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09-13-2007, 04:40 PM
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#31 (permalink)
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Rookie Of The Year
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Salmon Cove, NL
Posts: 338
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Heatley did not have a history of alcohol issues, Bell did. That is the only reason Bell is getting suspended and Heatley did not. Legal issues do not necessarily equal NHL issues. Legally they were both guilty, by NHL rules only Bell was. You can't stick a player in rehab and suspend him for reckless driving. Even if it did kill someone accidents happen and you can't suspend someone for having an accident. That's like saying that had poor Steve Chiasson or Dmitri Tertyshny survived they should have been suspended by the NHL because of reckless driving. Think about it. Suspension for surviving an accident? This is NOT about star player versus non-star player. I remember Grant Fuhr received a hefty suspension in the late 80's due to drug issues. This was the starting goalie for one of the best teams in history. A Hall-of-Famer. Other players to receive suspensions and rehab assignments for drug/alcohol issues include; Theo Fleury, Bob Probert, Ric Nattress, Claude Lapointe and, Sandis Ozolinsh. All of which were greater than Bell's 15 games. These suspensions are NOT related to any one incident but are the result of what the league deems a serious and continuing problem. Besides, how many games did Heatley miss? Something tells me it was a wee bit more than 15, switch the numbers around, he lost 51 games. So if you REALLY want justice you should be saying; "Heatley lost 51 games, why is Bell only going to lose 15? He was drunk and could have killed someone."
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09-13-2007, 05:02 PM
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#32 (permalink)
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Assistant Captain
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 2,989
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Dgill
I have a few opinions on this, some may agree, some may not, it is soley my opinion.
1. Once again I hear about the Dany Heatley saga. I've been asking myself this question for a while and now I will ask everyone else, why are you living in the past. What happened with Dany Heatley and Dan Snyder was tragic, reckless, stupid, and very unfortunate. Same for Bell. The only way the past is useful to us is so we can learn from our mistakes and take action into the future. I'd honestly be more concerned about the future then the past.
2. I know people will question me on what I think of Dany Heatley's incident and here's my answer, yes I believe he should've faced jail time and yes I believed he should've been suspended. BUT, with the injuries he had, and the forgiving blessing souls of Dan Snyder's parents, Heatley was able to bypass that, and go on to make a strong recovery. Obviously the person Bell hit isn't as forgiving, and obviously he was over the legal amount.
3. I have no tolerance at all when it comes to drinking and driving. I've known kids my age, had relatives, and friends from around my small community of 5000 to realized how drinking and driving has ruined many lives. The same as drugs. Thankfully, in Nova Scotia, there's a no tolerance level of being behind the wheel under the unfluence. If you get caught, your literally screwed for life around here. I cringe everytime I hear the word legal limit. To me, there is no legal limit, one sip, please stay away from a veichle.
4. Role Model. Now many people may be thinking right now, what the hell is he talking about? Well professional athletes are role models. Every single professional athlete is a role model to someone, some with larger bases then others. I believe Bettman did this to show everyone an example that the NHL does not support alcohol/drug abuse in any form.
5. Should've been sooner then later. Who gives a flying hoot about the justice system. At times, it's the most effed up thing in the world. Mark Bell should've been punished for his suspension when the time happened, not a year after. Although I do support the suspension, it should've happened when the incident happened in fairness to Bell.
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Don't disagree with a thing you said. The landscape of the Heatley incident was different. But one would hope that if it happened today (or Bouweester's incident) will face similar penalties to Bell.
Its pretty hard for some people to understand forgiving Heatley and his stupid and reckless behavior and throwing the book at Bell for his stupid and reckless behavior.
The real salt test of this entire situation is how Bettman handles the other clouds surrounding the NHL.
ie.
Bouwmeester
Staals
White
Tocchet
If any of them are let off without any sort of punishment then it is clearly a bias against Bell and his situation.
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09-13-2007, 11:33 PM
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#33 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,956
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Nice To See Gary the Idoit Bettman lay down the Law. Bell has been punished enough he is all ready going to Jail. Where was Bettman when Todd Bertuzzi all most Killed a player on ice and ended his Career. Yea no where.
Way to go Bettman Thanks for re-minding us why you are the worst commish in every pro Sports in the World.
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To be the Man you have to beat the Man (Ric Flair)
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09-20-2007, 06:34 PM
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#34 (permalink)
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatineau, Quebec
Posts: 6,537
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I myself haven't commented on this subject much yet, as I simply don't know enough (other than that Bell has some issues he needs to iron out, and sounds like he wants to)
I'm not sure how many people read this article yet. It's a bit old, but relates to the topic at hand:
Quote:
Double jeopardy
September 13, 2007
Alan Adams
It is indeed a slippery slope NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has decided to navigate in the Mark Bell situation.
In case you missed it, Bettman has suspended Bell without pay for 15 regular-season games for -- as the NHL puts it -- engaging in conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leaf pleaded no contest last month to drunk driving and hit-and-run charges after an early-morning accident a year ago in California when he was a member of the San Jose Sharks.
Bell, who was traded to the Maple Leafs by the Sharks in June, accepted a plea agreement on Aug. 15 and will serve a six-month sentence in a Santa Clara County jail after the 2007-08 NHL season.
Bell has faced the music and justice has dealt its verdict.
But that wasn't good enough for Bettman, who decided he had the power to take another swipe at Bell.
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NHL Hockey Opinion - Double jeopardy - Alan Adams - sportsnet.ca
My thoughts so far:
Mark Bell is now said to have gone a full year without alchohol (that's at least what we hear), so the extra suspension only seems bizarre, especially after a full year playing with the Sharks has gone by since the incident, not to mention he's already scheduled to face 6 months in prison after the season is over (though could probably get off for good behaviour).
Is this Bettman's lame attempt to make some sort of statement? If it is, he's had plenty of chances to do so before, and didn't.
I'm not sure how much this could hurt the Leafs (if much at all) since I haven't seen Bell play much, but that's a very "questionable" move by Gary Bettman if you ask me.
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Lest we forget.
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Bell Suspended by NHL
