is also the wrong messenger for this. Twice in the past he's been accused of calling black players monkeys, he's mouthed off about his sloppy seconds to the media, has raised the ire of other players by going after wives and kids which is considered over the line, and quite frankly his MO on the ice is to agitate verbally and physically, then turtle in a fight and whine to the refs and dive when it comes back his way. This game he threw cheap shots, repeatedly threatened to "f*cking kill Giroux", then turtled in a fight with Simmonds and instead of appealing to the refs for trash talk he takes it to the media after the game.

It's double talk to suddenly get on the high horse about trash talk between the players. Should we suspend players everytime they call each other pussies or c*** because it's degrading to women too?

It doesn't make it right, it doesn't justify it, it's just the way it is.

Bulls eye to our boy Naples. If I told you some of the s*** I saw/heard on the field, in the clubhouse, etc. when I was in the minors you would be shocked. It stayed there. The PC society we live in is getting out of control. Bullwinkle writers are getting a hell of a lot of mileage out of a nothing story.

I just can't buy the "PC society" argument. Is it OK to EVER use the word nigger on the ice, whether there are black players involved or not? I would suspect not. There is absolutely nothing wrong or overly PC about trying to remove f*ggot from our culture's everyday lexicon, just as nigger was before it?

I don't even think Simmonds should be suspended because I understand that it's part of the culture, but I do believe that needs to change. I just think that Avery made the right call in pointing it out and bringing awareness to the issue. I have no problem with Simmonds calling Avery just about every insult in the book, but certain words just shouldn't be used because they have a greater impact on our general treatment of certain minorities than you might think. As long as f*g is commonly used as a derogatory term, and more specifically in sports, then there will be gay people/athletes who will have to hide who they are for fear of being ostracized by their own teammates/family/friends.

And with that, I'm done with this topic. Back to hockey. Happy to see Drew Doughty finally sign a nice long contract.

[greggsand]

Ultimately, the league is going to have to clean-up language on the ice (or field or court or stands, etc). Cameras & mics are getting closer to the action by the minute. TV's are getting bigger and sharper. Players and coaches are being "mic'd up", and so on & so on...

There's too much at stake in televised sports to risk a bunch of "bombs" going out over the air (esp racists bombs) . I don't think anyone wants to watch a hockey game on 30 second delay.

[pk500]

I just can't buy the "PC society" argument. Is it OK to EVER use the word nigger on the ice, whether there are black players involved or not? I would suspect not. There is absolutely nothing wrong or overly PC about trying to remove f*ggot from our culture's everyday lexicon, just as nigger was before it?

I wince when I hear the word "n*gger," whether it's used by people of other races toward blacks or within the black community toward each other.

Blacks call each other "n*gger" in pop culture, music and everyday life, and I think that's wrong, too. The word "n*gger" should disappear within the black community. Otherwise, any effort to eliminate the use of that word by other races toward black people is somewhat hollow.

Agree on the signing of Doughty. Great move by the Kings!

[10spro]

Ultimately, the league is going to have to clean-up language on the ice (or field or court or stands, etc). Cameras & mics are getting closer to the action by the minute. TV's are getting bigger and sharper. Players and coaches are being "mic'd up", and so on & so on...

There's too much at stake in televised sports to risk a bunch of "bombs" going out over the air (esp racists bombs) . I don't think anyone wants to watch a hockey game on 30 second delay.

The intent will be there but I seriously doubt that washing someone's big yap with soap in any sport event is achievable despite the 3D cameras focusing on the athlete and what have you. In some cases a verbal insult may get the little psychological edge for some but it'll always be there, not just Hockey but in any physical contact sport.

[Naples39]

Probably the most creative shootout goal yet (non-NHL);

[XXXIV]

Pretty sweet.

The goalie looking around for some kind of help from anywhere is classic.

[toonarmy]

Great deal for the Kings. They have locked up an elite player at his position for a long time, and at a good price. It was a signing they had to make, so I'm surprised it took them this long since I'm sure it would have been better to have DD in camp earlier on. Good that they at least got it done before the trip to Europe. I look forward to seeing the Kings play my Sharks this year. I love their style of play and personnel on the ice.