Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ucla-cs.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!hoxna!houxm!whuxlm!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwrba!cepu!ucla-cs!rick From: rick@ucla-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: Re: Billy Smith Message-ID: <3821@ucla-cs.ARPA> Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 15:46:18 EST Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.3821 Posted: Fri Feb 8 15:46:18 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Feb-85 06:08:56 EST References: <3579@ucla-cs.ARPA> <399@alberta.UUCP> Reply-To: rick@ucla-cs.UUCP (Richard Gillespie) Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Lines: 55 Summary: In article <399@alberta.UUCP> lake@alberta.UUCP (Robert Lake) writes: >I saw the replay of the "incident" with Curt Fraser, and, based on numerous >other similar "incidents", I would have to concur with Don Cherry on HNIC >last Saturday that this was one time a 30 game + playoff suspension was in >order. I admit that I am at a disadvantage since I haven't seen a replay (Los Angeles "sports reports" are frustrating that way - they will show some high school bozo throwing a prayer shot in basketball, but don't expect much more than the scores of hockey games). > People like Billy Smith >are a danger to the league, because one of these times someone is going to >have his career ended (and possibly end up with a permanent injury) from >one of his free swinging sticks. If by this Rob means let's get rid of players who use their sticks on each other then I'm all for it. If, on the other hand, he means "get rid of Smith" then I will just chalk it up to his well known (to me, anyway) dislike of Smith (and Potvin, and anyone else in an Islander sweater - except, perhaps, Kallur since Rob knows I *always* pick him in a hockey pool :-)). But I am getting tired of defending Smith's actions. Maybe Billy will retire soon. > Smith has also injured with his stick >well known "aggressive" players such as Wayne Gretzky. I can remember two incidents between Gretzky and Smith. The first was during a regular season game. Gretzky had the puck behind the net (does he own a condo back there or *what*) and was skating from one side to the other. Smith, as would ANY goalie I have ever seen, tried to knock the puck off Gretzky's stick with a sweep check. His stick bounced off Gretzky's blade, rode up the shaft of Gretzky's stick, and hit him somewhere in the arm. It was accidental (Smith *was* trying to just get the puck), but the Edmonton newspapers made it sound like World War III. The next incident was in the playoffs (in 1983, I think). Again Gretzky was skating behind the net, and Smith's stick swung around (I won't claim that he was aiming at the puck) and hit Gretzky in the leg. Gretzky took a couple more steps and then collapsed in the corner. When he realized the ref was not going to buy it and call a penalty he got up (neat trick for someone writhing in pain) and charged after Smith in the crease, waving his stick in Smith's face. The officials stepped in and broke it up. THEN the referee called a slashing penalty on Smith. The Edmonton press starting calling Smith "Public Enemy #1". I agree with getting rid of cheap stick swinging in the NHL. Every team has players who are brave with a stick in the other guy's face. Let's not pick on just one. -- Rick Gillespie rick@ucla-cs ...!{cepu|ihnp4|sdcrdcf|ucbvax}!ucla-cs!rick "She turned me into a newt! . . . I got better."