One thing I've found interesting is the coverage difference between ESPN and TSN (kind of the Canada ESPN). I've noticed that ESPN has sensationalized the incident much more, while TSN seems to take a more balanced view of what happened. IMO this is because TSN is a much more hockey oriented network than ESPN is (what with them being Canadian). I think the most obvious example is that ESPN keeps claiming that Moore broke his neck. As has been stated before, Moore DID NOT break his neck--he fractured it, and from what I've read he seems to already be up and walking around. I'm no doctor, but I think a broken neck would mean he was paralyzed. I've started getting my NHL news from TSN.ca almost completely over the last couple of years (even though I live in the States) simply because their website coverage of the league is considerably better, and also because ESPN pretty much ignores the Canada NHL teams, and as luck would have it Vancouver is in Canada. Case in point: the Canucks are generally considered one of the highest-drawing and most exciting teams to watch in the NHL, and they have been on national TV in the States this year once (the 5-5 tie with the Avs). Call me biased, but I'd rather see a top-notch Canadian NHL team on national TV then some cellar dwelling American NHL team. Anyway that's the end of my rant; I know it comes down to ratings $$$ in the end, but it's still frustrating to me. I think the suspension fit the crime for Bertuzzi. As far as having to meet with the commish, I have a gut feeling the league wants to unofficially bench him for as long as Moore is out. Glad to hear that Moore seems to be getting better.
Few weeks back when Cookie and M. Johnson were suspended by the NHL for the slash-spear incident, colin campbell and company said "that its not about the injury but rather the intent". OK fine no problems there, but today Colin remarks that when Bertuzzi is going to be reinstated they will look at how Moore is progressing....????? to determine when he can return. That just doesn't make sense. ... and again we have our problems with the nhl. Ok lets revisit Johnson's hit on Jeff Beukaboom....Beuk never stepped on the ice again after that punch. I think that is why Burke today said "I will let you be the judge if the suspension matches similar incidents in the past" It doesn't. NHL was swayed by the media because this is the first time a player of Bertuzzi's calibre (well, first time since Rocket Richard) had hit somebody else with a cheap shot which injured...anyways - what i'm saying is that the media has caused a huge uproar over it and the NHL gave Bert a very large suspension rather than going with the average 12 games for this type of incident.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=kelley_jim&id=1757143&partnersite=espn# canadian thing??? come on...this guy has taken it too far. An absolute disgrace to a credible source of journalism - ESPN.
