Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Ask FS! 3/6/07

Welcome back loyal readers! It's time once again for the only internet column that adheres to such a strangely formulaic format, it's "Ask FS!" Today's question comes from Cam in New Jersey. Cam asks,
I think the NHL suspending me was stupid. Why is the NHL so stupid?
Thanks for writing in Cam! Good to hear from you. For those of you unaware, Cam Janssen was suspended 3 games earlier this week for a hit on Tomas Kaberle. The only problem is that I don't think it was that dirty. The NHL's press release called it a dirty hit without really specifying why. Kaberle was admiring his pass, and should have been paying attention. The Toronto media has thrown a collective hissy fit, somehow forgetting the pride they used to have in a team that always seemed to bend the rules. It has been claimed that the Janssen was late, making contact 3 seconds after the hit was made. Well, I've seen two different reports on how late it was, 1.3 seconds and 1.6 seconds. People claim it was an elbow, but the elbow didn't come up until after contact was made. People claim Janssen left his feet, which also didn't happen until after contact was made, and isn't even something that the league has been calling at all anymore. People claim Janssen hit Kaberle in the head intentionally, but Kaberle bent over as the check was coming in, you can't expect Jannsen to be held responsible for that. The media have claimed it was boarding, but the only reason that Kaberle was struck from behind is because he turned his back on Janssen as Cam was approaching. According to the NHL rulebook, there is nothing wrong with that, as the player about to be checked has a responsibility not to put himself into a dangerous position near the boards. So in the end Cam, you got a 3 game suspension of doing too good of a job of hitting someone. Congrats.

And once again, the NHL is faced with a disciplinary decision that became a business decision. Unwilling to piss off fans in Toronto, a city with a HUGE fanbase, the league decided to be unfair to a team with a much smaller fanbase in New Jersey, and that Cam, is just stupid.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hockey talk done Degrassi Junior High style

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE A JOKE... That hit was vicious. A meathead that plays 4 minutes a game totaly train wrecks one of the best defenceman in the league when he does not have the Puck. Common I am no Leaf fans but youg enforcers have to start showing some form of respect to veterans. Was that hit necessary no. Did it serve a purpose no. It just gave a spark to the leafs. Jansen aka Meathead cost the devils a point.

Abhinav said...

I am with anonymous(e) above. The hit was ridiculous. And frankly, since no penalty was called, some justice had to be done.

And, not that this justifies this, the injury played a part in the suspension. Does Warren Sapp catch nearly as much flak if he doesn't injure that guy on the Packers and instead just knocks him over? Mike something. They're all named Mike something though.

Anonymous said...

Your views are twisted and can janssen is nothing but a streak mark in the NHL. I'm a Canadiens fan myself, and I thought that the hit was disgusting. There is no need for a hit like that, especially to one of the Leafs' top players. Half of you Americans are completely bloodthirsty, needing fights and injuries in hockey to make it more "entertaining". If that hit was entertainment, I'd hate to see what you call a visious check. Janssen did leave his feet, and YES that is considered boarding...Janssen could have been called for charging or boarding on the play, or even intent to injure. I'd like to see you take a hit like that and see what you'd have to say about that. Asshole.

Anonymous said...

Your blog is joke.

Anonymous said...

Too bad the caps couldn't capitalize on the injury.

Anonymous said...

Now now now, let's all calm down. No need for "joke calling".

We can all disagree but let's chill out.

Anonymous said...

Joke calling ..well if the shoe fits.
This blog sounds like a grade school brat trying to write an essay on hockey without knowing anything about the game

Anonymous said...

The hit was dirty plain and simple.

Maybe you should actually watch some games from around the league rather than forming your opinions based on a few clips from Sportcenter.

Anonymous said...

"Unwilling to piss off fans in Toronto, a city with a HUGE fanbase, the league decided to be unfair to a team with a much smaller fanbase in New Jersey, and that Cam, is just stupid."

I have read a ton of different opinions on the whole incident, but this has to be the worst statement ever written.
Have you ever played hockey or for that matter watched any?
I am not even a Toronto fan but for you to claim the NHL made the decision in interest of the Maple Leafs is just plain stupid.
Now run away little boy

Anonymous said...

I think there is so many different views and opinions on this hit and we could all talk about it until we were blue in the face. The fact that there is so much discussion from people in blogs, on message boards, and in the media shows it was a boarder line hit.

Had this occured earlier in the season it might not have been this big of a deal. Had Kabrule not been injured, Janssen probably wouldn't have been suspended.

There are a lot of different view points and just because you don't agree with someone's opinion doesn't mean you have to personall attack them. There are a lot of different viewpoints about this hit, people are going to disagree, but calling people names just takes away from your opinion and credibility.

Anonymous said...

Who is Kabrule?

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Kabrele.

Anonymous said...

Are you dating the original poster?

Anonymous said...

Kaberle...I am having speeling issues today.

Anonymous said...

What???

Anonymous said...

"Too bad the caps couldn't capitalize on the injury. "
If the entire team was injured minus 5 players, they still could not capitalize

FS said...

I assume that is in response to the fact that the Caps were injured/minus 6 players?

Anonymous said...

WHat the FUCK???? Im sorry but that was just stupid "journalism" You should actually watch hockey instead of reading the newspaper the morning after and writing such a disgusting piece of work...Have some dignity or get a new job...

Anonymous said...

The hit was cheap and classless, there is no question about that.

I wonder how many NJD fans would call a hit "borderline" if the same thing happened to Gionta, Madden or Elias? I doubt few of them would.

As far as Janssen's suspension being a "business decision", well that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. If you were to know the track record of the NHL's disciplinary committee, you'd know the Leafs are one of the teams that get shafted the most. They get no favors from Colin Campbell.

Maybe this whole thing will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The fact that it happened to a player on the most supported hockey team in the world, who plays for a team representing the biggest hockey market in the world will get enough people's attention so that f**k-tards like Cam Janssen will spend the rest of their lives pumping gas or cleaning public restrooms for a living rather intentionally injuring people who can actually play hockey.

Anonymous said...

hey Meg are you cute?
You must be. Always nice to see a gal who likes hockey.

Anonymous said...

If you can get past the humpback and you like a chick with a bit of facial hair, I guess I am pretty cute. :P

Abhinav said...

I LOVE humpbacks, but only when featured prominently. And the only thing better than facial hair is facial warts that GROW hair.

;)

Anonymous said...

How can a humpback not be prominent? Warts that grow hair are pretty awesome, I can only wish I had one.

Anonymous said...

Stop crying LEAF fans! Call it a payback for Domi's hit on Niedermeyer a few years back! GOLF LEAFS GOLF! FOUR!!!!

Anonymous said...

"Stop crying LEAF fans! Call it a payback for Domi's hit on Niedermeyer a few years back! GOLF LEAFS GOLF! FOUR!!!! "


I see the elementary kids are on march break right now

Angel of Fear said...

That blog was such BULLSHIT. That was a viscous hit! How could Janssen actually do that to Kaberle. He is the best defenceman on the Leafs and to one of the best ON the Leafs. Janssen deserves that 3 games suspension. I, personally, would've gave him a penalty too because Kaberle got seriously injured and was out for a couple weeks. It hurt the Leafs as well. Thanks god Belak killed Janssen in that fight :)

Anonymous said...

how long have you been sleeping w/ cam janssen for? did you make him feel better when belak beat the shit out of him???