I think I'll keep that title and do little installments here and there, depending on what I can dig up, and post stories about the common hockey player being involved in stoopid goonish situations and goon-like behavior.
Anywho, this one really isn't a laughing matter.
By now most of you have heard about and seen numerous videos from last nights Thrashers/Panthers game where Keith Ballard slapped the shit outta Thomas Vokoun.
This one has to be ranked as one of the all-time dumbest moves in hockey.
It may be one thing to take a shot at an opponent, but hitting your own damn teammate in the head with your stick out of pure anger is just plain idiotic.
Ballard’s attempt to hit the crossbar with his stick misses by at least two or three feet, and that's being generous.
He was obviously trying to break his stick out of frustration on the goal post and, well, you saw what happened.
This was of course a complete accident.
Consider it bad judgement, a bad idea and carelessness on Ballards part.
All indications appear that Vokoun will be okay, aside from being shocked that his own teammate would go McSorely on him like that.
Everyone has their own way of letting out their frustrations when it comes to sports, and it is often be released upon the opposition, or against the officials, but rarely does frustration result in same team violence.
Ballard is often the one responsible for protecting Vokoun, but, unfortunately, this one time he could not guard his goalie from his own careless stick control and momentary temper flare up.
And while this was entirely an accident, I really wonder if you can get suspended for hitting a teammate like that.
Isn't there an NHL rule that states that you must have complete control of your stick at all times?
What if it's against someone on your own team?
Will he get two games and fined for being an idiot?
Should he?
You have to remember that Bettman and Campbell both think that anything that looks bad on the league is considered a suspendable offense.
This one looked bad.
Hopefully the Panthers will handle this incident internally.
It was afterall an accident, and Cooners ear will most likely heal long before Ballards pride does.
