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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."