Abel to Yzerman
Deny. Deny. Deny
by IwoCPO on 10/20/09 at 10:14 AM ET
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So. I don’t think it’s been an outright directive from the Hahn Office of Information Control. I don’t think he’s sat the Diggers down collectively, or individually, and bluntly told them the subject is off-limits.
But I’m damn near certain the organ-I-zation has made it clear that when our Deep Diggers write about Todd Bertuzzi? The topic of Steve Moore is just not something they’d like touched upon.
Shhhh…don’t tell anyone but Clarice has been talking to Lecter…he’s kind of an advisor. Don’t…tell…anybody.
Whoa bitches. Whoa. I’m no hypocrite. I dug the Bertuzzi deal the first time and I like it now. Frankly, I like the guy. I loved the way he played against us in 2002 and I’ll bet Chris Chelios would tell you the same thing. And I’ll even say this: I frigging like the fact that he stuck up for his teammates that night in Denver. Do I condone what he did? Nope. But I’m not him. I didn’t make that split-second, career and life-changing decision and I didn’t have that adrenaline going or the anger at knowing what Steve Moore had done to one of his Canuck teammates.
This is not a Bertuzzi defense post though. Nope. This is me wondering why the hell a story that is one of the most (in)famous in hockey history is so rarely, if ever, touched upon by our beat writers.
Today’s a prime example. Everyone’s talking toughness. Somehow, the Digger Agenda today landed back on the Bertuzzi plate and we’re all about toughness and whether the big boy brings it. And if so, how?
Bertuzzi’s last fight was last March against Rostislav Klesla, it was one of two fights he had last season (the other was against Jordin Tootoo).
“I’ve never been known as a guy who comes in and fights 10 to 15 times a year,” Bertuzzi said. “I will take care of myself and take care of the guys I am out there with if somebody is taking liberties with them. But I am not the kind of guy who is looking for it. If it’s there, then it’s there. It’s part of the game.”
That’s Chris McCoskey. New guy. New Digger but a quick learner. Nothing controversial. Nothing to ruffle any organ-I-zational feathers. And definitely, frigging certainly, no mention of the elephant in the Bertuzzi room.
Bert will “take care of the guys” he’s out there with, especially if somebody is “taking liberties”? Great. Love to see it.
But isn’t an obvious tie to a story like this a mention of the Moore incident and whether that affects the way Bertuzzi plays the game? You’re damn right it is. So, we’ll avoid it altogether.
You don’t think the Diggers see the angle, the connection? You don’t think their instincts tell them to ask the question? Of course they do. But they don’t. And the only reason why is because John Hahn, or Kenny Holland, or Jimmy Frigging D…somebody’s telling them that if they do, well…access—that all-important necessity—may not be what it used to be.
Want to know the last time one of the beat writers really connected the dots? September 24th, and it was a good one from McCoskey. Check this out, and keep in mind that McCoskey had been covering the Wings for about fifteen minutes when he blogged this.
Interesting to see May and Todd Bertuzzi sitting side by side in the locker room Thursday. Both were teammates in Anaheim and it was May, you will remember, who put the bounty on Colorado’s Steve Moore, the one Bertuzzi infamously collected. Didn’t really think it was appropriate to dredge that stuff up so soon upon May’s arrival. But if he makes the team, you can bet the question will come up.
May’s on the team. Has the question come up? Holy Hell. Is that not a story?
Brad May, allegedly, put the Moore “bounty” out. Bertuzzi, allegedly, acted on it. They’re teammates again….
Crickets.
We’re talking about Bertuzzi’s defense, his willingness to block shots, his placement on a top line. None of those storylines have obvious Moore connotations. But today? When we discuss the Unibomber’s willingness to drop the gloves or defend his teammates….and no mention? Suspicious.
Never happened. The Moore incident isn’t on Bertuzzi’s mind, doesn’t affect the way he plays, doesn’t cross the minds of his teammates. Got it. And, hey, I understand. Maybe because of legal proceedings Bertuzzi simply can’t talk about it. Ok. Are the legal restraints so tight that nobody can ask a question like, “Are you the same player you were prior to March 8, 2004?”
I guess that’s not a relevant question. I guess it’s not fair to ask whether we can ever expect to see Bertuzzi regain some meanness, or even aggression.
Not a story. Noted.
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